From the Root

Michelle and Serena continue discussing their New Years' "roadmaps" and shift their focus from what they want to leave and what they gained in 2021, towards where they are headed in 2022.

Topics: music anthem for the year, themes, what they are both calling and what they are changing from 2021.

Shine Theory: Body Butters by Michelle; visit @michellescauldron on instagram or email [email protected]

It's a New Lunar Year! Serena and Michelle share what they plan to leave behind, their reflections on their past year, and cycles/habits they plan on breaking.

Shine Theory: 

TikTok: @JasminesGarden23

IG: @JasminesGarden

This meditation was originally created by Serena as part of a series of events called Healing Session for Black Liberation, which Michelle and Serena helped facilitate (with two others) during the summer of 2020.

Unfortunately, grief is an on-going emotion. We hope this offering will help you release and transmute any lingering grief you're still holding onto from 2021 and beyond.

The meditation incorporates creative visualization and conscious connected breathing. 

You can view the audio transcript here: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1s_Uw4F8MHP8BTF-Q9Xk8wuyPxdvoT-TKiG6sGHFNb_0/edit?usp=sharing

Credit: background ocean wave audio, ZapSplat.com

In this episode Michelle and Serena discuss how to get re-grounded after moving somewhere new. Serena moved from Rochester, NY to Brooklyn, NY 6 years ago (and moved 4 additional times within Brooklyn), and Michelle moved from NJ/NY to Arizona 3 years ago. The two discuss changes in cost of living and financial costs to consider, food deserts and food utopias, social changes and challenges, experiencing culture shock like encountering Black people that don’t know Black culture and the struggles of finding Black Queer and Trans community. They consider the impact of the spaces we choose to enter and the people we choose to be around, how home is where our heart is/with the people who hold our heart. Questions that are explored: 

Terms:

ATRs = African Traditional Religions

Shine Theory:

Crisp US Thrift (based in AZ) A thrift organization - Offers sewing classes, and discusses the social and racial impacts of the fashion industry; repurposes worn vintage items as everyday house-hold items. Black-owned and queer-owned. Visit: https://www.crispthrift.us/

In episode 6 part 2, Serena & Michelle talking about how they protect their autonomy, what they look out for, and what nudity can look like beyond the sexual perception.

Shine Theory: @blackqueerdom @Flowerchildbruja https://www.theflowerchildbruja.com/

In episode 6, Michelle and Serena cover the following topics:

Trigger warnings: There are no graphic descriptions, but there are multipe mentions of the following

This episode was cut short due to technical difficulties. Check out "What is Mine?" Part 2 in October, where we will continue the conversation discussing boundaries, our bodies outside of sexual perception, and what we do to reclaim and show our bodies love.

...Queer Joy, NonBinary Joy! We're embracing all of it! This is a prerecorded episode made back in May of this year, but there is still info, gems, and joy to be collected! This month Serena & Michelle take a break from all things heavy to center joy and gratitude in how it shows up in their identities. Please don't forget to reach out on their platforms to share how you've been experiencing joy lately or within your identities.

Email: [email protected]

IG: @FromTheRootPod

In this episode Michelle and Serena Discuss:

What is toxic positivity?

How is it harmful?

Toxic Positivity vs Optimism

How to manage our mental health during difficult times?

Shine Theory Spotlight:

Brown Girl Jane www.browngirljane.com

"Get Good with Money" by Tiffany Aliche The Budgetnista

Dryland Wilds www.drylandwilds.com

In this episode of From the Root, Serena and Michelle discuss the ego. The positive and negative ways it has impacted their lives. The lessons they've learned from the ego as well as narratives they had to let go of. 

Send your questions to [email protected]

Follow us on IG: @fromtherootpod

Maria Sabina

Shine Theory:

Brown Girl Jane

Momentum: A Shadow work guide & Journal by Quinn Barbour

This is the last half of the second episode. In the second half, Serena and Michelle discuss sexuality beyond gender including kink, fetiches,  sexuality changing with social norms, the importance of sexual fluidity, and the difference between prejudice, preference, and preservation.

References in the show:

BDSM test &  Yes, No, or Maybe

Shine Theory: Insight Timer App (instructors mentioned are Dora Kamau & Mooji) & Liberate App

Follow @FromTheRootPod on Instagram

Send questions to [email protected]

Just a reminder this show is biweekly! <3