What is Open Heart & Hearth?
Since having kids I’m recognizing the importance of having a village. Realizing that I didn’t know my neighbors was a brisk awakening and I needed to do something about. For the first time, I wanted to build relationships with the people who were physically near me. These people, who could offer immediate assistance if needed, in addition to my good friends who didn’t live nearby, are what I call my village. Being purposeful in choosing, communicating with, and nurturing the people who become a part of my village – or rather who I’ve selected to be a part of my village – is now a priority in my life.
In this process I’m learning about myself. (If you wanna skip to the nerdy details about me, click here.)
There is value in the quiet, but powerful, leader. Imagine the wise and grounded village grandmother. She holds ancient wisdom and tradition and helps to instill it in the next generation. She also gathers the village together. This is what I consider as I gather wisdom for myself and for my household.
In learning how to use the land and resources around us we can tap into the ancestral wisdom that’s been out there, in every culture, since the dawn of humanity. Western culture seems to have deemed itself above that ancient wisdom, though not necessarily for the better. So I’m trying to come back to it.
The parts that resonate with me and make sense for me and my family involve:
- Gardening
- Growing food
- Cooking from scratch
- Making things with my hands
Gardening
Gardening which really came about as a way of my interest in plants on a surface level. And then I recognized the soul fulfilling nature of the act of gardening, the meditative nature of it, how it was restoring me in that way. And then when I started growing food I recognized the nurturing aspect of that in a very literal sense. And obviously recognizing the connection between the food you eat, beyond just the fact that you paid money for it at the store. I loved seeing my kids have an understanding of where food comes from and I want that to be a part of their lives in some capacity. They enjoy being out there playing in the dirt. But they enjoy harvesting. They enjoy seeing the stages of the food that grows
Making from Scratch
And then recognizing that there is so much value in nature that – and I’m just talking a very surface level – of various herbs and roots that we don’t remember or even know how to utilize anymore. And then making things from scratch – with my hands. I’ve been making yogurt for a while, it’s delicious, cost efficient. I can make my own fruit flavors to go in them. Or just have honey & vanilla. I’ve been wanting to make bread more. And just understanding the process. Even if I still buy bread from the store. Just know that I know how and maybe for special occasions or certain events. There a tradition and a ritual behind doing something with your hands. I’m recognizing that as well. The ritual behind that.
Rituals
So, as I’m learning about myself in this process I’m deciding what traditions and rituals that I want to hold on for me. For my own spirituality and growth. For my peace and for revitalization, but also traditions for my family. What my kids see me do. What they hear in our home. What they smell. They grow up having those things that are very sensory related and how that becomes a part of them. I want my kids to have strong memories and things that cause a visceral reaction or nostalgia that they experience when they come across certain things. That they remember and want to pass on and share with their own families. I love that they want to be involved in taking care of plants and being in the kitchen. That’s the hearth witch in me.
The Mission of Open Heart & Hearth
I say all that to say that this is the foundation of this blog. I recognize that in our culture we are so far removed from a village. That even when we have families that could operate in that way, we remove and distance ourselves from them intentionally. It’s almost a mark of progress or self-accomplishment that we can “make it” on our own. But I think it’s a huge detriment. I think it’s harmful in the long run to individuals, family units, communities and ultimately to society. But now that we’re here, not everyone is in a situation that they’re able to be a part of or go back to their natural village. And so now what? What do you do when you’re a first time mom and all your friends are carrying on with their pre/non parent lives? That’s a tough situation. Or as your kid goes through different stages, and you don’t know who to relate to or who to turn to for wisdom besides the all-encompassing Google (and we all know how that ends up).
So I really want this blog to be a space not to replace that village, but to help women to find themselves so that they can create their village in the way that they need. That’s what I want. I want a digital space that offers wisdom and insight and encouragement and enlightenment and motivation and guidance towards building and finding and nurturing a village. I think when that happens, people can be less stressed. They can slow down and enjoy the day-to-day moments. They can be more at peace and find contentment in themselves, in the lives they currently have. I believe this is foundational for being kind and loving to the people around them. So yeah, this blog is my way of trying to make the world a better place.
Here we go.
Wanna know the nerdy details about me? Click here!
Are you interested in becoming involved in this Virtual Village?