In this powerful, soul-deep episode of Black Writer Therapy, host and unlicensed doula-therapist Ella Shawn (a.k.a. Vicki) welcomes Vonetta RainEmmy awardwinning graphic designer, shamanic practitioner, and author of The Shamans Apprenticeto the proverbial couch.

Together, they explore what it means to say a revolutionary yes to your sacred work, walk away from a glittering career, and devote your life to healing, ceremony, and community care. Vonetta shares how she went from designing Super Bowl and HBO title sequences to leading over 800 private and group retreats around the world, supporting people through trauma, loss, illness, and lineage repair.

This conversation moves through reincarnation, soul family, divine masculine and feminine roles, ancestral cemeteries in Asheville, and the deep craft of writing a cathartic memoir that follows your consciousness from age three to now. Its tender, ancient, funny, and so Black Southern it hums.

Saying Yes to Dharma

How Vonetta left an Emmy-winning graphic design career to follow her sacred God-purposeful work.

Why simply saying yeswithout knowing the outcomeis a revolutionary act.

800 Retreats & the Practice of Service

Building a word-of-mouth global practice with over 800 ceremonies and retreats.

Supporting people through PTSD, depression, grief, illness, parenting, and ancestral patterns.

Soul Family & Reincarnation

Vonettas early introduction to reincarnation through her grandmothers past-life memories.

What soul family is, how it feels, and why she prayed to find hers.

The difference between the family youre born into and the soul family you keep finding across lifetimes.

Ease vs. Peace

Ellas distinction between peace (fleeting) and ease (embodied).

How Vonetta chooses to walk with grace and ease instead of chasing success.

Ancestral Land, the South & Shared History

Being a happy Black Southern woman whose ancestors were enslaved on the same land she loves.

Vonettas grandfather in Asheville, NC: caretaker of one of the oldest slave cemeteries in the U.S., community gardener, and quiet community builder.

What it means to honor both the horror and the possibility in Southern soil.

From Industry Chase to Inner Descent

Why the chasing happened in the industry, not in the spiritual work.

How leaving advertising became a descent into self rather than a pursuit of self.

Intentions as Healing

Ellas word-nerd dive into the medical definition of intention as the healing process of a wound.

Reframing intentions not just as goals, but as energetic containers for healing.

Writing The Shamans Apprentice

The plant medicine ceremony that took Vonetta to the center of the earth in a crystal elevator and started the book.

Being told to write it as fiction first, then given permission to tell the story as memoir.

Writing from the consciousness of each agethree, five, twelve, college, and beyondso readers can feel her evolution.

How the act of writing became not just healing, but a final release of shame, blame, and trauma.

Healing vs. Healed

Vonettas shift from Im always healing to I have healed so much.

Where she still feels shes healing now (finances, stewardship, and business systems).

Black Southern Womanhood & Long-Term Love

Ella on 30 years of marriage and choosing her high school sweetheart.

Divine masculine as protector/provider; divine feminine as creator/community-keeper.

Black women claiming joy, land, and lineage in the South.

Vonetta Rain is an Emmy awardwinning graphic designer turned shamanic practitioner, ceremonial guide, and author of The Shamans Apprentice. After a successful career creating high-profile campaigns and an award-winning title sequence for HBOs Carnival(e), she answered a deeper spiritual call that led her to apprenticeship with a Peruvian shaman.

Over the past two decades, Vonetta has facilitated over 800 private and group retreats around the world, supporting people through trauma, ancestral patterning, illness, grief, and spiritual awakening. Her memoir, The Shamans Apprentice, traces her journey from a normal American childhood to a life devoted to healing, ceremony, and soul-family communitytold through the evolving voice of her consciousness from age three onward.

The Shamans Apprentice by Vonetta Rain

Bacchanal by Veronica G. Henry

Wild Seed by Octavia Butler

The concept of intentions as the healing process of a wound (medical definition)

This episode includes a mid-roll spotlight on Southern Momentum Publishing House (SOMO), Ellas hybrid publishing home for Black and Brown women writers seeking somatic, decolonial, and sacred writing spaces.

