Earth's medicine: It's time to alter with an altar

A gentle way to flow with the seasons

Hello! Welcome to this section of my Substack called ‘Earth’s medicine’. These days it feels like wisdom from our elders is often overlooked. However, in doing so I believe we have lost something. A sense of who we are. Not just in terms of our purpose, but also our role within a wider ecosystem, an ancient history and a universe in which life appears to be rare. Here you will journey with me as I attempt to rediscover who we really are through science, ancestry and the insights of those who are tapping into the old ways. I would love to hear your thoughts, so do feel free to comment, share and subscribe. Anna xx

P.S These posts are part of my paid subscriber offering but the first two are free. This is the last free offering from Earth’s medicine but you can upgrade here to see future posts.

Can anyone resist picking up newly fallen chestnuts?

~Rebecca Warren, Natures Calendar: The British Year in 72 Seasons

Autumn Equinox blessings to you all,

Autumn Equinox was some time ago (3 weeks?) but I guess for me, autumn has only just started. With the house move and my research complete, I have had a huge expanse of time extend in front of me. It was quite something to be moving most of my belongings on the equinox with all the symbols of letting go right outside my window. Usually on the equinox I would find myself in ceremony, either of my own making or of someone’s I trust but this felt more purposeful somehow, as I was well and truly shutting the door on a chapter of my life, and extending my hand to a period of reflection.

This month on The Burnout Rebellion the theme is Foundations. For me the foundations of slow living, are being acutely aware of the seasons both within and outside of ourselves. Five years ago, the closest I ever got to honouring the seasons was celebrating Christmas, and buying a new pencil case in September. Time would tick by just like any other day and before I knew it it was Spring again.

I am into my third year of honouring the seasons and the impact it has had has been profound. It always provides the foundation I need to come back to. When things get on top of me, or I am not sure which way to turn, I look to the season to for it’s lesson. Often the most common way to address the seasons is by considering autumn, winter, spring and summer, but there are some who split the year into 8 through the wheel of the year, early and late autumn for example, punctuated by the equinox and Samhain festivals. In Japan they have 72 subdivisions in the traditional calendar denoting ‘micro-seasons’ of 4-5 days. My awareness to the hundreds of mini rebirths nature experiences in just one year has provided me with comfort, particularly in this period of my life where I am experiencing constant change.

“Thanks to impermanence, everything is possible. Life itself is possible. If a grain of corn is not impermanent, it can never be transformed into a stalk of corn. If the stalk were not impermanent, it could never provide us with the ear of corn we eat.”

~ Thich Nhat Hanh, No Death, No Fear: Comforting Wisdom for Life

Jimmy Carr the comedian, when asked¹ what he believed the meaning of life to be responded with just 5 words; enjoying the passage of time. So in today’s post we begin to unpick this through following the seasons in a meaningful way. It is time to alter with an altar.

How to navigate this post

There are 3 main sections in this post. I have listed them here so you can jump to the areas of most interest to you;

1. This months 5 tools is a regular feature in Earth’s medicine. They are tools to enable you to take just one step closer to connecting with yourself and the world around you.

2. It’s time to alter with an altar; why honour the seasons? What is the history and mysticism of an altar and how can you build your own.

3. Oracle reading and journal prompts based on this month’s theme; foundations.

I hope you enjoy, and I cannot wait to chat with you in the notes and comments.

This month’s 5 tools

1. Listen; If you have never listened to Ólafur Arnalds before you are in for a treat. I mentioned him in my last post (Notes from the garden; the power of silence) in the footnotes. His music is so wonderful it needs a within article mention too. I have never known someone’s music to transport me into nature and connect me to myself so readily. Tree and Saudade are particularly beautiful.

2. Connect; On Tuesday the 8th of October, we were promised the peak of the Draconids, a meteor shower common at this time of year. The meteors come from the debris of a comet as it makes its orbit around the sun. Some of the meteor streaks we see in the sky (or shooting stars) are caused by debris as small as a grain of sand. My niece and I wrapped up warm, and sat outside expectantly. It was the first time, I realised, that she had spent a significant amount of time staring at the stars. It is amazing how the the deepest of questions can be discussed under the watchful eyes of the universe.

