EPISODE 16 -ALTARS

What to put on your altars, the tools, cloths, whether you want a Wiccan altar, or a regular one.  Does your altar need to be taken down, or can it be kept up, is a personal decision you need to make.  you can put so many different things on it.  You make it your own.

This podcast is hosted by Apryl Gregory and Tess Gregory.
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Transcript

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Welcome to holistic secrets podcast. Where we will guide you to reveal the secrets that aren't always shared join us. As we help you gain an understanding of spiritual world with me Apryl. And with me Tess. Let's dive and do it. Hello, everyone. Sorry, this episode is a little bit late. I've been sick for the last week and a half. And you can probably still hear it in my voice. Don't have the best speaking voice, but we will work through it all. So I did have a, my very last show. That I promote. Was on a Sunday. We had a great time. We had Some great vendors there. And Going to miss some of them because it is my last show might not see some of them. But a lot of them all see at all the different shows. Cause I'll still be bending. And. Doing all my other shows, getting ready for some really great shows that are coming up. We have the. I like Tober 26. I have the which is midnight market up in Lehighton, PA. That is a phenomenal show. This is the first it's the second year they're doing it. It's the first year I'm doing it. So I'm hoping for huge attendance, which there. Looking at over 10,000 people coming. Which will be phenomenal. And then I am also doing a festival of the, which on October six, which is another one, that's an Ellen town PA. And that is another one that is looking at like close to 6,000 people coming. And I am just working on hats and doing hats, hats, hats, all day. I, so my hats pretty reasonable. And I so my own hats. Decorate them. And then I sell them. I love doing them. They're all one of a kind. So I'm hoping that we get to. So a lot, have a lot of customers. I do have other things. Making Sage bundles. I have spearmint. I have lemon balm. Garden Sage that is so phenomenal. She use. And I also have Sage and lavender. Then I'm working on putting together that already for the shows. Yes. This year, my. Plants have really, really taken off. And, you know, some people laugh at me or whatever. I really don't care, but. You know, I think. The fairies in my yard have been helping me a lot. With getting all the plants. Blooming and just take it off. Phenomenally. And I've been there now and my house. It'll be three summers. So. Everything is good to go in the ground. And. You know, get all that stuff together. I just love being able to sell that stuff. I can at least tell people that there's no pesticides, no chemicals, no nothing on them. It's not like I buy. You know the sticks and I have no idea what happens to them. And. I am going to try at some point. To grow white Sage. But I hear that's really hard too. To grow. So what we'll see how that goes. Maybe in the next year or two, I'll try and do that. But I am really excited for this season coming up, you know, from now until the end of. October. I have a ton of shows. So hopefully I could sell a lot of stuff. Hopefully I could keep up with. Selling of this stuff as I'm the only one who does this. I'm the only one who makes it. So I do one at a time. And like with my hats, I've been working on them nonstop. I bring them with me when I. Babysit my grandkids in the morning. Take them home at night. You know, and it's just right now, it's just all hats. Everything's hats, hats, hats, hats at. But I love making them. And Love seeing people come to the shows with them on. Because I can always tell them I hats. It's it's my own design. And It's great. So let's get into the episode. Of alters. For an altar, the first thing you need is space. We're no, one's going to disturb it. Touch it. Or in some cases destroy it. When you're practicing your spells or rituals, you should do it where no one will bother you. You will need a place to store your tools, books, and supplies. It could be an addict. You could have it in the corner of your bedroom. I cabinet. Well, you could take your altar down when you're finished. Until the next time. Even outside. There's a lot of people that have outside alters. And they, some people have insight and outside alters. It's just anywhere where you can have privacy in silence. To meditate. Focus on your gold. So people, they have to take it down. When you're finished to hide it. That's okay too. I know, not all family members are comfortable with an ultra being up all the time. Or you might not even want them to know that you practice. And that's fine also. There still are a lot of witches in the closet, depending on where you live. Or who