About Ouma's Old Almanac
About Ouma's Old Almanac
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Welcome.
Welcome.
There was a time when every family had an Ouma, Grandpa, Gogo, Uncle or Aunty who "knew things..."
There was a time when every family had an Ouma, Grandpa, Gogo, Uncle or Aunty who "knew things..."
Maybe it was Ouma knew which herbs soothed a fever, when to plant by the moon, what the stars foretold of the coming seasons, and why an owl calling at night could send whispers through a household. Perhaps it was your Grandpa remembered the old stories, the strange sayings, the forgotten remedies, and the customs that quietly shaped everyday life.
Maybe it was Ouma knew which herbs soothed a fever, when to plant by the moon, what the stars foretold of the coming seasons, and why an owl calling at night could send whispers through a household. Perhaps it was your Grandpa remembered the old stories, the strange sayings, the forgotten remedies, and the customs that quietly shaped everyday life.
Many of those voices are fading.
Many of those voices are fading.
Ouma's Old Almanac was created to help preserve them.
Ouma's Old Almanac was created to help preserve them.
With the subtitle "Bushveld Myths, Muthi & Magic of South Africa," this growing collection explores the folklore, healing traditions, seasonal customs, mythology, astronomy, astrology, and folk magic that have woven themselves into the rich cultural tapestry of Southern Africa.
With the subtitle "Bushveld Myths, Muthi & Magic of South Africa," this growing collection explores the folklore, healing traditions, seasonal customs, mythology, astronomy, astrology, and folk magic that have woven themselves into the rich cultural tapestry of Southern Africa.
This is not simply a blog. It is an ever-growing almanac—a place to learn, research, remember, and, where appropriate, continue living traditions with respect and care.
This is not simply a blog. It is an ever-growing almanac—a place to learn, research, remember, and, where appropriate, continue living traditions with respect and care.
Dedication
Dedication
This Almanac is lovingly dedicated to the mothers, fathers, grandmothers, grandfathers, gogos, oumas, oupas, storytellers, healers, farmers, herbalists, midwives, star-watchers, and quiet keepers of wisdom who carried their knowledge not in libraries, but in memory.
This Almanac is lovingly dedicated to the mothers, fathers, grandmothers, grandfathers, gogos, oumas, oupas, storytellers, healers, farmers, herbalists, midwives, star-watchers, and quiet keepers of wisdom who carried their knowledge not in libraries, but in memory.
May their stories continue to grow like wild herbs after the rain.
May their stories continue to grow like wild herbs after the rain.
What is Ouma's Old Almanac?
What is Ouma's Old Almanac?
Ouma's Old Almanac is a living library of South African folklore, traditional healing, seasonal wisdom, stories, star lore and folk magic.
Ouma's Old Almanac is a living library of South African folklore, traditional healing, seasonal wisdom, stories, star lore and folk magic.
It is a place for the curious to learn about the traditions that have shaped life across Southern Africa: the plants that grew around our homes, the remedies kept in kitchen cupboards, the signs people read in the sky, the stories told around the fire, the customs carried from one generation to another, and the beliefs that once gave meaning to the ordinary world.
It is a place for the curious to learn about the traditions that have shaped life across Southern Africa: the plants that grew around our homes, the remedies kept in kitchen cupboards, the signs people read in the sky, the stories told around the fire, the customs carried from one generation to another, and the beliefs that once gave meaning to the ordinary world.
Some of these traditions are ancient. Some are only a few generations old. Some have nearly disappeared. Others are still very much alive.
Some of these traditions are ancient. Some are only a few generations old. Some have nearly disappeared. Others are still very much alive.
We gather them here—not to place them behind glass, but to help people understand, appreciate and, where appropriate, carry them forward.
We gather them here—not to place them behind glass, but to help people understand, appreciate and, where appropriate, carry them forward.
Come in, have a cup of tea, and stay awhile. There's much to remember.
Come in, have a cup of tea, and stay awhile. There's much to remember.
A Note from Ryan & "Ouma"
A Note from Ryan & "Ouma"
Ouma's Old Almanac is written by Ryan Edmonds, but you will rarely find Ryan and Ouma far apart.
Ouma's Old Almanac is written by Ryan Edmonds, but you will rarely find Ryan and Ouma far apart.
You see, Ouma is a character—but she is also something more.
You see, Ouma is a character—but she is also something more.
In the Ubungoma traditions of Southern Africa, Gogo is a respectful term used for an Elder. It speaks not simply of age, but of the wisdom, experience and responsibility that comes with having walked a little further along the path.
In the Ubungoma traditions of Southern Africa, Gogo is a respectful term used for an Elder. It speaks not simply of age, but of the wisdom, experience and responsibility that comes with having walked a little further along the path.
... Our Ouma is inspired by that idea.
... Our Ouma is inspired by that idea.
She is the grandmother who knows which herb grows behind the kitchen, who notices the birds before the rain comes, who remembers an old saying that everyone else has forgotten, and who always seems to know when the kettle needs filling. She is the keeper of stories, the keeper of the hearth, and the keeper of those little pieces of wisdom that are so easily lost.
