9/17/2019 Altar (Wicca) - Wikipedia

Altar (Wicca)
A Wiccan altar is a "raised structure or place used for worship or pray er", [1 ] upon which a Wiccan practitioner places sev eral sy mbolic and functional items for the purpose of worshiping the God
and Goddess, casting spells, and/or say ing chants and pray ers.

Contents
Types of Altars
Altar items An altar with candles, chalice, and
Location of Altar athame
Altar Decor
See also
Notes
References
External links

Types of Altars
There are many ty pes of altars Wiccans may choose to use during ritual. Depending the rite they are performing, the material used for their altars may v ary . Some say wood from an oak tree is best while others argue maple or teak are the only
ones allowed. This is because in many circles, different ty pes of wood are believ ed to carry certain magical qualities. For example, in one Wiccan tradition, oak sy mbolizes great strength and may be used to strengthen the rite they are
performing. In another tradition, maple may be is seen as the strongest. Whether that be a coffee table or a tree stump, it is up to the Wiccan[2 ] .

Altar items
The altar is often considered a personal place where practitioners put their ritual items. Some practitioners may keep v arious religious items upon the altar, or they may use the altar and the items during their religious workings. According to
Scott Cunningham, a popular Wiccan author, the left side of the altar should be considered the Goddess area; feminine or y onic sy mbols such as bowls and chalices, as well as Goddess representations and statues should be placed on the left. [3 ]
The right side is designated for the God; phallic sy mbols such as the athame and the wand are placed to the right side, as well as God statuary and his candle. [4 ] The left and right associations v ary according to personal preference, but the
center area is almost alway s considered the "both" area, or the working area. In the center of the altar are kept the main sy mbols of the Wiccan faith, such as the pentacle. [5 ]

Some Wiccans arrange their altars to represent all four elements and directions. [6 ][7 ] In the North the earth element is represented; in the east is air, in the south is fire, and in the west water. These elements can be represented in v arious
way s, but generally do not v ary in elemental and directional correspondences. When placing items on an altar or when "calling on the elements" (a practice inv olv ing inv iting the elements to be a part of the circle and lend their power) a
practitioner will mov e deosil (clockwise or sunwise) and when dismissing the elements they will mov e widdershins (counter-clockwise).

Common items on a Wiccan altar include:

Athame
Broom
Candles
Cauldron
Chalice
Incense
Pentacle
Wand
Some of the items represent the Earth's four elements, but elements may be represented more literally , with gems, salt, water, plant material, insect casings, etc.

Location of Altar
It wasn't until 1951 [2 ] that the last laws against Witchcraft in England were repealed. Before then, it was a death sentence to be found practicing any sort of alternate religion. Secrecy meant surv iv al during those times. Today , Wiccans are able
to practice more openly and share their beliefs across multiple platforms such as Y ouTube, Instagram, Twitter, etc.

Being a religion that rev eres nature, it seems most appropriate to practice in nature. Wiccan altars may be set up outside as well as indoors. Some Wiccans dedicate an entire room to their faith while others (especially those who share a liv ing
space i.e. college dorms) use what is known as a temporary altar. A temporary altar can be any flat surface that can be mov ed easily such as a coffee table. More permanent altars are left up for the Wiccan to return to for their rites and rituals.

Altar Decor
There are eight Wiccan holiday s, known as Sabbats, that celebrate the cy cles and seasons of nature. These include the four seasons (Winter, Spring, Autumn & Summer), the mating habits animals and the reaping and sowing of crops. Based on
the Sabbat, the altar is decorated accordingly . For example, the Summer Solstice altar cloth should be white and the altar decorated with Summer flowers, fruits and any thing else that sy mbolizes Summer [2 ] . This goes for each Sabbat. Certain
Wiccan traditions may hav e different colors but univ ersally , the alter is usually decorated to represent the time of y ear.

See also
Altar
Mother goddess
Shrine
Triple Goddess (Neopaganism)
Wicca

Notes
1. Merriam-Webster
2. Buckland, Raymond. (2002). Buck land's complete book of witchcraft (http://worldcat.org/oclc/698079111). Llewellyn Publications. ISBN 9780738717722. OCLC 698079111 (https://www.worldcat.org/oclc/698079111).
3. Cunningham 2002, p. 108-109
4. Cunningham 2002, p. 108-109
5. Cunningham 2002, p. 109
6. Crowley 2003, p.45
7. Cunningham 2002, p. 109

References
Crowley, V. (2003). Wicca: A Comprehensive Guide to the Old Religion in the Modern World. Harrisonburg, USA: R.R. Donelley's.
Altar. (n.d.). Retrieved October 14, 2013, from Merriam-Webster.com: http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/altar
Cunningham, S. (2002). Living Wicca: A Further Guide for the Solitary Practitioner. St. Paul, MN: Llewellyn Publications.
Buckland, Raymond. (2002). Buck land's complete book of witchcraft. Llewellyn Publications.

External links
Book of Shadows - The Wiccan Altar (http://blessedbe.sugarbane.com/altar.htm)

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