It doesn't matter which religious or spiritual tradition you identify with - building a personal altar is easy, whether it's for worship purposes, in remembrance of someone, or to conduct a ritual. Even those who do not consider themselves believers may want to set up an altar, to create a special place to reflect on life, appreciate what you have or find a source of consolation.
Steps
Method 1 of 4: Start Preparing an Altar
Step 1. Do some research on traditions
If you are building an altar for a particular purpose or holiday, it may help to research some details online about traditional costumes before you begin. Looking for photos and examples of other similar altars is a great way to find inspiration. Many people mix and match elements from different religions, spiritual traditions and cultures that are of particular importance to them.
- A commemoration day altar can include images of deceased saints and relatives, as well as candles, flowers, food and drink. You can also make a similar altar as a tribute to a deceased friend or relative, using food and objects loved by the person who is no longer around.
- In many places it is customary to set up an altar for the feast of San Giovanni, on March 19. They are usually prepared by surrounding the statue of St. John with flowers and decorations. It is also possible to set up an altar of this kind to celebrate a different holiday. After honoring the saint in question or celebrating the holiday, you can eat the food with your friends and family, or give it to charity to people in need.
Step 2. Choose a location
If you are planning to create an altar to have a peaceful place to meditate or pray, choose a quiet location away from passageways. If, on the other hand, you want your altar to be the center of attention or to be used in collective ceremonies, place it in a larger room.
If space is limited and you have to travel a lot, you may want to consider setting up a portable altar. It can be made using a folding base or a piece of fabric, so you can easily store it in your suitcase along with some decoration
Step 3. Choose or build a surface for the altar
Your altar can be made from any material, from a group of stones in the garden to a sheltered shelf in a glass case. If you are going to use it for rituals that require a countertop, such as for chopping ceremonial herbs or for burning incense, make sure it is large enough and has a flat surface.
Step 4. Add other items or shelves to the altar as needed
You can choose to have a chair facing the altar for meditation or prayer. If you think the altar can be used by children or by people shorter than you, consider adding a lower surface, within everyone's reach.
Step 5. Prepare the area with a ritual (optional)
To prepare the area, you could burn some incense or sage. Alternatively, you can recite a spontaneous prayer or speech to ask the deity, or the power you worship, to bless the altar.
Method 2 of 4: Dedicate an Altar to a Person or Religious Figure
Step 1. Choose who to dedicate it to
One of the most common uses of an altar is to honor and remember a religious figure, a dead relative or a historical figure. Some altars may be dedicated to more than one person, such as a deceased friend and his patron saint.
Step 2. Add icons, statues, photographs and images
Unless you belong to a religious faith that does not allow the use of divine images, place depictions of the person or persons you intend to honor in a prominent position, such as a raised point at the bottom of the altar.. You may have more than one image, thus representing different aspects of the person or divinity. For example, in the case of a friend or relative, you could add a photo of the person in question to their wedding and another one of them with their family.
Step 3. Add memories or objects related to the person
Arrange items on the altar that make you think of the people you intend to honor. The gifts they gave you and the objects they loved in life are ideal, but other objects that represent their profession, their hobbies or their personal life are also suitable.
If, on the other hand, you are worshiping religious figures, search online to find out which items are related to their cult. The cult of saints, Indian deities and many other religious figures is often associated with many characteristic objects
Step 4. Consider adding candles
Arrange candles around the edges of the altar to light them in memory of the deceased person or to honor the religious figure. It is a very simple ritual that is common to different cultures around the world.
Step 5. Decorate with flowers
You could decorate the altar with a bouquet of flowers and think of the person you want to commemorate each time you replace it with fresher flowers. You can also decorate it with vases and take care of the plants, or arrange the dried flowers as a permanent ornament.
Step 6. Share food and water with the person you want to commemorate
Arrange a plate and a glass on the altar and offer the person to whom the altar is dedicated his favorite foods and drinks, on the occasion of the holidays and the most important occasions. Leave them on the altar for the duration of the lunch and then share them with your friends or give them to people in need.
Step 7. Add decorations or ritual items that you think are appropriate
Modify the altar as you see fit to honor the person and follow their ideals. If the person in question belongs to a religion other than yours, add a symbol related to their faith. If the altar looks too gloomy, add some colorful scarves or other items to make it more cheerful and joyfully honor the memory of your dead.
