The Witches' Altar

It is the Crossroads of the Spirit Roads. It is the Home of our Power. It is the Vessel of our Energies and Magicks. It is the physical Manifestation of our Desires and Beliefs. It is The Witches' Altar.

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Instagram: @beyondtheseaspodcast
EMAIL ME: beyondtheseaspodcast@gmail.com
Tarot Collaboration: @thefeatherwitchnyc
Weekly Book: The Lord of the Rings and Thistlefoot
Podcast website: https://beyondtheseas.buzzsprout.com/
More info: https://www.kierandanaan.com/beyond-the-seas

Author Interview Collaboration
Crossed Crow Books (@crossedcrowbooks)

 
Source
-Heart, SianLuc Asha Merlyn. "How were personal altars used in ancient Pagan traditions?" The Wild Hunt, 21 May 2023. wildhunt.org/2023/05/how-were-personal-altars-used-in-ancient-pagan-traditions.

Music
"Wake" by Sean Williams
"Intimacy" by Ben Winwood
"Tankestrøm" by Be Still the Earth
"Natasha" by Ben Winwood
"Irish Mountains" by Ben Winwood

Cheers Magick Makers, 
Kieran

Chapters

• 0:00 The Way of Magick
• 2:40 Grand Tidings!
• 10:07 The History of the Altar
• 21:41 Practicum
• 32:40 Outro

Transcript

Magick is in the heart and spirit. 

Power is in our wisdom and experience. 

The memories of life are our guideposts along the Way,

The Way of Magick.

The Craft is the beating heart of our wisdom, 

The tools we seek in the night,

The moon that illumines our Way,

The Way of Magick.

The altar is our home, the treasures we gather,

The laughter and tears and blood and toil,

All to craft and create a Way towards the future,

The Way of Magick. 

The sun is our father, the lord of the day,

The moon is our mother, the lady of the night, 

They are our Gods, our keepers, our teachers of the Way,

The Way of Myth,

The Way of Legend,

The Way Back—and Forward,

The Way…of Magick.

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            Grand tidings and welcome to you on this, the Forty-Seventh Episode, of Beyond the Seas. My name is Kieran and here we are again, back at it for another week. Happy belated Mabon, Magick Makers—happy Autumnal Equinox! I hope it was as magickal a day for you as it was for me. I loved relaxing that day and getting to perform some witchy magick, and to finally get into the mood for fall. I’m so ready. And I gotta tell ya, now that things are back in the swing of it all here in Manhattan, it is non-stop go go go go go. Truly. Thus, let’s get right into it: the plugs time. @beyondtheseaspodcast over on Insta, and Claudia’s account, @thefeatherwitchnyc, to follow along with our weekly tarot collaboration—wherein Claudia teaches the tarot one card at a time, one week at a time. Also, our collaboration with Crossed Crow Books, @crossedcrowbooks. Finally, consider signing up for one of the tiers over on our Patreon, patreon.com/BeyondtheSeas. We have a new drop coming in hot for you all so very soon, a new ritual for the upcoming astrological happenings. And Claudia and I will soon premiere our very first Coven Chat there in the next few weeks, right alongside an interview with GennaRose Nethercott, author of Thistlefoot—and researcher for the Lore podcast, can you believe?! Finally, please leave a five-star rating and review, on your platform of choice, so the show may course its way through the interwebs and find new Magick Makers the world over. I am so, so, so happy you are all here, sharing some time with me on the show, today.  

            And now, artistic and literary updates! I gotta tell ya, the auditions this Autumn are few and far between. Everything is so dry! Slowly but surely they are starting to pop up again, which is fantastic. So more news on that hopefully next week and beyond. Also, in terms of the book, we are plugging Thistlefoot even more this week, to prep for our interview with GennaRose next week. But also, since Autumn has officially fallen in, I love sitting down in the dark half of the year with...The Lord of the Rings. It is one of my favorite pleasure reads, and this time of year is so liminal and magickal for me—much like that incredible story. So grab yourself a copy—if you’re lucky like me, it’s a huge hardback that’s blue with the fold out map and original illustrations—and join in on the literary fun. 

