Altar Building    

Page 2

 

Now - what tools do you need for your Altar?

This can be a book unto itself.  Depending on whether you dabble in color/candle magic, or you are a Healer, or you simply want a place to Focus your energy --- all this will help define what you need for your performance.  I'll cover the basic tools, below.

  Candles

You'll need some candles.  I'm not going to cover the details of Color, because there is much detail in the assemblage of color and Intent.  The main reason for candles on your Altar is the attraction of the Element of Fire.  If you want to manifest in the Wurld, and work in magic, you need to utilize the Elements of the Wurld.  Fire is one of them.

Suffice to say that you should have three candles available.  

First: At least one candle should be of a Taper type - and the taller the better.  This is your Sentinel Candle  - the one you want to keep burning whenever you are Attendant at your Altar.   Whenever you work at your Altar, this is the first candle you light, the one you keep burning throughout your session, and the last candle you snuff at the end of your session.  This candle can be either White or Black.

Next: You should have a Goddess/god candle.  Folks will say you should have a separate candle for God, and one for Goddess.  Ok.  Cool.  I'm keeping it generic; were we to build a Wiccan altar, this would be accurate.  Since we're not, just use one candle to represent your respect for the Deities, however many you want to count.  This candle typically should be White.  Consider the shape and size as a personal preference.

Finally:  You should have a Candle of Intent.  This is the candle you will use when you are doing ritual, or manifesting a wish, or meditating.  Expect to replace this candle often, depending on the burn-time and the activity at the Altar.  The color and size of this candle should reflect the session's goal.

 Crystals

You'll need a crystal. Quartz is a generic preference, due to its resonating quality. Again, as with candles, the type, size and quantity will depend on the session goal, and your overall Approach to spirituality.  If you do a lot of reading, you'll want a few different types of crystals.  I won't get into the details of Crystal either.  Suffice to say that you should have at least one clear quartz crystal, the larger the better, that you can use for Focusing.  The usual purpose for this crystal will be to project your Mind's eye as part of ritual, or for Viewing, or for astral traveling.

The Wand

 

If you're Witchy, you have a Wand.  You'll use it to direct energy, draw magical symbols or circles, point towards danger, direct spells or manifestations, and cast protections.  The Wand is usually made of wood, with or without a crystal at the end. The type of wood is a personal preference.  It usually measures from the elbow tip to the tip of the forefinger.  The Wand is used as an extension of your Intent, as part of ritual. 

If you're not Witchy, don't worry about the Wand.       

 

 Censer 

This is an old word for an incense burner.  There is no mandated material or shape for the Censer.  You can use a metal caldron, a sea shell, a flat marble incense holder --- whatever your Spirit entices you to use.  If your Wiccan, you'll use raw or granulated incense that can be burned on charcoal.  Incense works hand-in-hand with the Fire element on your Altar; the sense of Smell is usually critical in a Ritual.  The choice of incense is  dictated by your prescription and your association to Spirituality.

If you're not Witchy, burn the incense that has a personal appeal to you, that hightens your sense of awareness and opens your Pineal gland.

 

(Con't)

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