Altar setup for your Lil' Witchlet

For many obvious reasons, it's probably not a good idea to allow your little one to have an altar setup the way that we as adults do. I mean there are usually lots of candles, burning incense, and a bunch of breakables and super empowered Deities and objects. Keep in mind, we are not against including our children in our own rites, but it's a nice idea to let them have their own sacred space. This teaches them responsibility for their sacred objects, the directional correspondences, color correspondences, and it also makes them feel as though they are a part of what you are doing. Here area a few ideas for altar items and places to put them.

1. Of course you can use a piece that was designed specifically to be an altar, but if you're looking for an alternative for your kiddos, try the top of their dresser, or an old end table or night stand that they can keep in their room. Just make sure that it's been properly cleansed and charged before you let your little one use it. Let them help you cleanse and charge, it's a neat way to get together and show them the way you do things, and explain to them why you do it that way!

2. Instead of purchasing an expensive ornately decorated altar cloth (if you use one), why not try a piece of durable paper that your little Witchlet can draw or color on? They can make symbols or designs that appeal to them, that will help them to remember what goes where and the correspondences and the like. If your kiddo isn't so little and candles will be used, try a blank piece of canvas and some paints or markers. Check the edges of the canvas to see if you'll need to hem them, otherwise the cloth will unravel with time and use.

3. Have your child think about the four elements, and what reminds them of each one. My son, for example, when asked what he thought when I said "Water", said "seashells". For Air he said feathers, Fire was a little Dragon toy that he had, and Earth was just that...Earth. These are things that any Witch can use, without causing damage to furniture or lighting anything, and because they had an association with the Elements for him, he was able to use them more easily. He knew that his Dragon was for fire, and that the bowl of dirt on his dresser was for the Earth, and so on. If your kids can remember what they are using for which Element, it makes it all the more easy for you to teach. It also allows for more imagination from them.

4. Let your little one decorate their altar for the Sabbats. It's a lot of fun to see what they come up with for the holidays. Having them paint a face on a pumpkin and setting it on their own altar for Samhain is a great way for them to feel like they are a part of what you do. It also really boosts their self-confidence levels to know that they've completed something that not everyone has. Be creative; let their imagination run wild with decorations!

5. Does your little one carry something around with them everywhere they go? A blanket, or doll maybe? Or perhaps an action figure? Let them charge it! Each night, have them lay it on their altar and give it intent. Ask them why they carry it with them. Perhaps that action figure represents protection for them, or that blanket is for comfort. Have them speak to the item, charging it with that intent, and let them know that the longer the item gets charged, the more powerful it becomes. With any luck, this will accomplish two things; the first being that the child will learn how to charge something with intent, and the second, that they will wean themselves from needing the object all the time, keeping it on the altar more often to "charge it up".

6. Make a robe with your child. Patterns are really easy, and the fabric isn't all that expensive. This gives them something to wear during rituals and instills a sense of importance for the rituals. That sense of reverence, if you will. This is a special robe for special times. It can be any color, even have a pattern that your young one likes. Take them with you to buy your fabric, and let them pick it out.