How to Set up a Simple Pagan or Wiccan Altar

Last Updated: October 16, 2022 References Approved

A pagan/Wiccan altar is a sacred space with spiritual objects used for meditation, spells, ritual, divination, prayers, visualisations and connecting to deity. It is an important part of neo-paganism and wicca. Here's how to make one yourself.

Steps

1
Decide whether you want an outdoor or indoor altar. Your altar can be anywhere. Some have a natural altar outside or take portable altar items into their garden. This gives you a close connection to mother nature. However if you don't have a garden or this is impractical you can have an indoor altar. If your altar will be indoors, choose a room to have it in.^{[1]
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Research source} Many choose a bedroom because this is a private room that is easy to relax in.
2
Consider the direction your altar should be in. East facing altars are common because east is where the sun rises, and it is the traditional direction of Christian churches and masonic temples. Another popular choice is North or North-East, and many Pagans instinctively pick it. Lots of rituals are said to start with the practitioner facing North.^{[2]
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Research source} You can also have your altar in the direction of your element. So air for east, fire for south, water for west, north for earth and center for spirit.^{[3]
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3
Find a place to set up your altar. You can keep your altar on a dresser or table if you want a permanent one or one with lots of heavy items. Other places are drawers, bookcases (though this means you can't have candles under the wood), trays, tree stumps and windowsills. You can also have an altar box, so your objects are kept safe and private from others if you live in a busy household. You can take the items out and place them on top of the box when in use. Choose somewhere that feels right for you. Use your intuition.
4
Choose the style of your altar. If you are heavily influenced by Celtic paganism then maybe you will use Celtic deities like Brigid.^{[4]
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Research source} If you have native American beliefs with your Wicca practise then you may choose some of their symbolism on your altar. Consider your personal practise and how your altar reflects you and your spirituality.
5
Decide on the items you will use for the goddess. The goddess side represents the moon, divine feminine, right brain (left half of the body), unconscious and night time. Items used for the goddess may be:^{[5]
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- A semi large candle with a color you best think represents the Goddess. Cold colours like blue, green, purple and silver are often used.
- A statue that represents the Goddess. This can be any goddess: Isis, the moon goddess, or statues from a Greek goddess like Hestia; it depends on what goddess calls you. You can also use totem animals of the goddess like a hare, cat, owl or other lunar animals.
- Something that may represent feminine elements. For example, water = chalice or bowl of water, seashell, cauldron, sea glass or mirror, earth = green/brown coloured objects, stones, plants (leaves, flowers, etc), salt, soil, bones or pentagram.
- Crystal ball or divination tools.
- A few objects that are sacred and special to you.
6
Decide on the items you will use for the God side. The god side is symbolic of the divine masculine, sun, elements fire and air, yang, daytime, conscious and left brain (right half of the body). Things that you might want to put on the God side would be:
- A semi large candle which color you think bests represents the God (e.g. warm colours like yellow, gold, red, orange)
- A statue which represents the God, such as the green man, Lugh, Osiris, Herne, solar imagery, or masculine totem animal like a stag or goat
- Object for the 2 masculine elements. For example, fire = red/orange colours, wand or athame/boline (if you have a wand for fire than your athame would be for air and vice versa), candle, incense, teeth, claws (but don't hurt animals to obtain it!), ash or oil burner; air = yellow/white/silver colours, Athame, Boline, wand, incense, feathers.
- Any divination tools.
- A few other objects that are sacred and special to you
7
Decide what to put in the middle/center of the Altar. You can have:
- Your matron/patron deity you work most with. If you don't know your deity yet then you can just put the ones you are currently working with.
- Spirit element. White/purple/violet/rainbow colour. Crystals, skulls, candles can be used. Choose something powerful and very important.
- Pentacle (put on goddess side if it represents earth or middle if symbolic of all 5 elements)
- Book of shadows.^{[6]
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- Athame (can be put on god side)
- Wand (can be put god side)
- A candle (red, blue, yellow, or green, depending on your zodiac/element sign)
- Stones or Crystals.
8
Add any extra items. You could also have:
- Loose herbs or potpourri. This can be nice to use special types for Sabbats and to sprinkle on altar. You can make this yourself.
- Crystals.
- Tarot/Oracle cards. These have pretty images on them and are good to use in meditation.
- A spell/altar box. If you have a big altar you can put a small box on there and put rites or sacred things in it.
- Spell objects. Witches ladders, witches bottles, puppet magic, etc.
- Talismans and Amulets. Magickal jewellery!
- Anything meaningful and divine to you.
- If possible you could hang a charm, dreamcatcher or witches ladder for good energy and protection above your altar.

Community Q&A

Question

Is it a bad thing if my altar doesn't have a god or goddess?

Community Answer

No, it isn't a bad thing. An altar can be dedicated to a god or goddess, or it can just be for your magical workings. Go with what feels right to you.
Question

Is it possible to use Greek gods like Poseidon and Gaia as your god and goddess?

Community Answer

There are a lot of Pagans that use Greek deities in their pantheon. Honestly, you can worship any gods and goddesses you want to worship. There really are no rules in who you're allowed to worship.
Question

How many items should I have on my altar?

Community Answer

It really doesn't matter. You can have as much or as little on your alter as you like. There is no right or wrong way. Having god and goddess representation as well as a representation of the elements is traditional but just use that as a guideline and follow what you think looks/feels right.