An altar is part of the space between the worlds that you create, and where you do magical works. It is apart from the mundane, every day, life of your household. Even if you must use your dining room table or an old coffee table in the spare bedroom, visualize it as sacred space. In a perfect world we would all have permanent altar space that could be set up as magical space all the time, but that may not be possible for you. Don't think you can't do magic because of that, you can if you want to. If you live alone and can do as you like in your home, fabulous, if not then you must deal with the situation that you have.
There are certain considerations that you must take into account when deciding where to place your altar. If possible it should be in a space where it can remain undisturbed. If you leave your altar set up all the time, and you do not live alone, you must let your housemates know that the items on your altar are not objects of curiosity or stage props, and should not be handled. Ideally, no one should touch your ritual tools except you. If your altar is going to be just another coffee table filled with wierd looking stuff to paw over, you should consider either placing it in your private portion of the premises, or not leaving it set up between workings.
If you have more understanding housemates, or none at all, setting up the altar in either a private or public position in the home depends upon your lifestyle. Are you 'out' as a witch to your friends and family? If so, it's presence won't bring about difficult questions when your parents, who "never come over", decide to stop by. Some of the acoutrements of an altar are easy to explain, a vase of flowers and some candles are home decor, but the athame and that great copper wand with the huge quartz crystal you found at that funky shop aren't. Of course alot depends on how theatrical a witch you are. If you love the atmosphere created by massive candlesticks, linen altar cloths, loads of crystals, images of the Goddess and all the trappings, it's going to be harder to hide than if your more minimalist.
Now that you have decided on public, livingroom, vs. private, bedroom, and whether to leave it up or put things away each time, it's time to decide what sort of altar you want. This is in part based on what sort of witch you are, theatrical, minimalist, or somewhere in between. How much stage dressing do you like? If the decorations are useful in helping you get into the right frame of mind for magic then by all means, go for the props. You're carving out a spot for your magic from the mundane world around you, there are distractions in that world and if it helps your concentration to have a temple that looks like a Hollywood set, there's nothing wrong with that. If on the other hand, your body is your altar and your mind control is complete you really don't need much more than a flat surface to put some candles on once in a while.
Earlier I mentioned a coffee table as a potential altar, and in fact they make great ones. Most are large enough to put your ritual tools and a few candles on easily, and they are fairly cheap at garage sales or the Goodwill. With a coffee table altar you work seated before it after casting the circle. If you prefer to work standing, look for a taller table such as an old dinette table or large end table. It's rather nice if the table has a drawer to put your things in, but it's not required. If you, or a friend, are handy with tools you can easily build a simple altar for yourself, to your own design. Whatever table, or crate, you end up with, it's nice to consecrate it to it's new purpose, and purify it. Smudging with sage, ritual purification, exposing it to the sun or moon, all will work.
Now you have your altar, and some idea of where you want to put it, you must orient it to the correct cardinal point for your tradition. In mine this is North, altars always face North, but in others it is East. Use a compass if you are not already familiar with the directions where you live. Also, depending upon the tradition, the altar may be at the edge of the circle or in the center. In mine it is at the edge. Take this into consideration since if it is to be in the center, you will need enough space to pass on all sides of the altar. If it is to be at the edge, you can place it against a wall facing in the correct direction. When working as a solitaire you do not need to cast as large a circle as you must when working with a coven. This must be considered as well, is this your personal altar or will your coven be gathering at your home and using it for group work? This will determine how much room you need surrounding the altar.
Once you have the altar physically set up and oriented it is time to consider what will be on it. This may vary somewhat depending upon the sort of magical working being performed, but in general, the usual items include the ritual tools you work with, altar candles, a censer, and perhaps your Book of Shadows or a spell book of some sort. The simple diagram below illustrates this basic layout.
The colors indicate the elemental correspondences of the items, red=fire, yellow=air, blue=water, green=earth.
