Readers, please enjoy this guest blog post by Ben Stimpson, author of the new Ancestral Whispers. One of the first things many Pagans want to do when they start practicing is to erect an altar or shrine. It makes total sense; creating that little space as a focal point for our practices is important and something found across the world. But, why is it important and what do these spaces actually do for us and the spirits we work with? The Difference Between Altars and Shrines There is some debate as to what the difference is between a shrine and an altar. The words are often used interchangeably, but I've found it useful to think about the differences and how each can relate to