You know, I think it's a clear mark of just how differently Pagans see things from non-Pagany folks, when I read this story in the Huffington Post and wondered just why it was even a big deal: Matthew McConaughey to Plant Placenta.
Actor Matthew McConaughey and his partner Camila Alves recently had a son, Levi. McConaughey decided to save the baby's placenta and plant it under a tree in an orchard, in hopes of fertilizing the land. He went on to say that when he was visiting Australia, he met some Aboriginal people who told of "a placenta tree that was on the river ... and all the placentas of all that tribe, all that clan, whatever aboriginal tribe that was, all the placentas went under that one tree and it was this huge behemoth of just health and strength... This tree was just growing taller and stronger above the rest of Mother Nature around it. It was gorgeous."
Now, I think this is really cool. I think it's a fabulous thing -- after all, what symbolizes life and fertility better than a placenta? It seems, however, that people all over Teh Interwebs are just going nuts about the whole thing. It's apparently Really Big Weird News, and certifies McConaughey's place as One Strange Dude in the pop culture compendium. But don't people all over the world do stuff like this? Isn't it the sort of thing that our ancestors probably did, as a way of ensuring crops would grow and trees would bear fruit? Maybe it's our western culture that's weird and strange, in that the general public thinks offering a placenta to a tree is a freaky thing.
What about the rest of you? Is this cool, or does it squick you out? Take the poll and talk about it!
Actor Matthew McConaughey and his partner Camila Alves recently had a son, Levi. McConaughey decided to save the baby's placenta and plant it under a tree in an orchard, in hopes of fertilizing the land. He went on to say that when he was visiting Australia, he met some Aboriginal people who told of "a placenta tree that was on the river ... and all the placentas of all that tribe, all that clan, whatever aboriginal tribe that was, all the placentas went under that one tree and it was this huge behemoth of just health and strength... This tree was just growing taller and stronger above the rest of Mother Nature around it. It was gorgeous."
Now, I think this is really cool. I think it's a fabulous thing -- after all, what symbolizes life and fertility better than a placenta? It seems, however, that people all over Teh Interwebs are just going nuts about the whole thing. It's apparently Really Big Weird News, and certifies McConaughey's place as One Strange Dude in the pop culture compendium. But don't people all over the world do stuff like this? Isn't it the sort of thing that our ancestors probably did, as a way of ensuring crops would grow and trees would bear fruit? Maybe it's our western culture that's weird and strange, in that the general public thinks offering a placenta to a tree is a freaky thing.
What about the rest of you? Is this cool, or does it squick you out? Take the poll and talk about it!
its frikin cool!
I’ve not heard anything else about the story; you say “It seems, however, that people all over Teh Interwebs are just going nuts about the whole thing.” What are they saying, and where?
I confess, I don’t understand why this is news either.
I didn’t hear about it, but I tend to let celebrity news go in one ear and out the other. It sounds like a neat tradition. I haven’t heard of it before. I have heard of eating the placenta, but not planting it. I think the event is somewhat news worthy in that it helps expose people to traditions other than their own, and knowledge is always good. I don’t see myself planting a placenta anytime soon, but still think it’s a cool idea. I have an apartment so I’d likely have to get a permit to plant it somewhere.
I, personally don’t see a thing wrong with this.
It has been done for centuries in many cultures/traditions. Besides, it is a great symbol of fertility and life.
I belive it is Western civilisation that just needs to catch up.
I find our Western culture to be weird and strange. People are so robotic!
To me, placenta is kinda gross. But if it means something to someone, i can understand that, and more power to him!
I kept my childrens and grandchildrens navels (the part that falls off in a few days). I put them in a fetish bag for them with symbols of their totems, and herbs to keep them safe. Some of them have added their own symbols to the bags like rocks and feathers, ect.
So, I don’t think burying the placenta is weird. Just a way to keep the child safe.
“I find our Western culture to be weird and strange. People are so robotic!”
Couldn’t have said it better! If something is “traditional” it’s okay, no matter how weird it is. But let someone come along who thinks outside the box and they’re “weird”.
I don’t know much about placentas, but my guess is that they’re full of nutrients. Probably nutrients that are designed for humans, but I bet there’s something in there that a tree could use. Or maybe it attracts earthworms, which are good for the soil. Bottom line, I bet there’s some “scientific” reason why it’s beneficial, we just don’t know it yet.
