Introduction to Altars

An altar is your sacred space to send your prayers, do your spell work, meditate, and over all connect with the divine. It is a special place of power for the individual practitioner, or even a place for the entire family to use. There are many types altars in the world big and small. Thankfully as an individual what your altar looks like it entirely up to you! However, to get you started lets go over some of the different kinds.

Working Altar

Some practitioners have a working altar set up specifically for doing their spell work, and preparing for their spell work. Nothing else is done here. It is the work horse filled with candles, witches jars, crystals and what ever is needed to assist in its purpose of providing sacred space for the witch to work. Ideas for inspiration: protection of loved ones and yourself, blessings, tithes, protection of your house and your land, weather workings, tools for healing physical, mental, spiritual, and emotional wounds, preparing offerings.

Kitchen Altar

Much like the working altar a kitchen witch (or even a witch who just happens to love working with kitchen spirits and spells) has their altar set up here, and it is their work horse and labor of love for the kitchen magic he or she provides. Herbs, spices, seashells, candles, offerings of grains and other substances can be found on a kitchen altar. Sometimes people will place poppets for a residing spirit to nestle in on the altar and be the spirit of the kitchen. Many put an idol of their patron Deity here. If you feel so comfortable a crucifix, or votive candles to a saint or three parts of God can easily work. Ideas of inspiration: bounty of food, and blessings to you and your family, symbolism of productivity, ties to the land, welcoming friends and loved ones who enter your home, entertaining angels, etc.

Ancestral Altar

Even in Christianity there are those who set up altars specifically to honor their loved ones who have passed; both recently, and from some time ago. Usually you will see any combination of these things: Pictures of the deceased, drawings, carvings, poems, mementos, offerings of food and sweets, beverages, blessed candles, votive candles, angel statuary, etc. On this type of altar you place anything that would make your ancestors happy should they decide to visit your home, and if you work with ancestral spirits in spell work it helps to keep them benevolent to your causes.

Saints Altars

The Saints recognized by the differing churches each have their own holiday, and on those days people set up altars to bring reverence and petition them to speak on the behalf of the requester to God. One very popular tradition brought from Sicily (see the picture above) is Saint Josephs altar. It is used for many reasons including blessings on those who are sick, to bring remembrance to his life, and a myriad of personal reasons. There are some who do have altars set up in their homes year round, making their private connections with particular saints. Flowers, fruits, candles, statuary of the saints, and many other items are used.

Angels, Dragons, Faeryn, and Mermaids

Some people make altars to different sentient, spiritual beings much like they would a Saints Altar. Depending on who the altar is for depends on what is placed on it. Imagery and things the person believes the being would like is placed.

Outside Altar

The outside altar is for the respect of the spirits of the land, but also when the practitioner decides to their their practice outside. For many reasons you wont see these altars littered too much, and most take into thoughts of what items that animals could get hurt on, and find alternatives to be used. For instance the shiny plastic grass you find popular around the Easter holidays can wreck animals digestive systems, though some birds use it as nesting material. If you use grass alternatives like real grass, or even paper grass that is digestible and is without any dyes that could lead to poisoning. Many use twigs picked up here and there to make makeshift pentacles, solar crosses, and other symbolism to set up protections, signify the sacredness of that particular area, or even just for decoration. If you want to set up wildlife friendly sections, it would be wise to do so away from your ritual area as most human activity these days deter animals. Setting up bird feeders, bird baths, hummingbird feeders, planting butterfly and insect friendly plants a few feet away will allow visuals without interaction. If you have deer you want to feed, it is best to have these set up several feet even further from your altar. However, squirrel corns and the like can be set up pretty close. If you are akin to bats, set up bat houses as far away as possible because the slightest disturbances can wake a bat which will mess with their internal clocks and ability to feed. Remember they are night creatures, and like the night creatures and protected creatures they are (because of the white nose syndrome that have been wrecking American colonies) their spaces need to be left undisturbed.

You can also have small altars on your window sill, patio, or deck. They dont have to be on the edge of a forest. Just remember that small animals may visit and keep whatever you decide to place outside animal friendly.

Prayer Altars

These altars are specifically designed for the use of prayers. Usually simple in their make, they allow a person to focus on quiet contemplation and simply being with God(s). An Altar cloth with crucifix, Chi-Rho, or others that are significant to your path is the main focal point. Some have simple candles, some do not. Keep reading material available (aka Bible, Koran, Vedas, etc) in case inspiration happens, as well as a journal. Prayer beads, Malas, or other items you use for concentration should be available. If you use holy water, oils, or others during your prayers they also need to be readily available. If you light a candle for each person you pray for, then I would have those of a different table but set close to your prayer altar, in case of over run. Remember this altar is to keep you on track with contemplation. If it is too busy then it will be a distraction, not enough and you will have to keep running back and forth for items that you will need.

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© Chi-Rho Grotto 2018