Create a sacred altar for meditation, magic, and ritual at home. Choose the perfect location for your altar, selecting sacred objects, making it personal to you, and assembling it. This is crucial as it will be the focal point of your spells or rituals and where most ritual actions and magical works will be performed.
Altars can be set up anywhere you have the space, and traditional tools may not be necessary. A great Wiccan altar can be the difference between success and failure in your craft. Key elements to include and how to arrange them are essential.
In Wicca, you need a table or tree stump, specific altar items like a wand or athame, figurines, candles, and other items. Extra-sensory items may include candles, flowers, incense, a tong bowl or bell, aromatic spices, a central symbol of a deity or loved one, a pentagram, a powerful crystal, an incense burner, or a bowl.
Ritual tools can include salt, oils, resins, herbs, athames, jars, statuary, pentacles or pentagrams, mortar + pestles, candle carving tools, journals, and more. To create a sacred altar, choose the perfect altar location, select sacred objects and symbols, and decorate with personal symbols and objects.
In witchcraft altar setups, you can choose different types of altars for different types of practices, such as meditation, magick, or honoring ancestors. Remember to make your altar personal and meaningful to you, and practice setting up your altar for success.
📹 How to set up an altar | Witchcraft altar set ups for different types of witches
Today we are talking witchcraft altar set ups: how to set up an altar for witchcraft, different kinds of altars for different types of …
📹 Witch Altar Basics (Wicca Tips & Ideas) Baby Witches Set Up your First Pagan Sacred Space
My First Altar. Whether you’re on a budget or just starting witchcraft, this set of tips for Beginner Witches will help you in your …
Me being a Native American half-breed, my entire apartment is my “Temple” and library. My actual Altar is a drum with a piece of glass over the drumhead to protect against wax drips, spilled wine, incense ashes and the like. My chalice and cauldron are both pottery made from clays found only on Tribal lands. I use an arrow as a Wand. I do all spoken parts of ritual in Tribal language. So thank you for this article. Binging on your website
For in the closet, or those that need to hide their practice. Chess, various pieces can represent different beings. It’s two colors can represent duality, pawns are great representatives for elements. The tower is great for a defense talisman. I have even used a personal game of chess as a cover for a love spell. And the best part for those tight on money, you can get cheap chess boards.
As an old lady & lifetime thrifter, I’d like to say that the pre-loved items that “find you” are many times the best. My altars, shrines, and whatnot have evolved over time, organically, as these treasures have quietly arrived in my home. Mixed in with a few handcrafted tools (including my surprisingly powerful soul cards), nothing screams occult, yet my folk practice weaves throughout it all. I suggest letting things evolve naturally to nurture & support you.
My altar is in my bedroom. Mostly because there’s this perfect alcove right above a built-in drawer set. But also because this is where I spend most of my time. I also have an aesthetic altar set up in my living room right next to my chair, but that’s because I need something pretty in the room that keeps up my good mood when I’m in there. I also have a digital altar on my tumblr page that I visit daily for a pick me up when I’m feeling less than stellar.
You are fast becoming my favourite youtuber!! I love this article- and agree, to hell with the “rules”. I have two alttars, one in the main living area and one in my bedroom. I have a lot of items that are personal and I want to keep their energy clean from others, so perfect for my bedroom altar- it also is a self care and inner self worship sacred space. I would love you to make a article about house spirits, here in Scotland we call them Brownies, and we make an offering of chocolate or a sweet thing if we have lost ( stolen by a brownie) something. I think Dobby from the harry potter movie was a house elf- and I imagine you have similar in Germany- or Spain!
I drew an Oracle card yesterday, Sacred Space, so began building my Altar, it now contains my Oracle deck (Goddess Guidance), a tealight holder in the shape of Herb books, Emu feathers (from a farm, which has a lovely café, called The Cakehouse), so the feathers are a reminder and to represent Air. Also a jar filled with Lavender cut from our garden, for its calming properties ( I use for a wonderful relaxing bath and also Teas), in front of which I place my daily oracle card. When I woke this morning I felt drawn to go into the garden and pick some Ferns and Ivey, to drape around my Altar, this space feels so special now, I’m sure it will grow and change over time. Thank you Bex for the tips xxx
I’ve learned that everything comes down to “feeling”. Hard to put it into words, but, you may be going about your day and suddenly notice an item that feels like it’s calling you, something that feels it would be a good fit on the altar. That is an item that your altar needs. Nobody can tell you what your altar needs, but people can make suggestions. Ultimately, it is up the each person. This concept of “feeling” is not something many are used to and it makes it hard to describe to them. It is kind of a “knowing”. Books and education can never replace this aspect. This is also why there is no one size fits all in witchcraft. Your article sums it up well.
