source

in honor of that which is divine

genesis: kimiya wellness

khosh amaadeed <خوش آمدید> /// welcome

it is good to have you here! let me begin by introducing you to kimiya…

i initially conceptualized kimiya as i contemplated the rapid decline+endangerment of wild white sage, alongside the wellness practices + plant medicine rituals of my ancestors /// following these meditations, i was called to cultivate a conscious alchemical collection inspired by my iranian+persian+zoroastrian lineage

kimiya’s story began with the preservation+innovation of a longstanding ancestral SWANA tradition : the cultural + ritual smoke medicine practice of sacred Esfand <wild rue>, +its transmutation into a unique blend of incense to purify+protect /// kimiya has since blossomed into a collection of alchemical offerings for both ritual practice + the everyday

+so i welcome you to kimiya <translated to alchemy in Farsi> : an intendtionally curated offering of aromatic botanical incense, aromatherapy, + eco ritual tools, motivated by ancient kimiya-gaars <alchemists>, aligned w/ my ancestors+plantcestors, +harmonizing w/ our contemporary lifestyles

it is an honor to acquaint you to kimiya’s inspired give on the ritual of esfand smoke medicine, befitting the dawn of another generation --- revitalizing+reclaiming our spiritual+ancestral apotropaic traditions through modern wellness practices, while also extending kimiya’s sacred alchemical offerings to kindred folx across multiple times, spaces, places, dimensions, + energies

from its origin story, to the present-day, + what is willed to blossom : i ex.tend gratitude in sharing kimiya with each of you

may we co-cultivate spaces to heal, nourish, reflect, connect, inspire, + ascend

in gratitude, humility, + love

shey /// venoosheh

kimiya acknowledges the Gabrielino/Tongva peoples as the traditional caregivers of Tovaangar (L.A. Basin, South Channel Islands)

in honor + respect of the taraaxotam <Indigenous peoples> of this <unceded Tongva> land

kimiya has blossomed from myriad intendtions ascending from my own spiritual, cultural, ethical, + ancestral practices /// in conjunction with learning of the rapid decline of wild white sage <salvia apiana>* after smudging for some years + not wanting to contribute to its endangerment, i opted to cultivate+nurture a hallowed practice associated with the hands+lands of my ancestors, one that guides+supports me in intentionally preserving + innovating an age-old ritual : transmuting esfand smoke medicine into a unique incense blend

in this light, kimiya supports the call for ethical, mutually symbiotic relationship to+with our plantcestors such as wild white sage : a sacred, endemic SoCal plant medicine ritually tended + honored by the local taraaxotam

may we continue to honor mother earth, the traditional land stewards, + our plantcestors whose very existence make life + wellbeing possible

*as relayed by various First Nation communities + persons, the rapid depletion of wild white sage is due in large part to non-Indigenous overharvesting, mass commercialization, + unethical sourcing + purchase /// with this in mind/heart/spirit, there is much to critically acknowledge + unearth in regard to the trend of smudging / burning wild white sage, particularly as it relates to Indigenous knowledge systems + traditional ecological knowledge <such as the history of colonization + capitalism, Native persecution + erasure, cultural appropriation, illegal harvest, ethical purchase + practice, survivability, sustainability, + the cultural + ecological sanctity of sacred plant medicines>

see: <Burton, N., + Polish, J. (2021, 2019).> /// <Defino, J. (2019).> /// <ICT (2017). /// Feghali, L.K. (2014).>

screenshot via Nativeland app.

roots of kimiya

‘from Arabic al’ or “the” + ‘kimiya’ from Greek ‘khemia’ or “the art of alloying metals; alchemy” (2).png

the word “kimiya” <کیمیا> is derived from the Farsi/Arabic term for alchemy, the ancient roots tied to the lands of Kemet /// kimiya-gaars <alchemists> created a system of classification to store their comprehensive wisdom of earthly elements /// many of these kimiya-gaars were both feared + ostracized, as traditional alchemy was often associated with the desire to transmute base metals into gold, develop panaceas for ailments, + even retain classified formulas for the philosopher’s stone <aka the elixir of life said to prolong existence + even grant immortality>

aside from the more mystical associations, kimiya-gaars archived a wealth of knowledge, which was subsequently utilized in developing the periodic table of elements + helped spark the field of chemistry

thus, the genesis of the word + field of chem<istry> derived from kim<iya> aka alchemy, its origins birthed in the lands of Kem<et>

as above

so below