1 00:00:00,080 --> 00:00:12,239 Speaker 1: M from grandmothers who whispered in their baby girl in 2 00:00:13,400 --> 00:00:16,920 Speaker 1: two fathers on dimly lit street corners, instructing young soldiers 3 00:00:16,920 --> 00:00:20,959 Speaker 1: to always keep their eyes open. You be queen, you 4 00:00:21,040 --> 00:00:24,279 Speaker 1: were fired. You will pass through centuries on the hands 5 00:00:24,320 --> 00:00:28,720 Speaker 1: of your daughters. They called you wisdom. Proverbs on the 6 00:00:28,800 --> 00:00:32,320 Speaker 1: backs of diamond eyed school children who growing into hymnals 7 00:00:32,360 --> 00:00:37,200 Speaker 1: recited by amethyst holding urban philosophers who recited neighborhood commandments 8 00:00:37,240 --> 00:00:40,680 Speaker 1: out of the windows of restored ALCHEMYO cheriots to keep 9 00:00:40,720 --> 00:00:46,080 Speaker 1: the warmth of their blood, be wise, be smart, being black, 10 00:00:46,120 --> 00:00:50,720 Speaker 1: Opal Brown courts bloodstone and prayer. Be every form of 11 00:00:50,880 --> 00:00:57,080 Speaker 1: jim se King told, scribe, scribe, told son, son, told wife, 12 00:00:57,480 --> 00:01:00,360 Speaker 1: wife told her daughter, and daughter told the ant. This is. 13 00:01:00,640 --> 00:01:04,120 Speaker 1: And the ancestors told me that you would come to 14 00:01:04,200 --> 00:01:08,639 Speaker 1: give wisdom of thousands. They said you would come. Dropping 15 00:01:09,240 --> 00:01:15,240 Speaker 1: Roping GM Hey, Stevie Brown, Welcome to the Dropping Gems podcast. 16 00:01:16,040 --> 00:01:19,880 Speaker 1: Today we are having a show that is really rooted 17 00:01:20,080 --> 00:01:26,360 Speaker 1: in exploring inspired action, but especially inspired action in creating 18 00:01:26,440 --> 00:01:31,440 Speaker 1: equitable spaces and wellness and connecting to different pathways to healing. 19 00:01:31,920 --> 00:01:34,120 Speaker 1: But before we get started, and before I introduced my 20 00:01:34,240 --> 00:01:38,119 Speaker 1: guest I'm going to shuffle my Kramel Bliss affirmation deck 21 00:01:38,800 --> 00:01:41,720 Speaker 1: and we'll get centered in a thought for the episode 22 00:01:41,840 --> 00:01:46,680 Speaker 1: based on what card wants to just serendipitously pop out. 23 00:01:47,000 --> 00:01:56,400 Speaker 1: So let me do a quick shuffle, all right. So, 24 00:01:56,600 --> 00:02:00,280 Speaker 1: our thought for the show or affirmation that we're working 25 00:02:00,320 --> 00:02:05,200 Speaker 1: with for this episode is, I embrace the entirety of 26 00:02:05,240 --> 00:02:09,000 Speaker 1: who I am so that I may evolve into my 27 00:02:09,120 --> 00:02:16,960 Speaker 1: highest self. I embrace the entirety of who I am 28 00:02:17,080 --> 00:02:22,680 Speaker 1: so that I may evolve into my highest self. Mm hmm. 29 00:02:23,280 --> 00:02:25,880 Speaker 1: Let's see how that card plays into this episode as 30 00:02:25,919 --> 00:02:29,960 Speaker 1: we continue on the journey. Alright, today's episode, I have 31 00:02:30,000 --> 00:02:35,880 Speaker 1: a very very special guest, Daniel Santo. Daniel Santo is 32 00:02:35,880 --> 00:02:40,080 Speaker 1: a yoga and meditation facilitator, a writer, and a wellness 33 00:02:40,160 --> 00:02:43,920 Speaker 1: and gender equity educator. They are one of the seven 34 00:02:43,960 --> 00:02:47,520 Speaker 1: co founders of the Trans Yoga Project, a group of 35 00:02:47,560 --> 00:02:52,320 Speaker 1: wellness educators committed to creating equitable and affirming spaces for 36 00:02:52,400 --> 00:02:56,440 Speaker 1: trans and queer communities. Daniel moves through this world as 37 00:02:56,440 --> 00:03:00,440 Speaker 1: a transgender, non binary advocate who dedicates their voice to 38 00:03:00,480 --> 00:03:04,600 Speaker 1: creating affirming and welcoming spaces for all humans to connect 39 00:03:04,639 --> 00:03:08,720 Speaker 1: with their hearts deeply and fully. Their work is guided 40 00:03:08,800 --> 00:03:13,160 Speaker 1: by hard forward connection, sharing these practices and this education 41 00:03:13,280 --> 00:03:17,280 Speaker 1: to cultivate space where any and all students are able 42 00:03:17,320 --> 00:03:26,760 Speaker 1: to access these healing practices rooted in liberation. So welcome 43 00:03:26,800 --> 00:03:30,920 Speaker 1: to the show, my friend Daniel Sneedo. Thank you so 44 00:03:31,040 --> 00:03:33,440 Speaker 1: much for having me, Debbie, it is an absolute joy 45 00:03:33,480 --> 00:03:37,040 Speaker 1: to be here with I. Okay, everyone, So I have 46 00:03:37,160 --> 00:03:43,160 Speaker 1: been trying to land Daniel four months and I love you. Know. 47 00:03:43,280 --> 00:03:46,120 Speaker 1: I've had the chance, I feel like, Daniel, to get you, 48 00:03:46,480 --> 00:03:48,480 Speaker 1: to get to know you in so many ways, which 49 00:03:48,520 --> 00:03:51,880 Speaker 1: is so cool considering we live in other states from 50 00:03:51,880 --> 00:03:54,520 Speaker 1: each other, So I feel like we've had the chance 51 00:03:54,600 --> 00:03:57,200 Speaker 1: to be in conversation and so many different kind of 52 00:03:57,200 --> 00:04:00,120 Speaker 1: ways around the work and around you know, the journey 53 00:04:00,160 --> 00:04:03,880 Speaker 1: and um just a little framework. Daniel is a colleague 54 00:04:03,920 --> 00:04:06,960 Speaker 1: of mine at Choper Global and Dan Lennel and I 55 00:04:07,080 --> 00:04:10,760 Speaker 1: first met when at Chopra we were launching the Alicia 56 00:04:10,840 --> 00:04:16,360 Speaker 1: Keys Divine Feminine UH twenty one day meditation series with Deepak, 57 00:04:16,440 --> 00:04:19,400 Speaker 1: which was such a beautiful program. And you know the 58 00:04:19,440 --> 00:04:21,880 Speaker 1: way that we initially found each other was talking about 59 00:04:22,000 --> 00:04:26,159 Speaker 1: how to make this program that we were calling the divine, feminine, 60 00:04:26,560 --> 00:04:31,000 Speaker 1: how to make it UM useful for everyone, and how 61 00:04:31,040 --> 00:04:35,200 Speaker 1: to really understand new ways, especially as a wellness UM 62 00:04:35,200 --> 00:04:40,440 Speaker 1: community and business, new ways that we can reimagine these 63 00:04:40,560 --> 00:04:44,320 Speaker 1: ideas of these extreme polarities to really be in service 64 00:04:44,360 --> 00:04:47,600 Speaker 1: to everyone. And speaking for myself, that was just such 65 00:04:47,640 --> 00:04:52,200 Speaker 1: an amazing experience and something that felt so empowered. Is 66 00:04:52,400 --> 00:04:53,680 Speaker 1: you know, a lot of the work that you and 67 00:04:53,720 --> 00:04:58,440 Speaker 1: I do, Daniel, is I feel like we're charged even 68 00:04:58,480 --> 00:05:00,719 Speaker 1: I don't know if I've even that this out loud, 69 00:05:00,760 --> 00:05:03,080 Speaker 1: but I feel like, you know, some of us are 70 00:05:03,080 --> 00:05:07,240 Speaker 1: really charged with pushing healing forward in a way that 71 00:05:07,320 --> 00:05:11,640 Speaker 1: it's never been fully received. Like now that there is 72 00:05:11,680 --> 00:05:14,800 Speaker 1: a real lens on mental health and a real lens 73 00:05:14,880 --> 00:05:20,159 Speaker 1: on healing UM, we're also noticing areas that it's been 74 00:05:20,160 --> 00:05:23,920 Speaker 1: stuck and stagnant and actually not really inclusive and not 75 00:05:24,080 --> 00:05:27,880 Speaker 1: truly healing for everyone. And so I think some of 76 00:05:27,960 --> 00:05:30,240 Speaker 1: us have really taken up the charge on that of 77 00:05:30,360 --> 00:05:33,760 Speaker 1: examining these systems, even the ones we found ourselves in 78 00:05:33,920 --> 00:05:37,440 Speaker 1: that were beneficial to us, examining them with a new 79 00:05:37,560 --> 00:05:40,640 Speaker 1: lens and seeing how can we approve upon this um. 80 00:05:40,720 --> 00:05:42,680 Speaker 1: And then we spent so much time hanging out on 81 00:05:43,040 --> 00:05:45,840 Speaker 1: in those clubhouse streets with Chopra for the last few 82 00:05:45,839 --> 00:05:49,159 Speaker 1: months and at our events. So I'm just so thrilled 83 00:05:49,160 --> 00:05:51,920 Speaker 1: to have you on the show. Yeah, it's been it's 84 00:05:51,920 --> 00:05:54,240 Speaker 1: been a long time coming, well long issue, but I'm 85 00:05:54,279 --> 00:05:57,200 Speaker 1: like super excited to be here. It's always a joy 86 00:05:57,240 --> 00:05:58,839 Speaker 1: to be in space with you. And I think that 87 00:05:59,320 --> 00:06:02,520 Speaker 1: we have so many connections, like in our personal work, 88 00:06:02,880 --> 00:06:05,320 Speaker 1: that when we are together there is this energy and 89 00:06:05,360 --> 00:06:09,120 Speaker 1: this charge for me that is inspiring and exciting, and 90 00:06:09,240 --> 00:06:11,240 Speaker 1: it's just a joy to be in space with you. 91 00:06:11,600 --> 00:06:15,480 Speaker 1: And I really appreciate the way that we're coming into 92 00:06:15,480 --> 00:06:20,679 Speaker 1: this conversation and entering this space thinking about how we're 93 00:06:20,800 --> 00:06:25,520 Speaker 1: moving wellness spaces. I suppose forward, um, because like you said, 94 00:06:25,560 --> 00:06:30,160 Speaker 1: we've we've connected a lot on honoring these ancient practices, 95 00:06:30,200 --> 00:06:34,440 Speaker 1: honoring these ancient tools that have magically and miraculously made 96 00:06:34,480 --> 00:06:37,279 Speaker 1: their way to us and allow us to kind of 97 00:06:37,320 --> 00:06:40,279 Speaker 1: explore and understand ourselves in the world in all of 98 00:06:40,320 --> 00:06:45,000 Speaker 1: the ways that we can. And for so long, especially 99 00:06:45,000 --> 00:06:48,280 Speaker 1: here in the West, these practices have been so inaccessible 100 00:06:48,560 --> 00:06:53,400 Speaker 1: for a variety of reasons. And I think something that Um, 101 00:06:53,520 --> 00:06:55,359 Speaker 1: I've heard you speak to before, and something that I 102 00:06:55,400 --> 00:07:00,520 Speaker 1: speak too often is that healing work and healing practices, 103 00:07:01,320 --> 00:07:05,799 Speaker 1: it's something that all of us, every single human person, 104 00:07:06,200 --> 00:07:10,440 Speaker 1: is deserving of, and nobody should feel like they are 105 00:07:10,480 --> 00:07:13,760 Speaker 1: not worthy of or don't have access to these practices. 