What does your altar need in wicca?

Answer 1

An altar can have anything on it, depending on what you want to use it for.

for example if you was to do a divination spell you would need your form of divination (bowl of water if you are doing water or tarot cards for tarot) and most likely incense to help relax the mind, and if you would like, a bowl for offerings to the goddess and god.

though you should make your alter special and only use it for spiritual reasons.

One of the most important things to remember is that your altar is personal and private. You will find a lot of information and suggestions concerning your altar, remember that it is up to you as to how you set it up. Do what is the most comfortable for you and what you feel is right.

First, you need to decide where and if you can leave a permanent altar or if you will have to put it away each time.

For a permanent altar, you can use any kind or size of table preferably wood but it doesn't have to be. Rounded tables are easier to get around when moving around them in your circle. Some people also like to have tables that have shelves or drawers built into the bottom to hold magical supplies.

For temporary altars, you can use your kitchen or living room tables. You could even use a board that you cover with cloth to lay in the floor. Sometimes you just have to adapt to the situation that exists in your home.

There are times when you just can't leave one out to show the world because family and friends won't be very understanding. The point is to be able to create space when you need to do that. You'll find the right way that works for you.

Now that you have the altar table, you need to decide on tools and set up. It is traditional to set up an altar facing the North or East but if you need or it feels right to set up in a different direction, it is okay. You should buy you a piece of cloth of the colour of your personal preference to cover your altar. You can leave it plain, decorate it, or even use different colours for particular rituals. That is something you will have to decide which is best for you.

Tools...... the list can be very long or it can be very simple and short. I will give you a general idea and location that you can lay the tools on your altar. You can use all of these tools or keep it simple and use only a few. This is entirely up to you and how you feel will serve you best in rituals and spells.

Here are some suggestions as to how to set up your altar:

Find a quiet space in your home where you can place your altar. If possible, have it face North.

Trust yourself and use your intuition to find the "right" place for it.

Cleanse and bless the space by sprinkling salt water, burning sage, or ringing a clear bell.

Ask the spirits of the North, East, South, and West to guard this sacred space.

Ask the Goddess and God to bless your altar space.

Place a low table or box in the spot. I use an old steamer trunk.

Cover the table with a special cloth. You get to decide what makes it special.

Place your pentacle, a stone, or a bowl of salt on the northern side of your altar. This represents Earth energy.

Place an incense burner, a feather, or your wand on the eastern side of your altar. This represents Air energy.

Place a candle or your athame at the southern side of your altar. This represents Fire energy.

Place your chalice, a seashell, or a bowl of water on the western side of your altar. This represents Water energy.

If you have statues that represent the Goddess or God, place them on the altar. You can also use candles, stones, or any other objects that feel right.

If you have any other object that you associate with your spiritual practice, find a place for it on your altar. You might add Tarot cards, Runes, your Book of Shadows, or your journal.

You have just created your altar. Enjoy it and use it well!

Answer 2

There is really nothing that is required for an altar, but here are a few suggestions.

You will need Two Candles for the God and the Goddess:

If you can find, two iconic figures to represent the God and the Goddess.

A Pentacle:

You can get a metal pentacle made, or a pentacle made with wax, or even a pentacle drawn on a paper. Some people carve the pentacle on the alter itself.

A saucer of Water and Salt:

Representations of the elements Water (water) and Earth (salt)

Some people use a sea shell, you can also use a ceramic or glass dish. Plastic is not so good for this. You can use any common salt (NaCl), but Sea Salt is preferable.

Incense burner and Incense or a bundle of Sage:

Representations of the elements Fire and Air (smoke)

Traditionally, Charcoal incense Burner / Censor is used with powdered Incense if not a bundle of Sage (dried herb) is used. If charcoal is not widely available, South Asian pagans use Coconut shells to burn Incense.

Ritual Tools:Athame and/or Wand:

Athame (a black handled knife used for ceremonial purposes only, not usually sharpened) or the wand is the element of the God. Either one of these is used to cast the circle.

Chalice and/or Cauldron:

Chalice ( a cup used to hold water or wine) or the Cauldron (used to hold water or safely contain a ritual fire) is the vessel of the Goddess. This is used to contain the ritual fluid.

Boline

The white handled knife, sharpened and used to cut ( string, herbs, etc) or carve (candles, wood etc.)

Book of Shadows

A personal, usually hand-written book with Rituals, spells, incantations, and recipes researched and gathered together by each practitioner for their own use.

Other Miscellaneous Items

Candles, herbs, paper and pen, some Earth and a source of Fire as well and anything else you may need for a specific spell or Ritual.

These are the most basic Wiccan tools you may need. There are many other tools you can use according to the ritual Sabbat / Esbat / Ritual you are doing.

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If you would invoke a special spirit in the Ritual apart from summoning a lesser spirit, you would specially need a Wand apart from an Athame (Athame is suitable to summon a lesser spirit, but a wand is needed to invoke. If you don't know the difference, Refrain!).

If you would burn a fire inside the circle, or do a spell that needs a container for a large amount of water or a liquid, you can use the Cauldron.

A specially reserved Ritual Broom (Besome) or asperging liquid is good to Clean the Space.

These are the Wiccan tools known to most solitary/eclectic Wiccans.

There are some more special Wiccan ritual tools that are known to the Initiated Wiccans in Covens and those who are lucky to learn some secrets. That knowledge is available beyond the second degree of a Traditional Wiccan Coven.