Wicca Altar and Tools: A Beginner’s Guide to Wiccan Altars, Tools for Spellwork, and Casting the Circle: Volume 2 (Wicca for Beginners Series)

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Chalice: you use this to hold a ceremonial drink or to offer libations. It is a feminine tool, so place it near the element of water. You can design your own altar blessing that’s as involved or simple as you would prefer, but below, I’ve included a short blessing of my own that you can use or incorporate into your own ritual. There are many types of altars Wiccans may choose to use during ritual. Depending on which rite they are performing, the material used for their altars may vary. Some say wood from an oak tree is best while others argue maple or teak are the only ones should be used. This is because in many circles, different types of wood are believed to carry certain magical qualities. For example, in one Wiccan tradition, oak symbolizes great strength and may be used to strengthen the rite they are performing. In another tradition, maple may be seen as the strongest. Whether that be a coffee table or a tree stump, it is up to the Wicca. [2] Altar items [ edit ] Whether you make magic daily, or only on rare occasions, an altar adds focus and sanctity to your practice. Setting an altar sets the tone for the ritual, spell casting, tarot or runes reading that you are getting ready to perform. If you are working with others, it helps everyone get to that sacred place of focus and intention setting together. For instance, if you are preparing to read tea leaves with a friend, place a simple altar on the table between you and ring a bell or light a candle to signify when it is time to focus on the question at hand.

But if you decide having an altar will help you follow your witchcraft path to its fullest potential, here are some things to consider. Most witchcraft altars are made on a short table that you are able to work on while sitting on the ground. If you don’t have a table you can certainly spread an altar cloth on the floor and set it up as an altar! Are you a broom closeted witch? Consider setting up your altar away from prying eyes and literally turn a closet into your own altar, having your tools in the corner of a shelf behind some clothes. One of the most beneficial and simple things you can do is to put a little gratitude out there into your space, every day. An altar for that purpose can remind you to give thanks, and it can also be a visual reminder of all the goodness that your are blessed with. Here are a couple of ideas that can accelerate your practice: If you already have a journal that you use to record what you are grateful for, you can create an altar, as simple or elaborate as you like, as a place to frame your journal. maybe it leans visibly against a wall, surrounded by colorful stones, shells or feathers. Perhaps you have a candle there that you light while you write. You can imagine the energies of those gratitudes floating up with the heat of the flames to imbue your surroundings, your life, with that positive energy. Ancestor altars are often created for memorials or funerals to honor the one who has passed for that day, for those attending. If you are designing a memorial for a beloved, you can ask attendees to bring an item to add to the altar for the day's event. A portable altar also might be a good idea for a Wiccan who prefers to or is forced to live “incognito.” You won’t get as many prying questions about your religious beliefs from parents, roommates, guests, etc. if your altar can be put away and hidden from sight. Indoors or Outdoors?A beautiful way to update your altar regularly and invoke and celebrate the natural cycles and seasons is to decorate it based on these Sabbats. Think about the colors, objects, aromas, and themes of each of these seasons and also what these seasons mean to you. Something as simple as a couple of crocuses in a vase at Imbolc, a decorative egg at Spring Equinox, or a sprig of holly at Winter Solstice would be wonderful. Protecting your witch altar Dried herbs, this could be a bundle for burning or loose herbs you commonly use for spells (or both!) But in other cases, altars are more of a personal affair. These are areas in a person’s home where they can practice their religion in private. This kind of personal, spiritual altar is what we’ll be focusing on in this article, as most Wiccan altars are personal creations–although Wiccan covens frequently use altars in their services too! The Purpose of a Wiccan Altar Give thanks: Take a few deep breaths and smile in appreciation at the beauty you have created. Recognize the wholeness that is represented in those four simple items on your altar.

You can get a more comprehensive guide to definitions via Shelley Rabinovitch and James Lewis’s The Encyclopedia of Modern Witchcraft and Neo-Paganism, a good portion of which is available on Google Books. Before that deep dive, though, any beginner should have at least cursory knowledge of the terms listed below. Here are a few things you might like to include on your altar or store nearby. None of these are necessary though – you do you, witch!!! That being said, as we’ll see in a little bit, an altar doesn’t always have to be as permanent and long-lasting as I’ve made it seem so far. Symbols and objects that reflect your practice such as images or items to represent deities, ancestors or the elements If it is difficult for you to regularly set up your altar, Kelly Ann Madox author of Rebel Witch suggests taking a photo of your altar. You can then ‘Get this image up on a computer screen or print it not paper, and sit in front of it as though it’s there in front of you.’Designating space for tools or other objects on your altar can be a challenge. There are already so many things that need to go on there that these objects can really start to pile up! So remember, your mileage may vary depending on how big your altar is and what purpose you’re designing it for. Personal Items + Offerings: Using your altar space to hold artwork, pictures, old photos, really anything that is especially significant and personal to you is a great way to keep memories, pets, or people close to us. Other personal items like bones, shed skin, feathers, antlers, and more can be added to altars for various reasons; as element representations (ex: feathers are Air, antlers are Earth), to invoke that particular creatures energy or spirit in your ritual work, or even as offerings to deities. Please note that we do not in any way encourage folks to seek out animal or human remains through harmful and unethical means, as these living beings are meant to be treated with respect and kindness, always. It’s important to regularly cleanse your witch’s altar because your altar is your temple. So cleanse it often, and always do it right before you do any kind of ritual or spellwork—make it a part of your ritual. Clear away any dust and tidy it. Replace any dead flowers or plants. Shower it with love and care. A witch altar is magical, and if you don’t have one yet, this article will walk you through how to make a witch altar, along with plenty of inspirational witch altar ideas to get your creativity flowing. But regardless of what I just suggested, you’ve also got to take practical considerations into mind. You might like the idea of an altar the size of a coffee table, but if you don’t have the room to comfortably place it in your home, it’s likely to be a source of resentment and frustration as opposed to a source of inspiration.