I’m still very much a beginner in all this and I love love love your vids! So informed and non biased but really fun too! I guess I’m probably a green witch as I’ve almost subconsciously set up an altar at the top of my garden this year. I call it my healing garden and I’ve grown healing herbs and plants along with a little Buddha. I do a lot of grounding there and it’s really given me a sense of peace. My husband completely gets it so I’m very lucky 🤗 Thanks for your website, it’s really great!
This was exactly what I needed 🙂 I grew up as an eclectic Wiccan – as eclectic as it was possible in 00’s in Central Europe lol 😀 I’m reviding everything now and I’m tending more and more to witchy minimalism and some personal fusions. I’m temporary staying at my friends’ flat due to renovation of my flat and I’m enjoying an altar which is not in a cupboard. It has some challenges though because my cat is drinking water from the cup… eh, chalice! 😀 Thank you for kind and cheerful reminder to do stuff my way
I’m glad you made it home safely! Great article, as always. I break the rules. Not only is my altar in my bedroom, I also work from home in the same room. Oh, the horror. 😱 I don’t care. It’s actually my favourite spot in the entire house, and I just do a good cleansing if I’ve had a rough work day, and again before I go to bed. No big deal. If I wanted dogma and rules I’d convert to Christianity. It’s easier. 😉
I like how you mentioned some witches turn their entire home into an altar That’s what I like to do. I haven’t been able to have my own place for a while now due to injury that lead to disability, but I will get there again. I love having my craft, tools and such everywhere. Plants in as many places as I can fit and putting my whole heart into making my home my sanctuary I’ve had many comments from friends and family on how my home has always been cozy, comfortable and interesting😍
My altar is set up on an antique little buffet table. My essentially change the decor corresponding with each Wiccan Sabbat. I’m bringing lots of natural items such as flowers and plants herbs and spices. I have four items made of brass that I always keep on the altar and they represent the four elements… Water is a chalice, a candlestick with a candle is fire, a little brass bell represents air and I have a brass bowl with seasonal dried herbs, flowers and nuts etc that represents Earth 🙂 Each month I honor the full moon by lighting Jasmine incense on my altar and placing a little Moon goddess figure on it 🙂
So far I have my Journal for my Magickal Journey and a figure of I character that I like who is a Magician that I’m trying to enchant in a secret draw in my room. I’m brand new, just started out on the Jan 1st of this year! I started because I wanted to learn how to do Hypersigils since I love writing.
I only just realised today that I’ve actually put my altar together – without realising it. I’d grouped together some items that are precious to me – Triple Goddess statue; picture of my love; a tea light; some crystals; a wand and a wheat sheaf; a plant & a vase of flowers. My incense is on the table; my witchy books and journals on the shelf underneath. I think it’s done 🙂
I have a main altar, a kitchen and a garden altar at home. But I also have a travel altar which has saved my sanity in many cases when I a was out there in the world 😀 Oh, and my main altar is in my bedroom and I love it there! It is my most personal room where I can feel save to witch around. Once I get a garden I really want to have a garden altar with a fireplace too.
I find it best to only gather what speaks to you, and acquire things along the way. You are quite right, There is no need to go and buy all new witchy things. It will be far more beautiful and meaningful in the long run to purchase only things you personally love. I’ve been gathering for over 40 years. Now and again I still pick up something I gravitate towards. My wand is a piece of driftwood from a vacation spot. It means Far more than a store bought one would. When it’s right you will know it.
Mine is the top of an antique chest of my grandmother’s where I have photos of my immediate grandparents, and family that has gone before. It’s in my main living room. I do have elemental representation as I usually have a plant or seasonal flowers, a vessel with moon water, candles and bird feathers I find. I have a box where I put notes on issues I’m facing, and a small saucer with a triskelion marked on it, that I use for any offerings. I have other art, rocks, and trinkets I bring out seasonally or intentionally.