106 00:07:13,800 --> 00:07:16,200 Speaker 1: And so I really appreciate that framework as we enter 107 00:07:16,280 --> 00:07:19,360 Speaker 1: this space because it's something that that informs all of 108 00:07:19,400 --> 00:07:23,920 Speaker 1: the work that I do. There's I mean, can we 109 00:07:23,920 --> 00:07:26,480 Speaker 1: stay for three hours? Because I have like two different 110 00:07:26,480 --> 00:07:29,720 Speaker 1: outlines of directions that I want to take this in. 111 00:07:29,880 --> 00:07:35,240 Speaker 1: But you know, I'd love to start because I'm so curious, Um, 112 00:07:35,280 --> 00:07:38,960 Speaker 1: I'd love to know more about your practice and your 113 00:07:39,040 --> 00:07:42,320 Speaker 1: story and your journey. You know, you are your teacher 114 00:07:42,400 --> 00:07:45,320 Speaker 1: in many different ways, and you're very studied and you're 115 00:07:45,480 --> 00:07:48,240 Speaker 1: very embodied, and you know, whenever I get to be 116 00:07:48,280 --> 00:07:53,160 Speaker 1: in conversation, especially with a fellow teacher and practitioner, I 117 00:07:53,280 --> 00:07:56,320 Speaker 1: love to speak to the mastery, you know, because I 118 00:07:56,360 --> 00:08:00,720 Speaker 1: think there are different levels um that obviously different levels 119 00:08:00,720 --> 00:08:03,440 Speaker 1: that we're all at on Earth in this moment, but 120 00:08:07,480 --> 00:08:10,840 Speaker 1: there's a lot of wellness conversations that are happening, and 121 00:08:11,200 --> 00:08:13,560 Speaker 1: I think it's important that we know that there's deeper 122 00:08:13,560 --> 00:08:15,680 Speaker 1: to go and that there's higher to go, you know, 123 00:08:15,840 --> 00:08:20,240 Speaker 1: and there are like some introductory conversations. There's different junctures 124 00:08:20,240 --> 00:08:22,560 Speaker 1: on the journey where sometimes you know, we're taking a 125 00:08:22,600 --> 00:08:26,400 Speaker 1: step and we're applying and embodying for a year or more, 126 00:08:26,400 --> 00:08:28,160 Speaker 1: you know. And so when when I get to be 127 00:08:28,240 --> 00:08:32,960 Speaker 1: in conversations with people that have really accessed their mastery, 128 00:08:33,040 --> 00:08:36,440 Speaker 1: there's a whole new dimension of understanding of what the 129 00:08:36,520 --> 00:08:39,480 Speaker 1: journey has been. So I'd love to know a little 130 00:08:39,520 --> 00:08:42,160 Speaker 1: bit about yours. How did you first come into this 131 00:08:42,240 --> 00:08:45,120 Speaker 1: work of self and you know, what were some of 132 00:08:45,320 --> 00:08:48,840 Speaker 1: what were some of the initial steps and breakthroughs on 133 00:08:48,920 --> 00:08:52,840 Speaker 1: the path of becoming yourself. This is such an amazing question, 134 00:08:53,080 --> 00:08:56,120 Speaker 1: and it's what we'll need to stay for three hours. 135 00:08:56,160 --> 00:09:01,000 Speaker 1: There's so much um so I've really liked. I'm just 136 00:09:01,000 --> 00:09:03,280 Speaker 1: going to start this off here. I really like to 137 00:09:04,200 --> 00:09:08,160 Speaker 1: look at everything through the lens of layers UM the coaches. 138 00:09:08,480 --> 00:09:11,079 Speaker 1: If if anyone listening is not familiar with the coaches, 139 00:09:11,120 --> 00:09:14,319 Speaker 1: they're seen as the five layers of our being UM 140 00:09:14,360 --> 00:09:18,440 Speaker 1: in Vedic philosophy. And I like to look at everything 141 00:09:18,480 --> 00:09:21,440 Speaker 1: through that lens because it helps me understand my personal journey. 142 00:09:21,480 --> 00:09:24,360 Speaker 1: It helps me understand my interpersonal relationships. It helps me 143 00:09:24,440 --> 00:09:27,440 Speaker 1: understand the world, because I think everything in the world 144 00:09:27,480 --> 00:09:30,520 Speaker 1: is layered and can be understood with more depth in layers. 145 00:09:31,080 --> 00:09:36,840 Speaker 1: So I started my my personal journey into my own 146 00:09:36,880 --> 00:09:40,760 Speaker 1: healing through yoga asana. It was something that I took 147 00:09:40,760 --> 00:09:42,440 Speaker 1: a college course in because I thought it was going 148 00:09:42,480 --> 00:09:44,280 Speaker 1: to be an easy a and I was like, I 149 00:09:44,320 --> 00:09:46,880 Speaker 1: don't want to do anything other than stretch, So here 150 00:09:46,920 --> 00:09:50,880 Speaker 1: we go. And like many of us in the West, 151 00:09:50,920 --> 00:09:54,160 Speaker 1: I think it's yoga is marketed as a physical practice. 152 00:09:54,880 --> 00:09:56,640 Speaker 1: So I was like, okay, fine, I'll do this thing. 153 00:09:56,920 --> 00:09:59,439 Speaker 1: But I was really fortunate that the person who was 154 00:09:59,520 --> 00:10:02,720 Speaker 1: teaching at the community college I was going to was 155 00:10:04,080 --> 00:10:10,600 Speaker 1: just such a deeply informed, educated and spiritual person. And 156 00:10:11,440 --> 00:10:14,280 Speaker 1: the first day I remember talking about yoga philosophy and 157 00:10:14,280 --> 00:10:16,040 Speaker 1: I was like, Okay, this is a little bit different 158 00:10:16,040 --> 00:10:20,360 Speaker 1: than what I had anticipated. And that became my teacher 159 00:10:20,360 --> 00:10:23,839 Speaker 1: and my mentor for the next probably five years. Um 160 00:10:23,880 --> 00:10:28,480 Speaker 1: I started going to her studio every single day almost 161 00:10:28,520 --> 00:10:31,120 Speaker 1: I think I was pretty much like a fixture in 162 00:10:31,160 --> 00:10:34,240 Speaker 1: the studio because I started to realize that this wasn't 163 00:10:34,280 --> 00:10:36,400 Speaker 1: something that was just the physical space. This was something 164 00:10:36,400 --> 00:10:38,640 Speaker 1: that was going much deeper. And at this point in 165 00:10:38,679 --> 00:10:42,760 Speaker 1: my life, I was UM operating from a space of 166 00:10:43,040 --> 00:10:45,480 Speaker 1: a lack of understanding and lack of connection to myself. 167 00:10:45,559 --> 00:10:48,640 Speaker 1: I didn't honor my gender identity, I didn't honor my 168 00:10:48,720 --> 00:10:52,280 Speaker 1: sexual orientation or how I defined how I relate to 169 00:10:52,320 --> 00:10:56,680 Speaker 1: other people. I just was unaware. UM. And this practice 170 00:10:56,760 --> 00:10:58,880 Speaker 1: really started to kind of chip away at all the 171 00:10:58,920 --> 00:11:02,880 Speaker 1: walls I had built up to create this facade that 172 00:11:02,960 --> 00:11:06,880 Speaker 1: I thought the world wanted me to be UM. And 173 00:11:07,440 --> 00:11:12,559 Speaker 1: so when I started diving into those deeper layers, it 174 00:11:13,320 --> 00:11:16,280 Speaker 1: started as that outer layer, right, the first quosha is 175 00:11:16,360 --> 00:11:20,120 Speaker 1: the external or physical space, and so my practice really 176 00:11:20,160 --> 00:11:23,040 Speaker 1: started there. And then once I started to peel away 177 00:11:23,120 --> 00:11:27,240 Speaker 1: layers that were kind of cloaking my truth. UM, that's 178 00:11:27,280 --> 00:11:30,440 Speaker 1: when I started to really study and dive deeper into 179 00:11:30,800 --> 00:11:37,480 Speaker 1: philosophy and into spiritual understanding and meditation and mantra practices UM. 180 00:11:37,559 --> 00:11:40,640 Speaker 1: And those are the things that, over the next five 181 00:11:40,760 --> 00:11:46,480 Speaker 1: or so years kind of helped me to stand in 182 00:11:46,520 --> 00:11:52,360 Speaker 1: my truth. UM. So I would say that probably it 183 00:11:52,440 --> 00:11:57,240 Speaker 1: was probably invent or sixteen or so. UM. I was 184 00:11:57,280 --> 00:12:03,240 Speaker 1: living in San Diego, and I I was rooted in 185 00:12:03,280 --> 00:12:06,440 Speaker 1: a queer community. I was surrounded by people who felt 186 00:12:06,480 --> 00:12:08,360 Speaker 1: like family, who felt like home to me, who felt 187 00:12:08,360 --> 00:12:11,680 Speaker 1: like I could be the fullest expression of myself, and 188 00:12:11,880 --> 00:12:14,280 Speaker 1: there was still something missing. There was still something that 189 00:12:14,480 --> 00:12:17,680 Speaker 1: I always felt like I was. I was something was off. 190 00:12:17,800 --> 00:12:20,000 Speaker 1: I was still was putting on this show, so to speak. 191 00:12:20,040 --> 00:12:23,400 Speaker 1: And so as I continued these practices, as I continued 192 00:12:24,320 --> 00:12:27,439 Speaker 1: showing up to yoga classes, teaching yoga, showing up for 193 00:12:27,520 --> 00:12:31,440 Speaker 1: my meditation practice, I started to understand that it was 194 00:12:31,559 --> 00:12:36,080 Speaker 1: because I wasn't I wasn't whole. I wasn't letting myself 195 00:12:36,440 --> 00:12:38,680 Speaker 1: go as deep as I needed to. There was a 196 00:12:38,679 --> 00:12:41,520 Speaker 1: certain layer that I was getting stuck at. And once 197 00:12:41,559 --> 00:12:45,040 Speaker 1: I peeled that away, UM, I was like, oh, there's 198 00:12:45,080 --> 00:12:48,079 Speaker 1: this whole world of joy that I didn't even know existed. 