In the Field of Cempasúchil
Related Event
My heart has yet to find the words to express this emotion. I’ve been captivated by the way plant kin choose their season to bloom and offer their medicine to the people.
There is no randomness in how plants respond to the shifting winds and the flow of time.
“When we commune with the wisdom within their medicine, we too become medicine”
Cempasúchil blooms in this season with purpose. To be accompanied by the bloom of these flowers during a transformative period of Ancestral Remembrance and Reverence is a gift beyond my understanding. It carries only the heart-wrenching awe of being invited to grieve in a way that is unguarded and true. Within the honey-sweet perfume, I find my loved ones, my abuelos—finding solace in knowing I remember them, and they remember me. They honored me with life, and I honor them with my gratitude and by living a life rooted in Truth.
Grieving someone deeply meaningful in this life grants us a new lens to recognize what truly matters, teaching us to cherish what is most important. In this process, parts of the self dissolve, making way for a greater Truth to emerge. Truth—expressed as Love—takes on many forms, something I am learning to cultivate over time from the depths of my heart’s breath. With the deep guidance of my ancestors, I can dive further within, uncovering both the gifts I have inherited and the seeds they left for me to nurture and mature.
It is in the fields of Cempasúchil, within their perfume and medicine, that I remember the Truth found beyond the material world. Beyond the physical, beneath our flesh, beneath our bones, deep within every heartbeat of presence—who are we, from whom do we come from, and how do we relate to this sacred fountain of life?
About Mariana Bandera
Mariana is a passionate explorer of the human experience on Earth, driven by a profound curiosity about our shared humanity. She finds a deep connection to ceremonial traditions from all corners of the world that serve as vessels for preserving ancient wisdom and collective remembrance. With a background as both an anthropologist and archaeologist, her journey has taken her to diverse landscapes, from California to Mexico, Menorca, Texas, and New York. In each place, she has dedicated herself to safeguarding the sacred lands that have been cherished and protected by indigenous peoples for millennia.
Mariana's work extends beyond the boundaries of traditional anthropology and archaeology. She has taken on the role of a death doula, focusing on the legacy of our ancestors and how their wisdom can illuminate our own paths to a more fulfilled life. Her primary focus lies in lineage healing, and she's a dedicated student of Mayan healing modalities, which emphasize connecting with our ancestors and healing generational wounds.
Walking the path of curanderismo, Mariana immerses herself in the study of traditional healing practices rooted in Mexican and Guatemalan traditions. She delves into the intricate world of ethnobotany, exploring the role of ancestral plants in traditional ceremonies around the world and linking these teachings to various spiritual practices.
Related Event
