Create a New Year Altar
As we approach the threshold of a new year, it's an opportune time for reflection, renewal, and setting intentions for the journey ahead. For many of us, practicing yoga transcends the physical; it's a gateway to inner peace, mindfulness, and spiritual alignment. An integral part of this practice is creating a sacred space—a yoga altar—that serves as a sanctuary for setting intentions, fostering gratitude, and manifesting our aspirations.
Creating an altar is a beautiful way to symbolize the changing of a season, honor a new intention, or make up a prayerful offering. While often associated with religion, an altar, in this sense, does not need to be tied to any kind of beliefs (though you're welcome to invite prayer in if that is part of your practice). As we come to the close of a year, this is a great time to honor the year that has passed and prepared for what we want to invite in with the ringing of the new year.
There are no set rules for how you should craft your own altar, but when made with intention, your altar can be an expression of your spirit, a place to go and connect inward, and a physical reminder to add a little intention into your day. Below, I provide some inspiration to get started as well as
Choosing the ideal location for your yoga altar
Where do I create my altar? The answer to that question is as unique as you are. You should take some time to explore this question for yourself, but below are some ideas:
Choose a window sill, large enough for a few small items to be laid out
Cover a coffee table or small stand with a beautiful scarf or handkerchief
Consider the mantel if you have a fireplace
Do you have a dedicated space to practice yoga? Setting it up on a small box in this area is a great way to work with the energy you're already creating in that space
Clear the clutter off your nightstand and let it be a visual reminder before bed and as you arise each morning
Small space or unsure you can find somewhere that it won't be disturbed? Consider a "mobile" altar that you take out when you practice yoga, meditate, or journal. See inspiration from my photo below: when I traveled full time, I always had this small wooden box with special pieces that were important to me, and I'd take them out with each new moon and full moon. Without a dedicated space now, this little box is still in use.
Remind yourself that it doesn't have to be complicated, large, or elaborate. Make the space work for you.
What to Include on Your New Year's Altar
You can add as much or as little to your altar as you like. Anything that brings intention, gives you a reminder, or brings you peace belongs here. Consider crystals, candles, love notes, poems, pictures, small trinkets from adventures, small plants, a specific oracle or tarot card, a gift from someone, etc. Here are some ideas to inspire intention specifically for your altar coming into the new year:
An item that symbolizes something you're proud of this past year. Let it serve as a reminder to bring this energy with you into the new year.
Something that holds your space for your loved ones, ancestors, or guides to know that they are watching over you during this transition.
A crystal that sets the intention you want for the new year. I'm not a crystal expert, but a quick Google search should provide lots of inspiration for you.
Infusing Intention into Your Altar
Once you have everything placed so that it feels just right (remember that you can add, subtract, and move items any time), take a few minutes to connect with your breath, perhaps light a candle, and feel into the energy you just created.
When you feel connected, take a couple of moments to journal your thoughts, wishes, and hopes for the new year. Then, on a piece of paper, write, draw, or paint your intention for the new year. This could be a specific goal you're working toward, an intention to be more mindful and take care of the self more, an intention to listen to intuition, or anything that calls to you. Some people choose to pick one or two words to focus on for the year, while others may prefer a phrase, a whole paragraph, or even a list. If you're not sure, experiment with each and see which feels right.
Place your written (or artful) intention folded on your altar. If you have a small box, you could place it there for safe keeping, or you could place it underneath an item of significance.
Using Your Altar Moving Into the New Year
Each time you see your altar or sit down to invite energy in with yoga, meditation, breath, or journaling, let it be a reminder for all the beauty of this past year and intention for what is ahead. Our minds are so powerful, and where attention goes, energy flows.
Journal Prompts to Connect Inward
If you use this altar as a space to reflect and connect inward, journal or meditate on these questions:
What are one to three core beliefs you are carrying into the new year?
What specifically do you want for your life as you expand and grow?
What do you want to FEEL in your body, mind, heart on a daily basis?
What support does your body, heart, mind long for?
How can you honor yourself as you ease through transition?
Want More?
Want to dive deeper into creating an altar and creating intention for the new year? Consider joining the Wild Woman Collective where we weekly spend 15 minutes to rewild and reconnect inward. For the month of December, we will be creating our offers, reflecting on the year, and setting our dreams for the new one. Membership is just $11/month and includes a monthly yoga class and online membership area with extra meditations, breathwork, and practices. Click here to learn more.
