I am finding myself surrounded by stories of the past and future woven together.
The grandmothers of us all are getting louder.
They are wanting their stories to be heard.
I am currently sitting in Sicily.
Finally arriving after quite the initiatory journey…again.
The night I arrived, I broke bread with two sisters. One my age and one 40 years older than us. Having just met both of them in the past 24 hours.
We gathered around a lit candle on the table and shared bread, pesto, and rich stories of our grandmothers while the magic of this island swirled around us.
Stories containing the magic that brought us together.
Stories that were dormant until curiosity started to tug and courage began to emerge.
I am back on this island to continue my quest for reclaiming my Sicilian heritage through the process of dual citizenship.
There are about 20 steps to complete on paper and this is just the beginning.
But within my body and spirit, the steps that unravel with each mark of progress continue to spiral and unfurl in the most miraculous ways.
This journey came to me from asking questions about my grandmother’s death and about my roots. Born out of a deep desire to connect with those who lived and died before me.
A desire to belong to my own blood.
I’ve found that learning about death can inform us about the present and the future.
I believe we can not fully live when we cast out the stories of death.
We have known this as humans for a long time.
This time of year, known and honored as Samhain, Día de los Muertos, All Souls Day, All Hallows Eve, etc. is a time for honoring the dead.
Honoring those who have come before us.
The life they gave.
Whether we like it or not, we are here as a gift from them.
I’d love to invite you to take time this week to feel this.
It can be simple or elaborate. Whatever feels true in your heart is exactly right.
Allow yourself to spend a few moments thinking of your ancestors. Even if you don’t know their names or anything about them - your body knows them.
All it really requires is your breath, stillness, and the prayer or intention to honor their lives.
This entire week is a beautiful time to connect to these energies. To send out your love. To bow your head to your heart in gratitude.
To contemplate who they were and where they came from.
To talk to someone about it.
What are your questions? What do you know? What do you want to know?
If you are reading this it means you are alive, and for that, I am thankful.
I am thankful to your ancestors and all they experienced that has allowed for you to exist here today.
You are a gift from them.
For your journeys, enjoy this poem as an offering.
I’d love to hear how this lands for you.
Sending you all my love.
Lisa Marie xx
So much could be said about this post offering! First, I am continually amazed and grateful for your courage.
After that, yes - seems to me you are on the right track. Knowing our ancestors helps to allow us authenticity over and above standard American popular culture.
In my "Every Woman's Interdisciplinary Dance" workshop, I encouraged women to connect with their female ancestors and with women past, present and future through dance. Watching transformations was most gratifying!
For much of my life, at least while my father was alive, I was told my paternal blood was Irish. For some reason it never seemed to fit - it felt false - so I downplayed it in favor of the old German farm heritage in which I was raised. It wasn't until I found some old papers and did a little research to learn I'm actually half Scot.
Ahhh! THAT fit.
I no longer felt like a fraud. I learned from where my paternal family originated and immediately felt authenticity. Cellular memory, I guess eh?