Pagan Altars: Beginners Guide

Creating your first pagan altar can feel both exciting and overwhelming. Whether you're drawn to Wicca, Norse paganism, Celtic traditions, or simply want to honor the natural world, an altar serves as a sacred focal point for your spiritual practice. This comprehensive guide will walk you through everything you need to know about setting up, maintaining, and personalizing your altar space.

Altars are a focal point for many religions. A place of sacred space. Creating an altar is one way for you to create and invite magic into your home. For pagans, an altar is a place in your home where you can practice your religion (but not the only place). It is a place where you can connect with higher powers.

What Is a Pagan Altar?

A pagan altar is a dedicated sacred space where you can connect with the divine, perform rituals, meditate, and honor your spiritual beliefs. Unlike religious altars that might follow strict rules, pagan altars are deeply personal and can be adapted to reflect your individual path, traditions, and connection to nature.

Think of your altar as a spiritual workspace—a place where the physical and spiritual worlds meet. It's where you can focus your intentions, express gratitude, celebrate seasonal changes, and simply spend quiet time in reflection. The beauty of pagan altars lies in their flexibility and the way they can evolve with your spiritual journey.

Start simple. Many beginners feel pressure to create elaborate setups immediately, but the most powerful altars often begin with just a few meaningful items. Your altar should feel authentic to you, not like a reproduction of someone else's practice.

Consider your living situation too. Do you have a private space where you can leave an altar permanently set up, or do you need something portable? Are there others in your household who might not understand your practice? These practical considerations will influence your altar's size, location, and visibility.

Your alter is a living thing that enhances your spiritual walk. Your altar represents you. Bring to your altar things that are meaningful and express your creativity. There is no right or wrong.

 Where Should I Place My Altar?

You can place the altar anywhere. In a bedroom, living room, or even in a closet. If you are a young witch and still in the broom closet you may make a small portable altar you can take with you to a private place.

Traditionally the altar is along an east or northern wall or in the center of the room. However, the energy will find you wherever you are in the moment. Quite honestly both of my altars sit on pieces of furniture that I placed where they fit best in the room.

You can even have multiple altars. I have one in my home office that I use for daily work and one at the end of the hall to honor my ancestors and spirit guides. I also have a portable altar that I use when I go hiking or to a friend’s.

Here you see my basic altar setup. The horse and fox represent my spirit animals. Containers for salt and moon water. A smudging stick for cleansing. My athame, candles, and Native American Flute are ritual tools I use daily.

Feng Shui

Many modern pagans use the ancient Chinese art of placement, Feng Shui, to position their altar. Feng Shui uses mindful decorating techniques to balance and direct the home’s energy.

Feng Shui teaches that we should declutter – both our homes and our minds. Place your altar in a “clean” space. Have a place where you are able to sit and not be distracted by other objects in the room.

Practitioners of Feng Shui also state you should place your altar facing a door or a window. This is so the deities may come and go as they please.

Some things to consider

• Ideally, your altar should be in a place that is quiet for at least part of the day.

• In a place, you can access easily

• A place where you have some privacy or can close a door

 What Should You Use For An Altar?

My main altar, pictured above, is an antique dresser that was in my bedroom when I was a teenager. I love it because I use the drawers to store my ritual and divination tools, crystals, and supplies.

My ancestor altar is an antique desk that belonged to my grandmother so very appropriate.

These pieces of furniture suit me well however you can use any space that works for you.

Some things/places that can make a good altar:

• Coffee Table

• End Table

• Space on a bookshelf

• Inside a kitchen cabinet

• Inside a trunk or old chest

• Section of dining room table

• Enclosed patio

This video walks you through my basic set up

What Should I Put on My Altar?

Your altar may be simple or very elaborate. It will reflect you and your spiritual goals.

Altars change with the season and what you may be working on. When I say “working on” I am referring to what magical or spiritual goals you are working to attain, ancestors you are speaking to, or prayers to a specific deity.

