The first time I heard this phrase was five years ago. The Summer of 2020 was emerging and it felt to me like the whole world was on fire. Since that March I had been desperately praying, begging really, the Earth – my teacher, my friend, my home – for guidance. What are we to do? How would you like me to navigate the uncertain path ahead?
For months she had nothing to offer other than momentary comfort, like a mother rocking her crying baby, she offered the cooing of the morning dove, the soothing sounds of water moving through the creek and her strong body with its soft grass. She gave us Spring anyway. One day in June 2020, as I pressed my belly and my ear to her, I finally heard something: Build Altars Everywhere.
There was something sturdy and beautiful about the instructions which I received with my whole heart. I began building tiny altars everywhere I went. Flower petals there, stars made of pine needles, hearts made of seashells and stone. I’d slow down, find myself prayerfully paying attention, and honoring the beauty of the place by making a little something out of what was there.
Not too long after that, I visited the beach with my husband who was not yet my husband. Welcomed by a storm which felt like a great big mirror in the sky, we put on our rain coats and walked out to greet the Ocean. You’re going to have to learn to live in these turbulent times, the Ocean said as the thunder grumbled and waves crashed. How?, I asked. Just then my husband who was not yet my husband tapped me on the shoulder. I looked up to see a heart-shaped piece of coral perched between his thumb and index finger. His smile shone through the rain. As I held this gift in my palm, I knew the Ocean had given me an answer. I placed the coral in the sand & with my finger wrote, Thank you.
Just yesterday, and five years later, I found myself walking in a section of the forest I have loved for years, but have not been able to access for months due to Hurricane Helene’s impact on the land and the roads. As I walked through the deep Spring forest, I sent thank yous on the wind to the trail keepers who had cleared the path by chainsawing the bodies of all the fallen trees. As I walked through the 2 mile ridge section, through wide-eyes, I saw at least a couple hundred fallen trees amongst this lush, green, home of creatures. The sunlight illuminated what the forest is and will always be: an ever-evolving altar to life, death, life.
There has been and will always be turbulence, just as there has been and will always be peace. Each generation gets there own flavors of that dynamic dance. It’s a terrible and immeasurably beautiful gift to be alive. And what will we do with our time here while we have it?
For now, I choose to walk with those instructions that came up from the earth with the wild strawberries five years ago.
Altars are places where our hearts can remember. Altars are places of reverence where beauty quiets the noisy mind even just for a moment of awe. Altars are created in collaboration with Life. Altars are often places built by a community where the community remembers we are all woven together.
Since last September, in our New Moon Meditation Adventures, and in Wild Woman Underground we’ve been holding this theme – letting it show us the way. And this August at Wild Woman Fest we will bring the exploration home, together.
As we prepare to walk through the threshold of our final season of the Build Altars Everywhere year, I wanted remember where it started and to offer you the story so you can tuck it in your heart like seed and see what grows.
On the Horizon
Join us for an hour-long New Moon Meditation Adventure on June 25th.
Online, from anywhere.
Using a dynamic meditation journey, we will tune into the New Moon, to your own Inner Guidance, synced up with wild-hearted women from around the world. This offering will include music, storytelling, meditation, journaling prompts & intention-setting.
Can’t make it live? No worries. All participants will receive a copy of the recording with 24 hours of the session.
WILD WOMAN UNDERGROUND
We have Wild Woman Project-trained Circle facilitators is 26 countries, and 44 out of the 50 United States.
"The Circle Leader Training Program at The Wild Woman Project was one of the most transformative and healing experiences of my life. I have received many tools, resources, support, and connections that I will carry on with me forever." ~ Hannah Devin, Graduate
Chris Maddox is the founder of The Wild Woman Project where she teaches women how to utilize the gifts of the Wild Woman Archetype in their everyday lives & how to lead women’s circles in their local communities. She is the organizer & facilitator of the beloved annual WILD WOMAN FEST, a women’s retreat-festival hybrid which fosters a deep connection to nature, a direct experience of the divine feminine & profound spiritual sisterhood among the women in attendance.
An ever student of the great mysteries of existence and nature itself, Chris believes women are holding innate gifts & tools that society at large needs – now more than ever. She is committed to helping women remember their special magic and to bring it forward into every corner of their lives, for the greater good of the planet.