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Do you need to have an altar for Irish Paganism? Loads of people look down their nose at me for teaching about altars and tended sacred spaces in my Irish Pagan Tradition.
Are they a necessary part of Paganism? No!
Does having an altar (of some sort) as part of your Irish Pagan Tradition make it easy to develop consistent offering and devotional practises to ancestors or Gods and Goddesses? Yes! Does it provide a safe and comfortable space to develop a regular meditation, visulaisation, and Journeying practice that is pretty integral to spiritual or magical work? Also Yes!
So lets stop the ego-nasty nonsense please and just use what works, if it suits ya to do so.
✨ Post by Lora O’Brien, MA in Irish History
As we teach at the Irish Pagan School, and for students are starting out on a path of Irish Paganism, one of the first questions that often comes up is about the Pagan Altar.
What is it? How do you set one up? Does it need to face a particular direction? These are all common queries, and it’s normal to feel a bit overwhelmed at first.
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Now, without further ado… How do you set up an altar for Irish Paganism?
Let’s break it down together.
What Is a Pagan Altar?
At its core, a Pagan altar is a dedicated space where you can focus your spiritual practice. It’s a place where you can honour the deities, connect with the natural world, and centre yourself.
This space serves as a physical representation of your spiritual journey, a tangible area where you can engage with your beliefs, meditate, perform rituals, and offer devotion.
But here’s the thing: there’s no one right way to set up an altar. It’s all about what resonates with you and your practice, as well as considering how you want to feature it in your home (or not), and even personal safety concerns in some unfortunate cases.
Your altar can be as simple or elaborate as you like, depending on your circumstances and preferences. For example…
A Simple Altar: The Corner of a Windowsill
For those just starting out, or for those who have limited space, a simple altar might be nothing more than a corner of a windowsill. This could involve placing just a few meaningful items, such as a small candle, a stone that holds significance for you, and perhaps a tiny figure or symbol of a deity you honour.
A small jar with fresh water, a single flower from your garden or a walk in nature, or a feather you found can all be powerful symbols on such a simple altar. The light from the window itself might serve as a natural symbol of illumination and guidance in your practice.
This kind of altar is unobtrusive, easy to maintain, and perfect for someone who wants to integrate their spiritual practice into their daily life in a simple, subtle way.
A Medium-Sized Altar: A Shelf or Small Table
If you have a bit more space, you might dedicate a small table, shelf, or even the top of a chest of drawers as your altar. This could allow you to include more items that are significant to your practice.
You might place candles, stones, or crystals, a small cauldron, and a bowl for offerings. If you follow a particular deity, a statue or a framed picture could be included.
This type of altar might also incorporate elements that change with the seasons, like leaves in autumn, flowers in spring, or symbols associated with different festivals. Having a slightly larger space allows you to engage more fully with your practice, perhaps dedicating a few moments each day to light a candle, leave a small offering, or simply sit and reflect.
This kind of altar could be placed in a quiet corner of a room, allowing you to interact with it regularly, while still being discreet.
A Full Temple Room
For those who have the space and desire, an entire room (either indoors, or in a garden building) can be dedicated as a temple. This allows for a much larger and more elaborate altar setup. Here, you can create an environment that is entirely focused on your spiritual practice.
In a full temple room, you might have multiple altars, each dedicated to a different aspect of your practice.
One altar could be dedicated to a particular deity, another to ancestors, and another to the natural elements. Each could be adorned with statues, sacred objects, ritual tools, candles, and offerings that are specifically chosen for their significance.
The walls might be decorated with images or symbols that inspire you, or even with shelves to hold books, tools, or additional items that contribute to the sacred atmosphere. You might include a larger cauldron, a meditation space with cushions or chairs, and an area for rituals that require movement, such as circle casting, spiralling turas, or dance.
In this dedicated space, you could also incorporate elements of the natural world, like an indoor fountain representing water, plants symbolising earth, or an open window to bring in fresh air.
Some people might even place their temple room in a garden room as mentioned, or in the outdoors – allowing the altar to be under the open sky, surrounded by nature. This creates a powerful connection to the earth and the spirits of the land, a key element in Irish Paganism.
Considerations for Your Pagan Altar
When setting up your altar, it’s important to consider how visible you want it to be. In some cases, you might prefer to keep your spiritual practice private, either due to personal safety concerns or simply to maintain a sense of intimacy with your work. If this is the case, a small, easily hidden altar might be ideal.
Conversely, if you’re in a space where you feel comfortable sharing your practice with others, a more prominent altar can serve as both a personal and communal focal point.
It’s also important to consider how often you’ll be able to interact with your altar. A smaller, more easily maintained space might be better if you have limited time each day, whereas a larger setup could be more fulfilling if you want to dedicate significant time to your spiritual practice.
Your Pagan altar is a personal and evolving space that reflects your spiritual journey.
Whether it’s a simple corner of a windowsill or an entire temple room, the most important thing is that it feels right to you and helps you connect with your practice. There’s no right or wrong way to create an altar – what matters is that it’s a place where you can focus, reflect, and honour the path you’re walking.
What’s on the Altar for an Irish Paganism Tradition?
