A Nature-Woven Advent: Earthly Wonders of the Four-Kingdoms
As winter deepens and the days grow shorter, Advent offers a gentle rhythm - a chance to pause, reflect, and connect with the world around us.
Even for families who follow their own distinct paths, celebrations, traditions, and rituals hold a meaningful place in all our lives. They connect us to the rhythms of the natural world, shape the flow of our year, and anchor us in our shared humanity. This season invites us to slow down, reflect, and attune ourselves to the turning of the seasons.
One beautiful way to mark this season, inspired by Waldorf education, is through the four kingdoms of nature. Though this tradition carries deeper origins, it can simply serve as a mindful celebration of the natural world and our place within it.
Each of the four weeks of Advent can be dedicated to one of these kingdoms, inviting us to slow down, observe, and honour the different facets of life on Earth.
Observing the Four Kingdoms
A simple, nurturing way to honour the weeks is to light a candle each Sunday and add natural items representing that week’s kingdom to a celebration ring or Advent display. Poems, reflections, or quiet observations help focus attention on the wonder of each realm.
Week One: The Mineral Kingdom
The first week shines a light on the minerals - stones, crystals, and bones that form the foundation of our world. The mineral kingdom is steady, enduring, and grounding. It reminds us that before anything can grow or move, there must be a solid base. This week we can begin to build our Advent celebration ring or display adding shells, stones and crystals, along with the first candle for the first Sunday of Advent.
Verse for Week One:
The first light of Advent shines on stone,
Crystals, pebbles, shells and bone,
Solid and silent, it holds us strong,
A steady base where life can belong.
Week Two: The Plant Kingdom
In the second week, we turn to plants. Trees, flowers, and all greenery teach us about growth, reaching for the light, and enduring the seasons. This week we can add the second section of our Advent celebration ring, along with the 2nd candle, winter greenery, moss and winter berries, or small flower fairies such as Ambrosius.
Verse for Week Two:
The second light of Advent shines on leaves,
On roots that reach and buds that weave.
Plants stretch upward, they dance and sway,
Bringing life to each winter day.
Week Three: The Animal Kingdom
The third week honours animals, from birds and insects to the largest mammals. The animal kingdom reminds us of the amazing world we live in and the variety of life that flourishes all around us. This week we can add the third section of our Advent celebration ring, along with the third candle of Advent and small animal figures such as Ostheimer.
Verse for Week Three:
The third light of Advent shines on the beasts.
From tiny ants to great big geese.
They run, they hop, they swim, they fly,
Bringing wonder to earth, sea, and sky
Week Four: The Human Kingdom
The fourth week celebrates humanity - the spark of thought, creativity, reflection, and love. This week is about recognising our own potential and the ways we can contribute to the world through kindness and connection. This week we can add the final section of our Advent celebration ring along with the 4th candle of advent, and human figures.
Verse for Week Four:
The fourth light of Advent shines on humankind,
Thoughts and feelings, heart and mind.
To give, to care, to understand,
And hold the world gently in our hands.
— ✧ — ✦ — ❊ — ✦ — ✧ —
Through this practice, we are reminded that every part of the natural world, from stone to plant, from animal to human, connects and unites us. Advent becomes not just a countdown to a holiday, but a meaningful pause to reconnect with the rhythms of life, the beauty of nature, and the light within us all.
By marking each week of Advent, it invites families to acknowledge the growing darkness and anticipate the returning light, echoing the natural cycles that have guided human life for millennia. Lighting a candle each Sunday, sharing stories, or practicing small acts of kindness are rituals that create a sense of continuity and stability. For children, these repeated practices establish a comforting yearly rhythm, helping them feel connected to both the passage of time and the larger world around them.
At its heart, this season reminds us that celebration is not only about the event itself but about the human need for connection, reflection, and shared meaning. Engaging in these traditions fosters togetherness, nurtures mindfulness, and anchors us in the broader human story.
In embracing such rituals, we honour our connection to nature, to each other, and to the cycles that shape our lives, making every passing year feel intentional, beautiful, and profoundly human.
With Warmth
Mama Oak
Leave a comment