What we put into our bodies in the form of food has a profound effect on how well we function in the world. Keep in mind that shells were and are often used in many closed Indigenous practices through the Coastal Americas for many reasons and beliefs, as they were more than just a bowl for ashes. Bells have been used for as long as we can remember to signify a change of some sort, wind chimes letting you know the winds are shifting, a bell tolls at midnight to let you know a new day has started.

Once you have put candles for the four directions and the center on the special altar cloth, you have built an altar. If you’re writing an intention, try something like, “I am attracting more love and prosperity into my life” or “I am cultivating the feeling of safety and peace in my body. Personally, I use brass candle holders that then sit on various metal trays so the wax has something safe to drip on. Lastly, and perhaps most intriguingly for recovering Healing Magic in the everyday world, a group can gather with a united desire that is focused on social justice.Whether it's homemade or a tile, a Pentacle on an altar is often used as a symbol of protection and it represents the 5 elements of magic, Earth, Air, Fire, Water, and Spirit. This can be done by simply saying a short blessing like, “I consecrate this space in the name of [insert deity/ancestor/spirit/god here]. It continues to be communicated for whatever length of time your crafted item is left out on your altar, whether you are speaking spell words over it or not.

To represent the four elements: A bowl with sand for Earth, a bowl with water for Water, a red candle for Fire and a feather for Air work well. Wiccans and Pagans are certainly not the only religions or spiritual beings that use altars in their faith. Spells can be quite serious when the occasion warrants it, and at other times they can be a lot of fun to dream up and enact. If you don’t have one in your kitchen, go (super) old school and see if you can find some rocks that could work.Gemstones for wellbeing, destress, meditation, relaxation Healing reiki chakra crystals over fabric background.

Also, on every Sabbat, I perform certain divination tasks with various sets of cards, and the cards chosen remain on the altar until the next Sabbat as a reminder. The cloth should reflect your personality, your beliefs and one that you feel comfortable with using. This can mean dusting and organizing it every week or so, swapping wilted flowers for fresh ones, and adding new offerings or items that reflect your current intentions.Other protective elements include “a decorative jar or a small glass bottle of black salt and a piece of pyrite [crystal] and a piece of tourmalated quartz. Choose whichever design you connect with, whether that be Celtic prints, witchcraft symbols, pentagrams, herbs or bones. These are placed on the altar for some time, ranging from the length of the circle and spell-casting itself to months or even years, depending on the spell. You can also create a mobile altar on a ceramic plate or wooden tray that can be moved about where ever you want it. Ahead, we've rounded up some of our favorite Insta-altars, from the very simple to the high-key aesthetic.