Hi lovelies,
CPN will now put out a free post once a month instead of biweekly. Our biweekly posts & weekly shares (vlogs, podcasts, resources, writings, etc) are now a part of The Well Resourced Creative Membership, a space for creatives & culture keepers who are committed to energetically and strategically taking their holistic businesses, wellth & legacy building journeys to the next level, you can learn more about in towards the end of this post. Enjoy this musing!
The deeper I get into the work of legacy building the more I realize how much I’ve inherited ancestrally that has already positioned me to carry the torch of this sacred work. A lot of the things my family, and many other families have done, particularly in the past, has been natural to them and they didn’t do as much labeling of things like we do now a days. Your great grandmother who ran a shop for decades selling her homemade baked goods most likely didn’t call herself an entrepreneur. Yet that is exactly what she was doing. So much of the preservation and generational healing/building work our ancestors did, may not be so obvious to us upfront. Having discourse and theoretical public conversations and panels around the work we do is a much newer thing. Let me take you on a little journey of how, through building Cultural Preservation Network, I uncovered a piece of the ancestral inheritance that was right in my face the whole time. The truth hidden in plain sight, the synchronicities I finally opened my eyes & heart to attune to.
Uncovering my Ancestral Inheritance
It’s funny because growing up, I always used to say, I will never be a teacher, ever. I felt very strongly about that. My parents were educators my whole life and I saw the hardships of what it looked like to do such powerful and important work that wasn’t valued nearly as much as it should be by society. I didn’t realize when I was younger that it wasn’t the response to the work that they were doing that was so important. It was the impact, often barely noticed by those on the receiving end until much later. I believe that is really what anchored their hearts to continue to do the work because honestly I could not understand why they dealt with such turmoil. When kids are dealing with trauma at home, as a nurturing adult who cares, you see it right away, so you’re not only teaching math or science, you’re playing mediator, social worker, therapist, etc. This is why vastness of one’s calling and life’s work can never be held in the container of a job.
Let me give deeper context as this will all come full circle. My grandfather started a school in Haiti, that is still in the family. Before he retired, my dad spent his time as a linguist and educational specialist, teaching English to immigrants, Spanish to children and doing a radio show about the importance of parents being involved in their children’s education and ways they can make the home a healthy space to cultivate their minds. My mom teaches children, and I’ve never seen someone so naturally good at nurturing the minds of little ones even when they drive her up the wall. Now there’s me. I had a very rebellious spirit when it came to what I wanted to do with my life, especially because it felt like everyone had their own ideas of what that should be. As an artist, I always thought what I would end up doing would be the opposite and very different from what they did. What I didn’t understand at the time is that education is in my bones and through free will I get the opportunity to do what I will with that. Yet, there was always going to be a path for me in that space asking me to remember in order to discover. To remember, that there’s a reason these gifts are passed forward generationally, and there’s a mantel always present. To discover, how it’s meant to look with me as the next channel, doing the work in a different time period. It was never about doing it how they did it which is why growing up I was so against being an educator. It’s about discovering my own voice within my ancestral inheritance, merging past, present and what’s to come. This is what I am discovering on my journey of building CPN.
The Home is Not Broken
Now as we get into the topic of building our family’s generative culture, a starting point I’ve been sitting with is, how is this ancestral inheritance cultivated and collectively nurtured by the family unit?
For those who are committed to the path of legacy cultivation and preservation, the family is so so important and crucial. Things don’t have to be perfect and everyone doesn’t have to get along to do the work of building a family’s generative culture. It starts with the folks who do care and are interested in seeing the family grow spiritually, financially, physically and subconsciously. It only takes a few to start. This is the type of work that heals the family unit’s psyche on a subconscious level. I’m on this journey myself, first starting with my brother, mom and dad and once the foundation and framework is finished, inviting more to join. You can do it however most aligns with your family, I will share more resources on this as we get deeper into it.
Building a family’s generative culture is all about creating, building upon and naming a family’s values, traditions, practices and north star. These are embodied by each person involved and intentionally passed forward to empower each member to contribute to the family's legacy in meaningful ways. This often includes fostering open communication, connecting on a spiritual and emotional level, supporting individual and collective goals, learning, experiencing new morale boosting things together and creating opportunities for collaboration and innovation within the family unit. The aim is to cultivate a culture that not only preserves the family's identity but also adapts and evolves with each generation.
You can start by thinking about what family members are the best suited for the different categories of organizing the family’s legacy. Things to consider and hel you get the ball rolling when discussing with your family:
On a spiritual level
What are the different spiritual and religious practices and traditions your family has both ancestrally and presently? Even if seemingly different beliefs, are there any overlaps and what are they?
Are there any new spiritual/religious traditions and rituals your family wishes to practice together?
When someone transitions how does the family support in ushering them into their next adventure?
On a financial level
Do you wish to build a family investment fund so that you can grow wellth collectively? How will you structure this and what are the parameters for investments?
Whose on the deeds for grandparents or great aunts/uncles homes?
How do you want to store the important documents of the elders and who gets access, who are the safe keepers of this information?
What are the levels of financial literacy within the family? Do you want to create a standard of financial literacy for the family?
Estate planning
On a cultural & preservation level
Do you have or want to create a family book with all the names and other pertinent information? Who are in charge of creating this book and making sure its well preserved?
What are the different gifts, passions and talents of the ancestors, elders, children and adults? What things did they do or create that showcased these?
What are the different cultures and cultural practices within the family? How is that being documented, and shared in the present?
How do you go about preserving physical objects and documents?
How does the family go about governing itself to be in alignment when making important decisions and managing family affairs?
As we embark on the path of building a family’s generative culture, it’s essential to remember that this work is ongoing and collective. It’s about identifying and nurturing the unique strengths within our family units, whether spiritual, financial, cultural, etc, and intentionally passing them forward. The process may be challenging, but it is something I know will be deeply rewarding, as it offers a way to heal, grow, and ensure that our family's identity adapts and thrives with each generation.
In doing this work, we create a living legacy—a dynamic, evolving culture that honors our past, empowers our present, and inspires our future. It is often said that there is an attack on the family unit and this is an intentional and beautifully collaborative way to combat that. The family home, both literally and metaphorically, even when it feels broken, is a vessel of potential, waiting to be filled with the wisdom, strength, and creativity that each of us brings. Let’s honor the work our ancestors did, often without formal titles or recognition, that laid the foundation for the legacies we continue to build today.
CPN Announcements Corner
September officially makes one year since we launched CPN!! This has been such a sacred experience of becoming, learning, growing and I am so grateful.
We are committed to supporting creatives and culture keepers build well resourced legacies in the most holistic and intentional ways.
That is why we’ve launched The Well Resourced Creative Membership, an intentional space for those who are committed to energetically and strategically taking their holistic businesses, wellth & legacy building journeys to the next level. Learn about the gems in this offer here
Much Love & Gratitude
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