For my creative post, I decided to write some of my own versions of Indigo’s moon journeys/life recipes from the perspective of the grown up Indigo we see at the end of the novel. When reading Sassafrass, Cypress, and Indigo, I found myself really missing Indigo’s spiritual and whimsical voice in the middle. I liked how we got to see who she has become at the end of the novel, but I still wanted more Indigo. Thus, I decided to make some more Indigo for myself.
In reading the end of Indigo’s section of the novel, I question whether she would continue crafting these poetic life recipes. Seeing as though we leave Indigo in the scene where she decides to retire her dolls, it seems as though she may be transitioning away from some of her spirituality and connection to folklore. However, the description of Indigo working as a midwife towards the end of the novel leads me to believe that she does maintain that mysticism even as she enters adulthood. I tried to craft these life recipes keeping both her mysticism and her newfound maturity in mind. I decided to hand write these in my journal because it felt a little more Indigo to me.
Questions:
1. Where do you see the connection between womanhood and Black joy in Indigo’s Life Recipes?
2. How do we interpret Indigo’s Life Recipes in light of our understanding of Southern mysticism throughout the novel?
I love how you, much like Indigo, created something when there wasn’t enough in the world for you. I too, loved Indigo’s character because she represents being carefree and for me the epitome of Black girlhood. And I feel through reading your recipes that you have emulated the spirit of her character and have even inspired me to actively create in the world the things I want. Particularly in your first recipe, I love the way you included rocking chairs because I feel like it adds to the ambiance of a relaxing atmosphere which is exactly what I feel is quintessential in these moments. I love that you also included the connection of repeating the stories your loved ones used to tell you back to them because I feel that it imparts to the person listening that they have made a significant contribution in your life that will last long after they’re gone which is something I hope someone would do for me when it’s my time to go.
Hello Kathleen! I really like that you took the time to physically write recipes these out. I feel as though when you write things, an invisible dimension is added beyond the spoken word and it gives the physical a tangible personality. I personally loved all of Indigo’s recipes so getting your spin on it was especially fun to read. I really like the one “Making a Home” because I think I really connected to that on a personal level coming from Colorado as a Freshman at BC never before having come to the East Coast. I love the way you essentially personify nature to equate that of human emotion, anatomy, and senses. It reminded me a lot of the book Where the Crawdads Sing where the main character uses earth as a motherly figure to comfort her in times of distress and loneliness. I think this a wonderful meditative tool for anyone to utilize when having similar feelings., I also like how you use the number three multiple times. It feels like a religious connection without being overtly religious which I greatly appreciated.