Memory Shrine Project

I realized today that August was my last post.  Time sure does fly by with work and daily routine. I just recently did a project that really resonated with me and I wanted to share.  My Sister-in -law and I get together about once a month to do a creative project.  For November she hosted and the project was assemblages/shrines.  She got me a beautiful wooden box shelf at a flee market for my project. It is rustic and worn just the way I like.  I brought some of my own items but she had this wonderful collection of items she picks up at garage sales flee markets, thrift stores not to mention all the embellishments that she let me use. I had in mind that I wanted to do nature, I started down that path with a vintage cardinal picture and nature related items including this moss that looked really neat on the shelves.  We both noticed some sinus issues while I was there but did not think too much of it because we were using glue and some items were dusty.  When I got home to complete working on it I started coughing,sneezing, my eyes watering.  I realized my moss was not going to work, it was causing a reaction.  I needed to do something else.  During that day I visited my Sister-in-law I had brought one of my Grandma's poems that I thought about using as a theme but decided to go more nature.  I think the moss did not work out for a reason because I felt this sudden strong inspiration to use the poem as my theme. So glad that I did because this little Memory Shrine just means so much to me.  There are 6 shelves for my box.  Each shelf has a special meaning to me personally and the poem.  All of  my Grandma's poems are signed HDC.  This poem I have always loved because it speaks of dreams, femininity and that sacred bond with nature.

When the clock chimes

Twelve she glides out from

The forest

Takes the exact center point

Of the meadow

The moon nods his

Greeting, she in return

Spreads her mist green skirt

In a regal curtsey,

Lifts her arms into the

Air, stands posed as the

Stars form a chorus line

And then she dances and

Dances to the music only she

Can hear

And when the sun chases

The moon and the stars

From the sky she glides

Back into the forest

HDC

Below I am going to share some pictures of my Memory Shrine and explain the meaning behind some items. There are different ways to interpret the poem.  The Memory Shrine is not an exact interpretation but more of what the poem brought out for me personally.   

I chose to display my Grandma's poem on small wooden block houses.  I love the house shape and collect items with houses.  I felt like this was perfect for this poem because I picture my Grandma safe in bed yet her spirit or dream self going to the small woods and meadow that used to be behind her house. Leaving the security of the home and wandering out into the wilderness. The small girl sitting on the spoon represents the connection to home and how we can sometimes from the inside looking outside see glimpses of our true self. The spoon is the anchor to the domestic that is being temporarily left behind to pursue nature and spirit.  

The clock is at Twelve, the witching hour when only the wild creatures dare tread into the darkness. It is the time of mystery and unknown. A forbidden time for a woman to be out wandering alone through the woods. The crystal is the subconscious or dream state hanging in the air above the world of reality.
 

The shovel is for digging deeper into earth or truth of living. The watering can contains the essence of life. The bird is the higher self or spirit as witness.

Rabbits are there to symbolize fertility and creativity.  They are there hiding among the brush and can spy the female spirit moving in the meadow. They are nature as witness.

The largest section is the dance among the moon and stars. The freedom of spirit to travel beyond physical boundaries.  In the poem the moon is referenced as masculine nodding his greeting. Is she dancing for the moon or herself? Maybe both. There are no words only dancing.  The language of movement.

In the nest are pine cones and seeds, representing this idea of growth and femininity. The seed of life.

The owl represents that deeper knowledge or intuition, seeing beyond the facades of everyday roles to the natural or the true spirit.

  

The rolled paper in the corner shows how the knowledge of words are hidden behind the jars of seeds, dirt and moss, the items of earth and life. Words do not have a place here.

 The heart door and the key dangling in the air represents how we all carry our our key to freedom.  It is always with us but sometimes we cannot find it.

The tree growing in the pot is a contrast to freedom.  The tree grows but is confined, this is the body.  We can leave that confinement only in spirit.

 The wings represent how the Sun chases the Moon and Stars from the sky.  The call back to the physical or real. The chasing away of the dream.

The birdhouse is the home waiting for the return. 

The bird represents the spirit flying home.  Notice the key can no longer be seen but the door of the heart is still there.  She moves back to confinement, the tree in the pot.

The squirrel is the contact back with the physical, storing away the nuts for the winters of our lives. However the squirrel also shows playfulness and freedom. We cannot take life too seriously. 

Below are a couple shots of a copy of the poem written in my Grandma's hand.  I just love her handwriting.  I have never had good handwriting so I appreciate the beauty of others.