As someone who is interested in the magickal and mystical side of life, you are probably familiar with altars and their use in ritual and spell work, in ceremonies and spiritual practices.

As an Eighth Ray magician and alchemist you may already be working with an altar yourself as part of your daily ritual practice, spending time at it every day to tune in, connect and align with the cosmic and earthly powers of creation.

Your Magickal Work Desk

For the Eighth Ray magician and alchemist their altar is their magickal work desk where they blend the powers of the cosmos with the powers of the earth, bringing the powers of heaven down to earth. This magickal act, coupled with a specific intention of the magician, is designed to create real tangible positive changes in their own life and in the greater world.

Such an altar can also be a focal point for personal healing, meditation and manifestation work, and a focal point for sending healing energies to others, to the planet and to the greater universe.

Whether the idea of creating and working with an altar is completely new to you, or it is already second nature, I have some tips from my own magickal repertoire that I would love to share with you.

Make Your Altar Your Magickal Masterpiece

Creating your own altar can be a very simple and minimalist affair, with just one or two intentionally chosen items on it. It can also be elaborate, flamboyant, and filled with all manner of beautiful and magickal things that spark a sense of wonder and excitement within you.

Whatever form it takes, building your altar is a truly co-creative act and is a wonderful way to channel your inner muse, awaken your imagination, and spark the joy of play that appeals to your inner child and your magickal self.

Frequency Matters – The Art of Magickal Layering

Remember, that the art of magick is the art of layering magickal correspondences. The more items you have on your altar that match the vibrational frequency of your intention, the more potent your intention becomes.

Think of it like having a direct hotline to the creation powers of the universe. The clearer the vibrational frequency of your intention, the clearer the universe can hear you.

That's why I have created my range of Porta Alchémica® elixirs, oils and incenses, which carry the highest frequency vibrationally pristine energies of planets and stars. While there are ways to work with ritual without these products, by using Porta Alchémica® you can trust you are linking into the highest and purest frequencies of the cosmos. It’s a little bit like taking an elevator rather than a staircase.

WHERE: Location, Location, Location

One of the first things you will need to do is decide where you want to set up your altar. Let your intuition guide you to the room or space where you want it to live.

Ideally, your altar will be somewhere where it will not be disturbed or touched by others, and in a room that you enjoy being in.

Next, find a suitable surface to set your altar up on. This can be a shelf, table, windowsill, bedside cabinet, or a box. Whatever is suitable for your situation and will be easy for you to work with.

If space is limited, if you are in transit, or you don’t have a space where it will be undisturbed, find a special box or container that you can store your altar items and unpack it when you want to use it.  

WHAT: Dressing Your Altar

Now it’s time to dress your altar. This is a wonderfully magickal, co-creative act so let yourself play, have fun and enjoy the process!

When sourcing items and objects for your altar choose things that feel good, that you feel connected to and that appeal to all your senses and that are in alignment with your magickal intent.

Here are some of my top tips to inspire you:

• Find a piece of cloth, fabric or sheets of coloured paper to cover your altar’s surface. Choose colours, patterns and textures that appeal to your senses. Try matching the altar cloth or cover to the rituals and spell work that you will use your altar for. See the Eighth Ray Magickal Correspondences for inspiration and ideas.
• Crystals are magickal allies from the mineral kingdom. They are perfect for supercharging your rituals and spells with their energetic frequencies and healing qualities. Hold a few different crystals in your hand or place them on your altar to feel for the right one/s to use. You can also refer to the Eighth Ray Magickal Correspondences to see which crystals align with your intentions.
• Plants and flowers are a beautiful addition to your altar and invite the energy, beauty and magick of nature to be present. Choose plants and flowers that appeal to your senses. Even better if the plants and flowers you choose have a magickal correspondence to the energies and powers you wish to invoke and work with to manifest your desires, hopes and wishes.   
• Incense brings its heavenly fragrance to uplift and elevate your altar and surrounding space. Incense has a long history of use in rituals and ceremonies. Incense smoke carries your prayers and intentions to the celestial realms. Porta Alchémica® ritual incenses that are magickally empowered are especially potent to burn on your altar for enhancing your Eighth Ray rituals and spell work.   
• Place a chalice or bowl of pure water on your altar for its purifying and cleansing qualities. Porta Alchémica® Holy Water can be used to bless and cleanse items before putting them on your altar. It can be sprinkled in the space around your altar to clear and cleanse the surrounding area.
• Find photos, pictures and images that stir your imagination, are appealing to the eye and invoke positive feelings. Use images of something you would like to manifest in your life, or that brings you joy such as a pet or family member. Draw a symbol that has meaning for you on a piece of paper or select a tarot or oracle card, or Celestial Compendium card each day. Place it on your altar and reflect on it for guidance and magickal insight.
• Candles have an important role in ritual and magickal work. For the modern-day ritual magician, the candle is a focal point that represents your inner light and the powers of light that you are working with. Beeswax or white candles are good for general purposes, or you can use coloured candles for their specific magickal associations (LED candles can be used if you prefer to avoid having a live flame)

Now that your altar is ready, it’s time to begin working with it!

HOW: Now Choose Your Ritual or Spell

I invite you to have a look at the ever-expanding collection of Eighth Ray Magick rituals and spells on my Living Magickally blog for inspiration and instruction.

Remember to give your altar regular TLC to keep the energy clear, vibrant, aligned and alive. Refresh plants and flowers when needed, dust and wipe down crystals and items regularly (Porta Alchémica® Holy Water is good for this), vacuum around the space and keep it clear and free of clutter.

Like any relationship, the more love and attention you give your altar, the stronger and more powerful your connection with your magickal self and your altar will become.

Enjoy working with your altar!