he live with. Also, there are none, which is who want to have a place to meditate. Do rituals. It's not just witches who have ulcers. Anybody can have an altar. You know, just a place where you could sit, focus, meditate. Manifest what you want as you're meditating. focal point. For you to meditate. You know, you can have it where, you know, it's low to the ground and you could sit right in front of it. Or you could have it up on your wall, so maybe your kids can't get ahold of it. I know I did that for a couple of years. Mine was on my wall. Up high. So the kids couldn't play with this stuff because they always like to play with it. And alter is essentially a work table. It could be any flat surface. Even a mat on the floor. The alters the focal point of your ritual or spell. It is where most of the action and magical work will be performed. Rule number one. Anything goes. Feel free to decorate it any way you want. The most important thing. Is you create it for how you feel at the time? You can, and we'll rearrange it for whatever you need for. Nobody could tell you what's right or wrong on it. As it is an extension of you. If you only want a few things on it or only have a few things to start, that's fine. If you want a lot of things on it, that's fine too. But don't clutter it too much as it is a workspace. And you will need. Space for ingredients tools and more. Remember to put your tools away when you're not using them. Especially if you have an FMA. Which is the ceremony on life. Before adding anything to your altar, learn about it. Ask yourself. Why you like it? And how you can use it. Tools. There are quite a few tools that you can use. You don't have to use them all. You could pick and choose what you want. You can add other tools if it. Fits your practice. The first one is the ulcer cloth. It is advisable to cover your altar with a piece of cloth. It's and that acts as an ornament. And protection from liquids, scratches and whack strippings. If you find one with symbols on it. Make sure. You know what those symbols mean? Some people like to change their older cloth. To the T. Of ritual. They are doing. Or with the seasons. Or with each pagan holiday. If you're going to practice with the pagan holidays. But you don't have to. That's the great thing about it is you could do what. Ever. You what? And back to with Kloss with symbols on it. There's like some really cool ones that look really, really neat that I've seen. But like they have like all these symbols on it, make sure you know what they are. Make sure. You know what they're used for. Before you put that on the alter. Because you don't want to end up. Having something that's on your alter. That could be for negativity. Because that's not what we want. We don't want no negativity. We want all positivity. So just make sure you know, what those symbols mean. And don't take it because, Ooh, it's cool. Yeah, it might be cool looking, but make sure you know what the symbols are. Speaking of symbols, there's religious symbols. If you feel connected to Christianity, Buddhism, Hinduism, or any other spiritual traditions. You can add images or figures that symbolize your beliefs. If you are devoted to a specific diety, you could add a statue or a drawing of them on your alter. Some pagans like to put a figure. Or draw their own spirit animal. If you were wicking, you could put a pedicle in this sensor. You could use the pinnacle, even if you're not Wiccan candles and candle holders. You should have at least a white candle on your altar to represent here white light from above. And add some protection to your altar. Having that white light come from above. In addition, you could use candles to to represent the God and goddess and the element of fire. But you could do candle magic. See season one, episode five. On your altar and you could use whatever candles you need. There is a. Theory that candles can absorb your personal energy. And then release that energy as they burn. In some traditions of Hoodoo and root work candles are burned for specific amount of days as part of the working. Some people believe that candles you make yourself. R four more powerful. Then the ones that are purchased. And others believe that it is the intent you put into the working. That makes a difference. And not the source of where the candle came from. Just remember the color of the candles do make a difference. And how I spell what's her name? Once again, season one, episode five is all about candle magic and it has different candle color meanings. Make sure the candle holders are sturdy enough that if your altar is bumped. They will not fall over. You could try to use ceramic glass or metal. As their equal friendly tools. And don't forget the candle. Snuffer don't leave your candles. Burning unattended. If you need to leave or go to bed. Uses to put out the