We all contain some sort of alter in our house.
A dresser with pictures of those we love.
A desk with pictures of those we have lost.
Things gather in a particular place and with no reason in our heart, they settle and become permanent.
We collect that which looks beautiful to us.
We purchase the most expensive statues of Saints and Gods, looking to them for resolution.
My alter started simple.
I had to hide who I was becoming.
Things placed in the open, with crystals scattered in different cupboards, candles set with no intention, I began to build my alter to the Universe.
Now I have two alters.
One for the living and one for the dead.
Pictures of those who have passed, Saint Death, an offering of fresh flowers, crystals, and things remembered.
They represent my ancestors.
Those who dwelled in the trees and mountains.
Those who whisper to me in the darkest nights of my life.
They reveal to me an answer.
The alter of life sits in my office.
It represents those who are still walking this planet.
Who bring joy to my heart even though they may live miles away.
Believe me when I say, I miss them every fucking day.
It contains pictures of living people, crystals that represent life, my wand, Our Lady of Guadalupe, and Feather Fans for smudging.
Which do I feel connected to?
The alter of death calls to me more than the living, now that I am older.
My power has evolved, and most of the time all that is needed is a picture of a person to keep them safe from harm.
They will sit on the alter until I feel that they are okay.
Most of the time they sit on the alter of living for a few years, because they are always evolving.
The alter of the living is there to help those that I love in their spiritual growth.
Do we need an alter?
Not really, but spirit will lead us to build something that resembles one.
We may find our dresser and shelves filled with crystals that speak to us when they wish to be moved, or pictures of those who have passed on one side of the room, while those who are living are on the other.
The Universe has a way of leading us back to the truth.
We turn to our ancestors and try to connect through the items that are from the past.
We seek an answer to this thing called life.
Why should we have an alter?
To keep us connected to our soul purpose.
To help us understand the truth when we wish to only understand the lie.
To open up a line of communication with those who have passed.
To keep us humble.
Maybe it is all just in my mind, that the alter has some sort of power, when really the alter is within us.
We shape and form it into this reality, so that we can feel connected to the things we cannot see.
Like the High Priestess card, things unseen are taking place behind the curtains.
We leave it up to the spirits to take care of the obstacles in our way when times get tough.
The alter is our expression of love towards the Universe, acknowledging that there is something bigger out there, and that the vastness of the Universe is also within the vessel we call a body.
We will do what we want in the end, but know what we create alters in every place we inhabit.
With all my love,
Aaron