Helpers & Healers!
Get Trained in this 7-Step Nature, Creativity, and Ritual Healing Modality
Resource Your Clients,
Revive Your Community, and Restore Yourself
Helpers & Healers!
Get Trained in this 7-Step Nature, Creativity, and Ritual Healing Modality
Resource Your Clients,
Revive Your Community, and Restore Yourself
As seen on:
Become a Certified
Morning Altars Teacher
9-Month Certification Program
Next Cohort: Spring 2025
Become a Certified
Morning Altars Teacher
9-Month Certification Program
Next Cohort: Spring 2025
Nature,
Creativity,
Ritual,
Nature, Creativity, Ritual,
“Day Schildkret, founder of the Morning Altars movement has created a beautiful commentary on nature and ritual.”
Esther Perel
If you love nature, poetry, art … if your soul yearns to slow down, to reflect on life, or you want to bring in more of the sacred into your practice and work, consider taking this training.”
—DIANA COHN, EDUCATOR & AUTHOR — COHORT 2
Helpers & healers are burning out like never before
With record levels of depression, grief, and isolation, it can feel both necessary and exhausting to keep serving your clients, students, and communities.
Have you felt this way?
The truth is: Since the pandemic, trauma and grief are spiking, with collective anxiety increasing by 25% over the past couple years.
What I’ve seen, especially with coaches, therapists, teachers, and grief counsellors is that as you stretch yourselves to serve your communities, many of you are also at a breaking point.
There’s a feeling of being overwhelmed, overloaded, and stressed out in record numbers and you don’t get nearly enough support to heal and replenish yourself.
Like so many, you tend to put yourself last
You give so much to your clients or students, but can get overextended and feel out of balance.
You feel replenished in nature, but have trouble prioritizing it.
You value creativity but barely schedule time for your own creative expression.
You believe rituals are powerful tools but need more guidance implementing them.
You understand the wisdom of slowing down, but in the day-to-day stresses of work, family, and life, you find it hard to make time.
And as a healer and helper, you know you always need to take the medicine you’re giving.
Morning Altars Teacher Training
is that medicine.
This training is both a sanctuary to receive nourishment and inspiration for yourself AND an unparalleled healing modality for your clients/community.
This training is both a sanctuary to receive nourishment and inspiration for yourself AND an unparalleled healing modality for your clients/community.
You are here because…
-
Healing
You believe that the most profound healing for you or your clients can happen when you let your body touch nature’s body.
-
Belonging
You understand deep healing happens when you slow down, unplug, and remember your sense of belonging to this living planet.
-
Creativity
You know that creativity is the antidote to fear and the skill to navigate uncertainty gracefully.
-
Community
You don’t want to do this alone and long to be in a learning community with other creative, nature-loving, open-hearted healers and helpers.
Making Peace Out of the Pieces
Hi, I’m Day. Morning Altars was born out of my own need for healing. In 2011, my father died. Shortly after that, I had a devastating break-up. These days, my mother’s dementia keeps breaking my heart.
So much grief but what to do with it all?
Twelve years ago, while picking up the pieces of my life, I found myself sitting under a tree crying. The loss was too painful and the grief too disorienting.
A voice in nature whispered to me: Make the broken whole again.
Without thinking, I gathered leaves, petals, bark and berries and arranged them into a beautiful, symmetrical pattern.
I felt like a kid again. Body on the earth. Hands playing. Imagination exploring. Time slowing down.
And, for the first time in months, my grief’s intensity lessened.
I discovered something incredibly therapeutic and restorative – something so simple and so profound.
So much grief but what to do with it all?
Twelve years ago, while picking up the pieces of my life, I found myself sitting under a tree crying. The loss was too painful and the grief too disorienting.
A voice in nature whispered to me: Make the broken whole again.
Without thinking, I gathered leaves, petals, bark and berries and arranged them into a beautiful, symmetrical pattern.
I felt like a kid again. Body on the earth. Hands playing. Imagination exploring. Time slowing down.
And, for the first time in months, my grief’s intensity lessened.
I discovered something incredibly therapeutic and restorative – something so simple and so profound.
Discovering this life-giving modality changed my life and I didn’t want to stop.
Everyday since, I’ve been outside creating these to ground me, to open my eyes in wonder, to inspire me to play, to root me in a daily creative practice, and to make each morning more meaningful.
Once I started to share this modality publicly, it struck a chord. Thousands of people, from Melbourne to Madrid, were inspired to practice Morning Altars as a healing and mindfulness modality. Within a few years, it became a global movement.
