An altar is a sacred space you can create anywhere–in your home, on your desk or in your outdoor garden. You can create an altar wherever you want and you can use this special, meaningful place to meditate, pray, or just focus during your busy day. Understanding the meaning of altars will help you create your own sacred space.

History of Altars

Altars have been a part of human life for thousands of years in most religions and cultures. Judaism, Islam, Christianity, Hinduism, and Buddhism are just a few religions who have used altars to facilitate worship and healing. People throughout the ages have also created altars in their homes to honor ancestors, as a place to connect to the Divine, to grieve a loss, to focus on healing or other special situations or purposes in your life.

Altars are places where we connect to ourselves and the Divine. You can focus and connect with any purpose at the altar you create.  Also, you may design an altar as a devotion to your ancestors, to the Divine you worship or for the healing of someone you care about. You can construct an altar that changes with the seasons or holidays throughout the year.