Mini Altars of the Heart ♡°❀⋆
Gathering What
Sings to You
There's something about gathering beautiful objects that has always called to me. I'm pretty sentimental - always hunting for special things, lasting and fleeting, of the earth and of human creation. Which is why the Mini Anytime Altar practice from my Creativity Wheel e-book has always been one of my longtime favorites.
The concept is simple: gather objects nearby and arrange them into a magical still life, then photograph your composition to preserve the creative energy. But like most simple practices, there are layers within layers.
The Gathering
The first layer is gathering itself. I move around my space collecting things that make my heart sing - objects that spark curiosity or feel aesthetically appealing. As I do this, I appreciate what I'm choosing without thinking too much about it. It's pure impulse, which is its own practice of dropping into the heart and out of the analytical mind.
I often gather more than I end up using - that's part of the process. No need to edit while you're in flow, just go and follow your heart. You'll pull the final pieces that call to you most in the moment.
This week, I found myself drawn to four Stabilo chunky colored pencils - a new material I've only played with a few times. Including them felt like intention-setting, a way of inviting more play with this medium. I also gathered one of my favorite crystals, a carnelian egg, for potent creative expression, and a little wooden owl carving that's dear to my heart. Owls have always been a cherished spirit animal - I wish I could see them in the wild more often, but they remain mysterious and hidden. I added a shell I painted years ago with the intention of wisdom.
All of these pieces spoke to my heart in that moment. Looking back at the picture now, I feel infused with their energetic essences.
The point is to exercise flow, to be guided by what calls to you. I recommend having music playing - it helps tap into childlike play and wonder.
The Arranging
One of my anchor pieces was a petite bouquet from Trader Joe's ($3.99 - a favorite altar addition). When I shopped this week, there was a flower I'd never seen before. Having a background in floral design, I was astonished by this beautiful bloom. I arranged that bouquet early in my week, knowing it would serve as a focal point.
This time, I was called to arrange my mini altar outside. I wanted the earth, the bees, and the butterflies to bless my creation with their flaps and flutters. But I've done this practice countless times indoors and outdoors - any setting is the perfect setting.
I pulled a couple oracle cards too - I love adding them for direction through color, intention, or message. These cards felt spot-on. There was this image of a woman being carried by a massive bird, which resonated deeply since I've been receiving feathers as signs lately. In many ways, I long to be carried.
The Meaning-
Making
Part of this practice is creating meaning throughout. Sometimes that meaning is purely aesthetic. Sometimes it's just play - arranging objects and photographing them. With digital photography (and my tendency to take countless pictures), I like to pretend there's film in my phone. Compose the picture, sit with it, capture interesting angles.
You explore your personal sense of styling and photographic composition. Then you can leave it there, or pull deeper meaning from what you've created.
For me, those cards carried powerful messages. Being in my third trimester, I long to be carried like that woman on the card - to have support carry me through to the end. The altar reminded me that I do have access to that support, that I am held by those in this dimension and beyond. One way I can activate that support is by activating my own courage.
An Invitation
to Try
This practice asks very little - just willingness to play, gather, arrange, and see what emerges. There's no right way, no perfect objects to choose. It's about letting objects guide you into unexpected moments of meaning and beauty.
What objects around you are calling to be gathered? What small altar wants to emerge from the things that make your heart sing?
Try it and see what meaning unfolds - sometimes profound insights come through simply arranging a few beautiful things.
