Ancestry Spirit Practice: a zine highlighting the spiritual practice & beliefs of four Black & Queer individuals

This zine is composed of images, quotes, art, spells, photos, and drawings by four Black and Queer creatives. Feel free to download and print it! Below are questions posed by Alexander Martin (she/her), the editor of Ancestry Spirit Practice and also a contributor. 

What does a spiritual practice mean to you? 
Feral (F): It means tapping into my ancestral roots, grounding myself, and warding off those who wish me harm. It means appreciating the little signs life brings. It means honoring nature.
Hannah (H): For me, a spiritual practice means seeking balance in the chaos that is life.
Lex (L): It means connecting with the universe and the space around me, and how I respond to that energy. 

What do you believe in?
F: I believe in the ancestors. I believe in nature. I believe those “old wives tales” served a purpose.
H:I believe in the chaotic, creative, interdependent, randomness of the universe and that we all represent it.  
L: I believe that you get back, in some form, the energy you put into the world. I believe in karma. I believe that ultimately we return what we take from nature and the universe.

How do you practice?
F: I celebrate every season. I visit my ancestors’ graves. I walk through nature and listen to what the Earth is trying to tell me. I keep a garden of useful herbs that I make into medicine and use ritualistically. 
H: I try to go for walks daily. Intentionally disconnecting from my phone, however sometimes the distraction keeps going. Nourishing myself with home-cooked meals made with the vegetables I grow. Working on keeping clutter down in my space. Buying myself flowers.  Making spontaneous art. Hiking in the woods and foraging. Sitting at the river and just taking it in. I like growing edible and inedible plants. Cultivating various “weeds” around my yard for the benefit of pollinators and animals. Growing and experimenting with medicinal herbs that influence dreams. Stargazing and musing at the moon.  Every change of season, I find myself in the mood to clean and give things away. Helping people in various ways that I am able too.  Being in alignment with what I am able to do, versus performing.
A: I try to acknowledge every full moon. I water, sing and talk to my plants. I cook with intention. I listen to nature when I feel that the world around me is quiet. I collect rocks I find.

What form does your practice take?
H: Movement, cultivating, experimentation, creating, and art making.
A: Breathing, meditation, crying. Photography has never felt like it for me, but editing my work has, surprisingly. If the motion takes me I will sketch or paint. 
F: I find myself drawn to shadow work and make a daily effort to break generational curses. Stretching intentionally helps me unlock the generational pain I store within my body. I drink tea daily from the herbs grown in my garden. My morning tea sets my intentions, and my nighttime tea is a libation I dedicate to myself and my ancestors. Much of my art is based in folklore and nature, which comes out of my practice too.

Do you think about ancestry?
H: I think about ancestry a lot. My grandparents are the closest ancestors to me. I have some of their physical things, my grandfather’s writings, and their signatures. They had a loving influence over me.  I hope to tattoo their names on my arm soon.
A: I’ve always been fascinated by ancestry. I made a goal to be a storyteller for my younger family members so they know their history. I recount many of the stories, be they serious or silly, that were shared with me from those who have left us. I keep many mementos and photos on the memory shelf that hangs at the foot of my bed. If I miss an ancestor, I hold an object to feel close to them. 
F: Ancestry is always on my mind, and is an integral part of my practice. I carry out much of my ancestral wisdom in my daily practice. 

Does your Black and Queer identity/community/ancestry/legacy play a part in your practice?
H: Often.
A: I am unable to separate my Queerness and Blackness. They are both a part of me, so they are celebrated equally in my artwork and in how I move through the world.
F: Absolutely. If it were not for my Black ancestors, I would be lost in my practice. My practice mixes Hoodoo and Druidry, honoring both my West African ancestors who assimilated in the South and my Irish ancestors. As a Queer Black person, I ensure that my identity is expressed through my practice, and I try to connect with other Queer Black folks spiritually.

What do you value as a person and as a practitioner?
H: I value patience, time, kindness, the ability to see the grays of life, awareness, and honesty about what one can and cannot do for where they are at. 
A: I value my time and those that lend theirs to me, passion and love, and kindness and compassion. I value strength and the ability to be vulnerable. 
F: I value compassion. I value the talents that I was given, as well as acknowledging others’ talents. I value bringing out the best in others. 

How do you ground yourself?
H: Grounding myself is often a series of steps. I can’t just put my phone away and sit down. No, I might have to do some Google searches until I’m annoyed with the answers. Doom scroll until I’m annoyed with that. Then, going for a walk and just really looking at the trees and the ground and everything around me. It can also be playing some music.
A: Rest and breathing. I ground myself by giving myself permission to rest when my body calls for it. Whether that means sleeping or taking a day to do nothing, I cherish those times. Moments to breathe are also amazing. I struggle with anxiety, and some days I have to literally stop myself and just breathe. Sometimes this is through meditation, but some days it’s as easy as walking outside in the fresh air. 
F: I ground myself by unplugging. Much of my work is done in front of a computer screen, so I try not to be in front of one for too long when I’m home. Going outside, being one with nature. Sitting in a dimly lit room, reading something that nurtures me. Drinking my tea, taking a deep breath and stretching out this body that has the propensity to absorb others’ stress. Sloughing off the day in a shower or cleansing bath. 

What brings you joy? 
H: A pedicure, getting my hair cut shorter, finding edible mushrooms while foraging, starters I grew from seeds and the vegetables that grow from them, being snuggled by a soft puppy, a delicious recipe, being with a lover, being surrounded by supportive friends and family, listening to my favorite song, viewing art in person, and exploring a new city.
A: Bringing joy to others! Whether it’s through small tokens and gifts, cooking or sharing a meal, or sharing music and experiences, bringing joy to others has always filled me. I also enjoy dancing and singing unabashedly when I’m alone or out with friends. 

F: Nature, animals. Observing others emitting infectious delight as they find their shine (eg, my friends’ laughter, a child discovering something new, a stranger telling a funny story). Teaching people about local plants, how to forage, and how to be self-sufficient.