   At just 10, she said something which we all know to be true none of my worries matter when I look up there…it’s just so big, I feel like a piece of jelly. Unfortunately we were not lucky that night to see a shooting star, however it feels as if October is comet and meteor season and there are plenty more opportunities this month to see some.

   If you watch the western horizon just after night fall you may catch a glimpse of a comet, a streak in the sky, last seen from Earth at the time of the Neanderthals². It was closest to the Earth last night (Saturday the 12th) but is still visible up until the 30th of October. Then from the 21st-22nd October we should be in for another treat with the super fast Orionids formed from the dust trail of Comet Halley. So head on out and see if you can forget your worries and feel like jelly for a while.

   

   We did manage to catch the Northern Lights.

3. Read; To connect you to the seasons why not try reading Nature’s Calendar; The British Year in 72 Seasons. The author team here have done a wonderful job of splitting up the British seasons into micro seasons akin to the Japanese calendar. Although I cannot find an American or southern hemisphere equivalent, some aspects will still resonate if you experience seasons wherever you are in the world. I would absolutely love to hear what you feel the micro season is for you right now in the comments below. I have included a reading below of the micro season running from the 13th-17th of October; the emergence of the chestnuts in their hues of brown: tawny, amber, auburn and mahogany.

4. Feel; Whitney Hanson is an extraordinary poet, and a spoken word artist. When I first heard her poem Lighthouse it was the light bulb moment I needed to quit my job and change my life. The phrase you must put your own oxygen mask on first before helping another comes to mind. The poem is below, but I have also included a reading for you. If you’re lucky you’ll hear the cat purring in the background as we recorded this on a rainy day in October both huddled up in the armchair. Take the opportunity to close your eyes, and take a deep breath, feeling the words wash over you. Where do you sacrifice yourself instead of shining your own light?

They told me my job description

but I think I’ve got it wrong. 

They said I was supposed to man the lighthouse,

and save lost ships from going down.

But every time I saw the ships,

I forgot about the light, 

I dove headfirst into the sea 

and swam to save their life.

I drowned us both in the process.

The ships never found the shore. 

I ended up helping less,

when I meant to be helping more.

I think when they told me 

to save people with my light, 

I mistook their words 

and tried to save people with my life.

I know I should have turned the light on, 

I know I should have taken their advice,

but I don’t know what love is,

if it is not sacrifice.

5. Nourish: ‘tis the season of soups in the northern hemisphere. I absolutely adore the fact that you cannot really get a soup wrong. My favourite is roasted butternut squash, carrot and ginger. It has a hefty amount of garlic too, and is always called upon when there are colds in the house. The ultimate healing soup.

   ~The butternut squash is diced and roasted in the over for 40-50 minutes.

   ~In the meantime the carrots, onion, garlic and ginger are cooked in a saucepan with a little oil for just a few minutes, until the onions appear see through.

   ~Stock is added (approximately a litre) and left to simmer for 30 minutes.

   ~The roasted butternut squash is added, and blended to the desired thickness.

   I love serving this with either a cheese roll or some toasted olive bread. You can add your favourites to the note below too. I am always in need of a new soup to try and I have been inspired by the mention of balsamic vinegar in the recipes of so many.

It’s time to alter with an altar

Why honour the seasons?

Other than becoming aware of the passage of time, why should we honour the seasons? Obviously it is completely wonderful to watch the leaves as they change colour, and the trees as they begin to bloom in spring but following the seasons is actually imperative to our wellbeing. Have you ever found yourself finding life, and work just that little bit harder in the autumn and winter months? That pull to snuggle into your duvet? If so, you are not alone.

