Culturally rooted wellness, rituals, and global traditions

CULTURALLY ROOTED WELLNESS

Cultural exploration and ancient traditions.

CULTURE & RITUALS

This section highlights culturally rooted wellness practices — from food and movement to rituals passed down through generations. We publish real stories, not summaries, from people living these traditions or adapting them in everyday life. Some are old. Some are evolving. All of them mean something.

Merienda: The Filipino Ritual of Pausing Together

Discover how the Filipino tradition of merienda offers more than snacks — it’s a daily pause for joy, connection, and resilience.

Culture & Rituals

Gabriel Feliciano

Oct 156 min read

The Bayanihan Way: What the Philippines Can Teach the World About Health and Connection

Bayanihan, the Filipino tradition of collective unity, shows how compassion and cooperation build stronger, healthier, and more connected communities.

Culture & Rituals

Juliana Betervo

Oct 144 min read

The Obokano of Kisii: Music, Healing, and Cultural Wellness in Kenya

Discover the Obokano, a Kisii lyre from Kenya whose deep tones preserve culture, foster belonging, and embody music’s power to heal and unite communities.

Culture & Rituals

Annah Okero

Sep 304 min read

Yucatán Wellness Rituals: Culture, Tradition, and Healing Practices

From ancient Maya ballgames to cucumber-lime water, discover how Yucatán’s traditions weave wellness, culture, and community into daily life.

Culture & Rituals

Nikolas Gutierrez

Sep 305 min read

The Ritual of Silence in Japanese Gardens: Wellness in Stillness

At Ritsurin Garden in Japan, silence is not absence but presence — a ritual that nourishes wellness, creativity, and connection to the world around us.

Culture & Rituals

Kimberley Cookey-Gam

Sep 294 min read

Italy’s Unspoken Food Rules: Lessons in Seasonality and Belonging

From seasonal eating to sacred mealtimes, Italy’s food rules reveal how tradition, family, and culture nourish both body and identity.

Culture & Rituals

Suzanne Abbott-Lee

Sep 295 min read

Belonging Across Bloodlines: Wellness, Ancestry, and the Land

What does it mean to belong when your roots span many ancestries? This story explores identity, land, and the threads that connect us to wellness.

Culture & Rituals

Sierra Felicidad

Sep 294 min read

Seasonal Eating in Italy: Strawberries Belong to May

Discover seasonal eating in Italy, or “chilometro zero,” where food, place, and patience come together to nourish joy, rhythm, and belonging.

Culture & Rituals

Isola Chambers

Sep 234 min read

Igba Ota-omu of Nigeria’s Ohafia People: A Celebration of Unity and Resilience

Explore Igba Ota-omu, the Ohafia age-grade retirement ceremony in Abia State, Nigeria—where unity, resilience, and cultural heritage foster belonging.

Culture & Rituals

Peace Nwoha

Sep 235 min read

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