Hello my friend 🥰 Glad you mentioned the need to allow one’s own creativity to influence the altar space. 💕 I have multiple space for my practice & one does include my bedroom. You have to work with what you have, as you say, and if that includes limitations on space, then we just get to cleansing & ✨ TA-DA! magic witchy space!
I’m just becoming aware of my witchery 🙂 and I love your guidance. So funny and personal. My current one, I feel I will have many, it my kitchen witch. So far all I have is crystals with colored glass beads, aka Suncatcher. I know it will grow but I don’t want to force it. Thank you for this beautiful nonjudgmental article 🥰
Thanks for your great articles. It was sooo funny when you mentioned your subscriber in Berlin, because even though I wasn’t meant (since you don’t know me), I automatically felt addressed, too. 😅 Because I am always astonished about the Bavarian cultural stuff – it almost seems as if we lived in two different countries. And I have to say that so far I loved all of your articles. Thanks again for your great content. ❤️
I was born to the west of where I am now, I’ve always been drawn to the west and set my altar to the west. Mine is in my bedroom (and the bedroom is the only place to keep the furry demons out, especially my black cat who is particularly fond of all my workings which is fine if I’m with him but he’d likely take over the world if I left him to his craft lol). I think it’s ironic that some say not to have the altar in the bedroom as sexual energy is VERY strong and lots of (insert which type here) workings all link back to sex/fertility. I love the idea of an elemental base in each room (something from each element) so I also try to do that throughout my house. The only area that doesn’t is the spare bedroom and it’s warded like the outside of my house so any negative energies guests bring dont become a part of my house. (Example is my bathroom which on the corner of the tub has a small vase with a moss ball (earth and water) with a feather tired to the vase (air) and a candle that fits on top (fire) to me this is all of the elements and a positive but even energy but to the common passerby is a slightly extra candle holder. Anyway prolly TMI but this is the first time I’ve had an actual alter in my house. Before that I just had the elemental bases and my supplies in a box.
I enjoyed perusal this article I just love how informative it was and positive about different altar setups. Me myself I’m a norse pagan and I work with the Aiesir and Vanir but I might of gained some knowledge from perusal your article so that I may apply some positive intuition in my practice so thank you for helping other pagans/Heathens or hellonists or any practitioners build and learn.
Hello! New subscriber here! And beginner. So happy I found your website! I’m so excited for this journey I’m on! Ever since I was a child Iv always felt a connection. The time is now! I feel more connected with herbs and crystals . I do have this amazing antique china hutch that I plan on turning into an alter type of space. Your tips have helped tremendously! And I just can’t wait to get started! Thank you so much!
I am sooo glad you didnt mention Buddha or Ganesha! Sticking with witchcraft only is refreshing. I was born into Wicca and come from 400 years long line of them Polska. Modern day witches dont have a clue and should separate religion and spiritualism as it creates a cloud of unburnt karma and can clash. Blessed Be xo
I think the “Don’t put an alter/shrine in a bedroom.” advice is for the deities that are known to not appreciate nudity. Some people treat their spirits or deities like family. Ancestor shrines is the mostly likely case, in which, the a bedroom altar/shrine may not be a suitable preference. Depending on how you were raised, nudity and not wearing clothes may seem disrespectful to some ancestors or deities. My friend used to tell me, “If your mom yells at you to put on clothes, when you walk around half clothed now when she is alive then why wouldn’t she in death. Where do you think she got that? Your grandma.”
This was such an inspirational and informative vlog. Thank you so much. I have wanted to set up more altars around the house, and i kept getting caught up on the…. rules. So it’s nice to hear that i can just say fuck the rules and just be happy. On an unrelated note. I’m curious if you have any recommendations for something witchy to do in Berlin. Ill be going in mid Sept and i really wanted to incorporate anything witchy to my adventure. I mean I’d love to meet you, but im a random stranger and i know that would just be weird. Plus i doubt you live by there. So I’ll take your advice instead. Thank you so much for everything. And i hope your trip to Spain was good despite the heat and that your mil is doing well
Here in Austria we also have a “Herrgotts Winkel”. Most of the time there is only Jesus, but there are also some with Mary and a “Rosenkranz”. There are also often pictures of diseased family members, who get protected by Mary. In the christian believe of Austria you can feel a strong root of Mary in Celtic belief as a mother of the earth. There is even a black Mary, which is believed to have strong bounds with everything concerning earth and motherhood.
