Basic Information to help you choose and create your own Sacred Space
Once you have chosen to create a sacred space, the first question is--How do I begin?  Are there guidelines? Rules?  What do I need to create my altar space?  There are many questions that you may want or need answers to when beginning a new endeavor.   This article will provide information and some answers to general questions as well as give some basic ideas on altars and their purpose.  Altars are not specifically for one culture, religion, or people.  Altars are a universal symbol of what we create in our life, the gifts we find special in our heart and the ideas we hold dear.

Items you may choose to place on your altar

Chalice--Holy Grail, fulfillment
Holy Ash--from a sacred fire or cremation of a Holy person
Medicine Bag--a bundled collection of sacred objects
Prayer Beads/Mala/Rosary--use as a focus for your prayers
Book or Books--to energize your altar or to read a passage out of daily
Prayer Wheel--Tibetans use this hand held "windmill" to focus
Mandala--Sacred geometric design used for focus and aid in meditation
Circle--completion/wholeness Can be made of anything you hold dear
Cross--In Christianity symbolizes the intersection of heaven and earth
Egg--new beginnings, regeneration
Feather--unity with Creator, also used in smudging rituals
Pentagram--five pointed star of harmony and balance
Star--symbolizes the heavens, great attainment
Pyramid--symbolizes revelations, ancient mysteries
Triangle--symbolizes the divine trinity or path toward higher union
Key--used as a symbol of opening inner realms
Picture--placing a picture of something dear to you symbolizes your heart
Statue--many altars contain a statue of a chosen deity for focus and love

Deities
Denise Linn in her best selling book, Altars states, "..Welcoming the energy of the deities of the past can sometimes fill a need not addressed by the religious system of our times.  A figurine or a painting or drawing of the deity can be placed on your altar as a reminder of the qualities that the deity represents.  For example, a figurine of Chinese Kuan Yin usually represents compassion and the nurturing mother..."  Some deities are listed below.  This of course is only a small sampling of the deities that are in existence.

Buddha -- Purveyor of Compassion
Confucious--Wise Teacher
Kuan Yin (Quan Yin)--Goddess of Compassion, nurturing mother
Jesus (Christian)--the Savior
St. Christopher (Christian)--Patron Saint of Travelers
Virgin Mary (Christian)-compassionate mother
Horus (Egyptian)--Sky god and hero
Isis (Egyptian)--mother goddess, inner feminine mysteries
Osiris (Egyptian)--powerful fertility god
Athena ( Greek) --Goddess of Wisdom
Zeus (Greek)--king of the gods
Durga (Hindu)--mother goddess
Ganesha (Hindu)--helps to overcome all obstacles
Krishna (Hindu)--Incarnation of Vishnu (The supreme being)
Shiva (Hindu)--god of destruction which insures rebirth
Odin (Norse)--god of wisdom and war
Freya (Norse)--goddess of fertility and birth
Minerva (Roman)--goddess of wisdom

Offering Suggestions
An offering on your altar signifies your gift to the Universe.  Each culture has a variety of offerings which can be utilized.  A few suggestions are shared here. 

Ashes--represent purification and regeneration
Bowl--A container to place your offerings
Corn--in many cultures represents harvest and abundance
Flowers--one of my favorites which represents an emblem of the Divine
Fruit-- symbolizes the feminine spirit and harvest
Grain--symbols of prosperity and renewal
Rice--represents good fortune
Salt--symbols of purification and resurrection
Tobacco--symbolizes a connection to the spirit world
Water-- a representation of cleansing and spiritual attunement
Wine--symbols of the blood of life, eternal life

Colors and their meanings
Whether you burn candles as part of your ritual or lay cloth on your altar, color does play a role in the creation of your sacred space.  Listed here are some basic colors and what they represent.

Black --Introspection
Blue--relaxation, meditation, peace, also represents the 5th Chakra
Green--healing and balance, also represents the 4th Chakra
Orange--happiness, socializing, also represents the 2nd Chakra
Pink--love, softness, also represents the 8th Chakra
Purple--royal, intuition, in most cases, represents the 6th Chakra
Red--stimulating, activating, passion, also represents the root or 1st Chakra
White--purity, in most cases represents the crown or 7th Chakra
Yellow--wisdom, communication and represents the 3rd Chakra


Written by Kristi Huggins
Expert Contributor for Healing Crystals
This article owned by Healing Crystals 2008.

Did you like this article?   

Do you have any questions or opinions to share?  

Visit our Healing Crystals Forum
- Ask questions.
- Post your opinions.
- Connect with others today.