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I thought that it might be interesting for some of you to see how we do it in my path....
The Ancestral Altar should in fact be separate from any altar to the Orisha or Loa. It is preferably set up outside, in the garden, on a porch, in a hallway or carriage way - but not in the bedroom or living-room where the presence of ghosts is not favored.
There are different guidelines for the orisha altars.
CONSTRUCTING AN ALTER
The main idea of constructing your own alter is to create your own sacred doorway between the living and the spirit world.
At your alter you can speak to your ancestors, ask them for guidance and support, good fortune and health or whatever you wish. The ancestors love you. They will support you, guide you and try to do their best for you.
Here is what to do to make your alter.
1. Upon a wooden table lay down a red or white cloth.
2. Place a photo of a deceased relative who loves you dearly at the back of the alter. He/she will be a guide for you. You can talk to your chosen person from your alter and ask for guidance and support. Don't be afraid..this person loves you and means you no harm.
If you do not have a photo then perhaps an object belonging to the desired person.
3. Collect four stones from outside your house. Clean them in warm salt water or lay upon amythyst for 7 hours and place them at each corner of your alter.
4. Place a clear water vessel in the center of your alter (a glass bowl for example). Fill with water and add a few drops of white rum into the water.
A mirror is also very effective but more complex!
Look into the water bowl when meditating or searching for answers to questions you may have asked.
A simple meditation technique is to breath in through the nose feeling your stomach rise as you inhale......Hold for a count of three and slowly exhale out of your mouth.
Do this ten times or untill you feel relaxed
5. Place some soil from outside your house and some salt into a glass candle stick holder.
Place a white candle into the holder. Cover the candle in vegetable oil and try to transmit energy from your hand into the candle as you rub the oil over it.
Place the candle in its holder complete with soil and salt in front of your water vessel.
6. Decorate your alter with symbolic artifacts. Try not to over do it . Wooden masks, tribal symbols, colours.
Did your deceased relative like sweets or smoke?....If so place them upon your alter as a gift.
You can also place crystals upon your alter and offerings to the Loa like rum or cigars.
C. A CEREMONY YOU CAN DO YOURSELF!
The Loa love you and will help you as best as they can so why not repay the favour by giving them an ancestral feast! Favourite foods are rice, chicken, yams, plankton, fish, fruit, milk, fresh fruit juice, rum, beer, grilled corn and peanuts (mostly white foods).
Try to avoid red meats, eggs and salt!
1. Place your foods in seperate dishes upon your alter. In each dish place a white candle.
Put liquids in glasses and place a white candle beside them.
2. Raise each dish to your head, heart and pubic area and place them back on your alter.
3. Talk to the Loa and ancestors, tell them about how you feel, what you desire. Ask them for health, love and joy.
4. Light the candles and leave the room.
5. Only when the candles have stopped burning can you clear away the food. When you do, make sure that it is disposed seperate to all other waste!
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