“Old English Eōstre continues into modern English as Easter and derives from Proto-Germanic *austrōn, itself a descendant of the Proto-Indo-European root *aus-, meaning ‘to shine’ (modern English east also derives from this root).[3] Writing in the 8th century, the Anglo-Saxon monk Bede describes Ēostre as the name of an Old English goddess and behind the … Continue reading
Filed under musings …
School Hauntings & The Dreamtime
10 years ago I started having anxiety dreams. They would happen just once or twice a year, but they were always the same kind of dream. And, the residue from the dream would stay with me for days. I’m in a class, high school or college. I didn’t realize there was a pop quiz. Or, … Continue reading
Trail Marker Trees: Remembering Land Language
The story of stumbling upon the meaning and significance of these living artifacts started about 10 years ago. I had been running an apothecary in Mississippi (2012-2017) and, of course, spent a lot of time outdoors walking trails. I eventually started to notice these unusually shaped trees, most of them bent at 90 degree angles. … Continue reading
The Modern, Manufactured Woman
A rant? A poem? You chose. The modern manufacturing of the detached, disempowered feminine We try to suppress her cycles with birth control pills. We don’t give her space or support to breastfeed. We expect her to be back at work two weeks after birth. We don’t give her space to feel, grieve, express her … Continue reading
Dear Madhupa Maypop, Thank you & Farewell
I finally got around to changing the name of my website. Many of you know about my site, Madhupa Maypop. There have been so many mispronunciations and question marks about this name, that it’s just high time to change it. And, it’s high time to step into my own name. It’s newness. It’s rightness. It’s … Continue reading
Running a Marathon without Moving: Thoughts on Breastfeeding
This is my marathon picture. My daugther will be TWO in two weeks. She has been night-weaned since 16 months and by about 22 months, she was down to just a morning and an evening feeding (wake-up and go-to-sleep feed). This morning she didn’t think to ask for milk. She may tomorrow. I don’t know. … Continue reading
Resources for Healing Whiteness
Ever since my health crisis back in 2001, in which I was plunged into my subconscious and the tattered subconscious of our culture (it was gruesome)…I have been walking the path of remembering…remembering what has been lost and what has been wounded…and what is begging us to be reclaimed… One of the main themes of … Continue reading
5 Years Back in Mississippi
“Go out in the woods, go out. If you don’t go out in the woods nothing will ever happen and your life will never begin.” ~ Clarissa Pinkola Estés, Women Who Run with the Wolves I’m feeling nostalgic about the 5 years I spent in Mississippi before moving back to California last year. I left … Continue reading
Motherhood and the New Ring on My Tree
It’s finally springtime. And, I’m feeling the warm sun thawing the last, cold-knuckled grip of winter. I have never been so ready for spring (clutches table in front of me and locks you in a exasperated stare). My little one, born in late October, is now 5 months old. Through the short days and long … Continue reading
Fibers That Won’t Choke The World
With the little one on its way…I’ve been obsessing about fabrics, textiles, and yarns. As an herbalist and plant-worker, I’ve always been drawn to natural fibers and plant dyes, but this nesting season has taken it to a whole new level. In addition to this, my increasing awareness of microplastics has deepened my commitment to … Continue reading
Lindsay Kolasa 