Need Altar Assistance??

[Captain Cockblock]

I've noticed that several folk have problems with finding a direct guide to help them create an altar. Here's a small illustration I created that can hopefully assist you if needed be:

First: You must make sure that your altar is facing North. Now, you can simply go by the sky, or if you need assistance beyond that, small compasses (which can become helpful if you're under an overcast and wanting to perform a ritual) are cheap and can be bought at places like the Dollar Store.



If there are any questions, don't be afraid to shoot a message my way. I'd be glad to answer.  

[Captain Cockblock]

Also know that you can add any personal touches that you may wish. ^^  

[Aryain Flames]

Question - due to a total lack of space in the north of my room, would it be ok to have my altar facing another direction???  

[Captain Cockblock]

Aryain Flames

Question - due to a total lack of space in the north of my room, would it be ok to have my altar facing another direction???

Try to maneuver things around to try and get it facing North if at all possible.  

[Violet Song jat Shariff]

Why North?

I've heard that East is also acceptable since that is the direction the sun rises from.  

[Captain Cockblock]

Violet Song jat Shariff

Why North?

I've heard that East is also acceptable since that is the direction the sun rises from.

I suppose East may work, though throughout a majority of my readings it's weighed out to the North.  

[Morgandria]

Wiccan altar construction really - REALLY - depends on the tradition you're working in. The only thing my working altar has in common with the layout you've posted there is the God and Goddess candles. And yours is missing things that my tradition considers essential.

Mine faces East. This is out of nescessity, not desire. North is traditional, but having the altar placed in the center of the circle facing north-east is also acceptable (and I prefer it, if I have the space). In a room with other uses, though, it's not practical - my altar is too large, and it's in the living room.

Non-Wiccan paths obviously don't build altars anything like this.  

[mechanical kitsy]

I haven't had an altar set up since summer. My mom says I'm not allowed to keep any of my things in my room. So all of my things are in boxes. And I think all of my altar things are at my grandmother's house.
When i did have it set up, it had to face south-west. There was just no where else for it.
Meh.  

[Violet Song jat Shariff]

x_piccolino_bellezza_x

Violet Song jat Shariff

Why North?

I've heard that East is also acceptable since that is the direction the sun rises from.

I suppose East may work, though throughout a majority of my readings it's weighed out to the North.

Not to be rude...but is there any particular reason why we should give more weight to what you have read, over say, established traditional practice (as Morgandria pointed out), or what other folks have read that say the altar can face another direction?  

[Sanguina Cruenta]

I've always wondered why north. No book ever bothers explaining it.

I mean, I live in the southern hemisphere. What direction would my altar face?  

[Morgandria]

Sanguina Cruenta

I've always wondered why north. No book ever bothers explaining it.

I mean, I live in the southern hemisphere. What direction would my altar face?

The altar faces North, because North is the direction of Earth. It's a solid, grounded physical object, so it goes to the solid, grounded, physical direction.

Alternately, it faces the North-East, as the direction of rebirth - the space in the circle between death (North) and birth (East). This is also the direction the "door" in a circle would be cut, and people enter and exit through.

If your elemental correspondances are different, as they are in Australia, then move things accordingly.  

[Sanguina Cruenta]

Oh hey, that North-East thing is pretty cool ^_^

I personally always faced my altar whatever direction I had space to face it, but earth always made most sense to me. Like... a solid place to have it, or something *shrug*  

[too2sweet]

I have mine in the North. I like the idea of it being on a strong foundation.  

[Reivyn-chan]

I've always had mine face north as well when they were set up. Simply because that's the side the windows are on my apartment..

I really like that North-East concept! I might use that from now on. Thanks for sharing! biggrin  

[RubyLight]

I've never put any thought into where my alter is placed. It goes wherever I have room. I like the North-east idea.