Many, many people in today’s digital age are content generators. They base a significant portion of their pursuits on generating content and then talking about the content they made. This constant push to create is taxing and often results in ‘Writer’s Block’ (aka the inability to get anything of “value” on a page, seemingly no matter how hard you try.)

As a writer, an artist, and a spellcaster, I am no stranger to Writer’s Block. Again and again I was finding myself in these places where I just felt completely stuffed up. Full of… emotional/mental something… and still feeling incapable of even pinpointing what it was, let alone deciding if it was relevant. After a lot of years of frustration and tinkering, I’ve built an altar space that helps me dissolve writing blocks and helps my creative juices to flow. 

*A Place to Write*

In a book I had read some years ago, the author talked the old “First Things First” about creating a Place to Write. 

So I did just what they said.  I cleaned off my desk, ensured I had the necessities and a strong cup of coffee. I plugged in my laptop and sat down in my nice, clean, absolutely official looking ‘work’ space. 

I opened a Google Doc and stared at the barren page. Don’t get me wrong, I tried again and again to write something… but everything was just too… sterile. I had no ideas and my empty document sure wasn’t helping.

Looking at the space around me, hoping to find an answer, my intuition asked “Where’s the Inspiration?” That’s when it dawned on me that one of the things I love about magick is the aesthetic. 

I love the look of burning candles on an altar, fresh flowers, gems, cards… I love the way incense wafts across the space. The way candlelight creates spotlight when shown through a crystal ball. I love the way it looks because of the way it makes me Feel. I am Inspired to work Magick in these spaces just by seeing them. 

It came to me then that maybe what I needed was a little MORE energy in my writing space. Not less.

*Setting It All Up*

My desk is much like other desks I suppose. Nondescript brown rectangle, the size of a large dresser top. I wanted to design my desk into a writing altar space, so there were a few things I kept in mind as I figured out how to arrange things. I chose to forgo a cloth to cover it, A: because I had also decided to use candles in the space and B: because I spill my coffee far too often. I wanted a space that was going to be relatively easy to keep clean. I did however put a small mat underneath my laptop to help keep it safe from said spills. 

I chose a few candles that spoke to me, bringing that Fire element into the space. I like to use red to help bring vital energy, yellow for creativity, green for growth, brown to ground, purple to help me dive deeply into my thoughts and hear Spirit more closely. The colors I use day to day vary, as I rely on my intuition and situation to help me choose at the time. 

I use crystals in this same fashion to represent the Element of Earth. I like to keep a tray of them on my desk so I can pick one up and keep it on me if I feel so called. Black onyx is helpful to prevent intrusive thoughts, Lapis Lazuli helps us bridge the gap between our third eye and throats, facilitating the ability to get what’s in one’s head out onto a page. Aquamarines help with clarity, as does the Desert Rose. Rose Quartz assists in heart opening, and finding ways of graceful communication.

Two incense burners are also on my altar, to respect the Element of Air. I keep one for the stick type incense, and another to hold a coal for loose. I do love Nag Champa as it is particularly relaxing to me and Sandalwood, but I also use a few other herbs for incense. I like lavender buds for gentle positivity and I use artemisa for opening my intuitive perceptions. 

There is a ritual mix made in India called Havan Samagri. This mix is, to me, a holy gift to the world. It has a cleansing and transformative quality that can absolutely change the feeling of a space and brings positivity, focus, concentration and relaxation to those in its smoke.

As stated, I do keep a cup of coffee pretty much everywhere I go but on my altar space I also included a vase of water. It was important to me to ensure that the water element was represented in this space, but I had to do it in a ‘voted least likely to spill’ manner. Water, is of course, that fluid element. It represents not only our emotions, but how we share them with the world. A foundational key to good communication. I use charged moon water but blessed works too.

 With the four natural elements represented in my space I knew I had to bring in the fifth element, Spirit. This is where the vase came in. Spirit is the animation that occurs when these four elements come together. The Spirit is the representation of Life. I chose to incorporate this aspect by placing fresh flowers in my space. Flowers sprouted from the Earth, were Fed by the Fiery Sun, Quenched by the Water, and Strengthened to their Potential by the Wind.

I am careful to change them as they wither, and save their petals to create incense blends. If my space had ample natural sunlight, I might have chosen a potted plant instead. 

*What Happened*

After creating and consecrating this space for my intentions, I sat at it again. This time however, I felt particularly energized. I FELT creative, positive and capable. I just felt more ‘at home’.

This comfort shortly came out on the page. Was my writing “perfect and omg just so wonderful” the first few tries? No… but it never is. What was important and truly surprising to me is how much less self critical I felt during those attempts. It was OK to write and delete. Self doubt addressed, I now felt I wasn’t an automatic failure because the writing wasn’t perfect. Everywhere I looked, I saw something that made me feel more comfortable. Less pressure, more positivity. I felt encouraged. Eventually, after a few more false starts, I was able to write cohesively again. Writer's Block Busted.

Since having developed my altar space, I have in turn changed the way I approach content creation. Within this Sacred Space of Creativity, I now view this process of ‘getting ready to write’ as a ritual of sorts. I will gather my necessities and my coffee, of course… but when I sit down into my space I’m not rushing into sitting at a blank screen. I’m taking the time to prepare my mind. Yes, I start up my laptop, but I’m also lighting my candles and incense, checking the water and the quality of my flowers. Giving respect to the Elements. Invoking my guardians and guides to help me in the process.  I become more aware of my inner Self and of my near surroundings. In short, Interacting with my writing altar helps me to focus my mind for the upcoming writing. 

Do I still get stuck sometimes? Yes, but overall it seems to happen less and less frequently. I believe this is a part of developing a ritual, as instead of just sitting down and telling my mind ‘Okay, I’m here. Go write.’, I’m creating time for my mind to prepare itself. Through the familiarity of routine, I’m encouraging my mind to recognize that it’s time to regulate itself into a creative mode, instead of trying to write from a reactive one. 

Thank You for Reading about my Writing Altar.  I hope this Helps Someone.

Please Feel Free to Ask Me Any Questions You May Have or to Share Your Experiences!

Blessings on Your Path To Creativity!

Sywyrd Moon~2022*