In this Sacred Space,
Solidarity is Queen.
Solidarity and Sisterhood go hand in hand. In Sisterhood, we carry an unspoken vow of Unity, of Oneness, of Support, of having each others’ backs, of non-judgement, of non-comparison, of standing shoulder-to-shoulder through it ALL.
AND
We must take a look at the whole picture, so our Sisterhood and our Solidarity are Whole and Complete. We are here for what is real. We are here for transformation, both deeply personally and rippling out for the world we live in - so that All Womxn/people on this Earth may feel Whole, Sacred, and Free.
For so long, spiritual spaces have been filled with harmful practices, bypassing, gaslighting, color-blindness in the name of oneness, and some desire to transcend humanity. In this space, we vow to root in to that which is true and tangible - which not only creates safe inclusive spaces for others, it amplifies and deepens Healing, Alchemy, and Transformation like no other.
In order to be on a Healing journey, a Spiritual journey, a Healer’s journey, the Priestess Path…
we must DO NO HARM.
It is not enough to simply be harmless in our intentions, we must also look inward to consistently check where our actions are *unintentionally* harming others or perpetuating harm in the bigger picture.
Land Acknowledgement:
I live, walk, pray, and gather on the unceded traditional territory of the ᏣᎳᎫᏪᏘᏱ Tsalaguwetiyi (Cherokee) and S’atsoyaha (Yuchi) people. I hold circle and ceremony on these Sacred lands, and I acknowledge that we are gathering on lands that were stolen from living people. I acknowledge the genocide, displacement, and painful experiences of the Indigenous People connected to these lands. I honor Indigenous People as the traditional stewards of the land, and the enduring relationship that exists between them and their traditional territories.
Image by Christina Martinez
My vows to YOU
and my asks *of you* to vow in reciprocity…
In this space, Black Lives Matter. They always have, they always will… and until ALL of our sisters feel equitably valued in this world, we have work to do. Together.
If this creates any amount of aversion to being here… please, Sister, look at that rather than looking away.In this space, we DO see color - we see the unique beauty of our Black/Brown Sisters in their Joy, their stories, their Power, their voices, their Brilliance, and their asks for our support & allyship.
In this space, Trans Sisters are Sisters, those who identify as Women are Sisters, and we Honor your equally-valued space in this circle. This is a Queer-friendly, Queer-allied, and Queer-founded space.
In this space, we recognize the harm in Cultural mis-appropriation. We vow to continuously root in to practices that are culturally aligned, and fully inclusive for all.
While the focus of our gatherings is not rooted in topics of social justice, anti-racism, diversity equity and inclusion, we carry these essences as Vital on an individual level to restore Harmony for ALL Women.
I am not here to educate on these topics, nor to hold spaces for us to do this work. If this is what you are looking for, please seek out women of color who are doing work around this, specifically black women when available. Resources are below.This is not a space where Love and Light are the answer (as a way to create space for bypassing realness). This is a space of Wholeness. Love and Light are included, of course, and so are the shadows - the realness - the parts of self and sister we don’t want to look at.
We recognize that Oneness exists, but not as a bypass of our human reality. We are here, embodied, on purpose as we are. We seek to Honor both - in a true Divine Union within.
I hold this Sacred work of the highest Honor. If you are bypassing the experience of another, I will call you out/in… and I hope you will do the same for me.
“You can’t dump one cup of sugar into the ocean and expect to get syrup. If everybody sweetened her own cup of water, then things would begin to change.”
It is (beyond) time for us ALL to be sweetening our own cups a bit more.
It is (beyond) time for us ALL to REmember that our voice, our Power, and our actions matter.
One sister at a time. We need ALL of us.
For ourselves, for our sisters, for our Earth, for our world.
Our Empowerment is incomplete if it does not include Empowering others.
Resources
Resources for Allies
Our current world needs you in action, dear sister. In your rising, are you lifting up others along the way? We have a responsibility (ability to respond) to support ALL women as we are seeking our own Divine Feminine Liberation/Healing/Return to Wholeness.
First and foremost - I am not an educator on these topics, nor is this a space where I facilitate this work. I am simply offering, sister-to-sister, some resources that have been supportive to me and that I hope are supportive to you.
PLEASE learn from the many Black Womxn who are doing this work, listen to the voices of Black Womxn that are speaking, and *invest* in your education from these sources. Give $ in devotion, intention, and as an act of sacred reciprocity.
Resources that I have found supportive:
Critical Race Theory Guide. “A great guide for anyone wishing to dive a little deeper into race studies, and since CRT is constantly under attack by those who wish to remove it from curriculums… it's important that more people educate themselves on this topic”.
