The Slightly Less New Domesticity

June 2nd, 2010 by Kiba | Posted in New Domesticity |

Referring to it as the “New Domesticity” is so 2004, isn’t it? But that’s what it is: taking pleasure in the ability to be crafty, successful in the domestic arts, and still punk rock and feminist all at the same time. (So there’s a bit more to it than that – read Jean Railla’s manifesto for more.)

I’ve been without religious affiliation for some time but I don’t think that means I need to be denied a spiritual path. A friend recently suggested that my affinity for cupcake making involves magical powers, so I recently dabbled in reading about Kitchen Witchery. After reading about solitary practitioners who consider the most mundane of tasks to be sacred, I found some truth there. And decided that I would name Concordia Domestica. Concordia is the Roman goddess of harmony (and if you contrast her with the Discordia, she has some orderliness about her as well). So Concordia Domestica is a goddess representing the harmony one has in a home that is well-cared for, where all family members feel loved.

I feel it worthwhile to point out here that my husband is responsible for most of the cleaning tasks in the house (because he is more satisfied by cleanliness than I am, and thus cares more). So it’s not like he’s oppressing me with a vacuum cleaner and a broom. He sweeps, vacuums, and does dishes. I bake, clear clutter (a different thing than cleaning), and craft. It’s just a nice name to give to a set of interests that I’ve had for a while, and a way of thinking of these disparate interests – crochet, cross-stitch, baking, clutter-clearing – as parts of a whole, and serving a larger purpose than my own amusement (though that would be enough).

I hope to write more about all of these endeavors, plus new ones I take on in the same vein – gardening, cooking beyond baking, trying new styles of eating… So keep an eye out!