THE GODDESS AND MAGICK

The Altar

In many of the world’s religions, practitioners reserve a place in their homes where deities are honored with prayers and offerings. Petitions are made to the gods of the home altar for things desired or needed: health, wealth, success, love, protection, and other blessings. This practice originated in ancient magickal ritual. Places of spiritual significance can be found in the dwellings of the earliest civilizations.

Most Witches develop a dedicated altar in their homes. Some cultivate several, with each having a specific magickal purpose or in honor of a particular deity. An altar can be as elaborate as a finely carved wooden piece dedicated to that purpose, or as simple as the top of your bedroom dresser. Through use, it will grow to become a place of power. 

Many altars are as unique as the people who worship at them. They combine the traditional tools of the Craft with very personal items, such as photos of deceased loved ones, favorite magickal jewelry, items from nature, such as flowers, leaves, acorns, shells, dirt from a grave, and water from a nearby river. 

Some pagan paths including Wicca recommend definitive altar placements based on beliefs and ritual purpose.   Wiccan altars will include some or all of the following:  Athame, bell, chalice, container of salt,  bowl of water, censer, thurible or some other type of incense holder, incense, matches pentacle, wand, candles, representations of the God and Goddess, Book of Shadows, cauldron.

Here is one example of a very basic altar set-up:



Start with a basic set-up and then add altar tems as they speak to you.  Many Witches change their altars with the seasons and the Sabbats.