Im sorry so many questions!!!

[SamTheBlob]

okay I know this is probably getting annoying for me to be asking so many questions. But I want to create an alter. I thinking of a floor type because im more of a floor person. but i want to know how should it be set up. I went to the FAQs for new pagens but it didnt help me. I want to know what each thing represents and if i have to have them. Also id like to know wheres the best place on the floor to put it? or should i even put it on the floor? i have animals but in cages a bunney rabbit and hamster, but they wont be able to disturb my alter. i want to know if i should put my alter close to my animals as an representation of earth?

[SamTheBlob]

i wonder if this doesnst make any sence... because it does to me lol

[dawns_eve]

okay I know this is probably getting annoying for me to be asking so many questions. But I want to create an alter. I thinking of a floor type because im more of a floor person. but i want to know how should it be set up. I went to the FAQs for new pagens but it didnt help me. I want to know what each thing represents and if i have to have them. Also id like to know wheres the best place on the floor to put it? or should i even put it on the floor? i have animals but in cages a bunney rabbit and hamster, but they wont be able to disturb my alter. i want to know if i should put my alter close to my animals as an representation of earth?

Creating an altar is really a very personal choice. They can be on the floor, outside, on a dresser, on a box, on shelves, etc. They can face north or how ever else you are comfortable with. Depends on what tradition you follow also. I personally have a wooden trunk that I bought at Walmart and I have a purple scarf (also from Walmart) over the top, I have my 2 altar candles, incense, a wooden pentacle disk, and whatever else I may need for whatever purpose I am leaning towards.

Hope this helps some.

[badkitty]

There are many ways to set up alters. I've had ancestor alters, kitchen alters, along with my main working alter. I believe the most important thing is it feels right to you. (Although some traditions have specific set ups- which is why you wont find it in a general FAQ, there isn't ONE way)

In general people have something to represent each of the elements and the god and godess. Items that are part of current spells, and special objects can also be included. Usually elements items go in the coresponding direction (I use East for Air, South for Fire, West for Water, and North for Earth- again it varries dependent on tradition.)

[SamTheBlob]

There are many ways to set up alters. I've had ancestor alters, kitchen alters, along with my main working alter. I believe the most important thing is it feels right to you. (Although some traditions have specific set ups- which is why you wont find it in a general FAQ, there isn't ONE way)

In general people have something to represent each of the elements and the god and godess. Items that are part of current spells, and special objects can also be included. Usually elements items go in the coresponding direction (I use East for Air, South for Fire, West for Water, and North for Earth- again it varries dependent on tradition.)
thanks so much you have help loads and so did the other replier.. But still not what im looking for in an answer... i dont understand what would represent things in my alter, i have stones and a peice of drift wood and incense but, can i put pictures and flowers in there too? and i know i want feathers and things...

[badkitty]

For me, I use dirt for earth, feathers for air, a chalice of water, and a candle for fire. Again it is up to you. I've seen four different color candles used. A pentacle often is used for earth, and a blade for air. Cauldrons are often put in the center. I've used a mirror for the goddess before, statues are also common for representations of the God/Goddess. I've used snakeskins as a symbol of rebirth. If it makes sense to you, you will connect with it.

[SamTheBlob]

For me, I use dirt for earth, feathers for air, a chalice of water, and a candle for fire. Again it is up to you. I've seen four different color candles used. A pentacle often is used for earth, and a blade for air. Cauldrons are often put in the center. I've used a mirror for the goddess before, statues are also common for representations of the God/Goddess. I've used snakeskins as a symbol of rebirth. If it makes sense to you, you will connect with it.
hrmm i just, i donno
i havent been through rebirth i dont think....

[badkitty]

The thing is, if something doesn't make sense to you, don't use it. If it does use it. If you can't connect with it, it doesn't matter if anyone else can. And if you can, it doesn't matter if other people don't.

[Jenett]

First thing about altars:

Some paths have specific requirements. So some people will have things that they feel (or want) to have there.

In most cases (and even with specific traditions, there's often a lot of room for personal stuff), it's what matters to you. I would suggest a table or bookshelf is easier though.

