Question on altar set-up

[MystIc_WolF]

Ok, this may seem like an obvious thing to most of you, but does the way an altar is set up really matter that much? What I mean is this: Currently I have an altar set up in my room that is somewhere between a working altar, and a high altar. It has representations of the god & godess (?spelling?) which are currently my athame and chalice, and it is seperated so the god and goddess have their own area, and an area devoted to both. However I have it set up with the goddess on the right, and the god on the left, which is the opposite of how I've seen every other altar set up (this is mainly because I'm left handed, so my power hand is my left, not right, so I use it in that hand.). My question, I guess, is this: Does the fact that the altar is reversed make any kind of a difference at all, or is it just one of those "do what works for you" kind of things?

[Sylvan]

It's a do what works for you kind of thing, though you may want to go with the "normal" way if you ever join a coven and are in charge of altar setup. :D

[Flar's Freyja]

It's a do what works for you kind of thing, though you may want to go with the "normal" way if you ever join a coven and are in charge of altar setup. :D

What she said - my own altars are never traditional, either - but knowing the "correct' setup is important if you ever lead a group ritual.

[RubyRose]

What she said - my own altars are never traditional, either - but knowing the "correct' setup is important if you ever lead a group ritual.

Neither's mine really ... but knowing it's there, and I just have a place to quietly reflect is often quite calming

[FeatherGoblinglimmer]

It's your altar, your sacred area. Do what you want with it, what feels right for you.

[Aidron]

While I feel it is important to familiarize with some traditional altar set-ups, just for the sake of inspiring you as a practicioner and continuing a path of knowledge, I however have seen so many that you could study your entire life and never even know them all, I'm sure.

I've seen them with the goddess on the left and the god on the right, or vise versa. After my first year as a practioner I said "To hell with this!" and began setting up my altars in any way I wished, a practice I continue to this day.

With my current altar and the directional associations in regards to where it is placed, the top left and right corners face east and south, and the elements of air and fire govern those directions respectively. Usually air and fire are considered more masculine elements, governed by the god, where as the goddess is normaly associated more with water and earth. However, I am not about to set a statue, silver candle, or whatever I wish to use down at the bottom, that's just asking for trouble.

So, go with what feels right. This altar is meant to be for you, not anyone else, and thus you should design it with your needs and desires in mind.

[tensen]

Please note.. there is no one correct way.
Each tradition has their own variances on what must belong and where. With some things changing based on the season.

And besides that.. you own personal altar, is different than a group altar.


Keep you own symbolism, and what makes sense for YOU.

[Jenett]

Others are right that there isn't one correct way, but I want to interject one more consideration:

In the tradition I'm trained in, it's not the 'power hand' that determines placement, but other associations with the circle - as air and water are considered to be male and female associated, that determines the placement of the God/Goddess figures, not which hand someone uses as their projective hand. Thus, the God goes on the right, the Goddess on the left (with the altar in the north).

When you're considering where to place things, you might consider how it ties into other parts of your practice, and whether there are any connecting ties you might be affecting when you move things. There's nothing that says you couldn't do something different anyway: but I think it's useful to look at the altar and other parts of circle casting as something like a web - changing one aspect may change other things (or make them harder or easier) so you should look at the bigger picture as well as the specific question.