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The Wiccan Rede
Witches Rune
The Witches Creed
National Pagan Pride Day
The Pentacle
Your Witch Potential Quiz
The One
The Four Winds
Self Dedication Ritual
The 13 Goals of Wicca
Chants
Moon Phases
Air
Fire
Water
Earth
Wiccan Links
Theban Alphabet
Book of Shadows Blessing
Please Read This
About Wicca
Principles of Wicca
The Burning Times
Book of Shadows
The Ladys Prayer
Colour Correspondances
Stone Crystal Correspondances
Herbal Correspondances
Zodiac Signs
Sabbats
Chakras
Tools of the Craft
Glossary of Wiccan Terms
Lughnasadh
Yule Songs
The Altar
Ritual
Suggested reading list
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The Altar |
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| The altar is often the focus of religious ceremony, and is usually found at the center of a Wiccan rite. It’s essentially a table used for holding all of the ritual tools, and can also be used as a workspace in spell casting. It is a space dedicated to the Lord and Lady, where you can commune with/honour them. An altar is easy to make. The first thing you need to decide is if you can have a permanent altar or if you will have to put it away each time. The kinds of things you use for your altar are very much up to your own personal taste and preferences. It's important that your altar be a reflection of your own spirituality. The first item of a permanent altar is the table. Some people prefer round tables as they are easier to get around in the midst of a ritual circle. Others like a square table that fits easily into a corner when not in circle. I personally like having storage space under my table in the form of a cabinet or shelves so I can store some of my ritual items. Some people use a large wooden chest. They can store everything inside and then use the top of the chest as an altar when in use. Many think wood is the best medium for an altar since it's from the earth. But I think metal or stone work just as well. I personally wouldn't use plastic or some man-made material, but that's just me. Whatever you decide on it's a good practice to cleanse and consecrate it before use. Wiping it down with saltwater or smudging it with sage are quick ways to do this. Also exposure to the sun or moon will work equally well. After selecting and cleansing a table or area for your altar, you should think about an altar cloth. These are usually decorated with symbols or images that add to your sense of magic or spirituality. You could use colors that correspond to your interests or specialties in the Craft, such as a green cloth if you're interested in herbal magick, or purple for religion and spirituality. Patterned cloths are nice for Sabbats. Some people use different cloths depending on the season or sabbat which is approaching. It's traditional to set up your altar facing either North or East (depending on your tradition/personal preference). North for the Goddess and the Earth, or east, the place of fresh beginnings, where the Sun and Moon rise. You might want to use a compass for this if you aren't sure which way is which. After this, you need to decide which tools best suit your needs and set up your altar with them and other things which help you in your personal devotions or rituals. You should have something to represent the Goddess and something for the God. Statues are nice if you have them, or you can use whatever you feel works for you. (Silver candle for the Goddess, gold for the God, pictures, shells, stones, etc..) Also you should have something to represent each of the four elements. You can use tools for this or other items. Your altar is as personal as your spiritual path, so use it to hold the things you value. Generally found on an altar would be a chalice (for ritual use/representing the element of Water), Goddess & God statues, a candle/s (for ritual use, representing the element of Fire), incense (for ritual use, the element of Air), a bowl of sea salt (for ritual, Earth), an athame or wand (for directing energy, casting the circle). Other things you might include are stones/rocks, pictures, statues, book of shadows, flowers/herbs, any small items that have meaning to you, etc.  Example altar  My personal Altar  My personal Altar Close up {decorated for Yule} |
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