Collection: Coming Soon Alter Setup For Manifesting / Spirit

The left/right polarity alter is an excellent choice for magical work.  There are many options when it comes to alter designs.  If elemental energy is a prominent focus, arranging the alter into four quadrants, placing the working tools at the points north, east, south and west so that each tool represents it’s element in it’s direction ~ according to your intuition or tradition ~ can be a fantastic means of channeling their power.  The energies of earth, air, fire and water are such….

If the goal is more spiritual in nature, a pentacle alter could be used instead with similar effect. The pentagram alter is divided into five sections rather than four, with the fifth division being spirit in the north.  Give the following elemental designations to the points of the pentagram (moving clockwise) Spirit at the top; water at the upper right, fire at the lower point, earth at the lower left point and air at the upper left point.  An alter pentacle can be placed at the center of the alter with the appropriately colored candles set at each of the points in a similar fashion to the elemental alter, but with a white or violet colored candle at the top point and perhaps a deity image or religious symbol as well.  

Remember that the fundamental purpose of the altar is to enrich your spiritual and self-care practice. That means it must work for your unique needs. Take the time to reflect and experiment with different types of altars and different practices for altar work until you find the approach that is most comfortable for you.

These are some things you might like to consider including on your altar:

• Statues and symbols that represent your deities or spiritual guides
• Photographs of your ancestors (when showing images of the deceased is appropriate in your culture)
• Souvenirs and mementos from important milestones in your spiritual or political journeys (e.g., an object from your first rally, a gift from a mentor, etc.)
• Your favorite books
• Plants and flowers (especially if the altar intends to reflect and celebrate the changing seasons)
• Food offerings, like a shot glass of alcohol, fruits, or a small dish of rice and grains
• Crystals, gems, and stones
• Jewelry or other precious items with personal meaning
• Divination tools such as a deck of tarot cards, runes, oracle cards, or a crystal ball
• Other natural and found objects like shells, bones, and feathers

Will your altar be for secular or spiritual practice?

Secular altars have little considerations beyond comfort and convenience. If it’s an area for meditation, then you’ll only need it to be an inviting place to sit or lay down. If your altar is for reading and journaling, it’ll need to be somewhere to keep your books and pens and be well-lit.

The many personal and spiritual reasons for an altar may include:

• Honoring holidays and special events
• Witnessing the seasons
• Tracking your growth and development as a learner
• Ritual and spellwork
• Honoring your ancestors, either familial or spiritual/political
• Honoring your loved ones
• Honoring a specific deity or deities