199 00:12:48,160 --> 00:12:51,880 Speaker 1: And that's when I started to really intentionally explore my 200 00:12:52,000 --> 00:12:59,000 Speaker 1: gender and through UM, through unlocking that that peace and 201 00:12:59,360 --> 00:13:02,719 Speaker 1: letting my health be seen by myself. This was this 202 00:13:02,760 --> 00:13:06,360 Speaker 1: was an internal exploration. So it was like letting myself 203 00:13:06,400 --> 00:13:11,320 Speaker 1: be seen by myself was something that I hadn't I 204 00:13:11,360 --> 00:13:13,560 Speaker 1: was like, oh, yeah, I'm doing these spiritual practices. I 205 00:13:13,559 --> 00:13:17,000 Speaker 1: feel really good. I feel really connected and so on 206 00:13:17,040 --> 00:13:19,800 Speaker 1: and so forth. But I was never fully seen, and 207 00:13:19,840 --> 00:13:22,719 Speaker 1: so once I did that, I found the voice to 208 00:13:22,760 --> 00:13:26,040 Speaker 1: be able to speak that truth. And UM, and that's 209 00:13:26,120 --> 00:13:29,600 Speaker 1: kind of I really like to say that my my 210 00:13:29,800 --> 00:13:33,200 Speaker 1: yoga practice, my meditation practice, my wellness practices that I 211 00:13:33,280 --> 00:13:37,880 Speaker 1: have engaged in over the past decade or so, UM, 212 00:13:37,920 --> 00:13:40,520 Speaker 1: that's what really saved my life. That's what really let 213 00:13:40,600 --> 00:13:43,760 Speaker 1: me stand in my truth because without those I wouldn't 214 00:13:43,760 --> 00:13:46,120 Speaker 1: have I don't believe I would have had the courage 215 00:13:46,520 --> 00:13:52,240 Speaker 1: to go that deep within. And so through through all 216 00:13:52,240 --> 00:13:55,640 Speaker 1: of that, through all of those years of of misconnection 217 00:13:55,640 --> 00:13:59,400 Speaker 1: and forming connection and going through all these layers of understanding, 218 00:13:59,520 --> 00:14:02,720 Speaker 1: I on everard my truth. And that is what my 219 00:14:02,720 --> 00:14:07,520 Speaker 1: my work today is rooted in because I was even 220 00:14:07,559 --> 00:14:09,520 Speaker 1: in those healing spaces that I was showing up to 221 00:14:09,960 --> 00:14:12,320 Speaker 1: my gender identity, even if I didn't know what it 222 00:14:12,360 --> 00:14:15,080 Speaker 1: was at that time. My gender identity wasn't seen because 223 00:14:15,080 --> 00:14:17,520 Speaker 1: our whole world is rooted in gender binary and I 224 00:14:17,880 --> 00:14:21,800 Speaker 1: exist outside of that. And so even if I wanted 225 00:14:21,840 --> 00:14:25,360 Speaker 1: to explore that, that wasn't a space that I knew 226 00:14:25,360 --> 00:14:27,280 Speaker 1: I could do that in. I couldn't be my full 227 00:14:27,320 --> 00:14:31,080 Speaker 1: self showing up to healing spaces, and I think that's 228 00:14:31,120 --> 00:14:34,080 Speaker 1: why it took me a long time in those spaces 229 00:14:34,120 --> 00:14:39,000 Speaker 1: to understand who I was, because I wasn't honored. And 230 00:14:39,040 --> 00:14:42,040 Speaker 1: so all of that is to say, my journey has had, 231 00:14:42,360 --> 00:14:45,800 Speaker 1: like many of ours will all of ours will UM, 232 00:14:45,840 --> 00:14:48,280 Speaker 1: a lot of ups and downs, ebbs and flows, connections 233 00:14:48,360 --> 00:14:52,320 Speaker 1: and disconnects, and there's a lot that goes on UM. 234 00:14:52,360 --> 00:14:55,560 Speaker 1: But I would say that entering in through that first 235 00:14:55,640 --> 00:14:59,760 Speaker 1: layer and allowing myself to to start to peel those 236 00:14:59,800 --> 00:15:02,520 Speaker 1: back and having the courage to to see myself and 237 00:15:02,560 --> 00:15:05,880 Speaker 1: then to voice that outward, that is where my practice 238 00:15:06,040 --> 00:15:17,400 Speaker 1: UM really expanded. Wow wow wow wow wow wow. I'm like, 239 00:15:17,440 --> 00:15:19,640 Speaker 1: there's five different pathways that I want to go down 240 00:15:19,720 --> 00:15:27,440 Speaker 1: right now. Okay, you know, first, I it's really powerful 241 00:15:27,480 --> 00:15:31,480 Speaker 1: to me that especially yoga was one of the primary 242 00:15:31,520 --> 00:15:35,040 Speaker 1: gateways for you in that deep knowing, and something I've 243 00:15:35,080 --> 00:15:37,720 Speaker 1: shared I shared on this show in an episode I 244 00:15:37,760 --> 00:15:42,320 Speaker 1: did with Jessamine Stanley, Yoga was the piece that I 245 00:15:42,400 --> 00:15:45,640 Speaker 1: was kind of scared of and didn't realize for so long. 246 00:15:46,280 --> 00:15:48,960 Speaker 1: For really some of the exact reasons that you said, 247 00:15:49,200 --> 00:15:51,240 Speaker 1: you know, and I think I think a lot of 248 00:15:51,320 --> 00:15:55,120 Speaker 1: us have aversions to certain things depending on what our 249 00:15:55,120 --> 00:15:59,080 Speaker 1: traumas or where healing lies. And you know the way 250 00:15:59,160 --> 00:16:01,640 Speaker 1: that you framed it that yoga is kind of shared 251 00:16:01,680 --> 00:16:04,000 Speaker 1: as like oh it's this, it's a workout. You know. 252 00:16:04,080 --> 00:16:07,120 Speaker 1: It's like the way that it's position. It's like oh yeah, girl, Okay, 253 00:16:07,160 --> 00:16:09,160 Speaker 1: so I went into my yoga or like that's how 254 00:16:09,200 --> 00:16:14,040 Speaker 1: I'm how I'm working on my body. Um, but yoga 255 00:16:14,320 --> 00:16:19,120 Speaker 1: is I mean, my God as a spiritual tool. You know, 256 00:16:19,200 --> 00:16:24,280 Speaker 1: it's it's it strips you, it embodies you, it gets 257 00:16:24,320 --> 00:16:27,000 Speaker 1: in your cells. But you know, I found that it 258 00:16:27,080 --> 00:16:33,680 Speaker 1: really shows you, um, where all the hidden pieces lie. 259 00:16:34,880 --> 00:16:37,400 Speaker 1: So I'm just I'm so curious, you know, as you 260 00:16:37,400 --> 00:16:39,960 Speaker 1: were kind of building that yoga practice and now as 261 00:16:39,960 --> 00:16:44,240 Speaker 1: a yoga teacher, what were what were some of the things, um, 262 00:16:44,280 --> 00:16:46,600 Speaker 1: what were some of the unlockings that were happening? And 263 00:16:46,640 --> 00:16:49,520 Speaker 1: how did that inform your next leg of the journey? 264 00:16:49,600 --> 00:16:51,360 Speaker 1: You know, how did that kind of also serve as 265 00:16:51,360 --> 00:16:55,440 Speaker 1: the breadcrumb to the next piece that was necessary? Yeah, 266 00:16:55,480 --> 00:17:01,640 Speaker 1: that's there's they're so so much. Yoga is so much, 267 00:17:01,760 --> 00:17:05,800 Speaker 1: yoga asana is so much, and um, I think I 268 00:17:05,840 --> 00:17:08,639 Speaker 1: started to really let it be a bread crumb in 269 00:17:08,680 --> 00:17:12,320 Speaker 1: that way and like lead me forward in a way. 270 00:17:12,880 --> 00:17:17,399 Speaker 1: When I started to recognize that we absorb all of 271 00:17:17,440 --> 00:17:21,040 Speaker 1: our experiences. Every experience we have is stored in the 272 00:17:21,080 --> 00:17:26,160 Speaker 1: body in some capacity. Are like physical of course, experiences 273 00:17:26,160 --> 00:17:29,080 Speaker 1: are stored in our bodies in some way. Emotions are 274 00:17:29,080 --> 00:17:31,679 Speaker 1: stored in our bodies in some way. Thoughts are stored 275 00:17:31,680 --> 00:17:34,240 Speaker 1: in our bodies in some way. And when I started 276 00:17:34,240 --> 00:17:37,800 Speaker 1: to understand that, oh, when I'm feeling stressed, my shoulders 277 00:17:37,840 --> 00:17:40,040 Speaker 1: lift all the way up, and if I hold them 278 00:17:40,080 --> 00:17:43,520 Speaker 1: here for three months, of course I'm going to feel 279 00:17:43,520 --> 00:17:45,600 Speaker 1: like this all the time. And my yoga practice was 280 00:17:45,680 --> 00:17:50,439 Speaker 1: like it was like this tool that let me inquire, Okay, 281 00:17:50,520 --> 00:17:53,560 Speaker 1: you're feeling this emotion, where does that land in your body? 282 00:17:54,119 --> 00:17:57,159 Speaker 1: It kind of showed me, um, it showed me where 283 00:17:57,560 --> 00:18:01,720 Speaker 1: where emotion lived in my body, whether whether the frustration, anger, sadness, 284 00:18:01,880 --> 00:18:06,280 Speaker 1: or love, joy and compassion. There's there's so much. And 285 00:18:07,400 --> 00:18:12,720 Speaker 1: my yoga practice was a way to become more emotionally literate, 286 00:18:12,880 --> 00:18:19,720 Speaker 1: more emotionally understanding. And it was, of course through that 287 00:18:19,720 --> 00:18:22,119 Speaker 1: physical practice and that physical lens that I was like, Okay, 288 00:18:22,160 --> 00:18:24,159 Speaker 1: this is where I'm feeling these things, But how do 289 00:18:24,240 --> 00:18:26,480 Speaker 1: I understand that emotion a little bit deeper? How do 290 00:18:26,520 --> 00:18:29,720 Speaker 1: I understand that experience a little bit deeper? Why does 291 00:18:29,760 --> 00:18:33,720 Speaker 1: that one experience feel so deeply rooted? And that's when 292 00:18:33,920 --> 00:18:37,680 Speaker 1: I was like, Oh, this meditation practice, Oh, this mantra practice, 293 00:18:37,760 --> 00:18:40,159 Speaker 1: Oh this Kirton or whatever it might be, whatever I 294 00:18:40,240 --> 00:18:43,399 Speaker 1: was called to do in those moments, um, that's what 295 00:18:43,480 --> 00:18:47,479 Speaker 1: kind of guided me forward. Because sure, the physical space 296 00:18:47,600 --> 00:18:51,399 Speaker 1: unlocks a lot, We do store a lot in physical space, 297 00:18:51,520 --> 00:18:55,639 Speaker 1: and the physical layer is just one and all of 298 00:18:55,640 --> 00:18:59,120 Speaker 1: the subtle layers, like are composed of so much more. 299 00:18:59,160 --> 00:19:02,600 Speaker 1: There's energy, the breath, there's mind, there's wisdom, there's bliss. 300 00:19:03,040 --> 00:19:07,560 Speaker 1: And so when we remove or not remove, but move 301 00:19:07,640 --> 00:19:11,160 Speaker 1: away from and and towards these energy layers and these 302 00:19:11,200 --> 00:19:15,320 Speaker 1: more subtle layers, that's where the work really started to transform. 303 00:19:15,440 --> 00:19:17,640 Speaker 1: And that's where I was able to kind of connect 304 00:19:17,680 --> 00:19:20,719 Speaker 1: with and see myself because I was so hung up 305 00:19:20,760 --> 00:19:23,439 Speaker 1: on the external I was still so stuck on the 306 00:19:23,480 --> 00:19:28,359 Speaker 1: external space. And and I think that once the shift 307 00:19:28,400 --> 00:19:32,080 Speaker 1: happened where there was oh there's energy, there's breath, there's this, 308 00:19:32,240 --> 00:19:36,360 Speaker 1: that helps me unlock all of these other things. That's when, um, 309 00:19:36,400 --> 00:19:39,320 Speaker 1: that's when my practice transformed into deeper study of philosophy, 310 00:19:39,359 --> 00:19:42,440 Speaker 1: deeper study of breathwork, deeper study of meditation. They gave 311 00:19:42,520 --> 00:19:45,880 Speaker 1: me chills. It really gave me chills hearing you express that, 312 00:19:45,960 --> 00:19:50,080 Speaker 1: because I mean, it was just really divine and I 313 00:19:50,119 --> 00:19:53,240 Speaker 1: think it's so necessary, um for everyone listening, And I 314 00:19:53,280 --> 00:19:56,720 Speaker 1: hope they connected to that, because sometimes when we're noticing 315 00:19:56,800 --> 00:20:01,000 Speaker 1: doing this work, especially if you're a little more towards 316 00:20:01,119 --> 00:20:04,399 Speaker 1: the starting point of your path, where you're finding what 317 00:20:04,720 --> 00:20:06,960 Speaker 1: what are the modality is going to be that are 318 00:20:07,000 --> 00:20:10,000 Speaker 1: for me? What is what is the pieces of the 319 00:20:10,000 --> 00:20:14,640 Speaker 1: practice that are necessary for me? So much of it 320 00:20:14,720 --> 00:20:17,360 Speaker 1: is being willing to be in the discomfort of the 321 00:20:17,400 --> 00:20:21,200 Speaker 1: way that the healing mechanisms are connecting to your body, mind, 322 00:20:21,240 --> 00:20:23,680 Speaker 1: and soul in the beginning, because there is a lot 323 00:20:23,760 --> 00:20:27,080 Speaker 1: of kind of splitting apart almost There is a lot 324 00:20:27,119 --> 00:20:31,639 Speaker 1: of that identifying whoa I feel that exactly right there? 