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Magickal Tools - The Altar
The altar is probably the center-point of all Pagan rites, spells, and other happenings. Be it a perminate one, or one that is set up out of need in what-ever place of convience that you may find, it is rather important to most traditions. While some traditions have specific altar layouts, eclective Pagans are left to do what feels best for them. Keep in mind, there is no 'right' way to do anything in most paths. It is all about what you feel is best. That being said, here are some words of mine about altars...
Finding the Spot
Altars can be set up anywhere that you feel comfortable. Inside or outside, it's all a matter of choice. I personally would reccomend that the altar be in a place where you won't be disturbed by others around you (ie; outside near a busy street, in the middle of a living room, in an area where pets are, etc.). I personally use my bedroom for my altar. No one bothers me there. But if you are wanting to make one outdoors, go outside and walk around until you find that perfect place that you feel very attracted to. Don't worry so much about a place for the actual altar. It can be on a tree stump, on the ground, or anywhere you feel like having it. Just be sure there is enough room for casting a circle around it.
Altars can be made of anything you'd like. You can use a coffee table, a chair, a tree stump, a specially made altar, a boulder-like rock, or anything else you feel like. I use a night stand in my bedroom. I found that it was in the way as a nightstand, so I now keep it set up perminately in my room. An altar may or may not be perminate. Neither is more right than the other, although a perminate altar should be well-kept. It is your place to meet with the God and Goddess and should not be a mess. If you keep fresh flowers or something on it, keep them FRESH. Don't keep dead flowers up there. Dried flowers are ok but not dead. That's just rude. You wouldn't keep dead flowers on a coffee table if you were having visitors, right?
Position
This, too, is a thing of personal choice. Most traditions say that the altar should be facing North while others say East. You may choose to ignore directions all together or to just choose a direction for another reason. Maybe you are a Sagittarius and want it facing the South since you are a Fire sign and South correspondes to Fire. It is your choice. Personally, I have mine facing North. Not really for any Magical reason, but mostly because the Pentacle is of Earth which correspondes to North, so I have my Pentacle on the North of the altar which is at the edge and in the perfect position for me to lay things on it when charging them, etc. I reccomend North, but it's all about YOU.
Layouts
There are too many layouts to talk about here so I will just cover the two most popular ones.
One type of altar layout keeps the tools on the altar according to which diety they correspond to. Most often, the left is for the Goddess and the right for the God. On the left, you may keep the chalice and pentacle as well as a white altar candle and/or a symbol of the Goddess such as a statue or a picture of her. While on the right, you may keep masculine tools such as the wand and athame as well as another white altar candle and a symbol of some sort to represent Him. The choice is your's. In the center, you should have something to represent the balance of male and female devines.
While that method is fine, I choose another method. The one that I use is to place the tools on a corresponding part of the altar. If that doesn't make sense, don't worry. I'll go deeper. For example, if in your tradition, the wand is Air, the athame Fire, the Chalice Water, and the pentacle Earth, you would place those tools in the direction that each element correspondes to in your tradition (ie; wand in the East, athame in the South, chalice in the West, and the pentacle in the North). This is my method of choice and it works fine for me but if you don't like it, don't do it.
Altar Candles
These are not essential but I really do reccomend them. Use silver and gold, red and black, taper candles, votive, pillars, or what-ever you wish. I personally use two white tapers and they work fine. I have them in small candle holders that do their job but stay out of the way. The holders are clear so they're not drawing all the attention to them.
Finishing Touches, etc.
You may want to decorate your altar according to the next Sabbat or Esbat or for the current season. You may place seasonal flowers and herbs and such on the altar.
You might also want to use an altar cloth. The color is up to you. I use a white one because I concider white to be a generic color. You can do what you want. Choose your own colors for your own reasons. All it is is a cloth that covers the altar to protect the altar from the tools and the tools from the altar. It's not essential but most people do use them for cosmetics more than anything. They may be painted or embroidered with symbols or what-ever you'd like.
Symbols representing the God and Goddess are also plesant. I painted a God symbol in gold and a Goddess symbol in silver on cardboard peices and I have them propped up againt the altar candles (the Goddess to the left one and the God to the right). Another optional touch...
Some people use candles called astral candles to represent themself on the altar. I don't do this, but you can also use something else of your's on the altar to represent yourself. I don't do either but you may choose to.
Use your imagination. My altar has a smaller level on the top where I keep the altar candles, symbols, and a set of candles to represent the eight Sabbats. I use tealights for these (cheap and last a long time), and they're arranged in a cirlce of eight with one in the center to represent the balance of the God and Goddess. It is in the middle of the two altar candles and I like it. On the bottom level is my tools, and underneath the altar is incense, oils, and candles. Be creative and do things to your altar that you feel make it more special such as I did with the tea light candles.
I will add some pictures of my own altar ASAP. If you have an altar, take a picture and send it to me and I'll post it on the site!
Good luck and BLESSED BE!
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