✨🪧✨The Embodied Revolution Begins Within
A Dispatch From the Streets of Denver on the Alchemy of Protest and the Path to Body Sovereignty.
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I’m sitting in the quiet work lab at Denver Community Media, and outside just two blocks away is the No Kings March–I sat outside capturing a moment of sunshine, fresh breath, and having a regrounding moment after a series of incredible meetings and coaching sessions (which I’ll tell you more about in a moment). I sat there with no camera, no distraction, just a regrounding.
As I sat outside, I felt like I was living such an American moment—a snapshot of our collective complexity: beloveds on the street in urgent need of care and housing; the cool-style beauty of a shiny evergreen classic emanating Brown pride; the quiet bravery of two trans women; and a mile of protesters chanting for liberation, shouting “Black Lives Matter” and/or “Trans Lives Matter.” Whichever it is–I’m all for it.
And then I’m thinking how much I have loooooved that feeling–being in the streets, chanting, and marching in solidarity for a common cause. I also remember that since about 2000, yeah, that year–I found I don’t really have what it takes to be a frontline revolutionary. It’s also at this time that I committed to using my platform as a vehicle for social change–stating that the revolution must begin within so that we can show up for the work for the struggles and creating sutainable systemic change.
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Watching the world march outside reminded me exactly why the work I’m doing behind these glass walls matters. It brought me back to a series of deep downloads from this week—from my own coaching sessions to a raw strategy meeting with my team.
We sat down specifically to look at the future facilitators we are calling into this movement—the people who will eventually carry this lineage of Diasporic Dance and Somatic Healing into their own communities—and what they are actually up against. When I asked my team who we think these leaders are and what they’re navigating right now, what came out were these visceral, raw responses.
Here is the invocation of thought we uncovered—the raw truth of what our people are battling, seeking, and building toward. As you read this, I wonder: which of these mirrors your own heart right now?
🔥 The Battle: Our people are navigating the “Dumpster Fire” that is our nation; the deconstruction of religious trauma, and a literal war on our bodies. We are holding the heavy reality of the erasure of our rights and the very real fear of simply being in public with our identities and cultures. Between the shadow of ICE, the rise of AI, and suffering from community wounds— the weight of existing in Amerikkka is heavy.
🌿 The Interest & The Medicine: There is a deep hunger for Somatic & Emotional Literacy and a radical Alternative Lifestyle that lives off-the-beaten-path. We are seeking to break free from limiting familial and religious values while reclaiming our bodies and bringing back body positivity. We are returning to the land, to nature-based practices, and to the feel-good liberation of Diasporic Dance and choreography as a counter-narrative to systemic exclusion.
🧿 The Fears & The Identities: The weight of the Identity Tax is real: the exhaustion of navigating multiple identities and roles while trying to stay grounded. We fear the Success Disconnect—not knowing how to show up as an Embodiment Leader who can actually protect their own field from “Client Vampires” and the energetic drain of others. We are fighting the Perfectionism Trap, the “Dancer Body” myth, and a total lack of structural support.
✊🏾 The Work We Are Doing Together: We are building toward Financial Freedom & Independence, Divesting from Capitalism, Body Sovereignty, and the Vulnerability of Visibility—the courageous goal of being seen and witnessed exactly as we are. We are mastering the Mechanics of Movement and the strategic voice needed to amplify the werk, and build the internal trust and confidence required to lead and exist authentically in public.
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As they shared these very heart full and soul igniting responses–we stated it then and there. We are solving all the problems of the world–through SOL VIDA®!!!! OHHHH MY FAAAAACKING GAAAAWD.
I know we’re doing good, deep and big work, but something about this conversation blew my heart, mind and soul open–like it’s not just a slogan, this shit is a reality, and this is my way of protesting Amerikkka.
Okay, so now I have to share what happened between my latest coaching session and team meeting this morning going over the draft for our landing page for the Unwind & Grind™ Facilitator Training–fucking A yall, I’m tearing up tears of happy-cathartic-joy just thinking about what we’re about to offer.
If I’ve learned anything on my entrepreneur journey–is that when it’s right, it’s so right (this is also a co-signed life hack too). I can’t tell you how many notes, whiteboards, and downloads I’ve had about creating a training program.
Damn, I’m feeling positive we’re locking it in and as one of my co-conspirators said, this is just what the world needs right now—this is exactly what people need and are looking for.
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I’m feeling really thankful for my time in the Bay area–offloading a giant project that was consuming a great deal of energy from me. Bringing on co-stewards to care for our vessel, Octavia Sea Trout, was exactly the medicine I needed. While I was there, it felt hard to get clarity on this training—but the second I arrived at SFO, the download for the full program completely came through.
I know I’ve been teasing this out, but damn, time takes time.
All of this to say—this is my dedication to protest and revolution in the world. All that wobbliness and uncertainty I felt at the beginning of the year was for a reason. I was aiming to go bigger, and it wasn’t big enough. I had to find my most audacious, wildest version of how I’m really attempting to scale this rainbow magical, healing light embodied liberation that is SOL VIDA® and Unwind & Grind™.
If what I’ve shared today is activating something within your system, do me a favor and respond to this email with a simple “TELL ME MORE.”
My team and I are in the lab right now putting the final, sacred touches on the pilot portal to ensure the container is ready. After listening to community and council feedback, we’ve distilled this experience into a potent 7-day immersion taking place July 5–11 in Denver, Colorado to honor your time and maximize our magic together. When you reply, I’ll add you to the invite-only “First to Know” list and you’ll get direct access to all the information and logistics.
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In the meantime… my personal revolution includes taking breaks between tasks, taking physiological sighs, practicing Yoga Nidra, sun worshipping, yoga asanas, and keeping my eyes on the prize.
The revolution is now.
Are you with me?
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I’m here for the comments. If one of these Raw Truths felt like a mirror and hit your heart in any way, tell me what’s alive! Are you navigating the Identity Tax or Erasure? Are you seeking Body Sovereignty or Rebuilding Your Confidence? Did we miss something? Let’s talk about it and move through this TOGETHER.
In the meantime–stay the most well, stay devoted to your practices, and keep showing up for your deepest soul callings.
Love you long time, frfr
Axé