            And now, the Card of the Week! Things are shifting, stirring, shaking. Trembling. The Knight of Swords is coming into our lives with a whole new type of energy. Sometimes it is amazing, sometimes it is terrible. But Claudia gave me such a wonderful piece of advice this week: no matter what happens, sit in the feelings of it all. Go through them bravely and humanely. Thrive in the existence that is you in this moment. For the Knight of Swords is the messenger, delivering information; news; tragedies; and energies that are difficult, but necessary. It was kind of a crappy week here in Manhattan, so the Knight of Swords is coming in at exactly the right time. He is both creator and destroyer, myth man and steed rider. Meet him head on this week, in the jousting match that is to come. 

            And now, the Wine of the Week! So I did go back to having a few glasses of the bubbly this week, as I had a lovely dinner with a friend here in the city and a need for relaxation throughout the rest of the days. I had a wine that I believe I have previously reviewed on the show, the Eden Lane Red Blend, and it is super super drinkable and lovely. Watch out, sometimes its drinkability is a little dangerous—but damn is it good. Look forward to more exciting news about the upcoming wine collaboration next week. 

            And, finally, this week’s topic. With autumn quickly setting in and the changing of the seasons is at hand, so too is my quarterly altar cleansing and update. I love taking everything off and intentionally cleaning it of stagnant energies, so as to welcome in the new season. And what a better episode, I thought, than to discuss this most magickal of places. What is the Witches’ Altar? How does one construct such a place for magick? What should you place there? And, most importantly, how might you open its doors to invite in the spirits of Them We Yearn to Reach?

            Ergo, grab your favorite bottle of red, find a comfy chair, and close your eyes as I tell you the tale of The Witches’ Altar—and take you…

            Beyond the Seas.

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            How many of you have scrolled through Instagram and liked and saved reels of altars, sacred spaces, and spots of conjuration? I can hear all of you grinning and laughing to yourselves right now—because I have done the exact same thing, many a time. Altars, especially the personal ones of modern-day Paganism and Witchcraft, are as aesthetically pleasing as they are spiritually empowering. They are a physical extension of our personal beliefs and gnosis: plants, crystals, statuary, candles, incense, oils, brews, poppets, spell bags, magickal books, and so much more, makes this space their home. And so too do the energies of our magick: it is here that we cast and divine, banish and curse. The Witches’ Altar is one of great power and personal responsibility. 

            In terms of how my altar is structured, here is the following description: there is always an abundance of plant life that reflects the season. Currently, there is a transition between baby’s breath to mums and lavender, rosemary, and small pumpkins: I find that having a physical representation of the season is as powerful as the changing of the energetic tides around us in the physical world of nature. I also have a stone circle in the middle of my personal altar: clear quartz crystals are my all-time, absolute, without a doubt, of all time favorite tool and part of witchcraft. I love quartz crystals—they sing to my soul. They also construct the stone circle that encircles and entombs the central part of my altar: the resting place of my spells, personal witchy jewelry, and magickal items. At each of the four directions in my stone circle, I have other stones that represent those elemental qualities, as well as candles; incense; oils; and plant life. Beyond that circle lay various elements and trinkets and gifts of my many travels around this world. I have so many things from all the professional contracts done with Actors’ Equity Association that adorn my altar, as well as a special memento from Ireland that was made for me by Michael Quirke in Sligo. My Book of Shadows also has a special place on the left side of my altar, for the Great Mother, and my divinatory tools lay on the outer portions of the space—to pick up on all the energies that swirl in my life, so as to give the most accurate readings thereof. Finally, I make it my own, as every witch should his or her or their or its own: wall hangings, mirrors, plaques, flowers, dried herbs, statuary, goblets, offerings, drinking horns, and so many other things may adorn your personal space that truly makes it come alive. And magickal. And a crossroads for so many energetic spirits and entities. 

