ROUTE TO MOTHERLAND

ROUTE TO MOTHERLAND is a hand-made publication that relates a journey on the island of Tenerife, and the encounter of a person with both a geographical and personal territory.

And perhaps this story has something witchy, just like the island of Tenerife.

Here’s why.

Of Tenerife, I only had mental images based on the stories I had heard years ago from Canary islanders. They had told me about micro-climates, geography, topography, local culture, tourism, but most of all they all seemed to give much importance to the mountain : the Teide. I thought it was like a worship. Since then, I have felt a great craving for visiting this island and meeting the volcano, which finally happened a few times ago.

Somehow, in spite of the touristic atmosphere and urbanized areas, Tenerife made me comfortable. From the embracing tropical mildness and the secretive haze that welcomes the visitor out of the plane, to the old endemic trees and black volcanic beaches, its beauty is as unusual as multiple. There’s weirdness and wilderness, something of an ancient territory. And, as strange as it may appear, I felt like home without even knowing this place, especially while discovering the Teide National Park.

It appeared to me as a primitive place, where I could figure out what was Earth million years ago, and how it has originated life. As a volcanic island, Tenerife has a telluric activity, that is not only visible physically, but gives a special atmosphere, urging the visitor to slow down, observe and feel its energy.

Contemplating the landscape, I began to percieve I was part of this universe, a tiny link in a global huge chain, with my own creative energy, as a human being, as a sister, daughter and mother, with my own magmatic chamber, cyclic periods of activity and rest, and ability to give life… and death.

I couldn’t help but relate strongly to this powerful place. There, somehow, I rooted, and met my ecofeminism.