" 'You must have a room or a certain hour of the day or so where you do not know what is in the morning paper. A place where you can simply experience and bring forth what you are and what you might be. At first you may think nothing's happening. But if you have a sacred space and take advantage of it and use it everyday, something will happen.'
— Joseph Campbell
"Stonehenge in Wiltshire is one of Britain's greatest ancient sacred monuments, dating back more than 4,000 years. The building of it is an astonishing testament to humankind's determination to create sacred space. Experts believe that prehistoric people dragged 4-ton stones all the way from Wales, some 300 miles off, to erect this monument, which may have been used to worship the sun. All they had was their hands, rollers, sledges, and, presumably, an enormous conviction to build a special place that would help them understand the world. It took them 500 years, and the site is still used today by druids to celebrate the summer solstice.
"Later generations have toiled over the construction of mosques with domed roofs, and cathedrals with towering spires. These architectural achievements bear witness to the deep yearnings we have for holy space.
"Unless you belong to an organized religion, you are unlikely to have a dedicated holy space in your life. It is said that nature is the ultimate location when we are searching for God, and for many of us this is indeed the very best place to be. But there can also be times when we feel the need to home in and find a smaller, more focused spiritual spot.
"The home altar, or shrine, can be found in many cultures. Hindus have a household shrine with images of deities, flowers, fruits, and incense. Mexican Catholics have colorful images of Jesus, Mary, and various saints, alongside candles, photos of deceased loved ones, trinkets, and dolls. Even the humblest homes in Bhutan have a Buddhist prayer room. All serve to transform the ordinary into a special place of worship.
"Western culture doesn't have this tradition of home altars, although frequently we create them unconsciously. The mantelpiece above the hearth, the heart of the home, is often the place where we put candles, photographs, and decorative objects that mean something to us. Table decorations, especially candles and flowers, are another way in which we symbolically transform a dining room table into an altar.
Why Home Altars Nurture A Family's Spirit
• "Home altars provide private space. Many of us lack private space in the home, especially if we are one of a couple and don't have our own bedroom. A home altar can be a space to go to when you seek solitude.
• "Home altars provide sacred space. They are conducive to prayer, meditation, and family ritual.
• "Home altars bring nature indoors. Objects from nature placed on your altar are a helpful reminder of the created world to which you belong.
• "Home altars can be used to celebrate the seasons and religious festivals. You can mark the passing year with seasonal items and religious symbols.
• "Home altars are a focus for inspiration. When visiting your altar you can read from a spiritual text you find inspiring. Or you can take a card from one of the growing number of spiritual card packs that are available.
• "Home altars are a place to honor deceased loved ones. Photos and mementos of those who have died can be treasured here.
• "Home altars can be used to mark family achievements and milestones. Objects that connect you to important family moments can be placed on your altar to enable contemplation and thanks.
• "Home altars encourage creativity. It can be after a period of contemplation that we feel most creative. Keep pens and paper handy.
• "Home altars give us a place where we can ask for help and guidance. Use your altar to help you work through personal struggles, arguments, and pain. Offer them up for help, if this fits into your belief system.
