Paganism 101: Two Basic Altar Setups

An altar is a concrete way to connect with your spiritual practice. Whether you are pantheistic, polytheistic, or fall somewhere in between, altars are spaces that can be set apart as sacred among the mundane aspects of our daily lives. They represent the macrocosmic in a microcosmic way.

Altars are as personal as their creators. There are however common setups found throughout different Pagan traditions. Specific systems such as Wiccan covens and ceremonial magic have their own way of laying out the altar and train their members in their own tradition.  Some traditions place altars in certain directions such as the east or north.

Here are two basic altar setups given as guidelines for solitary practitioners and groups that haven't yet developed their own altar protocol.

The attribution of the four elements with the four directions in figure 1 below is derivative of ceremonial magic which has since inspired the altar setup of Wiccan traditions.

This is a seven-element setup as follows:

• Air in the East
• Fire in the South
• Water in the West
• Earth in the North
• Goddess/Divine Feminine
• God/Divine Masculine
• Spirit in Center

The representations of these elements can be candles or anything that is appropriate according to your practice. The traditional items associated with the four elements are seen in the four suits of the tarot and include:

• Sword for Air
• Wand for Fire
• Cup for Water
• Pentacle for Earth

It is common to use the items above to represent the elements and candles for each direction, the god, goddess, and spirit. Other variations include statues for the deities, a cauldron for the cup or as the goddess, and using a dagger in place of a sword for air. Again, this is up to the individual.

The devotional altar can also double as a shrine to a particular deity. It can be as simple or elaborate as you want to make it.

Figure 2 below shows the skeletal setup of this altar. A statue of a patron god/dess, items attributed to the god/dess, and any ritual tools are all that are needed for this altar.

Both altars can be added on to with extra candles, seasonal tools, crystals, and incense. Altar cloths are commonly used appropriate for the season or altar subject. You can build your own altar table if you are so inclined. Inexpensive purchased tables, a chair, dressers, tree stumps or stones serve the purpose as well as laying the altar cloth on the floor during ritual with the items placed on it.

In some traditions, ritual tools including the altar are meant to be stored when not in use. This doesn't have to be the case with your personal altars. In fact, having a devotional shrine in a safe corner is an easy way to encourage daily ritual and prayer in your practice. Jewelry and other items can be placed on your altar for blessing and then used in ritual and magic. Altars are an excellent way for you to creatively connect with different aspects of your personal practice, your gods, and spirit.