She is the grandmother who knows which herb grows behind the kitchen, who notices the birds before the rain comes, who remembers an old saying that everyone else has forgotten, and who always seems to know when the kettle needs filling. She is the keeper of stories, the keeper of the hearth, and the keeper of those little pieces of wisdom that are so easily lost.
... But Ouma isn't one particular woman. She represents the Elder within us all.
... But Ouma isn't one particular woman. She represents the Elder within us all.
She is the part of us that remembers to listen to the land. The part that wonders about the stars. The part that keeps old recipes, family stories and half-forgotten charms. She represents the wisdom handed down to us—and the wisdom we each have a responsibility to carry forward.
She is the part of us that remembers to listen to the land. The part that wonders about the stars. The part that keeps old recipes, family stories and half-forgotten charms. She represents the wisdom handed down to us—and the wisdom we each have a responsibility to carry forward.
And so, throughout this Almanac, Ryan and Ouma become the characters in our story.
And so, throughout this Almanac, Ryan and Ouma become the characters in our story.
Perhaps we're sitting together at the kitchen table, sipping tea while an old remedy simmers on the stove. Perhaps we're walking through the garden, gathering herbs and talking about the plants our grandmothers knew. Perhaps we've stopped beneath an old tree to watch the evening stars appear. Or perhaps Ouma has just remembered an old healing charm, and we're searching through a drawer for the bits and pieces we'll need to make it.
Perhaps we're sitting together at the kitchen table, sipping tea while an old remedy simmers on the stove. Perhaps we're walking through the garden, gathering herbs and talking about the plants our grandmothers knew. Perhaps we've stopped beneath an old tree to watch the evening stars appear. Or perhaps Ouma has just remembered an old healing charm, and we're searching through a drawer for the bits and pieces we'll need to make it.
You, dear reader, are invited to join us. Pull up a chair.
You, dear reader, are invited to join us. Pull up a chair.
There's always room for one more at the table.
There's always room for one more at the table.
A Little About Me, Ryan...
A Little About Me, Ryan...
Behind Ouma's stories is a very real person.
Behind Ouma's stories is a very real person.
I was raised in a home where magic, nature, family and love of the home were woven into everyday life. My mother and grandmother instilled in me a deep reverence for the natural world and for the old knowledge carried through families: the wisdom of the garden, the mysteries of the kitchen, the changing seasons, the language of plants, the unseen world, and those simple traditions that somehow made a house feel like home.
I was raised in a home where magic, nature, family and love of the home were woven into everyday life. My mother and grandmother instilled in me a deep reverence for the natural world and for the old knowledge carried through families: the wisdom of the garden, the mysteries of the kitchen, the changing seasons, the language of plants, the unseen world, and those simple traditions that somehow made a house feel like home.
For more than thirty years, I have followed that thread.
For more than thirty years, I have followed that thread.
My path has taken me through many different traditions and healing arts. I am a trained Sangoma, having undertaken my training in Mpumalanga, and an initiated Braucher and Hex within the Pennsylvania Dutch tradition. I am also a certified Herbalist and Bach Flower practitioner, as well as a spiritualist medium, yoga teacher, tarot reader and astrologer.
My path has taken me through many different traditions and healing arts. I am a trained Sangoma, having undertaken my training in Mpumalanga, and an initiated Braucher and Hex within the Pennsylvania Dutch tradition. I am also a certified Herbalist and Bach Flower practitioner, as well as a spiritualist medium, yoga teacher, tarot reader and astrologer.
These paths may seem very different at first glance, but to me they have always been part of the same great conversation:
These paths may seem very different at first glance, but to me they have always been part of the same great conversation:
How do we heal?
How do we live well?
How do we understand the world around us?
And what wisdom have we forgotten along the way?
How do we heal?
How do we live well?
How do we understand the world around us?
And what wisdom have we forgotten along the way?
Ouma's Old Almanac is where I bring those thirty years of learning, practice, study and experience together—not as the final word on any tradition, but as an offering.
Ouma's Old Almanac is where I bring those thirty years of learning, practice, study and experience together—not as the final word on any tradition, but as an offering.
My deepest wish is to share, teach and inspire.
My deepest wish is to share, teach and inspire.
I hope to encourage a new generation of healers, herbalists, storytellers, folklorists, nature lovers, wisdom-keepers and simply curious people to look a little more closely at the world around them.
I hope to encourage a new generation of healers, herbalists, storytellers, folklorists, nature lovers, wisdom-keepers and simply curious people to look a little more closely at the world around them.
... To learn the names of the plants. To listen to the stories. To look up at the Southern sky. To ask their grandparents questions while there is still time to ask them. To notice the changing seasons. To keep a recipe. To plant a garden... To wish upon a star... To believe in magic again...
... To learn the names of the plants. To listen to the stories. To look up at the Southern sky. To ask their grandparents questions while there is still time to ask them. To notice the changing seasons. To keep a recipe. To plant a garden... To wish upon a star... To believe in magic again...
To remember.
To remember.
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