325 00:20:32,119 --> 00:20:34,600 Speaker 1: What the heck? You know? Like even being able to 326 00:20:34,680 --> 00:20:38,400 Speaker 1: find tune how you're feeling things where you're feeling them. 327 00:20:38,440 --> 00:20:41,240 Speaker 1: It's really scary and it's really new, but it's such 328 00:20:41,280 --> 00:20:45,919 Speaker 1: a profound gift, And those are the um, you know, 329 00:20:45,920 --> 00:20:48,359 Speaker 1: I think what you've just described is really how to 330 00:20:49,480 --> 00:20:52,760 Speaker 1: connect to the whispers of our lives, how to build intuition, 331 00:20:52,920 --> 00:20:56,880 Speaker 1: how to find the roadmap for the places we need 332 00:20:56,920 --> 00:21:01,720 Speaker 1: to travel inside of ourselves. There's, um, there's a lot 333 00:21:01,800 --> 00:21:05,600 Speaker 1: of understanding that happens, and a lot of communication that happens. 334 00:21:05,640 --> 00:21:08,760 Speaker 1: So often we're telling ourselves what to do, We're telling 335 00:21:08,760 --> 00:21:11,360 Speaker 1: our emotions what to be, how to express, and all 336 00:21:11,400 --> 00:21:14,919 Speaker 1: of these things. And what these practices really do is 337 00:21:15,280 --> 00:21:19,600 Speaker 1: let your internal self communicate with you. And I think 338 00:21:19,720 --> 00:21:23,879 Speaker 1: that's a really important piece because we can't. There are 339 00:21:23,920 --> 00:21:26,960 Speaker 1: so many different modalities right there. You can understand things 340 00:21:27,080 --> 00:21:30,560 Speaker 1: in physical space, in intellectual space, and spiritual space, and 341 00:21:30,640 --> 00:21:34,560 Speaker 1: within your emotional body. And so at every season of 342 00:21:34,600 --> 00:21:38,160 Speaker 1: your life, you're probably going to require something new, something different. 343 00:21:38,560 --> 00:21:41,720 Speaker 1: And sometimes it's going to be yogas, and sometimes it's 344 00:21:41,720 --> 00:21:44,359 Speaker 1: going to be meditation, sometimes it's journaling. There's going to 345 00:21:44,440 --> 00:21:48,480 Speaker 1: be something different I think for each evolution of you, 346 00:21:49,080 --> 00:21:53,080 Speaker 1: and the commitment to the practice, and the commitment to 347 00:21:53,160 --> 00:21:57,000 Speaker 1: like sitting in discomfort, um and finding spaces that feel 348 00:21:57,960 --> 00:22:00,879 Speaker 1: supportive enough for you to sit into comfort, because like 349 00:22:00,960 --> 00:22:04,080 Speaker 1: we said earlier, sometimes spaces just aren't. And when you 350 00:22:04,160 --> 00:22:07,400 Speaker 1: find your spaces, those are the places that you can 351 00:22:07,440 --> 00:22:11,679 Speaker 1: kind of uncover some of those uh, those wounds in 352 00:22:11,720 --> 00:22:13,919 Speaker 1: a way. And if you have a wound that you 353 00:22:13,960 --> 00:22:17,040 Speaker 1: don't have the language to heal, it's going to keep 354 00:22:17,040 --> 00:22:20,240 Speaker 1: showing up. And and so the commitment to that sitting 355 00:22:20,320 --> 00:22:24,480 Speaker 1: in discomfort gives you the tool to understand and name 356 00:22:24,560 --> 00:22:28,119 Speaker 1: the wound and then from there hopefully try to shift 357 00:22:28,240 --> 00:22:46,000 Speaker 1: or heal in a way that feels serving and uplifting. Rocking, 358 00:22:47,160 --> 00:22:49,919 Speaker 1: let's talk about these spaces that we find ourselves in. 359 00:22:50,080 --> 00:22:53,120 Speaker 1: This is something that we've had a chance to kind 360 00:22:53,119 --> 00:22:55,399 Speaker 1: of be in conversation with and I've shared on this 361 00:22:55,520 --> 00:23:03,280 Speaker 1: show pretty often. How you know, I think, Um, there 362 00:23:03,359 --> 00:23:07,399 Speaker 1: there's such a new moment evolving in in the work 363 00:23:07,400 --> 00:23:10,160 Speaker 1: of healing and in the work of wellness. But even 364 00:23:10,200 --> 00:23:13,600 Speaker 1: if you found yourself on this path just five years 365 00:23:13,600 --> 00:23:17,679 Speaker 1: ago or ten years ago, the landscape was so completely different. 366 00:23:17,720 --> 00:23:20,000 Speaker 1: And I think a lot of us were finding ourselves 367 00:23:20,080 --> 00:23:24,760 Speaker 1: in rooms that we're one primarily white, were too primarily 368 00:23:25,200 --> 00:23:32,000 Speaker 1: um you know, a very structured kind of experience within 369 00:23:32,080 --> 00:23:35,200 Speaker 1: that community. Um. And also usually a lot of those 370 00:23:35,200 --> 00:23:39,920 Speaker 1: spaces were maybe much older, you know. I know, Um, 371 00:23:39,960 --> 00:23:42,480 Speaker 1: almost all of the programs that I've done, or all 372 00:23:42,520 --> 00:23:45,160 Speaker 1: of the centers that I've gone to to heal, I'd 373 00:23:45,200 --> 00:23:47,840 Speaker 1: be the only you know, low brown girl in the 374 00:23:47,920 --> 00:23:51,080 Speaker 1: room and the only person in my age by decades, 375 00:23:51,680 --> 00:23:55,840 Speaker 1: you know, UM. And there was so much beauty in 376 00:23:55,880 --> 00:23:58,439 Speaker 1: that for me because I was also able to understand 377 00:23:58,680 --> 00:24:01,760 Speaker 1: so many different perspect gives and create, you know, different 378 00:24:01,840 --> 00:24:05,400 Speaker 1: kinds of community. But there are ways that that also 379 00:24:05,480 --> 00:24:09,199 Speaker 1: really shuts you down. And I've seen a lot of 380 00:24:09,320 --> 00:24:13,720 Speaker 1: times where it even completely changes someone's journey or they 381 00:24:13,800 --> 00:24:16,919 Speaker 1: stop right because you come into these places and you 382 00:24:16,960 --> 00:24:18,920 Speaker 1: try to share yourself or you try to open a 383 00:24:18,960 --> 00:24:23,240 Speaker 1: new ways, and the systems that play or the teachers 384 00:24:23,280 --> 00:24:27,240 Speaker 1: at play don't know anything about your experiences and sometimes 385 00:24:29,200 --> 00:24:34,680 Speaker 1: really minimize spiritual teaching into toxic positivity or spiritual bypass. 386 00:24:34,800 --> 00:24:39,000 Speaker 1: Like there's an immense amount of spiritual narcissism in some 387 00:24:39,160 --> 00:24:43,120 Speaker 1: of these spaces, UM. And so I'm just I'm curious 388 00:24:43,119 --> 00:24:46,840 Speaker 1: on your experience of how you were noticing what was 389 00:24:46,920 --> 00:24:50,120 Speaker 1: for you and what wasn't for you, UM, in any 390 00:24:50,160 --> 00:24:52,320 Speaker 1: of the ways that that was kind of felt by 391 00:24:52,359 --> 00:24:56,840 Speaker 1: you earlier in the journey and the directions that you took. Yeah, 392 00:24:56,880 --> 00:24:59,400 Speaker 1: there's so much and what you just said, my brain 393 00:24:59,520 --> 00:25:04,360 Speaker 1: is just like lighting up so many places. Um, there 394 00:25:04,480 --> 00:25:07,520 Speaker 1: is this spiritual narcissism that I want I just want 395 00:25:07,560 --> 00:25:10,760 Speaker 1: to speak to really quickly, because we live in a 396 00:25:12,480 --> 00:25:16,080 Speaker 1: everything in our in our society. I'll speak specifically to 397 00:25:16,160 --> 00:25:19,440 Speaker 1: here in the West, but broadly speaking, there's a white 398 00:25:19,440 --> 00:25:24,320 Speaker 1: supremacy culture that trickles into everything, and we go into 399 00:25:24,400 --> 00:25:27,600 Speaker 1: spaces and have someone at the front of the room 400 00:25:27,680 --> 00:25:31,440 Speaker 1: as the leader or the guide, but oftentimes what will 401 00:25:31,480 --> 00:25:33,639 Speaker 1: happen is because of the culture that we live in 402 00:25:33,720 --> 00:25:36,400 Speaker 1: and because of the way things in our society are structured, 403 00:25:36,760 --> 00:25:39,960 Speaker 1: that person is seen as greater than And I think 404 00:25:40,000 --> 00:25:44,719 Speaker 1: that when it comes to spiritual practices, what I allow 405 00:25:44,800 --> 00:25:47,000 Speaker 1: my or what I try to see myself as when 406 00:25:47,000 --> 00:25:50,960 Speaker 1: I'm offering anything is a guide for for someone to 407 00:25:51,040 --> 00:25:53,760 Speaker 1: have the experience and the embodied experience that they need 408 00:25:53,800 --> 00:25:55,800 Speaker 1: to have. And so if I can create a container 409 00:25:56,240 --> 00:25:59,560 Speaker 1: of bravery for them to show up fully for themselves, 410 00:25:59,720 --> 00:26:01,800 Speaker 1: that's it. I'm there for. I can't claim to have 411 00:26:01,880 --> 00:26:05,359 Speaker 1: all the answers. I can't claim to know your experience 412 00:26:05,359 --> 00:26:07,400 Speaker 1: and be able to tell you what to do to heal. 413 00:26:07,840 --> 00:26:11,160 Speaker 1: You are the guide for your healing, and I'm here 414 00:26:11,160 --> 00:26:13,240 Speaker 1: to hold a container. And I think when it comes 415 00:26:13,240 --> 00:26:17,320 Speaker 1: to this spiritual narcissism, it's this idea that I, as 416 00:26:17,359 --> 00:26:19,920 Speaker 1: the teacher, have all the answers and you must come 417 00:26:19,920 --> 00:26:23,000 Speaker 1: to me for your healing. And it creates a dependency, 418 00:26:23,200 --> 00:26:25,560 Speaker 1: and that's not what we're after when we're trying to 419 00:26:25,640 --> 00:26:31,040 Speaker 1: heal collectively and individually, we're not after creating dependency. We're 420 00:26:31,119 --> 00:26:34,280 Speaker 1: after creating an uplifting community where we can all support 421 00:26:34,320 --> 00:26:37,040 Speaker 1: one another. And I think that's a really important piece 422 00:26:37,240 --> 00:26:41,000 Speaker 1: when you when you talk about spiritual narcissism, that's something 423 00:26:41,000 --> 00:26:44,160 Speaker 1: that I see really often, and it's really harmful because 424 00:26:44,200 --> 00:26:48,480 Speaker 1: it creates more more harm and it creates more disconnect 425 00:26:48,640 --> 00:26:51,879 Speaker 1: from what I've seen in my experience. UM. So I 426 00:26:51,920 --> 00:26:54,560 Speaker 1: just wanted to put that into this space because it's 427 00:26:54,560 --> 00:26:58,680 Speaker 1: something that I see really frequently. UM And thinking about 428 00:26:58,760 --> 00:27:02,600 Speaker 1: the spaces that we enter and the spaces that that 429 00:27:02,680 --> 00:27:06,240 Speaker 1: are shifting, right, because there is a big shift happening 430 00:27:06,280 --> 00:27:10,000 Speaker 1: and it's really really recent. You spoke to spaces being 431 00:27:10,240 --> 00:27:14,840 Speaker 1: um predominantly white, which is still the case, predominantly thin, 432 00:27:15,040 --> 00:27:20,719 Speaker 1: able bodied, and inaccessible truthfully. And so what the shift 433 00:27:20,840 --> 00:27:26,760 Speaker 1: that is trying to happen is creating spaces that are 434 00:27:26,800 --> 00:27:31,160 Speaker 1: more affirming for more communities, which is desperately and deeply needed. 435 00:27:31,520 --> 00:27:35,280 Speaker 1: And there's still so much route in UM, in that, 436 00:27:35,400 --> 00:27:39,240 Speaker 1: in that spiritual narcissism, in that yes, you can enter 437 00:27:39,280 --> 00:27:42,720 Speaker 1: this space, and I still hold the key. And that's 438 00:27:42,760 --> 00:27:47,560 Speaker 1: the part where I personally would love to see the shift. 439 00:27:47,640 --> 00:27:50,800 Speaker 1: I personally would love to see someone hand over the key, 440 00:27:50,840 --> 00:27:54,760 Speaker 1: hand over them like, let other people take up space, 441 00:27:55,240 --> 00:27:58,919 Speaker 1: because I think that's where the real shifts um. I 442 00:27:59,000 --> 00:28:01,080 Speaker 1: personally think that's where the real shifts are going to 443 00:28:01,160 --> 00:28:05,720 Speaker 1: happen and going to take form. And so I, as 444 00:28:05,720 --> 00:28:11,760 Speaker 1: a trans non binary person, have never walked into a 445 00:28:11,800 --> 00:28:16,240 Speaker 1: space and said this space is for me. I've never 446 00:28:16,240 --> 00:28:19,280 Speaker 1: walked into a space and s and I and that 447 00:28:19,400 --> 00:28:22,560 Speaker 1: it produces emotion in me, And of course it does. 448 00:28:23,200 --> 00:28:28,080 Speaker 1: There's such a deep lack of belonging in these communities 449 00:28:28,080 --> 00:28:32,680 Speaker 1: that that are meant to heal me. And so when 450 00:28:32,720 --> 00:28:36,520 Speaker 1: I say that, I know I'm not the only person 451 00:28:36,880 --> 00:28:40,160 Speaker 1: that's experienced that. I know I'm not the only person 452 00:28:41,120 --> 00:28:45,240 Speaker 1: that has had to walk into a space time after 453 00:28:45,400 --> 00:28:49,360 Speaker 1: time and say I'm here and I'm going to carve 454 00:28:49,400 --> 00:28:53,360 Speaker 1: out space for myself because I deserve it mm hmm. 455 00:28:54,600 --> 00:28:58,520 Speaker 1: And that's unfortunately what many communities have had to do, 456 00:28:58,960 --> 00:29:01,480 Speaker 1: is to carve out this base for themselves because it's 457 00:29:01,480 --> 00:29:05,120 Speaker 1: not already there. And that's the part that hurts the 458 00:29:05,200 --> 00:29:08,880 Speaker 1: most because you're inviting folks in to heal and then 459 00:29:08,920 --> 00:29:12,040 Speaker 1: they have to do work in order to access that healing. 460 00:29:12,760 --> 00:29:21,840 Speaker 1: And that's just it's just not fair mm hmm. Every 461 00:29:21,880 --> 00:29:27,200 Speaker 1: every everything that you just said. And you know, something 462 00:29:27,240 --> 00:29:29,520 Speaker 1: that's coming forward for me right now is like even 463 00:29:29,560 --> 00:29:34,600 Speaker 1: in and somebody needs to hear this, like that's listening, 464 00:29:34,680 --> 00:29:43,480 Speaker 1: Like something in what you're saying that absolutely just for 465 00:29:43,600 --> 00:29:49,360 Speaker 1: lack of a better word, infuriates me. Um. You know, 466 00:29:49,440 --> 00:29:52,400 Speaker 1: to that piece about having to carve out space or 467 00:29:52,480 --> 00:29:55,360 Speaker 1: having to make even in the healing world, all these 468 00:29:55,400 --> 00:29:59,360 Speaker 1: little compartmentalizations so that you can stay in a program 469 00:29:59,520 --> 00:30:01,640 Speaker 1: or stay in a room, or stay at an event 470 00:30:02,320 --> 00:30:06,880 Speaker 1: that you know is not fully supportive in the healing 471 00:30:06,920 --> 00:30:09,280 Speaker 1: way that you're deserving of, but you're still trying to 472 00:30:09,320 --> 00:30:12,120 Speaker 1: get the morsels that you can out of the experience, 473 00:30:12,240 --> 00:30:17,960 Speaker 1: you know, And um, m hmm. You know the thing 474 00:30:18,000 --> 00:30:20,520 Speaker 1: that drives me crazy that I've been finding a lot, 475 00:30:20,640 --> 00:30:23,760 Speaker 1: especially as I'm venturing out to teach in different venues 476 00:30:23,920 --> 00:30:27,960 Speaker 1: or teaching with different communities. And I think I based 477 00:30:27,960 --> 00:30:29,720 Speaker 1: on kind of a lot of the work that I do. 478 00:30:29,840 --> 00:30:35,120 Speaker 1: I teach a full spectrum of people and demographics. UM. 479 00:30:35,160 --> 00:30:37,480 Speaker 1: I come into a lot of those spaces and you're 480 00:30:37,520 --> 00:30:43,840 Speaker 1: there with you know, maybe primarily UM, a certain demographic 481 00:30:43,920 --> 00:30:49,240 Speaker 1: of of teacher and audience. And then these conversations that 482 00:30:49,320 --> 00:30:54,200 Speaker 1: are very damaging but are cloaked in and uplifting start 483 00:30:54,280 --> 00:30:57,960 Speaker 1: to happen. Right, this idea of oneness which feels like 484 00:30:58,000 --> 00:31:01,200 Speaker 1: an abuse to me when teachers speak to this in rooms, 485 00:31:01,200 --> 00:31:04,360 Speaker 1: this idea of like, but we're all one and never 486 00:31:04,560 --> 00:31:06,960 Speaker 1: you know. I had this experience recently where I was 487 00:31:07,000 --> 00:31:10,120 Speaker 1: teaching on this really big campus and it was an 488 00:31:10,120 --> 00:31:14,480 Speaker 1: amazing experience, UM. And I was teaching to a room 489 00:31:14,560 --> 00:31:19,719 Speaker 1: of mostly people that were ten to thirty years older 490 00:31:19,720 --> 00:31:24,120 Speaker 1: than me UM and had learned and healed and the 491 00:31:24,280 --> 00:31:28,800 Speaker 1: very specific framework of white wellness. And as I'm trying 492 00:31:28,840 --> 00:31:32,320 Speaker 1: to speak to my work of ancestral healing and my 493 00:31:32,440 --> 00:31:36,640 Speaker 1: work of kind of spiritual activism, I remember this woman 494 00:31:36,720 --> 00:31:38,720 Speaker 1: stood up and she I mean, she was cloaked in 495 00:31:38,760 --> 00:31:41,560 Speaker 1: all the things, like she looked like a divine wellness 496 00:31:41,680 --> 00:31:46,560 Speaker 1: warrior angel, you know, like just mm hm, all the things. 497 00:31:46,600 --> 00:31:49,080 Speaker 1: And I said, dang, you look the part, you know. 498 00:31:49,960 --> 00:31:54,720 Speaker 1: Um And she she got up and she spoke to me, 499 00:31:54,760 --> 00:31:57,000 Speaker 1: and she was very upset with things that are the 500 00:31:57,080 --> 00:32:01,720 Speaker 1: same and very very triggered by them, and saying, you know, 501 00:32:01,840 --> 00:32:05,560 Speaker 1: we're not separate. This is about oneness and we just 502 00:32:05,760 --> 00:32:08,800 Speaker 1: all have to love each other. And she got really 503 00:32:08,840 --> 00:32:10,560 Speaker 1: really emotional, and you know, and it brought up a 504 00:32:10,560 --> 00:32:14,280 Speaker 1: lot in her and a lot of anger and a 505 00:32:14,320 --> 00:32:17,520 Speaker 1: lot of crying and a lot of upsetness. And she said, 506 00:32:17,560 --> 00:32:19,760 Speaker 1: we are all one. We are all one, We are 507 00:32:19,800 --> 00:32:23,120 Speaker 1: all love, and we have to operate like that, you know. 508 00:32:23,280 --> 00:32:25,400 Speaker 1: And I said, and I took it in and I 509 00:32:25,480 --> 00:32:28,320 Speaker 1: heard her, and I said, you don't even realize how 510 00:32:28,400 --> 00:32:31,120 Speaker 1: much you're abusing me right now and abusing everyone in 511 00:32:31,120 --> 00:32:37,400 Speaker 1: the room. Um on on the greater contextual understanding of 512 00:32:37,560 --> 00:32:43,240 Speaker 1: spirit of consciousness. Why, yes, we are all one. Yes, yes, 513 00:32:43,760 --> 00:32:48,719 Speaker 1: we are these beautiful pieces of God that have chosen 514 00:32:48,760 --> 00:32:53,840 Speaker 1: to embody on earth to learn about the human experience like, 515 00:32:53,960 --> 00:32:56,480 Speaker 1: that's that's what that beautiful quote is, right, I'm a 516 00:32:56,520 --> 00:33:00,120 Speaker 1: spiritual being having a human experience. So yes, and what 517 00:33:00,160 --> 00:33:03,040 Speaker 1: you're saying that is true. We are a one, we 518 00:33:03,120 --> 00:33:07,440 Speaker 1: are all love, but we're also in a framework of 519 00:33:07,520 --> 00:33:10,840 Speaker 1: this human experience on earth that also includes an immense 520 00:33:10,840 --> 00:33:15,040 Speaker 1: amount of oppression, an immense amount of white supremacy, and 521 00:33:15,240 --> 00:33:20,480 Speaker 1: systems of abuse and toxic culture and all these things 522 00:33:20,520 --> 00:33:24,320 Speaker 1: that people that didn't have your experience and wellness go through. 