I witnessed Manchán Magan speak (virtually) days before his death and felt a…kinship – in his initial dissatisfaction, in his search, in his passion for sharing what he found.
He described how ancient languages can guide to survival but need to be accompanied by the practices required for seeing what the words point to in the ecosystem (what good is it to know the word for the-look-of-the-ocean-where-algae grows-below if you aren’t practiced enough to spot it?). It reminded of works I’d loved from Robin Wall Kimmerer and Lyla June.
But it was the title of Magan’s book, 99 Words for Rain (and One for Sun), that resonated with me in a [can’t be described by words] way. The ache for rain had followed me since I moved to California in 2013.
readings/videos
Machán Magan – Advaya’s “Land in Language” webinar
Robin Wall Kimmerer – selected chapters from Braiding Sweetgrass and The Serviceberry
Lyla June – TEDx Talk on dissertation research; 2019 Moon Magazine article