Since then I’ve…
Created
Created over a thousand nature altars
Authored
Taught
Studied
Exhibited
Featured
Authored two best-selling books on healing with nature, art, and ritual
Taught workshops to thousands at esteemed places like Esalen, MEA, the 9/11 Memorial Plaza, and the Google campus
Studied for hundreds of hours with legendary teachers such as Stephen Jenkinson
Have a permanent, hands-on exhibit at the Oakland Museum of California and recently won the prestigious Creative Works grant
Been featured on international television such as the CBC, NBC, FOX, and CBS
Since then I’ve…
Created
Created over a thousand nature altars
Authored
Authored two best-selling books on healing with nature, art, and ritual
Taught workshops to thousands at esteemed places like Esalen, MEA, the 9/11 Memorial Plaza, and the Google campus
Taught
Studied
Studied for hundreds of hours with legendary teachers such as Stephen Jenkinson
Have a permanent, hands-on exhibit at the Oakland Museum of California and recently won the prestigious Creative Works grant.
Exhibited
Featured
Been featured on international television such as the CBC, NBC, FOX, and CBS
But this isn’t about me
Some of the individuals and communities I’ve taken this healing modality to:
Families who just buried a child
Communities devastated by wildfires
Prison rehab programs for incarcerated inmates
Inner-city teenagers who have little access to nature
Dementia patients in memory care facilities
Veterans healing from PTSD
Cancer support groups
Recovery and addiction centers
Refugees displaced from their homes
Survivors of 9/11
But this isn’t about me
Some of the individuals and communities I’ve taken this healing modality to:
Families who just buried a child
Communities devastated by wildfires
Prison rehab programs for incarcerated inmates
Inner-city teenagers who have little access to nature
Dementia patients in memory care facilities
Veterans healing from PTSD
Cancer support groups
Recovery and addiction centers
Refugees displaced from their homes
Survivors of 9/11
While there are a myriad of
nature, creativity, and ritual
based therapies, Morning Altars is the only Teacher Training in the world to combine all three into one healing modality.
The foundation of the Morning Altars therapeutic modality is supported by three pillars:
Nature, Creativity & Ritual
If you’re here, you…
Already believe these three are essential pathways for healing, connection, and remembering our humanity.
Already have a deep relationship with one or more of these pillars.
Already work with (or intend to work with) one or more of these pillars with your clients, students or community.
The foundation of the Morning Altars therapeutic modality is supported by three pillars:
Nature, Creativity & Ritual
If you’re here, you…
Already believe these three are essential pathways for healing, connection, and remembering our humanity.
Already have a deep relationship with one or more of these pillars.
Already work with (or intend to work with) one or more of these pillars with your clients, students or community.
An Integrative Modality
But what’s unique about this training is that it’s an integrative process which combines these three pillars into a scientifically proven mindfulness modality that compliments any therapeutic and educational method for your clients and communities.
An Integrative Modality
But what’s unique about this training is that it’s an integrative process which combines these three pillars into a scientifically proven mindfulness modality that compliments any therapeutic and educational method for your clients and communities.
Our growing alumni includes:
Social Workers
Life Coaches
Psychotherapists
Grief Counselors
Elementary School Teachers
Clergy
Hospice Nurses
PTSD Therapists
Celebrants
Camp Staff
Art Therapists
Outdoors Educators
Yoga Teachers
And they have gone on to reach:
10,000 Elementary School Students
8,000 Therapy Clients
7,500 Grieving Families
6,000 Summer Campers
5,500 Memory Care Residents
5,000 Families in Congregations
4,000 Yoga Students
500 Veterans
“It's been a gentle yet powerful transformative experience of reawakening my inner artist.”
JILING LIN, COHORT 1
“This training has changed me and my approach to healing myself and serving others in so many good ways.”
DAVINAESTRELLA RAMEY, COHORT 3
“This has changed everything in terms of my direction, my comfort with my creativity, and giving me a platform to take this out into the world!”
RENEE ROSSI, COHORT 1
“It's been a gentle yet powerful transformative experience of reawakening my inner artist.”
JILING LIN, COHORT 1
“This has changed everything in terms of my direction, my comfort with my creativity, and giving me a platform to take this out into the world!”
RENEE ROSSI, COHORT 1
“This training has changed me and my approach to healing myself and serving others in so many good ways.”
DAVINA ESTRELLA RAMAY, COHORT 3
What is the
Morning Altars
Teacher
Training?
The Morning Altars Certification Program is designed for helpers and healers who serve groups or individuals and wish to learn this pioneering process which integrates nature therapy, art therapy, and ritual therapy.
Using the 7-steps Morning Altars practice as our curriculum, this program provides in-depth training, mentoring, practice groups, and curated resources to help you develop the skills and knowledge necessary to bring this modality into your life and work.
By completing the certification program, you gain a deeper understanding of the principles, techniques, and philosophies behind the Morning Altars modality while accessing our online library and vast international network.
The certification program involves a combination of five weekend training sessions that are centered on each step of the practice, weekly Practicum Lessons taught live by Day, monthly practice group meetings with a certified mentor, and participation in our robust online community.