Additions to this may include additional candles if doing a candle spell, a colored altar cloth to bring in a color correspondence, crystals that are appropriate to the type of work being done, a Goddess image of some kind, flowers-either to decorate or bring in an herbal correspondence, tools for divination such as tarot cards or I ching coins, or other items that simply add to the ambiance. Some working will require special materials be added to the usual altar arrangement, herbs that are being blended into a sachet for example, but for most things the basic layout will work.
It is important that you put together an altar you like the look and feel of. It should please you, not your best friend, not your High Priestess, not your coven members, you. You have to work with it, not them. This is a place for individual expression. If you love Maxfield Parrish, and want to use "Ecstasy" as a Goddess image, do it. If you want to make altar cloths in each of the planetary colors, do so. Also, don't forgetmusic. Some people insist on complete silence, but others love Celtic music in the background. Suit yourself. A CD player can be a sort of ritual tool if you want it to.
Altar Diagram
For more altar pictures and ideas visit: Altar Pictures
The main purpose of an altar is to provide focus.
It can be used to focus on the Divine Powers -this is worship.
It can be used to focus energy for making changes in our lives -this is magic.
It can be used to focus on communication with our Higher Selves and SPIRIT GUIDES -this is meditation.
All of these -worship, magic, meditation -are ways of focusing our psychic energy to accomplish specific ends. The altar can aid in that focus, and can be used to augment that energy and enhance the result.
Because so much of this process depends on the energy of YOU, your altar should be so designed as to have meaning for YOU and to provoke an emotional and spiritual reaction from you. This is particularly important because no matter how beautiful or correct your altar is, it wont matter to you if it doesnt help you access your own inner energies.
Altars have many variations. The simplest altar need be no more than a picture on the wall or a clear space on a table. The most elaborate altars are masterpieces of exquisite art. Most altars are somewhere in between.
In this lesson you will learn how to construct a basic altar, which you can then adapt to your personal needs -at which you can do magic, work ritual, and commune with the Powers That Be.
Altar Construction
and Setup
An altar is a place where you work magick, commune with your chosen
deities, have a quiet contemplative moment, or just ground and center to
re-energize after a hectic day. Many Pagans just starting on their path,
or even some that have been on their current path for a number of years,
have yet to set up an altar, and indeed may even be a little intimidated
by the idea of getting it 'just right'. Also, some Pagans who do not
consider themselves Wiccans may wonder if an altar is necessary for
them. Even many Wiccans may wonder if they real need an altar. Many
'experts' consider an altar to be of utmost importance. Others think the
only importance is what the individual places upon it. Thus, in this
light, an altar may or may not be important to an individual; and a
non-Wiccan Pagan may have the same regard for an altar that any Wiccan
may. Thus, an altar can and, if right for the individual, should be used
by non-Wiccan Pagans as well.
But what if you set up an altar and you don't 'get it right'? This is
impossible, as you will see. Setting up an altar means setting it up
properly for you; the Goddess and/or the God won't care whether the
altar is 'perfect' or not. Perfection is in the eye of the altar-maker:
What seems right to one person may not have any meaning at all to
another. That's the beauty of Paganism; if something doesn't feel right
to you, change or trash it! The joy and meaning of Paganism comes from
the heart, the mind, and the body; not from some external source that
must be appeased. 'Thou art Goddess. Thou art God.' While these phrases
are most often found in Wicca, generic Pagans (such as myself) can, and
do, use them and find the full meaning in them. Since the Goddess/God
(sometimes referred to as 'God/ess') is within us, is part of us,
whatever feels right for us will feel right for the God/ess (within
reason, of course -- murder may 'feel right' for some people, but murder
is a negative, destructive activity that no Pagan would think is part of
her/his religion/path/ tradition) .