There's two reasons: candles are likely to be more stable when you set them down (unless you have good wood floors). Also, bending over an altar can be hard on your back. (Or if you have longer hair, run the risk of catching it on fire.) Not impossible, but something to think about.

As far as what to put on it, that depends on you, on what you think needs to be there, and on associations that are important to you, as well as any requirements a specific path has.

You can see my altar at http://limen.gleewood.org/altar/altar.html if you want to see what's on mine. That page also explains what I use things for, and some of why they're meaningful to me. (Not all of it: there's some stuff that's more personal.)

I think the only major thing that's changed is that I now, in fact, have a nice cobalt blue glass incense holder.

The stuff that's truly important for me to have are some token for Lord, Lady, and Ancients, and some token for the four quarters. When I'm travelling, this can get really minimal: I use little pieces of decorator glass (like you put in fish tanks or bowls - they're in the glass bowl in the picture) and a few other symbolic things. They all fit in a small pouch.

When you say you want to put pictures, do you mean deity images (or images that remind you of a deity in some way) or pictures of people you know?

Some people prefer to set up a separate space for an altar or shrine for people they love (or sometimes an ancestor altar - people who've died, and another place for people who are still alive.) It can keep the working altar (which you use for rituals) from getting too cluttered. (And it's awfully easy to spill wax or ash on something: I prefer to keep the stuff that can get damaged, like letters or photos, somewhere more protected.)

You can't see my ancestor altar in the page, but it's actually on a shelf right below the right side of the main altar. That way, I get to look at it, but the things on it (a letter from my father before he died, some photos, etc.) are more sheltered and out of the way.

People often put flowers or seasonal plants on an altar. Just make sure you've got enough space for them, and that you take care of them. Not only is it a pain to clean up after flowers that have dropped moldy petals all over your altar, but a lot of people consider a poorly tended altar to be somewhat disrespectful to the deities or whatever you work with.

[Calen]

*nods vigorously*
I like to have representations of the elements, and the God and Goddess on my altar. I have candles for the God and Goddess, some dirt and a rock for Earth, some feathers and incense for Air, a bowl of water with a seashell in it for Water, and a large orange candle for Fire.
Like they said, use whatever you feel will serve your purposes. Your altar is entirely your own.

Oh!
And I have my altar on the floor, in the foot-space under my desk. Quite convinient really, although decorating it can be a task. Best of luck!

[Ron]

Make your _own_ proper decision. :)

[wakywitch]

okay I know this is probably getting annoying for me to be asking so many questions.
One can NEVER ask too many questions.
It is how you learn and grow! :D

[SamTheBlob]

thanks guys especialy you jenett you probably help the most lol i dont have long hair except my bangs thier pretty long but they easily tuck behind me ears. umm like i said i more of a floor person havent got chairs in my room so it would be easier to have it on the floor but i have carpet.. maybe i should get a trunk..... thats some thing to think about

[dr_zeus440]

Make your _own_ proper decision. :)

exactly.

id like to add to that: do whatever you want, just know why youre doing it. and not because so-and-so said so, or because this book says that this goes with this, but because it is what needs to be done to bring about the required results. sure, read, and ask, and assimilate, but dont regurgitate. if something makes no sense to you, then chances are it wont work for you. do what makes sense. and read the darn forums before posting 4 questions in 7 seconds. thats what the search function is for.

cough, search. search, search, search. read, and search, and then read what you've searched and search what you read. search, and read. search, read, repeat.

[Amryn]

okay I know this is probably getting annoying for me to be asking so many questions. But I want to create an alter. I thinking of a floor type because im more of a floor person. but i want to know how should it be set up. I went to the FAQs for new pagens but it didnt help me. I want to know what each thing represents and if i have to have them. Also id like to know wheres the best place on the floor to put it? or should i even put it on the floor? i have animals but in cages a bunney rabbit and hamster, but they wont be able to disturb my alter. i want to know if i should put my alter close to my animals as an representation of earth?
So far there is only one must and that is it has to feel right to you. It's your altar.

[Faeawyn]

In the Circle of Teaching forum....In my Basics of Spellcraft class...there is a section on Altars. You can check there for info :)