Accommodation
I’m reminded this week about accommodation in my maternal family. We may not always be the best, but when it comes to accommodations we make a way.
There’s just one thing… they accommodate, but they don’t give up.
They make all the accessibility decisions they need to for others and themselves, within their capabilities, but they will not support giving up.
Now, in this current world… that will sound like an overbearing expectation against your will, but stick with me here… it works for us.
Many of us are chronically ill, disabled, abled… you name it… We help each other, we clean each other’s houses, we’ll do every errand you can think of, even if that means finding someone to go further for you, and we’ll help you shower should you need that assistance.
We’ve seen what “giving up” looks like. It’s not pretty. It’s concerning. It hurts. It’s upsetting. Take a break, or two or three, but giving up is not on the menu. We can surrender to the situation, but that’s just a change of plans.
So, when I was down on myself last weekend? It was, “you can’t help us and then not help yourself,” and “rest for a little while, but you’re not staying like that,” and as much as I wanted to? They were right.
They were righ,t and I was accommodated.
I saw this in Hoodoo, too. Where too many people are wondering “how” when the “how” is at their altar, on their phones, on their computers and in their hands.
“How could I create this?”
With what you have.
You have it. You always have it, and you always will. It may not be the fanciest headscarf, but you have one. It may not be the candle you want to use, but you have one. It may not be the herbs you wanted, but if you have a handful of grass or a piece of kudzu, you've got work.
It won’t be done the way another will do it. It won’t. You do it how you need to.
“There are no resources!”
There’s plenty out there and plenty more people ready to help you find them. People are posting for free. I post for free. There’s something to learn in every bit of it; use it while you get to where you need to be.
“I have nothing to put my nature findings in.”
Pillowcases, aprons, old bandanas, containers that aren’t in use… if you can even create a small bag with finger crochet? Do it.
Just don’t let your work fly because you don’t have the cutest glass bottle for oils or the loaded candles. That’s what your work is about.
Be accessible for yourself, respect your local resources, and don’t forget what Hoodoo has always been to you.
It looks like us, made by us, and creativity has kept it alive.
Powerful word 🙌🏾