How to Make a Rotating Seasonal Altar Wheel: Wheel of the Year Sacred Space

Turn with the Seasons, Spin with the Year

The earth turns, the seasons change, the wheel of the year spins endlessly. Our spiritual practices are meant to align with these natural cycles—celebrating the sabbats, honoring the seasons, marking the turning points of light and dark, growth and rest. But constantly redecorating your entire altar for each season or sabbat can be time-consuming and disruptive. What if your altar could turn with the wheel of the year? What if you could simply rotate your altar to align with the current season, revealing the appropriate decorations, colors, and symbols without having to rebuild everything?

A rotating seasonal altar wheel makes this possible. It's a circular altar platform divided into sections—typically eight for the eight sabbats, or four for the four seasons—that rotates to bring the current season to the front. Each section is permanently decorated for its season or sabbat, so transitioning your altar is as simple as turning the wheel. This ingenious design honors the cyclical nature of time, makes seasonal transitions effortless, and creates a beautiful, dynamic altar that literally embodies the turning of the year.

This tutorial will teach you how to create a rotating seasonal altar wheel using various methods and materials. Whether you want a simple four-season wheel or an elaborate eight-sabbat design, you'll learn to craft an altar that turns with time itself.

Why a Rotating Seasonal Altar Wheel?

Effortless transitions: Simply rotate to change seasons—no redecorating needed.

Honors cycles: Physical representation of wheel of the year.

Space-efficient: All seasonal items in one compact altar.

Always prepared: Next season's decorations already in place.

Beautiful symbolism: Altar literally turns with the year.

Unique design: Conversation piece and functional art.

Teaches cycles: Visual reminder of nature's rhythms.

Reduces clutter: No boxes of seasonal decorations to store.

Planning Your Wheel

Number of Sections

Four sections (Seasons):

• Spring (Ostara/Beltane)
• Summer (Litha/Lammas)
• Autumn (Mabon/Samhain)
• Winter (Yule/Imbolc)
• Simpler, larger sections
• Good for beginners

Eight sections (Sabbats):

• Samhain (Oct 31)
• Yule (Winter Solstice)
• Imbolc (Feb 1-2)
• Ostara (Spring Equinox)
• Beltane (May 1)
• Litha (Summer Solstice)
• Lammas (Aug 1)
• Mabon (Autumn Equinox)
• More detailed, smaller sections
• For dedicated practitioners

Twelve sections (Zodiac/Months):

• One section per zodiac sign or month
• Very detailed
• Advanced project

Size Considerations

Small (12-18 inches diameter):

• Personal altar
• Limited space
• Portable

Medium (18-24 inches diameter):

• Standard altar size
• Good balance of detail and practicality
• Most versatile

Large (24-36 inches diameter):

• Elaborate displays
• Group rituals
• Statement piece

Materials & Supplies

Base & Platform

• Lazy Susan bearing (rotating mechanism) - $8-25
• Wood rounds or circles (2 needed) - $15-40
• Or plywood cut to circles - $10-30
• Screws - $3-6

Dividers

• Thin wood strips - $5-15
• Or paint/burn divisions - $0
• Small wooden dowels - $3-8

Decoration Materials

• Paint (various colors) - $15-40
• Wood stain - $8-20
• Varnish or sealer - $10-20
• Decorative elements (see seasonal sections) - $20-100

Tools

• Saw or jigsaw (for cutting circles) - $30-100
• Drill - $30-100
• Sandpaper - $5-10
• Paintbrushes - $8-20
• Compass or string (for drawing circles) - $3-10
• Protractor (for dividing sections) - $3-8

Method 1: Simple Lazy Susan Wheel (Easiest)

Difficulty: Beginner | Time: 3-5 hours + dry time | Cost: $30-80

Use a lazy Susan bearing for easy rotation—simple and effective.

Instructions:

1. Purchase or cut two wood circles: Same size, 18-24 inches diameter
2. Sand both circles smooth
3. Divide top circle into sections:
4. Find center point
5. Use protractor to mark divisions (90° for 4 sections, 45° for 8)
6. Draw lines from center to edge
7. Paint or stain base circle
8. Paint sections on top circle:
9. Each section in seasonal colors
10. Or leave natural and add decorations later
11. Seal both circles
12. Attach lazy Susan bearing:
13. Center bearing between circles
14. Screw bottom plate to base circle
15. Screw top plate to rotating circle
16. Test rotation (should spin smoothly)
17. Decorate each section
18. Consecrate wheel

Method 2: Divided Wheel with Raised Sections

Difficulty: Intermediate | Time: 6-10 hours | Cost: $50-120

Physical dividers create distinct sections—more elaborate and defined.

Instructions:

1. Create base as in Method 1
2. Cut thin wood strips for dividers:
3. Height: 1-2 inches
4. Length: radius of circle
5. Number: 4 or 8 (depending on sections)
6. Attach dividers to top circle:
7. Glue and nail from center to edge
8. Evenly spaced
9. Creates pie-slice sections
10. Sand dividers smooth
11. Paint or stain entire wheel
12. Decorate each section between dividers
13. Attach to lazy Susan bearing
14. Test rotation

Method 3: Painted Wheel of the Year

Difficulty: Intermediate | Time: 8-12 hours + dry time | Cost: $40-100

Elaborate painted design—artistic and beautiful.