I just found you totally by accident and I loved your message you are preaching individuality which is an awesome thing because everybody is an individual and should practice the way they see fit not with somebody tells them to now if they decide to follow up particular tradition that tells him to do it a certain way and they decide to do it that way that’s fine but you should go with what feels right to you and that’s what you’re teaching and I love that awesome
I have seen elaborate and expensive altars, but they definitely do not have to be. Rocks, seashells, wood, water, from outside, are my preference. My book of shadows and journal are there. Sometimes I do crafts in a certain section. It varies and changes almost daily. I even use rinds and peelings for decoration and thanks. Dried grapefruit rinds filled with dirt, sand, or salt are great candle holders. Ideas and possibilities are endless. All have unique properties. Be intuitive and do you.
Thank you so much! I have been flirting with witchcraft since I was a teen and now, as I become “a woman of a certain age”, I am really feeling the pull. This is a great place to start and you have really helped me. I’ve always worried about doing it all “wrong” and accidentally summoning Beelzebub or something 😂🤣 I know I have witch blood in my veins and have been quietly going about the business of life with intent. Now it’s time to step into my older woman power. ❤
Loved this topic!!! So interesting to see the various ways people use and enjoy spaces. I have a question, if I may….I was wondering how you dispose of things you use on your altar and work? I am speaking of things like spent candles, herbal bags or trinkets made, anything that was used in a spell or works? I feel “odd” disposing of these items in the trash after putting so much energy into them. Also, could you show how to call corners, and how to cast and close circles? I think a lot of things I read are too vague about the practical processes. Thank you, again, for all your great articles and very REAL advice!!! ❤❤❤
I really LOVE your articles. I am a baby witch and ive been very unsure of everything because everyone has a different opinion. But the thing that made it worse as the people saying that if you dont do it EXACTLY like this either terrible things will happen or some other thing… But you make it so simple to understand and you also make it very clear that it is up to personal preference 🙂 It has really helped me in my research <33
In addition to the fabulous content, I especially appreciate all the lush, beautiful imagery in your articles!! Food for the soul. 💜🔮 How can I obtain the botanical art with the black background & vividly-colored flowers hanging on your brick wall? Is there a specific name for the piece that I can Google? 🌼
Because of my personal circumstances, my altar exists only in my mind. I needed to visualize it and day after day add “substance” an detail to it. It makes things a bit trickyer since imagination flickers, shifts and evolves by itself it seems but it also means it’s free, sometimes surprising and I take it with me wherever I go. Still, I would love to eventually have a physical altar too.
XD hahahahahahahahaha I can’t stop perusal your articles. So educational and entertaining. I am currently in the process of making my witchy space which is outside, but thanks to your explanation, I’m now going to be making another altar for my hearth which imma be keeping inside. My kitchen is WAY too small for me to place an altar, but I have enough space for one within the living room and what I’m going to be using is moveable just in case I have to make space for guest. :3 I’m going to be making most of the materials by my own hand, idk exactly what type of witch I am, but as I watch more and more of your articles I feel like we connect to many of the same things, cooking, crafting, herbs, nature etc. The only difference I’ve seen so far is I don’t practice nor really pay much attention to folk. :3 Thank you for the info and I appreciate it. Blessed be you and your family.
Just found you couple days ago. Kept paper handy for the “notes” I always take. But instead just watched in amazement your free and easy presentations that have me loving it and laughing alot. You are very interesting to listen to. You are in my top three favorites. (Annabelle Marsh the Green Witch- she helps to calm me. Terri Conroy- Danu Herb Garden – she connects me to my mother and ancestry, and now you, reminding me of the peace found in ‘being’ my own kind of witchy.) All three of you connect alot to the outdoors and gardens. Places that keep my heart going. Thanks for the enjoyment.
So I have a question can you put haunted doll statues on your alter and just to give you some back story on him Nenso is truly unique from an estate sale. The brother of the seller said after his deaf sister passed, she told him this was an important and powerful spirit. Nenso was an Asian man who kept quietly to himself and dedicated his time by serving underworld demons and other evil spirits. Everything he did, he made sure these demons were satisfied and well fed. He offered them body parts he got off the black market and even offered them his feet. He disappeared one day. Neighbors assume he went off the grid since he always talked about it. He also had some good experiences with witches assisting him in his work,. He obeys his master and will only want to elevate you. Thought?
