Inexpensive Alternatives to Pagan/Wiccan/Witch Altar Tools

As I promised - here is a list of altar tools and some free/inexpensive items you can use until 7you can purchase the ones you REALLY want. And just letting you know: I'm offering some great ideas for those of you in university or college where you live in a dorm that either A) doesn't have enough space or B) has a roommate you would rather not know about your faith.

I have decided that I am going to do this in alphabetical order for organizational purposes and so it might be easier for you to find the item you are look for! Let's get this motherfucker on the road, shall we?

Altar Cloth

As you might have guessed an altar cloth is something you cover your altar in to either A) protect the surface of your altar, B) make it look prettier, or C) Because you just fucking want one. Altar cloths are rather inexpensive in the first place, but it really depends on what you want. So here are a few ideas for you:

• Make your own altar cloth using either a fat quarter (an inexpensive pre-cut fabric piece that measures around 18" x 22" [45.72cm x 55.88cm] and can come in a variety of colours) OR by buying a small piece of fabric a few inches wider than what you would like your altar cloth to be. Create a double fold hem and iron it down and sew a straight stitch along all sides to make it look nice and neat (you can use a machine or hand sew for this).
• Use a scarf you have that you like but don't often wear! This is a great use for your out of season Pashmina scarves or scarves that are large squares. Knit scarves aren't so great to use because they can be too thick and lumpy and can cause things on your altar to be less stable.
• Old table cloths make great altar cloths! you can either fold it up (if you want to use it on your table again) OR you can do like I said in the first bullet point and cut is and hem the edges.
• And, of course, an altar cloth is not a requirement! you can go bare if need be!

Altar cloths are a great way to show the chaging of the seasons. Some Pagans, Wiccans, and witches like to change their altar cloth to the sabbat, some like to change it to show the light and dark half of the year, some keep the same altar cloth year round, and some don't use and altar cloth. The great thing about a Pagan home practice is that it's what you make it! it's all up to you!

Altar Table

Altar tables are the surface on which you keep your altar items. Despite what the title implies it does not necessarily have to be an actual table but here are some ideas: 

• Use the top or a shelf on your book case.
• Use your window ledge or a ledge around the edge of your room.
• Use your coffee table if you don't use it often OR if you plan on setting out your altar then packing it away when your rite is done.
• Use a plastic tupperware tote bin! The great thing about this one is you can pack your altar items away IN the tote when you are done.
• Use a step stool, plastic or wooden, that you can get at a dollar store or a second hand store for a great price.
• Use an "outdoor" coffee table. This is actually what i use, I got the fair sized plastic outdoor coffee table for only 4.99$ at a second hand discount store.
• Use part or all of your desk! (this is great for those of you at university or college).

Really you can use any flat surface that is big enough for the tools you will be using.

Athame

An athame is a ritual knife that is used to direct energy or cast circle. Traditionally it has a black handle and is double edged, but it doesn't HAVE to be in order to work, you just have to learn how to direct energy with what you have:

•    One thing that most of us have: our fingers! You can cast circle and direct energy with your fingers. If you need to be more discreet what could be more inconspicuous and inexpensive as your on body! Use your projective hand (often the hand your write with) and voila! 
• A butter knife. I know this sounds ridiculous but whatever gets the job done right? It's actually quite efficient, you just have to practice with energy direction.
• Scissors. No I'm actually serious. My mentor has a pair of consecrated scissors that she uses to direct energy, cast circle and cut (literally?) people out of circle when needed. 
• What I use is a small Japanese style sword I got at a carnival when i was in high school. It works fairly good, but because of the curve in the sword I have to be careful of how I visualize the energy being directed.

For more items that can direct energy and cast circle please see the entry for wands.

Bell

The bell is a tool that represents the goddess, brings healing energy, and can help bring you out of a trance state. It is a tool that not many have but is still a tool that is commonly mentioned in books or in group ritual. It is also great for work with the fae.

• A bell can be purchased at the dollar store for a decent price, after all one or two dollars doesn't break the bank.
• A great time of the year to get nicer bells for a decent price is around Yule (Christmas) time. You can look through all of the different decorations and find several style of bells to suit all of your needs.
• And, of course, you can go without a bell! As i said many people do not have a bell and many just do not use them, even if they have them.

Boline

A boline is another ritual knife, traditionally white handled, and is used to physically cut things. 

• Really you can use any knife that cuts well as long as you consecrate it. Run to the dollar store or your closest kitchenware store and pic up a half decent knife for just a few dollars.

Candles - God and Goddess

Most Pagans/Wiccans/Witches will use candles to call in the God and Goddess. It is NOT a requirement. I will list a few ideas that are actually candles, and a few non-candle ideas for those of you who live in a candle-free space.

• Candles can be purchased anywhere nowadays. A white candle is traditionally used for the Goddess (thanks goodness that's the most common candle, eh?) and many people say different coloured candles for the god. Some say gold and some say green... and other will tell you different colours too; however, white candles are all purpose and can be used for anything. you can use tapers, votive, pillar, or tea candles. Candles can be purchased from dollar stores or store such as Wal Mart or Target.
• If you can't have flame there are electric flameless candles available as well! They can be purchased at the dollar store.

Candles - Quarters

Many people use candles to mark the quarters on the outside of their circle: green for earth, yellow for air, red for fire, and blue for water. You can get all of these candles at the dollar store or walmart, but if you would rather go flameless here are some ideas of things you can use to represent the elements:

Earth:

• A piece of paper with the earth elements symbol drawn onto it (using green ink/paint/pencil would be great here). The symbol is an equilateral triangle, point facing down, with a horizontal line through it.
• A pinch or small bowl/plate of salt.
• A nice rock you find outside.
• A semi precious gemstone that correlates to the element of earth. Some examples are: Hematite, Jet, Garnet, Rhodonite, and Petrified Wood.