Next, the altar should be dedicated to the Goddess and the God (or
whatever deities are in your pantheon). When I dedicated mine, first I
grounded by imagining the power of the earth below my feet (it was
somewhere down there under my second story house floor!) to be flowing into my
body. Next, I invoked the goddess and god into my circle by light two candles I keep
in a silver and gold holder,(silver to represent the goddess, gold to represent the god)
directions by lighting the yellow candle first
and inviting the Spirits of the East/Air to witness the dedication; then
the red for Spirits of the South/Fire, blue for the Spirits of the
West/Water, and green for the Spirits of the North/Earth. I lit an incense and put it in the
incense burner, and used the smoke from it as the consecration/ purification medium,
passing the tools over it, then over the flame of each of the candles, in the order
in which I had lit them. Next, I verbally dedicated the altar and all
the tools to the Goddess and the God, pledging that I would never use
the altar or any of the tools to bring harm to another or to produce
negativity in any way. I ended by extinguishing the candles in the
reverse order that I had lit them and thanking the Goddess and the God,
and each of the Spirits, for attending, then grounded again, imagining
the energy flowing harmlessly back into the earth. Then, I was done.
An altar does not always have to be any man-made item, nor does it have
to be indoors. Indeed, given that Paganism is a Nature-oriented
religion, the best place for ritual is outside (in the woods, on a night
of a full moon...or where ever *grin*). A large rock, a tree stump, the
ground...all of these make perfect altars. As for the tools? Tools are
really unnecessary; they can make you feel more attuned to what you're
doing, they can help to ground and center, and they can help direct
energy for magick or simple worship, but they are not necessary. You are
the direction/energy/ guiding force in your ritual. Therefore, you are
also your own altar. Always do what feels right at the time; listen to
the advice of others, follow it if it feels right, but most importantly,
do what feels right to you as you worship your deities in your own way.
The setting up of an altar may or may not be important to you; if it is
important, fine, do it, but do it your own way, so it'll be an extension
of you, rather than some table that eventually becomes disused and a
nuisance.
GEOMANCY Your first consideration is where to put your altar.
Most people put their altar in their bedroom. this makes it a very personal space, and assures privacy. This is especially good if you live in a home with non-Pagan roommates or family who might be intimidated by a holy object such as an altar in the living room.
If however your home is wholly Pagan, you may wish a more public altar in a living room, or a special temple room, at which your whole family can worship.
If you do this, you will probably still want a personal altar in your bedroom to use privately, which is attuned solely to your own energies.
In this way you can enjoy with your family the best aspects of both personal and communal religious devotion.
Once youve decided what room to put your altar in, you must decide where in the room to put it.
For many this is an easy decision -if you have only three feet of open wall space in your room and no way to rearrange it otherwise, obviously the altar will go in that three feet.
But if you have more than one choice available to you, you will wish to consult the principles of GEOMANCY.
Geomancy is the art of reading the Earths energies and aligning ourselves and our works to them -and through them to the energies of the Universe as well.
Geomancy is an ancient art in all parts of the world. Different peoples have developed different ideas about it, depending on the needs of their differing cultures. In Asia it is called FENG SHUI, and this form of Geomancy has become quite popular lately.
The idea of Geomancy like so many other things in magic comes from the ancient maxim of Hermes Trismagistus: As Above, So Below. That is to say, the idea that the essential nature of the Universe will be reflected in all of Her parts, no matter how great or small.
The main principles of western Geomancy are exemplified by the Magic Circle. Briefly, the direction of East is creativity and new beginnings.
South is action and manifestation. West is emotion and the subconscious.
North is wisdom. Everything that is Above or goes to the right (DEOSIL) is connected to the God, to matter, and to physical manifestation. Everything that is Below or that goes to the left (TUATHAIL, or less correctly Widdershins) is connected to the Goddess, to spirit, and to cleansing.
Your altar may be aligned to any direction whose qualities you desire to draw upon, but it is traditional -and generally best for the beginner- to place the altar toward the North. North is the Direction of wisdom and understanding, where the qualities of the other directions are integrated and learned from. Placing the altar in the North will help you to align yourself to wisdom and integration, and help you to bring these qualities to your magical and meditative practice.
Your altar itself also has a geomancy to consider.
The right side of the altar is warm. It is associated with the God, the Sun, Day, physical energy, and the elements of Air and Fire.
The left side of the altar is cool. It is associated with the Goddess, the Moon and Stars, spiritual energy and magic, and with the elements of Water and Earth.
The middle of the altar is associated with Spirit, or Primeval Deity, Who is within both Goddess and God, as well as all other things.
