At the End of Summer 2024: A Vitalist Ritual with Pumpkins

This past summer, part of the Archetypal Dance Collective joined me (Carla) in a beautiful Vitalist Ritual to honor our ancestors. We celebrated with organic pumpkins from local farmers, exploring their Hermetic properties and cultural correspondences across Latin America, China, and Pagan traditions. It was breathtaking to discover a shared theme among these cultures: the pumpkin's connection to protection, abundance, and warmth.

Through meaningful discussions, we explored universal elements that connect us all:

• Food: A symbol of nourishment and unity.

• Seasons: Markers of change and renewal.

• Connection: A thread linking us to family, ancestors, and the rhythms of life.

We asked reflective questions:

• What is your calendar like?

• What are you responding to?

• How do you honor your ancestors?

The ritual was both intimate and communal. We honored the pumpkin as a sacred being—sensing its aroma, admiring its star-like patterns, and working through its layers. We carved it, used its warming flesh as a symbol of protection for the approaching winter, collected its seeds as a promise for future productivity, and made a nourishing soup to sustain us from the inside out.

Gratitude:Thank you, Michelle and Charlie, for joining me on this whimsical journey with Archetypal Dance Collective, where dreams are continuously born and fulfilled. Thank you, Victoria, for witnessing and capturing these precious moments of connection. Finally, I’d like to acknowledge the eight rosemary plants that magically appeared in our space, offering their protection and memory—a divine gift that reminded us of nature’s constant support.

Here’s to life, connection, and the magic of the seasons.

Disclaimer: Our rituals are always guided by harmony and respect. We honor the custodians of this land and call upon our ancestors to guide us. Our intentions align with the natural cycles of the Earth, free from egoic desires, seeking the highest good for all.