I’m an art witch and I LOVE how you talk about its all up too you! I’ve always been a witch but when I was younger I felt so blocked or stunted? Because I was surrounded by media mostly books, telling me I had to do it this way, set up an altar this way, correspondence are this and that is that! If you don’t do it this way and have not been initiated into a coven or order your not a REAL WITCH!!! After I started to realize that I have to do what feels good and right to me is what matters and I began to flourish!💜🌱
I have altars all over my house. Main one for me is my bedroom next to the hearth. I love this one especially. I have a mini kitchen altar with a kitchen witch hanging nearby to guide me in the kitchen. I have others that come and go depending on need such a a small one for a sick friend or a family member that needs support. I have a permanent altar for my Mother and Father since they have passed on. I have a permanent prosperity altar near my bed on a lovely bookcase that contains my witchy books. Each is unique and meaningful to me. Thank you for your positive ways. I appreciate your smiles, fun, and honest ways of thinking and presenting all things witchy. love and Light to you and your family.
Another great way to do a travel alter is an altoid tin! Thats what I used for so long living with family in the broom closet. You take a piece of paper cut for the bottom and draw sigils, manifestations etc, you can put little birthday candles for candle magick, keep a lighter in there, imagery, symbolism, etc, it’s really fun tbh!
My altar is on the second shelf of my bookshelf. My bookshelf is one of my most treasured places in my room. It’s an altar to Loki and I keep a candle burning in a candle holder as well as six battery operated tea lights on it for him. And the center piece is a plastic cauldron filled with cedar smudge sticks and a mini canvas painting of Loki’s Bind Rune. In front of that is a little circle of my cleansing and charging crystals with my pendulums in the middle.
My craft is more of a earthy and animal kind of thing and since I’m an atheist/Agnostic I’m planning on making altars to honor animals I feel close connections to! I feel very close to crows and would love to make an altar for them! (I would put dried foods they eat, feathers, bones, trinkets, etc on the altar!)
I have one sacred space alter in my living room. The things on it are very intentional. I have some alter things in the kitchen but I will never be confused with a kitchen witch. One space I use as a seasonal alter when I’m feeling it. And one, believe it or not, in my car. Bedroom alter, I’m working on it 🙂
VERY INTERESTING YOUR articleS FOR ME AND YOU YOURSELF TOO AND ITS MIND BLOWING AS USUAL. KINDA SILLY BUT GREAT. I THANK YOU FOR THIS GREAT article. ( I NOW WATCHED THREE OF YOUR RESENT articleS ONE AFTER THE OTHER. WHICH I DON’T USUALLY DO). I ALWAYS THOUGHT WHAT IS THE POINT IN BELIEVING IN WITCHCRAFT AND OR PRACTICING IT (THIS IS ANYTHING)IF ITS SOOOO RESTRICTIVE. IT SHOULD ALWAYS BE A FUN LEARNING EXPERIENCE. AND BE DONE YOUR WAY NOT SOME ONE ELSES WAY. OTHERWISE WHATS THE POINT. I LIVE IN MISERY AS IT IS AND ALL MY LIFE I DON’T NOR WON’T TOO ADD TO THAT. TO ME THATS STUPID. GREAT article ON ALTARS I WISH I COULD TRY AND MAKE ONE BUT THAT IS IMPOSSIBLE SINCE I AM HOMELESS UNFORTUNATELY (THANKS TO CERTAIN PEOPLE. DON’T JUDGE ME YOU AREN’T IN MY SHOES). I GUESS I CAN TRY TO DO ONE IN MY HEAD BUT ITS A BIT CROWED IN THERE AND IT WOULD BE HARD FOR ME TO KEEP SINCE I AM ALWAYS IN SURVIVAL MODE. PLUS I WANT ONE I CAN SEE, FEEL AND TOUCH ANYWAY. THATS THE WAY IT IS FOR ME. I SAW YOUR INTERESTING, BEAUTIFUL RETREAT article LAST NITE AND ANOTHER ONE.. SORRY FOR MY IGNORANCE BUT I DIDN’T KNOW YOU DID RETREATS. MAN THATS ALOT OF WORK AND AMAZING. BOY I SURE COULDN’T DO THAT BUT I BET IT WAS FUN. ITS SEEM VERY EXPENSIVE IF YOU DON’T MIND ME SAYING. BUT TO HELP OTHERS AND YOURSELF AT THE SAME ITS PROBABLY WORTH IT. ITS DEFINITELY A GREAT IDEA. YOU MENTIONED YOU MADE SOME TYPE OF ALTER IN FOR YOUR APT. FORGIVE ME AGAIN FOR MY IGNORANCE BUT I THOUGHT YOU LIVE IN A HOUSE YOU INHERITED. SO I AM A BIT CONFUSED.
