How my work altar helps me get into flow

If you aren’t familiar with the idea of a home altar or work altar, then this might sound a bit odd at first, but I hope you will stick with me.

Lots of people who do energy work—myself included—employ the use of small altars in their living spaces. For some people, it is a way of connecting with spirit, and could include a statue of a saint, a Buddha, or a Hindu god. Some people honor their ancestors with altars; others use it as part of a magickal practice.

For me (and for many others), it is a way of connecting with universal energy, and of working with feng shui principles and practices to keep proper energy flow in my house.

Little Altars Everywhere

I have a small altar space on my desk. Each day, before I sit down to begin my work—writing these blog posts, drafting emails, engaging with clients, developing new programs, etc.—I create the altar for the day.

It begins with an index card on which I’ve written a thought, affirmation or mantra. After I lay that card down, I think about what it says as I anchor it at the top with a candle holder. I use a tea light holder made of a piece of rose quartz, a stone which is a stone associated with loving energy and emotional healing. You can find a similar one here.

I then add items to reflect all four elements: air, water, fire, and earth. For air, I add one or more feathers. Water is represented by seashells or a fossilized ammonite. Fire is literally represented by fire, once I light my candle. And earth is represented by stones, such as the rose quartz candle holder, other gemstones, or even small rocks that I have collected on my walks.

Below are a few representations of what it has looked like in recent days.

I include all four elements because each element represents or is associated with something:

AIR: thoughts and beliefs

WATER: emotions

FIRE: actions

EARTH: material resources

If my thoughts and beliefs, emotions, actions, and material resources are aligned and pulling in the same direction, then I am able to focus and work in what amounts to a flow state. I’m centered and grounded; it helps me to focus.

When I light my candle, which is the last thing I do once the altar is together, it is a moment of mindfulness. Of dropping into myself and into my space. It alerts me that my workday has started in earnest.

Sometimes, I light a stick of palo santo (that I’ve been using for well over a year now) to create smoke—another way of integrating both fire and air into my practice. The smoke helps to clear the energy in my space. If you want to use palo santo, please only buy sustainably harvested wood, such as this product.

Sometimes, I spray Lavender Sage Smudge Spray from Mystic Ginger Apothecary or Smudge It Spray from Willow Moon Candles as a way of clearing the energy in my space. (Both of these businesses are local to me and run by light workers whom I trust.)

Once I’ve completed my ritual, I know it’s time to settle in and start my work day.

If you’d like to hear me explain this in more detail, CLICK HERE to watch a FB Live I did on this topic. And if you aren’t already following me on FB, click to follow while you’re there!

I’ve also created a beautiful PDF booklet that will provide instruction and inspiration if you would like to create your own work altar. It includes sample mantras, affirmations and guiding thoughts, some possible items to represent the four elements—air, water, fire, and earth—and some how-to instructions on setting up your own work altar. If you would like the booklet, click here.