You can create a personal altar for worship, memorializing, or performing rituals no matter what your beliefs are. Even people who don't consider themselves religious sometimes build altars to provide a special place to reflect on life's questions, to be grateful for what they have, or to please themselves.
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Method 1 of 4: Making an Altar
Step 1. Learn the altar tradition (optional)
If you are building an altar for a special purpose or for a big day, you may need to look up details of the tradition online before starting. Looking for photos and examples of similar altars is a good way to start. Many people mix and match components from different religions, spiritual traditions, and cultures that have special meanings for them.
- On the altar of the day of the dead there are usually images of saints, saints, or saints who have died, candles, flowers, food, and drinks. You can also create a similar altar to honor a deceased friend or relative, using food and toys that the person likes.
- Saint Joseph's Day altars were built in many places on March 19. The altar is usually built on three tiers containing food and decorations, surrounding a statue of Saint Joseph. You can build the same altar to celebrate another big day. After remembering the Saint or the big day, eat the food with your friends and family or give it to someone in need.
Step 2. Choose a location
If you plan to pray or meditate in silence, choose a quiet location away from people. If you want to make your altar a focal point for viewing or use for a group ceremony, place it in a larger room.
If your space is limited and you travel a lot, consider building a movable altar. The altar can be a foldable table, or a cloth that can be packed in a suitcase along with some altar decorations
Step 3. Select or build the altar surface
Your altar can be made of piles of stones from your garden or from the shelves of your glass cabinet. If you plan to use the altar for a ritual that requires a table, for example grinding leaves or burning incense, make sure your table is large and level enough for this purpose.
Step 4. Add other furniture or shelves to the altar if needed
Alternatively, you might place a cushion or chair in front of your altar for meditation or prayer. If there will be small children or someone shorter than you who want to use the altar, consider adding an additional small surface that can be used to stand so that person can reach your altar.
Step 5. Prepare the space using rituals (optional)
Maybe you want to burn incense or smoke the house to prepare the place. Otherwise, pray or speak spontaneously, asking God or whoever you worship to bless the altar.
Method 2 of 4: Dedicating an Altar To Someone or a Religious Figure
Step 1. Decide who you will dedicate your altar to
One of the common uses of an altar is to honor and remember a religious figure, or a relative, friend, or historical person who has died. Some altars are dedicated to many people, such as deceased friends and patron saints.
In some traditions, this is called a temple, not an altar
Step 2. Insert a statue, figurine, photo, or image
Unless your belief forbids you to post an image of the Almighty, place an image of a person you respect in a prominent location on the altar, such as on a high backrest at the back of the altar. You may want to put some pictures, representing different sides of the person you respect. For example, a photo of the person at his wedding or a photo of him and his family.
Step 3. Enter any mementos or items related to the person
Place an item on the altar that is reminiscent of a person you respect. Items such as gifts he gave you, items he likes in his life, or items that represent what they do at their job, hobby, or personal life
If you respect a religious figure, do some research online about what objects the person relates to. Patron saints, Hindu deities, and many other religious figures have many objects or actions associated with their worship
Step 4. Consider adding a candle
Place candles around the altar so you can light them in memory of someone or honoring a religious figure. This is a common and simple ritual that is used in many places in the world.
Step 5. Decorate with flowers
Maybe you want to put a bouquet of flowers on the altar, and think of that person every time you replace it with a fresh bouquet of flowers. Alternatively, plant flowers in pots at the base of the altar, or use dried flowers as permanent decorations.
Step 6. Share food and drinks with people you respect
Place one plate and one cup on the altar, then prepare your deceased friend's favorite food and drink on a big day or special time. After placing it on the altar, you can share it with your friends or share it with people who need food.
Step 7. Add any other decorations or ritual objects as you see fit
Change your altar how you want it to help you honor the person and live by his or her ideals. If the person has beliefs that are different from yours, consider adding a symbol of that belief. If your altar looks gloomy for your needs, add a brightly colored scarf or other object to make the place more fun for your friends.
