Saturday, February 14, 2009

An Easy Wiccan Altar

Setting up a Wiccan altar is easier than you think. It is all down to personal preference and choice - which isn’t necessarily helpful for someone setting up their first Wiccan altar! It can seem confusing and unfamiliar at first.

So we have put together a quick guide to some of the loose ‘rules’ and traditions to give you an idea of where to start. You will encounter many different opinions and viewpoints about what is right and wrong so feel free to pick out the ideas that you are drawn to and leave those that you do not feel would be beneficial. It’s your Wiccan altar and should be to your tastes.

  • Your tools or objects should be considered as male or female energies. Keep feminine objects on the left, and masculine on the right.
  • Your Wiccan altar should represent the core elements of earth, air, fire, water and spirit. To represent these elements you can have salt for the earth, candles for fire, a chalice or bowl for water and a feather or incense for air but feel free to use different objects if they hold deeper meaning for you.
  • Avoid clutter on your Wiccan altar. Easier said than done! There’s certainly lots to try and find space for sometimes. However, too many unnecessary items can disturb the flow of energies and make you less effective in your spell work.
  • Always keep your Book of Shadows handy and preferably in the centre, where you can get to it quickly. Try not to rely on your memory and think you can jot down any important notes later.
  • Consecrate your tools and, in fact, your Wiccan altar itself. This should be done when you set it up for the first time, but also if you are moving it or using it in a different location. Some prefer to cleanse it on a regular basis, others don’t feel it necessary. One of the simplest ways to do this is smudging with sage, but sprinkling with salt water is another good way. Prepare a chant if you want to strengthen the ritual.


And that’s all a beginner needs on their first Wiccan altar! The simpler the better - there’s plenty of time for you to develop your own style. If you would like to know more, try our article on Wiccan Altars for more details.


Good luck & have fun!