“In my kitchen filled with care I welcome water, earth, fire and Air”
The elements are the very essence of life, the essence of magic, and therefor are the perfect place to start. The five elements of Earth, Air, Fire, Water and Spirit provide all the necessary context to begin your magical journey, and are the way to begin attunement to your and the world’s energy.
When it comes time to build your own sacred altar, it’s very important to make sure these elements are represented, otherwise you will be unable to fully attune. Do not go rushing to find your elements just yet though! I mention this so you can open yourself up to calls of items that may be perfect to adorn your scared space when that day comes.
Air is, in my opinion, raw true power. It is knowledge, courage and clarity of purpose. Air provides detachment from the burdens that restrict us and gives us the power to move forward; lighter than air. I like keeping a feather at my altar, candles, incense or essential oils are other popular choices and are usually present at mine as well, you can also get a cute little bell to ring (assuming it won’t summon any critters) to help clear the clouds around your senses and allow the magic to reach you.
Earth is the rock in the ground that won’t budge. The foot you put down that you refuse to lift. Earth, as the element of stability and grounding, is the place for manifestation to begin. Earth is around us in nature and with us in her many gifts. I like keeping a propagation of some sort by my altar to represent earth (as it’s by a nice window!) but a pinch of garden soil, a beautiful geode, or another popular favorite, a small bowl of salt are all great choices to keep you grounded to natures gifts and braced securely while channeling magic at your altar.
Fire is the energy that makes life fun. It’s the creative drive for passionate pursuits, it’s the passion in your belly when deeply in love. It is strength and protection and as it burns, it fuels change. Candles are popular for fire too (Air and Fire with one item is nice), though I have a nice wedge of wood I claimed from the sea at my altar, but you can use anything that could be used as fuel or just about anything red! Fire helps fuel your spells and realize transformative power.
Water is the element I have learned to work with the most. It is the element of emotional well being, of healing and nurturing. But it’s true power is in the power of reflection, heightening our intuition and supporting our growth. I would like to find a shell that calls to me on my next trip to the beach to represent water, but for now-I simply have a small bowl that I add fresh water to at ritual time to set my intent and let the healing energies flow, for some rituals I’ll add moon water.
Spirit is the divine. It is the things bigger than ourselves that are also parts of ourselves. The Life Force, and our connection to it. The source from which magic flows and the embodiment of our eternal selves. My item of choice is a crystal ball with a Moon Goddess insignia etched into it. Crystal balls are a popular choice, a mirrors or pictures of self or family are other common options, some witches prefer small figurines.
The elements lay the groundwork for everything that comes next. Be sure to spend sometime exploring the elements for yourself, finding the items that connect you to them and figure out where the magic calls you. You may find a certain element is constantly impacting your life, for good or for worse, and you can then take action to encourage the good or rebalance the bad.
If you’re interested in a relaxing mediation that also is a nice alternative lens on 4 of the 5 elements (allowing you to complete the 5th yourself), I highly recommend you set up a comfy space and listen to The Zen Master Meditations from Cyberpunk 2077, maybe I’m biased as I adore this game, but I find these sequences incredibly grounding whether I’m playing the game, or just letting this audio play while in a comfy chair.
Blessed Be
Z's Grimoire 
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