A beautifully illustrated guide for connecting with the earth, your ancestors, and your communities as you come home to your whole self
Despite our best efforts, our modern world leaves so many of us feeling isolated, unworthy, and alone. We're unrooted from the land, untethered from our lineages, disconnected from our communities, and separated from our deepest sense of self.
In Root and Ritual, Becca Piastrelli offers a pathway back to connection and wholeness through rituals, recipes, and ancestral wisdom. "Though we live in a radically different-looking world, the needs of our bodies and spirits are the same as the ancestors we came from."
Divided into four parts—Land, Lineage, Community, and Self—this book takes you on a journey for engaging more deeply with your life:
- Part 1 introduces practices for reconnecting with the land, including seasonal recipes, crafting with plants, and tending your home
- In Part 2, you'll learn to reclaim the gifts of your lineage as you understand past harms and explore the traditional folklore, foods, and arts of those who came before
- Part 3 centers around community, helping you cultivate sisterhood and celebrate meaningful rites of passage
- In Part 4, you'll return to yourself as you open your intuition, tune in to your body, and awaken the wild woman within
A rich and dynamic treasure chest of timeless teachings, Root and Ritual is a beautiful guide for knowing who you are—and that you belong here.
A stimulating guide to connectedness
I'll admit that I was first attracted to Root and Ritual by its gorgeous cover, featuring items one might find on a foraging expedition - herbs, petals, fungi, insects and bones. My first impressions paid off and I found this a stimulating and inspiring read, a call to action for readers to re-ground themselves in an increasingly frenetic and superficial world.
In four parts, author Becca Piastrelli explores our connections to land, lineage, community and self, and how each of these might be considered and enhanced to foster a greater sense of personal fulfilment and belonging. In addition to providing an erudite guide based upon her own substantial experience as a natural healer, specialist public speaker and women's group facilitator, Piastrelli challenges the reader with practical exercises at the conclusion of each chapter. She also includes several natural recipes and suggestions for meaningful personal and group rituals, and other activities designed to enhance the reader's experience.
"Integrating these ideas into your life starts by simply listening and noticing what makes you feel the most grounded, at peace, and joyful in your body." (p.210)
While the author is based in California, and some of the content is primarily relevant to that environment, I felt that the concepts were easily transferable to my own experience as an Australian reader with Anglo-Celtic heritage. I was particularly impressed by Piastrelli's references to indigenous cultures, and her caution to readers regarding the potential for cultural appropriation.
Root and Ritual is an interesting and uplifting read, with many practical suggestions for readers who seek a sense of connection and groundedness within their lives. Highly recommended.
Sarah, 17/11/2021