Method 3 of 4: Create an Altar for Other Purposes
Step 1. Choose a purpose or theme (optional)
If you belong to a particular religion, decorate the altar with statues and sacred objects connected to it. Some altars specially designed for very specific purposes, such as healing or meditation, are decorated with themed objects from different cultures.
For example, you could set up an altar that represents the four elements of nature: fire, air, water and earth
Step 2. Arrange a decorative drape
Some altars are built from a piece of cloth, to keep the surface clean and make the purpose of the setting clear. For example, a piece of white fabric can help and encourage concentration and contemplation. A bright and decorated fabric can help lift the spirits of those who contemplate it, while an altar built outdoors could be decorated with a fabric of autumn colors, in order to harmonize with the landscape.
To deepen the example of the altar dedicated to the four natural elements, you could choose four colored pieces of fabric and arrange them next to each other: red for fire, white or blue for air, dark blue for water and brown. for the earth
Step 3. Arrange the texts to be read on the altar
If you belong to a religious tradition that includes sacred texts, add a copy to the altar as a source of inspiration. You could also add a different book, poem, or other type of text that is important to you and that will help you achieve the mental, emotional, or spiritual state the altar was meant for.
Step 4. Add images related to the altar theme
Orthodox altars often display icons of saints or other religious figures. The Hindu ones present statues of the revered deities. Even if you are not religious, try to find a type of artwork related to its purpose.
Going back to the example of the altar of the four elements, you could add a charcoal drawing depicting flames for fire, a calligraphic writing with a bird's pen for the air, a watercolor of a seascape for water, and a clay statuette for the earth
Step 5. Add any object you want to the altar
It will depend on your spiritual translation or your personal preferences. You can arrange herbs, crystals, and containers suitable for conducting a ritual. It is also completely acceptable to add a candle to light before praying or a journal in which to write your reflections.
An elementary altar might include a candle for the fire, a fan for the air, a glass of water for the water, and a handful of soil for the earth. You can hold these objects in your hand as you reflect on a particular element and what it represents, or work out a more detailed ritual
Step 6. Use any type of decoration or ritual object
Add whatever you like to the altar, such as flowers, statues or other decorations. Arrange pictures and memories of happy moments around the altar as you please. Or keep your altar simple and add just a few select decorations. It's up to you to decide.
Other items suitable for an elementary altar include shells, stones, feathers, burnt driftwood, or anything else you think may represent an element
Method 4 of 4: Using an Altar
Step 1. Choose how to behave near the altar
As you approach the altar to pray, make it a habit to assume a particular posture. You can stand, sit, kneel, or arrange yourself any way you like, as long as it allows you to give your full attention to the altar and what it represents. If you think it's important to give your prayer a celebratory or energetic tone, you can also dance around it.
Step 2. Pray
You don't necessarily have to believe in a religion to pray. You don't need to talk to anyone in particular. If you are a believer, you may be learning about the traditional prayers of your faith. Or you can just express yourself silently, softly, or aloud - any modality is fine, as long as you feel comfortable. Typically, people pray to ask for healing for themselves and loved ones, to ask for forgiveness, or to ask for advice and support in a difficult decision.
Step 3. Meditate
If you don't feel comfortable praying, or if you simply need to relax and calm down, meditation is a useful skill to learn and practice. Some people don't distinguish between prayer and meditation at all.
Step 4. Burn some oil or another type of offering
Light a candle, burn food or other objects as a form of "offering" to a higher power. Most Christians and Jews do not offer animal sacrifices and sometimes consider them contrary to their religion. If you belong to one of these religions you can always choose to make another type of offering, such as burning a small container of oil on an Orthodox altar.
You can interpret an offering in a literal sense (by burning something in the wind) or as a symbolic act that demonstrates your readiness to make a sacrifice. An offering can simply be a form of ritual worship, without you necessarily having to analyze its meaning
Advice
- If you are using your altar for a religious ceremony it is advisable to use a table or desk with a drawer, so that you can store candles and religious tools with ease.
- For a beautiful altar to look at, use coordinated colors and try to match the ensemble with your home decor.
- Keep the altar clean. Place some wax paper under the unprotected candles and be sure to clean the ashes left behind by the incense or burnt paper.
- If your altar has deep religious significance, make sure it is not in a place where it can be damaged or disturbed by animals or children.
