Matriarchs in the Making: Lili Menkal & Eva West

At this year’s Bioneers Conference, Lili and Eva created a beautiful nature-based altar using seasonal and local materials gathered from the Salinas Valley, Bear Valley, San Luis Obispo, and an abalone farm. The bowl was borrowed from Hilary Giovale, who co-led one of the interactive sessions (Modern Matriarchy: remembering our kinship with the earth) at the conference with me. Each material has a meaning, represents an element, and invites a certain sense (sight, smell, feel). Latvian protocols were followed in creating this nature-based altar by Lili and Eva.

Protocol: Ever since ancient times, the Latvian Nation has felt a deep sense of respect for trees and the forest. A tree can be chopped down if necessary, but a tree must not be needlessly broken or maimed. You must ask the plant permission before you take and only take what you need. You must be mindful of how much you are taking from one plant. (Brother Oak, Sister Linden, by Jānis Baltvilks and Edgars Folks)

List of materials:

  • Water bowl

  • Seed pods

  • Lavender

  • Star anise

  • Redwood leaflets

  • White sage leaves (Cultivated only. Wild harvesting is prohibited by many CA Native Tribes due to over harvesting and commercial exploitation.)

  • California poppies

  • Birch leaves

  • Buckeye leaves

  • Pine cones

  • Monardellas

  • Owl feathers

  • Ferns

  • Abalone

  • Banksia

  • Red seeds

  • Lichen

Nature-based altars are arrangements of natural elements used to honor the earth, celebrate the cycles of nature, connect with spiritual practices, or simply bring a grounding, mindful presence into your life.

Here are a few tips if you choose to build your own:

  • Choose a Space

    • Indoors: A shelf, a table, windowsill, or corner of a room.

    • Outdoors: A tree stump, a flat rock, a garden nook, or even a portable altar on a cloth or tray.

  • Cleanse the Area

    • You can sweep, wipe, or use symbolic cleansing with herbs, incense, or even just intention and breath.

  • Gather Natural Items

    • Ethically forage or collect (never take from protected areas or harm living things).

    • Examples: stones, flowers, dried herbs, acorns, feathers, shells, sand, bark, soil, bones (if you're comfortable), water from a stream.

  • Add Personal Touches (Optional)

    • Candles, written intentions, affirmations, art, photos, or symbolic items.

  • Align with a Purpose or Theme

    • You can focus your altar on a season (like Beltane or Samhain), a personal intention (healing, gratitude), or an element (earth, air, fire, water).

    • Avoid borrowing from other cultures without acknowledgement. If you do not have an understanding of the practices of your own lineage, then be sure to get express permission and informed consent to build an altar based on the cultural practices of other’s culture. A good practice to consider is that if you don’t know what culture tradition something came from, then don’t use it.

  • Interact with It

    • Visit regularly. Meditate, pray, give thanks, leave offerings (like herbs, food, or water), or just spend a quiet moment there.

  • Change with the Seasons

    • Refresh the altar regularly to reflect the changing natural world or shifts in your own life.

Last updated: 5/12/2025

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