THE EARTH ALTARS COLLECTION X JESSICA STREETS
It has now been two years since I follow the work of Jessica Streets.
At first, she had caught my eye with the beautiful pictures she’d share of pebbles she found in nature. I felt a huge resonance to her Spirit through these simple posts - they captured her relationship to the Land. A relationship that I too, cultivate, understand with my Heart. How special is it, that she could be as inspired by such simple and poetic things, like the streaks on a rock and the harmony that happens when you collect and bring such treasures together.
Little by little, the treasures she’d collect would seem to be more and more supported, as Jessica started getting into the craft of weaving - and create mats for them. She needed a way to display these items that meant to much to her. She must have heard her soul’s call to make it all feel even more sacred.
And so I watched her weave, and weave, and weave. It seemed to have become her expression. With every one of her posts, I would feast my eyes at the wholesome textures of hemp, nettle yearn, raw silk and raw cotton - just so sensorial and imperfectly magical, calling to the touch, calling to presence.
These were the very textures that would come and complement her collections of pebbles, contrasting with their smoothness. But they would also feel so inviting for so many other purposes of ritual and observation, asking to become tea mats, ritual mats, altar mats.
I thought: I would love to for us to combine our love for making sacred space. Let’s make a magical collection of altar pieces.
THE EARTH ALTAR COLLECTION
It took time, love and devotion. Our works alchemized together and became one.
We have combined the magic of fiber and that of clay - as an ode to the Element of Earth.
What came to life is a collection of altar sets, each unique as its own magical way to create sacred space. Every set includes a ritual mat that is textured and sensorial, made of ancient materials such as wild silks, nettle, hemp and raw linen, handwoven by Jessica. To which is added a clay altar piece inspired by ancient talismans, that I have hand sculpted and adorned with markings of cretan red Earth.
INTENTION AND PRAYER
These altar pieces aim to ground us deeper into the natural world, for us to realise we are not just living on this earth but we are part of it, part of the ground we walk on.
We invite you to layer these two pieces in a space to become a reminder of this belonging. The woven mat can be used as a surface to layer stones, crystals and other talismans that you want to be supported by.
The ceramic altar serves as a wonderful surface for a candle, power object or just your intention. The two pieces may also be used separately, in different spaces around the home.
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NOTES ON CREATING SACRED SPACE
“To me it's about creating a space which feels safe, where you can go to collect your thoughts, a place to reflect, to be in silence & enjoy the simplicity & beauty of stillness. Surrounding myself with sacred, treasured objects which hold meaning & purpose to me, scents which help to calm & ground.
Creating an altar is a fundamental part of my sacred space, it is something which brings me into the present. I love to go on mindful walks to collect pieces of nature, creating with the seasons, collecting seeds, pine cones, leaves, stones, collecting wherever I go as I travel to new lands. Having an ever changing altar space & creating with the nature around makes me realise how fleeting each season is & to appreciate the small changes in our surroundings. Stones are a big part of creating my altar space, along with adding hand-built ceramic items, both I find incredibly grounding in my space. Being able to lay all of my sacred treasures onto an altar mat is, for me, the item which brings my whole space together, connecting everything, a precious home for the pieces I carefully select to be part of my space. I feel so lucky to be able to create these altar mats & for Linda's gorgeous earthen wares to adore them. A coming together of sacred hand crafted pieces, co created with the earth.”
JESSICA STREETS
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“The sacred space is where my body and soul can find center.
I have started creating altars as part of these sacred spaces, as a way to honour the beauty and the magic of all that surrounds me. I’ve noticed that the more I have allowed myself to receive, the more I become one with all of life. Nothing is truly mundane, nothing is a mere coincidence. The land and our surroundings are very much alive and they speak to us. The altar is a place where I get to honour these conversations, these relationships with the outside world - weaving them in, noticing the connections. Simply taking the time to layer these treasures I’d find in nature, feeling a sense of gratitude for what comes to me in this life, feels meditative and sacred.
I create an altar firstly through the senses. It needs to be beautiful: Beauty is the ultimate expression of the divine. It needs to be sensorial, and tactile: materials are of huge importance. Raw clay, reclaimed wood, brass, and textural pieces made of sacred threads those in Jessica’s weavings - allow the energy to flow and become very very present.
The altar, like life - it is alive and ever changing. It is a mirror to what is occurring within. Sometimes it becomes complex and abundant. Sometimes it becomes very clear and elemental. Sometimes it is stripped off to its bare bones and needs just one item, like a rose or a candle. It invites us to be present with what is Now, and feel how we are supported in the infinite web of creation.”
LINDA PAPPA
The Earth Altars collection is now available in the shop.