The Book of Altars and Sacred Spaces: How to Create Magical Spaces in Your Home for Ritual and Intention

by Anjou Kiernan

The Book of Altars and Sacred Spaces shows you how to curate over 50 magical spaces throughout your home that artfully and intentionally observe seasonal celebrations.

Anjou Kiernan, creator of the Light of Anjou online witchery shop and apothecary and named “One of the Magical Women on Instagram You Should Be Following” by Refinery 29, shows you how to create altars and sacred spaces based on the Wheel of the Year . Simple rituals and DIY projects give you the tools you need to mindfully reflect upon the seasonal Sabbats and holidays.

Whether building a sacred fire pit for Beltane or Feast Table for the Autumn Equinox, learn how to honor the sacred doorways of the year and bring magic into your daily life .

Genres: Nonfiction, Witchcraft, Paganism, Spirituality, Magick

176 pages, Hardcover

Published June 16, 2020

Reviews

[Sam (Hissing Potatoes) · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book includes wonderful ideas for seasonal altars based on the framework of the Celtic Wheel of the Year. I really like the way the book emphasizes the reasoning and meaning behind the different altars, decorations, and rituals, especially as they tie into the cycle of the sun.

Unfortunately the author sprinkles in the most surface-level "examples" from various cultures, including closed cultures, to lend weight to her justifications/explanations for the discussed practices. I appreciate the acknowledgment of where some practices come from, but examples being limited to a single sentence are incredibly misleading if not appropriative since they're so completely separated from the originating culture at large.

For example, the author discusses corn dolls as a generic Native American practice in the past tense and uses the incredibly misleading, soft language of Europeans colonists "adopting" that practice later. There's a whole lot of history and current injustice that needs to be understood before even contemplating "adopting" the practices of a closed and oppressed culture.

When she's not mish-mashing specific cultures into a single paragraph, the author frequently uses the unnuanced catch-all phrase "ancient Pagans." It doesn't help that there is not a single source listed anywhere in this book. (I'd really like to know why the author credits Persephone's fruit as an apple instead of a pomegranate.)

All in all, read this book for some good ideas for seasonally symbolic altars and rituals, but discard anything about specific cultures (or at least take it with a huge grain of salt and use that sentence to inspire much further research).

[Maya]

Disclaimer: I read this as an e-book from the library and the formatting wasn't as intended. Because images were central to the book, this likely affected my experience.

That said, I didn't feel connected to this book. It seemed like a melding of many traditions within single descriptions that often times lacked grounding. Greek, Gaelic, "Native American" (not a homogenous group by any means), and others were often grouped into a single paragraph or short description. As far as its storytelling, descriptions dominated without conveying an emotional sense of the rhythm of the year and of what it felt/feels like to experience each holiday or holiday season. The ancient and modern were mixed too. I would have appreciated more of a distinction for my own education along the lines of: these were traditional practices; building upon those, these are ways that people infused the traditional and modern. These were primary missing components for me.

Fall was by far the strongest, perhaps because as Americans our practices of Halloween and the fall season incorporate many of these elements.

Tip: I searched for the author online while reading as I felt like I was missing something. Her Instagram is appealing and rich in imagery.

[Chrystopher’s Archive · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great handbook/resource!

I really liked the breakdown of altar decorations and activities, as well as the concordances of themes, materials, and deities. A LOT of information packaged really well in a way that wasn't overwhelming at all. It's also a really attractive book with lovely pictures.

I definitely intend to add this one to my personal library.

[V. · Rating 4 out of 5]

{I was provided a copy from NetGalley in exchange for a review}

A nice beginner book. I think at a quick glance, it looks like the other million basic or introductory witchcraft books out there, but it really does quite a lovely job of focusing specifically on ritual and altar, and doing that away from particular traditions or sects. The pagan "history" is brief but a decent summation of what most modern practice is based on and the photos are just gorgeous. It's perfect for folks who are starting to step into their spirituality and are drawn to the idea of ritual, practice and altar-making, and that's why I love it. It's quite detailed in ways to set up altars for different sabbats and rituals to practice at those times. It's a refreshing take on how to start building a practice that's tied to the seasons -- which we all experience -- and is accessible to just about anyone, which as a bookseller, I really like.

