What are altars and how do you build them?

One way you can work with the planets is to build an altar that celebrates their energies. What is an altar, exactly? It’s a place to honor, well, anything — from the planets to the seasons to your own inner world. It could be a table crowded with trinkets or a candle on a bookshelf. What matters most is that its components resonate with you.

Altars are known as sites of psychological healing and personal restoration. The power of these intentionally designed areas emerges, in part, through the act of making them. It’s this process that sets what’s sacred about them into motion. While every altar is a tribute, it’s also a reflection of the unique beauty, worthiness, and spiritual abundance of its creator.

Below, you’ll find altar suggestions that pay homage to the main planets and points in our solar system. Most of the colors, flowers, plants, herbs, spices, metals, minerals, foods, and symbols included here come from traditional texts by medieval and Renaissance astrologers such as Al-Biruni, Cornelius Agrippa, and William Lilly.

Building an altar

When you’re ready to build an altar, start with a clear and clean space (a desk, countertop, shelf, or table will do just fine). Then select one or more items related to the planet you’d like to work with, and arrange them in a manner that pleases you, with a candle front and center. The only rule to remember: There is no way to do this wrong. So trust your instincts — and have fun.

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Altars for the Sun

Select any of the following items to honor the Sun — the planet of vitality, creativity, and confidence — or to pay homage to the sign that the Sun rules (Leo).

Altar cloth and/or candle colors: Yellow or gold
Flowers and plants: Bright yellow, orange, and/or red flowers such as sunflowers, calendula, or marigolds, or any flowers/branches from citrus trees
Herbs and spices: Saffron, St. John’s wort, chamomile, bay leaves, and/or eyebright
Stones and metals: Gold, amber, citrine, chrysolite, tiger’s eye, and/or other yellow, orange, or red stones
Incense: Frankincense, amber, musk, saffron, lignum aloes (aka agarwood or oud), and/or cinnamon
Foods: Citrus fruits, ginger, turmeric, and/or foods that taste both sweet and sour
Symbols: Lions, cats, figures associated with the Sun, anything that represents royalty to you, and/or anything regal, such as crowns, thrones, or shiny, opulent objects

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Altars for the Moon

Select any of the following items to honor the Moon — the planet of nurturance, emotions, and intuition — or to pay homage to the sign that the Moon rules (Cancer).

Altar cloth and/or candle colors: White, silver, or luminescent
Flowers and plants: Irises, lilies, poppies, jasmine, moonflowers, lotuses, and/or willow
Herbs and spices: Mugwort, motherwort, and/or any herbs that grow in shady, cool places or that help to regulate fluids and elimination in the body
Stones and metals: Silver, selenite, pearls, and/or any crystal that is white or luminous
Incense: Jasmine, poppy, myrrh, and/or camphor
Foods: Melon, cucumber, pumpkin, lettuce, cabbage, grapes, and/or poppy seeds
Symbols: Seashells, pearls, beach glass, sea salt, mirrors, crystal balls, bowls of water, and/or anything that evokes caregiving or nurturance

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Altars for Mercury

Select any of the following items to honor Mercury — the planet of communication and learning — or to pay homage to the signs that Mercury rules (Gemini and Virgo).

Altar cloth and/or candle colors: Multicolored or patterned
Flowers and plants: Irises, lavender, and/or any multicolored flowers
Herbs and spices: Aniseed, mint, parsley, marjoram, dill, lungwort, vervain, rosemary, and/or mullein
Stones and metals: Quicksilver, topaz, fluorite, red marble, agate, and/or anything with mixed colors
Incense: Mastic, frankincense, cloves, cinquefoil, and/or any fragrant wood or fruit peel (e.g., citrus peel, cinnamon bark, nutmeg, etc.)
Foods: Walnuts, Brazil nuts, hazelnuts, and/or foods that combine salty, sweet, spicy, and/or sour flavors
Symbols: Books, pencils, pens, quills, tarot cards, maps, stamps, coins, phones, and/or anything that suggests communication, commerce, or trickster energy

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Altars for Venus

Select any of the following items to honor Venus — the planet of love, beauty, pleasure, and connection — or to pay homage to the signs that Venus rules (Taurus and Libra).

