WELCOME TO HEAL WEEK!
Here at Smudge, we believe healing is not about being broken. That was the line that kicked off our last heal week, created by Luigi, and I was really inspired by the different amazing healers and practitioners that Smudge Wellness brought together to be celebrated. When we started discussing how to celebrate Black History Month, I suggested that we keep that same energy and bring back Heal Week and Luigi and Lara were on the same page. At Smudge we believe that it’s not about fixing something that doesn’t “work” but about growing and healing with new tools and practices that better support us as we grow. Black History is really important, but it’s often framed through our pain and struggles. While that cannot and should not be ignored, we want to shine a light on another aspect of Black History, Celebrating Black Joy.
Healing looks different for everyone. Here at Smudge Wellness, it’s not about fixing something that doesn’t “work” but about growing and healing with new tools and practices that better support us as we grow. No group is a monolith but we do have things that unite us. It is important for all folks to feel represented and it was exciting to gather different Black healers and wellness practitioners. Our first Heal Week’s theme was “We Are Golden” and was inspired by the Japanese art of Kintsugi, a pottery repair method that highlights the unique cracks within these vessels, all while honoring its history. As I started thinking about some of what was informing this event, I thought back to revisiting Kwanzaa this past holiday season. It was not something we celebrated with great regularity in my house, but we were well versed in the practices and had a family friend who would throw a celebration each year and make sure all us kids understood what we were gathering for. While it is celebrated in December, I think Kwanzaa really aligns with this week of offerings because it is a time of learning, family and celebration!! During the week of Kwanzaa, families and friends come together to share a feast, to honor the ancestors, affirm the bonds between them, and to celebrate African and African American culture.
Each day you light a candle to highlight the principle of that day and to celebrate the meaning through various activities. The table is decorated with the essential symbols of Kwanzaa and might include the colors of the Pan-African flag, red (the struggle), black (the people), and green (the future), represented throughout the space and in the clothing worn by participants.
- Umoja (Unity) – To strive for and maintain unity in the family, community, nation, and race.
- Kujichagulia (Self-Determination) – To define ourselves, name ourselves, create for ourselves and speak for ourselves.
- Ujima (Collective Work and Responsibility) – To build and maintain our community together and make our community’s problems our problems and to solve them together.
- Ujamaa (Cooperative Economics) – To build and maintain our own stores, shops and other businesses and to profit from them together.
- Nia (Purpose) – To make our collective vocation the building and developing of our community in order to restore our people to their traditional greatness.
- Kuumba (Creativity) – To always do as much as we can to leave our community more beautiful and beneficial than we inherited it.
- Imani (Faith) – To believe with all our hearts in our people and the righteousness and victory of our struggle.
Join us for this week of healing through Celebrating Black Joy. Our community continues to need healing and peace and too often we are bombarded with images of Black people being hurt or harmed. Allow us to imbue your week with Black Joy.
We’re sponsoring and highlighting some incredible Black Healers, practitioners, and all-around dope magical people. Click the links below to access FREE live classes, and pre-recorded events every day!
HEAL WEEK LINEUP:
MONDAY 2/14 @ 6PM PST (Pre-Recorded on Instagram) | Self-Love Ritual with Morgan Fykes — CLICK HERE TO WATCH
TUESDAY 2/15 @ 9AM (Pre-recorded on YouTube) | Trap Yoga and Movement with Brandon Copeland — CLICK HERE TO WATCH
WEDNESDAY 2/16 @ 5PM PST / 8PM EST (Live on Zoom) | Full Moon in Leo Ritual Circle with Jazmin Kylene — CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP
THURSDAY 2/17 @ 12PM PST (Instagram Live) | Making Tinctures with Common Household Items with Kibibi and Morgan — CLICK HERE TO WATCH
FRIDAY 2/18 @ TBD (Instagram Live) | Live Tarot Reading with Tirrell and Special Guest — CLICK HERE TO WATCH
SATURDAY 2/19 @ 4PM PST (Pre-Recorded on YouTube) | Sound Bath with B. Cole — CLICK HERE TO WATCH
SUNDAY 2/20 12PM PST (Pre-recorded on YouTube) | Joyful Breathwork with Tom Rua Williamson — CLICK HERE TO WATCH
