The Catalyst

Whoever takes the time, energy, and fortitude to read this…these words are meant for you. 

My plane was delayed leaving São Paulo Brazil, so I missed my connection in Chicago.  “Missed connection”…hmmm I have 7 hours to ponder this.  I could be frustrated, upset…or I can see opportunity.  Alignment.  Divine timing.  I choose the later.  For every moment, every movement, every breath, every heartbeat, every “miss” guides us to what is next.

So….right here, right now… I’m starting a blog.  It’s a little about dance, a little about life, a little about social and ecological justice, a lot about transformation.  I know it’s somewhat old fashioned, but so am I.

Since 2020, with the pandemic and increased reliance on technology and social platforms, I have observed an increasing need for genuine, deep connection.  Vulnerability.  Interdependence. Community care.  Remembrance. Reconnection. 

In many ways, Connection has become a commodity.  Monetized and marketed as retreats, workshops, webinars, programs, special interest groups.  And especially with the rise of AI, technology is a double edge sword.  Don’t get me wrong, I see the value in some of these tools…yet many of us are yearning for something deeper.

I have been on a journey to more fully understand my gifts and role in this world.  I see a resounding theme. Essentially, I call people together. 

I’ve always been a writer. For many years, I’ve been called to write and share stories, poems, prose, questions, longings, frustrations, challenges and joys, but I struggle with the platform. 

Social media is challenging for me. I don’t want or need the likes, the dislikes, the comments, the degenerative arguments that ensue. So Enter…The Blog.  

A Blog!?!?  I have no idea what I’m doing. I’ll lean into my resources. I’ll stumble, I’ll pick myself up, I’ll ask for help, I learn, I’ll grow.  I always say everything in life is an experiment…so here we go. 

This is for me first. An expression of my journey, my transformation. And I invite you in to be an observer. If it serves you. If it provides you with some kind of validation, inspiration, infuriation, or motivation, then I’ve done my job. For I’m transition my journey by putting it on paper.. or a screen…to be witnessed, scrutinized, immortalized, my electronic journal come to life.
  
During my 44th year of life, year of the snake, time of transformation and rebirth, I reveal my most intimate parts to you.  

So I invite you in, receive what serves you, let go of what doesn’t.  This is my offering. 

Let’s go.

The Acknowledgment

“We are like the roots of a tree coming together to form one trunk.”

-Kenewma Yawanawa

I’ve had many mentors who have impacted me tremendously throughout my lifetime.

I want to honor them by acknowledging their wisdom as I weave it through these writings. 

I want to acknowledge and honor my ancestors, past, present, and future who live within me and beyond me.

I want to acknowledge the ancestors of all the lands that I have ever had the opportunity to walk on, and dance on.  For I have experienced deep medicine throughout my travels and hold deep gratitude for the means, the ease, and the autonomy with which I am able to cross borders.  I recognize the immense privilege I hold, and within this my immense responsibility to honor all lands and their people, and uplift and protect what is sacred.

We all come from earth, and deep relationship and deep reciprocity with her.  All of our ancestors dug in the soil, were nourished by the abundance of this fertile mother, and nourished her in return.  This relationship has been interrupted, but lives ancient within our body memory.  The body of the earth and our body memory holds stories to restore balance and oneness. We have the capacity to heal together.  We belong to the earth. We belong to eachother.