Till Death Do Us Part
November 2, 2024
“The only thing certain in life is uncertainty”... and death.
Regardless of your gender, class, or nationality, death casts its shadow on us all. While some will find that sad, Mexican culture celebrates death as a natural transition in the cycle of life.
Día de los Muertos, is a day to honor the deceased. Leading up to November 2nd you will find colorful altars, decorated with cempasúchil (marigolds), papel picado, pan de muerto, candles, food, and personal mementos adorning the streets of Mexico City, Oaxaca, and even Ottawa. Through these offerings, families keep the memories of their loved ones alive.
Fabiola Yzeta-Vincent founder and CEO of the Day of the Dead festival in Ottawa says “it’s a Mexican tradition, but everybody can participate, because everybody has someone that they lost.” Whether or not Día de los Muertos is part of your culture, this tradition invites us to show gratitude to our ancestors and life givers.
Pictured is the altar created by Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México at La Maison du Citoyen (Gatineau) & the Day of the Dead festival in the Byward Market (Ottawa).
A Prayer For Palestine
March 27th, 2024
Candlelight and song illuminate San Marcos La Laguna, the spiritual mecca of Guatemala, where supporters have gathered in a prayer vigil for Palestine. Amidst healing circles, tantric yoga classes and cacao “ceremonies”, the air is thick with an undeniably strong Israeli presence.
On the night of Purim, a Jewish holiday founded on the Book of Esther, a young Rabbi was heard shouting, "We need to eradicate the Palestinian word." as he headed to the lake.
Guatemala was one of the earliest countries to formally recognize the state of Israel in 1949 under Juan Jose Arévalo (UN). Since then, both countries have shared solid economic relations and a mutual interest in counterinsurgency. In the 1970s, after the U.S. cut military aid to Guatemala, Israel became its main arms supplier and advisor, providing strategic guidance that mirror Israeli army tactics in occupied Palestinian territories (MERIP, 1986).
"We can't say there is anti-Palestinian sentiment [here] because it's not being spoken about. Gaza and what is happening with Israel and Palestinians are not being talked about. To me, that's a controlled narrative." says Angelina Dayfallah, who organized the vigil and may be the only Palestinian woman living in San Marcos, La Laguna, Guatemala.
"When it is spoken about, what I have witnessed in private conversations with a few Israelis, is that it is in the framework of war, but it is not acknowledged as a genocide. The topic of [Israeli] hostages is always brought up and almost used as a justification. If it's not used as a justification, it's almost a request that's being made of me to acknowledge the hostages as well."
In response to Angelina's invitation in a group chat where local events and news are shared, an Israeli yoga teacher, wishing to remain unnamed, felt condemned by the event. Opposed to having to choose sides, she declined the invitation. Her thinking, as she explained later, was "Can't I just be a person for today? Can I not have a role as an Israeli?"
That night, approximately 30 people joined Angelina in prayer for Palestine, no small number for a town that's estimated to be around 3000 inhabitants.
When asked about her intention in organizing this action, Angelina responded that she wanted to encourage the power of prayer as a tool for manifesting change in humanity. "It is not enough to share the freedom songs and medicine songs about getting along and respecting the earth and the waters; we have to put it to action."
After continued airstrikes on Rafah in May, pro-Palestine activists on social media have been criticizing celebrities and friends for remaining silent to these injustices.
Angelina's wishes ring true now more than ever, "we can humanize, witness and be present with what is happening, without needing to feel angry and depleted. Let's lift that frequency, through the power of prayer and intention setting."
We change humanity by changing ourselves.
Remembering Adobe
April 2024
When the residents of San Juan, La Laguna, see Walter Thomas and his family making adobe bricks, they stop, smile and say: "Gracias por este recuerdo, gracias por mantenerlo vivo” / " I remember making adobe with my grandfather as a child, thank you for this memory and for keeping this tradition alive."
Adobe is a mud brick made by mixing earth, pine, and water, then placing the mixture into molds to harden in the sun; a technique that has been used by indigenous peoples of Mesoamerica for several thousand years.
Modern construction techniques are taking a huge toll on the environment. Transporting materials like brick and cement produces a huge amount of CO2 and toxic waste, not to mention the energy needed to transform raw materials in the first place. Comparatively, adobe bricks are entirely biodegradable and are usually made from soil found right on the construction site. Instead of heavy machinery, Thomas and his brother step into mud to combine the earth, water and pine. Adobe completely avoids the use of greenhouse gas emissions. Better yet, its earthen makeup absorbs and slowly releases heat, keeping the house cool during the day and warm at night (New Mexico State University).
For Thomas, the benefits of adobe surpass ecology and engineering. Even if this process is physically demanding and takes a lot of time, continuing this tradition is a souvenir for his community. With a smile, he proudly reminds us that: “When the time comes, these bricks will go back to the earth, as will all of us, but in the meantime, this earth will save us.”
