Witchery: Embrace the Witch Within - Juliet Diaz 2019
Creating an Altar
Practical Magick
Every Witch needs a sacred space, usually an altar, where they can worship deities, ancestors, or whatever they like, and practice Magick. It’s also a place to reflect, express gratitude, reset, center, and come back to self; a place that represents your purpose so that whenever you walk past it you’re reminded to devote yourself to your craft and to self.
A space that’s yours
An altar should be as unique as the person creating it. It doesn’t have to be fancy or house expensive tools; it can be as simple as just a candle and small trinkets that have meaning for you. Just focus on what’s most important to you.
To create your altar, start by focusing on its location. It can be quite literally anywhere (though this may depend on the space you have available) as long as you know that neither you nor your altar will be disturbed. If you live with other people, you may choose to set up a barrier such as a curtain. When my four siblings and I were little, my mother kept her altar locked away from us in a closet. At college I kept my altar in a trunk under my bed and took it out when I wanted to. I kept it organized and wrapped my items carefully before putting them away again. (This is also a great method if you want to keep your craft to yourself.) You might find somewhere you can put up a shelf or set a small table. The top of a dresser or a space in a cabinet can work well too.
Just recently I met a mother and daughter who had converted their attic into their sacred space. How amazing is that? My nine-year-old son keeps his altar on his dresser in front of his fish tank, and I have a friend who keeps hers outside by a tree, surrounded by her garden. Just find what works best for you — and bear in mind that a sacred space doesn’t need a permanent location; it can be changed as often as you like.
What to put on your altar
Here are some ideas of items to keep on your altar or in your sacred space, though of course you can choose what means the most to you.
Pictures and images: As in many cultures and traditions, you may like to add photos, paintings, or figurines of gods, goddesses, saints, mentors, or ancestors who you’re connected with or who mean something to you.
Items with personal meaning: It’s important that you add things that are meaningful to you. It might be a piece of jewelry handed down to you, an item that belonged to one of your ancestors, a feather that came to you when you needed guidance, or crystals, gems, or seashells. You can include symbols of your religion too.
Candles, smoke, and scents: Lit candles, incense, essential oils, and burning herbs are often present on altars. Personally, I love all the Elements to be present on my altar, and I add or remove items to adjust the energy according to what I’m doing there on certain days. I also like to use scents that pertain to the time of year (see Seasons of the Witch).
Seasonal decoration: I like altars to be decorated according to each season. This helps to harness the season’s energy and amplifies the effect of your Magickal workings. For instance, for Yule add reds and greens to your altar, perhaps in your choice of candle color or the bowl in which you burn your herbs. Collect pine cones, make water from snow, and include these.
Inspiration for focus: Among my favorite things to include in my sacred space are plants, flowers, my journal, poetry, and other things that inspire me to stay focused. I have hung my favorite paintings and pictures there, too — anything that brings me back to who I am and reminds me of the spirit living within.
Spend at least 10 minutes at your altar or in your sacred space each day, praying or meditating, or just giving it some sort of attention. Always keep this space clean and organized, and cleanse it from negative energies as often as possible. Later in the book I’ve included a recipe for lemongrass intuition-amplifier wash which works really well for this.
