Beltane 2022: The Beginning of Nourishing Kin

Nourishing Kin began as a project conceptualized by Channing and Bergen. Seeing the need within their social circles and broader community for an authentic, non-appropriative avenue for spiritual experiences and communal connection, they decided to gather around efforts to educate on ancestral traditions for women and femmes of the Northwestern European diaspora. The very first gathering was held at the end of April in the shadow of Storm Mountain in Big Cottonwood Canyon (Utah).

Nearly 40 guests arrived early in the spring morning to celebrate the inauguration of Nourishing Kin. Our gathering opened with a full Land Acknowledgement reading by Channing, and was followed by a presentation on the importance of ancestral connection as an avenue for divesting from white supremacy. We then delighted in the abundance of communal offerings for our shared meal. Everyone was well-fed!

Bergen then led a conversation on the concept of animism before facilitating an embodiment practice of “mirror dancing,” in which we each chose a member of nature kin to mirror our bodies with. After practicing as a group, we were encouraged to spread out and find another member of nature kin to mirror on our own. We were called back together with Channing’s kulning, and prepared to participate in the ritual of Witch’s Ladders.

Our Witch’s Ladders were constructed with simple braids of yarn. These braids symbolized the weaving together of the three pillars of Nourishing Kin: Land, Ancestor, and Community. Everyone wove their own ladders to contribute to the ritual for the whole of Nourishing Kin. To wrap up our gathering, we built a large fire in the available stone pit and circled around to sing “Round and Round.” Our gathering came to a close, but Nourishing Kin was successfully begun!