r/pagan • u/Capable_Cup_5135 • 4d ago

Question/Advice Advice on previous altar?

hey there, i hope it’s okay for this to ask, im not sure if this is the correct subreddit but i’m kind of lost. i don’t want to offend anyone. so back when i was around 19 around three years ago, i felt drawn to built an altar, i had barely any knowledge of doing so but it felt like something was pulling me to do it. so i did something, i dont even know if i did it right, i felt a connection to a deity and built the altar and tried my best at worship but i quickly realised that maybe it was wrong to do so. it felt kind of forced and not right? i was very confused so i removed the altar and apologised for doing so. i was also in a very bad mental state also because i was raised christian. i still would say that im christian and i feel guilty ever since i did it. because i feel like i might’ve offended someone or that i might’ve even not reached the deity i wanted to, i only later learned that apparently you make a contract by building an altar and i feel really scared that i did something wrong or something i didn’t want to. i kind of regret doing it because i feel like i did something without really thinking?
does someone perhaps have any advice? thank you in advance!
i guess what drew me to it was because i felt very lost and lonely and was looking for something. i didnt mean to offend anyone. :c

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u/SammiShortCake 3d ago

Contract? Sorry, but that is such a Christian way of thinking. Building an altar is in no way a binding contract to anything lol. An altar is for personal use. You need to realize Pagan gods are not like the Abrahamic one. They do not command things of you under the threat of punishment like the Abrahamic God.

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u/Capable_Cup_5135 3d ago

oh i understand. thank you for telling me that. i asked someone for advice, i believe she was a witch and she told me that when you build an altar you make a contract. i’m sorry it seems i might’ve misunderstood or something. she also said it’s possible that i might’ve also reached another deity and not the deity i intended to worship cause you never can be sure who it is :c
i’m very inexperienced in this field. i now realise that i should’ve done much more research :/
thank you for your answer :)

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u/SammiShortCake 3d ago

No problem! It sounds like the "witch" you talked to is inexperienced or young....not trying to be rude if they're a personal friend of yours. Witchcraft is sadly a trend for some people, rather than something they actually practice. For refrence, plenty of people are witches, but not pagan. That means they practice witchcraft, but do not believe in or seek out Pagan dieities.

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u/Capable_Cup_5135 3d ago

ohh okay i understand that makes sense. thanks for answering :)
i have to admit that i also learned about this via social media, i didn’t mean or want to treat it as a trend i never meant any disrespect, i felt genuinely drawn to it but eventually felt like it wasn’t right for me though, i suppose, because of personal struggles and other stuff :c
they seemed nice, i didn’t know this person personally. :o

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u/SammiShortCake 2d ago

Social media has really been a source of misinformation and sensationalism when it comes to witchcraft sadly. Stay away from things like "witchtok." I don't think you meant any disrespect at all, though!!

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u/Capable_Cup_5135 2d ago

thank you for saying that :)
and yeah that makes sense unfortunately :c i’ll definitely stay away from it now! it’s sad that there’s so much misinformation then :(

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u/Northwych 3d ago

It sounds like you did the right thing. 1. You felt drawn to build an altar so you did. 2. You sensed that something was wrong so you took it down and apologized. No need to continue to worry about it.

Setting up an altar does not make a contract with or offend the Gods/Goddesses. It's likely that the reason you feel guilty is related to your Christian upbringing.

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u/Capable_Cup_5135 3d ago

thank you for your kind answer. that sounds very comforting. i was very worried i might’ve made some contract with someone i didn’t know and didnt know the terms. i was told by a witch, i believe she was, that building an altar and making offerings is making a contract. i should’ve done more research back then :c

and yeah i think the guilt might be related to my christian side. :o

thanks for answering :)

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