523 00:33:25,160 --> 00:33:27,800 Speaker 1: And so to say something like that, it's the spiritual 524 00:33:27,920 --> 00:33:30,680 Speaker 1: version of all lives matter, you know, it is like 525 00:33:31,240 --> 00:33:34,400 Speaker 1: it is the it is the very dulled up, sweet 526 00:33:34,560 --> 00:33:39,680 Speaker 1: version that is cloaked in you know, process and God 527 00:33:39,720 --> 00:33:42,960 Speaker 1: and healing language. But you're telling me that all lives matter, 528 00:33:43,560 --> 00:33:47,360 Speaker 1: and you're bypassing the experience of so many and then 529 00:33:47,400 --> 00:33:50,040 Speaker 1: you've wrapped yourself and your own righteousness and your own 530 00:33:50,080 --> 00:33:53,320 Speaker 1: sadness about how it affects your view of the world. 531 00:33:54,120 --> 00:33:56,360 Speaker 1: And so then you have all these people that don't 532 00:33:56,400 --> 00:33:58,800 Speaker 1: get to have their needs meant that really deserve it, 533 00:33:58,880 --> 00:34:03,840 Speaker 1: people that have gone through inexplicable trauma, that don't get 534 00:34:03,880 --> 00:34:07,240 Speaker 1: to be where they're at, you know, And I think 535 00:34:07,400 --> 00:34:10,360 Speaker 1: it's just and I have this other experience around the 536 00:34:10,400 --> 00:34:14,200 Speaker 1: same time of you know this, UM. I had put 537 00:34:14,280 --> 00:34:16,920 Speaker 1: up a caption on my page about healing, and anything 538 00:34:16,960 --> 00:34:20,200 Speaker 1: that's on my Instagram is obviously viewed from the standpoint 539 00:34:20,400 --> 00:34:23,200 Speaker 1: of how I came to the knowledge, you know, or 540 00:34:23,239 --> 00:34:26,440 Speaker 1: how how it worked in me. And I remember this 541 00:34:26,520 --> 00:34:29,479 Speaker 1: man UM and he was he was a white male, 542 00:34:29,760 --> 00:34:34,280 Speaker 1: younger UM, but he had I believe his wife was black. 543 00:34:34,920 --> 00:34:37,440 Speaker 1: And he came on my page in my comments and 544 00:34:37,520 --> 00:34:40,680 Speaker 1: started out of nowhere telling me this is incorrect. There 545 00:34:40,760 --> 00:34:44,360 Speaker 1: is no such thing as healing. Nothing needs to be healed. 546 00:34:44,480 --> 00:34:46,640 Speaker 1: We are already whole and you just have to come 547 00:34:46,640 --> 00:34:51,200 Speaker 1: into the remembrance of that. And I'm like, yeah, yeah, yeah, cool, cool, cool, 548 00:34:51,600 --> 00:34:53,840 Speaker 1: you know. And he's like, there's no such thing as separateness. 549 00:34:53,920 --> 00:34:56,359 Speaker 1: And he's speaking from the standpoint of, well, because I 550 00:34:56,360 --> 00:34:58,759 Speaker 1: have a black wife or a black girlfriend, I know 551 00:34:58,880 --> 00:35:02,040 Speaker 1: all this. And so she really, I'm you know, I'm duality. 552 00:35:02,080 --> 00:35:05,399 Speaker 1: I'm occupating all the spaces, and I'm like, who you 553 00:35:05,440 --> 00:35:09,080 Speaker 1: sleep with, who you lay with, does not mean you 554 00:35:09,200 --> 00:35:12,400 Speaker 1: understand the experience of the people. I don't know her story, 555 00:35:13,000 --> 00:35:16,040 Speaker 1: you know, And and we are not a monolith. The 556 00:35:16,080 --> 00:35:18,600 Speaker 1: black experience is not a monolith. There are a lot 557 00:35:18,640 --> 00:35:22,719 Speaker 1: of experiences to be had. But even the audacity of 558 00:35:22,880 --> 00:35:26,680 Speaker 1: coming onto someone's page, you're not even looking to engage 559 00:35:26,719 --> 00:35:30,719 Speaker 1: in dialogue. You you made a declarative statement of against 560 00:35:30,800 --> 00:35:34,400 Speaker 1: nous in my comment and your expectations I should just 561 00:35:34,440 --> 00:35:36,720 Speaker 1: take Oh, yeah, well he must know what he's talking about. 562 00:35:36,800 --> 00:35:40,680 Speaker 1: Who are you you know? Um? So it's just it's 563 00:35:40,719 --> 00:35:43,759 Speaker 1: just interesting the way people, even in the spiritual community, 564 00:35:43,880 --> 00:35:48,239 Speaker 1: think they're having conversations versus how they're actually landing. And 565 00:35:48,280 --> 00:35:50,080 Speaker 1: I think a lot of people don't realize the amount 566 00:35:50,120 --> 00:35:53,560 Speaker 1: of harm that they do. Yeah, yeah, there's so much 567 00:35:53,600 --> 00:35:57,960 Speaker 1: and that there's there's so much about these practices that 568 00:35:58,040 --> 00:36:01,719 Speaker 1: when they're embodied, you can see it, you can feel it, 569 00:36:01,760 --> 00:36:04,320 Speaker 1: you can understand it from from the person who is 570 00:36:04,320 --> 00:36:06,319 Speaker 1: speaking to you. And when stuff like this happens, like 571 00:36:06,600 --> 00:36:12,080 Speaker 1: these two stories that you've mentioned, it's like there's uh, 572 00:36:12,200 --> 00:36:16,359 Speaker 1: one of the five yamas is called stay. I'm sure 573 00:36:16,400 --> 00:36:19,960 Speaker 1: you're familiar with it, and it's non stealing, and people 574 00:36:20,000 --> 00:36:24,160 Speaker 1: often equate that to not stealing physical items tangible items, 575 00:36:24,880 --> 00:36:28,719 Speaker 1: but it's not stealing experience, not stealing someone's piece. If 576 00:36:28,719 --> 00:36:32,040 Speaker 1: everyone's here in this space trying to heal together, have 577 00:36:32,120 --> 00:36:35,279 Speaker 1: a meditation, whatever it is, whatever space you're holding, and 578 00:36:35,360 --> 00:36:38,440 Speaker 1: someone stands up, and that is stealing the peace and 579 00:36:38,480 --> 00:36:41,799 Speaker 1: stealing the experience from everybody in that space. And so 580 00:36:41,880 --> 00:36:45,160 Speaker 1: this person who declares themselves as a spiritual practitioner, as 581 00:36:45,200 --> 00:36:49,279 Speaker 1: a person whom who does probably practice meditation and all 582 00:36:49,320 --> 00:36:51,560 Speaker 1: these things like that is I'm not here to erase 583 00:36:51,640 --> 00:36:57,160 Speaker 1: that experience. And that moment of activation is where the 584 00:36:57,160 --> 00:37:00,439 Speaker 1: practice takes form. Why am I activated by the things 585 00:37:00,480 --> 00:37:03,919 Speaker 1: that that the person leading this space is saying? And 586 00:37:04,560 --> 00:37:08,959 Speaker 1: how can I return to my practice? Because like you said, 587 00:37:08,960 --> 00:37:12,080 Speaker 1: there's this, there's this, that framework of I'm a spiritual 588 00:37:12,200 --> 00:37:16,280 Speaker 1: being having a human experience, it creates so much erasure 589 00:37:16,600 --> 00:37:20,160 Speaker 1: and it limits the idea of being a human being 590 00:37:20,680 --> 00:37:24,959 Speaker 1: having spiritual experiences because we are human beings and yes 591 00:37:25,000 --> 00:37:28,040 Speaker 1: we have spiritual experiences, and that is so valid and 592 00:37:28,160 --> 00:37:32,480 Speaker 1: so needed. And it's only through that human nous that 593 00:37:32,520 --> 00:37:36,680 Speaker 1: we can relate to the spiritual and we can't say 594 00:37:37,080 --> 00:37:39,800 Speaker 1: I'm standing here and all experiences are the same as mine, 595 00:37:40,360 --> 00:37:44,800 Speaker 1: um or I only view things from my lens, because 596 00:37:44,840 --> 00:37:47,879 Speaker 1: I think that's where that comes from. It's like those 597 00:37:47,920 --> 00:37:53,120 Speaker 1: declarative statements. It's like it's I refuse to see your personhood. 598 00:37:53,320 --> 00:37:55,799 Speaker 1: It's all coming from my lens. And that's where it 599 00:37:55,800 --> 00:37:59,959 Speaker 1: gets really frustrating and and infuriating. Like you said, because 600 00:38:00,080 --> 00:38:04,680 Speaker 1: is that that's not a conversation. It's not. And I 601 00:38:04,719 --> 00:38:10,560 Speaker 1: think something that UM, something that had come up in 602 00:38:10,600 --> 00:38:13,400 Speaker 1: a conversation maybe a week or so ago, was was 603 00:38:13,440 --> 00:38:17,719 Speaker 1: the idea of well of learning people. It was in 604 00:38:17,760 --> 00:38:22,080 Speaker 1: the conversation UM we had internally at Chopra, and it 605 00:38:22,200 --> 00:38:26,120 Speaker 1: was that idea of learning people. And when we refuse 606 00:38:26,280 --> 00:38:30,120 Speaker 1: to understand and learn people, we refuse their entire experience 607 00:38:30,120 --> 00:38:33,879 Speaker 1: in their personhood. Yeah yeah, I think, you know, as 608 00:38:34,040 --> 00:38:38,000 Speaker 1: as a teacher, as a facilitator, even as however we're 609 00:38:38,040 --> 00:38:42,000 Speaker 1: showing up in our communities. It's so important that we 610 00:38:42,120 --> 00:38:46,480 Speaker 1: lead with curiosity about experience. You know, I think especially 611 00:38:46,520 --> 00:38:50,000 Speaker 1: if you and if anyone listening is feeling cold, two 612 00:38:50,760 --> 00:38:54,239 Speaker 1: occupy space and wellness as someone that is helping or 613 00:38:54,280 --> 00:38:59,560 Speaker 1: facilitating healing. Or if you already do that, your spiritual 614 00:38:59,560 --> 00:39:02,680 Speaker 1: practice is not enough, Your spiritual study is not enough. 615 00:39:02,920 --> 00:39:06,720 Speaker 1: You know you really we really have to charge ourselves 616 00:39:06,800 --> 00:39:11,720 Speaker 1: with investing in our hearts and in our knowledge by exploring, um, 617 00:39:11,880 --> 00:39:15,000 Speaker 1: how different communities have been affected by traumas, how different 618 00:39:15,040 --> 00:39:18,480 Speaker 1: communities heal. What are barriers to healing? You know, what 619 00:39:18,560 --> 00:39:21,920 Speaker 1: are things that may potentially if people walk into your 620 00:39:22,000 --> 00:39:24,120 Speaker 1: room or walk into your offering, what are things that 621 00:39:24,160 --> 00:39:27,760 Speaker 1: could potentially, you know, make them feel insane? Like we 622 00:39:27,760 --> 00:39:30,560 Speaker 1: we have to be proactive and getting in front of that. 623 00:39:31,040 --> 00:39:33,279 Speaker 1: If you know that you're charged with being on this 624 00:39:33,440 --> 00:39:37,520 Speaker 1: path and being of service to others. Yes, absolutely, that 625 00:39:37,719 --> 00:39:42,080 Speaker 1: the proactive piece of that because I think that we 626 00:39:42,239 --> 00:39:46,759 Speaker 1: think about I'm a healer, Um, I'm practicing spirituality, whether 627 00:39:46,800 --> 00:39:50,279 Speaker 1: you're facilitating space or however you're showing up like you said, 628 00:39:50,280 --> 00:39:54,279 Speaker 1: in that community, Um, But to not be aware of 629 00:39:54,320 --> 00:39:56,680 Speaker 1: the surroundings that you're inviting people into, to not be 630 00:39:56,760 --> 00:39:59,640 Speaker 1: aware of the community that you're inviting people into, whatever 631 00:39:59,680 --> 00:40:04,439 Speaker 1: it might it's it's not enough to say I'm I'm 632 00:40:04,480 --> 00:40:08,000 Speaker 1: here holding space. It has to be a proactive effort. 