November Gratitude Altar

I know, it’s cliché, but, yes, November is the month of gratitude. It’s so hard in these times when we feel disconnected (especially during a holiday) from human contact, friends, and family, loved ones. We are spending more time indoors, possibly isolating, because of the current health climate.

Of course, this affects our mental health. This is a time when more than ever I need to remind myself of the grace in my life. A clean, safe roof over my head, the ability to feed and nourish myself, my little kitty-cat, and of course, other blessings both simple and possibly profound, when I begin my gratitude practice.

The first thing I like to do in the morning is to sit for a moment, in the quiet of the dawn and just take it all in. In the Qigong practice, morning is the time when nature is soaking up that sun after a long, and possibly cold night. We are no different; our natural being soaks up the morning like a sponge, transforming our meditations and reflections into reality, goals completed, tasks finished.

I want to talk about creating a gratitude altar at home. Your sacred altar is a personal place for you to harness spiritual energy. It is your own space of tranquil harmony, and therefore the perfect area for worship, meditation, and reciting rituals. Through the daily practice of self-reflection and honoring your altar, you will create a line of clear communication to realign with Source, your Higher Self, and the Eternal Spirit within.

To begin, find an area in your house that you can call your own. Collect physical objects to represent the energetic elements of Earth, Air, Water, Fire, and Spirit.

Through the repetition of holding space for yourself at your altar, you may identify a calm and peaceful state of emotional well-being immediately upon viewing.

I keep a blank journal and pen next to my altar, as well as books, sacred objects, and animal cards.

Remember to write those five, ten, and twenty things that are aspects of your life to be grateful for. As many meditation masters have proclaimed (Amma, Thich Nhat Hanh, Ram Dass), a grateful heart brings happiness. There are so many elements of society, class, and the current global health situation that are out of control, and out of our control. By centering at the heart center and finding refuge within we can create a sanctuary for our Spirits to reside in harmony with nature, the Great Spirit, and each other.

Om shanti shanti,

Peace with you,
Karen

Article inspired by the book “Daily Rituals”, by Phoebe Garnsworthy