RECLAIMING OUR CORONAS
So much time spent inside had us all craving time outdoors. A lot of the things we used to enjoy indoors, have all found a place out in the open. Dining solely al fresco, drive in movies, and mandatory outdoor workouts have all become part of this new normal. Cabin fever had me wanting to do it ALL once the warm weather came around, and it was easy for me to adapt to all of these things being enjoyed safely outdoors, since the cold wether will soon have us all hibernating again. That time that we all spent inside has also had some of us looking inward, and connecting with parts of ourselves that we buried in our everyday routines. Meditation, Yoga, and lots of self reflection had me really tapping into those deep dark corners of myself that still needed to heal. Around this time last year, I was a part of a very empowering healing workshop called “Healing Shit” with the amazing Alicia Anabel Santos, where my healing journey began. It was eye opening, soul opening, and wound opening. It taught me different ways to deal with all the shit I had yet to heal from.
With that being said, I’m always looking for different ways to empower myself, regenerate, and shout affirmations out into the universe! When I heard that my good friend Ivelise Namaste would be holding a “Reclaiming our Coronas” ceremony, where we would create beautiful Flower Coronas, while at the same time bringing fourth generational healing and divine alignment, I had to sign up! I love Ivelise’s gentle yet, powerful energy, and I just had to experience this magic!
It was a breezy evening in late September, clear skies, the smell of the earth and the grass was pungent and inviting, with gorgeous views of the Hudson River and the George Washington bridge. Eddie, Jessie and I arrive at Riverbank state Park and walked towards the tent Ivelise told us to look out for. As we walk into the tent, we are immediately met by a spread of fragrant and fresh long stemmed flowers, bright colored blankets and of course, Ivelise’s big bright smile. After we exchanged hugs, it was time for us to join the circle, and I chose to sit in a corner with lots of pillows.
Ivelise began the floral crown ceremony by blessing the space with the intoxicating scent of Palo Santo. Then one by one, everyone in the circle got to introduce themselves and set their intentions. Why did we come here today? What are we letting go of? What do we wish to heal? What do we want to attract? What are we reclaiming?
After we all set our intentions, Ivelise began to tell the story about the origin of floral crowns, from their early days in Ancient Greece, where flower crowns were worn on special occasions to honor Gods, to their fall in popularity after the spread of Christianity and flower crowns were associated with Paganism, to their comeback during the Renaissance era where artists used them as a source of inspiration. She explained how we would be harvesting our New Moon manifestations by designing our own unique flower crowns by integrating the sacred tradition of prayer knots, healing stones, and other items. We were there to reclaim and realign our crown through indigenous practices, and in these times where the word “Corona” has such a negative and scary connotation, it was nice not only to reclaim our Coronas figuratively, but to take the word corona and turn it into something beautiful.
Ivelise then passed the torch to the lovely Graciela, who began the cacao ceremony. She spoke about all of the wonderful benefits of raw cacao. Rich in potassium, magnesium and antioxidants, cacao is a natural way of lowering blood pressure, great for the digestive system, and a healthy way to boost energy. Cacao ceremonies have been around for thousands of years, originating all the way back to Mayan and Aztec traditions in Central and South America and used for spiritual, medicinal, and ceremonial purposes for inner awakening and creative guidance. Graciela had prepared some medicinal, ceremonial grade cacao for us to try, and she served it in these beautiful half coconut type bowls she passed around until we all had some of this beautiful medicine.