And even if there isn’t… who cares? It’s not like it’s going to hurt anyone.
Well, quite personally, I think it’s immature that the whole inter web is going bonkers over it.
recycling! hehe.
People can act so childish and cruel over things they don’t quite understand. Hey, I didn’t save my daughters and plant it… but that doesn’t mean i can’t respect it when someone else does, ESPECIALLY after i KNOW that it’s for what can be stated as a good cause. Why water that down? Why insult it? Why can’t people just wish him all the happiness in what he did, it’s not like it hurt ANYTHING. In fact, it helped.
Well, for what it’s worth, I think it’s great. And if one man or woman can change the way people think in this world… and we all agree, I’d say we’re off to a good start!
w00t. more power to like minds of EQUAL minds.
love and light,
Fae
I planted two of my placentas, and would have planted all of them except I didn’t know to ask for it after my first child was born. I guess I run in “crunchy” circles but I never knew people would think anything bad about it.
I mean, if he announced that they ATE it, I could see people talking… even though some cultures do this and it’s supposed to be a good cure for hemorrhage (a midwife I know carries a blender with her equipment so she can whip up a placenta smoothie if needed). I’ve seen placenta stir-fry recipes, too. It’s not for me though I would not bat an eye if I heard of someone doing this, but I could see public opinion being grossed out. But planting it? So what?
People are so provincial and juvenile. Planting a placenta is a time-honored tradition in many parts of the world, and hradly bizarre or obscure. I planted my (now 9 year old) son’s and was very sad when we had to move from there. It’s a spiritual practice, and as far as nutrients go, no different than the advice to plant a fish with their crops given to the early settlers (although I think of them as invaders). Like Tasis said, I guess I’m kind of “crunchy.”
apologies for the typos – I obviously meant “hardly” and “Tasia” (esp. sorry about the name).
I don’t see anything at all strange about it. The tribes did it b/4 the Europeans came. some on the Res still do. It is also done to protect the spirit of the child and in some beliefs bind it to the land. America is so out of touch w/the land and it’s own spirit, it’s sad.
I think it’s a perfectly normal thing to do. It’s the same way with breastfeeding as well. Most other countries do it until the child is three, and they think it’s weird that Americans stop after six months to a year if they breastfeed at all.
its quite a common practice for local Maori culture here in New Zealand. I’ve had the opportunity three times not being Maori, but the question of beliefs comes up with midwife care and discussions on how you want your birthing process. Quite frankly I can’t see the fuss or a problem with it.
Good Eve all,
2008-08-17
I voted as “strange, but whatevers”, as I read in innocent wonderment. I know I unconciously have ethnocentrisim that I am doing my best in eliminating.
As for the article, it is not what I would do, but if it meant what it was supposed to, then none of us have a right to say no, in my opionion.
Personally, I would plant a tree on the day of their birth, and they and I would plant one on the night of their adulthood, that they would have to take care of, for life. The first one would be personal, in the yard. The second one would be a fruit or incense tree, for the community.
-Thank you for keeping us posted, gets the brain thinking nonlaterally.
-Rafe
Nothing strange I am happy for them.In my family,my mother and the other old women from were I lived in west Virginia used to bury a babies navel cord after it had fell off.They acted like it had to be done.I don’t remember why.They have long passed away now and I will probably never know.
also when a baby was born and I still do it today is take a fresh egg and write the babies full name and birthday on it and put it up and forget about it,the baby will not have teething problems.
Even if my family and were from the mountains of West Virginia and were christians they still hung on to their pagan roots.
I had never thought of this, but now that it’s mentioned I think it’s a wonderful idea! I saw this story in passing while channel searching, but I didn’t watch long enough to see the reporter’s opinion.. It goes along beautifully with an idea that I’ve always had to align a tree with every child I have.. Instead of (or along with) animals, my children will have a pet tree ^^ The placenta would be a very meaningful addition to the tree’s life.
obviously if it worked for the Maori’s it’ll work for them. I don’t think it’s weird to use a placenta to fertilize a tree, and it doesn’t surprise me that it works. Western culture weird for realizing that superstition is superstition? I don’t think so. Stupid for making a big deal about a superstitious person? Yes.