How to Make A Portable Altar

By Rosemary Ellen Guiley

c. Visionary Living, Inc.

An altar anchors sacred space. Traditionally, an altar is an elevated place where religious ceremonies are conducted, and where offerings are made. In a home, an altar serves as a focal point for one’s private worship and communion. It is decorated with religious and personal objects whose symbolic meanings help our connection to the Divine.

Altars can be erected anywhere, such as on small tables in bedrooms, spare rooms and living rooms. More and more people are creating their own personal altars for their sacred space at home. They are as unique to each person.

Not everyone, however, has room for a permanent altar, even a small one. The perfect solution is the portable altar, which can easily be set up for prayer and meditation and then put away. Portable altars are ideal for travel as well.

I travel a great deal, and I like to take my own portable altar with me. It is stored in a jewelry roll, easily packed and ready to unroll anywhere, anytime. I had a lot of fun putting my altar together, and I would like to share a few tips for making your own portable altar.

A jewelry roll is the perfect storage bag. It has zippered compartments that protect fragile objects, and can be rolled into a compact size. Choose a medium or large bag. Mine is black velvet, but you may enjoy a flowered pattern.

The altar itself is established with a small kerchief or cloth napkin, kept folded in one of the compartments in the roll. Embroidered cotton or linen, or a silk pocket scarf all serve nicely. Mine is a silk pocket square that I bought in Japan. It bears an old silkscreen painting of the river of life framed by plum blossom trees. I place my altar objects on the cloth.

My altar reflects both West and East spiritual traditions. I have representation of the four elements. For me, these symbolize the four directions of Earth, as well as the four archangels of the heavenly quarters: Michael, who rules justice; Gabriel, who rules beginnings; Raphael, who rules healing; and Uriel, who rules Truth.

For fire, I use a tea light candle. These are small and compact. However, it is not safe to burn them without a container–the little metal wrap around them will not necessarily hold the melted wax. Most bed and bath shops sell small glass holders just big enough for a tea light. I found some pretty ones in frosted glass of different colors. I have one for the tea light candle and one to hold water for a representation of that element. For air, I have a small bird feather, and for earth, a small crystal. I place the objects representing the four elements at the corners of the altar cloth. I arrange the rest of my objects in the center of the cloth.

At an import shop, I found a tiny brass incense burner just big enough to hold a cone of incense. I carry two or three cones in the roll along with the burner and a packet of matches. Cones are much more durable in travel than sticks of incense, which break easily.

I also carry a small vial of frankincense essential oil. This is useful for anointing rituals and ceremonies. Any kind of essential oil is fine. Essential oils are very strong and must be diluted in water before being applied to skin. You can do so by placing a drop or two in your water tea light holder. Or, carry a third holder just for the diluted essential oil, which is what I do.

Other possibilities for a portable altar are religious symbols and jewelry, meditation beads, pressed and dried flowers, stones, bones, shells, and any mementoes that have a special spiritual significance to you. Be creative and enjoy!

###