Modern Witchcraft For Dummies Cheat Sheet

This guide introduces modern witchcraft practices including how to create and personalize a home altar with elemental representations, foundational steps for ethical spellcasting aligned with natural cycles and intentions, and practical advice on using tarot cards for self-reflection, divination, and spiritual growth, emphasizing intuition and respect for tradition.

How to choose items for your home altar

Your altar is where the magic happens! Altars are dedicated sacred spaces for your rituals, meditations, offerings, and spellwork. In witchcraft, an altar acts as a bridge between the physical and spiritual worlds, a place where witches connect with their intentions, deities, ancestors, and spirits.  

Although the specific guidelines for working with altars vary by tradition, anyone can keep a home altar. You don’t need to be initiated into a tradition or hold a specific set of beliefs to make one. As a witch, you can use your altar to meditate, reflect, honor your ancestors, communicate with spirits, or in any way you see fit. Your altar is an extension of your practice and should reflect your individuality and values. An altar is both functional and symbolic, an extension of your identity as a witch.

An altar can be anywhere in your home, and you can put anything you want on it. It is often set up on a small, flat surface like a table, shelf, or even a windowsill. Depending on your altar’s use and your specific traditions, you might favor a particular direction for placement. For example, if you’re drawn to Norse magic, you’d probably want to put your altar in the North, and if you identify with the Celtic tradition, you might want to place your altar in an Eastern part of your house (and in fact, many witches like to place their altars to the East).

You can make the most of your altar space by following some of these suggestions. I like to represent all four elements on mine.

Earth items represent the material world; they are grounding, offering structure and focal points around your practice. Earth items are associated with the North direction, so they are typically found on the north side of the altar. I commonly use some of these earth items:

• A strong and sturdy surface. This might be a favorite table or a thrifted shelf.
• A beautiful tablecloth. This is especially nice if it previously belonged to a family member.
• Photos. I have pictures of ancestors that I can direct my attention to while I call on them.
• Stones and crystals. I like to use stones I’ve picked up on my walks that feel good in my hand, or heavy crystals that are meant for clearing, grounding, and protection, like tourmaline or obsidian.  
• Herbs and plants. Living things remind me to tend to my altar consistently.
• Fresh flowers and food. I place perishable things on my altar to reflect the seasons and make offerings to my ancestors. (Make sure to remove them before they go bad!)

Water items are typically placed on the west side of the altar. They are a reminder to go with the flow and are connected to emotion, intuition, and ancestry. Water items can include any of the following:

• A cup or chalice for liquid offerings. I usually have one full of water, but on special occasions, I offer coffee or alcohol to the spirits.
• Water that’s been collected from a storm or charged under the moon.
• A mirror, associated with reflection and the fluid, introspective qualities of water.
• Items from the ocean or beach, like shells or fossils.

Fire items light up your altar and speak to your spirit. They’re often placed on the south part of the altar, and they are connected to creativity, passion, and wishes. I use four fire items:

• Candles for setting intentions and spell work.
• An oil burner or lamp to diffuse essential oils.
• Smoke offerings for the ancestors who used to enjoy lighting up.
• A cauldron, often used for burning herbs, paper, or other ritual materials.

Air items are found on the east side of the altar. They include anything that connects to the mind, communication, or the intellect. Because you can’t see air, you must use your creativity. I like to use these items:  

• Incense for clearing the space (though this could also be considered a fire element offering).
• A bell to clear the air with sound. I often play music from my ancestry.
• Spellbooks and grimoires for my witchy studies.
• Statues that represent deities or other interests to focus on.
• Any special ritual items, like a hand-sized broom or besom to clear energy, a wand to direct energy, and scissors or a ritual knife (athame) to cut energetic cords.

Whether minimal or elaborate, your altar is a sanctuary that adapts to your needs and intentions. The items you choose don’t have to be fancy or store-bought, but they should mean something to you. Let your intuition guide you as you build a space that resonates with your unique spiritual journey.

Spellcasting 101

Spellcasting is a foundational practice in witchcraft, involving the performance of a series of actions to channel intention and energy toward manifesting a specific goal or desire. For witches, spellcasting often combines ancient wisdom and personal creativity, incorporating elements such as chants, sigils, candles, herbs, crystals, or moon phases to align the caster’s will with natural and spiritual forces. It draws on the witch’s connection to the elements, deities, or their inner power to direct and amplify their magic. Here are the foundational steps for casting a spell in witchcraft:

1. Set your intention.

• Before starting your spell, be clear and specific about your goal.

• Focus on what you want to attract rather than what you want to avoid.

2. Choose your tools.

• Candles: For focus and energy (color corresponds to intention)

• Crystals: To amplify energy and align with specific goals

• Herbs: To add symbolic and energetic support

• Symbols or sigils: To represent your intention visually

3. Time your spell.

• Use moon phases:

• New moon: Beginnings, planting seeds

• Waxing moon: Attracting, growing

• Full moon: Manifestation, enhancement, completion

• Waning moon: Releasing, banishing

• Consider astrological alignments for added power

4. Create a sacred space.

• Cleanse your space with incense or sound.

• Set up your altar with beloved tools and symbols.

• Ground and center yourself through breathing or meditation.

5. Cast the circle.

• Create a protective boundary for your energy.

• Call upon the elements (earth, air, fire, water) or deities, if they’re aligned with your practice.

6. Perform the spell.

• Combine tools, actions, and spoken words (incantations) to align your intention with your energy.

• Focus your mind and visualize the desired outcome clearly.

7. Close the spell.

• Thank the elements, spirits, or deities you called upon.

• Ground your energy and dissolve the circle.

8. Release and trust.

• Let go of attachment to the outcome.

• Trust that the universe is working to align with your intention.

9. Document your work.

• Write down your spell in a notebook or grimoire.

• Include details like your intention, tools, and results for future reflection.

10. Stay ethical.

• Practice harm-free magic by focusing on yourself.  

• Respect cultural traditions and avoid appropriating closed practices.

Tarot FAQs

Tarot is an important part of a modern witch's practice because it serves as a versatile tool for self-reflection, spiritual guidance, and magical work. Tarot encourages introspection, helping witches explore their inner world and understand their emotions, challenges, and personal growth paths. Tarot is most commonly used as a form of divination in modern witchcraft, offering guidance on decisions, future possibilities, or understanding past events. Many witches also incorporate tarot into their spellwork or rituals; cards can serve as visual representations of intentions (for example, using the Magician card for manifesting creativity or the Star for hope and renewal). Regular use of tarot helps witches strengthen their intuition and psychic awareness, which are core components of many magical practices.