The Lycian Sanctuary

The two main candles on our altar represent the Divine Lord and Lady. The colors of the candles must be red and white, with the red candle always on the north side and white candle on the south.

The colors do not symbolize any notions of purity or passion which are arbitrarily assigned as masculine or feminine qualities. The colors represent instead the fluid which issues forth from men as semen, and from women as the monthly blood.
THE BOOK OF THE LAW

Here we place a book which speaks to us of the Laws of Nature and therefore the Divine. Usually the Tarot is used, but any book that one feels meets the above requirement is suitable, barring none.
These three candles represent the three luminescent quadrants; that is the quadrants through which the sun passes by rising in the east, passing the south and setting in the west. These quadants during the night also have within their range the three first magnitude stars, known as the watcher stars, of Aldebaran in Taurus, Regulus in Leo and Antares in Scorpio.
THE DARK CANDLE

This candle represents the northern quadrant, which is the known as the "dark quarter." In the northern hemisphere, the sun in its motion across the sky will always cast a shadow on the north side of any object, a building or tree for instance, and so that is the dark side. We represent this quadrant by an unlit candle placed in the northwest corner of our altar.
The dagger is representative of air and is stationed in the west. We in the Lycian Tradition use the dagger, in addition to its usual meanings, as an initiate's tool. Therefore, it can only be worn within a Lycian Circle by initiates and denotes the trust we have in someone's training and sense of responsibility, to wield a potentially dangerous weapon.
The chalice is representative of water and is stationed in the north. This is the dark quadrant and symbolizes the unknown. The greatest part of any body of water is obstructed by reflections on its surface. This is symbollic of our hidden emotions, intuitions, psychic abilities and subconscious minds which are usually below the everyday surface of the conscious self.
The wand is representative of fire and is stationed in the south. This is the brightest quadrant and symbolizes the known. This is the realm of the conscious self; the everyday personality functioning in the mundane world. It is also symbollic of our will, which sets goals for us to accomplish.
The pantacle is representative of earth and is stationed in the east. The spelling of the word pantacle is unfamiliar to many and has the meaning of "talisman" or "amulet." We in the Lycian Tradition use this word instead of "pentacle" because we do not necessarily have a pentagram on our paten. What we do have is our tradition symbolized by those things that make us unique from other traditions, that is our specific Wheel and Four Kingdoms.

A Lycian Altar
 Move cursor over the various items for more information.

A Lycian altar is very adaptable to individual tastes and needs. The essential items of a Lycian altar are as follows:

1. Dagger on the western side.

2. Pantacle on the eastern side.

3. Chalice on the northern side.

4. Wand on the southern side.

5. Book of the Law in the center.

6. Red candle on the north side of the book.

7. White candle on the south side of the book.

These items MUST be on the altar for it to be considered "Lycian," however, additional items can be added to these, as the need arises or is desired, and it still be considered a Lycian altar as it has the "essential" items that define it as such.