I've been practicing and learning witchcraft for the past 3 years. I shifted to various paths and expanded my knowledge. But never in my life I ever set up an altar or other fancy stuff people preach about on the internet and amazingly my spells do work out. However I wanted to know everyone 's opinion here
Is an atlar really that necessary be it any path ?
I believe to work on a table secluded for only spell purposes but it doesn't hold any statues just my spell items and then I clear off the table after my work is done or better I sit on the floor which helps me ground my energies and concentrate more.
I will be really glad to read your opinions and Have a nice day !
Re: Altars in various paths By: Lark Moderator / Adept
Post # 2 Feb 02, 2017
The altar serves two purposes.
For those who practice magic as part of their spiritual practices, such as in Wicca, the altar is the place where one interacts with one's Gods. Since Traditional Witchcraft is a magical, rather than a religious practice, an altar for that purpose would certainly not be necessary.
The second reason for an altar is it is a place to put the tools and whatever ingredients you might be using for the particular working you are doing. This is simply a practical way to set things up and there is certainly no rule that you have to practice in this way. If you're practice of Witchcraft has not required an altar so far, then I would say that you really don't need to worry about setting one up with statues and fancy fittings. Actually, you could well consider the table you say you reserve for spellwork as an altar in this sense of the word.
Since your spells are working I wouldn't worry about changing your practices in any way. Remember that the Witches in the old days wouldn't have had all this fancy stuff we work with now. They would have used just what they had on hand.
This is just how I do things in my practice and my opinions. There are many ways to use an altar and many reasons to practice in a place you feel most comfortable in.
Altars are not a requirement to be able to practice magick. For me my altar is a sacred place where I can see my devotion physically to my Deity and a place of reflection. Still others have an altar to the various Spirits they work with. An altar can even be a place where you honor your ancestors.
But, like most all tools in the practice, they are not nessesary. Even though I have an altar, I do most of my workings in a sacred space I have set out for magick in a different room enirely. Not for any reason other than I like keeping my altar in a place where my cats can't get to the things on it, along with that there are other specific reasons within the religion my Deity is from that keep me from putting the altar in my room, where I spend most of my time.
I do practice mainly in the room I spend the most time in, which is seperate from the altar room. I practice in the room I am in most and am most comfortable in, in a scared space I have set up, and where most of my magical/spiritual stuff is. I do feel my magick and spirituality are intertwined, but I do not feel the need to do all of my magick practices in the room with the altar, though for some things I do go to that room to do workings.
Basically, if you see no need for an altar, don't feel you *have* to have one. Your practice and workings are yours, do them in your way. If you feel you would like an altar at any point, you can always set one up :)
It sounds like you already have a sacred space to do you workings in, which in my opinion is more important than having an altar set up.
In my case, I've practiced witchcraft for many years now and I only felt that I needed some kind of altar around 3 years ago but I don't have altars set all the time, I set them when I need to work with my Deities or for offerings in a specific place that I only use for this purpose and when I finish I store everything again.Still, there are some rituals that I practice without setting any altar.
If you don't feel like it makes your practice better, or that you really need it, it's ok not to have one. After all in some point this path is about following our intuition.
They aren't necessary so to speak, but they will help increase your intentions, there is something about doing spell work with the whole nine yards, preparing, (esp. the perpetration) that makes if feel so good after the work is done.
I found a small table (long) with a drawer, it was perfect, I used a wood burning tool to put stars in the corner, I had all my Grandchildren put their hands on it I traced them then wood burned them in the table, in the middle (bottom) I inscribed "My the Goddess Bless these hands as they grow" My Daughter and Son wanted their hands on the table, so I put them under the table and inscribed "May the Goddess Bless these hands as they guide their little hands" Its a beautiful table, and when I feel the need (because of the importance) I go all out, which always makes me feel even more empowered.
So not always necessary, but their are times it will add to the Magic, and make you feel good for days!!
Altars are not necessary for spell work. Altars are mainly used for worshiping and keeping you tools clear of outside energies, its basically a containment space for your magical needs. You can get a small box designed to work like an altar, it won't be as spacey but it would be just as effective (and it's portable).