633 00:40:08,080 --> 00:40:14,280 Speaker 1: And for for like like earlier talking about how I'm 634 00:40:14,320 --> 00:40:16,919 Speaker 1: I've never walked into a space that feels like it's 635 00:40:16,960 --> 00:40:19,800 Speaker 1: for me. There's always something I know every time I 636 00:40:19,880 --> 00:40:22,400 Speaker 1: leave my house I know something is going to be sacrificed. 637 00:40:22,520 --> 00:40:25,279 Speaker 1: I know I'm going to have to sacrifice something. So 638 00:40:25,280 --> 00:40:27,920 Speaker 1: when I go to a retreat, what am I going 639 00:40:27,960 --> 00:40:30,200 Speaker 1: to have to sacrifice at that retreat in order to 640 00:40:30,360 --> 00:40:33,680 Speaker 1: experience those tidbits of healing that I want to access? 641 00:40:33,800 --> 00:40:35,319 Speaker 1: And it's like, Okay, am I going to have to 642 00:40:35,400 --> 00:40:37,680 Speaker 1: use a gendered restroom? And as small as that sounds, 643 00:40:37,719 --> 00:40:39,960 Speaker 1: And we are so much more than our bodies and 644 00:40:40,000 --> 00:40:43,120 Speaker 1: our restrooms. As small as that sounds, my identity isn't 645 00:40:43,160 --> 00:40:45,240 Speaker 1: seen there? Am I going to have to every single 646 00:40:45,320 --> 00:40:48,719 Speaker 1: day correct someone miss gendering me? Am I going to 647 00:40:48,840 --> 00:40:51,680 Speaker 1: have to wear certain clothes because I don't want people 648 00:40:51,719 --> 00:40:54,120 Speaker 1: looking at me and taking away from my experience. I 649 00:40:54,120 --> 00:40:58,719 Speaker 1: think we've been reduced down so much to these minute details, 650 00:40:58,760 --> 00:41:02,080 Speaker 1: and those detail hellesn't matter. But in the grand scheme, 651 00:41:02,640 --> 00:41:06,640 Speaker 1: it's the proactive work of curating environment. And your environment 652 00:41:06,680 --> 00:41:10,440 Speaker 1: starts with yourself. And so if your spiritual work isn't 653 00:41:10,560 --> 00:41:16,920 Speaker 1: already rooted in understanding people's experience, in in uprooting everything 654 00:41:16,920 --> 00:41:19,320 Speaker 1: you know about gender binary so that you can hold 655 00:41:19,360 --> 00:41:24,320 Speaker 1: space for trans people entering your space in in uprooting 656 00:41:24,400 --> 00:41:30,279 Speaker 1: or in understanding what white supremacy does to yourself and 657 00:41:30,280 --> 00:41:33,720 Speaker 1: the world around you. If you're not investigating those pieces 658 00:41:33,760 --> 00:41:36,279 Speaker 1: within you, the space you hold is going to be 659 00:41:36,360 --> 00:41:41,000 Speaker 1: reflective of that because we've all been raised in these systems, 660 00:41:41,040 --> 00:41:43,480 Speaker 1: So they're in us. Whether we want them in us 661 00:41:43,560 --> 00:41:46,399 Speaker 1: or not, they're in us, and it's up to us 662 00:41:46,440 --> 00:41:51,000 Speaker 1: and our work to uproot those and to investigate those 663 00:41:51,040 --> 00:41:58,279 Speaker 1: and too to create change from that space. Thank you 664 00:41:58,360 --> 00:42:01,319 Speaker 1: for saying that there's there a phrase that you use 665 00:42:01,480 --> 00:42:08,279 Speaker 1: that I've never heard use before, and I I I'm 666 00:42:08,360 --> 00:42:10,399 Speaker 1: kind of I just love like I feel a little 667 00:42:10,400 --> 00:42:19,879 Speaker 1: blown away by it. Um you said that that it's 668 00:42:19,960 --> 00:42:25,480 Speaker 1: taking away from my experience of being myself. You know, like, 669 00:42:25,640 --> 00:42:30,520 Speaker 1: how how often are we taking away from someone's experience 670 00:42:31,239 --> 00:42:35,839 Speaker 1: of being themselves by projecting on them or by assuming 671 00:42:36,320 --> 00:42:39,239 Speaker 1: Um I think as a whole collectively as a society. 672 00:42:39,239 --> 00:42:41,759 Speaker 1: But my God, the way that you frame that, especially 673 00:42:41,880 --> 00:42:47,040 Speaker 1: in the spiritual spaces, looking at ourselves and the way 674 00:42:47,080 --> 00:42:49,880 Speaker 1: we interact with others and saying, you know, am I 675 00:42:49,960 --> 00:42:54,640 Speaker 1: taking away from that person's ability to be themselves? Am I? 676 00:42:54,680 --> 00:42:57,759 Speaker 1: Am I adding hardship to their experience in any way? 677 00:42:57,760 --> 00:43:01,800 Speaker 1: Am I challenging their experience in any way, even unintentionally. 678 00:43:01,880 --> 00:43:05,120 Speaker 1: What a beautiful way to come into yourself and observe 679 00:43:05,200 --> 00:43:08,640 Speaker 1: the way you're impacting others, um in a conscious or 680 00:43:08,719 --> 00:43:12,440 Speaker 1: unconscious way. Yeah, I think it's all that opportunity of 681 00:43:12,480 --> 00:43:16,960 Speaker 1: like remaining curious and and curious about others experiences and 682 00:43:17,080 --> 00:43:21,520 Speaker 1: curious about your experience and your experience in every single moment, 683 00:43:21,600 --> 00:43:27,320 Speaker 1: because I think what happens is we want to connect 684 00:43:27,320 --> 00:43:29,120 Speaker 1: with people, we want to relate to people, and so 685 00:43:29,200 --> 00:43:31,960 Speaker 1: sometimes someone will share something, someone will share a story 686 00:43:32,080 --> 00:43:34,760 Speaker 1: of something that's impacted them in healing space or whatever 687 00:43:34,800 --> 00:43:37,719 Speaker 1: it is, and the immediate reaction is to want to 688 00:43:37,760 --> 00:43:42,440 Speaker 1: share similar experience so that we can connect. And even 689 00:43:42,480 --> 00:43:46,200 Speaker 1: in sharing similar experience, what are you taking away from 690 00:43:46,239 --> 00:43:49,920 Speaker 1: the person who shared with you? And and the practice 691 00:43:49,920 --> 00:43:53,520 Speaker 1: of RESTful listening, of just listening and absorbing and understanding 692 00:43:53,600 --> 00:43:57,399 Speaker 1: and letting someone have their experience is so healing. So 693 00:43:57,440 --> 00:43:59,560 Speaker 1: many of us just want to be heard. We just 694 00:43:59,600 --> 00:44:03,000 Speaker 1: want to be seen as who we are and stand 695 00:44:03,080 --> 00:44:07,120 Speaker 1: in our truth. And when we take away from that, 696 00:44:07,200 --> 00:44:11,840 Speaker 1: even with good intention, it it creates a different dynamic. 697 00:44:12,000 --> 00:44:17,160 Speaker 1: And so I think that even in the name of connecting. 698 00:44:17,840 --> 00:44:21,880 Speaker 1: Where can you where can you pause and inquire and 699 00:44:21,960 --> 00:44:24,560 Speaker 1: be curious? And I think that that is one of 700 00:44:24,600 --> 00:44:27,520 Speaker 1: the driving forces of of how I show up in 701 00:44:27,560 --> 00:44:31,880 Speaker 1: the world. Um, it's just that element of curiosity. Wow. 702 00:44:32,280 --> 00:44:40,440 Speaker 1: M m okay. Last question, Daniel, what are some ways 703 00:44:41,040 --> 00:44:47,600 Speaker 1: that we can create more equitable spaces in wellness? Wow? 704 00:44:48,719 --> 00:44:57,120 Speaker 1: Last question question as it's a whole another episode. UM. 705 00:44:57,120 --> 00:45:02,240 Speaker 1: There are so many ways to create equitable spaces. And 706 00:45:02,320 --> 00:45:06,400 Speaker 1: I think that the conversation needs to move beyond bathrooms, 707 00:45:06,600 --> 00:45:10,040 Speaker 1: needs to move beyond retail, needs to move beyond the 708 00:45:10,200 --> 00:45:14,280 Speaker 1: outer layer. UM. And I'm not saying that that's not important, 709 00:45:14,400 --> 00:45:20,759 Speaker 1: like it's important to create, UM, to create spaces that 710 00:45:21,080 --> 00:45:24,560 Speaker 1: on the surface look welcoming, because if you don't, of 711 00:45:24,640 --> 00:45:27,520 Speaker 1: course I'm not going to enter that space. And if 712 00:45:27,560 --> 00:45:31,000 Speaker 1: that's where your work stops, you're not creating a welcoming environment. 713 00:45:31,000 --> 00:45:36,359 Speaker 1: It's a tokenization or it's a yeah, it's not it's 714 00:45:36,400 --> 00:45:40,520 Speaker 1: not the deep understanding that actually creates equity. And so 715 00:45:40,560 --> 00:45:43,000 Speaker 1: when we think about what an equitable space looks like, 716 00:45:44,320 --> 00:45:50,440 Speaker 1: it looks like management. I'm thinking specifically of a yoga studio. 717 00:45:50,640 --> 00:45:54,200 Speaker 1: Let's say, UM, in yoga studio, space, who owns the studio, 718 00:45:54,280 --> 00:45:58,000 Speaker 1: who's managing the studio, who's making the decisions in that studio, 719 00:45:58,080 --> 00:46:02,120 Speaker 1: who's teaching classes, and beyond at who's coming to those classes. 