Ecofeminism anno 2024: Painting easter eggs with water from local wells and colors from the local land

March is Women’s History Month, a time I’ve traditionally used to share reflections inspired by my ecofeminist perspective. This month, I contemplate learnings, unlearnings, actions, explorations, and future plans. Coinciding with Easter celebrations in Europe, I reminisce about my childhood egg hunts in kitchens and gardens. Although I don’t have children, if I would have children, I envision creating a grand weekend ritual with them, celebrating the earth’s fertility, eggs, and all that embodies femininity and nurture.

The story is in our bones

I spent over a week in San Francisco, where on my first day at Dog Eared Books, a local bookstore, I was captivated by Osprey Orielle Lake’s “the story is in our bones.” I completed the book on my last day and, although it didn’t teach me much new, it resonated deeply with the type of book I aspire to write. My focus would lean more towards my European roots, contrasting with Osprey’s emphasis on narratives from Turtle Island, or the Americas. Osprey and I share similar intellectual journeys, engaging with the works of Vandana Shiva, Robert McFarlane, and Audrey Lorde. Her book concludes with the Lorelai Rock in Germany, a narrative and landscape I aim to spotlight in the upcoming year.

Osprey Orielle Lake, an author, activist, and changemaker, integrates ecological, mythical, political, and cultural insights, sharing her engagements with global leaders, climate activists, Indigenous Peoples, and systems-thinkers. Her work is a call to redefine our existence in the Anthropocene by addressing colonialism, racism, patriarchy, capitalism, and ecocide to foster thriving Earth communities. She focuses on reconnecting with women and the land, the importance of attentive listening, nurturing the land, reviving nearly forgotten words and languages that reflect a deeper connection with nature—themes that resonate deeply with my own aspirations. Reading her book in California’s sun after a dark Norwegian winter was a rejuvenating reminder to prioritize personal well-being and myself, my nature, nature.

New beginnings

In the spirit of ecofeminism, embracing traditions like painting Easter eggs with water from local wells and colors derived from the land itself embodies a profound reconnection to our roots and the Earth. This act not only honors the fertility and nurturing aspects of femininity but also underscores the importance of sustainable practices and the deep interconnections between women, nature, and community. It’s a vivid expression of ecofeminist principles, celebrating life and the planet in a way that encourages us to reflect on our impact and how we might contribute to a thriving, equitable Earth.

It is time to go more outside.