Beginning on this page, there are several examples of
altars erected for a specific purpose and the objects
placed on them. These altars are eclectic, and not
especially based on any religion or lack thereof. Feel free
to change them to incorporate your own ideas and
desires.
Maintaining an Altar
It is a good idea to cleanse your altar periodically. Dust
does accumulate, as does pet hair. Some people feel that
need to cleanse their altar weekly by smudging or
burning incense and sprinkling holy water. Others only
clean when their instincts say it is necessary, or after
negative people have been in the house and have
touched the altar.
Try to cleanse your altar separately from your
ordinary housecleaning so you can concentrate on the
action and not shatter the vibrations built up around the
altar. Remove any dead flowers, clean up incense ashes,
and trim candle drips. Rearrange or replace any items
you wish.
If children are visitors or permanent residents, they
will probably rearrange things on the altar. Take this in
stride and be patient. As long as the children are not
destructive, arranging an altar can be an enthralling
pastime for them.
Altars can be erected in celebration, commemoration,
to mark life's turning points, or to heal grief. They are
also valuable in helping you to focus energy on a
specific part of your life that you would like to improve