Tewsday wrote:I want to do things the proper way in Hoodoo. Are there set guidelines on what should be on an altar?
Not exactly, but there are some general principles which you can tease out from this thread -- into which your post has been merged, by the way:
altars-questions-and-answers-t124.html
How should it be set up
Oh, the answers to this question are as numerous as the grains of sand by all the seas of the world
and what are some good items to have on it?
Think of an altar as a spiritual workbench. Whatever materials you need for the spell you are working -- that's what belongs on your altar.
Beauty -- pictures, flowers, candlesticks and other decor -- is a wonderful thing, and many spiritual workers find power in it -- but others can do good work without it. (In fact, elsewhere in this thread, you will find that Miss Cat has posted a picture of an actual carpenter's workbench, like one where a gifted spiritual worker burned candles and did other work, many years ago.)
Besides clients' candles, honey jars, and skull lights, my altars have written prayers for non-clients, lamps dedicated to mighty justice workers and spiritual workers of the past and to a few church and folk saints, MISC church fans for wafting incense smoke, sage and cedar bundles for cleansing, heart and flower decorations where appropriate.
I also dedicate a portion of my justice and healing altar to the Crystal Silence League, so there is a bowl of glass spheres in several colors, atop a stack of printed prayer requests.
Also, is there a ritual involved before working with the altar (similar to the "opening of the circle" in Wicca)?
You will find that the answers to this question are also many and varied. I begin my evening candle service with my justice altar, so I like to start by reading Romans 8:24-28:
- "For we are saved by hope: but hope that is seen is not hope: for what a man seeth, why doth he yet hope for?
But if we hope for that we see not, then do we with patience wait for it.
Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.
And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God.
And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose."
Hope this helps,
Miss Michaele