Tending the Altar | Little Altars Everywhere
An altar is one of the oldest, simplest technologies we have for staying in relationship with the sacred. Before it's anything mystical or elaborate, it's simply a small, deliberate space that holds your attention and says, this is what I'm tending. A candle. A stone from a place you loved. A photo of someone who shaped you. A bowl of water you change every few days.
In this opening session of Tending the Altar, we'll explore what an altar actually is. We'll talk through the elements that commonly show up (earth, water, fire, breath; ancestors, intentions, symbols), why those elements tend to recur across so many traditions, and what resonates with you (hint: anything can be sacred).
Then we'll get practical: how to create sacred space in the place you move through: your bedroom, your kitchen sink, your desk, even your car. Together we’ll learn how something small can become a genuine anchor in your daily life. A place you return to. A pause before the day takes you. A way of practicing attention on purpose.
This gathering is held by Nicole Greenwald and will draw from her own altar practices. There will be space for instruction, reflection, connection with others, and hands-on co-creation/experimentation.
Tending the Altar is part of our Community is our Medicine series. We will gather on the 4th Wednesday of each month for a midweek sacred pause. In community we’ll explore practices and elements for tending to our spirits: smoke, archetypes, stones, ancestors, breath, and more. Nicole Greenwald, therapist and ritual maker, is our space holder and she will collaborate with other facilitators to create space for learning and experimentation.
Flow
We’ll gather in The Apothecary at Shelterwood Collective.
6:30 — Doors open (arrive, mingle, enjoy refreshments)
7:00 — Workshop + ritual (teaching, reflection, making, integration)
8:00 — Space for community connection
8:30 — Closing
Accessibility
The Apothecary is located on the ground level. The entrance requires one step up, but a ramp is available. The restroom is also accessible by one step and is not ADA accessible. Please let us know in your RSVP if you have any accessibility requirements so we can do our best to accommodate you.
Exchange
The exchange allows us to sustainably hold this space while allowing you to opt in what’s most sustainable for you:
$11 — Access point (we want you at the table)
$22 — True cost (covers the container: space, hospitality, facilitation)
$33 — Pay it forward (helps hold space for someone else)
Nicole Greenwald
Therapist & Facilitator
(she/her)
I’m an endlessly curious, creative spirit. I am a therapist who often shows up as a gatherer, weaver, and ritual tender.
I am the founder of Shelterwood Collective, a community of support and collaboration for healing practitioners, and the Apothecary, a neighborhood hub for offerings rooted in community as medicine.
I feel strongly that our need for human connection is enduring. I’m honored to be a part of this gathering. There is something so simple yet so rare about coming together for intentional conversation and honest exploration. It’s a form of communion and community care. I am so looking forward to being with you all.