An altar is a place used for worship in wicca where all my energy is in one spot. Sereral symbolic items are placed in this area, normally a pentacle in the middle, a white and black candle to symbolize the Goddess and God, athame, Wand, cauldron and any other tools you find useful during rituals, spells to worship the God and Goddess. Many tools and items on a altar represent the elements.
Items and tools:
Pentacle ~ representing all 5 elements, protection and power.
Athame ~ ceremonial dagger with black handle Used to draw/ cast a circle, and to direct psychic energy. Represents fire as it is the symbol of the God (sun).
Chalice ~ represents water and Goddess (moon).
Bell ~ voice of the Goddess, ringing brings her attention to you. Can also be used to clear energy.
Candles ~ these are not the god and Goddess candles, these are placed in the 4 directions based on colour, each direction represents an element:
North ~ black, green, brown.
East ~ yellow, white.
South ~ red, orange.
West ~ blue, aqua
Center ~ white, silver, gold. (Near pentacle)
God candle ~ biggest candle besides Goddess candle, colour is normally black. Represents the God.
Goddess candle ~ biggest candle besides God candle, colour normally white. Represents the Goddess.
Besom ~ historical word for broom. Besom where made from twigs (straw or herbs) tied to a pole (brush of besom is rounded not flat). In wicca a besom is used to cleanse a ritual area before Casting a circle. A besom can also be used to cleanse a house and is used in a handfasting (wedding) ceremonies, the couple normally jump over the besom.
Cauldron ~ originally used for cooking, the cauldron in Wicca is used for burning incense in.
Incense ~ aromatic biotic material which releases smoke when burned. Used for ceremonies, repelling inscents, spirituality, aromatherapy, mediation and for pleasure of doing so.
Wand ~ A thin held stick or rod used in Magick as a spell casting tool.
Feather ~ Represents air, used as a fan to smudge smoke.
Stones/Crystals ~ Represents Earth, helps you ground yourself, contains energy.
Salt water ~ small bowl kept for cleansing. Earth and water united symbolizes the ocean giving birth to all life on the planet.
B.O.S ~ keep this close as it has all your spells you will need for your rituals and spells.
Offering bowl ~ A bowl to place offering to your God and Goddess. This bowl should be in the center of your altar.
Offering ~ offering can also be left for the ant elementals that help you. Place these near something that symbolizes them.
Statues ~ statues of the God and Goddess you are working with can be kept on the altar as well as to symbolize them.
Having all of these tools is not necessary. A wiccan can perform any ritual or spell without tools or an altar it just might take practice. Altars can be also made of almost anything and anywhere, altars can even be public (Ex. In a tree trunks) if a statue is placed in a tree trunk passerbyers can come with offerings of flowers and candles
Shadow box altar ~ small discere altar great from hiding from others. Can be in any small box. Your body can even be an altar, add accessories or henna tattoos.
