Altar States ~|~

"Day of the Dead" devotional altar in Mexico

Altar Consciousness ~
Altars allow us to create focal points of beauty and places of solace where we may connect with our higher selves, and show respect for and commune with The Divine.

Altar work can include working with candles and other tools, privately or in groups, to enhance prayer, meditation, and visualization techniques!

Altar Space
For any meditation or altar space, be sure to choose a quiet area where you can be alone and undisturbed. Consider this your sacred space, where you commune with The Divine, leaving all worries behind.

Assemble your tools on a surface that is no less than 18” square. Preferably, choose a table or other surface made of wood or another natural, sturdy substance, like stone or granite. Make sure the height is comfortable for you, whether sitting or standing. Some people prefer sitting on the floor. If this is your preference, make sure the table height allows you to see your sacred objects easily, and work with the candle flames and incense safely.

Altar Cloths help protect the surface of your altar, adding a softening effect. White altar cloths work, for any altar, as white contains all colors. Black, conversely, contains low or no color thereby darkened the theme. Black is popular during Banishing rituals, which we will not discuss, here.

It is always good to include at least one white candle, to achieve balance. In fact, most people use white on general altars that serve multiple purposes.

NOTE: Choose pillar candles for stability on your altar, and to reduce glare.

Angelical Whispers.com and Sacred Mists.com offer various selections for altar candles, incense, and other tools. You may also try Lucky Vitamin.com, if you prefer a non-secular site. Try Coventry Creations.com for blessed candles containing all natural ingredients.

NOTE: The following sections provide suggestions for altar configurations, including colors for your altar cloths. Please use what feels good and positive to you, or use no altar cloth at all.

The Blutenburg altar in Munchen, Germany

Lights of Love
Pink candles evoke gentle love, while magenta and reds evoke passion and concentration. Pure red evokes passion, while the pink evokes a more spiritual, empathetic approach to any encounter or meditation.

Try lighting a pink candle along side a magenta one for more ambiance, in a romantic situation.

To invoke the pure, non-physical love of the angels, light a pink candle along side a white one. For balance, you may light one of each color.

A red candle may be used instead of pink or magenta, but the hue should remain in the pinks and purples for romantic, rather than sacral love.

Love Altar
You can create a Love Altar much the same as the above Angel Altar. However, adding red roses will enhance the element of love, as will the use of essential Patchouli, rubies, garnets, and figurines and images that evoke romantic love to you.

If the candles you choose are unscented, anoint them, before use, with a corresponding pure essential oil. Use essential Rose or Rose Absolute oil for pure, sweet love, and/or Patchouli to evoke passion.

Angel Altar
Create an Angel Altar by placing a white altar cloth on the surface. Add pink, white, and/or pale purple candles, pre-scented or anointed by you with essential Rose, Lavender, and/or Melissa oils in a special place in your home. Find natural rose or lavender incense and/or use an oil diffuser to create more aromas.

Add angel figurines, or other objects you find beautiful and soothing. Fresh flowers, or a potted, flowering plant will fill your space with even more beauty, inspiring you to reach a calm and loving state.

Religious Images
Religious images may add a sense of security, and well-being, be they of Archangel Michael for protection, Archangel Raphael for healing, Buddha for compassion, Kuan Yin for confidence and music, Mother Mary for peace and humility, and/or Christ Jesus for the ultimate sense of over all well-being.

Positive Affirmations
Use positive affirmations and prayers to ask for what it is you seek.

Visualize what you want! Meditate, and listen ~ expecting nothing. Say, “Thank you”, to your guides, angels, ascended masters and guides, and allow the seed of your desire to grow.

Candle Anointing
Before anointing any candle, hold it to your heart chakra (center of your chest) and infuse it with your intent. Do this with focus and sincerity. Never perform any kind of ritual to manipulate another. Karma always comes back to those who misuse magic or free will. Your wish should simply be to bring about an atmosphere of harmony, whereby cooperation for the over all-good presides.

To anoint a candle with oil, pour a small amount into the palm of your hand. Create enough moisture to rub the scent between both palms. Inhale the lovely aroma of the pure scent, and infuse the oil with your pure intent. Now, spread the oil downward, from the top of the candle to the middle, and do the reverse from the bottom up.

Place your candle(s) on a smooth, even surface, and light with a lighter to avoid the smell of sulfur from matches entering the room. Avoid tapers, as they can easily fall over. Use stable candleholders, or place pillars in a vessel containing sand, 1”, or more deep.

Crystal Magic
To incorporate Crystal Magic, place a Rose Quartz crystal, a clear Quartz Crystal and/or a Moonstone, and a Garnet next to the candles. Be sure to cleanse all crystals before and after ritual use. (Scroll down to read instructions on “Crystal Cleansing”.)

Put on some soft music, if you like.

The mood is now set for a loving, angelic, or human love encounter.

NOTE: Before retiring or leaving the room, use a candlesnuffer to "snuff" out each candle flame or "pinch" the wick quickly with wet fingers. Blowing out the flame can scatter wax, and also, according to ancient lore, offends the deities of fire.

