How to Set Up a Simple Pagan or Wiccan Altar

Setting up an altar can be as simple or elaborate as you like. Whether you are preparing for a ritual or creating a personal shrine, here’s how to make a basic yet meaningful altar for your spiritual practice.

The Essence of an Altar

Welcome to the world of altars, where the simplest form can be just a lighted candle and an incense stick. When it comes to setting up an altar, my groups generally view it as a temporary setup for a ritual, while a shrine is something we build at home to stay in a fixed place. An altar can be dedicated to a specific deity or spirit, while a shrine is often dedicated to a pantheon of deities or spirits.

At Home, a Display of Dedication

For instance, my personal home shrine sits on several levels of a bookshelf. At the top, I have a collection of statues representing various deities. Below that is a level dedicated to ancestral spirits, family members, and deities from other pantheons. The bottom level holds personally significant items.

Setting Up for a Temporary Altar

When we set up an altar for a ritual, we might use a small table. On it, we place a cloth, a hammer, a candle, a rune-decorated offering bowl, bottles of today’s offering and juice, a loaf of offering bread, and the written ceremony text. This setup can be as simple as an image in your mind, with no physical altar needed.

The Most Basic Altar

The simplest altar consists of an icon representing your deity, something to symbolize the four elements, and an offering plate.

Understanding the Roots of Altars

Altars are sacred spaces set apart for the worship and reverence of a specific deity. The word "sacred" comes from the Latin word "sacra," meaning "set apart." Each deity has specific traits and symbols associated with them, and their altars should reflect these.

A Formal Approach to Altar Building

To build an altar, begin by choosing a suitable space. This could be a tiny table, a specific shelf, a windowsill, or even a milk crate covered in appropriate cloth. Each space should include images and symbols associated with the specific deity you are honoring. When building your altar, formally praise the deity and thank them for their presence in your life. Offerings made in accordance with the deity's preferences are a part of this ritual.

Example: Aphrodite’s Altar

For example, my altar for Aphrodite, the goddess of love and beauty, includes a copper heart sculpture, a small image of Cyprian Aphrodite Pandemos, a tiny metal bangle, a tiny dolphin statue, pieces of a belly dancer's coin belt, and a jar of homemade rose extract. I offer burned frankincense and rose extract during the right traditional astrological alignments, and I sing the Orphic hymn to her on Fridays and at dawn, which are her favored days.

Example: Dionysus’ Simple Shrine

On the other hand, my shrine for Dionysus, the god of wine and revelry, is a small wall-mounted bookshelf holding a pewter wine stopper image of him, images of panthers, pine cones, a properly folded American flag, a tambourine, and an ivy wreath. I pour a bit of whatever alcohol I am drinking for him and say thank you. At times, I sing the medieval drinking song “Bacche Bene Venies” to him.

Conclusion

The method of setting up an altar, whether it be for a specific deity like Aphrodite or Dionysus, follows a basic pattern. This pattern involves understanding what a particular deity likes and creating a special space for them in your home. By doing so, you honor their presence and make a meaningful connection with them.