 Your magickal altar should be a very sacred, honored and personal area. I say area because an altar doesn't necessarily have to be a piece of furniture. Your altar can be a flat stone in a secluded part of your back yard, a bare spot in the dirt amongst the trees, the flat belly of your mate/partner, an ornate and very expensive piece of antique furniture, or anything between. It can be as utilitarian or as elaborate as you desire.Whatever you use, it should be magickally cleansed and consecrated; dedicated to your deities. It should have a small bowl of stones you've picked up here and there, an incense bowl, 2 candle holders for white candles, another candle holder for the "project" candle, a pentacle (dragon pentacle if you're doing dragon magick) should be inscribed on the surface in the center, a symbol of the God and Goddess (or dragon) of your choice and a place for a spellbook or spell parchment (for beginners). A bell or chime for calling the spirits and a chalice for sacramental wine. A small cauldron for libations, mixing together ingredients and such, made of cast iron or some other dark, flat metal...enamel is ok if in a pinch. Most say that the altar should be triangular, but personally, I prefer a large circular one. I find the flow of the Chi (awen) is much stronger when called through a circle, to a circle.  There is also much debate concerning the direction the altar should face. Some say that since you start your magick circle to the North, then the altar should face that way...but others argue that your locale determines which element is in which direction...for example, the old ways are....North, Earth; East, Air; South, Fire; West, Water....the older magick users were NOT in the Western World....and for them that was right....but if you're on the US East Coast, then water would be east and the closest volcano is Oregon which would make fire west and there is more earth to the south of you than to the north and the north winds make the north air. It's relative. What YOU are comfortable with, is what you should use. Magick is not written in stone....that was for the "Other Guys." *soft laugh* Although we do have a set of Basic Rules, we have no 10 Commandments so to speak. If to you, earth feels like it should be west and water north, and so on, then that's what's right. The same goes for your altar. What feels right to you is what you should use. Personally, I use Up. *L* My circular altar allows me to envision my altar as facing Up, not in any lateral direction.
There is also much debate of the composition of the altar. Wood, stone, earth, glass, what? Whatever you use, it shoud be organic, and not man made. Formica is not the material of choice for a magickal altar. I like wood. Oak is my personal favorite. But what feels best to you should be what you use. Do not stain it.....and do not cover it in poly materials, though clear water seals are fine and practical. You do not need an "altar room," though they are awfully convenient. But whatever the case, do put it in a place where it will remain untouched and undisturbed by "non believers." Elswet O'The DragonFyre™ |
