Thank you for introducing a new word to my lexicon. “Querencia.” This is yet another moment for me to reflect upon what we’ve lost when we’ve removed ourselves from Native, Indigenous wisdom and culture. New words that have meanings like this make me both sad (because our Western culture values nothing close to this—we don’t even have such good words that approach such “love of place), and reverent (because such wisdom can never die, it just has to sometimes be discovered, by randomly found signs hidden along the way of our paths if need be.). LOVE these “dispatches from place” Maia! On rainy and overcast Sunday mornings in the great Pacific Northwest, sometimes I find myself wishing I were there too!
It's a great word, isn't it?! I also appreciate being reminded by my friends here who have this long connection with place, this querencia, that it's available to any of us. The phrase I sometimes hear is 'land-based people.' Even if we haven't been in a place for generations, we can still deepen our relationship with the land we live on, get to know it and allow it to get to know us, and learn from those who may have been there longer than us.
Absolutely! I’m na newbie to the word "Querencia" and it is such a beautiful concept, and it’s inspiring to recognize that this connection to place is accessible to all of us. Thank you Maia!
I was just thinking... i think the closest cultural equivalent to this would be that scene from Gone With the Wind where Ashley (or is it Rhett?) says to Scarlett, "There is something you love more than me, though you may not know it. Tara." And then that scene were Scarlett vows to do everything she can to protect Tara. That's querencia! The context, what with slavery and stolen land, is very problematic, but that's what it is...
New to me too! Querencia Is an example that truly highlights what we often overlook in our modern culture, especially the profound wisdom of Native and Indigenous traditions. The absence of such words of meaning in Western culture can feel so disheartening, yet there’s a beauty in the way these understandings wait to be rediscovered.
So many words from other languages and cultures simply don’t have direct translations in English, leaving abstract ideas untranslatable. After spending considerable time in Japan, I wrote an essay exploring some of these concepts that are often overlooked in the West. Perhaps it’s due to English being a relatively young language?
LOL! Okay, first, yes, I’m smiling “bigly.” When I noticed your surname, I immediately thought of the Pendragons of magic fame. A thought crossed my mind to ask you if you were related, since it’s not all that usual of a name, but then I thought, “nah, Charlotte probably gets that a lot.” Lo and behold, you ARE that Pendragon! This little exchange just made my entire weekend! Thank you.
Okay, now on to the link you sent. Thank you, and thank you for responding with it. (BTW, I remember your magic—seeing it on various TV shows. Love me some great magic ALWAYS!). I see as well you and Jonathan have been divorced for quite a while. 🙏🏼 Namaste to you.
I so agree! “Land-based People.” I like that. We can start by following exemplars like you—those among us who are inquisitive enough to actually learn the geography and ecosystems of place, to understand how language nurtured reverence, and to celebrate what is there before we potentially lose it completely. Thank you again Maia!
Well I have to say, living where I live it was/is pretty hard to ignore the geography, ecosystems, and culture of a place -- it's so strong here. i think that's what is missing in most places that have gotten paved over by big box stores and miles of franchises that look the same in every city. I feel so blessed to live here.
If you don’t stop soon, I’ll have no choice but to come visit! The Chamber of Commerce down there needs to find you. (As I wrote that just now, I paused…. What an odd thing for humans to create: a “Chamber of Commerce.” Maybe we need to create a “Chamber of Place. Or Environment. Or Culture.” Commerce is such the folly of our Western minds.
This is so beautiful. I love the idea of Querencia. I sometimes feel hokey about my love of Ottawa, when everyone has this cynicism of the world and likes to dunk on places, but this gives me some courage.
And the lilacs!!! We had lilacs like that in my front yard growing up. Love love love.
Thank you, Maia, for this spiritual essay. I missed it when first posted back in May, and quite glad I didn’t this time. Noha Beshir’s comment was my bridge this time. I’ve lived in eleven different “houses” in the 53 years I’ve lived in this area, with no sense of querencia until these last 8 years. Nestled up to a small pond I’m blessed with the chance to observe migration patterns of birds. I’ve come to think of most birds as my spirit animal collective! On seeing a bird near the pond on my morning walk I feel my heart become warmer and a tug from the Natural World is evident. Prey and predators being themselves.
Native Americans predated the presence of white invaders by many centuries. Shards from their pottery, points from native quartz, scraping tools for working hides often turn up when farmers use deep plows. Itself a metaphor for vanishing and re-emergence. Pre-columbian pottery was beautifully detailed: pinched rims, careful incising of the vessel bodies, imprints from small seashells, and many more. After Columbus invaded the “New World” that careful detailing disappeared. It is thought that the earlier decorating manifested their joy for creating. Their querencia. Their love of the land and their kin. Of course it disappeared. Not only was their land stolen, their entire way of life was destroyed.
Holding on to what sustains us now, what we love and appreciate and belong amongst seems vital for now and tomorrow. 🫂
Ah yes! Refuge, home, where the heart can rest. (There is a residence at Upaya Zen Center called 'querencia,' from which I draw the name of my own site here). Thank you.