The Training Consists of:
-
“It was on Zoom, but it felt like I entered a sacred space and I was sitting by a fire. I was warmed from my soul and from the depths of my being." -Chloe Girard, Cohort 1
~
Weekend dates:
Weekend 1: September 28-29, 2024
Weekend 2: November 16-17, 2024
Weekend 3: January 25-26, 2025
Weekend 4: March 22-23, 2025
Weekend 5: May 16-17, 2025Throughout the training, we present 5 Big Weekends online taught live by Day, meticulously designed to offer hands-on, experiential, and community-based learning. Each weekend is framed by one of the seven steps of the Morning Altars healing modality and is beautifully designed to balance learning between screen and outdoors, individual and community, and mind, body, and spirit.
Our students rave about the profound impact of these weekends, which stand as the pinnacle of our program.
-
“I am so grateful for the practicums as they serve as a thread and weekly opportunity to engage in heartfelt, honest and intellectually exciting conversations.” - Stephanie Landau, Cohort 2
~
The Practicum Lessons provide our cohort with the opportunity to meet and learn from Day weekly while diving deeper into the topics presented during our Big Weekends. They offer skill development, personal growth, direct feedback, community connection, and a deeper understanding of the material.
Practicum Lessons cover the topics of: Creativity, nature, impermanence, group facilitation, and business development.
A selection of Practicum topics include:
1. I Just Can’t: Dancing With Your Creative Blocks
2. Order and Chaos and Order and Chaos: Understanding the Creative Cycles
3. Behold the Ordinary: Rituals to Infuse Wonder Into Your Everyday
4. Original Joy: Nature as a Reflection and Inspiration for Creativity
5. Groundlessness: A Honest Conversation on Impermanence
6. Deep Release: Why Rest is Countercultural
7. The 4-Directions: A Comprehensive Way to Hold Space and Facilitate
8. The Levers: How to Adjust the Modality Based on Your Client’s Capacity
9. Managing Expectations: A Conversation on Offerings, Self-Worth, Self-Care and Resilience
10. Worth: A Conversation on Money, Valuing Yourself and Your Offering
-
"I didn't anticipate becoming so close to my practice group- this was the beginning of lifelong friendships that we will cultivate even long after this training is over. I've found my people!" -Julianne Kanzaki, Cohort 3
~
These smaller groups are opportunities to support your learning, build more intimate connections, and review course material under the guidance of a certified mentor.
-
“I really loved our study group ...our mentor is an amazing leader. She is so compassionate, sensitive, and wise. She really sees us. I am so appreciative of her.” -Brenda Spitzer, Cohort 2
~
In the Morning Altars Teacher Training, each student is paired with a mentor who is an experienced past student from our program. This mentor will hold space for you, answer your questions, review your assignments, guide you through the process, and serve as your touchstone. Additionally, for those seeking a more personalized experience, we offer 1:1 coaching with certified and trained coaches for an additional fee.
-
“It is a space where I felt safe and witnessed and wanted and cherished. We came in as strangers and left as friends.” -Elizabeth Adams, Cohort 2
~Our online private forum is our active online gathering space that serves as a nexus of connections from around the world. This is where so many of us forge meaningful relationships, share insights, collaborate on projects, have lively discussions, share creations, and access a wealth of invaluable resources. With a treasure trove of recorded sessions, workshops, and teachings at your fingertips, our platform empowers you to deepen your knowledge, expand your skills, and stay connected even after the training ends.
-
Throughout the training, our students actively engage in teaching and guiding each other, honing their skills in this transformative modality. To earn certification upon graduation, each student crafts a visionary statement and designs a unique Final Project. This project is a bespoke offering, meticulously tailored to meet the specific needs of their clients or communities. This process not only provides our students with an exceptional opportunity to integrate our modality into their existing work but also empowers them to make a meaningful impact through their personalized contributions.
The certification program involves a combination of five weekend training sessions that are centered on each step of the practice, weekly Practicum Lessons taught live by Day, monthly practice group meetings with a certified mentor, and participation in our robust online community.
The Training Consists of:
-
“It was on Zoom, but it felt like I entered a sacred space and I was sitting by a fire. I was warmed from my soul and from the depths of my being." -Chloe Girard, Cohort 1
~
Weekend dates:
Weekend 1: September 28-29, 2024
Weekend 2: November 16-17, 2024
Weekend 3: January 25-26, 2025
Weekend 4: March 22-23, 2025
Weekend 5: May 16-17, 2025Throughout the training, we present 5 Big Weekends online taught live by Day, meticulously designed to offer hands-on, experiential, and community-based learning. Each weekend is framed by one of the seven steps of the Morning Altars healing modality and is beautifully designed to balance learning between screen and outdoors, individual and community, and mind, body, and spirit.
Our students rave about the profound impact of these weekends, which stand as the pinnacle of our program.
