How to create an

ancestral altar

WWW.XOCHITLASHE.COM Written by Xochitl Ashe

Welcome
The prayer behind creating this workbook is that by having an
ancestral altar, it becomes a place that you come to when you
need support or grounding.

Altars are spaces where we open portals into the spirit world.
My ancestral altar is a sacred place where I come to pray and
meditate. It provides a space where I can make offerings and
communicate with my ancestors. I also consider it my office
where my spiritual work takes place.

May creating an altar improve the quality of your life and your
connection to the spirit world.

Xochitl
 Creating an altar in your home is an easy and powerful way to
honor and acknowledge our ancestors and the Indigenous
stewards of the medicines we work with.

01 02 03

Create Space Items of Power Four Elements

Find a space in your Place mementos on Invite in the four
home for an altar - your altar that create elements by placing
any space can work a sense of calm, items on your altar
as long as its warmth, and support that represent each
somewhere you can when you look at one - for example
see and recognize as them. shells (water), candles
a sacred space. (fire), feathers (air),
plants (earth)
04 05

Call in Ancestors Plantcestors

Add photos of If microdosing, let
ancestors or loved your sacred medicine
ones. If you don't for this journey live
have photos, you can on your altar.
write their names on
paper.
 01

Create your Space

Find a space in your home for an altar - any
space can work as long as its somewhere you
can see and recognize it as a sacred space.
Here's a helpful checklist:

Make sure its a space that isn't disturbed or

doesn't need to be moved
Consider noise level, since this will be a
space that you'll come to meditate and
pray
Make sure that the space has enough
room for all things you want to put on it
Consider putting your altar in a beautiful
space that isn't hidden, so that when you
look at it, it can bring joy
Optional: Find a small table that is at a
low level so that you can sit on the floor
and be in front of your altar space OR a
regular table that allows you to sit on a
chair and be eye level with your altar
 02

Items of power
Place items on your altar that feel powerful to
you or items that create a sense of calm,
warmth, and support when you look at them.

Consider items that feel sacred to you that

you'd like to honor by putting them in a
special place.
Place items such as ceremonial pieces,
items gifted to you in ceremony, or items
passed down from ancestors that you
deeply loved.
Consider pictures of people that have been
supportive to you, not just your own
ancestors. This can include spiritual
teachers or light beings like Buddha or
Jesus, for example.
Make sure that all items in your altar invoke
a sense of beauty. We always the place the
best on our altars.
 03

four elements
Invite in the four elements by placing items on
your altar that represent each one.

Water: A glass of water, an image of water,

seashells, special items that are blue

Fire: Candles, an image of fire, special items

that are red or yellow

Earth: Flowers, plants, wooden talking stick,

special items made of wood

Air: Feathers, incense or burning sacred

smoke, herbs, or resins, statue of a bird
 04

Call in Ancestors
Add elements to your altar to help you
connect with your ancestors.

Include pictures of your well ancestors if you

have them
If you don't have pictures, write their names
on small pieces of paper
If you don't have their names, you can write
the position they take in your lineage. For
example, "mother of my mother"
Include offerings for your ancestors, such as
things they might have liked in their former
life, such as special alcoholic beverage, or
special sweet that doesn't spoil.
If you don't know your ancestors this well -
what is the thing(s) you love the most? You
can offer this to your ancestors too.
When speaking to your ancestors, always
light a candle or sacred smoke, and make
sure to have a glass of water on your altar.
 05

plantcestors
If microdosing or working with sacred
medicines, let your sacred medicine for this
journey live on your altar.
Treat the medicine that you're working with
as if they're an honored guest in your house;
your house being your altar.
Place them in a special place in your altar.
Find a special container, bowl, or box that is
beautiful and important to you, to hold your
sacred medicines.
Always have incense or sacred cleansing
smoke such as palo santo, sage, or copal to
honor and cleanse your medicine before you
take it.
If it is medicine that you won't be working
with right away, make sure it's in an
enclosed container. If possible, put a red
ribbon around it for spiritual protection and
safe keeping.
 YOU'RE INVITED!

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If you'd like to embark on an even deeper ancestral healing

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Click here to learn more about Magical Medicine Journeys,

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For more ancestral wisdom, join us weekly by listening to

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www.xochitlashe.com