CURATED NEWS JUNE 2020

June 29, 2020

Curated news is a bi-monthly series showcasing ideas, initiatives and practices from around the world and here in Ritoma. We hope these findings bring you fresh insights, a renewed sense of connection and grounding nourishment.

I N S I G H T

Learn about the master quilters in Gee’s Bend, Alabama, a tightly-bound community of African-American women who integrate craft, faith and family into their art.

Dive into the origins and methods of Tibetan Thangka Paintings, one of the great arts of Asia.

C O N N E C T

Forage wild mushrooms on the Tibetan Plateau with Geru Drolma.

Discover how indigenous knowledge will transform our planet with Julia Watson.

Visit the ‘Weaving Freedom Exhibit’ showcasing the sustainable fashion initiatives of the Nongtluh Women Weaving Cooperative in India.

N O U R I S H

Cherish the protective talismans, gau boxes and amulets of Tibetan Buddhists.

Get lost in the history of tree huggers.

Cleanse your mind with Tarantismo, a modern interpretation of Italian folk rituals to cure ailments.

L O C A L

White Tara Recitations. During the month of April the 80 monks of Ritoma Monastery fanned out to all the village households to recite 10,000 prayers to the deity White Tara, meant to clear obstacles to the health and well-being of Ritoma’s people and their animals. It took their common effort and ten days to accomplish this.

Nyung Ne. On the 3rd day of the 5th month of the Tibetan Lunar Calendar, each of Ritoma’s 230 families sent one member to a designated area in the village pitched with tents, usually in proximity of the monastery. There, they participated in the communal practice of Nyung Ne, where for a period of several weeks, they fast on alternate days, prostrate and recite mantras.

Moving Camp. In the last week of June, the village people are preparing to move to the summer pasture, a time marked by feverish activity as families work through the assessment of needs, go on shopping trips to town to purchase supplies, mend tents and make repairs.

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