The Alter
Alters can be just about anything, tables, bookcases or even the floor when you have nothing else. Obviously permanent tables set up are the best, but not always possible, sometimes to due space restrictions or having to live with other people who do not understand. I am lucky enough to have mine permanently set up, as I have both the room and people who have no choice but to live with it.
	My altar is an octagonal table I found at my local charity shop, ( it sits about a foot high and is about 2 foot in diameter). Haggled over the price, and got it for $10.00, came home, painted it pure black, then a light spray of gold paint, and it sits proudly in the corner of my lounge room facing to the south, and I don't even feel the need for an altar cloth as I bought myself the Southern Wheel of the year poster from The Esoteric Bookshop, and got Hubby to cut me a piece of glass to fit the top.
It sits about a foot and a half from the floor, I'd say maybe 3 feet across, and because of the way it is, have no need for a cloth to cover it. It sits in the South Corner of my living room. I remember a friend once saying that my altar was ½ the size of his but had twice the stuff on it. He's probably right, but each altar is as individual as the Witch who owns it.
Another way to permanently set up an altar is a bookcase, you can drape a cloth over the top to hide the shelves, which are used for storing all your tools and stuff. It certainly takes up less room, but just as effective. A table top or Kitchen bench serves well as a tempory altar As I said earlier, if room does not permit, or you live with people who won't allow it or justy don't understand, then a tempory altar is the way to go. For this, it is a good idea to have a cloth to put down first, and you will have to find elsewhere to house your tools, herbes, candles etc, and brought out as needed, but the beauty of this way, is you can take it and use it anywhere you like. I have even been known to set them up on my bed (*wink*) but I go no further in that subject here. Outdoor altars are just as easy and just as effective, ideal for those full moon rites. An outdoor table is ideal for a tempory altar, but again, if you have the room, or you're not renting, then a few well placed rocks serve very well as an outdoor altar.
Altars are a very personal thing and should always represent who your are or what path you follow. It is always a good idea to have the basics on your altar which are candles and something to represent the four elements. Nothing else is really essential, tho you will find other sites telling you you have to have the four quarters, you have to have all your tools, bollocks, I say, I am here to tell you its just not true. It depends on what you believe as to what you will place on your altar.
If you don't believe me, have a look around the net at altars belonging to other Witches, Shamans or even Voudo. I have said it before, and I'll say it again, there are many paths of Witchcraft, therefore many different points of view, therefore many different altars. The items on your altar are personal and must represent something to you. It's no good going out and buying a wand and atheme to place on their if you don't use them and have no meaning to you. If this is the case, they do not belong there. You will find in time that things that do belong on your altar will find their own way there, and you may end up with some strange things. OK, so saying all that, I have taken a pic of my altar and will explain to you why some of the things are there.
As you can see, I have lots of candles. (these represnt the element of fire) At any given time (depending on the ritual), any or all of them can be burning. The large one at the back (it sits due south as I like to have my altar facing south towards the element of Earth,) is what I use as my altar candle. The three white ones to your left represent the Maiden, Mother, Crone. The little one in front (which only has a candle in it when I am using it) is for the smaller rituals and will contain the colour I need for the ritual I am doing. The tealights are there only because I like lots of candles.
Did you notice I didn't have any representing the quarters. I don't call the quarters (well only when I am working with others who have the need for it). I have 2 penatcles (these represent the element of Earth), which depending on my altar layout, depends on which one I use. I have my little stand up one there at the moment due to space restrictions (as you can see, I'm pretty crowded), but when the incense burner in the middle is being used elsewhere, I use my flat wooden pentacle made for me by a special friend. I always like to have crystals on my altar, the large amethyst (if you can see it) is a permanent fixture, and again depending on my mood, or the ritual being performed, depends on which crystals will be present. My sacred ritual knife sits to the right, and no, I never call it an atheme. Its just my very magickal blade. You can see my other one sitting behind the altar along with the very first ouija board I ever made. The little boat sitting in the corner is my storage spot and houses spare candles, oils, herbes, inks etc.
