Have you ever needed to have a special place where you can practice your spirituality in a focused and enriching way? This is where setting up an altar comes in.

From historical records, we know that humanity has been erecting altars all early on for various reasons, but mostly for religious or magical purposes.

In the New Age context setting up an altar is a way for you to give any sort of intention you have behind your spiritual practice, a focal point, and material point where you assist the embodiment of the energy of your intention in a tangible way.

Usually for a beginner, it is very tempting to get caught up in online images of beautiful altars with lavish statues, candles and crystals, fearing that unless you have the means to build such altars, it is better not to do so. But that doesn’t have to be the case. You only need a little knowledge of how to set up a basic altar, as well as a good sense of connecting with your intuition to guide you through the process.

From historical records, we know that humanity has been erecting altars all early on for various reasons, but mostly for religious or magical purposes.

In this article we’re going to explore how you can set up an altar, how to work with it, and what place it can take in your own unique spiritual expression in your everyday practice.

The Essence of a Sacred Space – What You’ll Learn in This Guide

Your Altar Reflects Your Spiritual Journey

Setting up an altar in a way is the creation of a mirror that reflects your own spiritual evolution.

If you decide to set up an altar, and stick to maintaining it for a period of time, you discover that there will be times when you will need to update its formation.

Setting up an altar in a way is the creation of a mirror that reflects your own spiritual evolution.

As your spiritual journey evolves, so do your needs and intentions change, making your altar a living entity that grows along with your own inner maturation. That means that your altar needs to reflect who you are now in order for it to perform its aim authentically. What I am trying to say is that by honoring your insights, intuition and yourself, you are re-energizing the essence of what your altar represents.

Simplicity Is Enough

Talking about authenticity, what could be more appropriate than discussing the concept of simplicity when it comes to setting up your altar.

You don’t need to create a space full of expensive crystals, ornate statues, candles of various colors and sizes, and images of your favorite gods or goddesses or angels to make your altar work.

The mere act of placing a simple picture of your Archangel for example, along with a candle next to it and a stone (that doesn’t have to be a crystal) that you may have found during one of your walks what will represent the grounding energies of earth is enough for your altar to be “spiritually valid”.

Talking about authenticity, what could be more appropriate than discussing the concept of simplicity when it comes to setting up your altar.

The objects on your altar carry not only your energy but also represent your inner world, and in order for you not to make the act of setting up an altar just a performative gesture to show off on your Instagram, what is important for you is to remember the purpose of why you want an altar in the first place, and start with a few objects that represent this purpose.

7 Inspired Ways to Set Up Your Altar with Meaning and Insight

To help you with your intention to set up an altar, I present below 7 simple steps for you to do so.

If you are a beginner, I hope that this list will shed some light on how to create a sacred space to practice your spirituality. If you’re a seasoned one in setting up altars, you might find something new here to add to your already owned knowledge. So, let’s start.

1. How to Set Up Your Altar as a Personal Expression of Spirit

Let your altar express your innermost self.

Do not set up one out of obligation because the truth is you do not need one to practice your spirituality. When you decide to do so, use it to express how you view the sacred, in a way that is symbolic and where words fall short to express that life of yours.

Let your altar express your innermost self.

Whatever you’re experiencing grief, joy, growth, or uncertainty your altar can become a vessel that holds space for the sacred and also a special space to sit by when you need to find solace and stability.

So, follow your intuition in terms of what you need to add or remove from your altar as you go about your life.

2. How to Set Up Your Altar Based on Purpose and Intention

When I first set up my altar, I put a lot of thought into how I would design it and what purpose it would serve. Later on, it became apparent to me that the purpose of my altar wasn’t fixed anymore, and it had evolved into something that served many purposes.

If you’re a beginner, or you’re setting up a new altar, ask yourself, “What do I need in terms of my spiritual practice right now?”

This will give you a clear idea in terms of what you need to acquire for your altar. Could it be a candle for clarity, or a crystal for balance, or an affirmation written on a piece of paper that represents something you want to manifest?

If you’re a beginner, or you’re setting up a new altar, ask yourself, “What do I need in terms of my spiritual practice right now?”