The back part of this middle area is associated with Primeval Deity, that aspect of the Goddess that existed before the creation of the God, and might be described as the Higher Self of the Universe. Hear is the Divine plan, the blueprint of the Universe which is mirrored in every aspect of creation.
This is the soul of Deity, which is expressed in many different faces.
This is often the focal point of the altar, where Deity is honored in whatever form is being invoked at the time.
The front part of the middle space represents spiritual energy manifesting in the physical world -the union of Goddess and God in the ongoing process of creation. This is where your magical working will be done. This area is normally left empty when work is not being done.
CREATING YOUR ALTAR Before you set up your altar, you will want to purify and bless your altar space.
Magic is the focusing of spiritual energy, and spiritual energy is constantly being effected by the actions and emotions of people.
Consequently it needs to be purified or cleansed -to have the residues of emotions and actions removed, so that energy can be refocused and re-directed. You will remember that this spiritual energy, which comes from the Goddess, suffuses all people and things and is the basis of existence; it is directed and shaped by concentrated thought, emotion, and physical action.
Once you have cleansed the energy you may proceed to assemble your altar.
This is best done immediately after the cleansing, and you should have all the necessary pieces nearby before hand.
What goes on the altar depends on what type of Wicca or Witchcraft you follow. It sounds like you haven't chosen (or found) a specific path yet, so I'll mention some general guidelines; there are *many many* different ways of setting up an altar.
IMPORTANT: You don't need to have any particular set of gear to start setting up an altar. Lots of people start with just a Goddess icon, some flowers and a candle.
Usually, people place icons of God & Goddess on their altars. Sometimes these are matching candles, sometimes different colored candles (gold for God & silver for Goddess), sometimes pictures or statues. Generally, the Goddess is placed on the left, God on the right.
Craft tools: athame, wand, cup, pentacle also go on the altar, usually in east, south, west, & north, respectively. This gets changed around a *lot*, even in very traditional groups, because of individual requirements: If your altar has to go on the east wall because of space arrangements, you may not want to put the Athame behind the central candles where you can't reach it. If you don't have all the tools yet, use the ones you do have.
Other ritual tools, if you use them: bolline, scourge, bell, cord, morter & pestle, cauldron, etc. If you don't use these, you don't need them on your altar.
Other ritual gear: bowl of salt & water, incense burner, essential oils used in ritual, simple feast ingredients (cakes & wine, to most). Some put elemental symbols on the altar, including candles for the 4 directions; some put these in separate small altars off to the sides.
Don't forget small mundane things, like a lighter, charcoal for incense, small candle to light other candles (if you need this). It's a good idea to have a cleaning cloth nearby, in case of spills. These don't always go on the altar, but it's really annoying to realize they're in the next room.
Anything you use in ritual could go on the altar. Many have seasonal altars; they have a centerpiece that changes--fresh flowers in the spring, fruit in the summer, gourds in fall, pine wreath in winter.
I've heard people claim the Book of Shadows belongs on the main altar. I can never find space for it, and I'm afraid of things getting knocked over onto it. (Like candles.)
An altar cloth is nice. Could be anything you like; many of us use seasonal ones. It looks good & keeps the candle wax & ashes off the wood. (You don't need a wooden altar. But most of us aquire one at some point or another. Those spools that were the ubiquitous 70's hippie furniture make great altars.)
The ALTAR TABLE is the surface upon which your altar is set up. It is not necessarily a table as such, but can be any of a wide variety of surfaces.
Traditionally altars have often been erected out-of-doors. They still are at ritual gatherings and for certain observances. In this circumstance the altar is often placed directly on the ground or upon a log or boulder.
This is the ideal, connecting directly with Mother Earth and through Her the Universe.
In this same spirit your indoor altar table is best made of wood or stone (as marble, for instance). Metal is not considered desirable, for the horizontal surface at least -though the altar table may stand on metal legs and often includes metal components.
Most commonly an ordinary piece of household furniture is used for the altar table, to conserve space. Many people set up their altars on their bedroom dresser top, or on a nightstand. Some people use the top shelf of a bookcase, showing reverence for knowledge.