720 00:46:02,160 --> 00:46:05,640 Speaker 1: How are you creating an environment where people feel welcome 721 00:46:05,760 --> 00:46:11,439 Speaker 1: to enter that space? And it's not enough to put 722 00:46:12,120 --> 00:46:17,960 Speaker 1: diverse bodies or or diverse sizing within your your storefront 723 00:46:18,080 --> 00:46:21,600 Speaker 1: or on your posters. That's not enough. If you're inviting 724 00:46:21,640 --> 00:46:25,120 Speaker 1: people into your class but the physical practice is not accessible, 725 00:46:26,040 --> 00:46:28,960 Speaker 1: you're not doing the internal work that needs to be done. 726 00:46:29,040 --> 00:46:32,000 Speaker 1: And so often the word accessible is used as a 727 00:46:32,040 --> 00:46:35,279 Speaker 1: framework to it's almost like a buzzword now where we 728 00:46:35,320 --> 00:46:38,959 Speaker 1: advertise accessible classes, but there's no actual work being done 729 00:46:38,960 --> 00:46:42,480 Speaker 1: to make those classes accessible. And this goes broadly to 730 00:46:43,000 --> 00:46:48,080 Speaker 1: UM two retreats. If if you're inviting people in but 731 00:46:48,160 --> 00:46:51,000 Speaker 1: you're not seeing them and hearing them, you're harming them 732 00:46:51,040 --> 00:46:53,760 Speaker 1: more than you're helping them. And so the real work 733 00:46:54,080 --> 00:46:58,160 Speaker 1: starts with that. Like like we talked about earlier, it's 734 00:46:58,160 --> 00:47:02,719 Speaker 1: like that internal spirit will understanding because we can talk 735 00:47:02,760 --> 00:47:06,160 Speaker 1: about external changes that need to be made all day. 736 00:47:06,320 --> 00:47:09,440 Speaker 1: We can talk about all of the legislation that's trying 737 00:47:09,440 --> 00:47:11,960 Speaker 1: to erase the existence of trans people. We can talk 738 00:47:11,960 --> 00:47:17,560 Speaker 1: about that all day and when we really what really 739 00:47:17,560 --> 00:47:23,000 Speaker 1: needs to happen is individually a spiritual revealing of what 740 00:47:23,560 --> 00:47:27,799 Speaker 1: what is so deeply rooted. It's just these patterns and 741 00:47:27,840 --> 00:47:32,560 Speaker 1: these these expectations that we all have because of the 742 00:47:32,600 --> 00:47:36,320 Speaker 1: society we've been raised in. They inform every single space 743 00:47:36,320 --> 00:47:39,960 Speaker 1: that we show up, whether we're practicing or teaching, facilitating, hosting, 744 00:47:40,120 --> 00:47:43,600 Speaker 1: whatever it might be. If we're not actively in practice 745 00:47:43,680 --> 00:47:47,440 Speaker 1: every single day of how can I create more space, 746 00:47:47,760 --> 00:47:50,879 Speaker 1: how can I pass the mike? How can I let 747 00:47:50,960 --> 00:47:54,600 Speaker 1: somebody else show up as themselves? We're not doing that 748 00:47:54,760 --> 00:47:57,480 Speaker 1: equity work that is lasting, and I think that's the 749 00:47:57,480 --> 00:48:03,080 Speaker 1: place the lasting equity work is in your your own discovery. 750 00:48:03,760 --> 00:48:13,120 Speaker 1: Wow wow wow wow mm hmm. Thank you, Daniel. Thank 751 00:48:13,120 --> 00:48:16,520 Speaker 1: you so much for joining us on dropping gems. Um. 752 00:48:16,560 --> 00:48:19,640 Speaker 1: I just love I just love every time um we 753 00:48:19,719 --> 00:48:23,759 Speaker 1: get to work together or being conversation together. And I 754 00:48:23,800 --> 00:48:26,120 Speaker 1: can't wait till we're in the same state or city 755 00:48:26,160 --> 00:48:30,279 Speaker 1: again to see each other. And and yeah, continue to 756 00:48:30,640 --> 00:48:33,319 Speaker 1: continue to drop in. Thank you so much for joining us. 757 00:48:33,800 --> 00:48:36,280 Speaker 1: And what are some ways that the audience can connect 758 00:48:36,320 --> 00:48:38,719 Speaker 1: with you and your work? Thank you so much for 759 00:48:38,760 --> 00:48:40,880 Speaker 1: having me, Debbie. It really was a joy. It's always 760 00:48:40,960 --> 00:48:43,640 Speaker 1: enjoyed to be in conversation with you. Um. So you 761 00:48:43,680 --> 00:48:47,120 Speaker 1: can connect with me on Instagram at Daniel Snito. My 762 00:48:47,200 --> 00:48:50,040 Speaker 1: website is also Daniel Snito dot com to check out 763 00:48:50,040 --> 00:48:52,080 Speaker 1: some of my workshops and offerings that are coming up. 764 00:48:52,280 --> 00:48:55,680 Speaker 1: And I am releasing a podcast in the spring called 765 00:48:55,719 --> 00:48:58,239 Speaker 1: The Goo Phase, so stay tuned for that. That is 766 00:48:58,280 --> 00:49:03,560 Speaker 1: an exciting project venture and that name. Yeah, I love 767 00:49:06,040 --> 00:49:08,600 Speaker 1: my friend. Thank you so much, thank you, thank you, 768 00:49:08,640 --> 00:49:13,600 Speaker 1: thank you so much. Um Yeah, everyone please check out Daniel, 769 00:49:13,920 --> 00:49:17,040 Speaker 1: please check out their work and hopefully I'll have you 770 00:49:17,080 --> 00:49:19,560 Speaker 1: on the show again. Yeah, thank you for having me. 771 00:49:19,600 --> 00:49:21,520 Speaker 1: I would love to I would love to be back. 772 00:49:21,520 --> 00:49:23,719 Speaker 1: It's always enjoying to be with you. And I'm gonna 773 00:49:23,719 --> 00:49:29,680 Speaker 1: stay my friend. Such an incredible conversation. Thank you again 774 00:49:29,719 --> 00:49:34,080 Speaker 1: to Daniel Santo so for today's soul work, the work 775 00:49:34,160 --> 00:49:38,160 Speaker 1: that you know. Ideally, the intention is that maybe you 776 00:49:38,200 --> 00:49:41,720 Speaker 1: sit with these thoughts after this episode, maybe grab a journal, 777 00:49:42,239 --> 00:49:45,880 Speaker 1: write a couple of bullet points down, or spend maybe 778 00:49:45,920 --> 00:49:48,560 Speaker 1: the next week until the next episode, just kind of 779 00:49:48,600 --> 00:49:53,440 Speaker 1: working with how this felt, where it landed. So I 780 00:49:53,440 --> 00:49:57,359 Speaker 1: want to start our soul work with one reconnecting you 781 00:49:57,440 --> 00:50:00,600 Speaker 1: to the affirmation that we began the show with. And 782 00:50:00,719 --> 00:50:03,200 Speaker 1: let's just take a moment to see now hearing that 783 00:50:03,280 --> 00:50:08,279 Speaker 1: affirmation again after this beautiful episode, what's coming forward for you? 784 00:50:09,640 --> 00:50:13,680 Speaker 1: I embrace the entirety of who I am so that 785 00:50:13,800 --> 00:50:19,799 Speaker 1: I may evolve into my highest self. I embrace the 786 00:50:20,160 --> 00:50:23,640 Speaker 1: entirety of who I am so that I may evolve 787 00:50:23,800 --> 00:50:29,239 Speaker 1: into my highest self. And let's take a second right now, 788 00:50:29,400 --> 00:50:32,920 Speaker 1: just a few moments of silence to see how that 789 00:50:33,040 --> 00:51:16,400 Speaker 1: affirmation is feeling now. Yeah, and today's journal prompt or 790 00:51:16,480 --> 00:51:19,920 Speaker 1: soul work, I want to get a little rooted into 791 00:51:19,960 --> 00:51:23,080 Speaker 1: some of the crevices so that maybe we can explore 792 00:51:23,360 --> 00:51:27,560 Speaker 1: any shadow elements or shadow sides that may be present. 793 00:51:27,760 --> 00:51:32,359 Speaker 1: So some self inquiry, a kind of savor today and 794 00:51:32,400 --> 00:51:41,919 Speaker 1: really sink your teeth into is just noticing, are there 795 00:51:41,960 --> 00:51:46,600 Speaker 1: any ways in your life that you are taking away 796 00:51:46,760 --> 00:51:54,960 Speaker 1: from someone else's experience of them being themselves? Just sitting 797 00:51:55,040 --> 00:51:57,800 Speaker 1: that for a second, maybe right to that a little 798 00:51:58,480 --> 00:52:02,080 Speaker 1: is there anywhere in your life? If anywhere could be work, 799 00:52:02,280 --> 00:52:05,839 Speaker 1: could be home, could be school, could be with your friendships, 800 00:52:05,880 --> 00:52:08,480 Speaker 1: could be with your children, could be with your parents, 801 00:52:08,560 --> 00:52:13,160 Speaker 1: your family members, could be just sometimes in daily interaction, 802 00:52:13,320 --> 00:52:15,919 Speaker 1: maybe in traffic or as you're running errands. But let's 803 00:52:15,960 --> 00:52:19,040 Speaker 1: just look at ourselves with honest, truthful eyes and just 804 00:52:19,200 --> 00:52:25,719 Speaker 1: observe and notice without judgment. Is there anywhere that I'm 805 00:52:25,760 --> 00:52:31,799 Speaker 1: taking away from someone's experience? Is there anywhere that I'm 806 00:52:31,840 --> 00:52:38,279 Speaker 1: minimizing someone's experience? Is there anywhere or any time or 807 00:52:38,400 --> 00:52:44,480 Speaker 1: I may serve as a barrier to someone's growth or 808 00:52:44,520 --> 00:52:49,360 Speaker 1: to their experience of being themselves. And just let that 809 00:52:49,440 --> 00:52:52,160 Speaker 1: sink in for a second, take it in, see where 810 00:52:52,200 --> 00:52:56,760 Speaker 1: it lands. It may land, it may not. But asking 811 00:52:56,800 --> 00:53:01,880 Speaker 1: ourselves questions like this, especially in the more shadow sides 812 00:53:01,920 --> 00:53:07,319 Speaker 1: of things, are how we grow, how we refine, how 813 00:53:07,400 --> 00:53:13,160 Speaker 1: we become. And then maybe even follow up that question 814 00:53:13,200 --> 00:53:17,960 Speaker 1: and ask, is there anywhere that I'm taking away from 815 00:53:18,000 --> 00:53:24,360 Speaker 1: my own experience? Am I taking away from my experience 816 00:53:25,120 --> 00:53:31,440 Speaker 1: in any way? Am I keeping myself from becoming more 817 00:53:31,840 --> 00:53:37,520 Speaker 1: in any way? Let the thought enter and then let 818 00:53:37,520 --> 00:53:46,280 Speaker 1: the thought release. Mm hmm to a couple of deep breaths. 819 00:53:52,840 --> 00:53:58,560 Speaker 1: Mm hmm. Okay, let's connect next week on dropping gems 820 00:53:58,800 --> 00:54:00,560 Speaker 1: and I'm gonna stay, I'm ana stay and I'm an Stay, 821 00:54:00,560 --> 00:54:11,640 Speaker 1: I'm an stay stay Hey. Find me on social Let's 822 00:54:11,680 --> 00:54:15,600 Speaker 1: connect at Deviie Brown. That's Twitter and Instagram, or go 823 00:54:15,680 --> 00:54:19,080 Speaker 1: to my website Debbie Brown dot com. And if you're 824 00:54:19,120 --> 00:54:22,760 Speaker 1: listening to the show on Apple Podcasts, please please please 825 00:54:23,480 --> 00:54:28,920 Speaker 1: don't forget to rate, review, and subscribe and send this 826 00:54:28,960 --> 00:54:32,239 Speaker 1: episode to a friend. Dropping Jams is the production of 827 00:54:32,280 --> 00:54:35,360 Speaker 1: I Heart Radio and The Black Effect Network. It's produced 828 00:54:35,360 --> 00:54:38,920 Speaker 1: by Jack Quease and me Debbie Brown. For more podcasts 829 00:54:38,920 --> 00:54:41,520 Speaker 1: from My heart Radio, visit the I heart Radio app, 830 00:54:41,760 --> 00:54:45,240 Speaker 1: Apple Podcasts, or wherever you listen to your favorite shows.