There is no set rule about what your altar is made of, what needs to be on it or how it should be arranged. It needs to be geared toward your personal beliefs and what works for you. Just remember, it is supposed to be your sacred space and not just an area for storage or a display for knick-knacks.
Your altar is where you’ll be focusing your energies for rituals, ceremonies and magickal works. Some things to consider: where your space will be located, how large it will be, will it be a permanent or portable altar, what tools you’ll need and what type of ritual or work you’ll be performing.
An altar can be a permanent table in a special room, or a folding table that gets put away after each use. If you have an outdoor space, a tree stump or just a patch of ground may serve as your altar. You’ll need less space for rituals involving one or two people than you’d need for a group. Keep in mind, a pagans place of worship or sacred space, is wherever the pagan is located. You don’t need to go to a specific, fixed location to practice your beliefs. Nor do you need all the tools and objects. As I've said before, all those things are just the trappings that allow you to focus. They're great to have, but not having them does not mean you can't practice your beliefs. In fact, I once read a very beautiful story of a woman who was bedridden and unable to participate in a sabbat ritual. Instead of missing out, she chose to hold the ritual by visualizing the scene and the ritual step by step. For her, it was just as fulfilling as taking part physically. Never underestimate your mind, it's where it all takes place!
Your altar is where you’ll be focusing your energies for rituals, ceremonies and magickal works. Some things to consider: where your space will be located, how large it will be, will it be a permanent or portable altar, what tools you’ll need and what type of ritual or work you’ll be performing.
An altar can be a permanent table in a special room, or a folding table that gets put away after each use. If you have an outdoor space, a tree stump or just a patch of ground may serve as your altar. You’ll need less space for rituals involving one or two people than you’d need for a group. Keep in mind, a pagans place of worship or sacred space, is wherever the pagan is located. You don’t need to go to a specific, fixed location to practice your beliefs. Nor do you need all the tools and objects. As I've said before, all those things are just the trappings that allow you to focus. They're great to have, but not having them does not mean you can't practice your beliefs. In fact, I once read a very beautiful story of a woman who was bedridden and unable to participate in a sabbat ritual. Instead of missing out, she chose to hold the ritual by visualizing the scene and the ritual step by step. For her, it was just as fulfilling as taking part physically. Never underestimate your mind, it's where it all takes place!
 This is an example of an ingenious portable altar kit that is commercially available. The box can store all you need for your rites, and will also serve as the altar itself!  A beautiful example of a more permanent style altar set up in a home. |  A tree stump makes a nice altar setting.  A permanent outdoor space large enough to hold a ritual with several people. |
When you do have your tools and other items, what you place on your altar is your choice. That being said, there are several common items, used in almost every type of ritual, such as the athame, some kind of representation of the elements, a chalice, candles, an altar cloth, paten, symbols of deities, BOS and others.
As for the layout, it should be arranged and designed as fits your wants and needs and the ritual/working being done.
Some divide the altar by feminine and masculine:
As for the layout, it should be arranged and designed as fits your wants and needs and the ritual/working being done.
Some divide the altar by feminine and masculine:
| Goddess/Feminine Goddess candle/statue Chalice Bowl of water Cauldron Pentacle Bell | Book of Shadows Misc. Tools/Items | God/Masculine God candle/statue Wand Censer with incense Bowl of salt Athame Boline |  |
Some use a directional and elemental setup:
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| Here’s an example of how an altar may be set up for a sabbat or esbat: |  |
If you Google pagan or wiccan altar layout, you’ll find plenty of examples to guide you. As always though, do what works for you and don’t be afraid to change it up as you add more tools or find something that works better for you!
Goddess Bless!
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