-
“I am so grateful for the practicums as they serve as a thread and weekly opportunity to engage in heartfelt, honest and intellectually exciting conversations.” - Stephanie Landau Cohort 2
~
The Practicum Lessons provide our cohort with the opportunity to meet and learn from Day weekly while diving deeper into the topics presented during our Big Weekends. They offer skill development, personal growth, direct feedback, community connection, and a deeper understanding of the material.
Practicum Lessons cover the topics of: Creativity, Nature, Impermanence, Facilitation, and Business
A selection of Practicum topics include:
1. I Just Can’t: Dancing With Your Creative Blocks
2. Order and Chaos and Order and Chaos: Understanding the Creative Cycles
3. Behold the Ordinary: Rituals to Infuse Wonder Into Your Everyday
4. Original Joy: Nature as a Reflection and Inspiration for Creativity
5. Groundlessness: A Honest Conversation on Impermanence
6. Deep Release: Why Rest is Countercultural
7. The 4-Directions: A Comprehensive Way to Hold Space and Facilitate
8. The Levers: How to Adjust the Modality Based on Your Client’s Capacity
9. Managing Expectations: A Conversation on Offerings, Self-Worth, Self-Care and Resilience
10. Worth: A Conversation on Money, Valuing Yourself and Your Offering
-
"I didn't anticipate becoming so close to my practice group- this was the beginning of lifelong friendships that we will cultivate even long after this training is over. I've found my people!" --Julianne Kanzaki, Cohort 3
~
These smaller groups are opportunities to support your learning, build more intimate connections, and review course material under the guidance of a certified mentor.
-
“I really loved our study group ...our mentor is an amazing leader. She is so compassionate, sensitive, and wise. She really sees us. I am so appreciative of her.” - Brenda Spitzer, Cohort 2
~
In the Morning Altars Teacher Training, each student is paired with a mentor who is an experienced past student from our program. This mentor will hold space for you, answer your questions, review your assignments, guide you through the process, and serve as your touchstone. Additionally, for those seeking a more personalized experience, we offer 1:1 coaching with certified and trained coaches for an additional fee.
-
“It is a space where I felt safe and witnessed and wanted and cherished. We came in as strangers and left as friends.” -Elizabeth Adams
Our online private forum is our active online gathering space that serves as a nexus of connections from around the world. This is where so many of us forge meaningful relationships, share insights, collaborate on projects, have lively discussions, share creations, and access a wealth of invaluable resources. With a treasure trove of recorded sessions, workshops, and teachings at your fingertips, our platform empowers you to deepen your knowledge, expand your skills, and stay connected even after the training ends.
-
Throughout the training, our students actively engage in teaching and guiding each other, honing their skills in this transformative modality. To earn certification upon graduation, each student crafts a visionary statement and designs a unique Final Project. This project is a bespoke offering, meticulously tailored to meet the specific needs of their clients or communities. This process not only provides our students with an exceptional opportunity to integrate our modality into their existing work but also empowers them to make a meaningful impact through their personalized contributions.
Weekend Curriculum
Weekend 1: Wander & Wonder
We start with wonder. What happens when you look at the world through childlike eyes? Or transform the mundane into the magical? Or behold the world and let it to speak to you? Children do this naturally but as we become adults we stop wondering and exploring and become too attached to what’s familiar.
During this weekend we’ll practice timeless skills that reanimate the world -- skills such as: wonder, wander, reciprocity, beholding, attentiveness, and awe.
Sample Lesson: Wonder & Uncertainty
Sample Activity: Tracking Stories (Outdoors)
Weekend 2: Place
Next is belonging. What happens when we slow down and open ourselves to the living world? How can our senses connect us more intimately with what and who is around us? And, how our attentive with nature impact our inner nature? Belonging is all about discovering our place in the wider web.
During this weekend we practice timeless skills that strengthen our inner and outer landscapes -- skills such as: Hospitality, attentiveness, a long arrival, here-ing, following the flow, and witnessing.
Sample Lesson: Meeting the Place
Sample Activity: Spiraling to the Center
Weekend 3: Clear & Create
This is all about inspiration! What happens when you clear space for it to enter? What creative juices get stirred? What new ideas come into being? What possibilities emerge? Creativity is alive and when it visits us, we become enlivened.
During this weekend we practice timeless skills that channels our creative muses -- skills such as: Clearing space, hooking inspiration, playing with possibilities, resilience, overcoming limitations, and art as healing.
Sample Lesson: Playing with Possibilities
Sample Activity: Create a Rippling Altar
Weekend 4: Gift & Share
This is all about reciprocity. What is life like when we start seeing it as a gift? How does that change the way you interact with everything? Does it make you more open to receiving and more generous in giving? The spirit of a gift is all about learning how to receive and give and remember the great abundance of the living world.
During this weekend we practice timeless skills of reciprocity -- skills such as: Praise, gratitude, abundance, offering, enoughness, and ritualizing.
