Its unusual for me to show photos of those that have died, however this is a family story that is being revealed through me to be told and is why I want to focus on Nervous System Health in my work as a Medical Herbalist.
The lady 2nd to the left is my dear grandmother Mary Ayres, born to 2 well known Romani Gypsy lines the "Ayres" and the "Doe", next generation back is "Lee". An incredibly proud and courageous nomadic people full of wisdom in the ways of living alongside the incredible beauty that is our Earth.
She is stood next to the Tally man, who counts up the hops they picked to work out what they are to be paid. Unfortunately by this stage in her life, post-war, poverty overwhelmed the culture, my grandfather had already died and she didn't know, she is showing the ring, maybe to proudly show she is married.
I suspect my mum was also in a Convent by this time, she was taken at the age of 2, also again as a consequence of extreme poverty. Of course the impact of this start on my Mum had a huge impact on her mental health.
Both my mum and my grandmother were diagnosed with mental health conditions. However they were both of a different culture and I suspect brain type. One that maybe is not programmed to deal with the ways of modern western culture. I suspect they were also gifted in many ways that modern culture does not give an opportunity to be seen. Through more recent meetings with members of my Romani family, my Aunt suggested all the women see spirits. My mum and her mum were diagnosed as hearing voices or 'Schizophrenia". Or is it a brain type that simply isn't understood?
This is why I'm passionate about Neurodiversity and reclaiming difference in neural pathways. There are so many ways to do things and certain brain types find the version of the culture we are living in currently as an explosion to the senses, a pace that is simply too much and are forced to find numbing techniques of various forms.
Through living with my Mum it made me question everything around ways of seeing the thinking mind, our sense of belonging, our intra-connection with the natural world, the effects of pharmaceuticals and what being embodied means. This led me on an incredible journey back to my own roots, that I can now share the gifts of.
I dedicate my work to my Mum and my Grandmother,
for the learning and gifts that they gave me.
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