Altars are a hub of your magickal energy. A lot of witches perform spells there, seeing it as a source of valuable energy. It is also a place of worship if you have patron deities. For worshippers, this is where you would communicate and give offerings to said deities. This is also a wonderful space to charge and store your magickal tools. Altars are not a witchcraft-specific object, either- most christian churches have Altars dedicated to Jesus Christ as well!
What can be considered an Altar?
Anything that you use for any of the above can be considered an Altar. I use a bookcase as an altar but it can be anything from a table to an entire room to something as small as a suitcase or even an altoid can- something used commonly among closeted witches as it is not easily found or recognized by loved ones who might be so pleased with the concept of Witchcraft.
How do I decorate my Altar?
You can decorate it in any way you like! An altar, like the Craft in itself, is an extremely personal concept. However, here are various common ways I have seen some being decorated:
To celebrate holidays such as Ostara or Yule
Minimalist, having only their supplies and tools with it
Here are some ideas for each one one of these examples on the above list:
Give Offerings of their favorite foodsÂ
Decorate it in their favorite colors
 Have pictures of them on itÂ
Leave letters addressed to them on the Altar, sending your love and appreciation to them wherever they may be in the afterlife.
To Celebrate the SeasonsÂ
Spring- decorate in bright colors such as yellow and pinks; regularly have flowers (real or fake) on or near it; dedicate your Altar to your patron fertility/life/nature deityÂ
Summer- decorate in bold colors such as reds and greens; leave plants such as cacti or produce plants like tomato plants on or near it; leave offerings of fresh (preferably local and in-season) plants on it; dedicate your Altar to your patron god of passion/sun/hard-workÂ
Fall- decorate in muted and comforting colors such as browns and oranges; leave offerings of wheat/cinnamon/squash; leave a small letter addressed to your late loved ones in this time of thinned veil; dedicated your Altar to your patron god of harvest.Â
Winter- decorate in colors such as whites or blues or even black; leave sprigs of evergreen tree needles or cones near or on it; dedicate it to your patron god of death or life cycles
To Celebrate the HolidaysÂ
Samhain- In this time of the thinnest veil, you would want to decorate your altar in a way similar to the way you would in honor of your ancestors. See above for ideas regarding that.Â
Yule- Leave an (artificial) burning yule log on it, have sun imagery to celebrate the return of the sunÂ
Imbolc- Leave a burning candle (or an artificial candle on) on your altar all day; decorate with a bundle of wheat, a pomegranate, or other symbolism of fertilityÂ
Ostara- Decorate with jasper or incense for jasmine or any other floral scent; leave offerings of food; if possible, move it in front of the sun
Beltane- Decorate with phallic decorations; leave items on it that bring great joy to your life, leave a candle of an earthy smell burningÂ
Litha- Decorate with imagery of the moon to welcome the growing darkness; leave it in dark colors for the same reason; similar to Imbolc, display symbols of fertilityÂ
Lammas- Decorate in Fall-themed colors; Leave an offering of (preferably home-made) breadÂ
Mabon- Decorate your Altar in items and symbols of things that you are grateful for; leave a letter of thanks to your deity; cover in colors of transition such as orange-red, grays, blue-green, etc.
Cover your altar in their patron colors
 Display symbolism of their domain (for ex. A bowl of salt-water if they are over the Sea)
If their worship permits, display a portrait or artistic rendition of them! Feel free to do this yourself, no matter how you gauge your artistic abilities. Iâve even seen people represent gods with dressed-up dolls or barbiesÂ
Light an incense in a smell that reminds you of them
Typically these kinds of altars hold simply the tools of the trade and representations of the elements (none of this is mandatory ever and you should follow your gut with what is necessary for you):Â
Incense to represent airÂ
Candles or light to represent fireÂ
A bowl of water to represent⊠well⊠waterÂ
A bowl of salt to represent EarthÂ
Hey Guys! I made some more printable reference sheets for yâall! You can download them along with my other reference sheets and printables here. Feel free to request printables and reference sheets as I am always looking for ideas to create more!! Also! Feel free to share Altar tips and decorating ideas on this post ^_^
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