Magical Altars

Sacred Workspace

 An altar is more than a table or shelf of a bookcase that is set with
candles and magical tools, they are a sacred space apart from mundane
space and time. They can range in size and complexity depending on their
owner and their intended use. A magical practitioner can choose to have
more than one altar, one OCS member has a general altar indoors for
spellcraft and winter rites, one stone altar outdoors for high holidays,
nature magic and summer rites and a small altar dedicated to her patron
Gods. A coven or magical group may have a larger table set with many
acutremont and there are some people who have little more than a special
box or shelf upon which they can light candles.

 When you have decided what type of altar you require next you may want to
consider its placement. Witches align their altars to the East and the rising
sun. Asatruar place their's facing North. Another idea is to use a round
table and place it in the center of your workspace, this allows for
multi-directionallity and if practicing with a group all members can gather
around the altar equally like the Round Table of Camelot.

 A very basic altar would be a wooden table or one with a stone top upon
this table you may set a cloth, white would serve for general workings as
would black. You could change the cloth to any colour for specific workings
or use a small cloth square of the colour that works best for your intent.
Some altar candles will shed the light you need to see by, these are usually
white tapers in tall holders. A good supply of smaller coloured tapers will
prove an asset for spellcraft. Some represent the elements on their altars by
placing things of Earth in the Northern corner, Fire in the South, Water in
the West, and Air in the East. You may want an incense censor, an Athame or
wand, a chalice or cauldron, and images of ancestors, Gods or spirits that
aid you in your workings.

A temporary altar may be carried to any place that you wish when you intend to
work at another's home or in nature.

Trees In Magic

By Fern, OCS Herbalist

Acacia : Used in Protection Spells, Promotes Psychic Powers, The
         Element of Air, The Masculine, Aids in Meditation, Increases
         Power, The Sun, Facilitates Visions, Reveals Secret Love

Almond : The Element of Air, The Planet of Mercury, Draws Money, Promotes
         Prosperity, Grants Wisdom, Fosters Fertility, Attracts Love,
         Brings Good Luck, The Masculine, Promise

Alder : Facilitates Divination, Used in Protection Spells, Useful in Music,
         Make An Alder Wand Or Stave For Use in Weather Magic, Raising the Wind

Apple : Attracts Love, Blesses Marriage, Promotes Fidelity, Facilitates
        Healing, Grants Fertility, Used in Garden Magic, Promotes
        Immortality, Sacred to Aphrodite, The Feminine, Bountiful Harvest,
        A Favorite Wood For Love Magic Wands And Staves

Apricot : Eat of the Fruit to Make One's Self Sweet then Carry the Pit
          to Attract the Love You Want

Ash : The World Tree, Used in Protection Spells, Promotes Prosperity, Used
          in Sea Rituals, Facilitates Health, Aids in Divination, The
          Element of Fire, The Masculine, The Sun, Promotes Psychic Dreams

Aspen : Grants Eloquence, Protects Against Theft, The Wind Speaks Through
        The Aspen's Leaves

Beech : Grants Wishes, Traditionally The Wood For Runes, Increases Knowledge
        Ideal Wood For Norse Wands And Staves

Birch : Used in Protection Spells, Useful in Exorcism, Purification and
        Cleansing, Saunas, Beginnings, Promotes Fertility, Rebirth, Renewal

Cedar : Facilitates Healing, Useful in Purification, Draws Money, Used in
        Protection Spells, Grounding, Earth Energy, Celtic Tree of Life,
        Make A Healing Wand Or Stave From Cedar Wood

Cherry : Attracts Love, Facilitates Divination, Love Wands

Chestnut : Attracts Love, Grants Justice

Cypress : Promotes Longevity, Facilitates Healing, Brings Comfort, Used in
          Protection Spells, Greiving, Use Cypress For Funerary Staves

Dogwood : Grants Wishes, Used in Protection Spells, Increases Endurance,
          The Moon, The Planet of Pluto, Pisces, The Petals are used in
          Drawers or Boxes to Keep Things Secret