Why Nicole Cardoza Says Racism in the Wellness Industry Is Particularly Egregious—And the Time To Change Is Now. (article)
Does your daily spiritual practice include actionable steps to dismantle racism?
Nicole Cardoza: “I started a daily newsletter called the Anti-Racism Daily that offers people tactical tips to be able to combat racism in their own lives.” (sign up for daily emails here)*Get comfortable with being uncomfortable. 11 minute Ted Talk by Luvvie Ajayi. (LINK)
The work of Rachel Cargle - public academic, writer, and lecturer. Her activist and academic work are rooted in providing intellectual discourse, tools, and resources that explore the intersection of race and womanhood. Literary centre designed to amplify and celebrate marginalized voices (LINK). The Great Unlearn - Monthly self paced, self priced learning collective, committed to celebrating and highlighting the genius of academics of colour (LINK). Public Address On Revolution: Revolution Now (LINK).
12 step Model of Recovery from White Conditioning. (helpful presentation)
Comprehensive Resource Lists/Documents
Anti-Racism and Feminist Leadership. LINK
Scaffolded anti-racism resources. LINK
Anti-Racism Resources. LINK
Justice in June. LINK
For our white friends desiring to be allies. LINK
97 Things White People Can Do for Racial Justice. LINK
vital Books by Black Authors
How to be an Antiracist - Ibram X. Kendi
My Grandmother's Hands: Racialized Trauma and the Pathway to Mending Our Hearts and Bodies - Resmaa Menakem
Antagonists, Advocates & Allies: The Wake Up Call Guide for White Women Who Want to Become Allies with Black Women - Catrice M. Jackson
The Spiritual Magic of A Queer POC: Inspirations and Practices To Empower The Queer and People of Color Communities To Live In Their Spiritual Truth - Imani Ustawi
Emergent Strategy: Shaping Change, Changing Worlds - Adrienne Marie Brown
Tears We Cannot Stop: A Sermon to White America - Michael Eric Dyson
Follow and support (by investing $$$ in) Black Coaches/Healers/Teachers
Esther Bailey Bass - “I will support you in the process of uncovering the mysteries of yourself. I will help you shift from a passive mindset to one of leader. The world needs us to have the audacity to be self-governed and to be the author of our lives.” LINK
Tracy Neely - Intuitive Healer, Priestess, Mentor, Life Coach. “This is your time to unlearn so that you remember your gifts and your light.” LINK
Rev Mia Zachary - Intuitive Healer and Spiritual Teacher. LINK
Imani Ustawi - The Mystical Minister. “I teach people how to be who they are wherever they are!” LINK
And the works of: Ber-Henda Williams, Cassandra Herbert, Casandra McDonald, Charmaine Tesaga, Jolinda Johnson, Cassandra D. Finch, Charmaine Gibbs West, Carla Necole, Paula Michelle, Valerie Priester, Samantha Pointer Foxx, Elmira Loftin, Cha Jones, Melanie Foote-Davis, Harriette Gibbs, Renee Watson.
20 Black Yoga Teachers with Online Classes in 2020. LINK
Cultural Mis-Appropriation Resources
Global Decolonization Initiative - on facebook {WOC created}
Incredibly informative facebook group. My personal favorite learning space that is FILLED with endless ongoing resources, stories, and voices of color.Global Decolonization Initiative Podcast episode - Dismantling Western Shamanism Featuring Author Pegi Eyers
Cultural & spiritual appropriation - article {many links at the bottom to great indigenous voices}
How to be an Ally - article by an Indigenous Woman
More info on sage from Indigenous voices
Indigenous Ally Toolkit - LINK
Ways to Recognize if You Are a Spiritual Colonialists or Have Been One by Omileye Achikeobi-Lewis
Deprogramming Spirituality - From Shaman to Witch (article)
6 Reasons you should stop using the word Shaman - (article)
Mental Health Resources for Black communities and POC shared with me through the form at the bottom of this page:
A guide created by a Black Woman and clinically reviewed by two Black Women physicians with 61 resources for BIPOC Mental Health & Addiction Support (LINK).
An incredibly rich guide with both facts and an abundance of resources - that was created to discuss the impact of Racism and Discrimination on the Mental Health of our Black Communities. One of their goals is to help people find the assistance they need when they need it, and help to reduce the shame and stigma sometimes associated with mental illness and mental health treatment (LINK).
Live Another Day - A great collection of resources for QTBIPOC people.
Detox Local - A great resource with extensive information for QTAAPI folx.
Prevail Recovery Center - Great mental health and substance use resources for Black LGBTQ+ people.
Centric Behavioral Health - Newly updated for 2023, this guide features dozens of Resources for Asian Americans.