candles. Now, if you are burning candles for a few days, those are usually done in the glass cylinders. Make sure that they are on a very sturdy surface. And If you are not going to be home, please put them out and relate them. When you come home. You don't want to burn down your house just for a ritual or a spell. Then there's the incense burner. That will come in handy, whether you're casting a spell meditating. Or simply using aroma therapy for relaxation. They come in many sizes and styles, depending on whether you were using stickin since. Cohn incense or loose insects. There've been times that I've just, you know, had a very, very, very stressful day. And I. Let's put Chuli incense, because for me, that's just relaxing. And I just lay there and just smelling the petroleum incense. And it does relax me. Yeah. The next one. Is. FMI. It is double-edged dagger. It can be purchased or handmade. It is used to cast a circle. In place of a wand. It is a tool that is to direct energy. And it is not for actual cutting. If you need to cut. Something your herbs or whatever you need to cut for your ritual. And she be a different knife. You use. Could you be a kitchen knife? That you use, don't use your double-edged dagger for that. Some people have a bell. On their altar. Hundreds of years ago, rural folk knew that loud noises drove away. Evil spirits. And. The bell is the prime example. Have a good noise maker. The ringing of the bell causes vibrations, which are source of great power. There are variations. On the bell. Includes a ritual rattle. Or a singing bowl. They can all help bring harmony. To a magic circle. And some forms of Wicca. The bell is rung. To begin or end a right. Or to invoke goddess. Some use the bell. To ring after calling the watch towers. It is both to call them. And to honor them. At all hollows. Or S. we ring the bell 40 times to call the dad. We wish to honor. At the nine 11. Commemoration ceremonies. They've ring the Fireman's bell. When they read the names of the fallen. Be some or broom is used for sweeping. Ceremonial area out. Before ritual. Late sweeper can clean out the physical space. And it also clears out the negative energy that has accumulated in the area since the last cleaning. I actually would use two different forums for this. When that would actually like clean the floor. And then I use my ceremonial worm. It's a sweep out the negative energy. Just because I don't want my ceremonial prom to be. Clogged with dirt and dust. You could also have an ultra broom, which is a smaller one. Which can sweep away any negativity off the alter. I make those also and sell them. It's just a good thing to have. Just to get the negativity out. Okay. So people have a book of shadows. On their altar, even though TB depicts it as one single book. They're going to ask actually be many. A book of shadows may contain spells. Rituals. Correspondent charts. Information about the rules of magic in vocation. Myths. And legends of various pantheons, et cetera. Some of the information in the book of shadows is passed out for family members. Or from covens usually a coven will have their own book shadows. You create your own book. Of shadows. It is a very personal thing and it would contain information that you find most interesting. And then you could pass your book of shadows down. Your family light. I have started a book, a shadows. I don't know how many times. Haven't gotten very far with it, but one of these days I'm going to sit down and really, really work on it. I haven't started, but. I haven't gotten very far with it. I tend to be a procrastinator with stuff. Cauldron. Is found in benny goddess oriented traditions of Wicca. It is feminine and warm. Like. The vessel. In which life begins. Typically represents the other elements, water on the alter. And Celtic mythology. The culture is associated with Saroyan. Who has the power of prophecy? She's the keeper of the culture of knowledge and inspiration in the underworld. There are a number of ways to use a cauldron. You can burn incense candles or offerings in it. I use it to represent the goddess of your tradition, blend herbs, and infer magical workings. Phillip for water and use it for Moonlight scurry. Keep in mind nuts. Use your cauldron. You use for magic? For food. And make sure that if it is cast iron to season it properly, The culture you used on the alter would be a smaller one, but if you only have a big one, put it next year, alter TQS. The chalice or cup. Is found in many goddess oriented traditions of Wicca also. It is also feminine in like the vessel, which life begins. It typically represents water on the alter. And some covens the challenge is used in tandem with the theme to represent the female aspect. At the divine during the symbolic reenactment of the great right. They can be made of any material. Most notably