Ebony : Used in Protection Spells, Increases Power, Zelousness

Elder : Aids in Exorcism, Used in Protection Spells, Facilitates Healing,
        Promotes Prosperity, Fosters Sleep, Midsummer Solstice, Never Cut
        Without Asking

Elm : Attracts Love, Dinity, Propriety, Increases Stability, Used in Grounding,
          Grants The Blessings of The Earth Gooddess, Earth Magic Wands And Staves

Fir : Aids in Child Birth, Bless and Protect Mother and Child, Grants
          Far Sight, A Fir Candel carried around a mother about to give birth
          Blesses and protects both mother and child

Hawthorn : Grants Fertility, Promotes Chastity, Used in Fishing Magic,
           Fosters Happiness, Attracts The Faeries, Facilitates Health,
           Protects Against lightening, Attracts Love, Blesses Marriage,
           The Masculine, Used in Protection Spells, Attracts Spirits,
           Spring Time

Hazel : Brings Good Luck, Grants Fertility, Anti-Lightning, Used in
        Protection Spells, Grants Wishes, Brings Dreams,
        The Masculine, The Planet of Mercury, Fosters Wisdom

Hickory : Useful in the Fair Settlement of all Legal Matters

Holly : Used in Protection Spells and as a Protective Wood, Anti-Lightning,
        Brings Good Luck, Dream Magic, Brings Balance, The Element of Fire,
        The Planet of Mars, The Masculine, Revenge, Grants Wealth, Male Blessing Tree,
        Used at indoors during Yule the Winter Solstice for Luck in the comming Year
        and Protection through the longest Night

Horse Chestnut : Money, Healing

Juniper : Used in Protection Spells, Anti-Theft, Attracts Love, Used in
       Exorcism, Facilitates Health

Larch : Protection, Anti-Theft

Lemon : Longevity, Purification, Love, Friendship

Lime : Healing, Love, Protection

Linden : Used In Protection Magic, Promotes Immortality, Brings Good Luck,
        Attracts Love, Grants Sleep

Maple : Love, Longevity, Money, Change, Decisions, Feminine, Healing,
        Learning, Moon, Spirit travel, Water

Nuts and Acorns : Fertility, Prosperity, Love, Luck

Oak : Used In Protection Magic, Promotes Health, Draws Money, Healing Magic,
      Increases Potency, Grants Fertility, Brings Good Luck, The Element of Fire,
      Leadership, The Masculine, Midsummer, Stability, Strength, Success, The Sun,
      Oak Wands And Staves Are Used By The High Priest Or Leader Of A Magical
      Order

Olive : Facilitates Health, Promotes Peace, Grants Fertility, Increases
        Potency, Used in Protection Spells, Sparks Lust, Blessing,
        The Element of Fire, Harmony, The Masculine, Assures Victory

Orange : Attracts Love, Facilitates Divination, Brings Good Luck, Draws Money

Peach : Attracts Love, Aids in Exorcism, Promotes Longevity, Brings
        Fertility, Grants Wishes

Pear : Sparks Lust, Attracts Love, Provides Comfort, Affection

Pecan : Draws Money, Secures Employment

Pine : Facilitates Healing, Promotes Fertility, Used in Protection Spells,
        Useful in Exorcism, Draws Money

Poplar : Draws Money, Flying, Increases Courage, Time

Prickly Ash : Attracts Love, Satire

Rowan : Inhances Psychic Powers, Facilitates Healing, Used in Protection
         Spells, Increases Power, Assures Success, Rowand Wands And Staves
         Provide Excellent Protection Tie A Red String Upon Them

Walnut : Facilitates Health, Increases Mental Powers, Infertility, Grants Wishes

Willow : Attracts Love, Promotes Divination, Used in Protection Spells,
         Facilitates Healing, The Element of Water, The Feminine, The Moon,
         Willow Wands And Staves Are Used For Lunar Magic

Yew : Raising the Dead, Protection at Yule, Astral Communication, Death, Rebirth
      Facilitates Divination, Funerals, The Planets of Jupiter and Saturn, Aids in
      Scrying, Protection against Evil Spirits