Lived Wisdom ~ Building an Altar and Resting to Remember
Full Moon Blog
June 9, 2025Lived Wisdom ~ Building an Altar and Resting to Remember
Many of our students have heard Alberto’s teaching story about the difference between information and wisdom. When he was a recent PhD graduate, he was in a pilgrimage in the high mountains of the Andes with his indigenous mentor who challenged him firmly, “move your little doctor wings and heal somebody in India.” Alberto answered, “I can’t; I don’t know how to do that”. Without hesitation, his mentor said, “I can”.
In that moment something profound clicked for Alberto. He understood the difference between knowing that water is H2O and the wisdom of making it rain. From then on he committed himself to cultivate and to teach true wisdom—that which is lived, sacred and embodied, far from parroting clever insights or applying sterile techniques.
With this in mind is that I share a glimpse of how Alberto and I dance with the teachings we offer at Los Lobos Sanctuary and through the Four Winds online. Let me begin with a recent experience.
Not long ago, we relocated within the U.S. and, in our new place, we needed an altar. I began browsing online, searching for the right wooden piece, when Alberto surprised me with an unexpected exclamation, “I’ll make it”.
“What?” I asked, thinking that he was joking. I had seen him write over twenty books, but I had never seen him with a drill or a hammer—beyond the occasional nail on the wall.
But he was serious, and took on the challenge. Soon, wood timbers were drying out in our garage, and within weeks, scary power tools began arriving at our doorstep along with cans of wood stain in various tones.
Making this altar became his practice. With the first light of the day he would be out in the garage reciting prayers and mantras to infuse the wood and every part of the altar with his intentions.
After weeks of work, he brought the finished piece into our home. I could have never asked for a more perfect altar—not because of its form (which came out a little crooked), but because in every inch that he sanded and in every stroke of paint, there was so much presence and love.
“When I am gone, I’ll be in this altar” he whispered. I shed tears of love.
From my side, I can share how I embody the path of non-doing and the wisdom of non-reactivity—by embracing deep rest as one of my most essential practices.
Rather than filling my schedule from dawn to dusk, I intentionally leave open spaces for what nourishes me. I wake up extra early to gift myself an hour or two of contemplation, journaling, sunbathing, and preparing a nourishing breakfast. My mornings are then dedicated to focused work—online meetings, client sessions, writing—yet I always carve out time for a few minutes of yoga or an outdoor walk to reconnect with my body and breath.
After lunch, I lay down to listen to a peaceful meditation, which gently resets me for a productive afternoon. Come evening, I choose to go to bed early, allowing for my full eight hours of sleep.
I’ve found that when I am well rested, I can offer my very best to life and to others. What might seem like idleness to some is, for me, the source of presence, vitality, and effectiveness.
That said, I hold it lightly. Especially when travelling, I adapt to what is possible and follow what brings most magic to my journey.
How about you? Where in your life do wisdom teachings become lived experience?
Marcela Lobos
3 Comments
It is one of the biggest gifts in life to be able to create something with your hands. The first time I created something with wood, was a bench. It took me weeks. I wanted to paint it a different color and it turned out a reddish brown. But when I was finished, I could not stop looking at it and admiring it. It is easy to sit on any chair, but when you are able to sit on something you built, there is no feeling like it. I placed it under one of my mulberry trees and now I have mushrooms naturally growing on it. Lately, I have been writing more poems than before. I use my powerful emotions which try to overtake me, and write about it. It is nice to go back and see how deeply I was feeling and how quickly the wind helps you dissolve them through a piece of paper and pen (fingers and laptop). You recognize them, feel them, and let them go. I hope you share a picture of the altar one day 🙂
I am semi-retired now but for the previous 15 years before retirement, I made time between clients for the same. Early morning rising, my gratitude practice, time for Qi Gong and then 1/2 hr for meditation, brekky ritual then work with an hour at mid-day out in nature or journalling, contemplation, doing healing on animals or people if needed followed by lunch then back to work and an hour’s drive home enjoying the peace and stillness which rejuvenated my soul in time for dinner, followed by meditation etc, some absent healing and jurnalling before sleep. Now that I am semi-retired, I still do the same in the mornings and evenings and hold retreats on self-healing 4-5 times a year. Sheer bliss!
I am longing for more rest and time alone but do not see how I can do this while raising children who seem to never sleep or rest and who need so much attention and support in daily life . I would love to hear some guidance and examples from someone in the group on this topic. Thank you!