Ways to Altar 3
Tabletop Altars
Tabletop, wall, and other altars can have a daily presence that underscore the intentions behind them. Building them requires time, and that time is part of the magic of altar building—the time spent can be contemplative and take you to new places in the subject of the altar. In this way, altar building can be transformative.
These more complex altars offer a lot of chances to introduce elements that have diverse functions and spiritual meanings. They can change regularly to give the altar a sense of life and flow with your day, month, and year experiences and celebrations.
Complex altars like the one above can start more simply, such as on a tabletop or dresser, or similar top surface. As items collect, and as reasons to use the altar collect, you can grow a simple tabletop altar into a dedicated, elaborate altar.
If you are new to altars, and even if you wish to build an elaborate altar, I suggest that you start with a simple portable altar. See ‘4 Minute Altars — Starter Kit’ here.
Portable altars described elsewhere in this Mulch blog can take the main altar intentions and emotional gravity on the road with your trips to work, vacation, +.
This image is from Dia de Los Muertos 2022 in Coachella, CA. See more of it here. Raices Cultura Gallery and the City of Coachella present a remarkable celebration every year.
Another post will discuss art-based wall altars.