A Crunchy Life - March 2023 Newsletter
Think of this as a letter from a friend with a deeper look into this month's post. I share more thoughts and resources for tapping into a simple, intentional life filled with Earth-based practices.
Hello friends!
The March blog post is up and it is all about my retirement. Retirement - it's an interesting word. "Let's retire to the drawing room." "This is a retired racehorse." "I am retiring after 30 years in......" "I am retired." It seems odd to say those words. After 30 years in a schoolhouse and 34 years in education, to say "I am retired" still feels, well, early. After all, I am still in my 50s. Does that mean, this is it? It's all over? Absolutely not! This blog post talks about how I am connecting with my hand, head, and heart to navigate this transition.
You can find the blog post at https://acrunchylife.com/2023/03/03/retirement/
Here is what I am exploring this month.
Hand…….
My great grandmother's knowledge of Kashubian culture and belief was never passed on, she passed away while all of her children were between the ages of 6 and 16. For me, learning about my Kashubian ancestry has been an opportunity to reinvigorate that knowledge. When I saw Kashubian embroidery I was captivated. It is a tradition that extends back to the 13th century. The designs are inspired by nature - pansies, cornflower, blue-bells, lilies, forget-me-nots - in both content and color. The colors symbolize the Baltic Sea, lakes and rivers, the sky, meadows, forests, the sun, love, and adversity.
Embroidery is much harder than I ever anticipated. I am accustomed to muscling my way through something I find difficult. Embroidery requires me to be so much more restful and relaxed than that. It requires me to breathe and be patient. I must also be forgiving of myself. My eyes take time to adjust when threading the needle. My hands tire quickly and cramp easily as they are still recovering from carpal tunnel release surgery in December and January. Turns out, embroidery is not only good for my hands, but also for my head and my heart - patience takes practice too.
(Kashubian motifs from Slavic Folklore and World Dreaming, 8 June 2013)
My favorite book on Kashubian embroidery so far is How to Kashubian Embroidery and More... Embracing Tradition by the Wilno Heritage Society. The book is available on their website www.wilno.org. It contains information on the basic techniques and stitches and designs. I love the idea that they used these designs to add a touch of beauty in their homes. I wonder if they believed in magical stitches like other Slavic communities did? That may be something I need to look into.
Head …….
As I shared in this month's blog post, as I move through the early days of my retirement, I have been delving into the stories of shapeshifting women. The idea of shapeshifting women exists across many cultures. Selkie stories particularly speak to me because of the connection to water, but there are so many other stories that connect shapeshifting women to nature. These are the women that know so much more than simply human nature, and they have so much to share with us about what it means to be human in this world. There are foxes, horses, rabbits, crows, wolves, swans, and so much more.
One of my favorite reimagining of these stories is Foxfire, Wolfskin and other stories of shapeshifting women by Sharon Blackie. Sharon's stories draw from myths and folklore across Europe and is a wonderful way to begin an exploration of shapeshifting women. Another favorite is Orkney: A Novel by Amy Sackville. In this story, a professor falls in love with and marries a student. For the honeymoon they travel to the Orkney Islands and thus begins a tale that is interwoven with folklore and shapeshifting. It is simply beautiful.
If you are interested in diving into more stories, D. L. Ashliman of the University of Pittsburgh has amassed a treasure trove of stories. Some included on his pages are:
Swan Maidens
Witch as Fox
Witch as Hare
The Witch Hare
The Bear Woman
The Girl Who Transformed Herself into a Hare
The Woman Who Became a Horse
I have not read all of these yet. As soon as I read one, it takes me down my own rabbit hole of reading and I forget where I was trying to go.
Heart …….
As promised in the blog post, this is my Heart Warming Tea Recipe and Ritual.
Tea Ritual:
Step 1: I consider the herbs to use based upon what I need for the day, my intention, what I am endeavoring to manifest. What herb best supports that goal? This becomes the base of the tea. Then I add ingredients to compliment flavor or effect.
Step 2: I thank the herbs when I have assembled them and I thank the water before setting it to boil.
Step 3: While the tea is steeping I say words over it that are connected to my intention for the day.
Step 4: I enjoy the tea. While I slowly drink my tea I also reflect on that intention.
Heart Warming Tea:
Each of the ingredients in my Heart Warming Tea is selected for its warming and heart supporting properties which I find I am in need of during this transition. According to The Herbrarium:
Hawthorn – a general cardiac tonic that appears to improve the mechanics of the heart and its metabolic processes. Hawthorn is also calming and stress reducing, and is used to heal, open, and protect the heart.
Rose – to open and fortify the heart.
Cinnamon – Warming, carminative, anti-inflammatory.
1 teaspoon Hawthorn berry (Crataegus spp.)
1 teaspoon Hawthorn leaf (Crataegus spp.)
1 teaspoon Hibiscus calyces (Hibiscus spp.)
1 teaspoon Rose hips (Rosa spp.)
1/4 teaspoon ground Cinnamon (Cinnamomum verum)
Combine all of the ingredients and pour 2 cups of boiling water over the mixture. Let steep covered for 20 minutes. Strain the tea into a favorite mug. Add honey, to taste, if desired.
What I’m looking forward to…….
St. Patrick’s Day and the Spring Equinox
I have had a conflicted relationship with St. Patrick’s Day for as long as I can remember. I didn’t feel connected to the celebration. Where I live St. Patrick's Day is predominantly an excuse for lots of drinking. Now, don’t get me wrong, Guinness is near and dear to my heart, but I don’t need a holiday to tell me to enjoy it.
As I have gotten older two things have happened that have shifted my perspective on St. Patrick’s Day. First, I have a friend who takes the day off from work and his whole extended family attends church together and then enjoys an after church meal together. Second, I discovered my long forgotten Irish roots. My great grandmother (1856-1931) was born in the USA to Irish immigrant parents. Her line traces back to the 1798 Rising in Ireland and I am learning more each day about their life before then. As I have explored more of our family’s story I have felt more connected to these roots, and St. Patrick’s Day has changed for me.
Now, on St. Patrick’s Day we take our own approach. Having discovered this ancestral connection it is important to me that our daughter’s have a deep and rich understanding of it as well. We are not celebrating St. Patrick (who as I have read, 1. was not even Irish and 2. accomplished driving out many of the old beliefs and stories throughout Ireland; but, that’s for another discussion); instead we are celebrating our Irish heritage.
Blessing our home and hearth. Sharing stories that have been unearthed from my family and my husband’s family. Sharing in recipes that are consistent with our ancestor's traditions. Reading the ancient stories that were prevalent prior to St. Patrick’s arrival. This will also lead into our Spring Equinox celebrations that will come just a few days later. Connecting our heritage to the equinox makes so much sense to me. I love creating new family traditions.
Love.
Karen
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