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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I know I just said it, but it bears repeating–for those of us who are not the most organized, it’s such a relief to know that everything is ready and waiting for you at your altar. Creating a Wiccan altar can give you some peace of mind if you’re like me and have a tendency to fret over fine details. If you answered yes to either of these, you might be able to get away with an altar that’s on the smaller side.

But what if you don’t want a permanent altar, are practicing in secret, or have nowhere to put it? A travel altar is easy to make and can easily fit inside of an empty breath-mint tin. Here’s how to make one, whether it is the only altar you have or a secondary one you use when you are away from home! You will need: An altar can be a source of energy and inspiration for some, but if you’re worried that this is just going to be a burden or a nuisance, then it’s likely to sap both energy and inspiration. The eight major Wiccan holidays (or sabbats) are a great opportunity to spruce up your altar. Adding colors or symbols associated with a particular celebration is a great way to get into the holiday spirit. Bell: this clears energy, so you typically use it at the end of your ritual. Place it on the God’s side, towards the element of air.Ceremonial: The by-the-book practice of placing the highest value in—not to mention expertly executing—ceremonies and rituals. East is another option, as it is the direction of the rising sun. This is a practice that’s found not only in witchcraft, but other world religions as well. Facing the rising sun can bring an energy of newness and life into your practice. As mentioned, there’s no right or wrong way to assemble your sacred altar. Have fun with it. Move things around. Let your intuition guide you. Choose items you feel connected to, and update your altar regularly to reflect the woman you’re becoming. When thinking about the location of your altar, it’s also nice to consider how good the energy feels in that space. I tend to get morning sun in my apartment and I’ve positioned my altar to make the most of that. I love that it gets bathed in natural light every morning and I feel like this brings a really special energy to my altar. Maybe you have a favourite plant you’d like to incorporate? Or a favourite window? A favourite room? Your altar is meant to be a space that feels special to you, so choose your location accordingly. Witchy Altar Tip #3 Direction of your Altar

If you’re still undecided about whether a Wiccan altar is right for you, take a look at the following scenarios and see how much they apply to you. At its most basic, an altar is a specially designated place where someone performs a religious ritual. And Wiccans and witches have no special claim to altars–they show up in religions across the world. In Wiccan tradition, the left side of a witch altar is considered the feminine side, while the right side is the masculine. On the left, you may want to arrange items like a chalice or cauldron, while on the right, you may want to keep your wand and athame. The center is where the Goddess and God meet; this is the “working area” where you do your witch’s work or sacred practice.

Protecting your witch altar

So now that we’ve got a little bit better understanding of what a Wiccan altar is, we have to ask ourselves the million dollar question–is an altar really necessary to practicing Wicca or witchcraft? That being said, I would recommend keeping at least a few of your most commonly used tools on your altar. We’ve already talked about how altars can be both organizational tools and a reflection of your own unique spirituality, so I won’t rehash those again.

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.This is typically not the first thing that comes to mind in regards to the benefits of an altar, but there’s no denying that having one is an organizational godsend. Just because there are lots of good reasons to create an altar, doesn’t mean it’s for everyone. If you find yourself resonating with the following, then perhaps an altar isn’t the right spiritual tool for you at this point in your journey. And that’s perfectly fine!