Oak and Willow Coven, ASW: Beltane 2014

” As above ~ So below”
The microcosm within the macrocosm

When we set up sacred space to do ritual there is generally a central or main altar that is placed in the center of the space. This altar serves as the central core that contains the physical representations of the energy and element to which it is aligned. The items placed on the altar are often laid out to reflect and align with the cardinal directions. Your altar may be round – a reflection of the continuum of the natural cycle or square – a statement of the equilateral foundation upon which all magick is built. Think of the altar as being divided into four quadrants; each aligned with a specific cardinal direction.

An Altar Checklist

These are some of the items you may wish to place on your altar:

• Ritual Tools – each representing one of the four elements and placed on the altar in the quadrant which it corresponds to.
• Candles representing the Light within and or to represent the spark of Divinity that is being called as God or Goddess.
• Seasonal items such as pumpkins for Samhain, holly leaves for Yule, spring flowers for Ostara, etc.
• Your Book of Shadows/journal and writing tool.
• Any thing you feel called to place on your altar that will enhance the visual experience of the ritual.

Ritual altars are just one form of creating these pockets of sacred space. Altars can be created for a variety of purposes; devotional, personal workings, meditation and more.

There is no right or wrong way to create your sacred space. The important thing is to be creative and to place on your altar what truly and deeply calls to you. This is how the greater connection is made to the inner workings of the ritual and the Divine.

Consider this a photo album of reference for creating your own beautiful space of the Sacred. The seasonal altars pictured were used in Oak and Willow Coven’s Sabbat celebrations unless otherwise noted. Enjoy!

Celebrations of the Sabbats

Yule/Winter Solstice

Imbolc

Ostara/Vernal Equinox

Photo Stock Image

Beltane

Litha/Summer Solstice

Lammas/Lughnasaadh

Mabon/Autumnal Equinox

Mabon Air Altar

 Mabon Fire Altar

Samhain

Offering Space to the Ancestors (Dumb Supper)

 Cerridwen’s Cauldron

Underworld Altar

Workshop Altars

I teach several workshops throughout the year and like to add the component of altars to enhance the visual experience. Most of these were multi-wk. courses so there were different altars relevant to each week’s material covered.

Temple of the Moon
A Workshop of Study of all things Lunar

A Day within the Qabalistic Tree
This altar was used for the ritual to simulate rising through the Tree of Life and each level of the Sephiroth. A day-long intensive.

An Introduction to Esoteric Astrology

Aligning the Parts of Self

A Walk Through the Major Arcana
A Day-Long Intensive

Meditation for the Magickal Practitioner

Awakening the Energetic SELF

The Gates of Light

Devotional Altars

Devotional Altar- The Fires of Lugh

A Healing Altar for Brighid

Devotional: Egyptian
A Personal Ritual of Awakening

Personal Ritual

A Ritual of Dedication: Temple of the Moon

Alternate Altar Spaces

Window Sill Spaces

Beltane Windowsill Altar

Consecration of Tools Windowsill

Devotional

Shoe Box Altars (The Shoebox is Underneath!)

Book Shelf Altars

An Altar of Sound Honoring Het-Heru

Portable Altars

Kundalini Altar

Lunar Altar

Floor Meditation

Fire Altar

Altar for a Tarot Reading

Solar Altar

An Altar of the Faery Gate

Next Week
Foundations for Practice – A Ritual for 6 Month