Anchors and Altars

In a conversation with a dear friend, we talked of the struggle of trying to be present and grateful in times such as these. Every moment we are called to choose; each breath is a seed of choice, and the choice becomes more and more profound, as the world swirls in uncertainty, asking; How will I be in this troubled world?

Making the choice to be more rooted in awareness which invites the unfolding of appreciation and awareness of blessings in each moment requires more than just a turn of my head; I need an anchoring that feels sure, dependable, safe. I may want to hide, to curl up and sleep away my life but the call is not to escape, but to weave—to let the light from the unseen realms lace through the ordinary acts of care and presence. And that is the hardest, holiest work.

And yes, I speak of holy. We are woven; equally spiritual, physical, mental and emotional beings. If this is true, then claiming, practicing, and deepening our spiritual practices enhances all the parts of us, the most powerful anchor. If, like me, you chose another path than the religion of your youth, or you have a profound and living relationship with your spiritual practices now, in difficult times, it can be more of a challenge for all of us to navigate deepening a connection to the etheric world, to find an anchoring in the invisible.

There are many mindful awareness practices to help us anchor our attention to the present moment, out of the anxious thought, judgement, or beliefs that sometimes binds us. A simple pause before we rise, an invitation to our heart souls; May I offer this day the blessing of my loving awareness. At midday, maybe choose a natural pause in your day (while making tea, feeding pets, folding laundry). Gently say to yourself, This moment is the altar. I offer my presence. Notice texture, scent, sound—letting the sacred thread weave into the ordinary. At day’s end, write or speak aloud, What felt like an altar—what lifted me toward the sky? Then simply breathe, witnessing without needing to fix. Ask, What felt like an anchor today—what held me to the earth? Taking a few moments in each day to reflect and listen deeply seems out of our natural way, and in our Western culture where we maybe don’t have honored rituals, altars and sacred cultural practices handed down from ancestors, it won’t feel ‘natural’, but the more we practice, the more comfortable it feels, and quickly, the inner voice grows more easeful, peaceful and content; our deepest ancestral threads feel woven, and it becomes easier and easier to welcome the sacred into every day.

I speak of altars; maybe this feels especially foreign to you, a cultural practice rather than everyday sacred. And yet, an altar can be very simple, where devotion meets the everyday, and spirit is welcomed home.
Let me tell you of altars in my life; maybe this will be a practice for you to enhance your capacity to be more present. For me, an altar is a simple gathering of items that have special significance to me—a gift, photo, a stone, a candle, a flower. Spirit speaks in symbols and metaphor, fire is an ancient ritual practice, placing beloved items mindfully infuses the location with honor, reverence and love. If you have a shelf or wall of family photos— this is your family altar, a remembering of your connections, of love, of those with you and those who have passed on.

I invite you to place a few items together, on a shelf, window sill, dresser top, or maybe outdoors. Light a candle, get still, and create sacred in this moment with your loving awareness.

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TENDING THE ALTAR

A Ritual of Return and Remembrance

Materials (optional):

• A candle or small flame
• A bowl of water or a stone
• A photo, symbol, or object of ancestral or divine connection
• A small bell, chime, or your own voice

1. Begin with Breath

Stand or sit before your altar.

Inhale slowly, whispering inward: “I return”

Exhale gently, whispering outward: “I remember”

2. Light or Touch

Light your candle or touch your chosen anchor object.

Say aloud or silently: This altar is an anchor of spirit.

This moment is an offering of attention.”

3. Offer a Blessing

Place a hand on your heart.

Offer this poem as prayer or blessing:

I come not perfect, but present.

I come not to escape, but to remember.

This flame, this stone, this breath—

They are enough to call the sacred near.

I honor the ones who came before—

The tender, the strong, the wounded, the wise.

I anchor my spirit here.

I root in care, I rise in light.

I weave the worlds with open hands.

Today, may my life be the altar.

May my presence be the prayer.

4. Close with Sound or Silence

Ring a bell, hum, or simply bow your head.

Visualize the shining threads you’ve woven—between worlds, between breaths—glistening around you.

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