Depending on your intention and by listening to your inner wisdom, your altar will always be up to date with your current needs.

3. How to Set Up Your Altar Without Following a Script

As I mentioned in the introduction of this article, it is very tempting for you to fall into the trap of comparing your own idea of what your altar should be to the ones that you see online being posted by other fellow spiritual travelers.

You might feel intimidated that you don’t have the materials, or even the means to acquire them, to set up your altar. But if you’re in need of having one, do not let this lavish exposition of “perfect altars” hold you back in creating your own. Comparison will only stop you from getting what you really need by focusing on what your ego mind wants and not what your spirit wants for you.

As I mentioned in the introduction of this article, it is very tempting for you to fall into the trap of comparing your own idea of what your altar should be to the ones that you see online being posted by other fellow spiritual travelers.

So, take your notebook and jot down a few notes on what you want your altar to represent and, in setting your intention to manifest your altar, let your intuition guide you.

4. How to Set Up Your Altar in the Space You Have

Another issue that comes up for many of you who want to set up an altar is the issue of not having space to do so.

Maybe you are living in a small place where you feel that there’s not enough room to set up your altar. Or you’re living with roommates, and do not want to disturb them with your “outlandish practices”.

For the former, you do not need a big space to set up an altar; even a corner on your desk where your laptop is or where you’re studying can be a good place for your altar as long as you keep it simple.

Another issue that comes up for many of you who want to set up an altar is the issue of not having space to do so.

For the latter, you can disguise your altar in a way that it more resembles a decorative touch to your room rather than an extravagant scary “occult” set up. As long as you are focused on creating your altar with intention, there’s nothing to worry about in terms of space.

5. How to Set Up Your Altar Using Items You Already Own

If your budget does not allow you to buy new things to place on your altar, don’t fret over it.

You can use things you find in your home. It altar can be as simple as an old plate made of porcelain for your offerings, surrounded by stones that you found on your walks that will help you add some grounding to whatever you intend to place on the plate. You can even write things on small pieces of paper that you’re grateful for and place them on the plate as offerings to the divine beings you work with.

So, set your intention and be inspired by looking around your house (or around it) and gathering items like the ones I described above that do not need to be fancy, but representative of your intention for your altar’s purpose.

6. How to Set Up Your Altar for Travel or Flexibility

If you want to carry an altar with you, don’t hold yourself back in terms of how you can do this, for there are many ways to create portable altars.

Your altar can be composed of a piece of fabric where you can place some of your items that you feel you need to work with depending on your intention of what you want to use the altar for (like giving a Tarot reading to a friend).

If you want to carry an altar with you, don’t hold yourself back in terms of how you can do this, for there are many ways to create portable altars.

I love to carry with me a pouch with a crystal that has grounding properties, like a piece of hematite, or obsidian, to make sure that I’m protected, grounded, and balanced, by having with me this small “altar” with me.

7. How to Set Up Your Altar by Blending Tradition and Innovation

My spiritual practice is eclectic. Being a person with various interests, I’m pulled towards various paths, and I also try to be ethical when doing that.

In this way, my altar represents this multifaceted aspect of my personality where you can find items like a tarot deck, along with my iPad which plays sacred music while working with my altar along with my grimoire (the notebook where I write down my rituals).

My spiritual practice is eclectic. Being a person with various interests, I’m pulled towards various paths, and I also try to be ethical when doing that.

I like to embrace the old with the new in creative ways, and you’re allowed to do that too as long as you’re honoring your intuition and respect the sources from where you pull inspiration from in order to achieve a harmonious blend of the paths that you walk spiritually.

Conclusion

After reading all the above, I hope you have formed an idea of how your altar could look.

It doesn’t have to be complicated, and also you don’t have to follow any rules, but if you’re a beginner and you feel like following “some” rules, the only ones that I feel are appropriate is have a clear intention of what you want your altar to serve you with, to follow your intuition, and to not shy away from the setting up your altar if you don’t have the budget to do it or the space, because as I described above both can be compensated.

Till next time, take care.