Bees Hold Sacred Time + Ritual w— Alysia Mazzella
Today I am joined by Alysia Mazzella -- a traditional beeswax candlemaker and the author of Fourfold the Oracle, an oracle deck she created based on natural cycles of four. She is also the co-founder of Backland Gardens, a project in upstate New York focusing on skill shares, education, + self-sustainability.
we discuss
Candle making as a vehicle for sacred time and being close to nature
A historical narrative on human relating with bees and honey
How bees model working relationships for social sustainability
Finding ethical, respectful, reciprocal ways of working with nature
How bees teach her how to run her business and work with others
Why local economy + purchasing from people you know is important for sustainability
The benefits of beeswax candles
Why most store-bought candles are bad for your health + the environment
Why buying soy candles is supporting climate change
Alysia’s personal practices with candles to hold ritual
The special spectrum of light from beeswax candles + how it interacts with our bodies
links
If you enjoyed the episode, check out —
More about our guest —
Mentioned in the episode —
Mapping our Roles in Social Change Ecosystems (.pdf)
Honeyland documentary. Watch on Hulu.
Rotten episode on fraudulent honey importation . You can also read this article.
More about pesticides + honeybee health
Conflict is not Abuse,book by Sara Schulman
Bliss,book by Peter Carey
Farming While Black, book by Leah Penniman
Free Resources —
free pesticide education tool for easy learning + distribution
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L I S T E N
We started this season reflecting on the house of the goddess, and now we end where we began — carrying water medicine and the wisdom of Her with us into the summer sun.