You may have heard of Seasonal Affective Disorder or SAD, but recent studies suggest that this is not simply restricted to a small group of people diagnosed with this condition. Glucose metabolism (important in energy release) changes in brain tissues depending on the season. The olfactory bulb related to our sense of smell had the lowest metabolic rate in winter and highest in summer. Prefrontal regions of our brain involved with decision making and emotional regulation were also more active during summer whereas the brainstem and post central cortexes experience their peaks and troughs around the spring and autumn equinoxes³ . Indeed disruption to our circadian rhythms can lead to poorer health outcomes including dysfunctions in the cognitive, metabolic, cardiovascular and immune systems⁴. So living seasonally is not only about feeling good, it is crucial for our health.

Sometimes it does make me laugh that we need Scientists to tell us this. I am a Scientist myself, and I wonder whether this is why I have returned to it. To prove to others what we should know inherently, in the hope that we will live a life more in sync with the Earth, supporting her health and ours. Human’s are often treated as aliens as if we exist on top of this planet, separate from the ecosystem, glorified and impervious to the natural rhythms of life. But we are not, we are made of the same flesh, the same genetics, the same atoms. Some of our closest relatives in the animal kingdom who follow such rhythms share 98.7% of our DNA, so to expect we are different is a farce. We push through long hours, regardless of whether it is summer or winter, we fight in the face of our biology. There are numerous studies of shift workers, and the detrimental impact of working nights has on overall health⁵, yet our systems remain the same. Of course there are those who are bound to work nights, but what compensation is made for them in light of the impact on their health? If we express we struggle in autumn and winter the solution suggested is to trick our body into thinking it’s summer with more light. It is at this point that you begin to realise the world really has gone topsy-turvy.

This is part of what The Burnout Rebellion is about. There are so many of us waking up to the existence that we are living in and realising it is no way to live. I am hoping that The Burnout Rebellion will not only support people to change their life path, but also beat the drum of a new and more sustainable way to live and, dare I say it, begin to change the world. What is this relentless fight we have against the seasons? Is it capitalism? Greed? Denial? The systems that we have built over time for more and not less? Who knows. But we can be sure from the research that to live seasonally is better for our health, and when we do we feel better.

The history and mysticism of the altar

An autumn altar for an Autumn equinox ceremony.

Altars have been synonymous with worship throughout human history. Their beginning is unclear. Many texts allude to altars as necessary places of sacrifice when in fact they have been used throughout time for a number of reasons. I wonder if this is the root of people’s unease around them. I have often found others have a look of fear in their eye when I mention that I have an altar at home. I remember once I had someone round to check the roof, and he almost bolted out the door at the sight of it!

I have to admit I always find this response fascinating, especially considering altars are present in modern day churches, and have been used for centuries in almost all religions⁶. Could it be the lack of a religious figure that scares people the most? Or does it hark back to the days when working with nature was linked to witchcraft? It is often the historic treatment of those outside of a specific religion such as in the witch trials that the use of seasonal altars were seen as one of the many reasons to persecute and perhaps that still remains ingrained within us. Paganism, although itself is not a religion, believes in the spirituality of nature. Nature is viewed as a form of the divine. Regardless of our beliefs none of us can bypass the awe and wonder in nature, and how its very existence feels miraculous.

What is common among all altars, religious or not, is their ability to honour what is most important to us, and for me, returning to the divinity of nature and it’s seasons is what I wish to celebrate.

How to make your own altar (without the need to purchase anything)

Making your own altar does not need to be a big purchasing job, there are some who recommend certain candles for certain times in the year. Although a nice thing to do, this isn’t always necessary. There is not right or wrong way to go about this, it is about tapping into your intuition and setting up your altar with an intention. Your intention could be rooting back into your foundations, to connect with the essence of the season or to watch the passage of time.

Here are a few tips for creating your own altar;

• Find a space in your home, it may be on a shelf, a table as you enter your home, a fireplace or a corner of a room. Ensure it is cleaned and ready for what ever you wish to place within it.

• We all are familiar with the magic of a candle. Place any candle you wish in this space. Some believe that lighting a candle makes a place sacred, scientifically we know the temperature of the flame can cleanse the air and some just find it brings an element of cosiness to a space. Whatever your belief, a candle is always worth it.