	As I said earlier, I like to be facing South, have always done so, and always will, but you can easily face it anyway you like. I know of many who face there's North or East. Again, its what you are comfortable with. In front I have my other incense burner (incense represents the Element of Air), which is used in conjunction with charcoal and loose incense. The 2 bottles either side of the central incense holder hold 2 oils I have made. One I call Goddess oil, which is a general annointing oil, and the Other I call Moon Fire, which I use when working with the moon. I have a smaller bottle of the Goddess oil at the back that has one xtra ingredient added to it that makes it very potent indeed.
To the right, on the floor, I have my magickal mirror and my very special magickal rattle, which gets used in my shaman rituals. These would be on the altar, but I just don't have the room. My bag of crystals also lives down there. I also have a chalice to the right that I use for ritual drink or to hold my element of water. When not in use it tends to act as a small storage space. There are also 2 bottles of crushed crystal sitting to the left of the altar candle and 3 bottles of powdered incense. The little pink fairy box in the front holds all my rings, and I have another liitle tin at the back that holds some of my jewellry. I am not sure how the pink fairy found her way there, but she has made herself right at home. Other things I might have on my altar change with the rotating year, you may find flowers on there at Beltaine, or acorns and nuts at Yule. My rattle will always be there on my Shamanic Travels. Sometimes I find shells and feathers that find a home on there for a short while. Well that's my altar, but remember, your altar will contain what you wish to have. Do not feel the need to copy me or anyone. Do not be limited by your imagination. But also remember not to put random objects on it. So, I guess that's it for now, and I hope I have conveyed to you the reasoning behind what your altar is and what you have on your it. © Isabeau 2004
The Tools
Tools are visual, symbolic aids that possess no power of their own. If you feel no desire to have some or any tools that are mentioned, don't get them. Use only what you feel comfortable with.
	So can you do a spell or ritual with no tools. The answer is yes. You use your personal power. How meaningful, powerful and effective any ritual or spell is depends entirely on how much energy you put into it. Your pesonal power is the single most important and only necessary tool you need. Many who are just startimg out, feel that they have to rush around going bankrupt to get every tool they see in order to perform a ritual. They feel that it can't be done without them or that the tools themselvs contain the energy they need, This is simply not true.
The tools you have should be chosen because you are drawn to them or feel that they will enhance your rituals. They are used as vessels to direct your energy. Something to remember when you begin collecting your tools is that they don't have to be expensive. An Athame can be a black handled common kitchen knife or even a special letter opener. Your pentacle can be drawn on a piece of paper or carved in wood or clay. Don't feel obligated to have to purchase fancy, expensive ones. Once you have chosen a tool to use for rituals, it should be cleansed and consecrated. After this is done, it should never be used for any other purpose. If you use your Athame to do a ritual and then go butter your toast with it, it no longer carries any meaning. Although the tools possess no power of their own, they do carry symbolic meaning and your energy. After consecration, they have a purpose and therefor should only be used for that purpose alone.
PERSONAL POWER There is one tool in the Craft that surpasses all others. Every other tool, no matter how expensive, will be useless without it. When it comes right down to it, it's the only tool you really need. That tool is your personal power. To enhance your personal power, you need to exercise it. Practice visualization, concentration and meditation techniques, and be able to ground and centre yourself. No ritual or spell will ever be successful without Persoanl Power.
ATHAME/SWORD The Athame is used for commanding and manipulating power and directing the energy raised during spells and rituals. The knife is usually black handled, double-edged and dull as it does not actually cut anything on the physical plane. The Athame stands for intellect, right thinking and calculation. It is linked to the element of Air. WAND Used for focusing energy, invocation and drawing a ritual circle or other symbolism ground or sand. Many different types of wood can be used for a wand, such as willow, elder and oak just to name a few. Any branch which is fairly straight works just fine. Some like to decorate their wands by engraving symbols on them, tying leather straps to the handle, or by attaching a quartz crystal on the end. Your wand should reflect you. So be creative and enjoy the experience of crafting and bonding with yours. It is associated with the element of Fire.
