art of the altar

even in a time of intolerance

“We all have a part in shifting the story.”
—Joy Harjo, 23^rd US Poet Laureate

There is, in an overfull classroom,
a woman teaching not only history,
but compassion. There’s a barista
making hearts in the foam
of every cappuccino she serves.
There’s man helping another man
on crutches as he struggles to cross
the icy street. There’s a library room full of women
chanting about praying for their enemy.
There are students raising money
to help those with breast cancer and AIDS.
Two girls are laughing for the joy of laughing
’til their faces are tear-streaked
and their ribs and bellies are sore.
There’s a poet who pours courage and music
into every word she shares with the world.
And another woman hears those words
and thinks, “Me. That poet is talking to me.”
This is how we change the world one kind act,
one true word, one long laugh at a time. Because
now, that woman is ablaze with wondering:
What is my part in shifting the story?

—Rosemerry Wahtola Trommer

for years, altars have shown up for me in many forms….. nature altars, portals into the earth, trees with little altars at their base ~ i see altars everywhere, (not in the traditional sense of course…) a place where we can sit in meditation or prayer, no matter what our beliefs are. where we can arrange photos of loved ones and other cherished items to honor their beauty and story. where we can set intentions, share wishes and dreams. hopes and beliefs…. altars show up for me in paintings, drawings, nature, ….everywhere!

this post is an invitation to notice what looks or feels like an altar to you, or even to create your own unique altar and find a special space for it in your world.

altars in nature can become a final resting place for our beautiful winged friends.

these days, my altars are bringing more comfort than ever. i created each altar with intention, from the altar itself, to what is inside or surrounding it. they bring me joy and offer a place to be still and quiet, in deep gratitude. placing altars around our home invites us to stay in gratitude and remembering.

would you love to create your own altar? my online class, “art of the altar” walks you through my process step by step with detailed videos and photos for inspiration.

i’ve discounted the class 1/2 off for substack readers!! :)

this altar, honoring my mom who passed in 2008, has photos of her, a tiny seahorse and sand dollar that she found. on the table by the altar, is a painting by my friend Misty, a bird candle from my friend Jennie, a bird from Portugal from my friend Carole, and a little pottery dish with a deer from my friend Elizabeth made by artist Reiko Miyagi.

this large altar, (above) i made while living in the mountains of north carolina. the painting is by my friend Elizabeth. this altar is filled with gifts from friends, mica from the south toe river in celo where my daughter lives, and a rosary that i made using clay for the beads and vintage pieces gifted by my friend Carole. each altar holds special meaning and a place of peace.

this altar is a space honoring my dad who passed away in 2023. inside is one of my favorite photos of him, his ring, a lock of his hair, a lead weight from his tackle box, a heart shaped shell, and a lace doily that belonged to his mom.

here are a few more for inspiration!

altars are everywhere……

painting and drawing altars can be a cathartic way to connect with the altar within and inspire peace.

if you create altars or see them in nature, feel free to share! i would love to see what you create~

i am resonating with this quote that i saw on my friend Carrie’s substack

“But there’s one piece of advice I’m confident applies to basically everyone: as far as you can manage it, you should make sure your psychological centre of gravity is in your real and immediate world – the world of your family and friends and neighborhood, your work and your creative projects, as opposed to the world of presidencies and governments, social forces and global emergencies.”

—from Oliver Burkeman’s newsletter, The Imperfectionist, Feb 20, 2025:

wherever you are, i hope you are safe and well. until next time. xo