The body of my Mother
by quinana, nsw
artist, Aged 52
In a characteristic fit of possessiveness my mother's second husband would not give me my two sisters or my brother any of our mother's ashes.
he said she was 'HIS WIFE' and that gave him precedence over us her children.
Though we were all adults it was still very difficult and painful for us as we had no closure, while he ran all over the place throwing ashes out at any place my mother had ever been in her entire life. We just wanted a teensy bit of her ashes so that we could have a small private ceremony and say our goodbyes etc. But no matter how we pleaded he would not give us any of them.
In order to compensate for this I made a small altar in my backyard and swore that no matter where I lived in future I would make a memorial to her there.
I made wreaths from jasmine in the garden and a cross out of sticks. I give her all my fruit seeds after I have eaten the fruit and all the spent flower heads from my garden and from those I buy. I go out there and talk to her when I need her wisdom, her help or her support.
I found that it connected me with all my ancestors who have died and it is a place I can honour all of them and seek their help when I need it.
I gathered pure white ashes from a campfire I had when holidaying with a friend knowing it was truly my own mother's ashes. That is where her body came from and where it returned to the good earth. Furthermore it made me realise that our bodies are the product of our mother earth and to revere her is ancient wisdom that replenishes and comforts us.
Copyright © Australian Museum, 2009