Tips & Tricks to Survive the Broom Closet: Those who hide their true magickal identities from friends & family are known as dwellers in "the broom closet". Many who work with magick and witchcraft feel the need to constantly hide their practices, of...
Altars come in all shapes and sizes, and can be permanent or temporary. They can serve as a general altar for all magical work, be dedicated to a deity or person, or be focused around a specific life area. Altars can be the size of a table, or just a small shelf tucked into a corner of your home. Whatever sort of altar you choose to make, it is important that you maintain it and treat it with respect.
Purpose of altars The altar is the place where a witch performs spells, keeps the remnants of spells and conducts worship. An altar may be set up to:
· Perform spells and divination · Attract something into your life · Celebrate a seasonal or lunar ritual · Honour the dead, a person or group of people, or a deity or a whole pantheon
Positioning an altar An altar can be set up almost anywhere. A temporary spell altar should be located wherever you plan to do the spell. A permanent altar should be set out of the flow of traffic in your home so that it is not disturbed. Some follow the Feng Shui method of positioning altars.
Be cautious of placing an altar in your bedroom depending on what the purpose of your altar is. Altars can draw different kinds of energies & presences towards them that might not be best for your sleep.
Caring for your altar Altars intended for a single spell should be arranged just prior to the spell. Permanent altars must be maintained to retain the correct energy and balance - dusty or cluttered altar reflects a lack of interest and care. If you create an altar to a deity, make regular offerings to it. If you have an altar for a specific purpose, meditate before it regularly to maintain that energy in your life.
Altar arrangement A traditional ritual altar faces north, but your altar can face any way you want (or in the case of broom closet dwellers, any way where the altar is hidden from view most). Depending on the purpose, you may choose to face it in the direction appropriate to the subject. You should be able to walk all the way around a temporary altar, where permanent altars are usually against a wall.
What to put on your altar You can put whatever you like on your altar. Below are instructions for typical Wiccan altars but if you're not Wiccan you might want to include different things on your altar. If you're new to witchcraft you might want to follow a typical Wiccan setup until you've figured out what you really want your altar to look like.
The Elements The elements represent the forces of nature. Each one is associated with a compass point and a magical tool:
North - earth and pentacle East - air and wand South - fire and athame West - water and chalice
A typical altar arrangement (for Wiccans):
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Broom closet tips
Make your own shoebox altar Shoeboxes are relatively small, simple to get hold of, easy to hide, and your tools can be kept inside it. While they are a good long-term solution for broom closet dwellers, they can also make an excellent "travel altar" kit for going on holiday or away from home. An alternative to using a shoebox could be a first aid kit.
