We utilize two types of altars: the working altar and the Sabbat altar.

A working altar is a sturdy table, preferably waist-high, where a witch can work spells, consecrations, and commune with the Gods. It is to be located at the North of the room, (or in some exceptions, at the East) against the wall.

When placing items (working tools, statuary, etc.) the altar can be broken into two halves, the Goddess side and the God side. As you face the altar, the God side is the right, the Goddess is the left.

Therefore feminine, passive Goddess tools and symbols will be placed on the left - the chalice, roses, bowl of water and book. If you use a God and Goddess statue/symbol, She would go on the left. Symbols of the Goddess can be an empty seashell, a round crystal, or a green candle.

The bell is placed on the Goddess side of the altar for a number of reasons. It's shape always incorporates a cup (womb) shape, and whether it has a dinger in it, or is struck with a phallic-shaped dowel, or the hilt of your athame, the symbolism is obvious. The male in the female creates vibration. Hello!

Also, it is almost exclusively rung by the Summoner, in class and at Sabbat, and his position is always at the right hand of the High Priestess.

The altar pentacle, or paten, always rests in the center of the altar, serving as its strength, its cohesion and power.

Also in the center would go a white candle (always burning) to serve as the source of energy, life, and the divinity of the altar.

If you use only a Goddess statue/symbol, she would go in the center of the altar, at the back.

The right side is male domain and here are found the witches tools of commanding: the athame, the bolline, the censer, the wand, the scourge. All of these phallic tools are to be placed on the altar pointing east.

Why you ask?

The Sun rises daily in the East, and will charge these tools with its energy as its rays caress them from tip to haft on its way west, where it will set.

The yellow candle of knowledge rests in the far right of the altar, and the God's statue, symbol, or red candle is on the right.

The biggest rule of the altar is cleanliness. Magic doesn't work in a dump. And you wouldn't invite the Gods to your place if it was in shambles would you? I hope not.

Dusting, polishing, and basic maintenance are paramount for a living altar. This will be your source of strength in your life, a focal point to contact the Gods, and a battery to help you power your spells.

Keep it clean!

Our Sabbat altars follow the same rules, except the altar is placed well inside the ring, but still to the North. This will be covered in Sabbat layout.

We use candles to symbolize the Gods at Sabbat, three in fact, all in a row, in the center, at the back of the altar. From the left we have a green candle for the fertility of the Goddess, the white candle in the middle for (divine) illumination, and, to the right, red for the fiery energy of the God.

We do not place the book, scourge or wand on our Sabbat altars, since we don't need them.

Back to our working altar. It is given life by the white jar candle, which is the illumination candle. This is an eternal flame and must not be allowed to burn out.

If it does burn out, you will have to tear your altar down, clean your tools and altar, reconsecrate all your tools and light your new candle.

To keep an altar candle going, you will need a new jar candle and about 2 yards of cord (we use red). Place the old candle on the altar, new one to the left, wrap the cord around both three times, and tie three knots. You now have made two candles one.

Take a lighting stick and transfer the flame from old to new. Untie the candles, and put them back into position. When the old one is burnt, place it in a paper bag, smash, and let sanitation workers bury it for you.

Easy right?

Our lady's tradition insists on 3 oils and 3 herbs for each candle. Our altar candle, therefore, is anointed with High Altar, Consecration, and Goddess oils, and a pinch of angelica, pennyroyal, and rose petals are sprinkled around the top.

Furthermore, to truly bring the light of the divine to your altar, you will want to draw down the sun - that is, to light your candle with no matches (of course!) but no lighter either!

You will need a censer, or heavy duty ashtray/bowl, etc., an herb such as cedar (shavings) and a pinch of either vesta powder or saltpeter.