Can You Put An Altar In Your Bedroom? (A Home Meditation Guide)

While having a sizeable home altar isn’t a tradition in a big part of the western world, more and more homeowners are creating different types of altars in homes today than before.

The ever-rising popularity of meditation and yoga has introduced numerous individuals to stunningly magnificent Eastern altars that show the deep human adoration or—and longing for—divine energies.

The Feng Shui tradition of the Orient requires that every home and business be equipped with its own altar.

This practice is commonplace in many Chinese homes and businesses, such as gift shops or restaurants.

Whether you revere feng shui or you are an ardent yoga enthusiast, a decent alter somewhere in your bedroom can be a remarkable achievement.

But, Can You Really Put An Altar In Your Bedroom?

Absolutely. Alters are normally small enough to fit even in the most cramped spaces of an average home. There are three basic items that are universal to many different altars because they help purify the space and elevate the energy. These items are candles, crystals, and essential oils or incense. Once you have all these items ready for the altar, you are ready to go. You should start by locating the best spot in your bedroom for this purpose. Feng shui-wise, it’s best if the altar can be placed in the Northwest part of your bedroom. This is not very necessary, though, therefore don’t be worried if your altar ends up in one of your bedroom’s corners.

See Also: When Should You Put Up Day Of The Day Décor?

Six Ways To Put Together A Bedroom Altar

First off, consider how you’ll use your altar.

Regardless of the size of the alter and where you decide to place it, the uses for the alter normally remains the same:

  • Quiet meditation
  • A reminder of something sacred during your everyday life

But that’s not written in stone.

It is important that you know what you will use the altar for as well as how you will use it.

Once you have made up your mind, you can be free to decide such things as the location and the necessary items.

1. Find a good spot in your bedroom for the altar

It is recommended that – if you plan to use your altar for some quiet meditation – you find a quiet space in your bedroom that will offer the best conditions you need for your meditation or whichever purpose you intend for the altar.

Since you plan to install it in your bedroom, the corner of the bedroom is definitely the perfect spot of installation.

Also, if you plan to have the altar as your daily reminder of the sacredness in your own life, a central spot in your bedroom would be great.

Meditation purists recommend a location that you and/or your family passes by frequently, such as the hallway, to remind you to be compassionate and grateful throughout the day.

Nonetheless, the corner of your bedroom can also be great as long as you understand the purpose.

2. Create a firm foundation for the altar.

The foundation doesn’t need to be fancy, just firm.

First, you will require a tabletop or a simple flat top to put the altar.

If you intend it for quiet meditation, remember to have a reasonably low surface to allow you to pull up a chair or meditation pillow and have it within easy view.

In case you have made up your mind to position the alter in the middle of your bedroom, any flat surface at the chest or hip level will do because you will most likely stand next to your altar during its daily use.

Very much the same way an area rug establishes cohesion in any room, its décor, and furnishings, an altar cloth helps establish cohesion on the altar by bringing all the items together.

The altar cloth is usually something truly special, often made of silk, but can also be a simple bit of burlap or a piece of lace – whichever you can resonate with.

3. Decide what you’ll put on the altar.

When setting up an altar in your bedroom, there are no wrong/right objects to put there, provided each item holds significance to you or your family in a sacred manner.

Religious icons, an incense burner, and candles are some of the typical items you’d put on your bedroom altar.

Photographs of loved ones can be a wonderful addition to further personalize it.

Nature-based objects are a favorite of many yoga enthusiasts – you can add a few to your altars too.

You can use

  • plants or flowers
  • shells
  • rocks
  • crystals
  • pine cones
  • driftwoods
  • beach glass
  • etc.

4. There are unlimited ways to arrange all objects on the altar.

If you are a religious icon, then you’ll be more inclined to take a central spot toward the rear of the altar.

However, you can choose to arrange the items in any format you want.

If you are planning for a Native American-inspired altar, for example, the objects will need to be arranged in all 4 directions.

Imagine yourself in the north: the candle (representing Fire) located in the east (or your left-hand side); incense (Air) in the south, a crystal or rock (Earth) in the north, and a bowl of water (fresh Water) in the west.

You can also choose to align the feng shui altar with Bagua, which represents one of the Five Elements or images of nature of the Bagua regions normally,  plants or plant materials in the Wealth/Riches corner; crystal in Romance, spiritual icons in Fame; metal bells in Helpful People and Creativity areas; an image of a hill/mountain in Self-Knowledge; small tortoise in the Career region; Tai Chi at the Center, and incense in Health & Family.

5. Always Refresh The Items On Your Altar, Whether Feng Shui Or Not

Altars should never be static, stagnant fixtures in your bedroom.

Be sure to move and touch the objects around the bedroom and even replace them with newer objects occasionally.

6. And lastly, remember to use it daily!

With an altar already established in your bedroom, a serious and timely (normally daily) meditation practice can be difficult to achieve.

However, all you need to do is to start viewing it as the most sacred addition you’ve ever brought in your bedroom – something that should inspire you to make at least daily reconnection with your Sacred world.

Place encouraging collections or any good news from photos, emails, invitations, thank you’s, etc. on your altar.

You can also place the checks you receive in your work, gifts, as well as red envelopes that you receive from your clients.

Lighting the candle immediately you wake up or before bed or during each meditation session, and saying a few mantras (basically, a prayer) and then sending intentions out to anyone you’ve connected with can define the typical moment in your shrine.

Buy new flowers once every week and give thanks for the abundance and feeling of prosperity in your life, right in your bedroom!

Summary

  • You actually can set up an altar in your bedroom. There is no set of rules that dictates where to install your altar and what you should put on it – there are only suggestions.
  • First and foremost, consider how you’ll use your altar – regardless of the size of the altar, the two common uses for any altar are: quiet meditation and a reminder of something sacred during your everyday life.
  • Find a good spot for your altar in your bedroom – it is recommended that, if you plan to use your altar for some quiet meditation, you should find a quiet space somewhere in your bedroom where the best conditions for the meditation can be found.
  • Since you plan to install it in your bedroom, the corner of the bedroom is definitely the perfect spot for installation.
  • Create a firm foundation for the altar – the foundation doesn’t need to be fancy, just firm
  • You will require a tabletop or a simple flat top to put the altar.
  • If you intend it for quiet meditation, remember to have a reasonably low surface to allow you to pull up a chair or meditation pillow and have it within easy view.
  • Once you have prepared the foundation, decide what you’ll put on the altar.
  • When setting up an altar in your bedroom, there are no wrong/right objects to put there, provided each item holds significance to you or your family in a sacred manner.
  • There are unlimited ways to arrange all objects on the altar – if you are a religious icon, then you’ll be more inclined to take a central spot toward the rear of the altar.
  • You can also choose to arrange the items in any format you want.
  • Always refresh the items on your altar, whether feng shui or not
  • Altars should never be static, stagnant fixtures in your bedroom. Be sure to move and touch the objects around the bedroom and even replace them with newer objects occasionally
  • With an altar already established in your bedroom, a serious and timely (normally daily) meditation practice can be difficult to achieve.
  • Place encouraging collections or any good news from photos, emails, invitations, thank you’s, etc. on your altar. You can also place the checks you receive in your work, gifts, as well as red envelopes that you receive from your clients.
  • Also, lighting the candle immediately you wake up or before bed or during each meditation session, and saying a few mantras, and then sending intentions out to anyone you’ve connected with can define the typical moment in your shrine.