The
Altar
©By HPs Dark Fortress
16-Jan-03
Revised version~08 July 2004
Photo of my Daily
Altar HPs Dark Fortress,
copyright
The altar is one of the
main tools for a Witch,
in both the ancient times
and today. It is where we
do our daily practice, give
offerings to our Patron
Gods and Goddesses, light
candles for healing, calming
and more. It is the one
tool we all as Witches should
take care to have in our
home.
How
does one create an altar for
daily use? It really is not
that difficult. You may use
a wooden TV dinner table,
an old dresser handed down,
a flat stone in the yard,
your dining table or any table
you find that is easy to transform.
Some may feel it is important
to have a lavish altar in
order to cast upon, but this
is not true. You will find
that you can take an ordinary
piece of wood and create a
very powerful altar for your
daily use in magick.
In
the days of our ancestors,
most if not all rituals
were performed outdoors
to leave the home free of
interference from outside
energies. Yes, homes did
have Witches bottles, horseshoes
and more for protection
from Witches and such, however,
Witches too had these charms
to protect their home from
any harm. So, in affect
the home is too an altar.
Within the home your Hearth
is an altar. It is the mantle
in which you decorate for
the Tides of the Wheel,
that you have your besom
next to, your Patron Goddess,
elementals, candles, incenses
burning and more. Within
the hearth is the fire in
which you did throw incenses
as offerings, spells in
which were written out on
parchment for sending up
to the Great Goddess and
Great God for manifestation.
It was the centre of the
home, and that is the altar
in most if not all homes.
However, in today’s
modern society and climate
changes many homes no longer
have the hearth as a fire
place, but in the kitchen.
Here you set up an altar
for the Hearth Goddess and
make sure to chat and greet
her daily, give offerings,
seek advice and tend to
it on a regular basis. Most
Hearth Goddesses get annoyed
by messy homes and hearths.
In
solitary or coven rituals
there is usually another altar
for the tools of the Witch,
such as the athame [which
didn’t exist until Gerald
Gardener], a wooden wand,
staff, cauldron, candles,
incenses, censor [which also
didn’t exist till modern
man], Boline, and chalice,
making sure that all of the
elements are represented.
Now in many modern Wicca traditions
the altar will have many more
items upon it depending on
the ritual being performed
and if by a group [usually
attended to by the Coven’s
Maiden] or solitary. Upon
my altar I have a grapevine
wreath hanging above it with
a stick doll and a clay maple
leaf inside. Then I have a
doll in which I associate
to Brighid, a photo of the
Dark Forest in Scotland, candles,
a found wooden stag/stang
triple pronged wand, and three
peacock feathers and my altar
plate which hold either the
cauldron or diffuser for burning
incenses or oils. This is
my daily altar and I also
use it for Spellcasting. It
is upon an old dresser that
used to belong to my husbands
mother. I have three staffs
myself, all were gifts from
the Goddess left at my back
gate immediately following
Imbolc. One is a curved shape,
one is straight with a sharp
point and one is a stang with
two prongs with the right
one off to the side and the
left going straight up. In
the photo above my wand too
was a gift from the Goddess
and with three prongs, so
it too is a stang wand.
Building an Altar
As for building an altar
of your own this is the
most sacred and a project
in which you need room and
a place to hold it all the
time. Most homes unless
you have an outside area
are not able to hold one.
But, I do recommend making
one if you can. Woods that
you could use are Sweet
Chestnut castanea sativa,
Silver Birch betula sp.,
and Cedar cedrus sp. The
Sweet Chestnut and Birch
are good for use of outdoor
altars and the Cedar for
indoors, you also can look
at the magickal properties
of the wood you use as well
the type of weather and
characteristics of the wood
itself. For instance, Sweet
Chestnut is resistance to
rotting and this would be
a good wood for your outdoor
altar and for keeping away
negativity you could also
use Cedar. Oak is always
a good choice as well as
it is the keeper of knowledge
from the Druids. Moreover,
you can always find found
stones large enough to use
as an outdoor altar and
those are cheaper as they
come from the land and are
usually gifts of the Green
Lady. You may make up your
own pattern; burn into the
wood sacred symbols, images,
deities and more. This is
your altar and it should
symbolize who you are as
a Witch.
Different
Altars
There are many ways to use
an altar and that should
be up to you. Now, we all
know that many of our ways
were borrowed by the church,
and the altar is one of
them. They use the altar
as a pull pit for the leader
of the church to give their
weekly sermons upon; they
also incorporate one for
candle lighting and prayers.