Altar cloth and/or candle colors: Green or white
Flowers and plants: Roses, lilies, lily of the valley, jasmine, myrtle, lotuses, violets, daffodils, and/or any flower with luscious petals and a sweet smell
Herbs and spices: Thyme, coriander, vervain, lady’s mantle, and/or dried rose petals
Stones and metals: Copper, silver, lapis lazuli, sapphire, carnelian, coral, alabaster, emerald, green jasper, and/or rose quartz
Incense: Rose, violet, musk, amber, ladanum, and/or lignum aloes (aka agarwood or oud)
Foods: Figs, plums, pears, pomegranates, apples, strawberries, apricots, peaches, raisins, almonds, millet, honey, and/or chocolate
Symbols: Beeswax, roses, mirrors, crowns, jewelry, five-pointed stars, and/or seashells

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Altars for Mars

Select any of the following items to honor Mars — the planet of action, courage, and drive — or to pay homage to the signs that Mars rules (Aries and Scorpio).

Altar cloth and/or candle colors: Red or orange
Flowers and plants: Cacti, thistles, aloe, hellebore, wolfsbane, chestnuts in their spiny husks, red flowers, and/or any plants with thorns or sharp leaves
Herbs and spices: Nettle, cayenne, black pepper, cinnamon, mustard seed, and/or anything red or spicy
Stones and metals: Iron, ochre, bloodstone, lodestone, red jasper, vermilion, and/or ruby
Incense: Musk and/or any fragrant woods like cinnamon, cypress, palo santo, or lignum balsam (aka Arabian balsam)
Foods: Garlic, ginger, peppercorns, spicy peppers, leeks, onions, tamarind, and/or radish
Symbols: Matches, sparklers, scissors, ram’s horns, shark teeth, wolves, scorpions, and/or anything that symbolizes courage, strength, or self-renewal

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Altars for Jupiter

Select any of the following items to honor Jupiter — the planet of wisdom, generosity, and expansion — or to pay homage to the signs that Jupiter rules (Sagittarius and Pisces).

Altar cloth and/or candle colors: Purple, aquamarine, blue, or sea green

Flowers and plants: Peonies, violets, juniper, any flowers that feel large and abundant to you, and/or branches or leaves from cedar, oak, poplar, or olive

Herbs and spices: Basil, mint, sage, oregano, nutmeg, cloves, and/or marjoram

Stones and metals: Tin, emerald, topaz, amethyst, lapis lazuli, sapphire, freestone, and/or marble

Incense: Cedar, basil, nutmeg, clove, lignum aloes (aka agarwood or oud), and/or storax

Foods: Cloves, nutmeg, olives, rhubarb, pomegranates, licorice, pineapple, and/or any large fruit

Symbols: Horseshoes, bows and arrows, dolphins, centaurs, symbols from wisdom traditions that are meaningful to you, and/or anything that inspires your faith and generosity

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Altars for Saturn

Select any of the following items to honor Saturn — the planet of boundaries and commitment — or to pay homage to the signs that Saturn rules (Capricorn and Aquarius).

Altar cloth and/or candle colors: Black or gray
Flowers and plants: Mandrake, hellebore, willow, horsetail, poppies, knotgrass, and/or any dark flower
Herbs and spices: Cumin, hemp, and/or sage
Stones and metals: Lead, lodestone, lapis lazuli, black tourmaline, onyx, obsidian, and/or any rough, unpolished stone
Incense: Poppy, henbane, Solomon’s seal, tobacco, and/or myrrh
Foods: Hempseed, spinach, parsnips, dandelion greens, and/or bitter melon
Symbols: Animal bones, teeth, crocodiles, crows, toads, bats, clocks, hourglasses, antiques, and/or photos of elderly people

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Altars for Uranus

Select any of the following items to honor Uranus, the planet of disruption and innovation.