            Beyond this example of my personal altar, what is exactly is an altar? From The Wild Hunt website, as written by SianLuc Asha Merlyn Heart, the article entitled “How were personal altars used in ancient Pagan traditions?,” “The altar serves as one of the focal points of private devotion among Pagans in the modern day…For our purposes, an altar is a table or platform that serves as a space for holding offerings, sacrifices, or serves any other religious function. A personal altar is most commonly found in the home and is utilised by an individual for their private religious practices and devotion.

            “…Roman Pagans utilised what is known as a lararium. These served as altars to worship and give offerings to the Lares, who are the deities of the home. It may have also been utilised to worship the gods of the family and the ancestors.

            “…In Ancient Egypt, since the New Kingdom period, most homes held a personal altar. This space was maintained by women. They held statues of the personal deity of the family and home, the images of their ancestors, and a long list of amulets that could include Renenutet, Twaeret, Bes and Bastet. On these altars, libations, flowers and food offerings were given by the family to the deities much in the same manner that other more public cults would.

            “…In both Chinese folk religion and Shinto, personal altars can be found, used according to their own customs and rules…Here the altar serves as a place of unity for the family, with the altar presenting the depictions of the ancestors and ancestral tablets and acting as a place to burn incense and give offerings to them.

            “Shinto, however, is a different case. Here the altar serves for one’s devotion to a divine entity called a kami. They are made with a kamidama which have to be specially made in a Shinto shrine and display a Shintai or a charm in which the kami is thought to inhabit. Further it was a requirement for the personal altar to be displayed upon a shelf that was found above the eyeline to demonstrate the difference between worshiper and god.

            “Similarly, the Scandinavian Nisse was thought of as being the spirit of the first person to own the farm or build the house and the rites involving them would include worship at their burial mound. This practice continued until the Christianization, where the practice was demonized and attacked by multiple Christian figures, including Saint Birgitta who warned men against worshiping ‘Tomte gods.’ (Tomte was another name for the Nisse.)

            “The cult of the hearth was by far the most common form of personal worship space. This can be seen amongst the ancient Celts in particular. This can be especially seen in the design of the hearth, with the firedogs being designed to represent sacrificial animals such as rams or bulls with flower crowns or the base of the hearth having intricate and beautiful designs.

            “This can also be found in modern Celtic culture from Scotland and Ireland. In folk belief it is held to be important to keep the hearth lit all year round until Beltane, where they were allowed to go out and then lit again with the fire of Uisneach. Additionally, the house gods of the Celts, the brownies, are especially honoured with offerings of milk and food left on the altar and the fairies were thought of as sitting by the hearth during the night.”

            Thus, the history of altars includes the world over—they are the meeting place between humans and The Others. The spirits and gods. It is the resting place for our magick, and a physical manifestation of our powers and beliefs. How, then, does one consecrate this magickal space—so as to open the ways betwixt and between? 

            Refill your drinking horns, your goblets, your chalices, for the second half of The Witches’ Altar, after this brief break. 

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            When I open the door to my room here in Manhattan, the first thing I get to see is…my bed. Hahaha, no no, it is the statue of our Great Mother: Mother Danu. She is brilliantly green and wonderful to greet when I walk into my private space. She stands over the crystals and herbs that adorn my altar, and guards the ways that are open and active there. The spirit roads I have created again and again in this sacred center creates a sense of harmony and communication between myself and Those on the Other Side. To help manifest the spells, charms, and prayers I whisper in the darkest hour of the night. 

            To first create this type of space, one must choose it wisely. The altar may be in the northern portion of the home, closest to the realm of the gods and spirits of nature. To the East, for air and intelligence; South for fire and feeling; or West for water and intuition. You may choose to have several altars in your home, for the elements; ancestors; spirits; and specific spells. A full moon and new moon altar may also make their presences known to you in this manner. 