Now, within the Catholic
churches they also have
altars for particular Saints
or Deities that are associated
to healing, redemption,
lust and so on. As they
feel that much of what they
do is a sin. However, we
as Witches/Pagans do not
believe in sin, but in Karma
and the correcting and taking
responsibility for what
we do.
So,
would we as Pagans/Witches
need such altars? I think
yes, however, we use them
for the purpose of healing
and sending out energies.
What would be another form
of altar? Cultural, many
have more than one altar
in the home. For instance,
I myself have six altars.
One in the living room which
is Egyptian, one in the
Hearth for the Cailleach
Bera or Hearth Goddess,
one for herbal mixing, one
for daily use [pictured
above] and one for my Patron
Goddess and her offerings,
each with a different purpose
in my daily practice, as
well as on in my circle
outside that is a stone
rock. This I use for burning
of incenses and ritual work
with others [from time to
time] and my pathworking
if quite enough.
Consecration
of Altars
Is this important? Yes.
When we set up a new altar,
receive a new tool, stone,
crystal, jewellery, or found
object from nature we consecrate
it prior to use. This is
to insure it is charged
and cleansed of all interfering
energies and that we are
attuned to the tool in which
we will use later in ritual.
Consecration
is simple. All you need
is rain water, dead sea
salt or dirt, incense and
fire or candle.
Begin
by Casting your Stone Circle
Call upon the Green Lady
and Green Lord
Being
with the dirt and/or salt,
and sprinkle it upon the
top of your altar, then
with a feather in yellow
pass the smoke of the of
the incense, then with the
candles lite from North
to North and lastly sprinkle
the lustral water with a
sprig of vervain upon the
altar.
-
Saying:
I consecrate this altar
in the name of the Lady
and Lord and give it
to all the balance of
thy Earth, then take
the incense and pass
it over,
-
Saying:
I consecrate this altar
in the name of the Lady
and Lord and ask for
wisdom, knowledge and
intellect from the Air.
Then take the fire and
pass it Quickly,
-
Saying:
I consecrate this altar
in the name of the Lady
and Lord for manifestation,
action, and creative
energies to the element
of Fire, and lastly.
Take the rain water
and sprinkle it upon
your altar.
-
Saying:
I consecrate thy altar
in the name of the Lady
and Lord for her blood
of the land, for guidance
and understanding of
emotions, feelings and
intuition from the element
of Water.
Your altar is now consecrated
and ready for ritual use.
Now
you may use your altar for
daily practice, working
in you BOS, Sabbats and
Esbats rituals, coven or
solitary working. If it
is for coven work then it
should be worked on together
and then a special ritual
for the consecration. If
it is for solitary work
then you should never let
another use or touch the
items in which are upon
your altar.
The
altar is a sacred tool and
one in which we all should
have, if not have fun and
make one, create one from
the old furniture and make
it special to you and your
path.
Photo of Lady of
the Isle of Tara’s
March Full Moon Altar
Altar
Arrangement
There are many set formats
for an altar, but the only
true arrangement is the
one that you feel suits
the ritual/s and yourself.
First off you want to have
a space in which you have
your altar and room enough
for the others who are joining
in the night’s ritual.
Now
when setting up your altar
for magick work you need
to make sure you incorporate
all of the elements, Earth,
Air, Fire and Water. Then
have your incense, charcoal
for burning the incenses.
You will then need your
staff, sword and wand. However,
do note that if you do not
own any of these a simple
kitchen knife consecrated
with do just fine, as our
ancestors only used what
was gifted to them from
nature and most staffs and
wands that are true of the
Goddess will be gifted to
you if you only look when
out walking the wilds of
the woods or in your local
park, or beach. You will
need a chalice for rain
water and a salt bowl, however,
you can also use just regular
earth dirt from the yard,
your candle/s, and you have
the elements represented.
You
will need to have your altar
plate; this is for offerings,
placing your tools on for
consecration, and a hot
plate when burning incenses
[if indoors]. You may purchase
one or make it yourself.
“I personally made
my own from an old candle
plate I had and created
it to my sacred symbols
and connections, and painted
it”. They are rather
simple; all you need is
an old plate, a pencil for
drawing, and some acrylics
for painting.
If
you have statues of your
Patron God/s or Goddess/es
you may place those in the
centre or the back of the
altar [this will depend
if you are solitary or in
a coven]. However, the normal
placement for Goddess/God
Statues is in the back and
then the silver candle to
the left and the gold to
the right side. This is
symbolizing the Moon and
Sun, left and right. Then
the incenses are usually
placed in front of the statues
and the tools representing
the elements in the proper
quarters. Your BOS usually
goes to the keeper who is
in charge [this is only
in a coven], and if you
are the keeper then you
place it to your side in
which you write. The Boline
is used for carving symbols
into your candles at the
time of ritual and used
also as a way to work with
the incenses so you do not
burn yourself. The Boline
is a double edged knife
and can be used as an Athame
also. Everything else is
really up to you and how
you feel at the time. For
myself I do use Crystal
Quartz around my altar area.
