This week we are going to dive into altar work, setting them up, tools to use and why we use them.
An altar is a place for casting spells, preforming rituals, giving thanks to our guides and/or ancestors; and a place to call in the Gods and Goddesses to honour and work alongside them.
Another way altars are used is to honour the wheel of the year (our witchy seasons). We will dive into that in depth next week. I want to do a full blog on the wheel of the year because there is alot of information that is worth sharing with you all.
So, what do you need for your altar?
There are certain items that every witch should have on their altar; but like I said last week this is your journey and you need to do what feels right for you.
Below I have created a list of items that are great tools to have on hand when creating your altar and performing your spell or ritual.
Tools for your altar:
Photos of ancestors- These will help you connect with them as that guide you through what you are working on.
Athame(Ritual Knife)- Used to call in and channel your energy
Flowers, Herbs & Crystals- Used as offerings to the gods/ goddesses. These can also call in their properties while you are working on your altar. For example- If you are asking for abundance or luck, I would place Citrine for my crystal, Calendula to represent the flower & Cinnamon Bark for the herb.
Candles- As we spoke about last week candles are perfect to call in the fire element or can be used for representation of a colour you are working with.
Written Spells/Rituals- I personally like to keep the spell I am working on or what I am calling in written down on my altar.
Book of Shadows- This is YOURS! Let me quickly say there is no right or wrong way to use a Book of Shadows. Your journey. Your book. What is a book of shadows..... This is your book to write your spells, take notes, herb list etc. Pretty much anything witchy you feel you need to have in it.
Cauldron & Offering Bowl-
Cauldrons are used to burn herbs, mix potions, burn incense and burn spells. I personally like to keep anything I have burnt in my cauldron until I am resetting my altar. Sometimes I like to keep it in a jar afterwards or I choose to bury it.
Offering Bowls are perfect to use to give offerings to the gods/goddesses. They are also great to hold your herbs, flowers or crystals.
Cleansing Tools- I like to keep White Sage or Palo Santo on my altar to open and close my altar work. Just like performing a spell you should always open and close your space; this helps keep unwanted energy away from your altar and spell work.
Earlier, I mentioned using candles to call in the fire element. Lets dive in and talk about all the elements. Earth, Air, Fire & Water. I have also added small little spells you can use to call in the elements.
Earth- Using herbs, plants and flowers it the perfect way to call in the earth element. I like to keep a jar of dirt on my altar as well, it is like having Mother Earth permanently with me.
I call in the energy of Mother Earth
I ask to feel grounded
I ask for stability
Blessed Be
Air- Using incense is a beautiful way of calling in the element of air. Air of course is something that can't be seen but can be felt. Your many also choose to use colours such as white, blue or grey to represent air. I like to also keep an empty jar on my altar with air in it as well.
I call in the energy of the air around us
I ask to fell the fresh air on my skin as it helps clear my mind
Blessed Be
Fire- Using candles is the best way to represent fire on your altar. Burning a flame is so beautiful and can also be done by burning herbs or loose leaf incense.
I call in the energy of fire
I ask to have guidance along my journey
Blessed Be
Water- I did forget to mention having a chalice on your altar; these are similar to wine or champagne glasses. Filling a chalice with water will call in the water element. Your don't need to have a chalice though, a glass or jar will work perfectly as well.
I call in the energy of water
I ask to feel calm as I call in soothing energy
Blessed Be
Your altar is a place for your creative witchy energy to flow, there is no right or wrong way of setting it up. Make it your own, create your magic and do what feels right to you.
Love Kirsty x