[Vin · Rating 2 out of 5]

I feel like the title of this is misleading. I walked into this book thinking it would be an overview of altars based on different aspects of craft (deity work, personal altars, shrines, etc.) and was rather disappointed to find out that it was more of an overview of religious holidays and the altars and rituals that one could perform for them. The content is fine, a bit basic and trite but there's nothing wrong with the information or the way it's assembled it's just not what I expected. The highlight of this book is the beautiful photography and the altars they depict. I saw another reviewer say this has a "table top" book kind of feel. I feel like this is the type of flip book you would read at a spiritual gyno office or maybe in line at a crystal shop. 2 1/2 stars.

[Freyjasdottir · Rating 3 out of 5]

Some nice Instagram worthy pictures of altars, also has some interesting suggestions for celebrating the Wheel of the Year, the text on the holidays themselves is nothing special, the same sort of pseudohistory you can find in any Wicca 101 book.

[Ophelia Feyre · Rating 4 out of 5]

Book Review: The Book of Altars and Sacred Spaces: How to create magical spaces in your home for ritual and intention. By Anjou Kiernan
Genre: Religion and Spirituality / Health, Mind and Body
Publisher: Quarto Publishing Group - Fair Winds Press
Release Date: 16th June, 2020

I loved this book!

As soon as I saw that it was by Anjou Kiernan I knew I would enjoy it. I follow Anjou (lightofanjou) on instagram and her profile has a beautiful aesthetic. She also creates amazing witchy products for her online store. If you don't already know about her then I recommend looking her up, even just for her witchy words of wisdom.

The title of the book sums up nicely what you can expect to find within its pages; how to create an altar and sacred space in your home. However, this book is so much more than that...

Each chapter explores a festival from the Wheel of the Year. The idea being that in Wicca and Witchcraft you decorate your altar, sacred space or home in accordance with the time of year. Kiernan faithfully explores the Witchcraft Wheel of the Year by providing the history, traditions, customs surrounding each festival and Sabbat. This is especially useful for people new to the practice as it provides reasoning behind the altar correspondences and reasons for the different celebrations.

One thing I found really useful within each chapter is the a 'quick guide' box to the Sabbat and things you may include on an altar or within your home. For example: colours, candles, crystals, flowers and herbs that all suit the time of year. As well as decorating an altar or space, Kiernan provides beautifully detailed ways of commemorating and celebrating each season. Therefore I can definitely see myself using this as a reference book that I will keep coming back to throughout the year.

As soon as I started reading I felt a connection with the words. Kiernan has a lovely way with words and she captures beautifully what Witchcraft and the role of an altar is to me. Even though I already have an altar set up at home, I still felt like I had something to learn from this book. I don't believe it's just for people new to the world of Wicca and Witchcraft. It has helped me to consider the role my altar currently serves and how I can use it more within my practice as a constant, never-ending ritual.

After reading the book I know now that I want to bring more purpose to my altar so that it better serves my intentions. As well as decorating an altar for the current season I want it to signify my current rituals and intentions.

As I received an EARC of this book the images were not included in full colour as they would be in the physical copy of the book. Following lightofanjou on instagram I know that the images will be stunning and an integral part of the book. They illustrate a lot of the ideas and concepts that the book discusses; offering a source of inspiration. Overall I think this book would be a fantastic addition to any witchy bookshelf.

[Richard Propes · Rating 4 out of 5]

Anjou Kiernan's "The Book of Altars and Sacred Spaces: How to Create Magical Spaces in Your Home for Ritual and Intention" is a valuable introduction to and reference for those individuals who embrace the "magickal" path of spirituality including Wicca, Paganism, and other earth-centered spiritual paths.

I must confess that I didn't quite realize when I first opted to request an Advanced Reader's Copy, though looking back the introduction and marketing material certainly suffices and I was simply caught up in the idea of a book related to home-based altars/sacred spaces.

My bad.

While I wouldn't describe myself as the target population for "The Book of Altars and Sacred Spaces," I'm familiar enough with the topic to appreciate the author's knowledge of the subject, splendid photographs, and journey through the seasonal Sabbats and holidays.

The mission of the book is to teach how to create altars and sacred spaces based upon the Wheel of the Year. Kiernan takes us through the main dates and seasons of the year and offers concrete ideas for building of such altars and sacred spaces utilizing a variety of elements, spices, herbs, plants, foods, items, and many other things. She's precise, yet many of her ideas are fluid and easy to individualize.

