Making Plant Spirit Altars
Altars are an effective way to create space in our lives for the spiritual work we do. Here, I’d like to share some reasons why altars can be so important in plant spirit work, wortcunning, and spiritual herbalism- and share with you the ways in which I craft altars for individual plants I’m journeying with as well as the plant spirits all. At the end you’ll find a free class on this subject you can watch anytime!
Yarrow spirit altar with remedy, sigil, wreath, sachet, and image of Cernunnos
WHAT IS AN ALTAR?
Similar to a shrine, and altar is a space where we can honor the spiritual forces of our work while also making space for practical workings such as crafting herbal medicine, making herbal charms, burning candles, smoldering incense, and so on. Where shrines are more spaces of honor where offerings and prayers are made, altars are a combination of a sacred space and a working space. I use both in my practice- keeping a shrine for my patron deity, my herbwise ancestors, and the plant spirits all, alongside a working altar where I can connect with specific plants.
Altars are a powerful offering. They are set aside from our physical lives- a sure sign to both spirits and self that we want to connect and that we’re willing to sacrifice a bit of space in our homes for their honor. When you clear off the top of a bookshelf, find the perfect table or stand, or figure out some other way to make physical space in your life, the spirits will respond!
Astragalus plant spirit altar with a bundle of roots in yellow cloth (a color sacred to Astragalus), sachet, and beeswax candle.
WHY SHOULD YOU KEEP AN ALTAR?
The first and most important reason why you might want to set up an altar to a specific plant spirit or to the plant spirits all is that, over time, the space becomes a liminal point of access where our work with the plants becomes so much more clear. As offerings are given, meditations and journeys are done, rituals are observed, and study takes place, the altar you’ve crafted becomes a space where reaching across the hedge that separates the worlds becomes much easier. This space, over time, acts as a meeting place between you and the plant spirits.
Second, an altar gives you a place where you can meditate, journey, petition, craft, or just sit quietly in a place that’s safe, secure, and comforting for you. While connecting with the plants outdoors on their own turf is always ideal, sometimes it’s just not practical or even possible in the modern world. From safety concerns to days of rough weather, having a space inside where you can be consistent in your connection to the plants is fantastic.
Finally, setting up a plant spirit altar is a signal to yourself and to the spirits that this work is important to you and that you will do you bext to spend a few moments each day connecting.
Mint spirit altar with world tree symbol, watercolor of Mint, remedies made from Mint for the journey, a sigil candle, and The Green Man.
WHAT TO PUT ON YOUR PLANT SPIRIT ALTAR
In my tradition of wortcunning and spiritual herbalism, the goal is always to establish harmony- specifically that kind of harmony explained so beautifully by one of my favorite philosophers, Empedocles (494-434 BCE, Greece). So, the primary thing to consider when making a plant spirit altar is that it is beautiful, pleasing to the senses, and harmonious for you. Adjust, experiment, change, adapt, and explore until you get something that feels right. When in doubt, journey with the plant or plants you’re dedicating the altar to and ask for their guidance.
That being said, there are a few things that I highly recommend having on a plant spirit altar:
A symbol or representation of the world tree and the green realm. I usually use an icon of a tree or a column of wood from one of my ally trees for this. The tree will act to open a gateway on your altar, will symbolize the plant spirits all, and will connect you with the cunning axiom that what is done at the tree is done at the center of the cosmos.
A living flame on your altar during all works is very important. I like to make oil lamps from organic oil infused with the plant I’m working with or my personal plant allies- I’ll show you more about this in the video below. The flames can be kindled as both an offering of light to the plants (they are, after all, light eaters!) and a way to create an auspicious atmosphere.
When working with individual plants, gather as much as you can to connect them space to them: dried materia, drawings or photos, remedies crafted from them, and so on. I’ll show you an example of how I craft an altar specifically for Calendula in the class.
From here, you can decorate or fill the altar as much or as little as you like. You might consider adding images of deities you work with, symbols of your herbwise ancestors, tokens from your personal plant allies, medicines you’re crafting with the plant, cloth or ribbons in the colors of the plant, bells and chimes to bless the space and invoke the plant spirits, and so on. Again, if the space feels (not just looks, but feels) harmonious and beautiful to you, then I say it is good!
Items to be used for a Pine plant spirit altar - tincture, oil, and bundle.
So there you have it- some simple ways to open up a grove of power in your own home that supports your own connection to individual plants and the plants all, as well as their green realm of otherness. I would love to learn more about how you craft plant spirit altars- feel free to share in the comments below!
