For those of you who don’t know, an Alter is a raised structure or place used for both prayer and worship. Upon the altar are functional and symbolic items used for the purpose of worshiping the God and Goddess, casting spells, and/or saying chants and prayers.

I remember reading about alters and how the kinds and uses for them vary from witch to witch. No two altars are the same as we all practice in our own ways. I loved the fact that there was no wrong way to an altar. It is all about the practitioner and what they want on their alter and why.

Now don’t get me wrong there is a common setup among most alters as in where things are placed.

The left side of the altar is most commonly the area of the Goddess. Yonic or feminine items like chalices and bowls, along with representations and or statues of the Goddess should be placed to the left.

This obviously means the right side is designated to God. Phallic items such as wands and athames as well as God statuary and his candle are placed on the right side.

As the left and right associations vary depending on the practitioner’s personal preference the center of the altar is always known and the workings space or both areas. This is where the main symbols for the Wicca faith are placed such as the pentacle.

As I gathered my altarpieces one by one over a time period that felt like ages I was finding myself growing more and more excited about this step in my faith that I had almost completed. As my alter to me is as your church pew is to you.

The first altarpiece I owned was my centerpiece, it was a pewter pentacle and it was absolutely beautiful. Other things such as candles and incense and even my chalice and broom were able to come by quickly since they weren’t really pricey items.

Things like my athame, wand, cauldron, and statuary took me a bit more time to gather but it all came together in the most beautiful of ways and just when I needed it to.

Once I had completed the setup of my altar and had my first ritual before it I had found the center within all I believed right at my fingertips. I had a space where I felt connected to the Goddess and Lord in ways I hadn’t before.

“Bide the Rede… Respect the Creed…. And Bliss will come your way…
Give perfect love and you’ll get perfect trust when you live the Witches Way!”