Chapter by: Zag and Hypnos

So you want to set up an altar? That's a good first step. Again, you don't need one. But a lot of people like having them because it keeps things organised and provides a place for you to focus on your craft. It doesn't have the be big, it can be a windowsill, a bedside table, a shelf, a corner, anything.

You can even have portable ones in tins and boxes.

Now a SHRINE on the other hand is an area specifically for offerings. You can leave offerings on altars too, but some prefer to have a separate space for their deity/spirit stuff.

There's no set way to organise an altar, but at needs to at the very least have a candle, be protected and have some kind of cleansing tool. You also don't need an altar cloth but they can be very useful for keeping things clean, you just throw it in the washing every so often. And can be a form of symbolism or a guide on where to place things.

The only thing I'd say to keep in mind is where you put it if you work with a deity/spirt etc. like if you worked with someone who prefers the dark it'd be best to put it in a darker area.

What we'd suggest putting on an altar:
-candles
-incense
-wax melts
-altar cloth
-tarot cards
-crystals
-statues/figures of whatever you work with
-offerings
-flowers/herbs/leaves etc.
-trinkets
-shells/sticks/rocks etc.
-your book of shadows
-books on witchcraft in general
-decor that fits your craft
-jewellery
-wands
-rune stones
-ritual knives
-prayer beads
-brooms
-lanterns
-cauldrons
-sentimental items
-photos/art

Here's a few examples we've found around the web in varying sizes to get an idea.

Big:

Small:

Boxes/tins:

Windows:

So yeah, they can be anywhere. In fact here's our little tin Hypnos made for sleep stuff

We're still cleaning up our altar and deciding what's going to go where so we'll have to update you guys when it's properly done. For now here's our set up clearly sleep oriented and Hypnos influenced.

Point is, your altar is your space. You can do whatever you want with it and set it up wherever you feel works and whenever you have room. You can slowly build it up too, you don't need to make it all at once.

Also note: you don't have to work WITH a deity to use their likeness on your altar. You can simply be a devotee or use their imagery to portray the message you're trying to get across. We don't work WITH the actual Hypnos, our introject Hypnos just uses the imagery and is a devotee TO Hypnos for sleep magic. So by all means you can put deity figures or art on your altar even if you don't work with them, same goes for creatures like fairies, Merfolk, ghosts etc. using imagery for symbolism is always fine as long as it's not something from a closed practice of course.

I mean we as humans use these symbols all the time in day to day life. You know how many companies use Hermes as their logo? It's wild. The court uses Themis as it's symbol for justice, the eye of ra is associated with history because of how prominent it was in ancient Egypt etc.

Last thing I will note though is if you DO work with a deity or ancestor or spirit etc, some will want you to show up to their shrine/ altar space appropriately dressed. Basically just not looking like a mess. Talk to them first, some won't care at all, but those who do it's good to keep in mind to get out of those pyjamas or brush your hair first.

Unless it's a sleep deity... they'd probably PREFER you show up in pyjamas lol.

This also ties into head dress, some practices/deities have covering your head as a sign of respect. So something like a scarf or bandana will do. Head scarfs are just a witch thing in general though, plenty of practices use them as a form of protection, symbolism, worship, or just fashion. Actually just today we found a celestial scarf at a vintage fair Hypnos was quick to snatch up for protection. We'll have to do a whole chapter on head scarfs later on for a more in depth explanation.

For now though, that's the general run down on an altar. Use what you have on hand, keep your eye out when shopping or out exploring for things to add and change it up as your craft evolves.

Do what's right for you and blessed be