You may purchase candlesnuffers and other candle supplies from Candle Bee Farms.com, or other stores that specialize in candles and/or ritual tools.

For Christian ritual tools, see The Saint Michael Store!

Lights of Abundance and Healing
No matter the weather, most of us could use GREEN, the sacred color of abundance in our lives.

Traditionally, Green IS the color of abundance. Green is also adds a cooling, effect, even in the form of a candle. Light a green candle to evoke prosperity and abundance and/or to connect with nature and elementals/nature spirits. You may do this anytime, or you may wish to do this regularly by creating an Abundance Altar.

Create an Abundance Altar by placing a green or gold altar cloth on the surface of your altar. Add two, green pillar candles scented with essential oils Bergamot, and Cypress, Cedar, or Pine. Find natural incense or use an oil diffuser to create more aromas.

Add images of abundance, such as photos of a house or car you would like to buy, or school you would like to attend, for example. You may also add coins ~ gold or gold-plated work best. Use precious or semi-precious metals, if they are available to you, as these suggest wealth. Brass is excellent for candleholders and figurines.

Figurines of deities such as Ganesh and Artemis suggest prosperity and courage to release from worry about the future. "A happy present makes a happy future!" (Remember, we make our future, NOW!)

As mentioned previously, religious images may add a sense of security, and well-being, be they of Archangel Raphael, Buddha, Kuan Yin, Mother Mary and/or Christ Jesus for an over all sense of well-being.

Add a small potted pine tree, if you have the space.

Again, use positive affirmations and prayers to ask for what it is you seek. Visualize what you want. Meditate, and listen ~ expecting nothing. Say, “Thank you”, and allow the seed of your desire to grow.

Lights of Creativity, Intuition, and Empowerment
Blue candles aid in intuition and “relaxed focus”. When meditating using a blue candle, enjoy its calming, cooling effect. To empower yourself in areas of creativity that require COURAGE, you may add an orange candle to balance the cool, calming energy of water and air, with that of fire and sun energy. In summer, think of the orange candle as a sunflower or citrus fruit, to cool the feeling of heat.

Make a Creativity and Intuition Altar by laying a blue and white or blue and golden altar cloth on the surface of your altar space. Add the candles specified above, and anoint with essential Peppermint oil, Orange Blossom and/or Frankincense, if the candles are unscented.

The suggested gemstones for your altar are Blue Lace Agate and Citrine, with a Clear Quartz crystal, or Moonstone for added energy.

Place objects corresponding to and/or suggesting your wishes, for better visualization. If you wish, you may include a small Lavender bush, dried Lavender, and/or fresh flowers in the blue/purple and yellow/orange hues. Music, literary, and/or art objects you find inspiring will also help to empower your intent.

Follow some of the above suggestions for the use of religious objects if you like.

Lights of Protection
Finally, in times of worry or woe, you may create an Altar of Protection, evoking the power of God, and/or specific deities and angels.

You may begin by placing a royal purple or white silk cloth, on your altar.

Find a combination of Protection candles on the Internet, or use pure white, anointed with essential oils of Lemon, Clove, or Frankincense if the candles are unscented. In place of the Clove oil, you may use real cloves, pressed into an orange or apple, or placed in a small bowl. Lemon is also good at warding off unpleasantness.

The suggested gemstones for protection are Black Obsidian, Tigers Eye, and Smoky Quartz, along with Selenite. Adding an Amethyst to this combination will increase a sense of peace, and is therefore suggested.

You may place upon this altar, holy books and images… but nothing suggesting fear! Stay positive, and fill your thoughts and visions with peace, love, light, and well-being

NOTE: Use all organic substances, whenever possible!

If desired, add a vase of fresh white and purple flowers, or a Peace Lily plant.

Place likenesses of Jesus, Mother Mary, and the Archangels Gabriel, Michael, Raphael, Gabriel, and Uriel, if possible. Try The Saint Michael Store, if you have no idea where to find these items.

Non-Judeo-Christian Altars
Non-Judeo-Christians may use likenesses of Buddha, Artemis, Lord Krishna, Ganesh, Shiva, or other deities that mean something sacred to them.

Sacred Source.com provides a wide array of figurines that symbolize every World Religion.

NOTE: To find Prayers for Protection, peruse the article, "Beyond the Obvious".

Crystal Cleansing
The following are three common ways to cleanse crystals:

1) Rinse under cool water (except for *Selenite, which will dissolve in water) and place in direct sunlight (accept for Amethysts, which will fade) or in full moonlight

2) Place in a bowl containing sea salt, preferably Himalayan pink salt or Kosher coarse-ground salt, cover the stones, and leave for 24 hours, or

3) Place in a bowl of cool salt water for at least two hours, and rinse in cool, plain water (except for Selenite, which will dissolve in water).

NOTE: *Selenite is the only known crystal that requires no cleansing. Resting other stones gently against them actually aids in cleansing the energies of the other stones. Do NOT place Selenite in or close to liquids!

Click here for more on Candle Blessings and Candle Magick offered by Grant Virtue.

~|~ Enjoy the lovely, sacred space you will create for yourself! ~|~

Your Angelical Mystic Examiner
Xyra

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