altar

The Purpose of an Altar

The purpose of the altar is to have a place to place your objects, to pray and meditate, to hold your BoS, to light candles, to leave offerings etc.

The altar does not have to be up all of the time. Many Wiccans and Witches who are not "Out of the Clostet" keep a small altar in a drawer which they take out during ritual or they keep all of their tools in a drawer or in a closet until it's time to set up. Others have a small box that serves as their "mini-altar."

An altar is usually a table, but it can be a tree stump, the top of a dresser, a box, etc. It needs to have a flat top and be at a good height to either stand or sit. You should have room for your tools and, if possible, your book of shadows. My altar is a small, circular black table that folds down.

You can place an altar cloth (like a small tablecloth) on the top so that you can have a nice decoration while keeping the wood clean of wax and oils. Your altar cloth can be different colors for the occasion.

Most witches use their altars to hold their supplies during a ritual or ceremony. Also, they can be used as a shrine to your patron God or Goddess and as a place to put offerings. Many of us have offerings bowls in the center where we leave flowers, gems, crafty things, etc.

The Wiccan altar is alittle like the altars at church where you may take communion if you go. You can pray at your altar, meditate, do you Tarot readings on it, etc. It's a personal place to decorate and use as you like. If you're in the closet about your religion, you could simply decorate it with your collectables or creations. If you collect nature items, you representations from your imagination for the elements and it will look like a simple collection display.

Altar Tools

The Altar-
     The altar table is where you place your tools, cloth, offerings, BoS, etc. It is a place above the floor level that you can easily place everything. It can be at a height where you kneal or you stand during a ritua. This altar does not have to permanent and it can also be located outside.

The Athame-
     The athame is a dagger-like knife. You use this to direct energy during magickal acts. This can be kept on the altar table when not in use or in a special shelf, box, etc. for your ritual tools.

The Sword-
     The sword is used like the athame. The only differnce is it's size. You may prefer an athame, as they are cheaper and smaller.

The Wand-
     This is used just as the athame and the sword. It is usually used by solitary practitioners, but covens may also have them. It can be used for casting the circle, invocations, or just drawing energy to it's tip.

The Chalice-
     The chalice is a cup, normally like a large wine glass, that is used to hold the wine, water, juice, etc. for a ceremony. It symbolizes the Goddess because of the roundness, being the fertility and the womb.

The Cauldron-
     This is also a symbol of the Goddess. It is used to hold objects, water, etc. or it can be used for burning. Candles can be burned in it's center, for example. You can use a bowl or purchase a reguarl (small normally) cauldron.

The Censer-
     This is an incense burner. It hold the incense while it burns, keeping it away from your flamable objects.

Bowls-
     They are used to hold offerings, burn things, etc.

Candles-
     The candles are used to represent things, like the God and Goddess. They are burned in spells and rituals for specific purposes, such as offerings, thanks, or for protection

Altar Decorations

Aside from decorating your altar for the Sabbats and Esbats (check the section for colors and decorations), you can decorate your altar with things year round.

One thing, which isn't really a decoration, is an offering. These offerings can be to God and Goddess for thanks or to the Faeries and Elementals. Such things can be placed on a bowl in the center of your altar. Good offerins are gems, flowers, milk (for Faeries), etc.

You can also decorate your altar with flowers from your garden or the first items from your harvest. Wild flowers are also great.

Your crafts and drawings that you do are nice as well. By putting them on your altar you're making the effort, offering them to God and Goddess for "approval." and showing your pride in your work.

Portable Altars

Altar in a Box

Here's an idea that I found on a few websites when I was surfing around and it's a great idea for when you are going 1) on vacation, 2) a short trip, or 3) to someone else's house to stay for awhile (especially if they don't know about your religion):

Find a small box, like something that you would keep jewelry in. You could also get an old book that you don't use and put a box in the center of the book, so no one will know it's there (find the idea from a craft site). I just use a small box. Make sure it is big enough to hold a few basic supplies.

Once you have your box, leave it as it is if it's already nice looking or paint it up. When it's ready, get together your supplies:

- a few colored candles (birthday candles))
- a white tea candle
- a small stick for a wand (or use your fiinger)
- a lighter or some matches
- a few small vials of oil
- a few cones of insence
- a few rocks (if you use them)
- a few lengths of cord/yarn
- a thimble (for your water) with a flat ttop
- a little baggy or small container of sallt
- a pencil and a few papers
- other things you use in ritual

Now, for the ritual table, you'll just use the box or book that you carry your materials in. This is so much easier than lugging around a big bag and/or trying to hide it all!

Outdoor Altars

For an outdoor altar you're going to want a bag to carry your materials in. You can buy a totebag or, if you only have a few simple things, a small hemp bag (you can find them at craft shows and stores in general).

When you have an outdoor altar, you'll need to find a nice place to put your items. It should be rather big and flat, like a packed dirt patch of ground or a tree stump.

Make sure that, if you're going to use candles, you keep them very far away from grass, twips, etc. We don't want to start fires. I recommend that you use a flashlight (not very magickal right?!) or a candle placed on a flat rock to catch the wax and any ash or flames.

Once you find your place, bring out your items. You'll want something for each element and something for God and Goddess, not to mention any tools that you use, like a wand or athame. I small bowl of water, a bowl of salt (or a box, like I use), an insence burner, and a red candle work fine for the elements. For God and Goddess you could draw something, use a moon and sun statue, etc.

Use the outdoor altar just like any other altar. Make sure you keep it clean while there and clean up when you leave.

Faerie Altars

To Make a Faerie Altar (indoors):
     Faerie Altars are quite easy to make and they can be quite fun. What you should first do is find a place where you will have the altar. This can be a table, a empty shelf, a dresser top, etc. Now, you'll want to decorate it. You can bring in flowers from outside, set out bowls of water, etc. If you have the money, buy a minature pool (recirculating water pools with rocks), as Faeries love running water.

     Place figurines, plants, etc. around and make your faeries welcome. You could fill a thimble or shot glass with milk for them and have an offering bowl, plate, or basket where you will put cakes. Make sure you replace the flowers and offerings reguarly and continue to improve on it.