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An altar created by the Lama Foundation
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A newborn baby is one with the world. There is no distinction between 'me' and the 'universe.' As we grow we are torn, time and again, from this union, only to rediscover it, as seekers of Spirit.
Our oneness with the universe has been celebrated by indigenous cultures around the world since time immemorial. Prevalent was the realization of our inner journey as reflecting an outer one. The cyclical journey of the moon around the earth, the earth around the sun, and our soul around our daily life, is one and the same journey.
We are, in fact, one with the Great Mother, in the same way as a newborn is with its' own biological mom. Our choice is whether to awaken to this connection and nurture it, or ignore it and thus swim against its' stream.
How can we re-awaken to the living nature of all that surround us?
The Earth-based, or Pagan traditions, perceive the earth and its elements as living beings and our allies. Air, Fire, Water and Earth are alive if we take the time to tune into their gifts. They are also representations of the four directions (East, South, West and North), and mirrors of inner qualities, which we can listen to and nurture.
An understanding of the Elements:
Air is where the winds fly and our breath sustains us. It is the element of crystal clarity. Its' direction, East, is the place of the rising sun, of new beginnings and renewal.
Fire is the eternal flame of passion and compassion, which lives in the South. It is the place of our creativity, and our inner, spontaneous child.
Water is the Western realm of the heart, the ebb and flow of the ocean and our emotions.
The circle completes with Earth in the North, a place of grounding, where we can root ourselves in the wisdom of our ancestors.
Creating a personal altar
Pagan traditions are practical ones. They work with all of our senses to surround us with the essence of the world and its elements. By creating an altar to represent the elements, we establish a place of focus, grounding and centering in the midst of our daily noises.
Find a cloth that will be the ground beneath your altar, and will distinguish the sacred from the mundane. Then start gathering the elements onto it. A feather, a chime, incense or sage may represent Air. Fire can be brought to life with a candle. You may want to gather Water from a special place: a stream, lake or the ocean. Or you may charge your tap water by filling a chalice or a special bowl and letting them soak the rays of the moon over night. Earth may be represented by a crystal, a rock or actual dirt from your back yard, lying on a special dish.
Gathering your altar elements may take a while.
Let it take as long as it needs to be. If you are feeling in a hurry, ask yourself what in your life is hurried, what may need to slow down?
This journey is more about looking into the mirror than about finding the object you call mirror. Continue living your daily life with the intent of calling the elements to you. For instance a sunset may reveal more about fire than an expensive or fancy candle.
Make a commitment to not purchase anything before you have had a real encounter with the element. Treat an encounter with an element as your gateway to entering the journey towards that particular realm.
The water in your shower may welcome you to its' flow, whispering in your ear the secrets of water, which always flows in the path of least resistance. Paying attention to the soles of your feet as you walk may reveal to you a connection with the earth you may have forgotten.
The journey towards creating your personal altar is a journey of opening to the four elements, the four directions, which can become a compass in each of our lives.
As an element speaks to you, inquire into its role in your life.
With the element of Air ask yourself - How deep or shallow is my breath? Does it reach my belly or does it stop at my chest?
With the element of fire, you can ask - Where is my Fire? What motivates me? Do I burn both ends of my candle at the same time? Or is my candle still waiting for someone else's flame to ignite it?
Meditating on water you may wonder - How is the flow of my emotional river? Is the riverbed smooth with round pebbles or does it flow in rapids, crushing against rocks?
The element of earth asks you to consider - How rooted am I in the place I call home? How grounded do I feel during my day, especially when something happens that sends me off center? Do I stay off center for the rest of the day? Or just for the next minute? How can I use the Earth to help me come back to myself?
Air, Fire, Water and Earth can become our intimate allies, as we take keen interest in the way they interplay in our lives. Let their voices be heard in the most unexpected places. Let their qualities dance in your life. When you finally create an altar in a special place in your home, it will be a reminder of our oneness with the universe.
For more information about the Lama Foundation, visit www.lamafoundation.org