Thank you for introducing a new word to my lexicon. “Querencia.” This is yet another moment for me to reflect upon what we’ve lost when we’ve removed ourselves from Native, Indigenous wisdom and culture. New words that have meanings like this make me both sad (because our Western culture values nothing close to this—we don’t even have such good words that approach such “love of place), and reverent (because such wisdom can never die, it just has to sometimes be discovered, by randomly found signs hidden along the way of our paths if need be.). LOVE these “dispatches from place” Maia! On rainy and overcast Sunday mornings in the great Pacific Northwest, sometimes I find myself wishing I were there too!
It's a great word, isn't it?! I also appreciate being reminded by my friends here who have this long connection with place, this querencia, that it's available to any of us. The phrase I sometimes hear is 'land-based people.' Even if we haven't been in a place for generations, we can still deepen our relationship with the land we live on, get to know it and allow it to get to know us, and learn from those who may have been there longer than us.
Absolutely! I’m na newbie to the word "Querencia" and it is such a beautiful concept, and it’s inspiring to recognize that this connection to place is accessible to all of us. Thank you Maia!
I was just thinking... i think the closest cultural equivalent to this would be that scene from Gone With the Wind where Ashley (or is it Rhett?) says to Scarlett, "There is something you love more than me, though you may not know it. Tara." And then that scene were Scarlett vows to do everything she can to protect Tara. That's querencia! The context, what with slavery and stolen land, is very problematic, but that's what it is...
New to me too! Querencia Is an example that truly highlights what we often overlook in our modern culture, especially the profound wisdom of Native and Indigenous traditions. The absence of such words of meaning in Western culture can feel so disheartening, yet there’s a beauty in the way these understandings wait to be rediscovered.
NO doubt, Charlotte!
So many words from other languages and cultures simply don’t have direct translations in English, leaving abstract ideas untranslatable. After spending considerable time in Japan, I wrote an essay exploring some of these concepts that are often overlooked in the West. Perhaps it’s due to English being a relatively young language?
Thank you, and have a wonderful day!
Is that essay here on Substack? Can you send me the link?
Kerr, Yes, it can be found here, thank you for your interest!
Datsuzoku
https://open.substack.com/pub/charlottependragon/p/datsuzoku?r=127z9b&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&showWelcomeOnShare=false
LOL! Okay, first, yes, I’m smiling “bigly.” When I noticed your surname, I immediately thought of the Pendragons of magic fame. A thought crossed my mind to ask you if you were related, since it’s not all that usual of a name, but then I thought, “nah, Charlotte probably gets that a lot.” Lo and behold, you ARE that Pendragon! This little exchange just made my entire weekend! Thank you.
Okay, now on to the link you sent. Thank you, and thank you for responding with it. (BTW, I remember your magic—seeing it on various TV shows. Love me some great magic ALWAYS!). I see as well you and Jonathan have been divorced for quite a while. 🙏🏼 Namaste to you.
I so agree! “Land-based People.” I like that. We can start by following exemplars like you—those among us who are inquisitive enough to actually learn the geography and ecosystems of place, to understand how language nurtured reverence, and to celebrate what is there before we potentially lose it completely. Thank you again Maia!
Well I have to say, living where I live it was/is pretty hard to ignore the geography, ecosystems, and culture of a place -- it's so strong here. i think that's what is missing in most places that have gotten paved over by big box stores and miles of franchises that look the same in every city. I feel so blessed to live here.
If you don’t stop soon, I’ll have no choice but to come visit! The Chamber of Commerce down there needs to find you. (As I wrote that just now, I paused…. What an odd thing for humans to create: a “Chamber of Commerce.” Maybe we need to create a “Chamber of Place. Or Environment. Or Culture.” Commerce is such the folly of our Western minds.
I love this word. May we all reacquaint ourselves with our own querencia. Thanks for sharing.
Yes!
I feel querencia in your photo!
This is so beautiful. I love the idea of Querencia. I sometimes feel hokey about my love of Ottawa, when everyone has this cynicism of the world and likes to dunk on places, but this gives me some courage.
And the lilacs!!! We had lilacs like that in my front yard growing up. Love love love.
Thank you, Maia, for this spiritual essay. I missed it when first posted back in May, and quite glad I didn’t this time. Noha Beshir’s comment was my bridge this time. I’ve lived in eleven different “houses” in the 53 years I’ve lived in this area, with no sense of querencia until these last 8 years. Nestled up to a small pond I’m blessed with the chance to observe migration patterns of birds. I’ve come to think of most birds as my spirit animal collective! On seeing a bird near the pond on my morning walk I feel my heart become warmer and a tug from the Natural World is evident. Prey and predators being themselves.
Native Americans predated the presence of white invaders by many centuries. Shards from their pottery, points from native quartz, scraping tools for working hides often turn up when farmers use deep plows. Itself a metaphor for vanishing and re-emergence. Pre-columbian pottery was beautifully detailed: pinched rims, careful incising of the vessel bodies, imprints from small seashells, and many more. After Columbus invaded the “New World” that careful detailing disappeared. It is thought that the earlier decorating manifested their joy for creating. Their querencia. Their love of the land and their kin. Of course it disappeared. Not only was their land stolen, their entire way of life was destroyed.
Holding on to what sustains us now, what we love and appreciate and belong amongst seems vital for now and tomorrow. 🫂
Ah yes! Refuge, home, where the heart can rest. (There is a residence at Upaya Zen Center called 'querencia,' from which I draw the name of my own site here). Thank you.