An altar?

[starlalala9]

Do most pagans have an altar? If so, what kinds of things do you keep on it? Is it a permant thing or just for rituals.

I have been reading about them in a Wicca book, but I am not keen on Wicca (I want more general 1000s pagan studies)... Just wondering about yall.

[tarotgirljess]

I'm not wiccan and i have an Altar. I have candles, mirrors, offering dish, sage, incense holder ect on it. It's permanatly set up in my bedroom. I use it to leave offerings, and to meditate in front of as well as other things. Just having it there calms me. hope this helped

[Romani Vixen]

I have an altar. It has a few diffeent things that I regularly use there, and offerings. things like that. It is a perminant one. Every person's altar will be different from the next person's. It is a very personal place...

[starlalala9]

What kind of "offerings?"

[Dio]

What kind of "offerings?"
You can use all kinds of things for offerings. Herbs, flowers, cornmeal, honey, tobacco, coins, water, food items, alcohol...etc. It all depends on what you feel your gods/spirits/ancestors would like, as well as the purpose for the offering.

[Toki Wartooth]

What kind of "offerings?"

Offerings may indeed be any of the previous (and beyond) things already mentioned, but I also believe you may offer intangible 'things'. I once gave an offering of my hard work, for example.

As for your original post, yes, I do have an altar, and I am not Wiccan. I myself am eclectic, so I combine many things from different spiritual paths. As for my altar, it has many different things. I have candles and candle holders, matches, two books, a tarot deck, an incense holder and incense, a few stones, a few statues, a little mirror, and a few other random things (such as a little, stone egg with Asian-style paintings on it). I also have a special chest nearby that has more incense and candles.

[Agaliha]

I am not Wiccan and I have an altar. Actual every faith has their own form of an altar, so it's not even exclusive to Pagan Faiths.

I put many things on my altar and I change my frequently as I am drawn to different things and as I progress and change my path.
Here are some pics of my personal altar and my themes and such:
My First altar: http://www.mysticwicks.com/showpost.php?p=1980293&postcount=390
Angel Altars: http://www.mysticwicks.com/showpost.php?p=2002881&postcount=410
AND
http://www.mysticwicks.com/showpost.php?p=2028260&postcount=426
Autumn Altar: http://www.mysticwicks.com/showpost.php?p=2049315&postcount=444
Ocean-Sea Altar: http://www.mysticwicks.com/showpost.php?p=2121723&postcount=472
And my most recent one, Earthy Altar:thumbsup:: http://www.mysticwicks.com/showpost.php?p=2121723&postcount=472

I'm going to be keeping mine Earthy Altar for awhile.
But as you can see there are many things you can do with your altar. I don't have fancy ritual tools and such things on mine because I don't believe I need a athame to do magick. I also don't have inscence things on my altar because I am severily allergic to smells.

A great place to see what others altars look like is this thread:
ALTAR PICS: http://www.mysticwicks.com/showthread.php?t=4454&page=1&pp=10
Just go though it and look at the pics and the reasoning behind why things are there.

Here is a directory with tons of links to info about Altars:
http://paganwiccan.about.com/od/altars/index_a.htm
Definetly skim though those.

Really the things you can put on and do with your altar is limitless. Follow your heart and put things that mean something to you and your path. Don't put things on there that have no meaning to you just because others do it.

There are also other forms of altars-- portable, box, outside, drawer, table...

Like I said-- it's limitless.

[MorningDove030202]

http://www.freewebs.com/morningdovesbos/photoalbum.htm (http://www.freewebs.com/morningdovesbos/photoalbum.htm)

I have an older picture of an altar here. It's an altar to Athena and my current altar looks much the same but I've added more pictures of Athena.

Dove

[OpenHands]

Starlalala,

"Do most pagans have an altar? If so, what kinds of things do you keep on it? Is it a permant thing or just for rituals."

Most pagans that I have personally communicated with online and in real life have an altar of some sort. It seems common, but I couldn't say what the numbers are. The religion/tradition or lack there of that a person chooses will probably play a large part in whether an altar is present and how it's set up.