Some people, to maintain an even closer link with Earth, will place a bowl or box lined with soil on their altar table and assemble their altar in this -though this is an unusual practice. More commonly a jar or bowl of Earth will be kept ON the altar for the same reason, rather than being used AS the altar.
ALTAR CLOTH You may want to use an ALTAR CLOTH. This is an ancient tradition arising from the time when all cloth was hand-woven and precious, and any type of embroidery a luxury.
Today altar cloths are used because of their beauty and capacity for symbolism. Details of color and decoration can greatly influence the flavor and energy of the altar. If you wish to use an altar cloth you will want to consider these details when choosing it.
If you are able, decorate the altar cloth yourself, with embroidery or fabric paint, using symbols that have relevance to your personal philosophy and relationship with Deity. This will bond it to you and fill it with your energy. Concentrate on positive, self-empowering thoughts as you work, so that the cloth will be imbued with these and radiate them back to you during ritual and magical working.
If you prefer a less handmade altar cloth for any reason, choose a cloth that resonates strongly with you. An heirloom, a treasured gift, or a cloth that puts you in mind of your hopes and dreams.
To prepare the altar cloth for the altar, you will want to consecrate it.
Do this by holding the cloth in your hands. Say I send out from this cloth any negativity which may lie within it or words to that effect, and visualize the cloth flooded with a strong yellow light, which passes through it carrying out all impurities. Then say something like I do bless and consecrate this cloth to my altar that it may aid me in my workings and my growth and visualize a clear blue-white light coming down from above and filling the cloth until it glows with white light like the Moon. Use this same basic technique to consecrate the altar pieces described below as well.
Some ideas for dedications
To consecrate and dedicate an altar(not alter) to the Goddess and Gods, first
find the place where you wish to set up the altar. This place must not be
disturbed, for it will take on sacred and holy energies, and you will not
want anything to happen to this area. Use some quiet meditational music if
there is some available. Remember, the more energy and work that you put
into your altar, the more magickal energy it will take on. You may even use
an energy bell or Tibetan bell to signify that you are beginning to call
those spiritual guides to assist you with your present work. Action is the
key!
Once you have found that place, take a smudge wand of Sage, light it and
begin to clear the air around the altar. Constantly, keep Love and Light in
your consciousness. Now, move to the four elements and ask for their
guiding presence. Use a compass if needed to find the proper directions on
the Earth.
North =Earth (Or fire)
South = Fire (Or Earth)
East = Air (Or water)
West = Water (Or air)
Around = Spirit
Goddess = Left (Or right)
God = Right (Or left)
xxxxx = Northern hemisphere Direction (Or Southern Hemisphere Direction)
Ask for their blessings and honor their assistance. Next, begin to set up
the altar, placing each item you wish on the altar gently and reverently.
Use the Consecration Ritual if you need to consecrate any magickal tools.
You'll know what those items are as time passes. The altar will change its
appearance as the seasons change. On your altar can be anything you wish,
anything! Some altars are outside, some are inside. Some are clean and
orderly, while others are cluddered with anything and everything around
them. Yet, you must keep this place of sacredness, honorable to the God and
Goddess.
You may wish to use two 7 day candles (buy at 99 cent store) to represent
the ever presence of the God and Goddess in your life. Black for God, White
for Goddess. Red of fire, incense for Air, small bowl of water for west,
and something of the Earth for North. Once your altar is set up the way you
want it, spend a few moments in quiet meditation thinking about what this
altar means to you. Now, allow the altar to fill you with its magick and
energy. Feel the magick around you. breathe in the Love and Light from the
Goddess and God. Visual yourself revitalized because of it's presence. See
yourself becoming more healthy, whole, and wise. Now, visualize healing for
someone else, maybe someone you do not even know. Send them Love and Light.
When you are ready to end your dedication and consecration ritual, sound
the bell once again, thanking all elements for their presence and
assistance. Send them back to their humble abode harming none on their way.