silver pewter. Just be careful with untreated metals when serving white. But ceramic ones are quite popular and readily available as our glass ones. Sometimes the chalice is passed around the circle to each participant. Taking a sip from the cup. This is a bonding experience. And they utter the words. May you never thirst. Our paths throughout the circle. But the chalice. Crystal's crystals are so, so, so many of them. Out there to choose from. But which ones you opt to choose will depend on your intent. Selecting crystals for use based on their attributes or correspondence. And you won't go wrong. You could also use burst zones to correlate to the month you do the work in. You could also keep a stone on your altar at all times for protection like black term relief or black obsidian. With crystals, you can change them out daily. You could change them out hourly. It depends what you're doing with your altar in which you want to manifest. It's also a good vessel. To help bring energy. To anything that you want to manifest. So crystals, I mean, you can have a ton of crystals on there. Divination tools. There are so many different methods of deviation. Of divination that you may choose to use in your magical practice. You will find you might be more gifted. With one method than the other. You might be good at pendulum work, but not the greatest terror cards. No, I could get by with Oracle hearts. If I work with them for a little bit. But I'm not great with tarot cards. I love working with the pendulum. But what's the pendulum you're kind of stuck to yes. To no. Answers. So you kind of limit it to what you could ask. But like with anything, practice makes perfect. So maybe you're not the best at ruins. But you really want to work with them. And practice with them at least once a day. For 10, 15 minutes a day or longer, you know, whatever you have chance to do. But just try and do it every day. So that. You get to the repetitive. This of it. And the other thing to put on your altar is a pinnacle. Nearly every traditional Wicca and many other pagan paths use the panicle. That's be confused with the pentagram. Five pointed star. Pinnacle is a flat piece of wood. Metal clay or wax inscribed with magical symbols. The most commonly seen symbol is the pencil grant itself. And it is why the two items are often confused. In ceremonial magic. The pentacle is used as a protective talisman. However in most wicked traditions, it is seen as a representative of the element earth and can be used on the alter. As a place to hold items that are going to be ritually consecrated. And you can make your own, you could buy it. Whatever you would like. Ropes many Wiccans and pagans. Like to perform ceremonies and rituals. In special ropes. So if you're a part of a covenant or a group, your robe might have a certain color or style. Is some traditions to color the rope. Depict the level of training. Practitioner has. For some, the robe is a way to step out of the mundane world and into the magical world. Some were nothing under the ropes and others do. So it's whatever makes you comfortable. The want. The wand is the most popular, magical tool in Wicca. As well as some ceremonial magic traditions. It has a number of magical properties and the wand is used to direct energy using a ritual. It is used to represent male energy, power. Representative of the element of air, the want can be used to consecrate a sacred space or invoke deity most of them are made out of wood. But it could be made out of glass copper and other metals. Now, those are just some of the tools that you could use. You could put anything you want on, you can put pictures of your loved ones. If that's who your. Going to work with. You can put. Pictures of anything on there. Statues. A ton of crystals, whatever you want to put on there. However big you make it. That is. How. Your. Alters going to work. There are Many different costs out there. You could buy a different cloth. Four. The different pagan holidays. You can do it by the month. If you're into astrology. You can maybe. Every Zodiac sign. You can have Zodiac sign ones put on, and then, you know, when it changes to the next Sodi exile, you. Change your alter cloth. There's just so many possibilities. That you can do. Creating a Wiccan alter. Okay for Wiccans. In nature, spirituality. The building blocks, severe altar. Can be the four traditional elements. Which you can align. Using the four Cardinal points. The basic alter layout. Would include a bull have seen. Church. Or a plant. Place that on the north end of your alter. To represent the element earth. A stick of incense. Can symbolize the element of air. And you could put it. On the east side. Of your altar. A candle or a piece of charcoal. Could re represent the element of fire. Put it on the south end of your alter. And place a glass. Or