sister spaces + courage= healing

The night of October 15th, a few of my close sister-friends came together to be a part of our very own sister circle. We came with the essentials in our emotional backpacks: faith, trust, openness, courage, vulnerability, and most importantly love. We had no idea what to expect. All we knew was that we were ready to create a space where we can vent, scream, yell, cry, laugh, and celebrate....us.

This experience has made me see and understand the necessity to create safe spaces for women of color. These are difficult to do but not impossible. While I appreciate the spaces in the cyber world (shout outs to Model Minority, Crunk Feminist Collective, Patrice Berry, Bassey Ikpi, and so many other sistas I cannot name right now) I still miss the one-on-one or face time with a group of like-minded women who care about healing. I am so BLESSED to have been surrounded by fascinating and courageous WARRIORS.

Some of the recurring themes for our discussion were centered around abandonment, trauma, abuse, sexual assault, mental health, solitude, forgiveness, and searching for 'home.' It surprised me to see these women (i.e. most of these women I have known for more than 2 years) in a different light. They were not the women with shields too afraid for folks to see them. In this space they did not care about that. They were shedding the facade that they wear at their jobs or while they are teaching in the ivory tower. They were shedding the weight that holds them back from growing and glowing. The weight that does not protect them but precludes them from being who they really are. The sister circle allowed them to be perfect imperfections. Simply beautiful.

Some powerful words that stood out to me at our sister circle (excuse me for paraphrasing):

"I usually hold my emotions in for fear of burdening someone else with my issues."

"I have never been comfortable in friendships with women because I have been hurt too many times before."

"I'm looking for a space where I can be simply, me."



I was relieved to know that I was not alone. That I was not swimming in a vast sea on my own but that there were other women of color swimming with me--- I see us moving and swimming past the currents and riding the waves to get to the other side that is...healing.

I am glad to be on this journey with them. They are my life vests. I am confident that we will get to that side together.


With Courage,
Rebel Poeta