Here is my third foray with the writing exercise prompts from Bite by Bite and Aimee Nezhukumatathil.
Spice is nice: What is your favorite spice? Coriander? Cardamom? Cumin? Look up the healing properties and/or folklore of that spice and create a scene where a character uses that spice to heal someone.
Well, this is certainly different.
Cinnamon
Our house was painted dark gray on the outside but sometimes the vibe and interior seemed just as gray. My favorite uncle once told me to put a stick of cinnamon in your fireplace when you were feeling down. When I felt trapped and isolated and hopeless and the interior of the house seemed to have a dark fog, I would put a stick of cinnamon in the gas fireplace to replicate the crackle of real logs. The added bonus was the faint whiff of sweetness and spice.
Soon after, I read that Frida Kahlo put cinnamon in her coffee so I tried it. I started to mix a healthy dose in with my morning latte. This habit seemed to alter my mornings somehow. I started opening the blinds and the curtains.
I began baking more and cinnamon got added to almost every sweet recipe in the house–chocolate chip cookies, any and every muffin, smoothies, brownies. If a recipe already called for cinnamon, I would add a heaping amount.
I don’t believe in hippy-dippy spiritual mumbo jumbo but I started standing in my back garden during a full moon, taking a pinch of cinnamon and blowing it heavenward. It just felt peaceful and right to do.
Things began to shift. There was no exact pivotal moment but the sun (and moon) started metaphorically and physically shining through the house.
I don’t buy expensive Ceylon cinnamon sticks or specialty-store ground cinnamon. I buy what is cheap and on sale. (My burning cinnamon most likely came from a craft store.) I go through a lot now.
Cinnamon represents prosperity in some countries and while my lottery tickets still go uncashed, my house is no longer gray inside.
It sounds kind of pedestrian to say your favorite spice is cinnamon. It’s kind of like saying your favorite ice cream is vanilla. (No judgment.) But have you tried sprinkling cinnamon on your scoop of vanilla? It will make things brighter.
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