Listen to Black Writer Therapy every Thursday on the Alive Podcast Network app or wherever you get your podcasts.

Download the Tap-In app from Alive Podcast Network and choose Black Writer Therapy as your favorite show50% of your subscription supports Ella and helps keep these conversations going.

• Excavation is a crucial stage in the writing process.
• Black women writers often face unique emotional challenges.
• Listening to oneself is essential during the excavation process.
• The ordinary can be a source of profound inspiration.
• Self-discovery is intertwined with the writing journey.
• Small details in everyday life can enrich storytelling.
• Vulnerability in writing leads to deeper connections.
• Naming emotions can empower writers to overcome blocks.
• The publishing industry often overlooks ordinary Black experiences.
• Writing into the ordinary is a revolutionary act.

• "Excavation is a crucial stage in the writing process."
• "The ordinary can be a source of profound inspiration."
• "Writing into the ordinary is a revolutionary act."

• 00:00 Introduction to Black Writer Doula Sessions
• 01:25 The Importance of Excavation in Writing
• 03:27 Understanding the Excavation Process
• 13:29 Excavation as a Self-Discovery Journey
• 20:23 Writing into the Ordinary
• 36:08 The Complexity of Black Womanhood in Writing
• 42:16 Affirmation and Closing Thoughts

• We are moving the Black Writer brand in a new direction.
• Shame and guilt are significant barriers to creativity.
• Shame originates from external expectations, while guilt comes from within.
• Emotions like shame and guilt can block creative energy.
• It's essential to identify where shame and guilt manifest in the body.
• Practicing gratitude for shame can help in releasing it.
• Guilt can lead to a lack of trust in oneself and decision-making.
• Creative freedom requires letting go of past burdens.
• Engaging in self-reflection is crucial for emotional healing.
• Community support is vital for writers to thrive.

• The journey of writing is often filled with challenges and setbacks.
• Community and collaboration are essential for success in the publishing industry.
• Self-publishing can empower authors to take control of their work.
• Mental health and healing are ongoing processes that require daily attention.
• Authenticity in storytelling resonates with readers and creates connection.
• Rejection in the publishing world is common and should be viewed as redirection.
• Affirmations and positive self-talk can significantly impact mental well-being.
• Building a supportive network can help underrepresented voices be heard.
• The importance of setting boundaries in creative work to avoid burnout.
• Writing can serve as a therapeutic outlet for personal experiences. Naming characters gives them identity and depth.
• Ending a story can be challenging and emotional.
• Life is often about the journey, not just the destination.
• Living in the present is crucial for happiness.
• Detaching from current reality can help in creating new narratives.
• Gardening symbolizes patience and growth in life.
• Taking control of book sales empowers authors.
• Social media is a tool, not the only way to connect.
• Authenticity in marketing is essential for authors.
• Building genuine connections is more valuable than social media presence.

• Format Changes
• Introduced Black Writer Therapy Doula
• One Author Chat/month
• Deep focus on healing, expanding community, and raising divine feminine energy
• More Intentional

• Latasha Crystal has been passionate about writing since the eighth grade.
• Writing serves as a healing medium for Latasha, helping her process her experiences.
• Imposter syndrome is a common struggle for many writers, including Latasha.
• Supportive friendships play a crucial role in personal growth and overcoming challenges.
• Latasha's debut novel, 'Rocky Crescendo,' focuses on a shy girl discovering herself through music.
• The themes of self-discovery and acceptance are central to Latasha's writing.
• Latasha enjoys blending genres in her writing, often mixing elements of middle grade and young adult fiction.
• Writing about mental health for middle schoolers is important to Latasha.
• Latasha's upcoming project is a rom-com about a good girl and a bad boy.
• Latasha believes in writing what you wish you could have experienced.

