One common way to create an altar is to use a compass to determine which part of your altar faces north, south, east, and west. You can set it up accordingly: North typically represents earth, so that is where you may put your earth element such as dirt, flowers, or crystals. South represents fire, usually signified by a candle. East is the air, so you can put chimes, a bell, or incense in that space. And west is the water, so a small container of water or salt can be placed in that area. The center is usually saved for an item of spiritual significance or for the focus of your spell work.