• Choose items from around your home and/or outside if you are able to go out for a walk, that represent the season. In autumn in the UK this could be things like chestnuts, acorns, fallen leaves, apples, pears, anything that represents the oranges and reds of the season. Spend time feeling into what you are drawn to.

• If you would like to you can add any object of meaning to your altar too. You will see in the picture below I have a painted stone of Glastonbury Tor, and a feather gifted to me by my niece.

• You can also use oracle cards in this space, or place phrases or mantras you wish to carry forward. In the chat this week, we have been talking about our word of the year (more to come on this in a later post), perhaps you write this and keep it as a reminder in this space.

• I have also been placing a photograph of myself as a child to remind me of who I was and what I wish to come back to.

  Your altar can be whatever you would like it to be but by choosing colours and trinkets that represent the subtle changes in the year, can help you remain grounded, and notice and enjoy the passage of time.

An example of an early summer altar of my own.

Oracle reading and journal prompts

I’ll be pulling oracle cards in every Earth’s Medicine post, sharing one of my own rituals with subscribers. These cards are pulled with the intention of the post in mind and act as points of reflection. You can read them and their meaning, or use them as jumping off points for any journaling you may wish to do following this article. Today I asked the oracle cards to show me what would help us establish our foundations, and here is what they said.

These cards have been pulled from the Sacred Forest Oracle Deck by Denise Linn.

The phoenix is here to let us know that a big change is happening in our lives. What is an ending is really a beginning. Rising out of the flame and ashes is a new cycle. It may seem murky but the rebirth is on its way. The best is yet to come.

The meandering pathway tells us that everything falls into place when we don’t resist the flow. Surrender is our greatest path. Allow it to take you where it needs to go, no need to resist or hurry. Enjoy the journey.

Journal prompts

1. What do you need to put in place that will ground you in the transition you find yourself in?

2. Where are you resisting the flow in your life? How can you use the change in seasons to encourage more flow?

This card has been pulled from the Super Attractor Deck by Gabby Bernstein. It reads When I merge my desire with faith, I can take action from a place of peace rather than control.

Journal prompts

1. Where in your life do you feel caught up in controlling the outcome?

2. What does it feel like to take a lesson from autumn and to let go of the control, and return to the foundation of your breath and the season?

I hope this weeks post has left you with some more concrete ideas on how to nurture your foundations of more seasonal living. If you haven’t yet done so, I really recommend reading Andrea Gibson’s article from last week where she lists her tiniest of dreams related to the every day beauty of life.

Coming up next week is an opinion piece on schools (slightly nervous about this one) following my recent note what I wish school had taught me which promoted some interesting discussion. I’ll be considering whether schools are one of the roots of burnout culture, and what needs to change in our schools as the world moves forward into this new age. Feel free to join in if you haven’t already!

Looking forward to chatting with you in the comments, notes and chat!

Sending much love, always,

Anna xx

I am writing this essay as part of the 24 essays club (this is number 17) with the wonderful Claire Venus you can read more about the essay club below.

Join our (free) Essay Club?

1. The meaning of life by Jimmy Carr.

2. https://www.theguardian.com/science/2024/oct/11/comet-a3-last-seen-in-neanderthal-times-could-be-sighted-from-uk-this-weekend

3. Zhang, R., Tomasi, D., Shokri-Kojori, E., Manza, P., Demiral, S. B., Wang, G. J., & Volkow, N. D. (2024). Seasonality in regional brain glucose metabolism. Psychological Medicine, 1-9.

4. Fishbein, A. B., Knutson, K. L., & Zee, P. C. (2021). Circadian disruption and human health. The Journal of clinical investigation, 131(19).

Zhang, R., Tomasi, D., Shokri-Kojori, E., Manza, P., Demiral, S. B., Wang, G. J., & Volkow, N. D. (2024). Seasonality in regional brain glucose metabolism. Psychological Medicine, 1-9.

5. Boivin, D. B., Boudreau, P., & Kosmadopoulos, A. (2022). Disturbance of the circadian system in shift work and its health impact. Journal of biological rhythms, 37(1), 3-28.

6. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Altar You can read about the representation of altars in different religions here on Wikipedia.