            When you have chosen the spot, clear the space of all items. Close your eyes and breathe deeply, feeling calming earth energy flooding into your body. Project and place this energy into the surface of where you will construct your altar, allowing the energy to open the doorways betwixt and between. This act makes the space otherworldly and magickal, setting it apart from the mundane world. Then, physically, clean the surface: use fresh waters and oils gently and slowly across its surface, so as to clear it of stagnant energies and collected dust. 

            Then, consider what will be the focal point of your altar. Like mine, it may be a stone circle that stands in the center of your space, with a specific spot for magick at the heart of the altar. You may wish to place a penctacle or other such symbol in this spot, so as to act as the beating heart. To the four directions, place the appropriate elemental correspondences: candles, waters, stones, incenses, all to align with Fire, Water, Earth, and Air. The various tools of the Craft—the wand, athame, besom, stang, cord, among others—may live in the corners of your working space.

            Finally, at the back of your altar, place images and icons of the gods you seek to reach and relate with. These physical representations of the gods allow access to their realms and powers, acting as not only doorways, but also homes for their gifted energies and presences. Again, Mother Danu stands watch and guard over my altar and I pray to her whenever I get the chance. 

            You may also wish to hang things around your altar: for instance, I have three wall plaques that look down upon my magickal space. They depict various images and moments of the Craft that speak to me and show me the way forward. 

            Once you have a working altar created, it is time to open the ways betwixt and between. Alight incense and smudge the space, cleansing it of all evils and negativities. Chant the following: “With air and fire do I bless, cleanse, and consecrate this space—making it sacred and whole. A welcoming beacon and haven for the spirits of The Others that I yearn to reach.”

            With a bowl of water, asperge the space—dip your fingers into the liquid and flick droplets all around. Chant the following: “With water do I bless, cleanse, and consecrate this space—making it sacred and whole. A welcoming beacon and haven for the spirits of The Others that I yearn to reach.” With the herbs and stones you have gathered, repeat the same for the powers of Earth. 

            Finally, with both hands, trace lines and sigils—runes and energies—in the air above your altar. Take your dominant pointer finger and physically trace these symbols onto the surface of your altar, if you wish. These are the spirit roads. Envision lines of light flowing from your hands and finger as you do so, feeling the presence of The Others growing steadily nearer and dearer to your space. The spirit roads are now open and the Way betwixt and between is activated. 

            For when we have an active working space that is a magickal altar, it attracts and draws forth not only the powers of The Others, Gods, and Spirits, but also earth and celestial energies. It truly is a light in the darkness, an open door that is inviting and warm. Herein lies an opportunity for protection, though: when blessing the altar, intone the following: “all evils and negativities are held at bay, for only love and light are welcome in this space. So be it.” This charm prevents any negative entities and evil doers from manifesting through the spirit roads of your altar—thus safeguarding your magick and personhood. 

            Overall, your altar is what you make of it. It may be as simple as four or five objects—or as elaborate as a living memento of your journey. Kinda like mine, right? You may wish to create a travel altar, if you are constantly on the move. Make this space your own, and allow your intuition to guide your creative hand. For all witches of the past, present, and future are connected to the global altar: the idea that all our magicks and spells are poured forth into the blessings and gifts of the Universe. Nature is our sacred space, our altar—our bodies are altars. Our time contemplating and practicing magick is an altar. Every opportunity to craft and create is an altar moment—which connect us all together on a global level. 

            Magick is in the heart and spirit, a beacon of light towards the old ways. One that never leaves us, in this lifetime or any other. And as a result, your magick, my magick—our magick—will always be made stronger…because of it. 

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            The stories, research, and production elements were done and edited, respectively, by me, Kieran, with sources attached in the description. If you want to be a guest on the show, or have a topic you wish me to explore and discuss, send me an email at beyondtheseaspodcast@gmail.com. And be sure to hit the follow button, on whichever platform you enjoy the podcast, and look forward to more content next week. Until then, seek the veil between the worlds, and allow yourself to travel…Beyond the Seas.