I sat down somewhere that was quiet and focused on the deity in specific I wished to commune with. In this case, it was Apollo. I used a couple of deity tarot spreads found on tumblr to do this.Â
However, as I did the first one, Aphrodite made herself known to me. Which was unexpected but in a nice way. I did a couple more readings just to make sure it really was her and got confirmation.Â
The best advice I can give you is to get the questions you want to ask ready before you sit down to do a reading, make sure you sit somewhere you can really concentrate, and focus your energy on the deity you want to specifically talk to. I did mine after I listened to music, I felt more connected with Apollo that way.
No matter what path you follow as in witchcraft are, chances are you have some sort of sacred space. If you are a witch whose practice is part of your religious beliefs, this might be a place to communicate with your deities. If you work with spirits, this could be a place where honor your ancestors. Non-religious witches like myself often use altars as a space where they can connect with their magical and spiritual sides. Even though we all share this desire to have a place all our own dedicated to our craft.Â
That doesnât mean we all need the same type of space. Whether you are a new witch who canât show off your craft publicly (weâve all been there) or just a witch who isnât really into the more standard altar table setup, there are plenty of options for customizing and creating an altar space that meets your needs.
Window Altars
One easy way to create an altar is to take up a windowsill. Depending on the arrangement of the room youâre using, your personal preference, and the space available, the size of this type of altar varies.Â
This generally small altar space can be good for witches in the broom closet and green witches who like to keep their altars populated with plant friends. Because it is literally a window to the outside, these altars are also great places for charging things like crystals, spells, and water under the light of the moon.Â
Benefits:
Good for altars that are heavily planted (hello, sunlight!)
Generally discreet
Keeps your altar space contained (for all us witches that do not know when to quit)
Garden Altars
While pretty much any altar can include plants, there is something else to say for an altar that is almost completely plants. If you have some space indoors, why not design a witchâs garden that doubles as an altar space?
A small tray planted with succulents with offering bowls and candle dishes set into the soil and crystals scattered around can be a unique, and even moveable altar! You could also use potted plants so that you can change the arrangement or plants out whenever you need a refresh.
Benefits:
Deeply connected to nature and the earth
Pluck herbs for spells right off your altar
Generally pretty moveable
Bath Altars
If you love bath magic as much as I do, youâre a water witch, or your bathroom is one of your most sacred places (self-care anyone?), a bath altar could be the perfect thing to give your craft a physical home.
Weâve all seen those pictures of wooden tray tables for baths surrounded by eucalyptus and candles. Add a statue of your deity (or a symbol of something important to your craft), some crystals (check how your crystals are affected by water and humidity first!), and some jars of your favorite things to mix into bath spells, and your bath altar is set.
Benefits:
The perfect place to combine witchcraft and self-care
Perfect for witches that incoroporate the water element in their craft a lot
Magic really does belong in every room in the house
Travel Altars
If you tend to practice on a whim rather than waiting to be in a specific place or if you need to be able to stash your altar quickly, a travel altar is perfect. These altars can be fit into matchboxes, Altoids tins, jewelry boxes, and even hollowed out books! If you can carry it with you and find supplies small enough to fit, anything goes. (Iâve even seen locket altars!)
Some witches will create multiple travel altars for different purposes or focuses, but donât feel like you need to collect them if thatâs not your thing.
Benefits:
Small and discreet, itâs hard to make a mess with these
Very customizable (and easy to have multiples of!)
Perfect for witches in the broom closet
Virtual Altars
Tech witches, I havenât forgotten you. If youâve been following me for a bit, then you might know that I threw out the idea a while ago about a altar lockscreen/wallpaper for your phone/tablet/etc. Now that Iâve talked to some tech witches, I know this is actually a pretty sound idea!Â
Whether you commision an artist or design one yourself, a lock screen wallpaper for an electronic device (you could even go as big as a laptop with a touch screen!) could make the perfect altar for a tech witch. Even if you decide not to use it as a wallpaper, designing an image that serves as an altar and opening it in GIMP or Photoshop where you can create additional layers for placing other virtual elements could be useful.
Benefits:
Travel friendly
Can be synced across devices, so your altar is always with you
Easy to change and âredecorateâ throughout the year
Similar to a virtual altar, a paper altar is a portable, customizable altar. Many witches choose to include paper altar setups in their grimoires, but thereâs nothing stopping you from making larger paper altars with poster paper that can be rolled up and stored away.
If paper altars are attractive to you, donât be deterred if you arenât an artist! Minimallism in paper altars is perfectly fine. You can always outline your altar with symbols or even words alone. If youâre happy with it, it is perfect. You donât have to meet and requirements for aesthetic or any other witchâs expectations.
There you have it! Of course, there are so many more types of altars, and even table altars can be created to fit your own personal needs. If youâre attracted to more than one of these, why not try combining the elements that call to you to make something entirely your own? The possibilites are endless.
Sooo Iâm interested in working with Apollo and Aphrodite. I plan on making a nice sacred space for them to introduce myself and say hello. Aphrodite through my tarot readings made it really clear sheâd like to talk, at least I hope, so I am looking forward to that. Apollo also wants to talk to see if weâd work well together.
fair--y backup 