bowl of water. Representing the element of water. And place it on the west side of the altar. You could use candles. To represent the four directions. And a candle. Or figurine for the goddess and what for the God. North. You could use a green candle. Representing earth. East. Would be a yellow candle. Representing air. South you use a red candle. Represented fire. And then on the west side blue candle representing water. You could also choose use all white candles. If you don't have colored ones. Alters for everyone. Not everyone. Can have a fixed altar. In a central place in their home. Especially if you live in shared space with someone. You might be offended or annoyed by it. And let's be honest. You don't want someone who doesn't like your altered touch it. And mess with the energy. Of it. In this case, your altar needs to be. Portable. Where you put everything back into a box and so you want to use it again? If you have supportive family members or live alone. You can have a permanent space, whether it's a small table, a shelf. Or anything to dedicate it being your alter. And you can leave your items out. And have it not only as a place for rituals. But he can remind you. Of your spiritual path. Now once you have your altar. You have it all set up? You have to remember the importance. I have regular cleansing. Of your altar. It is a crucial aspect of the craft and of spiritual practices. It removes the negative energy. It makes way for good energy. Because we all liked that positive energy around us. When you try to work on an altar with negative energy, nothing ever works out the way you want it to. Just like when we clean our homes, we should cleanse our altar. Negative energy could be attracted to the alter. When you put something new on it. Or the energy around it is negative. How to cleanse your alter. You can use a combination of smoking water. You will need a herb bundle or incense. Fireproof. Container. To catch the ashes. Clean rag. Lemon juice or holy water. You know, she used moon water. Cause a lot of people like to make moon water. First take everything. Off the altar. Take a rag and wipe it down. With the lemon juice. Holy water, urban water. Or even a cleaning agent. Wipe it down. In a counter-clockwise fashion the entire time. Visualizing and, or saying out loud. That you're cleansing. Negative energies from your altar. And making it as a clean slate for divine energy. Then take the rag and clean all of your tools. With the same intention. Next light, your smudge stick or incense and gently blow this smoke. Onto the top of your altar and around it. Visualize the smoke blown away. All the negative. Energy. And do the same with your tools. Charging an altar is important. Because it immunes our intentions, it's our altar and tools. Charging. Means to fill an object. Or space. With our intentions. And energy or with a God or ancestors. Energy. If you don't charge or bless your altar. You're skipping an important step in the magical process. And leaving your altar. And items open for enter energies. To take up the space. To charge your altar. You will need a rag. Essential oil herbs infused oil. You all need a rag? Essential. Oil. Herb infused oil. Or olive oil, if you don't have any of the others. Directly following the cleansing ritual. Take a clean rag. And your oil, put it on the rag. Wipe the altar down in a clockwise fashion with the oil. Stating your intention out loud. For example. Bless this altar in the name of the goddess. Maybe a space for magical healing and divine connection. Change it. To fit your needs. Now do the same with each of your tools. And putting them back. Onto your altar. Bless each one with the oil. State your intention for each object out loud. Your words are charging the altar. And the tools with your intention. There is no wrong. Or right. Can Taishan to say. Can use the same one over and over again for the altar and your tools. And it could just be something. As simple as. May this be a space for magical healing. And divine connection. You don't have to, it does not have to be wordy. Has nothing, he could just be. That you want to state a KB four. Positive. Outcomes. Anything that you feel is right. Is right. Now if you don't have a lot of time and you have to do a quick cleansing of it. You can Sprague. Cleansing spray. Or floor water over your altering tools. As per gene. Is an easy way to cleanse. And bless using a Sprig of Rosemary. An easy way to cleanse and bless. Use a Sprig of Rosemary. Dip it in holy water or moon water. And then sprinkle your altar in tools. It's a very quick way to do it. Different water can be used for cleansing. Holy water, moon water. SunWater lavender water rose water. Placeable assault to absorb negative energy. Brush negative energy away. With a small sacred broom. Like I had stated before a small altar broom. You