Sample Lesson: What is Fierce Trust?
Sample Activity: Create a Broken Whole Altar
Weekend 5: Let Go
And we finish with impermanence. What happens when we unclench our hands and allow change? When we get out of our own way and let things be? How can our tenderness and uncertainty become our strength and not our weakness? When we give space for things to be impermanent, we also give space for the healing that comes from allowing room for grief, for relief, for heartbreak, and joy.
During this weekend we practice timeless skills of allowing -- skills such as: Grief, love, rest, putting down, savoring, appreciating, and wonder.
Sample Lesson: Impermanence as a Guest
Sample Activity: Create a Changing Altar
Worried about missing a weekend?
Fear not, as we have a comprehensive catch-up plan to ensure your growth and progress are fully supported.
“For all of us zoom weary folks, the weekends had a perfect balance of screen time and outside wander-time.”
-KIM FORCINA, CREATIVITY COACH — COHORT 2
Ways we learn
Outside & hands-on
We learn by being outside, exploring.
No, this won’t all be online. Yes, you will be outside a LOT getting your hands dirty, your feet wandering, and making beautiful things.
A heart-centered community
We learn together.
You’ll be planted in a garden of soulful, heart-centered, deep-thinking, nature-loving, playful humans, from all over the world.
Mentorship
We learn with guidance.
Guidance and support from our Certified Morning Altars Mentors to assist learning and deepen community connection.
That’s a lot to take in.
~Let’s take a breath together~
An invitation
from us to you.
I’m inviting you to join me in receiving my life’s work. I’m going to be teaching as if our world depends on it because, well, it does.
I’m taking us on a powerful 9-month journey into the heart of this potent healing modality that integrates nature, creativity, and ritual. No other training in the world does this. This is a practice that transformed my life. Maybe it’ll transform yours too.
I’d love it if you joined me and our growing community.
Frequently Asked Questions
Summary
-
The Morning Altars Teacher Training is a 9-month certification program for helpers & healers who work with groups or individuals and wish to deepen their understanding of the Morning Altars modality and become certified facilitators. The program provides in-depth training, mentoring, practice groups, and curated resources to help develop the skills and knowledge necessary to integrate this modality into your own practices, clients, groups, and communities.
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Day is a world-renowned author, artist, and teacher who developed the Morning Altars modality in 2011 as a way of healing from his own loss and grief. He has written two award-winning books on nature, creativity and ritual, and has shared his modality with thousands of people, from Melbourne to Madrid. He has taught workshops at esteemed places like Esalen, MEA, the 9/11 Memorial Plaza, and the Google campus, and has been featured on international television such as the CBC, NBC, FOX, and CBS.
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Getting certified as a Morning Altars Teacher will greatly enhance the way you serve your populations. The modality equips you with fresh skills, activities, and perspectives that you can utilize to guide your clients, students, or communities. As the world’s only modality integrating nature, art, and ritual therapies, you’ll be able to differentiate yourself from others in your field.
Scheduling
-
If you want to participate in this course but can’t make the timing fit your timezone, we have designed the program with alternative options for those who can’t participate live.
All the weekends and the Practicum Lessons will be recorded and uploaded onto our Mighty Network. Plus, there will be occasional Practicum Lessons offered live for our European and Australasian members.
Depending on which time zones end up participating, we will arrange practice groups to accommodate individuals in similar time zones. We encourage participants from any timezone to apply–we’ve found solutions for participants from Iceland to New Zealand, and we’re sure we can make it work for you as well!
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The magic is happening in these live gatherings where you’ll get the most investment from being there, but we also recognize that our schedule might not be realistic for everyone. We want to do everything we can to make the program accessible.
If you miss a weekend session, there will be recordings made available on the Mighty Network (our online community). You will be able to watch videos of the group conversations and engage with the activities on your own, at your own speed.
Each recorded session will directly link to active threads within the community where you can join-in and participate in the conversation even after the weekend ends. We even include the “chat” from the calls! If you think you might have problems with the dates, please still consider applying and we’ll work it out directly with you.
Accessibility
-
We create and foster our cohort by providing an intentionally welcoming and safe environment where all feel valued and cared for, and where all are given the opportunity to form meaningful connections with one another. We foster a climate of purposeful inclusion of all. We cherish the diversity of gender, age, race, ethnicity, national origin, range of abilities, sexual orientation, gender identity, financial means, education, and political perspective. We actively create a safe space during the weekends by encouraging sharing from all participants for anyone who feels called to share with the large group, and by providing small, more intimate opportunities to share and dive deeper with just the individual practice groups. We also maintain open channels of communications with all our students to come to us with any issues that might arise, ensuring everyone feels seen, heard, and cared for.