	PENTACLE A 5 pointed star surrounded by a circle. The top point representsing the Spirit, the other 4 North, South, East and West. The circle represnts universal wisdom. It's a symbol of protection used in rituals, worn as an amulet and hung over doors. It is associated with the element of Earth Click on the pentacle for a bit more info.
CHALICE A stemmed cup made of brass, silver, crystal or anything that feels right for you. It is a symbol of emotion and fertility. Chalices are used in dedication and initiation ceremonies, holiday rituals to honour the Goddess and God, and spell work. It holds water or ritual beverages such as wine, cider or fruit juice for those who do not drink alcohol and miners. It is associated with the Element of Water. THE CAULDRON The Cauldron is a symbol of the Goddess. It can be the main focal point in rituals, used for making oils and brews, and for divination such as scying, which is done by filling it with water, entering into a meditstive state and gazing into the water. Another divination is filling it with water, dripping candle wax in and interperating the message given by the form the wax takes. The cauldron is usually made of black cast iron and stands on 3 legs.
BROOM/BESOM This is used to sweep away negative energy to cleanse and purify the area in which a ritual will be done prior to casting a circle. "Jumping over the Broom" can be added to handfastings or Beltane rituals. It can be used as an instrument of protection by hanging it at the front and back doors in your home. Brooms come in many varients from the straw ones sold in shops to hand made ones which can be more costly. It is asscoiated with the Element of Water.
BOOK OF SHADOWS This is your personal book of spells and rituals. In creating spells and rituals, it is important to keep detailed records of the results of your works. The date, time, moon phase, exactly what you used and thoughts on your feelings of it all once completed. If you found the results of it unsatisfactory or felt like something should have been different, you then will be able to go back to it to change it. Some witches also keep several other things in their book, such as dreams and interpertations, meditation exercises, divination records and a daily journel. Although it is traditional to write your B.O.S. by hane, in this day and age, many do theirs on the computer. BELL The bell is commonly used to invoke the Goddess. It is also used by some to signify thr beginning and ending of rituals. When purchasing a bell, make sure the tone is pleasing and special to you. If you ring one and the first thing that comes to mind is maid service, you've got the wrong one.
Consecrating Your Tools
I find this is best done outside at either sunrise, or midnight on a full moon. Make sure you gather all things you wish to consecrate, and all things needed before you start. If possible light a small fire. If this is not possible, you will need a heat proof bowl, half filled with sand and about 4 charcoal disks. You will also need 9 white candles. For the incense, you will need 2 parts Sandalwood chips, 2 parts Rosemary and 2 parts Thyme mixed together well. If you are not lucky enough to be by a river or the beach, you will need a bowl of sea water. Light your fire (or candles and incense disks) and place your tools before you on a cloth. Now try to focus your mind and connect with the God and Goddess. Now pick up each tool and sprinkle the water over it 3 times whilst saying With the power and the blessing of the sacred element of water, I consecrate you (name of tool) in the eyes of the Lord and Lady. May you assist me with my magick, for the good of all, and harm toward none. Throw a handful of incense onto the fire(or charcoal disks), pass each tool through the smoke 3 times whilst saying With the power and the blessing of the sacred element of air and fire, I consecrate you (name of tool) in the eyes of the Lord and Lady. May you assist me with my magick, for the good of all, and harm toward none. [note] If you are using candles instead of a fire, arrange them in a semi-circle around your incense. Now lay each tool on the earth and say With the power and the blessing of the sacred element of earth, I consecrate you (name of tool) in the eyes of the Lord and Lady. May you assist me with my magick, for the good of all, and harm toward none. It is a good idea use your tools right away.