An interview with Heather Sullivan

Heather and Ruby

Heather Sullivan has a Masters Degree in Interdisciplinary Art from San Francisco State University and completed a three-year program in Intuitive Development with Mary Swanson & The School of Art & Magic. Heather is available for Intuitive Counseling Sessions, as well as Art, Magic & Meditation Classes, Workshops & Retreats. For more information about her services, to schedule an intuitive session or sign up for the Free Moon Tips, please visit her Web site, call 707-431-1215 or e-mail heather@buildaltars.com.

Q: Why are altars a powerful tool to inspire positive change in one’s life?

A: Creating an altar connects the physical world with the spiritual world. It is a physical place for dreams to live and a direct telephone line to the invisible forces that weave through one’s life. An altar reminds us to honor and give attention to our inner lives while acknowledging that there is magic & possibility beyond our vision that is available to us, if we ask for help. You can use an altar to…
• ask for guidance and strength
• offer gratitude, send out blessings
• pray for yourself and others
• meditate

Q: How can one summon the muse for altar inspiration?

A: It is all about the art of the question. Below are listed several questions to ask yourself when beginning an altar that will prompt a personal response. When the judgment pops up (such as “this is stupid”), you know you have touched on something. Then, ask questions based off the judgment (“if I could create the stupidest altar, what would go next?”). The intention is to connect with your OWN SOUL. It’s about the process—feeling and creating, not creating your feelings. If you find that you are losing energy while building your altar, ask yourself a question. Often I do not understand what I am doing or why it is showing up until after the process is complete.

• What would you create if nobody will ever judge what you do or ever see it?
• What would you do if you could mix things that do not mix?
• What would you create if you were not afraid to feel?
• What would you create if you could relax, loosen up and be spontaneous?

As you create the altar, here are tips to keep the energy flowing:
• Stay in the present and try not to think ahead.
• Understand that you have everything you need to make the altar, right in your home, hotel room, car, etc.
• Believe what you are telling yourself when you ask, “what wants to be on this altar?”
• Start with the first thing that pops into your head. Remember, no judgment, you don’t have to understand why.

Q: Why is there such a strong connection with the moon cycles? Must they provide the timeline and theme for creating an altar?

A: From ancient times, the moon and sun have represented birth, growth, death and the regeneration of nature’s cycles. Creating ritual around the movement of the sun and moon (the Wheel of the Year) is as simple as watching what nature is doing and connecting to her life force. Through this practice we acknowledge our never ending cycles and remind ourselves that the darkness always gives way to the light, after growth there is rest, and after death there is rebirth. In particular, the moon swells tides, encourages plants to grow, and governs our moods & emotions along with our internal rhythms. Connecting to her holds a tremendous amount of natural power in increasing our ability to fulfill our deepest desires and longings.

Whether you are creating an altar and/or ritual with a group or by yourself, it’s a good practice to consider the nature of your intention before choosing a time. When your intention is to start something new, birth something, or bring renewed energy to something, you might plan your ritual for a New Moon or a Waxing Moon (growing from dark to full.) If your ritual is about bearing fruits, empowerment, transformation, celebration, etc. you might consider holding your ritual closer to the time of the Full Moon. When your intention is to let go or release a pattern or habit, the waning moon (after full until it is dark again) would serve you well.

Q: Most of us would like to see positive change in the following areas of our lives. What can we add to our altars to inspire the things we want?

A: Money/Abundance – gold/chocolate coins, 100 dollar bills, symbols/images of abundance, sparkling things, people you admire, mini representations of what you desire (car, house, etc.)
Love/Relationship – images of what your man/woman feels like, pairs of things (two figures together, two candles, two flowers), a list of what you love about this person
Family/Child – create a nest, images of families & abundance, if you have a family, let everyone contribute something to the altar.
Career – What do you want your job to feel like? What “tools of the trade” need to be represented? How much money will you make? What kind of time commitment?
Self – creating a space for JUST YOU with symbols that reflect who you are and how you want to feel.

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