A Wiccan altar is a sacred space where practitioners can connect with the divine and perform rituals and spells. There are several key elements that can be incorporated into a Wiccan altar to enhance its energy and symbolism. - The altar itself is typically a flat surface such as a table or wooden board. It should be cleansed and consecrated prior to use. Some Wiccans prefer to have a permanent altar, while others create temporary altars for specific rituals or occasions. - Representation of the four elements is an important aspect of a Wiccan altar.
If you want an easy way to clear the air, a classic incense stick and burner gives off feel-good vibes and a smoky, sultry, soulful aroma.
If your bath is the best part of your day, you can make temporary altars on the edge of the tub with candles, crystals, and your favorite stuff for soaking. If your bath is the best part of your day, you can make temporary altars on the edge of the tub with candles, crystals, and your favorite stuff for soaking.
- Representation of the four elements is an important aspect of a Wiccan altar. This can be done by placing items that represent earth, air, fire, and water on the altar. For earth, you can use crystals, rocks, or plants.
10 Ideas for your Wiccan Altar
Designing your own Wiccan altar is fun. You’re basically creating your haven – a sacred space for casting spells, praying, worshipping and connecting with the Divine. Having a Wiccan altar in your room will improve your wellbeing and harmony in the house. Designing one is a deeply personal process, but there are some basic items that most Wiccans place on theirs. Each item symbolises a different element – earth, water, fire and air. All of these should also be represented on your altar.
Here are some ideas for your Wiccan altar:
There’s a reason why candles are first on our list of altar items. They’re essential for a number of spells, magick rituals and spiritual cleansing. It’s a good idea to get different coloured candles for when you’re performing candle magic spells, as different colours correspond to different spells. Many witches place one candle on each corner of their Altar – black, green or brown for North; yellow or white for East; red or orange for South; blue for West. A white, silver or gold candle should be reserved for the central place of the Altar. You can find a variety of candles in our online shop – small chime candles, regular taper candles, pillars and votives, jar candles, as well as ritually charged spell candles.
2. Saltwater
Fill a small offering bowl with water and dissolve a dash of salt in it. Place it in the middle of your Altar. Together, water and salt represent the union of the water and earth energies. Not only that – both water and salt act as purifying agents, so you should make some space for them on your Wiccan Altar.
Ceremonial knives have been used in various religions since time immemorial. An Athame is a modern ceremonial knife, usually with a black handle. But don’t worry – it’s not meant to bring harm to anyone! If you want, you can even get yourself an Athame made of wood or carved stone. The Father of Wicca Gerald Gardner associated the Athame with the element of fire in his Book of Shadows, while other practitioners use it to represent the element of air. You can look at a range of athames for your Wiccan altar here.
Stereotypically, witches all have a broom. Wiccan witches are no exception. In modern Wicca practices, a broom or a besom is one of the strongest symbols for witchcraft. It is a tool that can cleanse and purify space, sweeping away bad energy. Wiccan brooms vary in size. You can find a number of tiny ceremonial brooms online or you can make a traditional broom and keep it next to the Altar. You’ll need a handle made of ash tree. Using pieces of willow wood, tie some birch twigs to the handle. (This may take a bit of practice.)
5. Cauldron
Useful for burning incense, performing candle wax divination rituals and creating ‘witches brew’, a cauldron is typically made of cast iron. It usually has three legs but cauldrons do vary greatly in size. Whether you buy a large one or a small one depends on how big your altar area is!
A Chalice is a must for your Wiccan Altar. You can go all fancy with a jewelled chalice, or make do with a simple cup or a wine glass. If you can afford to splash out, get yourself a silver chalice – silver is the colour of the Goddess, and the chalice represents this deity. You can find a selection of chalices in different styles here.
The fragrant smoke that incense releases is symbolic of invoking deities into the room and the sacred space of your Altar. The smoke also helps to create a magical atmosphere in the room, putting your mind at ease when you perform magick rites, pray, chant or meditate. Filling the room with the scent of incense feels like stepping into another world, filled with wonder and possibility. Frankincense is probably the most popular type of incense, associated with the masculine powers and used for purification purposes. Myrrh, on the other hand, is associated with the feminine power and used in healing. You can also use Pine and Sage to cleanse your Altar of all negativity. If you’d like to rotate several types of incense for different spells and rituals, buying an incense set is the most practical way to go about it.
In it’s basic form, a pentacle is a five-pointed star, surrounded by a circle. It’s also the ultimate symbol for witches. Each of the five stars points towards an element – earth, fire, water, air. Yes, you guessed it – there’s one more! A fifth element called ether or spirit. The Pentacle as a symbol is more than 8,000 years old, and represents the idea of bringing Spirit on Earth. Every Wiccan should have one on her Altar, as it symbolises their place in the unity of the Universe. Most Wiccans place a pentacle altar tile or a pentacle altar cloth on their altar.