As
for the other tools many
do use them, but only when
casting specific magick.
For example, the pentagram
it is not common anymore
to work pentagram magick,
but it is a form of High
Magick and one should be
sure to use this only if
you are willing to accept
the full manifestation.
The Triquetra and this too
is used in specific magick
and/or worn as is the Pentagram,
being a symbol of Witchcraft.
You will need your BOS for
recording or reference to
spells, rituals, herbs and
so on. If working with meditation
and seeking answers Crystals,
tarot, runes or oracles
for divination.
But
many of the other tools are
only used on the altar if
you are working specific magick
that night, so do not worry
about so much in the beginning.
You will find most of what
you need in metaphysical shops,
the forest, in your home,
or online.
Altar Tools
Athame ~ prior to Gerald
Gardner the athame was never
used as a tool.
Staff ~ element of fire
and used for casting circles
or working with fire energy
Sword ~ element of air and
used to gain access in the
circle and at full rituals.
Usually held by the guardian
of the circle. This in a
coven is an appointed office.
Chalice ~ element of water
and holder of the rain water
and element of intuition,
feelings and emotions. You
may also have one for wine
offerings as well.
Pentagram/Pentacle ~ all
elements and used for invoking
and banishing rituals. It
is also the symbol of the
Witch and worn as an amulet
by many.
Triquetra ~ triple goddess
and all balance. It too
could be invoked and banished
but it is more an amulet
of the Witch in the older
days and was worn by all
until the pentagram was
introduced.
Candles ~ element of fire
and bringer of creativity,
energy, aggression, manifestations
and action. Used for Fire
divination and burning sacred
words in spells. A symbol
of the Hearth Witch
Boline ~ prior to Gerald
Gardner this was not used.
However, it is used today
for cutting of herbs, carving
candles, and doubles for
an athame. To keep to true
ways of herb cutting you
would use an Herb Knife
which is made of copper
or brass [this protects
the Wildfolks homes and
wild plants].
Bell ~ used to call attention
for circle casting. This
is optional.
BOS ~ your private works
and that of the covens [if
you are with one, most have
coven BOS separate from
the one you have] in the
home.
Incense ~ element of air
or fire, depends how it
is burned. If thrown in
the bon fire it is represented
by fire and with manifestation,
if on a charcoal it is associated
with air and communication?
Statue/s of Patron/s ~ Images
of how you see your deities.
Offerings ~ flowers, herbs,
garlands, and more.
Matches ~ used to light
the candles and charcoal
Altar Plate ~ holds the
offerings and tools you
wish to consecrate and more.
Cauldron ~ element of water
and the womb of knowledge,
symbol of Ceridwen
Rain Water ~ the witches
water and used in most spell
work, infusions and baths.
Dirt or Salt ~ element of
earth and used to cleanse
prior to ritual/s.
Season,
Colours and Dressings
This will be determined
by the Station Wheel or
Tidings of the Year. The
brighter colours are used
in the Solar Seasons and
darker colours are used
in the Lunar Seasons. This
is really what you feel
and desire, but do keep
in mind that the elementals,
flowers and herbs that are
associated with the station
wheel.
Inside
and Outside Altars
Now, this will be determined
by weather of course. However,
most due to lack of privacy
today do them indoors. If
you are lucky enough to
have a place outside that
is out of the way and secret
then do use it for your
altar. The altars outside
are the most powerful ones
and invites all the elementals
to come and join in the
magick and you will find
that you will learn a lot
from the earth if you just
listen.
One
should know that in the
truest of old ways that
all rituals were gathered
outside no matter the weather
and this is where the use
of flying ointments came
in to aid in keeping the
body warm in the colder
seasons. So, if you can
brave the cold then do your
altar outside year round.
I
personally, have one outside
and several inside. I have
it in the back corner of
our yard and it is set with
stones and a fairy girl
on the west end. It is hidden
slightly by some butterfly
palms right now. Usually
it is hidden with my Spider
Flower plant and the butterfly
palms and the Broom Corn
I grow, however, due to
our lawn man my Broom Corn
got a bit chopped down and
is starting a new.
-
Now,
on a personal note,
if you do have an outdoor
altar or circle, make
sure that no one without
your permission enters.
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2005
HPs
Dark Fortress & Ps. Kasaan.
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Founded Oct 15, 2002, mother
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