My altar is set up specifically for ritual- the ritual items are stored elsewhere when not in use. If I had shrines to certain deities or outdoor altars, those would be permanent. Typical items you might find on an indoor modern Canaanite altar would include a nice cloth, oil lamps/candles, offering cups/plates/bowls, anointing oil, musical instruments, statues, and incense (traditionally myrrh or frankinsense) in a dish or bowl. It's also traditional to dress in nice clothes/robes and be adorned with jewelry and make-up (guys and girls!).

There are also different sorts of outdoor altars that could be done as well, but those typically include more permanent things like an asherah (a wooden pole or tree in honor of the Queen of the pantheon, Asherah/Athirat), a large stone for messier stuff like animal sacrifice, or a pile of stones as an altar of commemoration.

[starlalala9]

I don't have Gods or Goddesses I communicate with- just generic "God and Goddess".... So I don't know what all I want on mine.

[Qumran]

Do most pagans have an altar?

I would not speak for "most Pagans." I have used an altar for years but I have been a magick worker for MANY years without either altar or tools. They are helpful,though, for focusing the mind and directing energy.


If so, what kinds of things do you keep on it? Is it a permant thing or just for rituals.

I have some things on the altar regardless of what I'm doing with it at the time: Gold and silver candle, copper cauldron, handmade wooden pentacle, athame (ritual dagger,) a boleen (curved knife/sickle,) a Spirit candle, tebetan bell, wizard as male symbol and brass indian goddess (sarvati.)

The specific ritual may require other items as well.

It is a permanant altar. I also have a portable altar.

[Agaliha]

I don't have Gods or Goddesses I communicate with- just generic "God and Goddess".... So I don't know what all I want on mine.

Then don't put statues but things that are meaningful and apply to you and your path.
Are you close to an element? Animal? Part of Nature? Season?

If you looked at mine you will see sea/water theme, Autumn theme....and now Earth theme.

Put things that you like-- favorites and things that inspire you.

If you have an idea of what you want it to be than you can work around that theme. Start small and work up. My Altars just build themselves-- everything works out and fits perfectly.

No one can tell you what to put on your and what to do...you need to find that yourself. :)

[Teresa]

I don't have Gods or Goddesses I communicate with- just generic "God and Goddess".... So I don't know what all I want on mine.
Perhaps something to represent each element and a chalice and a candle and some incense. You do not have to be lavish and can find some nice things in places such as the dollar tree.

[OpenHands]

Starlalala,

"I don't have Gods or Goddesses I communicate with- just generic "God and Goddess".... So I don't know what all I want on mine."

What is the purpose of this altar? What things do you want or need to fulfill that purpose? Sometimes considering what you want to do with it can help you figure out what items or tools would be most appropriate.

[Agaliha]

Perhaps something to represent each element and a chalice and a candle and some incense. You do not have to be lavish and can find some nice things in places such as the dollar tree.

Yup. Some of my stuff is from dollar stores, thift stores, craft stores and department stores.
Wal-Mart is a great place too, and cheap. They have a huge fabric area where I live... you can get altar cloths there. That's where I get mine. So many prints and colors and textures. Though today was the first time I actually went to a fabric store-- I got three cheap, but pretty coths in Earth colors.
I got my chalice at a thift store and a few other things there too-- there are tons of knick knacks and cool things there. I just got rocks at Wal-Mart to make runes... 96 cents for a bundle of river rocks is way better than 20+ dollars and shipping on premade runes (though they are very pretty).
Think practical.
I've used a kitchen knife in rituals. I've never boughten a ritual tool or item new or at a fancy store. I've always just used what's around and cheap-- cause I don't have money to blow on things.
The only times I did were for my Autumn decorations. I got all those at Micheal's craft store. They were all cheap individually, but it adds up.
I spent only 25$ on my Sea theme and if you look at the pics-- that's a lot of stuff. PLUS there are tons of shells, sea glass, rocks, sand, and even more shells you can't see since it being stored!
Wal-Mart and Micheal's are great for things like that.

Look though other people's altars so you get an idea of what they are about. Then brainstorm, think of what things you find important.
Like Shanti said, you can just represent the elements if you wish

Water: cups, mirrors, shells, pearls...
Earth: Pentacles, plants, dirt, greens and browns, animal...
Fire: Candles, gold, the sun...
Air: Feathers, incense, bells...