Even as someone outside the realm of the target market for this book, I found much of the information shared to be familiar knowledge yet it's nicely organized and thorough in presentation. This is a beautifully produced, simply written book that could easily be a table book and would look beautiful within one's home.

Kiernan is creator of the Light of Anjou online witchery shop and apothecary and was named “One of the Magical Women on Instagram You Should Be Following” by Refinery 29. You can simply feel from each page in the book that Kiernan lives these teachings and that gives "The Book of Altars and Spaces" a warmth and intimacy to be valued.

Cover over 50 different magical spaces, "The Book of Altars and Sacred Spaces: How to Create Magical Spaces in Your Home for Ritual & Intention" is due for release on June 16th by Fair Winds Press.

[Kay Porterfield · Rating 4 out of 5]

Anjou Kiernan fills The Book of Altars and Sacred spaces with a multitude of beautiful pictures of not only altars, but also table top arrangements as well as nooks and crannies. This is a book bursting with inspirational ideas for wonderfully witchy decor. I love how she integrates items that many people might already have. Her arrangements are eclectic and leave plenty of room for personalization. For example her list of materials for the Yule Reading Nook include a comfortable chair, blankets, dim lights, candles or twinkle lights, floor pillows, a quartz crystal, shelves, and books and with a Yuletide theme. She shows how to arrange everything and tie it together with colors. The book is structured around the year’s calendar beginning with the Midwinter Solstice and ending with Samhain. Each of the eight sections contains a number of projects. The Litha chapter includes ideas for a Litha altar, an outdoor shrine, a solar charging altar with crystals and candles, a healing altar, a witch beach bottle, and a wake for the sun table arrangement. In some instances the decor is inspired by ritual and in others, a simple ritual, which she shares, has inspired by decor. In addition to ideas for home beautification, Kiernan concerns herself with combining functionality and spirituality with spaces for spellwork and spaces for sacred baking. She also includes associations for candle colors, crystals and lists correspondences for each altar. Reading this book caused me to look at my space, my possessions, and how I can coordinate the two in a more harmonious, soul-satisfying way than I’ve done in the past.

[E B · Rating 3 out of 5]

A good eclectic resource for intermediate witches who already have a few books on correspondences in their collection and want to start dipping their toes in deity worship or ritual work. I’d consider this much more a book about sabbat worship than altar craft and the author expects that you know your ingredients well already (ingredient lists frequently ask you to add “divination crystals” or “fertility herbs”).

As a Celtic practitioner I appreciate the author’s insistence that Lugh is a god of skill and learned ability - the sun god interpretation is an old outdated theory rejected by most scholars today. As always though, research as much as you can with real historical sources. Those who want to try the feast ritual supposedly honoring the death of Lugh’s mother for instance, should know that Lugh’s mother was a member of a supernatural monstrous race that originally oppressed the Irish pagan divinity class until the Irish gods defeated them (Lugh’s father was the Celtic god Cian), and in many retelling Lugh forces members of that monstrous race to teach them how to plow the land after their rule is cast off. This added context changes the feel of the story entirely and I’ve decided to adjust the ritual so it honors Cian instead and Lugh’s efforts to avenge him after his murder.

That being said, I was very impressed with the amount of thought that went into each section.

[Alan D.D. · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5
Aunque muy instructivo y lleno de actividades creativas, se me hizo un poco pesado por las descripciones floreadas al principio de cada altar. Sin embargo, te da una muy buena idea de cómo trabajar con cada una de las festividades, cómo montar un altar para determinados propósitos y da muchas correspondencias para cada fecha. Hay opciones tanto económicas como otras un poco más costosas, pero hay para todos los gustos, y las fotos son preciosas, muy evocadoras y creo que me gustaron mucho más que las ilustraciones.

Although very instructive and full of creative activities, I was a bit weighed down by the flowery descriptions at the beginning of each altar. However, it gives you a very good idea of how to work with each of the festivities, how to set up an altar for certain purposes and gives many correspondences for each date. There are both economic and slightly more expensive options, but there is something for everyone, and the photos are beautiful, very evocative and I think I liked them much more than the illustrations.