Altar cloth and/or candle colors: Sky blue or metallic
Flowers and plants: Birds of paradise, passionflowers, orchids, hydrangeas, starflowers, night sky petunias, irises, and/or happy alien flower
Herbs and spices: Star anise, ginkgo, valerian, skullcap, spikenard, unicorn root, and/or coffee beans
Stones and metals: Labradorite, rainbow obsidian, spirit quartz, angelite, and/or electricity conductors like aluminum or silver
Incense: Lemon, bergamot, and/or eucalyptus
Foods: Pop Rocks, freeze-dried “space foods,” kombucha, mousse, and/or anything with surprising or discordant flavors
Symbols: Clouds, batteries, light bulbs, kaleidoscopes, and/or anything that represents electricity, the sky, or revolutionary change

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Altars for Neptune

Select any of the following items to honor Neptune, the planet of dreams and illusions.

Altar cloth and/or candle colors: Blue or seafoam green
Flowers and plants: Water lilies, lotuses, seaweed, and/or kelp
Herbs and spices: Hemp, blue lotus, mugwort, valerian, passionflower, and/or marshmallow root
Stones and metals: Pearls, coral, beach glass, beach stones, and/or seashells
Incense: Blue lotus, belladonna, and/or poppy
Foods: Seaweed, watermelon, sea grapes, and/or sea buckthorn
Symbols: Seawater, sea salt, seashells, beach glass, sand, driftwood, and/or anything that represents dreams, glamour, escape, or illusion to you

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Altars for Pluto

Select any of the following items to honor Pluto, the planet of power, wealth, and the underworld.

Altar cloth and/or candle colors: Black, deep purple, or crimson
Flowers and plants: Venus flytrap and/or any black, crimson, or dark purple flowers
Herbs and spices: Wormwood, burdock, black cumin, black caraway, black cohosh, black walnut, and/or fennel
Stones and metals: Onyx, black tourmaline, obsidian, and/or ruby
Incense: Patchouli, vetiver, dragon’s blood, and/or myrrh
Foods: Pomegranates, dark chocolate, black truffle, and/or mushrooms of all kinds
Symbols: Pomegranates, treasures found underground, phoenixes, nocturnal creatures, and/or anything that represents death, decay, or regeneration

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Altars for Chiron

Select any of the following items to honor Chiron, the minor planet that represents what we are learning from and healing.

Altar cloth and/or candle colors: Brown or green
Flowers and plants: Cornflowers, horse chestnut, and/or any plant hybrids
Herbs and spices: Yarrow, rosemary, vervain, echinacea, black bryony, and/or sage
Stones and metals: Amethyst, emerald, quartz, and/or charoite
Incense: Frankincense, sandalwood, and/or sage
Foods: Oats, grapes, any foraged fruits or vegetables, and/or dried meat
Symbols: Horseshoes, leather, healing herbs, centaurs, horses, bows and arrows, books, keys, and/or anything that evokes hands

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Altars for the nodes of the Moon

Select any of the following items to honor the lunar nodes, the points that signify what we are striving for (in the case of the North Node) or releasing (in the case of the South Node).

Altar cloth and/or candle colors: Black, red, or silver
Flowers and plants: Snapdragons, dragon arum, snake plants, cobra lilies, and/or any red or black flowers
Herbs and spices: Ginseng, devil’s claw, ashwagandha, maca, and/or ginkgo biloba (for the North Node); tamarind, tarragon, eucalyptus, senna, and/or ginger root (for the South Node)
Stones and metals: Silver, dragon stone, obsidian, onyx, and/or black tourmaline
Incense: Dragon’s blood and/or myrrh
Foods: Dragon fruit, snake fruit, and/or anything that stimulates your appetite (for the North Node); anything that helps you digest (for the South Node)
Symbols: Snakes, snakeskin, dragons, and/or ouroboros

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Altars for Black Moon Lilith

Select any of the following items to honor Black Moon Lilith, the point that represents the wild, untamed, and defiant parts of us.

Altar cloth and/or candle colors: Black or scarlet
Flowers and plants: Hellebore, belladonna, black hyacinths, black petunias, queen of night tulips, and/or any dark or night-blooming flowers
Herbs and spices: Blue lotus, jezebel root, evening primrose, and/or black pepper
Stones and metals: Onyx, black diamond, and/or smoky quartz
Incense: Oud, patchouli, vetiver, black copal, storax, and/or myrrh
Foods: Pomegranates, figs, apples, and/or dark chocolate
Symbols: Serpents, owls, anything that represents the night to you, and/or anything that reminds you of your resistance, defiance, holy rage, or refusal