Elemental Altars

Altar of the Land

Altars and places of power play a large part in lots of witches’ craft. Such places include the caves of Cornwall, the seaside, ley lines, cemeteries, and many, many more. These allow access to higher powers, visionary experiences, hidden knowledge, healing, just to name a few.

Some create altars to honor spirits, ancestors, gods, angels, saints, any and all spirits. Some use them to create their own place of power, where they can focus their power and energy. I tend to fall into the second category.

When creating a focus for power in your own home, it is practically necessary to detach yourself from the ideal of the altar of worship. No important place setting, no specific order or required items. Instead, include things gifted to you by the spirits. Feathers, stones, worts, natural fetishes, bones, diverse barks and flowers, etc... The Altar of Land should reflect the land and its Genii.

To begin, walk through the land. Collect clay from a river bend. Shape it into a pot and a lid.Fire it in a pit. Once done, coat it with resins of the balsams. Pine, Fir, Locust, Yew, whatever is available. Peach trees, Sweet Gum, latex from Corn Poppies, Dandelion and Wild Lettuce. Add to it then the common flowers you can find; the root of those chtonic plants willing to share; dirt from the land should then be added ... This forms the basis of the Altar of Land.

Bring back your vessel now, and place it upon the space you dedicate. Connect to it, build a link to the Land. Wake its spirit and communicate to it through the vessel. Let it be known for what reason you are creating this space. Soothe it with offerings of Honey, Tobacco, Mead, Wine, Milk, Blood and Fat. Seal the deal with a drop of your own blood, before using yarn or cord to seal the vessel. Keep this upon the altar constantly. Any preparation of herbs, roots, barks, etc... coming from the Land should be prepared before this vessel, and a little added to it at the end of the preparation.

As time goes on, you will be given more and more curios, which should be kept on the altar. To this may be added any and all bones given to you, who once reddened may serve you for different tasks, and will protect the Altar of Land. Feathers of birds may also be made into fans or mobiles, such as witch ladders, hung above the Altar. A plant taken from the land itself may be watered using rain, storm, or any sort of water naturally found to connect to the aqueous aspect of the Land Genii.

Once the main Altar has been completed, the addition of the Sky by presence of the feathers and of Water by presence of the waters used to feed the plants and the vessel itself will triple its impact. Items may be brought to the Altar to be blessed, empowered and consecrated to the Land.

Altar for the Water

Water Altars can be general or specifically created. They can be set up as a temporary space for a specific magical working, or as a permanent place to worship and focus your spiritual energy. Think carefully about where it will be located, as it should be placed somewhere you can interact with it undisturbed from external influences. If there is not a permanent place for it, consider making a smaller, more portable one.

Customarily a general water altar would feature a blue altar cloth, which is representative of the element- preferably in natural fabrics like cotton or silk. You may also wish to incorporate fabric that uses some common motifs or symbols. For example, there are fabrics that contain images of waves or sea birds that you can utilize. Whatever cloth you use will be the base of your altar or shrine.

Next, you will begin to assemble your actual elemental items.

Clearly, the most important feature you include will be the actual water. This can be contained in a dish, bowl, chalice, bottle, or whatever else you wish. Choose your materials carefully, as this vessel will hold your actual water and obviously a wood bowl will react differently than a glass or metal one.

Many witches choose to include spring water, sacred water from a blessed river or well, ocean water, or any other type they find significant to them. You may also wish to consider adding a fountain.

In order for your space to operate most effectively, you will need to also have the other elements represented. You can add a blue candle sitting in a candle holder filled with water, and you can even use candles that have water-themed herbs and oils added to the wax. If you are adding these items after the candle has already been created, please do so in moderation, as too much may cause the candle to smoke excessively or even become overly inflamed. You can use an incense blend created from water herbs burned on a piece of charcoal to represent the air element. The element of earth can be present in this space in the form of sand or dirt from the shoreline. Alternatively, you could use a watery crystal such as turquoise or moonstone on the shrine. You are limited only by the extent of your imagination.

Another valuable feature to consider adding is a water elemental figure or statue. This could be of a water-loving animal like dolphins or ducks, a mythic creature like a mermaid or a selkie, or just about anything else water related. When creating spaces like these, it is best to be guided both by your spiritual teachers and also your intuition. There are many beautiful commercial statues and artwork available out there, or feel free to create your own piece of artwork. Just make sure it is something that will be able to command and focus your attention as you interact with it in your sacred space.

Please do your best to clean and maintain your sacred space on a regular basis. To achieve the best results, it should be treated with the utmost care and respect. It is always a good idea to use some of your magical waters as part of the regular cleaning and blessing of the space.

Air Altars

One of the best ways to connect with the element of air is to set up an Altar of the Air. They can be any size from a small box to a space within a room or an entire room. Think of shrines as homes for energy, deity, or spirit.

If you feel connected with the magical element of air, you could also choose to make an Altar to each of the four directional winds instead. If you wish, you can use the meanings of the four winds from a specific culture, or designate your own meanings.

Regardless of whether your Altar is to Air, or to the Four Winds, altars are often decorated with art- whether it’s a portrayal, or a symbolic token. Other objects that evoke the essence of the spirit, such as photographs or heirlooms, may also be placed there. It may be as complicated or simple as you wish.

If you prefer a minimalist approach, use only one or two representations, such as a yellow watercolor painting or a mobile. One benefit of these simple things is that artwork is a normal thing to have in plain sight. This is nice if outsiders visit often or if you share a space with other people. But of course, you could go the opposite way and use a lot of objects.

Consider whether you might want to place it outdoors. If so, hang weatherproof items such as chimes, ribbons, and figurines in the air to make it special.

Another alternative is a window. Attach ribbons, bells, stained glass figures, figurines, prisms, and other décor from the curtain rod to create a light, airy feeling. Use a semi-transparent curtain to be able to see sunlight or moonlight through it.

Tap into the energy of your air altar whenever you need it. Simply light some incense and waft it over the Altar. Call upon whichever airy aspect you need, and draw energy from it with a deep breath. Meditate and commune with the energy present until the incense burns out completely. Thank the spirits and bid them farewell.

Setting up an Air Altar is a great way to become more in touch with the element of air. Your air altar doesn’t have to be complicated, but it should reflect your unique personality and your magic. Do whatever feels right for your magical needs and the space.