In the Mexican Culture, many of earth’s creations symbolize the strength that our peoples hone and demonstrate to be important among the family and community. It is this strength that continues to carry families on from generation to generation, as evident in El Cenador (the Arbor Tree).

El Cenador, symbolizes deep rooted origins.  These origins move through the family and community to honor building a strong foundation in support and celebration of one another; to honor our achievements, our growth, and provide the strength to face difficulties with the spiritual energy of our ancestors within us.

The trunk illustrates the energy exerted to bring creation into this human world and exemplifies the strength of the Matriarchal line setting free the creation to branch into existence. The branch continues to carry the family line. It nurtures the present generation and gains the wisdom of our elders while growing spiritually closer to the cardinal directions of the earth (north, south, east, west and center) and afterlife where we continue to provide the matriarchal foundation for generations to come.

Arbora came to fruition through the story of El Cenador (the Arbor Tree) once told by the Matriarch of the Canelo Family, Carlota. Arbor for the strength she gave her family, specifically my mother Magdalena, to overcome the cultural differences faced in the new world; the strength to challenge this world and make change for future generations to come. The “a” in Arbora for her loving memory and the ending vowel of her name and of every woman in our family, but not the ending to her story.