Again, an enriching listen! I love your daughter’s clover blessing. I wish it was more acceptable for adults to do things that could be considered ‘childlike’ without being seen as odd (at best). I feel that’s more acceptable for parents to do, because if they do something childish they’re just copying their child, but if someone who doesn’t have children does it, it’s considered ‘weird’ (and not the good kind of weird).
Regarding cacao, and cultural appropriation as a whole, it’s a complex topic and the most tricky is where you draw the line on what to do and what not to do? From what I can see…ceremonial cacao is a very specific thing and it’s different to having a mindful, meditative cup of hot chocolate (which I guess you could do? And any drink can apply?) there are ritualistic guidelines that originate in Central/South American cultures and a certain type of cacao that should be cultivated and processed in a specific way-and a lot of distortion by ‘new age hippy’ types too. If someone who is genuinely of that culture invites me to a cacao ceremony, I wouldn’t turn it down, but I don’t know if I could do the ritual myself or have someone not of the culture do it for me as it’s not ‘right’? Ditto a Japanese tea ceremony, another very specific cultural ritual. This blog addresses some issues including cultural appropriation and exploitation https://cocoarunners.com/blog/ceremonial-cacao-the-good-the-bad-and-the-slightly-mad-blog/
Or as the Seed Sistas say-use holly for the ceremonial purpose!
I’m so sorry to hear about your miscarriage. It sounds like you are intuitively finding ways to honour your feelings. Personally I have found that only nature can hold my grief and ritual can be so powerful.
I also think it’s so beautiful how you involve your daughter in ritual and the blessing of the clover brought a big smile to my face! Local fairy fair sounds amazing!
When you read the story about the Selkie, the bit about her putting on the skin reminded me of how I feel when I go outside in the morning for my cup of tea. Everything relaxes. Also if I swim in the sea or a river, I get this amazing feeling of being so small yet so held by the water.
On ritual I would really recommend Isla McLeod - her book Rituals for Life is really beautiful. And I think she does events.
Again, an enriching listen! I love your daughter’s clover blessing. I wish it was more acceptable for adults to do things that could be considered ‘childlike’ without being seen as odd (at best). I feel that’s more acceptable for parents to do, because if they do something childish they’re just copying their child, but if someone who doesn’t have children does it, it’s considered ‘weird’ (and not the good kind of weird).
Regarding cacao, and cultural appropriation as a whole, it’s a complex topic and the most tricky is where you draw the line on what to do and what not to do? From what I can see…ceremonial cacao is a very specific thing and it’s different to having a mindful, meditative cup of hot chocolate (which I guess you could do? And any drink can apply?) there are ritualistic guidelines that originate in Central/South American cultures and a certain type of cacao that should be cultivated and processed in a specific way-and a lot of distortion by ‘new age hippy’ types too. If someone who is genuinely of that culture invites me to a cacao ceremony, I wouldn’t turn it down, but I don’t know if I could do the ritual myself or have someone not of the culture do it for me as it’s not ‘right’? Ditto a Japanese tea ceremony, another very specific cultural ritual. This blog addresses some issues including cultural appropriation and exploitation https://cocoarunners.com/blog/ceremonial-cacao-the-good-the-bad-and-the-slightly-mad-blog/
Or as the Seed Sistas say-use holly for the ceremonial purpose!
I’m so sorry to hear about your miscarriage. It sounds like you are intuitively finding ways to honour your feelings. Personally I have found that only nature can hold my grief and ritual can be so powerful.
I also think it’s so beautiful how you involve your daughter in ritual and the blessing of the clover brought a big smile to my face! Local fairy fair sounds amazing!
When you read the story about the Selkie, the bit about her putting on the skin reminded me of how I feel when I go outside in the morning for my cup of tea. Everything relaxes. Also if I swim in the sea or a river, I get this amazing feeling of being so small yet so held by the water.
On ritual I would really recommend Isla McLeod - her book Rituals for Life is really beautiful. And I think she does events.