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Botanical Musing Meditation: The Juneteenth Roots Blessing (Gift), Brain Health Awareness Month Edition
- Andrea Angie (GA)
- Jun 18
- 5 min read
Updated: Jun 29
Juneteenth Roots Blessing (Gift): May you honor the ancestral roots that sustained your people through the longest captivity, while also trusting your wisdom to grow toward freedoms they could only dream of. May you find strength in carrying forward the soulful living that survived the unthinkable while tending new ground where liberation can take deep root.
Botanical Observation: Ancient trees develop vast root systems that extend far beyond what we see above ground, creating networks that support not just the original tree but entire forest communities. These roots share nutrients + water, sending signals of danger + sustenance, creating an underground web of survival and mutual aid that spans generations.
There is profound wisdom in these hidden networks of care. The visible growth depends entirely on roots that anchored deep during the harshest seasons, drawing strength from sources others couldn't see.
Our community's journey toward Juneteenth carries this same underground wisdom—generations of ancestors who maintained spiritual practices, preserved cultural knowledge, protected children, and nurtured hope through centuries of systematic dehumanization. Their invisible labor of survival created the root system that would eventually support the tree of freedom.
Research in epigenetics + trauma shows us that both resilience + pain can be passed down through family lines, but so can the capacity for healing + resistance.
The ancestors who survived the Middle Passage, who kept families together despite forced separation, who preserved languages and stories + songs in secret—their humanity lives in the cellular memory of their descendants.
The roots they grew in impossible soil created the foundation that would eventually crack through concrete toward liberation.
Blessing in Hebrew: Berakah (beh-rah-KHAH) - literally means "to kneel." In ancient contexts, kneeling to present a gift symbolized offering something valuable with honor + humility. This imagery suggests that blessings flow from a heart posture of generosity + abundance.
Blessing in Ghanaian Twi: Nhyira (N-yih-RAH) - is both a noun + a verb, meaning "blessing" or "to bless." It is seen as a robust invocation of divine favor that brings prosperity, peace, joy, and hope to individuals + communities. Beyond personal wellbeing, the belief is that blessings are meant to be shared + multiplied within the community.
Reflection for Your Journey
SOULjourner,
Just as ancient root systems create underground networks of survival + mutual aid, the ancestors who came before us built invisible foundations of innovation that continue to nourish our capacity for freedom + flourishing.
In your personal tending, notice how you're both rooted in ancestral wisdom + growing toward liberation they could only imagine. What ancestral inheritances do you carry that helped your people survive impossible circumstances in the past? These might be creativity that found beauty in harsh conditions, spiritual practices that maintained hope, deep sensitivity that preserved humanity in dehumanizing systems, or you've inherited their ability to find community in hostile environments while creating spaces of belonging they never experienced.
In our collective tending, Juneteenth reminds us that liberation is always both personal + communal, both personal healing + systemic change. What if we honored the root systems of every community while also working to create conditions where no one has to survive what their ancestors survived? When we tend the underground networks of care while also transforming the systems above ground, we create forests of justice where freedom can finally grow without constraint.
Brain Health Awareness Month Benediction: May every blessing (berakhah / nhyira) flow freely—from reverence, from grace, from the deep well of God's generosity—reminding you that your brain + being are sacred gifts worthy of love + care every single day.
Amen + Asé ♡
A Special Free Gift for You
To deepen your journey into sensory awareness + sensing pleasure, I invite you to download my complimentary PDF guide, Savoring Sensuality with Soul.
This pastoral guide explores the importance of presence, surrender, and gratitude in experiencing life's replete pleasures more fully. It offers pastoral care on how to engage your senses and celebrate your neurology.
Download Your Free PDF Here:
As you explore this resource, remember that your unique journey is a celebration of soulful living. May you find daring shalom + sensual pleasure in every moment.
With soul,
Pastor Angie
SOULjourner, go Deeper on my Autism+ page for more resources.
Featured Gift Set SOULution
The Workspace Gift Set - Nourish your mind + workspace with this thoughtfully designed, succulent-themed gift set.
Why This Set? Every item in this set is chosen to create a workspace that supports your mental clarity, creativity, emotional regulation, and daily peace + play. Fabulous for Brain Health Awareness Month (and beyond), it’s a beautiful way to honor the connection between your environment and your wellbeing.
What’s Included + How Each Item Supports Brain Health:
Whimsical Respiratory-Sensitive Paint Can Candle (8 oz., hand-poured, wood wick, non-toxic): The gentle, non-toxic fragrance + soft crackle of the wood wick create a calming atmosphere, helping to manage stress and support mindful work-play + relaxation.
Pre-Planted Fresh Mini Succulent: Having a living plant at your desk has been shown to lower stress, boost mood, and improve focus. The act of caring for a plant also nurtures a sense of self-tending + connection to nature.
Affirmation Phone Stand: This daily visual reminder keeps your phone upright + your spirit uplifted. Positive affirmations are proven to support emotional wellbeing, essential for brain health.
4 x 6 in, 50-Sheet Sticky Notepad: Jotting quick notes, ideas, or gratitude lists by hand stimulates cognitive function, enhances memory, and helps organize thoughts—supporting both creativity + mindfulness.
Faux Feather Pen: Writing by hand with a unique pen can make note-taking more enjoyable, encouraging creative thinking + providing a tactile break from screens.
Color + Journal™ 'Thank You' Card + Envelope: Expressing gratitude + reflecting on meaningful relationships is linked to improved mood + cognitive wellbeing. The card’s message + succulent coloring activity offer a mindful pause + a nourishing soul care reminder:
Front of postcard: “Thank you, you stuck it out with me, I’m forever grateful." Back: blank Back quote: “Like the life of a cactus, it blooms at night to conserve water + energy. This is a soul care reminder that blooming is about a grace pace, not performance."
Soil Moisture Stick Sensor: This simple tool makes caring for your succulent effortless, reinforcing daily rituals + the satisfaction of nurturing life—routines that can ground you + support sabbathing rhythms.
Free Gift Wrapping Included: A beautifully wrapped gift elevates the experience, signaling that your well-being is worthy of celebration.
Or you can BUILD YOUR OWN GIFT SET >>
Until next time,
Gift from your soul.
✧
Deepen Your Soul Care Journey
Beloved SOULjourner, as you continue to nurture your gift-giving practice, discover sustainable gifts designed to embody intentional gift-giving + connection.
Soulful gifting for social change in the soul care boutique. Be inspired to amplify your ARTvocacy through peace + play vibes.
Disclaimer: This blog post is for informational purposes only as I share my pastoral care, my journey, and bring to you valuable research. It is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. If you are experiencing any medical concerns or symptoms, please seek the guidance of a qualified healthcare professional.
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