Alter

Most likely you already have an alter or shrine set up for the goddess. And maybe not! I'm going to help you get the basic set up you need to have to make a proper alter. It's appearance and decor is up to you. Anything other than what I list below is extra and your choice, but it is important to have the basics. You can find most around your house, or get it cheaply at Wal*Mart, Target or Kmart, in a bridal or candle section. And larger more decorative items can easily be found at larger thrift stores, like Salvation Army!

The Alter Base: A table of some sort, 3 or 4 feet high. If you don't like the look of the table, feel free to cover it with fabric of your favorite color, or you can have several in many colors to suit your mood and the holidays! A good TV table from wal*mart or yard sale will do just fine. You can set your alter on top where the TV would go, and you can store, incense, candles, bowls, cups in the little compartment where a VCR would be. Your alter is placed along the North Wall.

The Image: It's best to have any statue of the Goddess Aset (Isis). www.azuregreen.com is a good inexpensive place to get things of that sort. Other than an Aset (Isis) figure it may be a nude, or semi nude (Greek or Roman is second best). If not a statue, a picture in a suitable frame. The Statue or picture is placed at the back middle of the alter, almost against the North wall as far back as it will go.

The Candles: There must be two large tall candles in holders (silver is best) on both sides of the Image of Aset, back in line with the Image. These are the two main alter candles. In addition there must be two more smaller candles in holders (silver is best) in front of the two larger candles for lighting at Festivals and Celebrations. Beeswax candles are best. I use them because they do not drip (less messy) Beeswax candles cost more, but in the long term they are really cheaper.

The Eternal Flame: You should, but it's not necessary to have an Eternal Flame, but if you choose to, here is how it's done. Now there is no danger of fire when left unattended if you set it up properly. Get a large votive candle in a glass holder (Such as they use in churches, etc.) These candles in glass are about 9-12" high and about 4" in diameter. You can get different colors, and scents, you can get them at almost any food store, in the spanish food section, or an occult shop, or at a Spanish herbaria (A spanish store that sells candles, incense, and other occult and votive items--usually in the Spanish section of town)

Next obtain a medium size (5-7" in diameter) decorative glass bowl. Place the votive inside the bowl, and fill the bowl with tumbled stones, shells or just regular stones. Now place this smaller bowl into another larger bowl about 12-16" in diameter, filling the larger bowl with water till it just reaches the top of the smaller bowl, but not spilling into it. you may have to taise the small bowl a but by placing another small glass bowl underneath upside down as a base. there is a specific reason for this type of setup, and it will make your Alter more powerful.

The flame is traditionally placed in this way for this reason: when placed in this particular way, it embodies and gather together all of the Elements in one place and binds them together.. The flame encaptures and holds the air, the earth (the candle) captures and holds the Flame, and the water captures and holds the Earth. The large bowl, the symbol of the Holy Womb of the Goddess, captures and holds them all.

Your Other Tools

a bell with out a clapper, you will sound the bell by striking the side of it.

an incense burner and incense, I found the cone is the best (less messy)

A votive candle and holder, for carrying fire to the four directions

a small bowl for water

a small bowl for earth

a chalice, or your favorite cup

a small flat dish for bread or cakes

a small bowl for libations.

Other Items

Flower vases, blessing oil, a binder book of info and ritual.