Create a Self-Love Altar: Claim Sacred Space for Yourself

Excerpt from Reform Your Inner Mean Girl

by Amy Ahlers and Christine Arylo

A sacred ritual doesn’t have to be a big production; it is simply a ceremony you create and partake in to honor the commitment you are making to yourself. This specific sacred ritual is a physical manifestation of the emotional and spiritual shifts you are making inside. It’s a testimony of love for yourself. We humans need physical evidence and things we can touch and see to believe the changes we feel inside are happening on the outside.

To complete this part of the process, your inspired action is to make a sacred self-love altar for you and your Inner Wisdom in your home and then commit to sacred dates with her every morning; or if you are already connecting every morning, expand your time with her to include additional weekly, monthly, or semiannual dates. This self-love altar will be the place you can go to connect with her, a special place just for the two of you. Having this space in your home will remind you of your Inner Wisdom and your commitment to treat this relationship as primary and holy in your life.

Making a sacred altar can be as elaborate or as simple as you like, as public or as secret as you want. This doesn’t have to be some big project; in fact, start small and simple right now by following these instructions, and then if you want, you can add on later. Don’t delay; get started now. We’ve made this so simple, you can do it immediately. And if you already have an altar in your home, make another one or add to it in honor of your Inner Wisdom. Or create one in your office or in your garden outside. A girl can never have too many sacred self-love altars!

Four Simple Steps to Creating Your Sacred Space and Committing to Yourself

1. Choose a space in your home that can be just yours. This can be a nightstand, a bookshelf, a table, the top of a dresser, or even a hat box that you put a scarf over. Something flat that will allow you to put just a few sacred objects on it—objects that no one else has to know are sacred if you don’t want them to. Your bedroom or closet is a great place for an altar, because it tends to be a more private, or a special room that is mostly for you, but anywhere in your home will do just perfect. Don’t be shy about claiming space in your home, no matter who else lives with you.
2. Choose three items to place on your altar that feel sacred, remind you of your fullest self, or just feel beautiful. Ideas include photos of you, a crystal or a stone or something from nature, a candle, special jewelry, a flower, a stuffed animal, a chalice filled with rose petals or something meaningful, inspiring words, a special card or picture that opens your heart, a written mantra you want to remember, spiritual items with special meaning to you. With a meaningful or beautiful scarf or cloth as the base, this place is fast becoming your sacred altar.
3. Consecrate your altar by committing to your Inner Wisdom–led life. You’ll want some natural element for this—like fire (a candle or incense) or water (a glass of tap or sparkling) or wind (a feather) or earth (just a handful of sand or dirt, or a stone). Don’t get fancy— just grab what you have. Stand in front of this beautiful simple altar you have created, ignite whatever element you’ve chosen (i.e., light the candle, sprinkle some water or earth on the altar), and say the words on the previous page out loud. For extra superpower, make sure to say, “I choose to live an Inner Wisdom–led life” three times slowly, pausing and breathing in between each one so you can really feel the words and the energy of self-love and commitment behind them. The repetition, pausing, and breathing helps you lock into your promises to keep your commitment to living an Inner Wisdom–led life.
4. Keep your sacred morning dates with your Inner Wisdom everyday, no matter what. Use this altar as a reminder to keep the promise of sacred dates with your Inner Wisdom every morning. And when you travel, pack one piece of the altar to bring with you and set it up wherever you are. Your Inner Wisdom loves to take trips with you!