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Whether it’s public health, housing, physical mobility, or just time-zones, we recognise that sometimes circumstances are such that we can’t actually get outside. We’ve designed this course to try to mitigate that whenever possible. As with the Morning Altars practice, sometimes we need to augment our approach to allow for our surroundings. For many of the activities, we have designed alternatives that can be done indoors to explore the lesson at hand. It’s amazing what we can find to wonder about and create inside of our own homes.
Online
-
The course is part-online, part-outside. The weekends will mix Zoom-based conversations with immersions outside. There will be screen time and nature time, journaling time and wandering time. There will also be audio experiences you can take with you outside to guide you through activities and meditations. Outside of the weekends, you will meet on-line with your practice groups, get to hear more from Day during the virtual Practicum Lessons, and spend time in nature as you dive into some of the depths of the Morning Altars practice.
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To participate, you will need a computer with a stable internet connection, a webcam, a comfortable seat, a fully-wired imagination, and space to wander and play.
Required Experience
-
This program is designed for helpers and healers who want to expand their modality toolbox and deepen their ability to help themselves and those around them. The most important thing is that you have a love for nature, creativity, and meaning-making. We encourage you to be familiar with the Morning Altars practice and its attendant 7 steps. If you’re not, please read Morning Altars: A 7-Step Practice to Nourish Your Spirit through Nature, Art and Ritual beforehand. Everything else will be taught.
Certification
-
Becoming a certified Morning Altars Teacher, you will have access to the Morning Altars name and brand; have a library of resources to pull from such as logos and contact templates; belong to our international professional network of helpers and healers; and promote yourself on the Morning Altars webpage. Additionally, you’ll be offered job opportunities to bring workshops, installations and teachings to communities and organizations looking for certified Morning Altars Teachers as they arise. Lastly, you may have an opportunity to become a Morning Altars Teacher Training Mentor in future cohorts of the training.
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The certification does not expire but we will invite you to join the Morning Altars Graduate Program after certification to continue practicing this modality within our community.
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While having a business in place certainly gives you something to work with, this program can absolutely serve as the starting point for a new business venture or side-hustle. As you begin to book gigs, you may need to start setting yourself up as a business entity of some sort, but that is certainly not a prerequisite for participating in the program.
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We believe in curating the community to make sure everyone is a good fit. Because we’ll be exploring transformational practices, grief, and healing, we want to ensure it’s a supportive and held container.
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The Big Weekends are a combination of on-screen conversations and outdoor activities. The group gathers on Zoom, and then alternates between learning directly from Day, going off-screen to practice what is taught, and reflecting in small groups on what you’ve experienced and learned. The weekends are pinnacles of the programs and are seen by participants as an invaluable part of the overall training and community building.
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While there is no artistic experience necessary, you will quickly discover that you are profoundly creative. The Morning Altars modality helps us all discover that we all have the capacity to see, feel, create, and express beauty and gives us a way to access that deep truth.
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The program begins in late September, 2024 and will conclude in May, 2025. The Big Weekends will happen in September, November, January, March, and May.
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Between each Big Weekend, there will be one assignment designed to help you practice to offer a public workshop. Completing these assignments will be mandatory in order to be considered for certification, and will culminate in a Final Project at the end of the program. Assignments will vary between sessions, and will typically involve a bit of planning, a bit of doing, and a bit of reflecting.There will be periodic meetings with your Practice Group and your Mentor between the Big Weekends, to help ensure you’re feeling on-course with the program and to help build the “we” of your Practice Group.
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The first three years have proven to be a massive success. It is our hope that this fourth class will build on the success of the first three years and cement this program as an annual offering. However, as with all things, there is no guarantee, but we have sincere intentions to continue again next year.
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As well as access to the outdoors, we recognise that sometimes our mobility circumstances will require us to change our approach to the practice. If this is the case for you, we will work with you to adjust the practice to fit your needs.
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If you have any additional access needs, please let us know in the application process, and we will do whatever we can to make this journey accessible to you.
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Our private online community is called a Mighty Network, and it is where the course lives when we’re not meeting live on Zoom (or when you’re not out in nature). This is our main gathering place online (akin to Facebook but not open to the public like Facebook) where you will be asked to post photos, have interesting conversations with classmates, access additional content, reference upcoming events, and dive into our vast resource library. We hope that you find it a comfortable space to engage with this community of practice that we are all building together. And yes, there are free app versions for iOS and Android if you want to access it on your phone or tablet.
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Not to worry, the course is designed to provide as much support as possible to help you with the technological journey. Since we are all nature-folk here, we have chosen platforms that are easy to work with, and most importantly, we will be able to help you with any technical challenges you may encounter along the way. If you have any questions, you can contact us directly inside the Mighty Network or by email at any time and we’ll get back to you.
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If you are interested in deepening your own practice but do not have a community that you intend to bring this to, we encourage you to still consider applying to the program. We can discuss your needs and intentions during the application process, and help create an approach that will work best for you.
