Suggestions on How to Make an Altar Your altar sometimes referred to as your sacred place, can be indoors and outdoors, it can be changed to suit your preferences, it may be permanent or temporary, whatever suits your circumstance. None of the items mentioned are essential, although they do add to the sense of ritual and focus. They may be changed for specific rituals or spell work. It is suggested that you start with a basic altar, and then adapt it as you progress on your chosen path. You will need a flat surface to set your tools on, which may be a table, stone, slate slab or similar. It is best to have something that is made from a natural source. The whole area may be covered with a cloth, or the just the centre, or a combination of the two with a large cloth to suit the season and a smaller one to complement the ritual or spell work that you are planning. The cloth may be plain, or have a symbol painted or sewn on it. It is best to have a cloth made from natural fibres (cotton, linen, silk etc), and it is enhanced if you add the symbols yourself, although a cloth with a symbol already on it is perfectly acceptable. Often, the symbol used is a pentagram; however choose something that is meaningful for you and your purpose. You may like to have different cloths (and/or symbols) for the seasons, moon phase or focus of your ritual or spell work. Generally, four candles are used, one for each of the four directions, which are known as quarters. Each of the directions is associated with the basic elements of earth, wind, fire and water. The most common associations are North and Earth with a green candle East and Air with a yellow candle South and Fire with a red candle West and Water with a blue candle In addition, white candles may be substituted for any colour, or you may be drawn to use different colours entirely. This is fine, as long as this is meaningful for you. As Wicca acknowledges the power of both the male and the female in the God and Goddess, representations of these are placed on the altar. You may choose anything that is symbolic of these two energies. These may be small statues, an obelisk and sphere, pictures or you could make your own, just see what feels right for you. Place flowers, fruits, berries, pot plants or crystals on your altar to keep it alive. You now have the basis for your altar and may choose to define further the quarters with other tools that may be incorporated into your ritual or spell work. Often a bell is used for Earth in the North. This may be small Tibetan bells, manjeeras or a hand bell. This will provide the vibration of sound. The pentagram, a five-pointed star, or the pentacle, an encircled pentagram, may be placed in this quarter. The points represent the four elements and directions with the fifth signifying ether and the spirit. In addition, salt may be placed here, or where cleansing and consecrating is to take place. The athame (double-edged knife) is placed for Air and the East. It used for marking the circle and directing energies. A wand is the usual tool for the South and Fire quarter, although some people use this instead of the athame in the Earth/North quarter. The wand may be made of wood or crystals, or both, and may be handmade or bought. The nature of the tree will influence the energy that the wand emits; some of the common trees used include ash, willow, hawthorn or rowan. Please ask the tree to consent to giving some of itself to you and leave a gift for it. Incense is another tool that may be used in this quarter, although it may represent air, also. Either bought or handmade incense may be used; however, it is more beneficial to have the best quality that you can within your circumstances. Your chalice or goblet is placed in the West and Water quarter. This may be made from any natural material for example, silver, glass, wood or metal. In addition, this tool represents the Goddess. If you choose to keep water in the chalice, renew it, and put the used water on to your plants. Your chalice may be used for scrying. It is customary and respectful to shower (not bath) to purify yourself before performing a ritual. Many people dress in clothes that are worn only when working rituals and spell work. Different colours may be worn to suit the season, or specific work being undertaken, coloured cords to wear as belts are ideal for this. In addition, specific jewellery may be worn to suit the occasion. The possibilities are endless, try what you feel is right, but always work with respect.