This scene tells the story of a young urban witch, setting the tools of her craft and items for ritual on an alter table in her bedroom. Of her magical possessions she owns, the most cherished is the wand that chose her; made of ash and unyielding like herself. The wand is her instrument for directing energy and indicating a sacred safe space around her. She comes to this alter every day to pray, cast spells, practice divination, and rituals that remind her of the power she has to enact change in the world and in her life. She finds comfort in her sense of agency and that there are tools such as these that help support her through life’s challenges.
To supplement the wand, I chose to include a set of crystals, a tarot deck, rune stones, and a book – all tools that those who practice witchcraft use regularly in their practice. Added pieces like the scarf, the hat, the plants, and the globe bring color and focus to the composition – surrounding the hero item in this story, the wand, at the center. Typically those who practice modern witchcraft will have an alter set up in their home that houses objects such as these, and will be laid out in a specific way for each season through the wheel of the year. The placement and choice of items corresponds with the themes from nature each month, or each season, of each year.