Brace yourselves! Some of yall may not like what I have to say!

YOU DO NOT NEED A CRAZY EXPENSIVE ALTAR OR MATERIALS WHEN CASTING SPELLS OR DOING RITUAL WORK!!!

Now that that is out of the way, lets talk a bit about the history of spell casting, and how it has transformed into what we have today.

Way back when, prior to the witch hunts and trials, witches were often revered as healers, wise oracles, and important spiritual guides for their tribes. Witches during this time could only work with what was around them. They didn’t have a lot of resources like today(online shopping, grocery stores, metaphysical shops, ect.) They would walk the land, only take what was needed and offer gifts to the forest spirits and deities in exchange for the materials gathered. It was always done with the best interest of the environment in mind. Spells would only be cast using materials at hand(either foraged or gifted) and would often be done quietly in the witches homestead or used to initiate or honor the Sabbats in the Wheel of the Year, or other seasonal blessings.

Now, due to Hollywood(mostly), its depicted that witches were often dark, greedy, and a powerful person to be feared. You can also see that Hollywood really spared no expenses when it came to “dressing up” the witches lairs or altars with a plethora of candles burning everywhere, crystals and herbs galore, bones hanging from the rafters of huts, and typically some crazy centerpiece(typically animal bones) arranged artfully to depict the deities they were working with. This has given modern witches a very high standard to meet, and even higher expectations when it comes to spell work or spell crafting.

You may see some social media influencers that are further perpetuating the idea that you need to have only the best organically sourced herbs, a huge, godly stand or shelf for your altar, and expensive crystals and other ingredients in order to preform any kind of magick.

Now I do stand firm on one rule. All materials used in magick, SHOULD(dont have to be, but would be better for everyone) be SUSTAINABLY and ETHICALLY SOURCED if and when possible. Poaching from the environment or stealing from local tribes that use certain materials in their religious practices is a big red flag in witchcraft. As a Witch, you are the bridge to the unknown and to nature. As such, you should do all you can to protect the environment and respect other’s sacred practices. A good example of this is White Sage, not only is it endangered and being poached from its native lands, it is also sacred to the native tribes. If using White Sage in your home or for your practice, do your part to make sure that it was obtained sustainably and ethically and only use it with respectful intentions.

I could go on about sustainable practicing, but that will have to wait for a different chapter. But to continue on with this chapter!

I would like to reiterate… Magick comes from you, and you DO NOT need ALL the bells and whistles to make it work for you and your life!

For example, you have a small book shelf that also houses some old books and knick-knacks. If you have the will, and decide you want to dedicate a shelf to be your designated altar then do it! You have some crystals lying around gathering dust? BAM! Add crystals to your altar to bring about certain energies or properties you are trying to incorporate more into your daily life!

I would advise against cluttering your altar with too many crystals or odds and ends, as you may find that too many energies can result in a rather turbulent outcome or no outcome at all. Instead use what you feel is needed in the moment to aide you on your magickal journey. And swap out items when you feel you need to call new energy into your life. Its ok!

Before going and finding the first piece of furniture that you may find at a yard sale or thrift shop, make sure to thoroughly cleanse the furniture before declaring it to be your altar. Energy can linger, and it may interfere with the magick that you are trying to promote or put out. So best to reset the energy of the furiture and imbue it with your own intentions. If your are just starting out, I would recommend focusing on setting positive and protective intentions that will not only guide and shape your craft, but it will also protect it from being corrupted from negative energy or attacks.

Then get to setting it up! If you are making an altar for yourself, use your intuition. Feel out what crystals, flowers, herbs, decorations you need to achieve what you are trying to put into the universe. You can add some flowers that you are fond of(if you have pets, be sure that they are pet safe prior to bringing them into your home.), crystals that you seem to resonate well with, and of course any symbols that will help you connect better to yourself and your power. Be creative!

If you are making an altar to honor a deity, it is highly recommended that you look up and research(best to look up 5 different sources and use your intuition to determine what items will work best for your relationship with your deity.) your specific deity and what crystals, herbs, and symbols best represent them. You want to take care to not accidentally put up something that might offend or insult your deity, so proceed with their best interest in mind. As the altar is a connection between you and your deity, use your intuition to find elements that will resemble you in your altar as well.

Magick and Spell Crafting does not have to be expensive or complex to be functional.

For example, a lot of the herbs I use at home for my personal spells I often just fish out from my spice cabinet, and I had purchased those from the local grocery store for an amount that I could comfortably afford. My altar is quite literally a space on my book shelf that takes up less than half the book shelf(I did still dedicated the entire shelf to the altar). I intend to use the remaining space for my Grimoires, and maybe some other items I stumble across during my adventures that I feel will suit my altar and the Deity I am honoring with it.

Do the magick that you can safely afford, upgrade it as necessary or when you feel you need a bit of change, but please don’t put yourself in a financial pit just to make a “Instagram Worthy” altar. Your magick will manifest with the intention you put into making any altars or doing any spell work. Trust the process, and be sure to only do what you are comfortable with.

If you have any questions regarding this chapter, please feel free to reach out to me at the “contact us” portion of the website!

Blessed Be Witches✨