Creating a Wiccan Sacred Space

If you're not a Wiccan, odds are you're confused by what they refer to as their Sacred Space. As often portrayed in the media, you may believe that Wiccans are Satan worshippers and therefore will perform rituals atop a pentacle scratched on to the floorboards or drawn upon the earth with salt. A sacred space isn't used for worshipping Satan. The sacred space is the area that is considered a holy space; a place where Wiccans have their altar and may draw magick circles for their rituals.

The ritual area can be either indoors or outdoors. When created indoors, it may incorporate an area that is always used for rituals and an altar. When created outdoors, it may be anywhere that is free from distractions. If you are doing a ritual outdoors, make sure that you have permission to use the space if you don't own the property. You may perform rituals in parks, as long as you return any area to the way it was before you perform a ritual. It is also important to be careful when using candles outdoors, especially during drier seasons, as a fire could accidentally be set. You don't want to be known as the Wiccan who started a forest fire in their local park!

A magick circle can be cast anywhere, though many Wiccansuse a particular area inside or outside of their home for this purpose. The magick circle is a sacred space where the practitioner can connect with Deity (God or Goddess). It is a holy place where rituals are practiced. It may be referred to as the Otherworld, and the area within the magick circle the "cone ofpower." A magick circle may be temporary or permanent, depending upon location. A solitary practitioner may create a magick circle anywhere,whereas a coven may have a permanent place where they cast their magick circles.

An altar is part of the sacred space for a Wiccan. It doesn't have to be elaborate; it can even be part of nature, such as a tree stump or large, flat rock. A Wiccan altar can be temporary or it can be permanent, either indoors or outdoors, but it should be a flat area large enough for your ritual tools.

Ritual tools consist of the following, though you may not always use all of these tools at one time:

• A cloth for the altar – natural materials are favored
• Athame or sword
• Candles – the size and color depend upon the rituals you are doing
• Incense burner – also known as thurible, brazier or censer
• Cup – also known as a chalice or goblet
• God and/or Goddess symbols
• Pentagram
• Pentacle
• Wand – a natural stick from a tree (the length of the userselbow to the tip of their index finger) or staff
• Water – purified by the full moon or blessed by Deity
• Salt
• Bell
• Broom
• Mortar and pestle
• Boline – (curved knife)
• Cauldron
• Cord – made of natural fibers
• Herbs
• Stones and/or crystals
• Book of Shadows or Grimoire

For some, the tools are man made, especially if they do this as part of their initiation in a coven. Solitary practitioners may choose to be crafty and make these items, or they can be purchased in a local store that stocks these items or from one of many Wiccan-friendly stores on the Internet.