Sakha Series
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Winter 2020: In this time of great division and uncertainty, I find myself longing for unity, embracing feminine intuition, and looking for answers from ancient wisdom. Last year, I learned that my maternal ancestors were indigenous Siberians who (likely) practiced forms of shamanism in the Sakha region of Russia. Siberia is one of the richest areas of biodiversity, known for its harsh climate and extreme landscapes. I spent my childhood summers in these environments with my grandparents - but because native Siberians were brought to the brink of extinction by white Russian settlers in the nineteenth century, very little indigenous culture remained there by the time I was a child. When Stalin's regime then systematically purged shamanism (and all other religions) in the 1920s, a multigenerational amnesia around native heritage and sacred practices afflicted the region. For my family, this amnesia left only the remnants of what seemed like strange, forgotten superstitions.
Seeking to both reconnect with my lost heritage and contribute towards healing the planet, I began to learn about Earth Living Systems and Gaia Theory, scientific insights built upon indigenous cultural knowledge, the practice of bio regeneration, and sustainable land stewardship. This ongoing project, including Calm Under the Waves, has led me to expand my knowledge and reframe my own beliefs about thriving pre-colonial civilizations. The Sakha series depicts my own journey through time, meditating upon my connection with an ancient Siberian lineage and exploring the spirituality of my ancestors as a source of inspiration and life.
The Sakha series meditates upon the ancient Siberian beliefs that all humans are embodied by three Spirits. The spirit of Earth, Spirit of the Mother and the Spirit of Air.
