Alcohol, History, Altars
If you are highly sensitive to energy, spirits and emotions. Something for you to consider.
Feel free to watch this video about my thoughts as well — click here
https://youtu.be/d8PNZuDDkbg
When sobriety becomes the mains focus our spirits do not get angry nor punish for us. Often times what our body desires is an agreement and desire from them too.
As someone who comes from a line and familial background that includes addiction as much as being raised in the 80s and 90s and seeing how addiction has been integrated into community and community care.
I have a particular relationship with alcohol and most substances. It is finicky and weary even when I did indulge in it myself. There was a line and when ever I crossed it I didn’t enjoy the results not pushed it again.
Altars are living breathing home bases for spiritual commune. Just as we offer and are in relationship it is a mutual affair.
Spiritual connection with those who love us and care for us would not punish us for the changes and pivots modern and worldly living bring.
So, ALCOHOL.
I have found myself falling into deep depression until it left my system. Some say it takes 3 days for it to leave but what if lasts longer?
The haunting grief that overtook me, I knew are induced and not fully my own. It felt strange and old.
I use myself as research often and this is what I learned.
When we look at history, see the dates since 1800s on any business but specifically alcohol industry. Look up the origin stories and place of beginnings.
I trace the earth, the cane and who’s hands were cutting them, the suffering and blood that has soaked through and spirits that have been in the barrels, the hope and dreams squeezed out through distillation. To be a superior product and potential poison. Alcohol is a downer but used for parties & celebration why is that?
Historically it was used to induce binge drinking in slaves to keep them from thinking or planning ways of liberation.
(https://www.clevelandumadaop.com/single-post/2014/01/16/part-2-alcohol-and-the-black-experiences-alcohol-and-the-enslaved One article that references this)
Between Covid and the effect of not being able to mindlessly process multiple drinks like I used to — I have been forced to stew in a spirit of grief that is beyond my own.
Terroir is this base ingredient and for those in tune. For those of any diaspora and our love affair with home, tabanca, añorar home despite it never will exist the way it once did. We know that this sense holds grief, ghosts, and nostalgia.
Alcohol is made of many things that have roots in the earth it is made in.
I equate this to what was happening to lineages of Black and indigenous people in these old businesses. What was their intention with this rum. Sugar was a major crop apart from cotton. Who were the worker’s?
I don’t say sobriety and discussing affects to induce some sort of righteous argument—I state this because some brands are more damaging than others to my body.
As a Black woman in tune with the highs and lows of my body—I will always ask why. We are our first altars. How our bodies respond to substances holds its own stories, answers, and modification of our spiritual practice.
