Hello my Dear Siblings:
We were once called People of Color. New terms (aka Resmaa Menakem) are Black Bodies and Bodies of Culture. In the Colonized world, our Bodies are seen as unimportant, as not mattering, as “things” to be harmed and eradicated. Yet, when we center our bodies, we get to learn to love the whole of who we are–physically. We have amazing hair, unique physical features, colors of skin in all the colors of our living planet Earth who birthed all of humanity and all the living beings. Our bodies are worth celebrating–worthy and deserving of being Centered. Our beautiful, multi-faceted bodies are the containers of our bright and beautiful spirits, our vast array of emotions, our amazing minds and intelligence– the whole package that makes up who we are, and we deserve love and care.
We are culture–our speech, our mores, our spiritualities, our ingenuity, our innovation, our joy and laughter, and our ways of being in connection with each other. Again, colonization attempted to remove or eradicate these important parts of our beings. We own all of ourselves, our bodies and our various cultures–they belong to us, inherently, and always have.
Our world continues to be tumultuous. Whatever the global or societal situation, we are in the forefront of it, meaning more likely to be harmed by it–climate change, pandemic, wars, forced displacement, poor healthcare, poverty, lack of clean water, lack of clean air, etc. etc. Our Bodies, Minds and Spirits are more sensitive to inflammation that is the direct physical outcome of living with the day-to-day onslaught of White Body Supremacy, Racism, Colonialism, Brutality, and Systemic Injustices.
Our bodies, minds, emotions and spirits, have been buffeted by ongoing trauma from the above-named systems, meant, by design, to literally, eventually destroy us. Yet, we are still here, we are not dead. Why? Because all of us have had to learn how to live with these onslaughts in order to simply survive. We are in a place of needing to re-remember who we are, and how we can reconnect with ourselves, our ancestors, our communities, Nature, and each other. We deserve not just to survive, but to THRIVE!
Since 2003, I have worked with many members of the LGBTIQ+ community. As a lifelong Social Activist, it has been my continued desire to be of service to all communities that have experienced oppression of any sort. I feel well versed, from my own cultural experiences and work as a teacher and consultant, to address what needs you might have. I have written and am willing to write letters for HRT and SRS as part of your transition process–pro bono, please contact me if this is what you are needing.
It has also been my great joy to, over the years of my work to be able to witness members of other communities who are dealing with oppression, marginalization, and/or discrimination in the larger culture, most especially because there may be some quality about themselves that they cannot change. I have spinal injuries, as well as other physical issues that beset an aging body, including inflammation borne of dealing with the chronic stress and the lifelong complex trauma that comes from living while in a Black Body in America. I do not claim to know what you are dealing with personally–and I have a great deal of empathy, compassion and understanding that allow me to be with all that you bring.
Over the years, I have been honored to work with people who have dealt with the following: depression, anxiety, intimate partner violence, childhood trauma, complex trauma, abandonment, gender identity, LGBTIQ+, narcissistic abuse, aging, post-abortion depression, poly-amorous relationships, racialized trauma, spiritual emergence/cies and many other life challenges that we all experience as inhabitants of life during these times. I’m here to be your guide.
To begin the work of coming back to ourselves and working to repair the relationships that have been damaged through the systems of domination, I offer a lifetime of various skills, acquired over my 68 years from various teachers to you, Mi Gente (my People), to bring aid and love to your/our hurting.
I offer a sliding fee scale so that you may access the healing your body/mind/spirit/emotions need at this time. I apologize ahead of time, as I do not take insurance, I find it damaging to my spirit to interact with that colonized system, as well as the insistence of labeling you with a diagnosis that could further damage you throughout your life. If need be, I am happy to create invoices for you to present to your insurance company for reimbursement. I am also a part of social justice organizations that are working to make sure that therapy is more accessible to those who most need it, you will see their banners below.
Send me a text directly if I can be of service. My calendar link is below if you’d like to set up a free 1/2 hour initial consultation with me to see if we might work well together. As you explore my services, please know that I will always offer a sliding fee scale to marginalized communities. Many blessings to you, and much love through this time, I’m here with you. Soltahr: 720-436-9992 or email me at soltahr.tivamanda65@gmail.com
