Nature Altars For The Solstice
Winter for most North Americans, is a season of short days and long nights, and often challenging weather, that inspires or requires stillness, resilience, taking stock, and stocking up. The quietness invites a state of contemplative hibernation. But darkness can also feel expansive and vast, like the night sky itself, which can leave us feeling vulnerable. Connecting with the wisdom of the season, by using nature as a backdrop for mindful, intentional reflection can bring comfort and inspiration. Winter reminds us that nothing is permanent, yet at the same time, even in a time of dark stillness, seeds are waiting to begin their everlasting cycle once more.
One way to tap into the wisdom of the season is to create a nature altar. By formal definition, an altar is “usually a raised structure or place upon which sacred acts are performed or sacred objects are displayed”.
This definition sounds big, formal, and imposing but in contemporary life, altars can be both secular and non-secular. They can be spiritual, non-spiritual, personal, and communal. Some people have a special shelf where they place gifts of special importance, or objects related to their ancestors or lost loved ones. Some people create an altar dedicated to objects they love and that remind them of things that reflect their beliefs. You don’t have to be a part of organized religion to create a space to hold important objects. And you don’t need an officiant to create a mindful ritual experience that can help you gather insight, resilience, strength, or peace in this season.
Ben Martin, a certified Life-Cycle Celebrant® in Colorado uses nature altars to bring into resonance a fleeting beauty that may only last for hours, or perhaps a day. One might question the value of creating something intentionally beautiful if it will only last a short time. But that is part of what Winter brings to us. The reality is we cannot focus only on what is everlasting. There is a deep value to paying tribute and harvesting gratitude for the gifts in life that are fleeting, or impermanent while we can.
