Creating A Magickal Altar Space

What Is An Altar And Why Witches Need One

An altar is a sacred space/area in the home set aside specifically to honour your craft. It is a place to honour the God and Goddess, changing seasons and to perform some of your spellcraft. Ideally your altar should be permanent and not need to be constantly taken down or moved around. Obviously for some people this is not always possible for example if you have concern over other people from outside the family seeing your altar, you live with others who do not know or do not accept your path. If this is so possibly consider having your altar in the bedroom rather than a more used room such as the living room. When I was young and living at home my altar was in my bedroom for years as there was no space in the rest of the home which could be permanent, now later in life i have them all through my home and my office is a permanent dedicated sacred space. It can be a small table, a shelf, top of a low cabinet or book shelf, choose a place your feel most guided to.

If you truly cannot have a full time altar then set about making a travel/put up altar. You could decorate or source a gorgeous wooden box that you keep your supplies in and have a altar cloth/mat or small table you can bring out when you want to work magically.

Things to think about when choosing an area for your altar:

-          Are you concerned about other people seeing your altar? If so take this into consideration when choosing your space.

-          This area is sacred to you and your path so will there be problems with people touching items on your altar?

-          Is it somewhere you will see every day? This is important as it is a place to connect with the God, Goddess and your path

-          Do you intend to cast all your spell there? If so you will need enough room for extra items such as mortor and pestle, oils etc

-          Are you creating an altar for a specific reason, a fertility altar, prosperity altar? In which case this would change where you place it, for example a dedicated fertility altar would be best in the bedroom. 

Having a permanent altar gives a practicing witch a space to call her own, where magick resides and where she can connect with the God and Goddess. It gives a focus to spell energy when charms are charging or candles which need to burn down are placed on it and it is an area dedicated to the changing wheel of the year. Over time you may find you have more than one altar to specific God/Goddesses, for specific needs or ongoing workings.

If your altar is a travel altar then it can be harder to connect daily especially if you are not alone enough to set it up very reguarly. Something i have recommended a lot over the years is buy some standard looking candles, the ones everyone has in their home. Be crafty though and choose your colours to represent the God/Goddess or Sabbat, most people can also get away with having gemstones these days as they are very main stream so again pick one or two carfeully. Sit them on the shelf so they look like standard home decorations and light them reguarly in the evening 'to relax' but in your mind you know you have them as a magical reminder and dedication. That way you can still connect in between finding time alone to put up your main altar.

Your altar should be cleansed regularly with either incense, a smudge stick, gemstone essence spray or salt water.