My maternal great grandmother Reymunda grew rue in her garden and allied with this powerful plant for limpias. I bought a small plant about one year ago, and due to my displacement from a stable home, it stayed in a small pot. As part of my work, I am starting a garden where I am currently staying with family this spring, regardless of whether or not I will stay here long term. I do this in honor of Reymunda, my mother, my self, and as a meditative practice on grounding in perpetual change. By planting rue in the ground, I see her flourish, giving thanks for connection and the room to grow, with her roots no longer stifled by the constraints of the pot. I am taught that grounding is possible anywhere and at any time. What are the self-limiting beliefs that prevent me from disassociating well-being from the constant? Life and death are one in the same; this form is temporary. Do I choose to carry my spirit in a pot too small and slowly wither? Or do I ground where I am one moment at a time and prosper?
This is part of a painting I am continuing to work on that combine several experiences of mine since this past Jan 2023 when I first started to connect with my ancestor. Other elements will include imagery related to the natural elements, Virgen de Guadalupe, the 6th Sun, the monarch caterpillar and other aspects of my tonalli (Aztec reading of my birthday).
