Friday, November 23, 2012

Which Wiccan Altar Supplies Are Needed To Get Started

By Tamera Keith


Setting up your own sacred space for Wicca rituals is not actually as difficult as you may think, even though it can seem somewhat intimidating to begin with. The main concept to keep at the forefront of your mind when it comes to choosing Wiccan altar supplies is usability and functionality though. Both the space you use and the objects you acquire need to be suited to the room in which you are working, and must be safe.

Of course, the first thing you need to choose is the object that you are going to use as an altar. There is no need for a huge or flamboyantly exuberant piece of furniture for this. Instead, a simple and strong table which fits into the space that you are using and can hold all the objects you might need.

The best place to start after choosing the altar itself is with symbols for each of the four elements, which are usually assigned to one of the four directions of the compass, east, west north and south. The earth element can be represented by a simple bowl of soil or sand placed on the north of the altar can be used to represent the earth. Other easily obtainable objects can be used for symbolic purposes for each of the other three directions too.

A stick of incense placed on the east side of the chosen location can be used to represent the air. Fire is placed at the south of the shrine, and can be represented by a candle or some charcoal. A vessel containing water can be placed at the west of the set up to represent this element.

Keeping some candles handy is also a very worthwhile idea, as candles crop up a lot in ritual use. Many Wiccans use candles to symbolise the God and the Goddess, but sometimes candles are used to represent each of the four directions. When using candles, you need to ensure that you always have something handy with which to light them, such as a cigarette lighter or matches.

Many pagans use an athame, or ritual knife, as part of their practises, so keep one close to your sacred space. If you use a wand, then keep that close by too. Many Wiccans use wands to direct energy during rituals.

Another object which is always useful to keep by any altars you are setting up is the Book of Shadows. There is little point in keeping it hidden away where it cannot be used. Keep it in a place close to the altar that you will remember, such as a cupboard or drawer.

As you can see, getting hold of the right Wiccan altar supplies is not that difficult. Always keep in mind that you should be using a space which is adequate for your needs, and are using objects which are functional as well as authentic. Keeping things comfortable and easy to use is always what you should be thinking of first.




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