My alter is my space for prayer and meditation…. it has candles, insence even tho my wife cant tolerate it burning so i have it out like flowers, crystals, shells, a few wands, a huge qyartz xluster, small spell jars, glass bowls with spells i am working on, a memorialtomymom….. and this space is ever changing. Its my favorite place in the whole house.
from a traditional wiccan to a seeker or perhaps one who wants to follow a ceremonial path: your altar doesnt have to be exactly how some wiccans tell you to make it. i have the four elements because it just kinda happened,,, i only use a wand, not an athame, and it doesnt have to face north. you dont even have to do workings there if youre like me and your altar is a bookshelf. wicca is a religion so there are certain rules and beliefs you have to subscribe to, but imo having the ‘perfect wiccan altar’ is really dumb. you could have all of that but still not really understand what wicca is. the best thing is that you know about the religion and know this is the path you wish to go down, even if only for now. im proud of you, keep learning, and make your space YOURS. not what others want it to be.
The witches of higher civilizations had altars in the east, which the Christians later copied. East was thought to be the origin of wisdom. British witches thought altars should be in the north because that was the realm of spirits who witches worked with. In very old English churches the north door was bricked up because followers of the old religion would enter through there. It later became known as “the devil’s door.” Tsk, tsk, Christians are so touchy.
As someone who is pretty “by the books” in the way I preform witchcraft, it saddens me to see that people try to enforce it upon others in the way they set up their alters… I think limitations should always work in service of the practitioner. For me, limitations breed creativity. If you told me just to set up an alter however I want, I wouldn’t know where to start! Rules provide a useful framework for me, and get me thinking about creative ways to work outside the box while remaining within the framework, or breaking rules entirely to further specify intention, or to be rid of excessive clutter that might dilute it. I follow rules because they help me do magick. For the very same reason, if the rules obstruct you from your goals, do not make use of them! As someone who dabbles in ceremonial magic, I can’t stand the elitist attitudes I so often encounter in those spaces… There is only one rule that I think every practitioner should follow… Do what works!
Mine is just a shelf with a bunch of fox plushies, sented salts I made, and a sigil my Goddess gave me along with a tille to place offerings on the goddess I worship is a a god/ goddess from the shinto faith but the reason my altar has nothing to do with shinto is because the way I met her and the way she instructs me to do things is unique to me, if you know anything about shinto the foxes probably tell you that I worship Inari and you’d be correct
What ever you are drinking I want some! Lol just joking. I so admire your energy and humor! You are wonderful! I have to tell you when you said an alter in a hallow tree. Omg! Major goosebumps! That so resonates with me. I have several alters, but working on burning the triple moon goddess on a cypress log for an outdoor alter. Thank you!!
Thank you for this, I loved it when you said you don’t need to buy all the crap…..that was me once upon a time, but right now I feel a call back to my witchy self and it’s very strong. One day I may have an alter, right now I’m wanting to follow in the folk tradition of those from the woodlands and countryside….if this makes sense!?! I am always thinking about the Pendle witches as I don’t live far from where they lived, I’m wanting to practice as they would have done, and your articles have been sooooo inspiring to me, thank you and blessed be )0( Samantha xxx
I personally have a wall of herbs on a Shelf system I have my altar in my bedroom I used to have a whole wall in my living room that had nothing but my god and goddess statues you could not walk into my house and no I am nothing but a witch I don’t hide nothing I don’t lie to people if someone ask about something on my car something in my house I tell them I’m a white witch they don’t like it they know where the door is I no longer accept anyone telling me how to live my life if you don’t feed me sleeping me or pay my bills don’t tell me how to live my life