One of my inspiration altars.
As a writer and creator I need all the inspiration I can get. Sometimes the muse doesn't show up and things don't flow as freely as when she does. During those times I take a dip into my mind's inspiration swimming pool and see what I can find. I may not come up with anything worthwhile at first, but the deeper I go, the more treasures I find.
One tool that helps me on these creativity dives is an inspiration altar.
I set one up in my writing spaces to fuel my inner muse.
And I'm not the only one; just take a look around the internet and you'll see all kinds of beautiful sacred spaces arranged with meaningful nick knacks.
Some go to their altars to worship, others to create. In a way, it's kind of the same thing!
My personal inspiration altar back home was a small dish with a lighted candle, crystals, a fairy figurine, and a postcard from Francesca Lia Block - my writing hero and mentor.
One tool that helps me on these creativity dives is an inspiration altar.
I set one up in my writing spaces to fuel my inner muse.
And I'm not the only one; just take a look around the internet and you'll see all kinds of beautiful sacred spaces arranged with meaningful nick knacks.
Some go to their altars to worship, others to create. In a way, it's kind of the same thing!
My personal inspiration altar back home was a small dish with a lighted candle, crystals, a fairy figurine, and a postcard from Francesca Lia Block - my writing hero and mentor.
Now it's a half a coconut shell lined with a silver star-patterned, cosmic blue drawstring bag and filled with beach stones and crystals, a vase filled with shells and flowers, and that same postcard.
Speaking of Francesca, in her writing workshops she encourages students to bring an item to place on the writing altar she sets up before each class. It can be anything: flowers, stones, photos of loved ones, personal mementos, tarot cards...
Many of her students, like me, continue this outside the workshops.
Speaking of Francesca, in her writing workshops she encourages students to bring an item to place on the writing altar she sets up before each class. It can be anything: flowers, stones, photos of loved ones, personal mementos, tarot cards...
Many of her students, like me, continue this outside the workshops.
Photo Credit: Ashley Inguanta
Burlesque queen Veronica Varlow of Danger Dame created a traveling altar - a makeup case filled with magical things she takes on tour.
Photo Credit: Veronica Varlow
What to place on the inspiration altar...
An altar is a personal thing and it's really up to you what you collect for your sacred, creative space.
Feathers, flowers, stones and crystals, antlers, figurines, photos of loved ones and personal heroes, tarot cards, candles, heirlooms, poetry, prayers, lockets...
Look at the items around your home, the ones that hold meaning and magic, and use those. Of course you can always buy things that catch your eye and feel inspiring. You might even come across magical things on a walk. My grandpa found an old skeleton key buried in the dirt and gave it to me. Just think of the stories it holds! Keep your eye out for little treasures.
Everything I place on the inspiration altar is imbued with a certain kind of magic that helps my pen/marker/keyboard feel juicy.
How to use it
Again, being such a personal thing, it's up to you how you use it.
You might want to include it in your morning ritual, mediate near it, say a prayer.
Or you might just want to sit next to it with your laptop when you need some extra oomph to write your next blog post.
I let the items on my altar inspire my words. When I'm writing I think about how I feel and what I want to express. I think about what my readers are feeling. I think about my favorite writers sitting at their desks with pen to paper.
Do you already have an altar? What's on it? How does it help you?
Let me know in the comments or on Facebook/Twitter! Post a picture of it if you'd like. I'd love to see :)
An altar is a personal thing and it's really up to you what you collect for your sacred, creative space.
Feathers, flowers, stones and crystals, antlers, figurines, photos of loved ones and personal heroes, tarot cards, candles, heirlooms, poetry, prayers, lockets...
Look at the items around your home, the ones that hold meaning and magic, and use those. Of course you can always buy things that catch your eye and feel inspiring. You might even come across magical things on a walk. My grandpa found an old skeleton key buried in the dirt and gave it to me. Just think of the stories it holds! Keep your eye out for little treasures.
Everything I place on the inspiration altar is imbued with a certain kind of magic that helps my pen/marker/keyboard feel juicy.
How to use it
Again, being such a personal thing, it's up to you how you use it.
You might want to include it in your morning ritual, mediate near it, say a prayer.
Or you might just want to sit next to it with your laptop when you need some extra oomph to write your next blog post.
I let the items on my altar inspire my words. When I'm writing I think about how I feel and what I want to express. I think about what my readers are feeling. I think about my favorite writers sitting at their desks with pen to paper.
Do you already have an altar? What's on it? How does it help you?
Let me know in the comments or on Facebook/Twitter! Post a picture of it if you'd like. I'd love to see :)
