It’s been a little over four years since I confirmed my biological father and half of my genetics…

Since I found my three half-siblings…

Since I learned so many details about so many strangers who I never knew existed…

And who are my kin.

I spent months upon months talking to siblings and aunts and uncles and cousins…

Gathering data and facts…

Staring into photos and details…

Looking for all of the pieces of a massive puzzle that I hoped would come together succinctly to make all of this history make sense in my head and my heart in present time.

In the process, I’ve compiled a massive amount of information in the form of vital records, census records, narratives, newspaper articles, and photos.

And I am forever grateful for every single piece I’ve uncovered and been gifted.

But how does one truly find pieces of themself in the lives of strangers who are long gone?

Who will never be spoken with…

Sat with…

Hugged.

And so I’ve been brainstorming ways to get to know each of these strangers-turned-ancestors, as well as those on my maternal side, in a more intimate way…

I’ve been thinking on ways to fold time and get a proper glimpse of who they were, where they lived, what they were (or may have been) interested in…

And I’ve decided the best way for me to do this is through a bit of creative journaling, following my pedigree as far back on each side as my research allows.

Think along the lines of a hybrid between heritage scrapbooking and junk journaling.

More maximalist than minimalist, with intention in every detail that goes on the one or two page spread…

From facts about each individual to larger cultural references…

From photos to recipes, maps to documents, and beyond.

And, of course, there will be a bit of ritual involved to help settle my spirit and invite clarity.

From meditations to candle magic, from oils to herbs, remembering that water is the element that connects us all through space and time.

I’ve been sitting on this idea for a few weeks now, thinking and feeling and thinking some more and now it’s time to just jump in…

To stop overthinking and simply do my best to sit gently with myself through the process, taking it one day, one ancestor at a time.

Integration and healing through creative journaling.

Oh, I’m very excited!

Onward,

Melis