Marigolds & Tears

Peace. I say this time and time again, but working with Mother Earth (Tonantzin) changes us. It ignites this fire within us that we just can't ignore. Bear with me as I speak of  something close not only my heart but my soul. 

As the summer comes to an end, we have been talking about phasing into our Fall crops, which dee expanded on in our last blog. (Tlazos a dee!)


We change, we move, it changes, it moves, but we must find the balance. Balance.

As we continually do our tasks, we step back each time and think of how things have changed, express our words of gratitude to the cosmos, to each other, shed a tear or two because we are overcome with emotion for the tasks we have completed that has no words to express/share/even write.

Last week we sat down to plan our crops for the upcoming season, and if you know me on any level I have talked about this at one point or another, greens in the fall, phasing, etc. As we thumbed through the pages of our catalog, did some on-the-fly research, the day began to escape us. We literally became CONSUMED in the work that we do. It was an eye-opening thing because we were gifted with the opportunity to do such work and we made so many plans. We debated, we giggled, we talked about things we wanted to offer our households and our community to enrich our lives.

Altar decorated with Cempasuchil flores

In the midst of discussing companion planting, herbs to repel pests, etc. We came across Marigolds or Cempasuchil in spanish. (Which is the flower of most used to decorate during dia de los muertos, Nov.1 & 2, a sacred day for many brown people that honors our past loved ones.) I began to become short of breath and had to turn away from my sister because F*#%! We talk about being in tune with things, building connections and there it was staring at us in the face.

Our ancestors knew these things, and somewhere along the course of history this knowledge wasn't shared with us. It moved me because I know in October I need marigolds. I see them in art, in stores, on altars, in cemeteries, and I know that it is a sign of acknowledging my ancestors, paying homage to the dead and respect. I didn't know it was used to keep Fall crops healthy. It sounds funny now, but tears are filling my eyes as I try to type.

I feel such a strong connection with muertos, and it just moves me that we will have the opportunity to experience Marigolds in the Original Jardin. I feel truly honored and gifted by the cosmos for this.

Paz,
Gritona 

Mictlancihuatl y Mictlantecuhtli

Above you can see the different energy representations from the underworld, Mictlancihuatl is the female represntation and Mictlantecuhtli is the male. The light/dark dark, the feminine/male to balance themselves. I felt it would be appropriate to share that part of myself here. It has been burning in my mind since Saturday.