An altar is your main working tool storage area during a ritual.  Everything you need for your ritual, such as salt, candles, water, magickal weapons, food and drink, will be placed on the altar, ready for their use during the ritual.

        Altars do not need to have statues on them, although you may do so if you wish.

        A shrine is a devotional area to a specific deity or energy (such as a season of the year, element, planet, ancestors.)  It may be as simple or as elaborate as you like, and should contain only items that you feel appropiate to the nature of the shrine.  Examples of items that may be placed on the shrine include flowers, crystals, statues, pictures and candles.