Altar Setup

Your altar does not have to be elaborate. It can be a small table, a mantelpiece, windowsill, a shelf in a bookcase, or what ever else is handy in the house. It can be round, to represent the Goddess, square, symbolic of the elements, rectangular or oval. It may be a small area of ground in a field or wood.

You may decorate it with crystals, talismans, herbs, flowers, or my favorite, feathers. Anything that has special meaning to you. It is a reflection of the person who puts it together.

It is considered best to place the altar facing north. This direction symbolizes the power flow from darkness to light. It is associated with the Earth. Some face the south with their altars to honor the sun as it rises.

It may be set up permanently or dismantled after use.

Altar Furniture:
The cloth which you spread upon the altar.
The paten which you place on the altar. The paten is a flat piece of embroidered cloth or engraved or painted wood or metal, showing the pentacle. Used to place objects ON in magical workings.

Other altar furniture you may enjoy using are Goddess and God figures. These could be shaped candles, special stones or sculptures representing the female and male deities.

The Tools:

•  Chalice or cup or goblet. A container for the water.

•  Cauldron or bowl. Used for containing salt (to represent Earth). If you are going to light a fire or burn charcoal in your cauldron, do make sure it is sturdy and fireproof!
Some may wish to have a cauldron AND a censer (an incense burner)

•  Athame, sword, or wand, whichever you are more comfortable using. If athame or sword, they are NOT sharpened. These knives are for directing power, NOT CUTTING.

•  Boline This is your working knife, used for cutting herbs, wands, and cords, etc.

•  Cord. (Once an initiated witch, this will be a nine-foot-long black cord.) The cord is used in many ways. It can be used to mark the diameter of your working circle. Usually used as a belt for your coven robe, upon which you can also hang your tools, it can be used for “knot magic”, and even for hand-fasting (although a fancier cord is more traditionally used for these ceremonies).

•  Coven Robe. Your coven robe is a magical garment, and the act of putting it on helps your mind to “set” into “witch mode.” You may also wish to invest in a warm cape as a suitable outerwear, but this is optional.

•  Jewelry.Optional, but most witches enjoy wearing their pentacles as pendants, rings, or as a headband.

(Diagram of possible items for setup - add or take away anything in YOUR altar, this is just mine :)