Now, thank the Lord and Lady for their presence in your life. Take a deep
breath of the fresh magick around you and repeat:
So mote it be! It is done!
Allow the Goddess and God candles to burn constantly, replacing them week
after week, month after month, year after year.
Altar Devotion
Held prior to circle casting
Breathe deeply, ground and center.
Raise hands in Goddess position (spread in a V over your head
feet apart), then slowly lower them and cross them into the God
position (arms crossed over your chest, feet together)
feeling the power coursing down your arms throughout your body.
Light an illuminator candle.
Light the incense at the East, clap hands over the flame to extinguish
"Creature of Air
I cleanse and consecrate thee
to remove all negativity in this world
So mote it be"
Pass your hand over the incense three times to banish all negativity,
imagine a sparkling light around the incense
Light the candle at the South
"O creature of Fire
I cleanse and consecrate thee
to remove all negativity in this world
So mote it be"
Pass your hand over the flame three times, as above
Do the same for West and North, with water and a bowl of salt, respectively
Beginning North, move your hands over the altar five times, mixing
the powers of the elementals. Tap the hilt of the knife on the altar
at your right five times to seal.
Your altar is prepared. You are now ready to cast the circle and begin
workings of magick.
It is a portable altar. Should be the size of a paperback book or even a
leather purse-backpack. I used large items, like a 18cm chalice, a 2cm
diameter pentacle, a 30cm thin wand with a quartz crystal on the top
and so on. By all means you don't need everything on this list, and by
all means you can add and take away things to suit you.
Tools for pouch
A thimble- ChaliceA coin with a pentagram etched into it- pantame or altar pentagramA small twig-wandA shell- Represents the GoddessA small piece of Antler horn- Represents the God2 small candles- altar candlesGround up herbs for incense (or a stick/cone)Sea Salt- for purificationSmall bottle of oil for anointing9 ft cordSmall finger bowlA small stone that is small, smooth and round to represent EarthA small Feather-Color of your choice (white or yellowish is best) to represent AirA small candle to represent FireA small amount of Ash to represent SpiritA small vessel of pure water to represent WaterYou may add gifts of your choice to give to the God and Goddess or the spirits.Consecration of the pouch
Present filled pouch to all four elements (air, South, west, and
North) and
say Blessed be by the spirits of East,
Blessed be by the spirits of South,
Blessed be by the spirits of West,
Blessed be by the spirits of North.
Bless the pouch by touching it on each element. Always start in the
East for
a gesture of power by tracing a crescent moon or a pentagram on it.
Once this is completed say:
O Great (Deity names) bless and empower this pouch and all this is within
it.
Making it a bridge to power, I am linked to thee and you are linked
to nature.
We are 1 from 3, we are the triangle manifest in the names of (Deities).
So be it done!!!!
This is a larger version of this which I created. The list is not set in concrete. You do not need every item or you can exchange them. Remember, the most powerful tool a witch has is their mind. As we can only perceive reality, we can bend it by changing states of consciousness. The universe is like a web, we can change the strands, and we can even break them with our magick. Be careful of what you do. Before every magickal working ask yourself:
'Do I dare disturb the fragile energies of the universe?'
The following shots include a picture of the altar including quarter candles, a closer shot without quarter candles, the picture of the altar packed up (with the table cloth folded in half and two plastic cups as candle holders, once filled with water), and the altar boxes themselves. These can be easily placed into a back pack, car glove box or boot and set up and packed away with ease.
If I am going to a park to perform a ritual, I will also take a few throw rugs to sit on. If there are fire bans in your area, do *NOT* light candles or fires. Take extra water, or a carbon dioxide or water based fire extinguisher, incase of the possibility of fire.
After the ceremony, make sure you allow the candles to cool down. As a libation, leave the salt and water from the two dishes, some liquid from the chalice and some ash from the incense. Make sure by doing that you are not harming the ecological environment surrounding the area with the salt or ash. Take all your belongings with you when you leave, and throw out your rubbish in a bin or, if none are available, take it with you. Thank the area for letting you perform the ritual there and leave with a feeling of contentment.
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