The Family Altar
Our altar space in our living room is probably one of my favorite places in the whole house. The living room has a window nook where we have set up our altar on a long low table (too low to be classified a proper coffee table). Altars represent a sacred space in the home where the family celebrates, perform spells and rituals, meditates, tell stories, and set intentions. They are a great way to bring families together and foster spiritual growth. Here are some steps to guide you in creating a magickal and meaningful family altar.
Selecting a Space
The best location for your altar is the one you can realistic use for all aspects of your practice. There were many options in my house but most of those spots were too high for my son to fully participate. We have had 3 different locations for our altar before committing to its current location. The first was in our kitchen and I loved having all the herbs readily available. BUT, it is the coldest room in the house and unbearable to spend a lot of time in there for a long period of time (you may recall I’m not a fan of the coldness). Consider the type of practice you have, how much space is needed for everyone to gather, the comfort level and, yes, even the temperature.
Altar Set Up
The what and the where of items included on the altar will vary from family to family. Personal aesthetic, space availability, family size, and how the altar is used will play a part in what you choose to place on your altar and where. These are a few things you may consider including on your altar:
Altar Cloth
Candles: fake candles are acceptable
Crystals
Items from Nature
Child friendly Divination Tools
Symbols of Deity
Photos of family and/or Ancestors
Herbs and Incense
Special Occasion Items (birthdays etc.)
Representations of the Four elements
A Journal or paper for drawing
Family Grimoire
Small toys corresponding to sabbat or moon phase
*Do not leave burning incense or candles left unattended.
Maintaining the Altar
Regularly maintenance and cleansing should be done to clear the negative energies or refresh the energies present. This can be done by clearing all the items from the altar, dusting, washing, and magickally cleansing the space and tools. Cleansing can be done by smudging, salt, sound, magickally infused spray or any method that aligns with your family beliefs.
Final Thoughts
Creating a family witchcraft altar is a fun and unifying activity. Remember to nurture the altar with love, intention, and regular upkeep, allowing it to evolve with your families spiritual practice.
Show me your altars!
