How to Decolonize Your Soul
Indigenous storytelling can break your heart open. In a good way. Plus a 5-minute practice to light the flame of devotion.
I live within the borders of the Suquamish nation, home to Chief Sealth, aka Seattle. My gratitude for this astonishingly beautiful, life-changing place, and the Indigenous peoples who have generously shared their ways with me, could fill the Salish Sea. That story is for another day. Today’s 5-minute practice (jump below) digs into what we cherish most. If you love stories and prompts that stir your Soul into creative action, please join us.
Today, tears flooded my face several times. Not because I’m sad. Not from the trauma humans inflict on the world. Nope. It’s from binging a series on Hulu.
Reservation Dogs. Season Three.
What about this show makes me sob? It IS a great show with critical acclaim and major awards. It’s super authentic, made by Indigenous writers and directors, and produced by Taika Waititi with an almost entirely Indigenous cast and crew. It’s based on the life experience of showrunner Sterlin Harjo, and filmed on location in Oklahoma. All impressive. But not tear-worthy.
Am I envious? I do long to create something with the power to make people cry. The loveable humanity of the show’s characters is sheer genius. Four teens wrangle with suicide, death, escaping the Rez, the harsh realities of dreamlife in California, the failures and wins of their elders, and the horrific suffering of the past. These real, imperfect people, beautifully brought to life by brilliant young actors, embody the spirit of resilience, humor, belonging, and belief.
Still, the characters didn’t make me cry. Deep down, my heart is moved by the wisdom of Indigenous values, so skillfully woven into this story. This show wears Native culture like a gorgeous, symbolic, ‘tradish’ blanket.
I dare you to watch it. Your Heart and Soul can’t help but expand a little. Here’s just a few of the essential cultural nuggets you’ll absorb from the show:
Humor always. And Gratitude.
Spirit Guides are Real. And some are funny.
Community matters most. Generous.
Show up for people: Family, friends, neighbors, strangers.
Nature Heals. Go there.
Elders. Honor them. They’re badass and worth spending time with.
Cook together. Laugh together.
Die well. Don’t die alone without healing your relations.
Inspired, we watch another beautiful Indigenous-made production on Netflix, “Frybread Face and Me,” by Billy Luther. Tears again!
Finally, last week we saw “Killers of the Flower Moon,” made by Martin Scorcese, with help from the Osage Nation. My heart could barely tolerate the epic cruelty of this story. Still, the Osage wife’s devotion to her murderous white husband cracked my heart open with tears (your heart will be moved by Oscar contender, Lily Gladstone). She’s a powerful presence, gracing the cover of Elle Magazine today.
I invite my Soul to comment. What’s up with all the crying?
“Your tears are a yearning for a culture of connection, of honoring. Even with all the suffering, the genocide, the losses, the imperfect, broken relations, their faces and stories reveal the deep treasure of seeking, and finding: What matters most.”
It’s true. My heart breaks at all the treasures our colonist culture has lost, destroyed, and continues to destroy in pursuit of material gain. Perhaps this longing is behind our commodification of Native art and traditions.
My fearful little Monkey of Doubt says,
“You’re Euro white stock. The oppressor. You have no claim to these traditions. You shouldn’t even write about it. It’s cultural appropriation. It’s offensive.”
My heart trusts my tears. And what I’ve learned from Indigenous people. All of us came from indigenous stock, way back when. November is National American Indian Heritage Month. We can celebrate and practice these wise nuggets, always giving credit to Indigenous peoples and their lands. As we honor and support these life-giving values, with true devotion, we can move toward unity and healing.
Today’s practice invites you to tap into your sense of honoring and devotion.
5-minute Creative Practice: The Candle of Devotion
May this Candle of Devotion light up your If you’re ok with a bit of potty humor, and a truly crappy fake accent, here’s my alter-ego Queen Poopicina reading the Holy Sh*t! version of the practice. Or scroll to the steps below.
The Candle: What do I appreciate, respect, and honor?
BREATHE deeply into your heart 3 times.
VISUALIZE a candle (or get a real one). Notice its color, size, shape, any scent.
CONSIDER something bigger than yourself that you care deeply about: perhaps nature, family, a higher power, community, or life itself.
FEEL appreciation in your heart for that ‘something.’
IMAGINE lighting the candle (or do light it). FOCUS on the flame.
IMAGINE that the light, heat, color and glow expresses your caring.
SIT with this feeling of loving appreciation.
REFLECT: “I am devoted to _____________ and it feels_____________”
Make it Real. Demonstrate your devotion.
EXPLORE: With a friend or in your journal, share what you’re truly devoted to, and why.
CREATE: Light a real candle (or create another simple ritual) to remember your devotion. Express your caring with words, prayers, sound or movement.
MANIFEST: This week, make time to demonstrate your care for something bigger than you. What concrete actions can you take to show your gratitude?
Thank you for checking out these Indigenous-made stories. 💝 And for connecting to your own devotion. Thanks, too, for clicking that little heart and dropping a comment… It means so much to me! This post reflects a deep love for the land and people that bless my life. Be well.
More to come,
As Brave Creatives, we face Monkeys of Fear when we share our unique voices. 🙉🙊🙈 So let’s grow more support for compassion, courage, and connection. My work has been seen in Time Magazine, feature films and television, newspapers, and YA fantasy novels; and a one-woman musical on West Coast stages. HeartsQuest and Holy Sh*T! creative healing decks are used by therapists, oracle lovers, and People who Poo. 💩 More at HeartsQuest.com. 💗