These babies come in all shapes and sizes. You can make or buy a simple wand out of wood, or go for something more fancy, like a wand with gemstones . Just like the witch’s broom, a wand is also associated with magick rituals. It evolved from ceremonial staffs used by kings and religious authorities (Think of the story where Moses uses a rod to make the Red Sea part). The wand is used to perform a range of rites, from divination to blessings, protection spells and more.
10. Gemstones
As well as adding a nice touch to your witchy Altar, gemstones represent various qualities and aid healing powers. Gemstones are like containers of energy. They can help to soak up negative vibes and induce healing. For example, an amethyst can help to raise your vibrational frequency while a pearl helps to balance your emotions and bust stress. Make sure you thoroughly cleanse your gem stones though! You can wash them with soap and water, leaving them on the windowsill to dry out in the sun. Or you can get yourself a white sage stick to cleanse both the stones and the energy in the room.
Ieva Remmerte enjoys writing about philosophy, spirituality, ancient practices and general fiction, and holds holds an MA in Creative Writing from Bath Spa University. You can find her on her website: wholistically.me.
*** Looking for authentic spell supplies? Check out World of Witchery for a treasure trove of magickal goods! And for a comprehensive introduction on how to become a Witch, check out The Essence of Magick by our resident Wiccan, Amaris Silver Moon.
Any of these spaces where you collect such goods can function as an altar. For example, you may have a corner of your room that’s a "Friendship Altar," filled with concert tickets, dried yellow roses, and photos of your bestie. You can have a "Me Altar" on your dresser, where old love letters, your go-to comfort novel, and a rose quartz wands live in harmony. And yes, it can also include symbolic trinkets of people you value. Essentially, a home altar is is a collage of items that charge, inspire, and center you.
For air, feathers or incense can be used. For fire, candles or a small cauldron can be placed on the altar. And for water, a small bowl or chalice can be included. - Symbols of deity or divine beings can also be placed on the altar. This can be in the form of statues, pictures, or symbols that represent specific gods or goddesses. These representations can be chosen based on personal beliefs and connections. - Tools and implements used in rituals and spellwork can also be kept on the altar. This can include items like an athame (ritual knife), a wand, a chalice, a pentacle, or a cauldron. These tools are used during ceremonies and serve as a physical connection to the magical energy being worked with. - It is common to include offerings on a Wiccan altar as a way of honoring and connecting with the divine. This can be in the form of food, drink, flowers, or other objects that are meaningful to the practitioner or the specific deity or energy being invoked. - Finally, the altar can be decorated with symbols, colors, and seasonal or elemental representations. For example, during the celebration of Samhain, the altar may be adorned with skulls, pumpkins, and colors associated with autumn. In conclusion, a Wiccan altar is a personal and sacred space for practitioners to connect with the divine. By incorporating elements such as representations of the four elements, symbols of deity, ritual tools, offerings, and seasonal decorations, the altar becomes a focal point for spiritual practice and magic..
Reviews for "Wiccan Altar Decorations That Invoke the Divine"
1. John - 2/5: I was disappointed with "Wiccan altar ideas". I found the book to be quite repetitive and lacking in originality. The ideas presented were nothing new and could easily be found with a quick internet search. Additionally, the instructions were not very clear, making it difficult for a beginner like me to follow along. Overall, I felt this book didn't offer anything special or unique to the topic of Wiccan altars.
2. Melissa - 1/5: "Wiccan altar ideas" was a complete waste of money for me. The book lacked substance and seemed more like a rushed compilation of random ideas. The author provided very little guidance and left me feeling confused and uninspired. Furthermore, the illustrations were poorly done and added no value to the book. I would not recommend this book to anyone looking for genuine and helpful ideas for their Wiccan altar.
3. Sarah - 2/5: I had high hopes for "Wiccan altar ideas", but unfortunately, it fell short of my expectations. The ideas presented were not very imaginative and could easily be replicated with basic knowledge of Wiccan practices. Additionally, the photographs included in the book were of low quality and didn't provide a clear representation of the ideas being described. Overall, I was disappointed with this book and would not recommend it to others seeking inspiration for their Wiccan altars.
4. David - 2/5: I found "Wiccan altar ideas" to be lacking in originality and depth. The suggestions provided were rather generic and did not offer any unique or creative ideas for setting up a Wiccan altar. The book also lacked clear instructions and failed to provide adequate descriptions of the different altar elements. I would have appreciated more detailed explanations and a broader range of ideas. All in all, it was a mediocre read and I wouldn't recommend it.