An altar is a space that you create for yourself that will represent your relationship with the gods. Our Norse ancestors had altars within their homes, often referred to as a Ve. It is a place where you and other members of your household can worship and honor Gods and Goddesses, perform rituals, and meditate.
You may choose to have an inside or an outside altar. Many pagans have both.
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You can buy an altar kit online, but it's more symbolic and personal if you make it yourself. Then, it represents your unique bond with the gods/goddess and reflects your personal beliefs.
The following is a basic guide to setting up a Norse or Asatru altar. Keep in mind - there is no right or wrong. I’m going to give you suggestions and you can decide if they feel right for you.
Step 1. Placement of Your Altar
Inside Altar
The first step is to decide on a location and set up your altar. You can set up your altar in any room you are comfortable with. You will want to leave enough space so household members can comfortably gather around.
The top of a small table or shelf often works well. You may wish to place a few cushions on the floor in front of an altar that’s on an end table. If you prefer to stand a mantle makes a great altar space.
You will want to have a storage area for altar items. As you gather more things you will want to change them around for different seasons, needs, or rituals. I have my inside altar on a dresser and I use one of the drawers for storage.
Outside Altar
If you have an outside place where you wish to worship then you will want something flat to place your ritual items. This can be a small outdoor table, stump, altar stone, or a flat rock you can conveniently place at the bottom of a tree.
If you live in an apartment or urban area you may want to create a travel altar that you can take with you into the woods or to the beach to practice.
You can check out our article Altars: A Beginners Guide to learn more about altar placement
On a Budget?
Remember your altar does not have to be completed in 24 hours. You will have a lifetime to add to it when you find meaningful pieces. Don’t feel like you have to go out and buy everything all at once.
I started my altar when I was in college and struggling to make ends meet. My girlfriend loved to go to flea markets and Goodwills to look for inexpensive clothes. I found these to be great places to pick up a cool offering dish or carving.
Step 2. The Basics
Add the basic things you want to place on your altar.
Altar Cloth
The first thing, if you choose to use one is an altar cloth. An altar cloth has two main purposes.
First, it protects the altar which is especially helpful if you have your altar on a piece of wooden furniture. It can protect from candle wax drippings and the occasional sloshing of mead.
Second, the cloth helps to increase the power of your intentions or magic. You can use a single color or a print. I have one that is the Tree of Life and I feel it gives me a natural connection.
You may choose a color to symbolize a god. For the God Odin, you would use a deep blue or grey altar cloth.
Candles
Candles are often an important part of worship and rituals. Have a variety of colors on hand as they have different meanings.
My preference is beeswax candles because they are more sustainable and free of chemicals. I have found candles at local farmers’ markets and it is nice to support a local artisan.
I typically have a white candle on my altar at all times and add in other colors depending on what I am doing. For example, if I’m doing a ritual involving Freyja I would use yellow candles.
Read our guide on Candle Colors here.
Candles can also be an offering and they represent the element of fire. They come in a variety of sizes as well. I usually use pillar candles for my inside altar and votive candles to take with me outside.
Candle safety is important to consider. The National Candle Association offers some great tips on maintaining your candles and using safe practices.
Offering Dishes
The other basic setup for an altar is dishes that you will use to place offerings. These can be anything from the standard dishes you use to something pretty or meaningful that you pick out for the purpose.
The dishes don’t have to be large. Small bowls used for deserts or salad are a good size. If you are baking a dish to offer to the gods make sure your offering dish will handle hot foods.
I like to use wooden bowls because I like the natural feel of them but they are more suitable for cool foods.
A container for drinks is often used as well. This may be a glass, shot glass, mug, or chalice. (More about chalices below).
When you choose your dishes you will also want to consider the ease of cleaning. Sometimes a dish that is very ornate may be a pain to get clean when you are done with making an offering.
The Norse Pagan Altar
In addition to the basic altar items mentioned above, you will also want to add things that are more Nordic. Below are some ways you can specifically embrace the Norse pantheon.
Statues/Representations
You can place statues of the gods and goddesses on your altar or maybe a representation of them. Many Norse pagans invest in a nice statue of Odin but it’s not necessary to communicate with the gods.
For example, a piece of quartz can be used to represent Thor or some water in a glass for Njord. I often use small animal figurines to represent the gods. Since they are both tricksters I use a fox figurine to represent Loki.
There is no one God to honor in Norse practice. Pick a god or goddess you relate to or admire and focus on them for a month. Read their stories and study their attributes so that you may learn from them.
As Nordic pagans, we may also choose to honor /worship our ancestors, the Jotunn or the Vaettir. Remember this is not about right and wrong. This is about growing closer to, learning about, and communicating with our shared deities.
Drinking Horn
The drinking horn, like the Chalice, is often used to make offerings of libations. A libation is when the drink is poured on the ground as an offering to a deity or to honor a deceased ancestor.
The drinking horn is not just a modern fad. It has its roots in Nordic history. Some have been found in archaeological sites that are 2600 years old. This makes sense as the horn is a part of the animal you can’t eat so using it for a household item is efficient.
In addition, we believe that slain warriors were offered a drink from a drinking horn when they arrived at Valhalla.
Runes
Runes are the letters of the alphabet from various Germanic languages. The Scandinavian version is called futhark.
Runes are very old and date back to 150 AD. They are a popular form of divination.
Many Norse pagans like to keep a set of runes on their altar. Runes come in many forms. They can be made of crystals, wood or you can make your own on paper.
If you want to use runes, find some letters that speak to you and place them in the center of your Ve.
Chalice
A chalice is a “fancy” cup used to make offerings. Traditionally in Norse Paganism, we use mead or beer but any alcoholic drink is sufficient. Those on a budget may wish to get the little sample bottles they sell as alcohol has gotten quite expensive.
If you are a minor, no worries, juice or even soda can be offered and the gods will understand! In fact, I often make up an herb tea especially for the Valkyrie, Eir.
Havamal
The Hávamál, ‘Words of the High One’, is a poem attributed to Odin. It is not a sacred text but has meaningful advice, stories about Odin, and a collection of charms often referred to as the Song of Spells.
Along with the Poetic Edda, the Havamal is an important text to read to understand our shared history. It’s always beneficial to read the original translations which can be found online.
Jackson Crawford, an American Norse scholar, has a translation in everyday language that is accompanied by the classic translation. I personally found it very helpful to see the classic Old Norse translation next to a contemporary translation. His book is called The Wanderer’s Havamal.
Book of Blots
Another worthwhile book to put on your wishlist is a Book of Blots. The Asatru UK organization just came out with a great version called The Asatru UK Book of Blōts. The lead author is Dan Coultas, a well-respected Asatru authority in the United Kingdom.
Natural Objects
You may find natural objects when you are hiking or outside. Bring these in and add them to your altar.
Nature is very important in Norse Paganism and these connections bring us closer to the deities.
Freya appreciates bird feathers. Odin branches from an ash tree.
Author Erik Olsen recently graduated college with a degree in Anthropology. While in school he completed an internship with the Smithsonian Museum of Natural History which led him to his current museum position.
Erik desires to be a Viking when he grows up and has worked in Outdoor Adventure leading hikes and rafting trips. A solitary Wiccan, Erik writes about Wicca, Norse religion, and making altars.
For additional reading, check out the blogs below.
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In this article, we will talk briefly about the concept of totemism and animal spirit guides. I will then give you a complete list of Norse deities and their mythological animals, totem, or allocated spirit guides
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