ETP 43// Ritual, Nature, and Meaning-Making through Morning Altars
ETP #43
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“We are in a meaning-making crisis. This practice helps us remember what it means to be human.”— Day Schildkret
In this profoundly moving episode of Enter the Portal, we welcome artist, ritualist, and author Day Schildkret — the visionary behind Morning Altars — for a heart-centered conversation about the art of slowing down, creating in nature, and transforming grief into beauty.
What began as a solitary ritual in the aftermath of personal loss has grown into a worldwide movement.
Sitting beside a eucalyptus tree one morning, grieving the death of his father and the end of a relationship, Day began arranging mushrooms, bark, and petals in the dirt — unknowingly giving birth to a global practice of ephemeral altars.
Over time, these offerings became a language of remembrance, storytelling, and sacred connection with impermanence.
Throughout this episode, Day invites us to explore how ritual and creativity can help us metabolize grief into love.
He shares how making art from natural materials — with no intention of permanence — can ground us in the present moment, awaken a deep sense of wonder, and restore our relationship to the living world.
We also dive into the Seven Steps of Morning Altars, how the practice has impacted communities across the globe, and why creating something beautiful — even if it doesn’t last — is a radical act of meaning-making in uncertain times.
Whether you’re navigating a life transition, tending your own healing, or longing to reconnect with nature and creativity, this episode is a gentle but powerful invitation: begin where you are. Let your hands remember what your heart already knows.
Episode Breakdown with Timestamps
[00:29] — How grief, loss, and a eucalyptus tree sparked the birth of a healing ritual
[03:20] — Turning sorrow into sacred art: discovering the power of impermanent altars
[05:18] — When a personal practice became a global movement of meaning-making
[18:55] — The Seven Steps of Morning Altars and how they guide us through change
[25:19] — Cultivating curiosity, slowing down, and reconnecting with wonder
[30:04] — Memory, meaning, and the art of remembering what we’ve forgotten
[42:55] — Building right relationship with place and rooting in reverent reciprocity
Connect with Day
Website: www.dayschildkret.com
Instagram: @morningaltars
Connect with Jenner Linden
Thank you for listening.
Remember to keep exploring, stay curious, and embrace your wild, beautiful self.
I’ll see you on the inside. ✨
