In her third and most transformative work yet, Indigenous Taino and first generation Cuban American author Juliet Diaz, globally renowned for her award-winning and internationally bestselling works, presents an offering for inner and collective liberation.
The Altar Within is more than a book - it is an invocation, a radical devotional guide, woven with ancestral wisdom and the vital practices of reclaiming our humanity and our magic. We live in a world that thrives on separation - separation from ourselves, from our communities, from the earth, and from the truth of who we are. The Altar Within stands in direct opposition to these forces. It calls for a deep, spiritual reckoning - a return to the self, to the knowledge that we are whole, sovereign beings capable of dismantling the oppressor, both within and without.
This work is necessary because liberation is not merely external it is also spiritual. True liberation begins within the deepest recesses of the self. The Altar Within invites us to decolonize our lives, to reclaim our humanity, to reindigenize, and to craft a new, empowered narrative of self and community. At the core of this work is the sacred act of building an altar within - one that honors your personal journey toward inner liberation while standing in solidarity with the collective struggles of our world. This altar is a space where you can come to dismantle the harmful beliefs and patterns that have been imposed upon you by systems of oppression, experiences, and out-side influences. It is a place where practices of self-acceptance, self-compassion, self-forgiveness, and radical love - helps you discover the profound power that resides within your own being. The offerings here are not superficial acts; they are tools of transformation and reclamation, designed to help you navigate the complexities of healing, resistance, resilience, and personal evolution. This work also centers the necessity of community care and mutual aid because the revolution we seek must be collective, for none of us are free until all of us are free.
As we reclaim our own power, we are called to share it, to uplift those around us, to be agents of change in our communities, and to work with our magic to dismantle what seeks to harm and divide us.In these pages, you will find guidance on how to engage in spiritual practices that are not about bypassing the harsh realities of the world, but about preparing yourself to meet them with clarity, strength, and compassion. Through practices, spells, rituals, and lessons steeped in ancestral and decolonial teachings, you will be called to reclaim your truest self.Let your inner altar be your anchor. Let this work be your guide. Together, we will create a world where liberation is not just a dream, but a reality.
