For probably as long as there have been humans living in the cold, dark winter of the northern hemisphere, the coming of the spring season has always held great significance. So many of us are fortunate to have modern day supermarkets and stores all over our towns for buying food and supplies. But not so many generations ago, the winter months were harsh and a matter of survival for most people. The cold temperatures, dwindling food supplies, and oftentimes being cut off from medical care, meant that not everyone would survive. So it is a matter of great importance when the days begin to grow longer, the animals begin to come from their hideouts and the birds begin singing louder and more often and even some green plants start to show themselves under the snow and ice. It means the sun will soon turn the days warmer and plants will grow! Celebrations even begin in January but it seems that February, March, April, and May hold the most festivities across the hemisphere.
This is where we are at now, where I live, in Wisconsin - a northern state in the U.S. The days are noticeably longer, the sun seems to shine more often, and the wind has a hint of humidity and the smell of spring every now and then.
I recently started making my own little altar to celebrate the changing of the seasons in my own way. It is a culmination of several cultures, beliefs, and histories all on its own. Mostly, it is just made of things that bring me happy memories and that I find beautiful. Some of these things were used at my wedding with my loving husband. Some things are from nature that I feel very strongly about. Some of these things represent the elements, the Sun or the Moon, or different symbols of the many strengths and attributes of all the human, non-human, and more than-human peoples that might surround us. I change little details on this altar when I find something that I feel adds to it in some way. And I especially change it for the Autumn, Winter holidays, and now, for the Spring.
I like to have living things, like this tiny jade plant.
I have dried and preserved plants as well, such as in this display that represents both the East and the Air.
I have this display to represent the South, and the element of Fire. There is a mix of colored sands in the metal basket under the stones and candle. These are sands that my husband, his children, my child, and myself mixed together in ceremony on our wedding day - to represent the blending of a new family.
This display holds things that, to me, represent the soils of the Earth, as well as the North. Some of the things here were also a part of my wedding celebration, when I was gifted a large (and very heavy!) Buddha statue for my garden.
There is white bark from the birch tree, and sage plant in here, that were gifted to us by our Native America friend - part of my wedding ceremony was performed to Native custom, by that friend.
I made this candle, and I have had the little jade dragon since I was a child.
This display represents the West, and the Water element.
This carved wooden box was a purchase I made on the Etsy website. It came across the ocean to me. :)
These sun mirrors are perfect in a group of three, since many cultures believe that three and multiples of it, such as nine and 12 are meaningful in different ways.
This carved wooden... thing... I don't actually know what it is. :) I found it in a dark basement corner of an antique store in my city. My candle and metal holder fit in it perfectly.
So, these are some things that represent spring and all things natural to me. Some ideas on my altar are Germanic, Scandinavian, Celtic, and more -- from a thousand years ago, or much more modern. I like that it can be a mix of things that are wonderful and meaningful. I hope you enjoyed my photos, and if you have Spring where you live, I hope you are excited too!