Read our article 19 Ritual Tools To Enhance Your Practice

Essential Altar Supplies

While there's no required shopping list for pagan altars, certain items appear frequently across different traditions. Here's a breakdown of common altar elements and their purposes:

Representations of the Elements

Many pagan traditions honor the four classical elements, making them perfect starting points for new practitioners:

Earth can be represented by crystals, stones, salt, soil, or plants. A small potted plant, a beautiful rock from a meaningful location, or a bowl of sea salt all work wonderfully. Colors brown, rust, deep orange. Earth elements ground your practice and connect you to stability and growth.

Read my article 10 Most Essential Crystals for Pagans

Air is often symbolized by feathers, incense, bells, or images of birds. Colors silver and blue. The smoke from incense carries prayers upward, while bells can cleanse energy and mark ritual beginnings. Even a small fan can represent air's movement and change.

Fire appears as candles, oil lamps, or solar symbols. Candles are probably the most common altar item across all traditions. Colors orange, red and yellow. They provide light, warmth, and a focal point for meditation. Different colored candles can represent various intentions—white for purification, green for growth, red for passion.

Water can be represented by a bowl of water, seashells, or images of oceans and rivers. Colors blue and green. Moon water (water charged under moonlight) is particularly popular. The water element brings emotional healing, intuition, and purification to your practice.

Deity Representations

If you work with specific deities, you'll want representations on your altar. These might include:

• Statues or figurines of gods and goddesses

• Printed images or artwork

• Symbols associated with particular deities (Thor's hammer, Brigid's cross, etc.)

• Offerings specific to your chosen deities

Remember that deity work is deeply personal. Research the gods and goddesses that interest you, and approach them with respect and genuine interest rather than treating them as spiritual vending machines.

If you are specifically interested in Norse Paganism you can check out our article

How To Set Up A Norse Pagan Altar

I follow the Egyptian goddess Bastet and in this video I show my altar to her

Personal and Meaningful Objects

Your altar should reflect your personal journey and experiences. Consider including:

• Family heirlooms or inherited items

• Objects from meaningful travels or experiences

• Handmade items that you've created

• Photographs of loved ones (living or deceased)

• Journals or books of shadows

These personal touches transform your altar from a generic spiritual space into a deeply meaningful reflection of your unique path.

My cat, Pixie, loves to hang out on my altar. I think she brings good energy! Photo by Ame Vanorio

Natural Objects for The Alter

As pagans, we have a deep connection with Mother Earth. In our worship and our rituals, we often use natural objects to symbolize our connections with the natural world and draw in natures healing energy.

List of Natural Representations For A Pagan Altar

• Feathers – Air, represents the connection between the earth and the heavens

• Stones – Earth, represents grounding

• Fossils – Earth, reminds of the age and wisdom of the earth and connects us to the ancients

• Fruits and Nuts – Earth, abundance, seasons

• Flowers, Herbs, Trees – Earth, Healing properties, ritual work

• Seashells – Water, feminine energy, and regeneration

• Driftwood – Water, blessings of the Goddess, communication  

• Weather-related items (snowflakes in winter, shells in summer)

  This seasonal rotation keeps your altar fresh and connects you to nature's rhythms, even if you live in an urban environment.

How Often Should I Change My Altar?

You can change your altar as often as you like. It is your personal workspace. I change my alter each lunar month. These changes help keep me focused and allow me to grow spiritually.

How to Add and Remove Things from Your Altar 

Each time you add or remove things from your altar is a time of reflection. It should not be done like it’s a housekeeping chore. Organize your altar with reverence.

Take a deep breath and center yourself in the moment. Exhale out the tension of the world.

Start by lighting a white candle that symbolizes purity and spiritual enlightenment. Pass each item in front of the candle and then sprinkle it with your salt. This cleanses the object.

As you remove objects thank them for their use. As you add objects ask for continued guidance.

This is my ancestor altar where I honor my human and animal ancestors. The desk belonged to my grandmother. Photo by Ame

The Ancestor Altar

Communicating with ancestors may be an important part of your practice. It helps to have an area dedicated to that. An ancestor altar serves the purpose of having treasures that represent your ancestors, whether they are genetic or ones you have adopted into your practice.

The ancestor altar may contain pictures, objects that are symbolic, the ashes of a deceased loved one, or family heirlooms.

The Family Altar

Pagan families often have a family altar in a communal room and individual altars in bedrooms. The living room or a hallway make good places for family altars that absorb the energy from the family activities.