To give you an idea of how this can look specific to Irish Paganism, let me share a bit about my current altar, which you can see in the picture above. This is the top of a bookshelf in my office, where I can meditate or sit quietly when I need to, as well as make offering to the Goddess I am dedicated to in Priesthood, the Morrigan.
- Crow Skull: This is a treasured gift from a dear friend (ethically sourced!). The crow is a symbol deeply connected to the MórrÃgan, as mentioned, the Goddess I work closely with. The skull represents both the physical world and the spirit world, reminding me of the connection between the two.
- Hand-Knitted Witch Doll: This little figure was hand-knitted and gifted to me by my mother. It’s a personal touch that brings warmth and a bit of humour to the altar, reminds me that my family cares for me and accepts me, and my beliefs.
- Pillar Candle with Crows and Spirals: The candle is decorated with symbols of crows and spirals, both of which are powerful symbols in Irish mythology. Crows are often seen as messengers between worlds, and spirals represent the journey of life, death, and rebirth.
- Salt Rock Votive Candle Holder: This holder is made from salt rock, which is known for its purifying properties. A lit candle inside represents the hearth and home, both central elements in Irish culture and spirituality.
- Ogham Carved Design (Fionn’s Window): This wooden piece features Ogham carvings, an ancient Irish alphabet. Fionn’s Window is a symbol of knowledge and insight, qualities that are vital in any spiritual practice, and the Ogham is my primary divination tool, among many other relationships I have with this ancient writing system.
- Small Painted Rock: The rock is painted with a symbol that holds personal significance. Simple items like this can be powerful reminders of your intentions and goals.
- Stone with a Hole in It: This is a naturally occurring stone with a hole in it, often called a hag stone. These are traditionally used for protection and seeing into the Otherworld, making it a perfect addition to this altar in our Irish Paganism tradition.
The amazing art and craft work you can see in this picture has all been gifted to me by friends, family, and students, and I am honoured by it every single day.
How to Make Your Own Altar for Irish Paganism
Setting up your own Pagan altar doesn’t have to be complicated or expensive. The altar itself can be anything – a small table, a shelf, or even a dedicated corner of a room.
Here’s how to get started:
- Find a Suitable Space: Choose a place in your home where you can have some privacy and where you’ll see it every day. It should be a space that feels special or sacred to you.
- Choose Your Items: Start with items that hold personal meaning. This could be anything from a candle to a special stone. The important thing is that each item on your altar has significance to you.
- Add a Flame: Fire is an essential element in Irish Paganism. A simple candle will do the trick. The flame represents the hearth, a central part of Irish culture and spiritual practice.
- Include Something from Nature: Irish Paganism is closely connected to the natural world. Adding something from nature, like a stone, a feather, or even a plant, helps ground your altar and connects you to the earth.
- Representation of Deity: If you work with a specific deity, include something that represents them. This could be a statue, a painting, or even a simple token that reminds you of their presence. There are many classes on Irish Gods available here, if you want to learn more.
- Be Flexible: Your altar doesn’t have to be static. It can change and evolve as your practice grows. Don’t be afraid to rearrange or add new items as needed.
What Direction Should an Irish Pagan Altar Face?
This is a question that often comes up, and the answer is simple: it doesn’t really matter, unless it’s part of your specific tradition. In some practices, like Alexandrian Wicca, altars are traditionally placed in the North, but in Irish Paganism, there’s no strict rule.
For me, I don’t even know which direction my altar is facing most of the time, and that’s perfectly fine. The most important thing is that your altar is in a place where you can connect with it daily.
Place it where it feels right for you, and don’t worry too much about getting it ‘perfect.’
How to Use an Altar for Irish Paganism
Using your altar is all about making a daily connection with your spiritual practice. Here are a few simple ways to interact with your altar:
- Daily Connection: Spend a few moments at your altar every day. Light a candle, take a deep breath, and focus on your intentions. It can be as simple as that.
- Cleansing and Tidying: Keep your altar clean and tidy. Dust it off, rearrange items if needed, and make sure it’s a place that feels welcoming.
- Meditation and Divination: Your altar can be a space for deeper spiritual work. You might sit in front of it for meditation, use it as a place for divination tools like tarot cards or Ogham staves, or simply spend time in quiet reflection.
- Rituals: For special occasions like seasonal celebrations or personal rites of passage, you can decorate your altar with additional items that are symbolic of the event. This helps to mark the occasion and make it more meaningful.
The Importance of Consistency
Consistency is key in any spiritual practice, and Irish Paganism is no different. Building a relationship with your altar – and through it, with the deities and natural forces you honour – requires regular attention.
This doesn’t mean you have to perform elaborate rituals every day. Even small, simple acts of devotion are valuable… do what you can manage, do it regularly. When you can, do more!
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Creating and maintaining an altar for Irish Paganism is a deeply personal process. There’s no one right way to do it, so feel free to experiment and find what works best for you. Remember, your altar is a reflection of your spiritual journey, and it should grow and change as you do.
Whether you’re just starting out or have been practicing for years, the most important thing is to connect with your altar daily, even if it’s just in some tiny way!
Make it a space that feels sacred and meaningful to you, and let it be a source of strength and inspiration on your path.
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