can also place a stone. That will absorb negative energy like black tourmaline. If you were a Reiki practitioner. You can project at your altar to cleanse and charge it at the same time. You could charge your tools by the Moonlight or sunlight. Charge your altar and tools by placing your hands over each item and visualize white light, divine energy flowing into the crown of your head through your heart. At down your arms. Onto your altering tools. The how often you cleanse and charge your alter. It depends on what you feel from the area. If it feels like it needs to be cleansed and charged and do it. Or if somebody walks in and just plops her purse down. Or plops a bag of something. Down on it without any regard to what it is. After they leave, cleanse and charge it. You might only have to do it. Maybe four. Four times a year. Or you may have to do it once a week. Depending on how much you use it. And how much negativity is around it. Now, if you put, if you have to put your alter away. I would cleanse it. And charge it every time you bring it out. Because there's most probably negativity in the area. Also too. When you pull out your alter. I mean, even if you have a permanent altar. You should smoke clear. Your room. That you have it in. You could go as far as, as saging your whole house before you do a ritual. It all depends on how much negativity is in your house. Now you can have negativity in your house cause you have teenagers in the house. I know that was a. Big challenge. You know, because. Teenagers. Always have that negative energy specially towards their parents. The other. Thing too is, you know, you might not have a spouse who's really into all this. And that that's, they're a negative person, but they have negative thoughts towards what you want to accomplish or what you're trying to do. Your spirituality. Cleanse the room, cleanse the house, do it when they're not home. If you can't use smoke. You can always get Sage sprays. When I have those at my shows. I make them from real. Or I should say fresh. Sage. And I make him and people spray him and they're like, oh, there's no sense. Well, that's kind of the idea. Of the Sage sprays that there's no set. Yes, I can infuse them with essential oils. But that just takes away from it being on natural. And when I tell people, well, that's the. The point of it. Is that they're not supposed to smell. They just kind of put the bottle and walk away. Well, if you want the scent of Sage. Then just burn it. Because that's going to give you the best set. Of it so when you definitely, like I said, when you pull out your alter. From where it's heading. If you can say show whole house and you need to put your altering your bedroom, like if you're a teenager and your parents are real cool or you don't want people to know. That you're practicing this and you're in your room. You know, say Jerome. And Like I said, get some Sage spray. Doesn't smell as bad. Parents are going to come running upstairs. What's that smoke smell like? Smell or. Or use a different. Herbs. Like there's lemon balm when it burns, it smells like lemon. Also, you can use any of the mints, the peppermints, the spearmint. When they burn, they smell like mint. So. You can use all those different times. They have the same properties. S H they work the same. They cleanse. It's all about your intent. So just Sage that Sage, that room that you're in. Get all the negativity out, get all the negativity out of you. Sage yourself. And then you can work with your alter. Well, that's all I have for today. On the altars. April is so working at spirit. I don't know if we did tow your people or not. She is having. Baby girl. And everything's going good with the pregnancy. She's very tired. I know, but she will be back. In a few weeks. And we will. Continue on. The Zodiacs. And if you hear any chatter in the background, that is my grandson who won't shut up. Love him to death. But he won't be quiet. Do you want to say hi, Ronan. Hi. He's getting ready to go to school. So cool. Cool. All right, everybody. We. I will be back next week. And we are going to be talking about retro grades. Let me tell ya, I'm researching that that's, that is such an intense subject. Trying to figure it all out and sort it all out so it can make some sense. So I will. Talk to you next week. Have a great day. thanks for listening to holistic secrets. If you have any questions or ideas for an episode, or you want to tell us a story that happened to you along your journey, email us@holisticsecretspodcastatgmail.com. I offer in-person and distant Reiki services. You can email Tess at Holisticsecretspodcast@gmail.com. help us spread the secrets by rating us five stars and telling all your friends about holistic secrets. Remember a secret shared is a secret. No more. And we'll see you next week here at holistic secrets.