The Practical Altar

Even for those Wiccans who can be fully open about their spirituality in their own home, doing so can still seem difficult. After all, we still need to be practical: it’s a lot easier to clean the floor with a vacuum than with a handmade besom! Living Wiccan every day is about blending together all the facets of life; learning to stop worrying about the “mundane” encroaching on the sacred and instead seeking to make everyday life sacred.

For me, the sight of a Wiccan altar really sets the stage for spirituality. It is a steady, tangible emblem that boldly states, “This is sacred space.” For many years I kept a permanent altar set up in another room used primarily for ritual and meditation. Seeing it was wonderful… when I actually went to look at it. I began thinking about ways to bring that strong symbol into the regular flow of daily life.

Eventually I decided to convert the living room coffee table into an altar. I realized it could be changed for each of the sabbats, allowing it to reflect the turning of the Wheel throughout the year. For about two years, the living room altar was kept decorated, changing with each of the eight Wiccan holidays.

It still served its everyday purposes: the remotes sat on it and drinks were placed on the table. Before this, I would have shuddered at the idea of using an altar in such ways. Over time, however, I realized that this was one more way to sanctify everything in my life; one more way to live Wiccan every day.

Blessed be,

Sickle