The list goes on and on and on. Everything has meaning and symbolism.
There is a book that may help you, it's called:
Altars Made Easy: A Complete Guide to Creating Your Own Sacred Space (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0062514903//ref=nosim/mysticwickson-20) by Peg Streep
It goes into means and symbolism and things of many items. And it has ideas.

[Romani Vixen]

I don't have Gods or Goddesses I communicate with- just generic "God and Goddess".... So I don't know what all I want on mine.

When I was Wiccan, I followed the genera God and Goddess. I still have the icons from those days. I made both. A boy's head sculpture, and a female figure. Both are out of clay and very generic... primitive ... yes... primitive... lol

Other than that... put up whatever you normally use at the altar and anything that reminds you of those that you wish to revere, honor, worship, whathave you...

[enchancea]

I have an altar. When I first started it wasnt a permanent one but for the past 5 or so years it has been. Right now its set up in my bathroom since thats the only room I have privacy in. Its has a small cauldro, crystals, candles, a small basket I keep herbs in, a rain stick, a pentacle, a bell and a cupboard thing that I keep various herbs and crystals in.

[Airin]

i have an altar that i keep up permanently. It usually just has a candle for each direction and the a black one for the Goddess and a white one for the God. It's actually a shelf type thing and on the shelves below i have some of my Pagan books, my Runes, my Tarot deck, incense, matches, etc. Then I bring out special things for rituals. I love my altar...while its shoved in a corner, I love to sit in front of it if i need a moment of calmness.

[RubyRose]

I have an altar, actually I've had one since I first started out just over 2 and a half years ago.

My altar started out very simple, I didn't even use an altar clothe. And I still use silver and gold candle's to represent the God and Goddess.

[HorseCrow]

My altar is permanent, but what's on it changes with the wheel of the year. Right now there are yellow candles, white, yellow and orange flowers, owls feathers, a yellow stone, a green stone, green leaves, a large crystal, a white owl figure and two Artemis figures.

[Dragonfly Spirit]

I keep thinking of setting up an altar, but it bothers me that everyone seems to use candles. Is it possible to have an altar and not have candles? I have a real phobia of fire. I guess a lamp wouldn't be same would it? would that offend? I don't want to set an altar up then risk upsetting those I wish to show respect too.

[Lupabitch]

I currently have three altars. There's my main altar, which represents my personal cosmology. And then I have one altar apiece for Grey Wolf and Brown Bear, the two totems that I've worked with the most in my practice.

[Kalioppee]

How about picking up those xmas candles and plug them into a multi extension cord and put colored bulbs in them.. or you can paint them (the candle part) the color you wish and keep the orange colored bulbs (represent the flames), or whatever.. You can get those xmas bulbs that are colored but clear too, which are brighter. honestly its the thought that counts and I would not think that the gods would be offended.

I did this many years ago because of my children. My son was quite a fire bug and loved to take my candles and burn them in his bedroom and caught his waterbed on fire.. what a mess! Anyhow I did this for years because then my daughter came along and it was easier this way. I had to stretch my imagination and used wood chips with scents on them and heated them up in the microwave to warm them up for the smells to come out (was afraid to lite incense). You could also have a couple of scented candles on your altar and just not light them up.



I keep thinking of setting up an altar, but it bothers me that everyone seems to use candles. Is it possible to have an altar and not have candles? I have a real phobia of fire. I guess a lamp wouldn't be same would it? would that offend? I don't want to set an altar up then risk upsetting those I wish to show respect too.

[BlackSwan]

Kalioppee makes a great point on candles! They even sell electric tea lights at some stores these days. (Probably Michaels, Ross, TjMaxx, maybe even Walmart.) I can't have candles on my altar because I live in a dorm, besides I don't really have the room for anything too ornate. So I keep it very simple, and I have a black fold up tv tray table that I use for now which works quite well.

[Chicory_Witch]

I have altar items but no set altar space. Whenever I have a place to do ritual I set up somewhere there. I use mostly items I've collected over the years and candles I get from a local pagan store (to support local business). Nothing is set out permanently yet so that my things aren't meddled with.