Have you ever had an experience with a nurse, therapist, or reader where you felt completely seen and heard? You left the appointment pleased because you were received with respect, your experiences were validated, and you thought, I trust them with my care. I want this for all of us. My attraction to healing work comes from less than desirable experiences in the medical system and wanting to connect with the practices of my ancestors. I'm here for learning about how people navigate, adapt, and incorporate the systems, including modern western medicine, that work for them into their lives. Healing isn't only related to what's labeled these days as wellness, it's linked to a lineage of survival and sustainability. For a window into Black American healing ways, I highly recommend Michele E. Lee's book Working the Roots: Over 400 Years of Traditional African American Healing. Lee traces her family line and records invaluable conversations with southern Black Elders. Listen to an interview with Lee on the Herbal Highway podcast. The LA Times recently highlighted Jam Haw Herbals, which, in a solid show of how interconnected justice and healing work are, put together plant medicine care packages for Black folks during last summer's Uprisings. This mid-winter energy is a lot. Schedule a Reiki tuneup for yourself. Love and solidarity,
AmariYah