Read our article on making Family and Children’s Altars

A tray makes a handy resting spot for a portable altar

Portable Altars

Some pagans and witches are still in the broom closet. This is the term we use to say that they have chosen not to share their faith with others at this time. They may be young people who feel it would upset their families if they knew about their spiritual path.

An altar can be placed on a shelf in a closet where it is unnoticed by others. You can even make an altar in a shoebox. The shoebox can be closed and tucked away when you are not using it.

A portable altar is also a great way to take your religion into the wilderness. I do a lot of hiking and kayaking. I take a small alter kit with me that actually fits snuggly in my backpack.

My kit contains a washcloth or other small cloth to place my objects on, two pill bottles that contain salt and water, two or three small jar candles (being careful and mindful with any outdoor flames), a compass for 4 directions work, and sometimes crystals.

Then I often pick up some natural objects around me. This may be a stone, leaf, or feather – whatever catches my eye.

A beautiful outdoor Wiccan Altar for Beltane. Photo by RaeVynn Sands

Outdoor Altars

Outdoor altars are special because they really bring that connection to nature and can inspire you. Nature often brings feelings of peace and tranquility out in us.

An outdoor altar may be as convenient as your back porch, under a favorite tree, in your garden space, or in a nearby park. As we discussed above travel alter is great when exploring outdoor spaces.

Trees make great natural altars. Trees have a calming presence, and their roots go down into the earth gathering energy. Different species of trees have different types of energy.

You can place a large flat rock at the base of the tree for your altar. Place natural elements, crystals, and an offering for the local wildlife on your altar.

A cairn and meditative circle

Cairns

A cairn is a grouping of rocks. Traditionally they were placed on a hilltop or near the ocean to mark the way for travelers. In addition, cairns are often used as burial markers.

The Gaelic word carn means heap of stones. One of the oldest surviving cairns is Clava Cairns in Scotland which is about 4000 years old.

Cairns often look like works of art which is the point. They are the deliberate placement of the stones done in a mindful manner.

You can make a cairn a focal point for worship. Locate rocks that you can use to build a dome, tower, or make a meaningful order. As you work on your cairn honor the creation and focus on the balance of the natural world.

Do you want to learn more about what pagan holidays happen and when? Check out our Pagan Celebration Calendar!

A simple altar I created to honor the Celtic Goddess Danu. Photo by Ame Vanorio

Maintaining Your Altar

An altar is a living space that requires regular attention and care. Here's how to keep yours energetically and physically clean:

Regular cleaning keeps your altar looking beautiful and energetically clear. Dust items weekly, replace wilted flowers, and remove any offerings that have spoiled. This physical maintenance also serves as a form of meditation and connection to your practice.

Seasonal updates keep your altar aligned with natural cycles. As seasons change, consider rotating colors, adding new natural elements, or focusing on different aspects of your practice. This doesn't require completely rebuilding your altar—even small changes can refresh the energy.

Energetic cleansing can be done through various methods like smudging with sage, sprinkling with salt water, or using sound from bells or singing bowls. Some practitioners prefer to cleanse their altars monthly, while others do it whenever the energy feels stagnant.

Personal reflection should be part of your altar maintenance. Spend time considering whether your altar still reflects your current spiritual needs and interests. As you grow and change, your altar should evolve too.

Common Beginner Mistakes to Avoid

Learning from others' experiences can save you time and frustration. Here are some common pitfalls new practitioners encounter:

Overwhelming yourself with too many items or complex arrangements. Start simple and add elements gradually as you discover what resonates with you.

Copying others exactly without considering your personal preferences and needs. While it's natural to draw inspiration from others, your altar should reflect your unique path.

Neglecting safety when using candles, incense, or other fire elements. Always place candles on stable, heat-resistant surfaces and never leave them unattended.

Feeling pressured to spend lots of money on expensive items. Some of the most powerful altar pieces are found in nature or made by hand. A smooth stone from your local beach can be just as meaningful as an expensive crystal.

Ignoring your intuition in favor of rigid rules. While traditions provide helpful frameworks, trust your instincts about what feels right for your practice.

Author, Ameya, is a lifelong pagan and founded CPH to build a pagan community and help other pagans learn new skills and celebrate pagan holidays. Learn more about us here.