DIY Traveling Altoids Tin Altar
How to put together a functional mini travel altar!
Please check out my youtube video below if you’d like to hear more about the items I choose to put in my altar. I go a bit more in depth and have alternative suggestions too! If you like this kind of content, make sure you check out the rest of my very first Vlogaween series!!
Vlogoween DIY Travelling Altar from an Altoids tin
First, Choose your container!
I’ve seen these Ouija ones used ALL over for various travel altars and other witchy things, so of course when I saw one in the wild for the first time (a Spirit of Halloween store) I scooped it up.
You can use the classic Altoids tins, tea tins, rubber band tins like the example I have here, or any other metal container. It could be wood or any other box, sure, but as you’ll see in the other pictures soon, metal works best because I have incorporated magnetic pieces into my set up!
I’m all about working smarter not harder…so I wanted to find a way to utilize the spacious lid area in more ways than one.
What I came up with, was designing a page of eight different “boards” making them magnetic and therefore interchangeable, so I could swap them out as I needed. This way, everything is secure, minimal and easily seen. I’ve tried this two ways and they both have their pros and cons.
The first way was to print this page out, individually cut out the boards and adhere them to a magnetic sheet. I couldn’t find a printable sheet like I’ve seen before, but I’m positive that would work well too.
The second way was a bit more experimental. I took one of those 2.5x3.5” photo magnet pockets and trimmed it down. I had to add tape again to one side so the papers would be secure, but it worked! This way I just shuffle through and put the one I want out front!
The designs are for pendulums, tarot cards, and crystal grids, with a sigil reference guide and the witches rede as well. These are all things I can fit in my travel altar and help me use the items I travel with!
I have it available for sale on my Etsy page if you’d like to pay, but I’m also offering it as a free download for visiting my website! See the green button below!
So moving on to the contents! In my Altar you will find
various boards to aid me in divination
A pendulum
A mini deck of Tarot cards
Paper and a pencil
A small container of gemstone chips
Candles (birthday size )
A die
A spinning washer nut (for holding the candle)
Sometimes herbs and flower pieces depending on my goals
I use Tarot in my daily practice. When I dont want to take a traditional sized deck, these little ones work great!
I printed them from dailytarotdraw.com here and they are the perfect size! I also used a mini clear elastic band to keep them together. There are so many free decks all over the internet, so be sure to look for the ones that resonate with you!
I love pendulums. They come in beautiful and elaborate gemstone combinations, they can be a ring on a necklace or even a bead on a string. As long as its a weighted string and you have a formed connection with the object, you’re good to go.
I have a found object pendulum that I like to use in my travel kit. Its literally an old bracelet with a crystal-like pendant from my goblin hoard attached to it. I feel it works just as well as the fancy Lapis Lazuli one that I spent good money on and even the smokey quartz point that I macrame wrapped myself. Intention is power and that’s what matters.
Crystals are my most used items in practice. I rarely leave the house without them. Most of the time it’s in the form of jewelry, but when I want to use them in multiples, the easiest way is to use crystal chip pieces. They are small enough to fit in the travel altar and still be used on the grids I’ve made. A recommend finding a small acrylic container or gossamer bag to keep them for safety and organization
You’ve got to have a candle!
I like to use birthday candles, but tealight candles work great too! Not only are they used in spell casting and fire rituals, but the smoke can cleanse and the wax can bind spell jars and other items too. I usually have incense and of course matches as well, but I don’t have them pictured here.
The spinning washer nut that the candle is siting in is just a piece of hardware from Lowes Hardware and works great for a cheap alternative to fancy candle holders.
I always include paper and pencil in my travel altar. You never know when you need to write something down for a spell and as a very visual person, I like to see my intentions written down. Sigils are also very interactive and I appreciate their tactile function. I included a board for the altar as a quick reminder how to design them like I do!
Last but not least, the Witch’s (Wiccan) Rede. I include this because I like the reminder. Its important to know that you get back what you put out into the world. Magic is about intention, its about balance. As long as you are not harming others, do what you’d like.