Re: altars and equipment By: HearthWitch / Knowledgeable
Post # 4 May 04, 2017
Well you don't really "need" anything, you don't require anything on an altar or any tools to start off with. So whatever you want to add to an altar, you can, it is all very personal to your particular practice.
Whether or not you want to use an altar, or any other tools for that matter, is really up to you. I see a lot of books that state you need this or that, but it really isn't necessary,although they do help, some use them, some do not. It is all about what the individual practitioner prefers. I personally, use very little tools.
Re: altars and equipment By: Misanthropy Moderator / Adept
Post # 6 May 04, 2017
You'll see that a lot. I've found a few books that tell you that you need fancy items and altars to practice, and that just isn't the case. They are just another tool to help you manifest your intent, or an area at which to serve as a sort of magical work station.
Personally, I have 4 set up as places to work with the various spirits that I work with. I have one for Hathor, Bast, Anpu, and one for the various nature spirits that I call upon. Again, I do not need these, but I like having a place dedicated to each of them so that I can work with each one respectively and so that they all have their own area.
For each, I have items that represent the spirit or deity, stones and dried flowers associated with them, a bell, my wand, offering plates, an athame, and assortment of candles, a censer and a small altar stone to place ritual or focal items on.
This is just an example, however. You do not need any of these.
If you wanted to do a small altar for simple spell work, you could just have your candles, ritual items, and whatever spell materials you need.
You do not need an altar, as has been stated, but if you choose to have one, there are several examples that you can find online. You could also get creative and work on altar ideas of your own.
The answer completely depends on your own practice. Having no idea what that is, I would recommend looking at common altar setups of whatever path or tradition you're looking into.
You don't really need one as the others have said. It's mostly a place for the deities or spirits you work with, or otherwise a place where you can focus your energy for whatever you wish.
