Basic Wiccan Tools and Symbols – Altar Tools and Their Significance
Your altar should have a representation of each element: Earth, Fire, Air, and Water. Whatever objects you choose as these representations are your “tools”. Following is a chart that may help you understand the traditional correspondences found in many ancient religions.
Element |
Compass Direction |
Season |
Gender
|
Primary
|
Representations / Tools |
Earth |
North | Autumn | feminine (to listen) |
green (brown) |
salt, stone, soil, crystals |
Fire |
South | Summer | masculine (to will) |
red (orange) |
candle, incense |
Air |
East | Spring | masculine (to know) |
yellow (white or violet) |
knife or sword, wand, feather, incense |
Water |
West | Winter | feminine (to dare) |
blue (gray or purple) |
cup, cauldron, chalice, plants or flowers |
The element of Spirit or Ether is often symbolized by the direction ‘up’ and neutral gender.
I have many specific altar product recommendations on this page: