Altar is an important place of harmony at your home. The word altar comes from the latin ‘altus’ which means elevated. It is a space that represents the acknowledgment of the elevated relationship between you and the sacred forces. An Altar in alignment is a Point of Spiritual Light that anchors and irradiate naturally divine goodness. It is a space of love and hope.

The Central Altar is arranged to anchor your personal relationship with the divine-settle-angelic forces at home. It will hold elements of your Guardian Angel and all divine vibrations that are meaningful and personal connected to you, even beyond the Orishas. In Umbanda, we represent this universal elements with Oshala. The White Light of this Orisha contain all colors of all Orishas. You can always light a white candle representing Oshala or any divine forces you want.

CANDLES
It is important to spend some time tuning and praying to light a ritualistic Candle. The mouth vibrates the positive words and sacred knowledge of the prayer through the flame. You can face the palm of your hands towards the candle to irradiate the intention directly from the heart.

Candles are sacred keepers of divine Fire element.   The divine fire element is essential inside of ritualistic practices because it has the power to: 

..send our prayers and intentions up to the sky to reach the divine forces; 

..amplify our prayers like the wood that expands when it is closer to the fire; 

..provide energetic transmutation of aspects that do not serve us anymore; 

..brings clarity and increases internal vision power.

The FLAME is a reminder of positive thoughts and source of good energy in your home.

It is absolutely necessary to protect the Candle with metal, stone or proper glass to avoid any fire hazard. If you will leave the Candle, you can with all reverence blow it out and lite again when you are back around.

CENTRAL ALTAR

ANCHORING THE CENTRAL ALTAR AT HOME
Find a special place in your house to place the central Altar according the directions below that should be adapted in any way that works according your living situation.

STEP 1: CARDINAL DIRECTIONS
The ideal is to set up your central Altar facing East direction where Sun rises. If you can’t set up a central Altar facing East, you can put a stone pointing out to East.

STEP 2: FINDING SPACE
The ideal is to have a special extra room for spiritual practices to place your central Altar. The second option could be in your living room to irradiate peaceful energy for those who enter in your house. If you need more privacy, you can set up your central Altar in your bedroom.

STEP 3: CENTRAL ALTAR TABLE
After finding a space, you will need to find a beautiful table for your central Altar. If your table is not that great, you can put a beautiful cloth over. You can choose any height you want. If you would prefer to sit on front the Altar for a meditation practice, you can choose a table 1-2 feet tall.

STEP 4: CANDLE HOLDER
You can start to decorate your central Altar with a metal, stone or proper glass candle holder, preferably in the center. You can use different kinds of candles as: 7-day, stick or tea candle. Remember to have a proper holder for each kind of candle you would prefer. It seems like a 7-day candle is a long lasting and safer candle.

STEP 5: SACRED OBJECTS
Decorate your Altar with meaningful objects and instruments as: crystals, stones, feathers, animals, deities statues, etc. You could put any kind of object that has a positive spiritual value for yourself.

You must show respect when you light a candle and make any practice on front of your Altar.
Remember to always keep your Altar clean and smudged.

HOW TO SET UP A CENTRAL ALTAR

bokeh lights photography of lighted candle

KEY OF HARMONY

I wish Harmony, Love, Truth and Justice to all my brothers and sisters.

With the united forces of the silent vibrations of our THOUGHTS, we are strong, healthy and happy, thus making a link of universal UNITY.

I am happy and at peace with the whole universe, and I wish that all beings realize their most intimate aspirations.

I give thanks to THE UNIVERSAL SOURCE for having established Harmony, Love, Truth and Justice among all IT children.

So Be it, Amen

PRAYER OF SAINT FRANCIS

Lord, make me an instrument of Your peace.

Where there is hatred, let me bring love;

where there is injury, let me bring pardon;

where there is discord, let me bring union;

where there is doubt, let me bring faith;

where there is error, let me bring truth;

where there is despair, let me bring hope;

where there is darkness, let me bring light;

and where there is sadness, let me bring joy.

O Divine Master, grant that try

to be consoled, as to console;

to be understood, as to understand;

to be loved, as to love.

For it is in giving that we receive;

it is in forgiving that we are forgiven;

and it is in dying that we are born to eternal life.

HEALING PRAYER OF TUPINAMBÁ

Life

Health

Happiness

Open Paths

Health in the body

Peace in the spirit

And love in the heart

It is this that we wish

For ourselves

For (name)

For our loved ones

and for all of our brothers and sisters

May it be so

Salve Caboclo Tupinambá

CONSECRATION OF THE SPACE

In the Infinite Circle of the Divine Presence which completely envelopes me, I affirm that:

There is only one presence here—it is HARMONY, which makes all hearts vibrate with happiness and joy. Whoever enters here will feel the vibration of Divine Harmony.

There is only one presence here—it is LOVE. god/dess is love, which envelops all beings in a single feeling of unity. This space is filled with the presence of love. In Love, I live, I move and I exist. Whoever enters here will feel the pure and holy Presence of Love.

There is only one presence here—it is TRUTH. All that exists here, all that is spoken here, all that is thought here is the expression of Truth. Whoever enters here will feel the Presence of Truth.

There is only one presence here—it is JUSTICE. Justice reigns in this space. Every act practiced here is ruled and inspired by Justice. Whoever enters here will feel the Presence of Justice.

There is only one presence here—it is the presence of God, who is GOODNESS. No evil can enter here. There is no evil in God. God, who is Goodness, dwells here. Whoever enters here will feel the Divine Presence of Goodness.

There is only one presence here, it is the presence of god/dess, who is LIFE. god/dess is the essential Life of all beings. He/she is the health of body and mind. Whoever enters here will feel the Divine Presence of life and Health.

There is only one presence here—it is the presence of god/dess, who is PROSPERITY. god/dess is Prosperity because. He makes everything grow and prosper. God expresses Himself through the Prosperity of all that is carried out in His name. Whoever enters here will feel the Divine Presence of Prosperity and Abundance.

Through the esoteric symbol of the Divine Wings, I am in harmonious vibration with the universal currents of Wisdom, Power & Joy. The Presence of Divine Wisdom is manifested here. The Presence of Divine Joy is deeply felt by all those who enter here.

In the perfect communion between my lower self and my Higher Self, which is god/dess in me, I consecrate this space to the perfect expression of all divine qualities which are in me and in all beings.

The vibrations of my thoughts are the forces of god/dess in me, which are stored here and hence radiated to all beings, thus establishing this place as a center of giving and receiving of all that is Good, Joyful and Prosperous.

PRAYER

I thank You, Oh god/dess, for this space is filled with Your Presence.

I thank you, for I live and move within You.

I thank You, for I live in Your Life, Truth, Health, Prosperity, Peace, Wisdom, Joy and Love.

I thank You, for all who enter here will feel Your Presence.

I thank You, for I am in Harmony, Love, Truth and Justice with all beings.

Amen.

PROTECTION PRAYER OF SAINT MICHAEL ARCHANGEL

Saint Michael on front

Saint Michael behind

Saint Michael to the right

Saint Michael to the left

Saint Michael above

Saint Michael below

Saint Michael, Saint Michael

Wherever we go

we embody your love to protect us

Wherever we go

we embody your love to protect us

Wherever we go

we embody your love to protect us

CENTRAL ALTAR

HOW TO SET UP A CENTRAL ALTAR

SUGGESTED PRAYERS