Mortar and Pestle: Honoring Labors of Love

Happy Labor Day!

Labor is the life force that moves the world. Without our collective energy, the foundations we build could not last. From its conception in the late 1800s, this day marks an uprising of dedicated workers in the United States who advocated for their sovereignty and self worth. It signals a moment in time when the hands who craft our spaces, resources and systems demand their humanity to be honored as a fundamental right. 

Prior to recent centuries, labor has been activated since ancient eras for the construction of monumental civilizations. I honor and celebrate the Black African and Indigenous land stewards who have preserved essential knowledge about how to live in alignment with nature, wielding their freedom of voice and movement to reap fruits from their labor. 

This day reminds us that we have power to advocate for ourselves in the environments we find ourselves in, whether our location is the product of our conscious decisions or a result of circumstances beyond our control. In the African diaspora, we’ve made the most from almost nothing while depending on our intuition to guide the path forward. 

To honor labors of love, read below to learn more about the mortar and pestle.

What is the mortar and pestle?

The mortar and pestle is an indigenous tool for grounding natural materials into a fine powder. It’s composed of a bowl and handle that can be made from wood and different types of rock, such as marble, limestone and granite. Plants and stones are traditionally sourced from the local ecosystem and placed in the mortar and pestle for processing in herbal preparations that are taken as medicine both topically and internally. Rocks and stones are pounded until their grains shrink, which can then be mixed with other substances such as water, vinegar, milk, gum resin from trees and animal fat for use in painting and cosmetics.

In African villages, the mortar and pestle is often large enough to accommodate a group of people, as pictured in the image above. It evokes the essence of collaboration and unity as everyone participates in the activity together. There’s an African proverb that goes, If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together. This quote reveals how working as a team can lead to better results. Before our ancestors migrated to the states during the transatlantic slave trade, much of our work in society was done as a collective, which allowed us to cultivate patience, endurance and resilience.

Color-producing plants and clays can be activated in the mortar and pestle for natural dye. Indigo, red and white clay, dried flowers, leaves and seeds are commonly processed into powder using this method. Depending on the texture and consistency of the material, working with a mortar and pestle can be exhausting and time consuming. It’s a form of exercise that strengthens our muscles and expands our capacity to have faith in moments of uncertainty. 

When I first started using the mortar and pestle, I felt like I was forging communication with the native people who lived on this land thousands of years ago. It’s truly ancient. It was enlightening to realize that I didn’t have to use an electric food processor or blender but instead, I could rely on my own inner strength to get the job done. You can find this tool still being used throughout the African continent, in Central and South America and in eco-conscious spaces where ancestral traditions are prioritized. 

In Mexico, the mortar and pestle is used to carry on the tradition of making chocolate. I love this one because its flat square shape is unique while most are usually round with a curved interior. Fresh cacao beans harvested from native trees are placed under the pestle and ground until they form a paste. Heat is generated from this movement of the beans being pressed underneath stone. 

Would you ever use a mortar and pestle? If you’re an herbalist or artist who uses natural materials, this tool can be grounding as it connects us to the spirit of the Earth.