The Ancestors' Terrarium
Photo by Natalia Dunne
The Kontomblé streamed through me, their languages spilling out in an intricate tapestry of sound and form- “The Ancestors’ terrarium! The Ancestors’ terrarium!” They said on repeat, giving me the image of a beautiful glass orb, open to air and housing the most exquisite and rare of plants.
“That’s you!” They showed me- the rare plant. They were saying each one of us is a rare, exquisite species that grows and blooms based upon the environment we are cultivated in. Our environment grows us. And most importantly- our relationships within it and to it.
Later that afternoon, I went for a walk by the river to process what they said. I noticed a great eagle perched atop a Red Alder tree. It flew across the bay as I approached it.
I stood under the tree where it had just sat, thinking I may be lucky and stumble across a feather for my love, when all of a sudden, I heard them. The Ancestors began speaking loudly in my year.
“Just as a plant, when placed in a perfectly curated environment, learns to thrive- so you have been placed in a perfectly and divinely curated environment, for your own gifts to grow and fruit and bloom. This terrarium you have been placed in is called ‘Mother Earth’. All of earth is your home, and the Ancestors have crafted it for you. They have done this for each and every one of you alive on the planet at this time.”
Chills ran down my spine as tears gathered in the corners of my eyes. I noticed the Eagle was now flying back across the bay.
It swooped in a large circle above the Red Alder, and made a sharp turn back in my direction. He dipped down toward me, and as I looked up at him, cocked his head back and tipped his beak down, executing perfect eye contact with me as he flew over my head.
I followed him out to the bridge and sang as he swooped over the waters. The waves picked up, the work was being done. I knew it was complete when a burst of light sparkled mid air over the waters. Satisfied, I thanked my winged teammate, and began my walk home.
That’s the day Spirit told me, it is time to create the space to share this work with others. It is time to birth The Ancestor Course.