Silverm00n
03-19-2006, 01:16 AM
There are no specifics when it comes to an altar or the space you use, except that it needs to be a space that is clean, and will be sacred to you in your time of ritual. The altar can be tall or short, round or square, big or small, its up to you. Just be sure its big enough to fit a few items like: an athame, 2 candles, a bell, a bowl of salt and water, a chalice, a pentacle, a candlesnuffer, incense and cakes. You can also put crystals or God/dess idols on your altar if permissible. It is also handy if you can have some drawers in your altar to keep your ritual supplies handy. My altar consists of a wooden trunk large enough to fit all my tools inside, and enough room on top to hold whatever ritual items I need to work with. Since it's a small trunk, I work on the floor and am able to utilize that space to place my Book of Shadows, candlesnuffer, and incense. Your altar can be portable or permanent in its space. If you want a permanent altar it is important for you to consider the following questions: Will I keep my altar out in the open for all to see (family, friends, etc.)? Will my altar be untouched and undisturbed in its space? Some Witches choose to stay "in the broom closet" and not expose their altars and ritual items. I prefer to keep my altar and items "hidden" away, so my altar is portable, and I have an extra "hidden" cabinet for such items as herbs, oils, potions, and books. Since I have the luxury of being able to leave my altar out and undisturbed, I do so overnight after each ritual, then put it away the next morning.
Once you have chosen your altar and the space you will be holding your rituals, you should decide which direction you will be facing. The altar is put inside of the circle. It is either placed in the north edge of the circle, or in the center facing north. Although, some Witches prefer to have it in the eastern edge or facing east. Certain directions have always been considered more sacred than others. In Islam, that functions sans an altar, prayer is oriented toward Mecca, the birthplace of the Prophet. In Christianity, the east, the direction of the rising sun.
In Wicca, the north is traditionally considered to be the home of the Gods, thus being the most sacred direction. The Pole Star in the north was considered particularly sacred in the mythology of Norse and German peoples. It was also the direction of the Spiral Castle of the Celtic Goddess Arianrhod, where the dead heroes of the Celts went to dwell. The north is also the direction through which the Sun passes at night and the point at which the Moon's influence is strongest in relation to the Sun. Therefore the north represents the deepest part of the unconscious mind. The difference in altar orientation between Wicca and Christianity reflect their Dionysian and Apollonian leanings: the religion of the night vs. the religion of the day, of unconscious vs. concious.
Regardless of whether we use north of south, having the altar on the north/south axis is significant in that it aligns the circle with the Earth's magnetic currents. This has been considered important both in magic and in another important human activity, sleep! In the Northern hemisphere, in order to align the electro-magnetic field of the body with that of the Earth, we are told to sleep with our heads to the north and our feet to the south. Mediums often used to sit with their backs to the north when giving clairvoyance in much the same way that a Wiccan Priestess stands with her back to the north when the power of the Goddess is invoked upon her.
There is no one "right" way to set up your altar. Do what works best for you. There are some general concepts of where to put what, and when I was just starting out I found that having at least an idea was very helpful. Some of the books that I have read say to put the God candle on the western edge and the Goddess candle on the eastern edge. Usually the pentacle disk goes in the middle of the altar, and the incense burner is on the left along with the wand and athame. The bell and bowl of salt/water is on the right, and the chalice and cakes are placed above the pentacle disk. Also there are some rituals that require you to set up some select tools in a specific way. Whatever the case, remember that this is your altar and your sacred space. You should feel comfortable and magickal in it, so do as you wish!
http://www.wiccanwisdom.com/art/AltarPic.jpg
Once you have chosen your altar and the space you will be holding your rituals, you should decide which direction you will be facing. The altar is put inside of the circle. It is either placed in the north edge of the circle, or in the center facing north. Although, some Witches prefer to have it in the eastern edge or facing east. Certain directions have always been considered more sacred than others. In Islam, that functions sans an altar, prayer is oriented toward Mecca, the birthplace of the Prophet. In Christianity, the east, the direction of the rising sun.
In Wicca, the north is traditionally considered to be the home of the Gods, thus being the most sacred direction. The Pole Star in the north was considered particularly sacred in the mythology of Norse and German peoples. It was also the direction of the Spiral Castle of the Celtic Goddess Arianrhod, where the dead heroes of the Celts went to dwell. The north is also the direction through which the Sun passes at night and the point at which the Moon's influence is strongest in relation to the Sun. Therefore the north represents the deepest part of the unconscious mind. The difference in altar orientation between Wicca and Christianity reflect their Dionysian and Apollonian leanings: the religion of the night vs. the religion of the day, of unconscious vs. concious.
Regardless of whether we use north of south, having the altar on the north/south axis is significant in that it aligns the circle with the Earth's magnetic currents. This has been considered important both in magic and in another important human activity, sleep! In the Northern hemisphere, in order to align the electro-magnetic field of the body with that of the Earth, we are told to sleep with our heads to the north and our feet to the south. Mediums often used to sit with their backs to the north when giving clairvoyance in much the same way that a Wiccan Priestess stands with her back to the north when the power of the Goddess is invoked upon her.
There is no one "right" way to set up your altar. Do what works best for you. There are some general concepts of where to put what, and when I was just starting out I found that having at least an idea was very helpful. Some of the books that I have read say to put the God candle on the western edge and the Goddess candle on the eastern edge. Usually the pentacle disk goes in the middle of the altar, and the incense burner is on the left along with the wand and athame. The bell and bowl of salt/water is on the right, and the chalice and cakes are placed above the pentacle disk. Also there are some rituals that require you to set up some select tools in a specific way. Whatever the case, remember that this is your altar and your sacred space. You should feel comfortable and magickal in it, so do as you wish!
http://www.wiccanwisdom.com/art/AltarPic.jpg