Starting June 16th, members of Eagle Creek will be moving through an exciting exploration of what life was like for European peasants in the Middle Ages and how their experiences of the Summer season can inform our own lives today.
There's a strong narrative in our culture that says life is so much better today than it was for the European peasantry, but is that actually true? In some ways, it is. We live longer lives, enjoy modern comforts like the hot shower, and are connected across the globe in unprecedented ways. But when it comes to things like community bonds, a natural pace of life, and the amount of time we spend working for a wage, we're actually worse off.
This Summer, I want to weave together a new understanding of what life was like for these people before capitalism took hold and allow their lifeways to infuse our Summer with greater merriment, sustenance, and slowness.
Each week of Peasant Summer, which will run from June 16th - August 4th, I'll share a private podcast episode on a particular topic, weaving together some of what we know about peasant lifeways and what we can bring forward now, creating something new that you can hold onto and be inspired by. I'll also share a ritual or practice that you can use to bring the sweetness from long ago into your life now.
Some of the topics we'll cover in Peasant Summer will include:
Cottage Life: How peasants lived at home, household spirit lore, and ways to bring the beauty of Summer inside your home.
Handiwork and Craft: The high level of skill that peasants brought to their daily activities, what it was like to live without machine-made products, and some easy ways to bring craft into your life this season.
Wild Waters: Communal laundry practices, bathing in the Middle Ages, and the power of putting your body in untamed Water this Summer.
If a journey through history, seasonal lore, and medieval practices that help you slow down and savor this Summer sounds lovely, I invite you to join us in Eagle Creek! We begin June 16th and the program will conclude on August 4th. Your card will be charged $45/month beginning whenever you join.