I can't set up an altar

My parents are SERIOUS Christians, and they would probably try to disown me if they found out I was practicing Magick. Because of this, I can't set up an altar to cast spells. Is it okay to cast spells anywhere else? I usually cast them on top of a small bookshelf that I have.

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Altars don't have to be large and extravagant or scream "magic!" They don't have to be permanent either.
You can make an altar from anything you have around the house. Tell your family that you're redecorating or just put your altar stuff in a box under your bed when you're finished using it.
Heck, you can even use a flat stone outside as a simple altar.

I, personally, do not cast spells. But,so far as I know,you do not need an altar to cast spells! A spell is a ritual wish.Like a prayer.The difference is that a prayer is "asking" for help from a higher authority,God, or a Saint. A spell is a do-it-yourself operation. You perform a ritual,and make the wish. I do not think that you really need an altar.

This thread has been moved to Misc Topics from Site Spells Discussion.

The only practical use I have for an altar during rituals is to hold candles and other correspondences on....

For this reason I use my bedside table, or my drawer. I make do with what I have. Most people will tell you that you need a whole separate room set aside for magick and mediation. I live in the real world where this is not widely available for most people, I use whatever room I have the most privacy in.

The altar does have symbolic attributes attached to it, however, nothing which you yourself cannot already represent. It is a glorified table

I don't use an altar often - not my style - but when I need one, I use a chair which is constantly kept in the corner of my room. One of those decorative type ones that usually just has a blanket thrown over it.

If you don't mind me asking, is an altar necessary to your practice? I know a few paths need it but if you're worried about your parents finding out, there are multiple other routes you can take in the meantime which camouflage nicely.

Thanks a lot to everyone who replied! Its good to know spell-casting will be easier to hide from my parents now.