(I’ll post an updated photo of our altar at St Mike’s soon).
Locate your zabuton (mat) and zafu/stool/chair in a quiet area at home. Ideally you will sit facing a plain wall, but some look out on a still garden area, or sit facing into the room. No distractions!
Your Altar should be simple and minimalist, as follows
- Some people hang an appropriate Eastern scroll or contemplative image on the wall behind.
- Place an appropriate (Eastern fabric?) cloth on the top of your table or a dresser. If it’s a square, arrange it on the diagonal, so one corner hangs over and down at center front, ditto on each side.
- In the center – a bowl or small container with the water offering.
- at 12:00 – the altar image, or statue preferably on an elevating base.
- at 3:00 – the candle (for safety’s sake at home, use an electric candle).
- at 6:00 – the incense bowl (use beach sand? Sieve it regularly and gently pat it back into shape – a gentle meditative practice).
- at 9:00 – the flower(s) in a vase.
Nothing on the altar should be taller than the statue or image.
Keep it simple: no beads, no skulls, no jewelry or papers and books….
That’s it! Nothing else.
May 31, 2014 at 12:45 pm
My garden is my alter, my world is my sacred space.