Once the Cacao was passed around, Ivelise began a guided meditation. We all closed our eyes and took a few deep breaths. She asked us to release what no longer served us. I began to physically shake my body, to get rid of all that did not serve me at that moment. Anxiety, self doubt, pessimistic perspectives. I pushed my arms forward as to actually push away from me all emotions I wished to no longer carry around. She then invites us to picture ourselves in a Garden, Forest, or any sacred space where we felt safe and secure. For some reason, I pictured myself in a Lush and Sunny Garden. Lots of lavish and exotic flowers. A white gazebo behind me, slightly rusty and delicately covered in vines. Me, sitting on a white cast iron bench with Rose details. I pictured myself sitting there in a Monique Luhllier botanical off the shoulder gown from her Spring 2020 collection I’ve been obsessing over. Flowy, flowery and perfect. Curls, long and untamed. To my left, a fountain of a tall and slender woman holding a bowl above her head dripping with water. Strong, flowing, divine feminine energy. She asks us to picture ourselves where we are with someone whose taking care of us. Out of the blue, my dads mother shows up in my Garden, my Abuelita Lola. She’s now sitting with me on this bench. Her long salt and pepper hair, her big beautiful smile. She wore ivory. I felt loved. I felt cared for. I felt her there. I always feel her. Ivelise begins to sing, to Pachamama. To the stars. She bangs her drum and my heart beats with it. “Abuelita, Madresita, cura mi corazon.” I felt my body begin to shake. I wanted to cry, but I didn’t want anyone to see me. I then remembered what Shaman Destiny told me a few months back at the HEALING SHIT workshop. “It’s ok to let go of the pain.” Ivelise didn’t know I had pictured my Grandmother. When she sang “Abuelita,” that was confirmation that my Abuelita was there with me. So I stopped holding the tears back, and let them go.
It was finally time to assemble our Coronas! I wasn’t quite sure what I wanted mine to look like, so I didn’t give it much thought and decided to just go with it. Feel it out. Let it flow. Bright pink, red, and yellow carnations, with a little baby’s breath. I carefully place each flower around the crown the way a seamstress would delicately stitch together a beautiful dress. Each flower, perfectly placed, teaching me to be patient and the beauty of being able to create something magical with your hands. There’s power in that creation. She gave us the choice to add stones to our Coronas, and I wanted to put one right in the center of mine, and align it with my third eye. Of all the beautiful stones in the box, the Rose Quartz stood out to me the most. A gypsy had read my cards the day before, and let me hold her Rose Quartz, and that was my way of honoring that experience. Once we were done putting our crowns together, Ivelise wanted us to name our Coronas. Everyone in the circle was given the chance to share the names of their crowns, and why we chose that name. As I put my crown together, I channeled the spirit of Frida Khalo, who often incorporated flowers in her hair, and a great example of both Divine feminine and masculine energy. So, I named her Frida, because despite all of the physical and emotional struggles she faced throughout her life, it never stopped her from reinventing herself and from being creative. She always pushed through the pain with strength and resilience which is exactly the type of energy I wanted to affirm and always remember; to just, keep going. No matter what.
As Eddie reached the bottom of his Cacao bowl, he noticed there was a word on the bottom. I don’t remember what his word was, but it had us all looking to the bottom of our bowls to see what our word was. Mine was trust. TRUST. This word shouted at me from the bottom of the bowl. It was totally aligned with the intentions I set in the beginning of the ceremony. Trust the process. Trust that I am where I am supposed to be right now. Trust God. Trust in my abilities. Trust my intuition. Trust that things may not be how i want them to be at the moment but I have everything I need and I am grateful for it all. What a beautiful confirmation. God always provides.
The night ended with us taking lots of pictures in our Coronas, New York City lit up all around us and hearts and spirits illuminated with the love and warmth that Ivelise, Graciela, and everyone there brought to the circle. It was wonderful being able to connect with ourselves, our ancestors, and with one another, being that Corona has kept us all separated this year. It was nice to be able to share something so special with everyone, even if we were all 6 feet apart. Corona may have impacted our personal lives, social lives, our income, the way we travel, our religious practices, etc., but for one night, we got to feel the freedom we once felt before the pandemic, and we did not allow Corona to take away our Coronas! 👑
With Style & Pizazz,
YAZ
EDDIE & JESSIE
IVELISE
IVELISE & GRACIELA