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This program will put you into a cohort of international practitioners and professionals, all of whom make up an incredible network. Some of your cohort-mates will also have extensive networks of their own that you may be able to tap into. In addition to that, you will also have access to the alumni community of program graduates, all of whom will be wonderful contacts to make. And finally, you will be part of a community of teachers who will have access to job opportunities as they become available, either through Day and his network, or through the networks of your fellow teachers.
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Being part of the Teachers cohort will give you access to teaching opportunities, sourced by either Day and his network, or through the networks of your fellow Morning Altars Teachers. Professional opportunities often arise that are not feasible for teachers who fielded the original request (this is often the case for Day as well), and in these cases we make the opportunities available to our community of certified teachers. We will also invite you to share about teaching opportunities of your own on the online forum, where you may be able to amplify your message or find participants. You will also be listed, if you chose, on the Morning Altars website as a certified teacher available for work.
Frequently Asked Questions
Summary
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The Morning Altars Teacher Training is a 9-month certification program for helpers & healers who work with groups or individuals and wish to deepen their understanding of the Morning Altars modality and become certified facilitators. The program provides in-depth training, mentoring, practice groups, and curated resources to help develop the skills and knowledge necessary to integrate this modality into your own practices, clients, groups, and communities.
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Day is a world-renowned author, artist, and teacher who developed the Morning Altars modality in 2011 as a way of healing from his own loss and grief. He has written two award-winning books on nature, creativity and ritual, and has shared his modality with thousands of people, from Melbourne to Madrid. He has taught workshops at esteemed places like Esalen, MEA, the 9/11 Memorial Plaza, and the Google campus, and has been featured on international television such as the CBC, NBC, FOX, and CBS.
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Getting certified as a Morning Altars Teacher will greatly enhance the way you serve your populations. The modality equips you with fresh skills, activities, and perspectives that you can utilize to guide your clients, students, or communities. As the world’s only modality integrating nature, art, and ritual therapies, you’ll be able to differentiate yourself from others in your field.
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We believe in a curating the community to make sure everyone is a good fit. Because we’ll be exploring transformational practices, grief, and healing, we want to ensure it’s a supportive and held container.
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The Big Weekends are a combination of on-screen conversations and outdoor activities. The group gathers on Zoom, and then alternates between learning directly from Day, going off-screen to practice what is taught, and reflecting in small groups on what you’ve experienced and learned. The weekends are pinnacles of the programs and are seen by participants as an invaluable part of the overall training and community building.
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While there is no artistic experience necessary, you will quickly discover that you are profoundly creative. The Morning Altars modality helps us all discover that we all have the capacity to see, feel, create, and express beauty and gives us a way to access that deep truth.
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The program begins in late September, 2024 and will conclude in May, 2025. The Big Weekends will happen in September, November, January, March, and May.
Scheduling
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Unfortunately, we cannot be in all places at all times (much as we might like to be). If you want to participate in this course but can’t make the timing fit your timezone, we have designed the program with alternative options for those who can’t participate live. There will be recordings of the weekends and the Practicum Lessons all with access to the community threads on the Mighty Network (our private Morning Altars online community). Plus, there will be occasional Practicum Lessons offered live for our European and Australasian members. Depending on which time zones end up participating, we will arrange practice groups to accommodate individuals in similar time zones. We encourage participants from any timezone to apply–we’ve found solutions for participants from Iceland to New Zealand, and we’re sure we can make it work for you as well!
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The magic is happening in these live gatherings where you’ll get the most investment from being there, but we also recognize that our schedule might not be realistic for everyone. We want to do everything we can to make the program accessible.
If you miss a weekend session, there will be recordings made available on the Mighty Network (our online community). You will be able to watch videos of the group conversations and engage with the activities on your own, at your own speed.
Each recorded session will directly link to active threads within the community where you can join-in and participate in the conversation even after the weekend ends. We even include the “chat” from the calls! If you think you might have problems with the dates, please still consider applying and we’ll work it out directly with you.
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Between each Big Weekend, there will be one assignment designed to help you practice to offer a public workshop. Completing these assignments will be mandatory in order to be considered for certification, and will culminate in a Final Project at the end of the program. Assignments will vary between sessions, and will typically involve a bit of planning, a bit of doing, and a bit of reflecting.There will be periodic meetings with your Practice Group and your Mentor between the Big Weekends, to help ensure you’re feeling on-course with the program and to help build the “we” of your Practice Group.
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The first three years have proven to be a massive success. It is our hope that this fourth class will build on the success of the first three years and cement this program as an annual offering. However, as with all things, there is no guarantee, but we have sincere intentions to continue again next year.