Method 3 of 4: Building Altars for Other Purposes
Step 1. Choose a destination or theme (optional)
If you have a belief, you may want your altar to be decorated with statues and sacred objects related to your belief. Some people make altars for a specific purpose, such as for healing or meditation, and they are decorated with objects that represent them from many cultures.
- As a simple example, you can build an altar that represents the four classic elements: fire, wind, water, and earth.
- For more specific examples, you can try reading other wikiHow articles about building a Taoist altar, a simple Buddhist temple, or the Wiccan Samhain Altar.
Step 2. Place the trimmings
Many altars start with a cloth to keep the surface of the altar clean and achieve the altar's purpose. For example, a simple white cloth can keep you focused and contemplative. A nice white fabric can lift your spirits, while for an outdoor altar you can use a fabric that relates to the fall colors so it doesn't distract from nature.
To continue the example of an altar dedicated to the four classic elements, you could use four small cloths and place them next to each other: red (fire), white or dark blue (wind), light blue (water), and brown (earth).)
Step 3. Place the inscription on the altar to be read as it is used
If you have a belief in the scriptures, write it on your altar to read for inspiration. Alternatively, consider adding books, poems, or other writings that are important to you, and will help you achieve the mental, emotional, or spiritual elevation that is what altars are for.
Step 4. Add an image related to the altar theme
In Orthodox temples, statues of saints or holy figures are usually found. Hindu temples keep statues of the gods they respect. If you're not religious, think about artwork you can install that relates to the purpose of your altar.
Continue the example of an altar that has elements, you can include images of charcoal with flames (fire), calligraphy from bird feathers (air), sea paintings (water), clay statues (earth)
Step 5. Enter the object you want to use in the ritual
This will vary depending on your spiritual tradition and personal beliefs as an altar builder. You may be able to use lots of leaves, crystals, special places if you do a lot of rituals. On the other hand, it is appropriate to just use a candle you light before you pray, or a book for you to write your thoughts on.
Elemental altars might set up a candle (fire), a fan (air), a glass of water (water), and a handful of earth (earth). You can take turns holding these elements as you ponder each element and what it represents, or create more elaborate rituals
Step 6. Use other decorations or ritual objects
Add to your altar how you like it. Maybe you want to add flowers, decorative figurines, or other decorations. Maybe you decide to put photos from fond memories around the altar. Maybe you want to leave your altar empty. It's all up to you.
Other related objects you can use for your elemental altar are shells, rocks, feathers, partially burned wood, or anything else you think can symbolize or complement the elements
Method 4 of 4: Using the Altar
Step 1. Decide how you want to behave when near the altar
When you walk to the altar to worship, do a specific posture, get used to doing a specific posture. You can stand, sit, kneel, or do any other posture that makes you feel polite at the altar and what it represents. If you feel it's important to have a celebration or something energizing, you can even dance around your altar.
Step 2. Pray
You don't have to be a religious person to pray, or need to show it to someone or something in particular. If you are religious, you may want to learn traditional prayer. Alternatively, express yourself calmly and quietly, or loudly for as long as you feel comfortable. Generally, people pray for healing for themselves and loved ones, for forgiveness, or for guidance in making decisions.
Step 3. Meditation If you are not comfortable with praying, or you just need to relax and calm yourself down, meditation is something worth learning and practicing
Some people do not differentiate between meditation and prayer.
Step 4. Burn oil or other offerings
Light candles, food, or other objects that are often thought of as offerings for more power. Most Christians and Jews do not sacrifice animals, and sometimes consider it against their religion. Even if you belong to one of these religions, you may decide to make other offerings, such as a small amount of oil burned in an Orthodox temple.
This can be seen as a proper offering (carried in smoke), or as a symbolic act to show that you are willing to make an offering. It can also be a ritual that you use to worship, without needing to analyze the purpose of it
Tips
If you're using the altar for a religious celebration, it's a good idea to look for a table with drawers inside to store extra candles and religious utensils
To make your altar look good, coordinate the colors and try to match the home decor
- Altars must always be clean. Place a small sheet of wax paper under the candle without a handle, and be sure to clean up any gray that remains from the offering or burnt paper.
- If your altar has a high religious significance, make sure it is located in a place that will not be damaged or disturbed by animals or children.