[Jennifer Sacasa-wright · Rating 5 out of 5]

Video Book Review
The Book of Altars and Sacred Spaces
How to Create Magical Spaces in Your
Home for Ritual and Intention
by Anjou Kiernan
177 Pages


“Beauty is in the eye of the beholder” and nothing is more inspiring than the creation of an altar that speaks to your intentions. Ready to manifest your intention? Learn more in this video edition book review by Robin Fennelly.

YouTube Video of Book Review Can Be Viewed at:

https://youtu.be/wilzhg_0dhI

Review Given by Robin Fennelly of PaganPages.org
https://paganpages.org/emagazine/2020...

[Andy · Rating 2 out of 5]

No bibliography despite making a number of claims that are contestable, especially concerning various deities and practices. Pictures are excellent, but unless you're willing to dump a bunch of money on supplies or think Wicca and witchcraft are synonymous, then the actual written content probably isn't all that useful for anything other than vague notions for various holidays.

[Renitta · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is full of lovely photos of the altars in question. That alone was was worth the price of admission. This is definitely geared more toward practitioners of Wicca and the like as the primary focus is on altars and spaces for the seasonal sabbats. That said, there are still ideas that can be applied across multiple faiths.

[Annarella · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's an excellent book for beginners or for getting new ideas about your altars.
It's well written and recommended to beginners.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine

[M Aghazarian · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cute coffee table type book. Very Ireland-/eurocentric. Some neat ideas for altar setups

[Katthew · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm poor, so I clearly can't afford to make any of these altars with the materials listed lol, but it has some good ideas and the pictures are cute i guess. would buy.

[Sherri · Rating 3 out of 5]

Accessible reference for altars and rituals across the wheel of the year. Beautiful photographs.

[Juli Anna · Rating 3 out of 5]

Lovely pictures and inspiration, but the information felt a little diluted.

[Rabbit · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5⭐️

[Luminoustaina TaínaMoodReader · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good information & read but it feels like more could’ve been added.Overall I like it

[Mandy Bookstagram · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley for gifting me a free digital ARC (e-book) of this title. I loved it! The Book of Altars and Sacred Spaces by Anjou Kiernan was an amazing read. I love books about the occult and I am proud to add this to my collection. This book explores the importance of an altar space and does a great job of explaining meaning and providing examples. I appreciate the focus on the different sabbats, with each space being personalized to fit every important time of year. This is a perfect read for novice and advanced practitioners of the craft; I think everyone could learn something from this book!

[Willow · Rating 3 out of 5]

I know I've said it a dozen times, but I really like altars and decorating them. Honestly, I just like home decor and the creativity that comes with placing items to make a beautiful scape. Needless to say, when I saw The Book of Altars and Sacred Spaces by Anjou Kiernan, I immediately jumped on the opportunity to read the book.

The Book of Altars and Sacred Spaces is a fairly short read, meaning you could sit down as flip through it in an afternoon. Kiernan breaks down the Wheel of the Year, describing each of the pagan holidays mixed with altar and scared space ideas for each. With about 50 ideas, Kiernan provides well-thought-out inspiration for new and old witches alike. Each idea comes with gorgeous pictures and a complete breakdown peppered with ritual on how to set up the altar and the symbolism behind each. I found myself mesmerized by the pictures and yearning to celebrate all the sabbats at once simply so I could use the ideas inspired by this book.

Unfortunately, the book, as I mentioned, is not very long. I was also hoping for more information on creating sacred space, instead of just how to set up different altars. While I certainly enjoyed the pictures, I felt this book is best as a table prop that you occasionally flip through when you are bored or looking for inspiration instead of an actual informational text you reference often. The information on the sabbats is very basic, and contains several of the common, historical fallacies found in other introductory books. This isn't to say that this information isn't useful (except for the historical inaccuracies). As I mentioned, Kiernan gives historical context for each of her altars, which is great for beginner witches struggling with the symbolism behind each sabbat. Furthermore, if you are anything like me, you learn best when information is coupled with ample visuals and this book does just that.

Overall, I was impressed with Kiernan's ideas and enjoyed flipping through the book. The Book of Altars and Sacred Spaces by Anjou Kiernan is currently available for pre-order, with a publication date of June 16, 2020. If you are struggling to find inspiration, this is definitely the book for you.