How to Build an Altar: Part 2

Okay, you’ve assembled your two cubes and painted them black. Read part one if you don’t know what I’m talking about. The next step is to add a door. I can’t tell you the appropriate size because it will depend upon how thick the walls of your cubes are. Measure the height and width of the open side of your altar. Be sure to measure in a couple of locations because the cubes may not be perfect. Remember the carpenter’s motto:

measure twice, cut once.

Your local lumber yard can cut a board to size for you. I suggest using plywood at least 3/8″ thick. If you go much thinner the door may warp. The choice of hinges is up to you. You might prefer “invisible” hinges (they’re completely on the inside of your cabinet) or decorative one. I choose decorative ones for my current altar. I also use magnetic latches to keep the door closed and a door pull that’s shaped like a lion’s head.

Finish the assembly and paint the door black to match the rest of the altar. Remember, use several light coats rather than one heavy coat as a heavy coat is likely to drip. Be sure to coat around the edges and the inside of the door. This will help prevent warping.

Finishing Touches

There are just a few things left to finish your altar:

1. Wheels. I suggest attaching wheels or “shephard casters” to the bottom of your altar. Wheels under 2″ in size may not be strong enough to support your altar. Wheels make it easy to move around. If you prefer, there are exceedingly slick pieces of plastic often called “furniture sliders” that can be glued to the bottom of your altar. Larger sizes tend to be more effective than smaller ones. This may be especially useful for people who are shorter and who find a taller altar uncomfortable to use.

1. Fabric Interior. I used some fabric to cover both the bottom of the lower and upper cubes. This allows you to keep items more safely within the altar, especially when you move it. I also glued thick fabric around the “U” cut out so that longer wands do not get scratched when placed in the altar.
2. Glossy Top. Sooner or later you are going to spill something on your altar. It happens, especially in a darkened temple. I suggest painting your altar flat black or satin black so it doesn’t reflect various lights and draw your attention away from your magickal work. However, surfaces covered with a flat paint tend to be difficult to clean. Since it is the top that is most likely to catch spills of wine, foods, and worst of all, melted wax, the top, out of necessity, needs to be different. I suggest using a glossy coating made of several layers. Use a glossy polyurethane coating on top of the paint. Make sure you use a brand that dries clear and doesn’t yellow. You may have to lightly sand between coats with a very fine grit sandpaper. Follow the directions. Alternatively, you may wish to put a piece of glass on top of your altar. Have it cut to size and handle with extreme care. You may want to attach some L-shaped brackets to each corner to prevent the glass from moving around or falling off. This glass does not need to be very thick.

Final Notes

Yes, I realize that adding a door will make the cubes slightly bigger on one side and adding wheels (or even the very thin furniture sliders) will make it taller than a perfect double cube. In my experience the slight difference is unnoticeable, especially in a darkened room.

What I’ve described is a traditional altar. This does not mean your must be that way or it will be “wrong.” If you make your ceremonial magick altar in another way it will simply be different, not wrong.

• The first altar I made using this design was donated to a Golden Dawn type of group. I had painted it white to represent the pure spiritual light. On one side I decoupaged (glued and then covered with a clear coat) a poster of the tree of life. On the top I decoupaged a Solmonic pentagram. I used it that way for many years. They cover it with a black cloth.
• I’ve seen one altar where the top cube was painted white and the bottom cube was painted black.
• I’ve seen one altar that was larger and had horns at the corners, matching the design described of the altar in the original Temple in Jerusalem.

In short, if you don’t like the traditional all-black design, try something that is meaningful to you.

Have you made your own altar? Describe it in the comments here.