2/8/21 Three Aunties: Ginger, Garlic & Turmeric

I drove out of the woods and into town for appointments yesterday. On my way, I listened to Braiding Sweetgrass: Indigenous Wisdom on Audile. In the Author’s own voice, Robin Wall Kimmerer weaves essays on complimentary ways of knowing and the ethics these elicit, ethics such as reciprocity. She told me about gardening with The Three Sisters: corn, beans, and squash.

In town, I stopped at the Food Coop for deli, oats, and produce. I picked up these three: garlic, ginger and turmeric. Together, they add flavor and ease my arthritic joints. Their gnarled and bulbous shapes remind me of the jointed hands on old aunties that my own hands begin to resemble.

Later at home, I sat to honor my drawing commitment. I placed these three anti-inflammatory plants on the table and looked. In my youth, I thought the purpose of drawing would be to produce a marketable product. I thought that was the purpose of most sanctioned endeavors. My purpose in drawing now is to stop and look and come to better know the abundant gifts around me. I looked at these three and thought, “These are my antis, these are my aunties.” How soothingly delicious!