According to author, artist, poet, theologian and community organizer Tricia Hersey, to imagine new possibilities for our world and to work towards collective justice, rest is foundational. One way that systems of oppression like white supremacy and capitalism maintain power is by keeping us exhausted and distracted. Tricia emphasizes the importance of breaking that cycle by getting rest wherever we can, despite our busyness—in part by doing less in the spare moments we have.
When Wooden Spoon Herbs reached out to us about joining their collaboration with Tricia to mark the release of her book, Rest is Resistance, we were thrilled! We've carried Wooden Spoon Herbs' teas and tinctures for years, and we have deep appreciation and respect for Tricia's work and The Nap Ministry.
Together, we came together to create The Rest Set.
Each set includes Tricia Hersey’s Rest is Resistance, the Recharge Eye Mask by MINNA, and Magic Magnesium by Wooden Spoon Herbs. We hope this set inspires and supports you to do less, rest more, and imagine new collective futures.
We are honored to share this powerful interview with Tricia Hersey, facilitated by Christine Buckley, Editorial Director at Wooden Spoon Herbs.
An Interview with Tricia Hersey
CHRISTINE: As an artist, theater maker, workshop leader, curriculum writer, educator, public speaker, and preacher - who has worked with groups for over two decades - what is your advice for building connections within smaller communities?
TRICIA: All of my experience in building community for over 20 years has been offline. Online community building is new to me and in many ways I am uncomfortable with it and the ways in which our culture has actually become lonelier and more disconnected by the obsession with social media. I would offer that people begin to see community as the people who live around them, live on their block, go to school with their children, go to same faith-based gatherings with, etc. We should not forget about the power of in-person connection and community. It must stay in the forefront of our minds and hearts as technology continues taking over our lives.
CHRISTINE: Plants feature prominently in your art practice and community care work. Which plants are supporting, nourishing, and pleasuring you these days?
TRICIA: I am really into aloe vera plants right now. I have them in my living room and kitchen. I feel such a deep connection to them because they remind me of my grandmother and mother. Both always had aloe vera plants in the home and were able to grow them so large. I was always so drawn to them once I saw my grandmother Ora cutting the leaves open and squeezing the gel onto burns and other skin irritations. I would go over and lightly squeeze the plant and be in awe of how the cuts in the leaves simply would heal over and keep growing. I find great pleasure in having the magic of them in my home.
CHRISTINE: We love your portrait on your website, can you tell us more about the flowers you're holding and why?
TRICIA: My friend Charlie Watts is an amazing fine art photographer and the portrait and most of the photography of The Nap Ministry was created by her. We share a love of outdoors and nature and all of our photography together involves me resting outdoors in nature or holding flowers. During this portrait session, Charlie had an area full of props including a basket of flowers. I was drawn to the color of these and picked them up immediately and intuitively. I like how they felt in my hands. I am not sure of its name. I love how they made me feel.
CHRISTINE: How can each of us respect and advocate for rest in the workplace?
TRICIA: This is a tough question, because I feel like it can seem very impossible for employers to advocate for any type of rest, pause or slow down until they begin the personal journey of decolonizing and unraveling from grind culture. There isn't a quick, cookie cutter way to this and it will have to be a deep and intentional commitment to seeing themselves and each other as more important than profit. A good start is to begin to honor boundaries, to respect the needs of the body and to not trust profit exclusively.
Shop the set here—