Instructions:

1. Create base wheel as in Method 1
2. Design wheel layout:
3. Sketch on paper first
4. Plan colors, symbols, and decorations for each section
5. Transfer design to wood:
6. Lightly pencil design
7. Or use stencils
8. Paint each section:
9. Background colors first
10. Let dry between colors
11. Add symbols and details
12. Sabbat names or dates
13. Seasonal imagery
14. Optional: Add 3D elements:
15. Glue small items (acorns, shells, etc.)
16. Attach crystals
17. Add dried flowers
18. Seal entire wheel (multiple coats)
19. Attach to bearing

Method 4: Modular Removable Sections

Difficulty: Advanced | Time: 10-15 hours | Cost: $60-150

Sections can be removed and rearranged—ultimate flexibility.

Instructions:

1. Create base circle with lazy Susan
2. Create individual section pieces:
3. Cut pie-slice shapes from wood
4. Each piece fits into wheel like puzzle
5. Slightly smaller than section (easy to remove)
6. Decorate each piece separately
7. Add small handles or knobs to pieces (easy removal)
8. Place pieces on wheel
9. Can rearrange or swap out as needed

Decorating Each Section

Samhain (Oct 31 - Death & Ancestors)

Colors: Black, orange, deep purple

Symbols: Skulls, pumpkins, autumn leaves, crows

Items: Photos of ancestors, black candles, pomegranate, apples

Crystals: Obsidian, smoky quartz, jet

Yule (Winter Solstice - Rebirth of Sun)

Colors: Red, green, gold, white

Symbols: Evergreens, holly, mistletoe, sun wheel

Items: Pine cones, cinnamon sticks, gold candles, bells

Crystals: Clear quartz, bloodstone, garnet

Imbolc (Feb 1-2 - First Stirrings of Spring)

Colors: White, pale yellow, light green

Symbols: Brigid's cross, candles, snowdrops, lambs

Items: White candles, milk, seeds, Brigid doll

Crystals: Moonstone, amethyst, clear quartz

Ostara (Spring Equinox - Balance & Renewal)

Colors: Pastels, yellow, pink, light green

Symbols: Eggs, rabbits, flowers, butterflies

Items: Decorated eggs, spring flowers, seeds, feathers

Crystals: Rose quartz, aquamarine, green aventurine

Beltane (May 1 - Fertility & Fire)

Colors: Bright green, red, pink, white

Symbols: Maypole, flowers, bees, ribbons

Items: Fresh flowers, ribbons, honey, red candles

Crystals: Emerald, rose quartz, carnelian

Litha (Summer Solstice - Peak of Light)

Colors: Gold, yellow, orange, bright green

Symbols: Sun, sunflowers, oak, fire

Items: Sunflowers, citrus, gold candles, herbs

Crystals: Citrine, tiger's eye, amber, sunstone

Lammas (Aug 1 - First Harvest)

Colors: Gold, brown, orange, yellow

Symbols: Wheat, bread, corn, sickle

Items: Grain, bread, corn dollies, wheat stalks

Crystals: Citrine, peridot, carnelian

Mabon (Autumn Equinox - Second Harvest)

Colors: Orange, red, brown, gold

Symbols: Apples, grapes, cornucopia, balance

Items: Apples, wine, acorns, autumn leaves

Crystals: Amber, topaz, citrine, jasper

Using Your Rotating Wheel

Transitioning Seasons

1. As sabbat or season approaches:
2. Rotate wheel to bring next section to front
3. Can do gradually (few days before) or on exact date
4. Speak transition prayer or intention
5. Light candle in new section
6. Make offering appropriate to season
7. Update any perishable items (flowers, food)

Daily Practice

• Current season always at front/center
• Light candle in current section daily
• Make offerings in current section
• Can rotate slightly to see other sections (preview/review)

Ritual Use

• Rotate wheel during ritual to mark transitions
• Spin wheel to show full year cycle
• Use as teaching tool for wheel of the year

Consecrating Your Wheel

1. Cleanse entire wheel: Smoke cleanse
2. Charge in full moon: Represents full cycle
3. Anoint center point: Sacred oil
4. Dedicate each section:
5. Rotate to each section
6. Speak its name and purpose
7. Light candle in that section
8. Complete full rotation
9. Seal: Thank the wheel for its service

Consecration prayer:

"I consecrate this wheel as a sacred representation of the turning year. May it help me honor each season, celebrate each sabbat, and align with nature's rhythms. As this wheel turns, so turns the year. As the year turns, so turns my practice. The wheel turns, and I turn with it. So it is."

Care & Maintenance

Regular Care

• Dust gently
• Check bearing—should rotate smoothly
• Tighten screws if needed
• Update perishable decorations seasonally

Seasonal Refresh

• Touch up paint annually
• Replace worn decorations
• Re-seal wood every few years
• Energetically cleanse quarterly

The Wheel Turns

"The wheel of the year turns, and we turn with it." This is one of the fundamental truths of earth-based spirituality—we are not separate from nature's cycles; we are part of them. The seasons change within us as they change around us. We, too, have times of growth and rest, light and dark, planting and harvest.

A rotating altar wheel makes this truth tangible. It's not just a metaphor—it's a physical object that literally turns with the year. Each time you rotate your wheel to mark a new season, you're participating in the great turning, aligning yourself with the earth's rhythms, acknowledging that you are part of this endless cycle of change and return.

Your wheel turns, the year turns, you turn. All is cycle, all is change, all returns.

Create Your Turning Altar

You now have everything you need to create a rotating seasonal altar wheel that will help you honor the turning of the year.

Start with a simple four-section wheel or go elaborate with eight sabbats. Decorate each section with love and intention. When you rotate your wheel for the first time, feel the satisfaction of physical alignment with the seasons, the ease of transition, the beauty of the turning year made manifest.

Your wheel awaits. Let's create some cyclical magic.

May your wheel turn smoothly, your seasons be honored, and your practice align with nature's eternal rhythms. Happy creating! 🔄✨