Accessibility
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We create and foster our cohort by providing an intentionally welcoming and safe environment where all feel valued and cared for, and where all are given the opportunity to form meaningful connections with one another. We foster a climate of purposeful inclusion of all. We cherish the diversity of gender, age, race, ethnicity, national origin, range of abilities, sexual orientation, gender identity, financial means, education, and political perspective. We actively create a safe space during the weekends by encouraging sharing from all participants for anyone who feels called to share with the large group, and by providing small, more intimate opportunities to share and dive deeper with just the individual practice groups. We also maintain open channels of communications with all our students to come to use with any issues that might arise, ensuring everyone feels seen, heard, and cared for.
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Whether it’s public health, housing, physical mobility, or just time-zones, we recognise that sometimes circumstances are such that we can’t actually get outside. We’ve designed this course to try to mitigate that whenever possible. As with the Morning Altars practice, sometimes we need to augment our approach to allow for our surroundings. For many of the activities, we have designed alternatives that can be done indoors to explore the lesson at hand. It’s amazing what we can find to wonder about and create inside of our own homes.
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As well as access to the outdoors, we recognise that sometimes our mobility circumstances will require us to change our approach to the practice. If this is the case for you, we will work with you to adjust the practice to fit your needs.
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If you have any additional access needs, please let us know in the application process, and we will do whatever we can to make this journey accessible to you.
Online
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Our private online community is called a Mighty Network, and it is where the course lives when we’re not meeting live on Zoom (or when you’re not out in nature). This is our main gathering place online (akin to Facebook but not open to the public like Facebook) where you will be asked to post photos, have interesting conversations with classmates, access additional content, reference upcoming events, and dive into our vast resource library. We hope that you find it a comfortable space to engage with this community of practice that we are all building together. And yes, there are free app versions for iOS and Android if you want to access it on your phone or tablet.
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Not to worry, the course is designed to provide as much support as possible to help you with the technological journey. Since we are all nature-folk here, we have chosen platforms that are easy to work with, and most importantly, we will be able to help you with any technical challenges you may encounter along the way. If you have any questions, you can contact us directly inside the Mighty Network or by email at any time and we’ll get back to you.
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The course is part-online, part-outside. The weekends will mix Zoom-based conversations with immersions outside. There will be screen time and nature time, journaling time and wandering time. There will also be audio experiences you can take with you outside to guide you through activities and meditations. Outside of the weekends, you will meet on-line with your practice groups, get to hear more from Day during the virtual Practicum Lessons, and spend time in nature as you dive into some of the depths of the Morning Altars practice.
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To participate, you will need a computer with a stable internet connection, a webcam, a comfortable seat, a fully-wired imagination, and space to wander and play.
Required Experience
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If you are interested in deepening your own practice but do not have a community that you intend to bring this to, we encourage you to still consider applying to the program. We can discuss your needs and intentions during the application process, and help create an approach that will work best for you.
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This program is designed for helpers and healers who want to expand their modality toolbox and deepen their ability to help themselves and those around them. The most important thing is that you have a love for nature, creativity, and meaning-making. We encourage you to be familiar with the Morning Altars practice and its attendant 7 steps. If you’re not, please read Morning Altars: A 7-Step Practice to Nourish Your Spirit through Nature, Art and Ritual beforehand. Everything else will be taught.
Certification
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Becoming a certified Morning Altars Teacher, you will have access to the Morning Altars name and brand; have a library of resources to pull from such as logos and contact templates; belong to our international professional network of helpers and healers; and promote yourself on the Morning Altars webpage. Additionally, you’ll be offered job opportunities to bring workshops, installations and teachings to communities and organizations looking for certified Morning Altars Teachers as they arise. Lastly, you may have an opportunity to become a Morning Altars Teacher Training Mentor in future cohorts of the training.
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The certification does not expire but we will invite you to join the Morning Altars Graduate Program after certification to continue practicing this modality within our community.
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While having a business in place certainly gives you something to work with, this program can absolutely serve as the starting point for a new business venture or side-hustle. As you begin to book gigs, you may need to start setting yourself up as a business entity of some sort, but that is certainly not a prerequisite for participating in the program.
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This program will put you into a cohort of international practitioners and professionals, all of whom make up an incredible network. Some of your cohort-mates will also have extensive networks of their own that you may be able to tap into. In addition to that, you will also have access to the alumni community of program graduates, all of whom will be wonderful contacts to make. And finally, you will be part of a community of Teachers who will have access to job opportunities as they become available, either through Day and his network, or through the networks of your fellow teachers.
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Being part of the Teachers cohort will give you access to teaching opportunities, sourced by either Day and his network, or through the networks of your fellow Morning Altars Teachers. Professional opportunities often arise that are not feasible for teachers who fielded the original request (this is often the case for Day as well), and in these cases we make the opportunities available to our community of certified teachers. We will also invite you to share about teaching opportunities of your own on the online forum, where you may be able to amplify your message or find participants. You will also be listed, if you chose, on the Morning Altars website as a certified teacher available for work.