What Is An Altar and Why You Need One

What is an altar?

Altars are sacred areas that are devoted to God, Ancestors, Deities, etc. They are the places we use to communicate with the spiritual realm. Though you hear many more people talking about having altars in their home, altars have been around... FOREVER. The first documented altar was in the Bible. Here is an insert from Genesis 8:20-22:

"Then Noah built an altar to the Lord and took some of every clean animal and some of every clean bird and offered burnt offerings on the altar. And when the Lord smelled the pleasing aroma, the Lord said in his heart, “I will never again curse the ground because of man, for the intention of man's heart is evil from his youth. Neither will I ever again strike down every living creature as I have done. While the earth remains, seedtime and harvest, cold and heat, summer and winter, day and night, shall not cease.”

At altars, it is very common to make sacrifices, to summon spirits, to speak with the deceased and to pray. Depending on your beliefs, you have create an altar, or many, for anything. Personally, I have many altars and I use them for multiple purposes. At my office, I have a prosperity altar, in my home, I have my sacred space altar and my ancestor altar. Each altar has its own purpose. 

In my opinion, everyone needs an altar or a sacred space. They are not only for you to bring dead animals, but it can be a place of peace, meditation and a place you find comfort, divine wisdom and guidance. An altar can be your slice of heaven on earth. Having a sacred space can change your life, if you allow it and work it properly. 

What is the difference between an altar and a sacred space?

Honestly, there is very little difference. I would say the only difference is an altar is where you come to do some type of spiritual work (spells, rituals, divination, etc) and a sacred space is just somewhere you deem holy and your place of peace, divine guidance or somewhere you go to pray in peace. I use them interchangeably but everyone else may not. 

How to set up an sacred space?

Step 1) Choose your altar/sacred space purpose! This is the fun part. Your options are limitless! You can have many different altars, for many different purposes. Chose what type you would like to set up. A list of examples are below:

• Ancestors (Loved ones that have passed on)
• Prayer
• Meditation
• Peace
• Money
• Career Success
• Prosperity
• Deities (gods & goddesses)
• Lover
• Magickal Workings (Spells, Rituals, Divination)
• Protection 

Step 2) Choose a space. Decide what your space will be used for because your location matters. If you are setting up an altar, you need to keep your intent in mind.

Example) if you are wanting to set up an altar for business success, you may want to keep the altar in your place of business or in the room where the business is being handled.

Example) If you want an altar for your ancestors, you may want to keep it in a room with a closed door, on the first floor as close to the ground as possible. Because of multiple reasons that I can go into on another post or video so comment below if you would like to know more. 

Step3) Setting Up Your Space! Okay, this part is fun too. This is when you get to set up your space to bring in the energy you are desiring to have. I do recommend a table if you are using candles (I have experienced many accidents with leaving them on carpet, whew!) I will list below a few items to keep in mind:

• Air:
• - Sage
• - Palo Santo
• - Incense
• - Feathers
• - Bells, Chimes, Singing Bowls
• - Air Elemental Oils

• Fire
• - Candles
• - Cauldron
• - Fire Elemental Oils

• Water
• - Sea Water
• - Salt Water
• - Fresh Water
• - Sink Water (lol, you get it, water)
• - Water Elemental Oil

• Earth
• - Live Plants
• - Rocks
• - Crystals
• - Dirt
• - Leaves
• - Earth Elemental Oil

• Anything that represents you and the vibe you are going for!
• - Colors
• - Photos 
• - Drawings 
• - Special Items That Go With The Theme
• - Special Altar Cloth

Step 4) Cleanse and consecrate Your Sacred Space and Your Sacred items!

Step 5) Your altar is ready for use!

You do not have to have a super expensive or fancy altar space. As long as you have a space filled with your intention, items that represent something to you and your intention, you are good to go!

Thank you for taking this time to read this post! Comment your questions below and if you would like to share a photo of your altar space, please do so! We would love to see what you have created!


​Peace and Love, Always.