Air:

• A piece of paper witht he air elements symbol drawn onto it (using yellow ink/paint/pencil would be great here). The symbol is an equilateral triangle, point facing up, with a horizontal line through it.
• A feather.
• Incense.
• A fan (like a folded paper one or a Japanese folded fan).
• A semi precious gemstone that correlated tot he element of air. Some examples are: Lapis Lazuli, Amethyst, Labradorite, Azurite, Sodalite, and Fluorite.

Fire:

• A piece of paper with the air elements symbol drawn onto it (using red ink/paint/pencil would be great here). The symbol is an equilateral triangle, point facing up, with no lines through it.
• A matchbook.
• A small dish of ashes.
• A semi precious gemstone that correlates with the element of fire. Some examples are: Carnelian, Malachite, Tigers eye, citirine, Rhodochrosite, and Larimar.

Water:

• A piece of paper with the water elements symbol drawn onto it (using blue ink/paint/pencil would be great here). The symbol is an equalateral triangle, point facing down, with no lines through it.
• A small dish of water.
• A seashell
• A semi precious gemstone that correlates with the element of fire. Some examples are: Lepidolite, Kunzite, Chrysoprase, Chrysocolla, and Amazonite.

Cauldron

The cauldron is used as a representation of the goddess, they can be made of cast iron or of black metal.

• You can use a nice deep bowl during your rituals and spells.

For more options of things that can take the place of the cauldron please see 'chalice' below!

Chalice

The chalice is used as a representation of the Goddess. Not only that but it is used to contain ritual drink. Many chalices are sterling silver or silver in colour and have either depictions of the Goddess or carved symbols such as the pentacle or a triquetra. Unfortunately, if you don't like ordering online they can be hard to find. Luckily I found mine at a local fair trade/mystical shop.

• One of the most obvious choices as an alternative to a silver chalice is a wine glass. You can get some nice wine glasses at a dollar store, a second hand store like value village, or even a department store like walmart or target.
• Another option is any vessel you have a strong connection with. So if you have a favourite mug or a tumbler that you really like then you can use that too!

Incense

Incense is set on the altar to represent the elements of air and fire. 

• Incense is very inexpensive and can be purchased at a dollar store, wal mart, target, or similar store. Incence burners usually run about 3-10 dollars in price, depending on how fancy you want. If you don't want to get a burner just yet you can use a piece of tin foil folded in such a way that it holds the incense up. The incense itself usually runs about 1-3 dollars a pack at these stores and come in a variety of scents. A good list of scents to get is: Lavender, Frankincense, Sandal Wood, and 

Offering Bowl

An offering bowl is for, well, making offerings! Whether it be to Deity, the fae, the quarters, oranything you could possibly give an offering to. It does not have to be a very fancy bowl. It can also be a plate. Some options can be found at second hand stores, Wal Mart, Micheals, Target, even the Dollar Store!

Pentacle

A pentacle is a five pointed star made entirely of lines (not an outlined empty shape) that is inside a circle. The pentacle can represent different things to different pagans. To me it represents the four elements and spirit. It also represents my faith. The "proper" altar tool is usually silver in colour, about the size of a saucer, and is made of metal. Some alternatives include:

• Painting a pentacle onto a rock
• Drawing a pentacle on a piece of paper (good for when you are in a jam)
• Taking a desert plate that you already have in your possession and using a C150 marker (or a sharpie) to draw a pentacle onto it and baking it at 150 degrees Celsius to set the design.
• I, myself, can take the pentacle that I wear around my neck off and place it on my altar when i am doing ritual. I could even leave it on because at least then it is present.

Salt

If you do not have salt in your dwelling then I must say that your food must be very bland! But nonetheless an alternative to salt (which represents earth) is good old dirt (or sand); however, salt is seen as protective and purifying so it would be better than those alternatives. 

Statues - God and Goddess

Statues for the God and Goddess can be used instead of, or in addition to candles. Now the statues might be one of the hardest altar tools you will ever look for, mainly because finding statues that depict the deities in the way that you want is hard. But here are some good alternatives:

• Get some inexpensive photo frames and print out photos of your Gods and Goddesses or the forms of deity you prefer and put the photos into the frames.
• Use other items to represent your Gods and Goddesses, for example a pine cone or a pearl.

Sword

The sword is a larger tool for directing energy. Please see Athame for some sword alternatives.

Wand

The wand is also a way to direct energy. You can use the suggestions seen under Athame or you can look below for some inspiration:

• You can make your own wand. There are many articles, blog posts, and even entire websites devoted to wand making. If you just google it you can come up with many options; however, here is a short break down of what you can do:
1. There are two ways you can get the branch for your wand. One is to get the branch from the ground, one that has already fallen, or to find one still attached to the tree, ask it's permission to take it, cut it off, and thank it.
2. You can stop here or you can carve it, polish it, and decorate it!

Water

If you can't get special water that is from a specific river or that was gathered under a full moon or anything else that would be ideal for you you can just use tap water! If you want to clean it, put it in a covered container and set it out in the sun and the moon (the cover is to prevent evaporation in the sunlight).

All in all you can really practice paganism with literally nothing but yourself and it would be effective, it just take more visualization, which can be draining. So these are just some of my suggestions for inexpensive alternatives, I hope you enjoyed them.

(I worked on this fucking post for like two weeks, I hope you love me.)