How To Create A Self-Love Altar For Honouring Yourself

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This post teaches you how to create a self-love altar for honouring yourself and deepening the relationship that you have with yourself.

Building a self-love altar is a beautiful way of creating a sacred space dedicated to yourself and cultivating a self-love practice.

I have put together this guide to teach you how to set up an altar for self-love including tips, ideas and inspiration for creating and using your altar.

What is a self-love altar?

A self-love altar is an altar built in devotion to oneself and a place dedicated to practising self-love in whatever way resonates with you.

It is a sacred space where you can nurture the relationship that you have with yourself, go deeper within, explore who you are and show love to yourself.

A self-love altar is personal to the individual and how it is used will depend on their beliefs, practices and intentions however some examples of how you can use a self-love altar include self-love rituals, spending time there in meditation, shadow work practices or even beauty-related activities.

How to create an altar for self-love

Step 1) Get clear on your intentions

Set some intentions for your altar and how you would like to use it. Is there a specific intention that you have?

Step 2) Decide on your location

Next, pick a location that suits your preferences and intentions best. You may want to place your altar in a quiet environment that is free from any potential disturbances such as your bedroom, an office space or a special place in your home where you like to spend time.

Decide on what type of surface you wish to use too.

Here are some examples:

A dressing table
A table (such as a coffee, side table or nightstand)
A shelf

Step 3) Cleanse your altar

Now, time to cleanse! First, give your surface a freshen up then take your desired cleansing tool and clear the energy of the space.

Here are some examples of cleansing tools:

An incense stick
Burn dried herbs that correspond with your intentions in a fireproof dish
Moon water
Salt water or infused water intended for cleansing
A bell or singing bowl
Frequency music

Step 4) Add your items

Add your desired items and items that are special to you.

Do not worry if you do not have a lot of things to begin with, you do not need a lot and you can build your altar up and tweak things over time! This is one thing I love about altars, they grow with you.

You can simply start with a candle or an ornament that you feel drawn to.

Here are some examples of things to include:

A table cloth
A framed picture
Candles or battery-operated candles for an alternative option
Fairy lights or a mood lamp to create a cosy atmosphere
Motivational quotes
Artwork e.g. something you find pretty, inspiring or something you created
A vision board
A letter to yourself
Flowers
Beauty items
Enchanted items
A journal
Crystals
Empowering books

You can also place a cushion, meditation pillow or a small stool by your altar to sit on!

Now that you have your altar, here are some ideas and inspiration for using it.

8 Self-love altar ideas

1) Meditation

Practice meditation at your altar such as a simple silent meditation to de-stress, sit with yourself and go within or follow guided meditations such as those designed for self-love, confidence and healing purposes.

If you are someone who feels you are always on the go and would benefit from more time relaxing, unwinding and being present, creating some time in your daily schedule to meditate in your sacred space is a gentle yet effective place to start.

2) Self-love rituals

Perform self-love rituals and self-love-related workings at your altar such as spell candles, spell jars and glamour magick related to self-love, confidence and beauty.

3) Beauty practices

Use your self-love altar as a place for beauty-related activities to honour yourself and your vessel.

Some examples include:

Taking care of your hair
Applying oils, lotions and other skincare products
Applying makeup
Putting on jewellery
Applying nail polish

4) Journaling

Dedicate a journal to your self-love practice and keep it by your altar.

Here are some ways to use your journal:

To put your thoughts onto paper as a way of reflecting and relieving stress
Use journal prompts specifically for self-love
Use journal prompts for shadow work and self-discovery
Make a bucket list of things you would like to do for yourself

5) Self-love affirmations

Recite empowering affirmations for self-love to yourself or write them down to cultivate a sense of self-love, build confidence and transform your mindset overall.

You could keep a mirror at your self-love altar to practice mirror work where you look at yourself in the reflection and recite positive affirmations out loud or in your head.

6) Manifestation techniques

Practice manifestation techniques at your altar to manifest your desires. Some common techniques include visualizing, scripting and working with a vision board.

One fun tip is to create a vision board specifically for self-love! Add empowering quotes, affirmations and images that align with your intentions. Look at your board daily to motivate you and assist you in embodying the version of you who has your desires.

7) Yoga and moving your body

Keep a yoga mat by your altar for yoga, gentle stretching or even fitness workouts to practice being present in the body, taking care of your body and honouring yourself.

8) Resting, reflecting and intention setting

Use your altar as a sacred space to retreat to when you need some you time. Spend time here resting and relaxing at the end of a long day or when you need it most. See it as a place where you can reflect and set intentions.

Sit here to plan your week or a brand new month writing down your goals, reminders and self-care to-do’s.

This post was all about how to build a self-love altar.