• Scarlet defines a happily married woman as someone who maintains her individuality while being in a partnership.
• Marriage requires ongoing effort and communication, especially after children leave home.
• Writing serves as a healing process for Scarlet, allowing her to explore her emotions and experiences.
• Cultural traditions and superstitions play a significant role in shaping identity and beliefs.
• Storytelling is a powerful tool for connection and understanding among women, especially women of color.
• Scarlet emphasizes the importance of being open to experiences and emotions.
• The conversation highlights the need for women to express their pain and vulnerability.
• Scarlet's journey of self-discovery is intertwined with her writing and storytelling.
• The discussion touches on the complexities of being perceived as a strong black woman.
• Scarlet's pen name is a homage to her heritage and family history. Women can embody a range of identities and emotions.
• The strong Black woman trope often forces women into a masculine role.
• Writing can be a healing process for personal and ancestral pain.
• Culinary metaphors can enrich storytelling and connect to cultural roots.
• Compassion is essential in both personal relationships and storytelling.
• Ancestral connections can guide and inspire creative work.
• The audacity of Black women writers is a powerful force in literature.
• Emotional expression is crucial for both writers and their characters.
• Characters can reflect the ideal traits we wish to see in the world.
• Creativity allows for the exploration of complex identities and experiences.

Keywords

Black women writers, maternal health, storytelling, resilience, healing, community, awards, writing journey, racism, faith

Takeaways

• Black and Indigenous women face alarming maternal death rates.

• Rhonda McKnight has written 29 books, focusing on complex characters.

• Celebrating achievements is crucial for personal growth.

• Writing can serve as a therapeutic process for both the writer and the reader.

• The importance of community in literary events cannot be overstated.

• Racism plays a significant role in healthcare disparities for Black women.

• Stories can provide healing and connection across generations.

• The dual timeline in 'Bitter and Sweet' reflects historical and contemporary struggles.

• Therapy is essential for addressing generational trauma.

• Readers should always be at the forefront of a writer's mind.

Summary

In this episode of Black Writer Therapy, host Ella Shawn engages in a heartfelt conversation with author Rhonda McKnight, exploring themes of maternal health, the healing power of storytelling, and the importance of community among Black women writers. Rhonda shares her journey as a prolific author, her experiences with literary awards, and the significance of addressing racism in healthcare. The discussion also delves into the dual timeline of her latest novel, 'Bitter and Sweet,' and how writing serves as a therapeutic outlet for both the author and her readers. Throughout the conversation, the importance of celebrating achievements and the need for connection within the literary community are emphasized, making this episode a rich exploration of resilience, faith, and the power of storytelling.

Sound Bites(upcoming merch)

• It's healing time, y'all.

• I want readers to feel good.

• Grief is hard; it ages you.

Chapters

00:00 The Alarming Statistics of Maternal Mortality

02:15 Celebrating Literary Events and Community Engagement

04:14 The Journey of a Prolific Author

06:28 The Impact of Awards and Recognition

09:04 Writing as a Healing Process

11:53 The Importance of Reader Connection

14:33 Exploring Themes of Faith and Resilience

17:29 The Role of Therapy in Writing

20:10 Cultural Legacy and Historical Context

23:16 The Healing Power of Storytelling

25:52 Addressing Racial Disparities in Maternal Health

46:07 Listening to Women's Voices in Healthcare

48:46 The Importance of Self-Care and Connection

51:15 Celebrating Personal Growth and Resilience

55:49 Generational Grief and Healing

01:03:46 Reclaiming Personal Space and Identity

01:10:42 The Power of Storytelling and Connection

01:16:35 BWT OUTRO.mp3

• Desiree Moodie shares her journey of navigating motherhood and writing.
• The importance of self-care and healing in a busy life.
• Exploring the complexities of parenting and its impact on children.
• The role of social media in building connections and community.
• Desiree's upcoming book explores themes of motherhood and identity.
• The significance of rituals in maintaining balance and grounding oneself.
• Using tarot as a tool for intuition and self-discovery.
• The challenges of being a black woman writer in today's literary landscape.
• The importance of vulnerability and authenticity in storytelling.
• Desiree's insights on breaking generational cycles in parenting.