The Mother is a Reflection of You

Rosario Cruz is an indigenous artisan from San Marcos Tlapazola whose practice is working with barro rojo, red clay. She became my teacher during my time in Oaxaca. She shared more than just her relation to clay, opening up about her traumas and joys of being an indigenous woman in her pueblo and family. The Mother is a Reflection of You is an homage to her as a teacher who supported me in reconnecting with the earth and as a woman who is an incarnation of the Earth Mother. This homage was a ceremonial offering to her, combining her spiritual/religious practices with mine. The ceremony included guiding her in creating clay pieces that represent what being a mother and a woman mean to her, as well as creating clay milagros together. Milagros are traditionally used in Mexico to ask for a miracle from God. We created milagros in honor of her prayers for her life. This ceremony was an act of reciprocity and to remind her that she is a giver of life just as the Mother. She is a woman deserving of healing, nourishment, and care. She became an active altar space as I called upon the 7 directions, weaved the milagros in her braids, prayed with her and Grandfather Tobacco and adorned her with sacred items.To close the ceremony her family and I helped her bury a clay uterus vessel she made. The uterus represents the womb of creation, of possibilities, and it carried her prayers of tobacco.

Videographer/ Photographer: Rafe Scobey-Thal