How To Set Up A Wiccan Altar
If you are new to Wicca, one of your first questions when you are ready to begin your path may be how to set up your altar. This is your personal space within your circle that will be the focus of your rituals and a very sacred place for you to keep your magickal tools. Many witches have a place in their home, even an entire room, that is dedicated to a permenant altar where they do their magickal work. Others do not have such a luxury, either because of privacy issues or limited space. It is perfectly acceptable if your altar is something that you set up when you need it, and keep stored in a safe place when not in use.
Most altars are set up so that when you stand before it, you are facing east. This is not a hard rule, simply a general guideline. You should orient yourself to the four directions, and have an item that is a representation of each direction and element on your altar. In the east, you may have a feather for the element air. In the south, you should place something for the element of fire, such as a red candle. In the north, a bowl of dirt or a pinecone could represent earth, and in the west a dish of water or seashell should be placed. These are only suggestions, however. If there is another symbol that speaks to you as a symbol of fire, you should feel free to use it instead. This is your personal altar and should reflect you and your spirit.
Many Wiccans will keep their athame or wand on their altar, along with a chalice. Generally if you work with the God and Goddess, something should be included that is a representaion of them, such as candles in opposing colors. The Goddess candle is usually placed on the left and the God on the right. If you are working with a particular deity, you may want to include something that is sacred to them or even a statue. A candle representing Spirit may also be placed in the center. Other items that you might include if space allows are a pentacle of some type, candle snuffer, sage for smudging, a mortar and pestle for mixing herbs, a cauldron, and incense. Any items that you need for spellwork or ritual should be within reach and easy to get to before you begin to avoid leaving the circle once cast.
Your altar is a place of spiritual power and personal reflection no matter how or where you set it up, and should be respected as such. It would not be appropriate to also set an ashtray, canned soft drink, or other trivial everyday items on your altar unless they are representing some type of work you are doing. The items you work with may change over time and you may bring in new items for a particluar working that are not generally left there, but if you always approach your altar with respect and serious reflection, you will find that it can become a haven away from the mundane world and allow you to enter into that state of being that is most beneficial for magickal work.