(tumblr didn’t want this to post properly. so here we go with take two.)
first of all, thank you so much! this literally made my day, and i’m really flattered you would ask.
secondly, it’s really up to you what you put on it. as long as you have a designated area for giving offerings, you’ve got a sufficient altar; size and elaborateness don’t really matter much. that said, i like to go a little further with mine and add whatever i can that reminds me of the God/dess i’m dedicating it to. mostly, i just enjoy the benefits of focusing so much on them—makes me feel closer to them, y’know? and, honestly, you’ll probably end up seeing the God/esses in stuff you already own, so don’t feel like you need to break the bank when putting together your altars. (by the way, @honorthegods has a really good post about altars, i believe)
now that i’ve said that, i’ll list some common items for altars.
candles - people like to get fancy with them (myself included), but it’s all about personal preference. you can literally use birthday candles if you want. (on etsy, there’s even a load of birthday candle holders shaped like animals that might be associated with your deity, so y’know)
altar cloths - i don’t see these as often for purely worship based altars, but i like using them. for Hermes, i have some purple silk for the sake of representing a color associated with him and because it symbols luxury. since candles like to get wax on literally everything, i also have some craft felt on top of it that i can easily replace when i clean up.
offering bowls/plates and/or libation cups - i mean, any cup or bowl will do. tbh, i use an abalone shell for Aphrodite and she doesn’t seem to mind, so feel free to get creative. shot glasses are good for small altars.
gemstones/crystals - the bane of my existence. so tiny, yet so expensive. but, hey, you could literally find a rock on the ground and offer it to a God/dess using their altar and it’d be a-okay. it’s all about intention.
statues - okay, i lied, these are the actual bane of my existence. it’s fun to want a symbol of your God/dess until it costs as much as rent. i can personally vouch for statuescrafts on etsy, but the whole site is filled to the gills with statues. and, again, don’t be afraid to think outside the box. i think it’s pretty common for people to use barbie dolls for Aphrodite, so get creative.
incense - the third bane of my existence, lookin’ at you frankincense. from personal experience, i can tell you to go with what you prefer over what’s associated with the God/ddeses. i doubt they want us to get nauseous at their altars. burners come in loads of shapes and sizes that are fun to match with deities, too. (catch me buying this one for Hades)
bells - ring, ring, Hermes, i come bearing the sweet nectar that is red bull. i have a pdf on ancient bell usage if you’re lookin’ for a good time. they’ve been used as votive offerings for a very long time by all kinds of religions, but it’s no wonder that i bought mine from a kemetic polytheist. (did i mention her just to promote her amazing store? yes, i definitely did. she’s really cool and has her own oracle deck. pathofawakenings.com)
to wrap this up, just have fun and be yourself. put love and respect into your altar and you’re golden. nothing on it has to be permanent (i rotate Hermes’s stuff around all the time), so don’t fret too much. play around with symbolism (my favorite), reflect on what you feel the God/desses would appreciate, go wild! i’m sure it’ll be gorgeous.
if anyone reading this wants to add onto it, i’d love to read about how everyone puts together their altars.
