Ancestral healing in the context of unlearning white supremacy and healing legacies of war and empire is a life long (and generational) journey. This class, designed for folks socialized in whiteness or in proximity to it, is a way to introduce some frameworks and practices that can bring in some rootedness and resilience so that we may journey well together towards a more liberated and connected future for all beings.
This is a 10 class weekly series that incorporates discussion, reading, somatic exercises and an independent ancestral practice research project that will be presented to the other class participants at the culmination of the series. This is a robust learning experience, with the option of reading My Grandmother's Hands, a book by Resmaa Menakem about unlearning white supremacy on a somatic level. A supplementary (optional) reading support group will be offered. You can register for the reading group here. Folks are invited to participate at whatever level of engagement that they can.
Class size is limited to 8 participants to allow for more spaciousness and more time to relate and learn from each other in the class. If there’s enough folks on the waitlist I will open another section of the class.
Here’s what past students have had to say about the class:
“Thank you Sam for this offering. I gained a space for talking through some of these things that had been heavy on my mind - that was something really missing, a space to process with white people. I hope to use these skills and tactics to grow anti-racism within myself and in the multiracial movements I'm a part of.”
“I really appreciated the facilitation/teaching style Samwise brings to classes. For example, after someone shared something personal, or after teaching something intense or heavy, they would pause, and give space for everyone to digest the information. I also really appreciated the grounding exercises, they felt super valuable. They created a space that felt comfortable to be vulnerable (which is extra impressive in an online space with strangers!). I feel like after this class I'm better at paying attention to how my body responds to new information I receive. I'm excited to be re-membering parts of me that have been disconnected.”
“ah, so much..."fellowship" (is there a better word??) around reading this book, community around moving through this heavy material in a new way; a newly understood/experienced sense of how deep digging/grief/rage must be balanced by deep joy/pleasure/wonder. I think I am still learning what I gained from this class...it's all still percolating.”
This class has been powerful and transformative each time I have offered it. It’s powerful medicine to know ourselves more deeply in these times so we can show up more embodied and authentically interconnected with the family of things. Here’s how the class breaks down:
Class 1 - Introductions and Class Overview
Class 2 - From Healthy Roots: When we were connected to the Earth
Class 3 - Disconnection: Legacies of War Trauma
Class 4 - Reconnecting Practices: Grounding in Our Bodies
Class 5 - The Gift and Poisons of Money and Class and how it Contributed to Disconnections from the Earth
Class 6 - Disconnection from our communities: Histories and Current Manifestations of White Supremacy and introduction to the text “White Supremacy Culture”
Class 7 - Pathways to Reparations, Healing and Becoming a Redistributor
Class 8 - Student Ancestral Practice Presentations - Group A
Class 9 - Student Ancestral Practice Presentations - Group B
Class 10 - Reconnection, Bringing it all together, Closing and Next Steps
This class is offered on a sliding scale basis. The actual cost of the class series is $550 per participant and tuition listed below that price are limited. Please check out the sliding scale infographic below by Alexis Cunningfolk of Worts and Cunning Apothecary and her great article about how sliding scales work before choosing a payment level.
3 Class Participant spaces are available at $350.
5 Class Participant spaces are available at $550
If you have access to more financial abundance, and want to support other students who do not have the same access in attending class, there are up to 3 Pay-It-Forward Class Participant spaces available at the $750 level.
In the spirit of practicing gift economies, at the conclusion of the class, participants will be invited to give an optional additional gift for the teachings (or Dana, as inspired by models practiced by the East Bay Meditation Center) if they are moved by joy and gratitude. I will redistribute 20% of any closing gifts to QT BIPOC Farm and Retreat space Sunday Creek Sanctuary.
The baseline cost for me to produce this offering and hold this powerful container is $4000, and I am able to hold 8 participants in each class. To apply for the class, please fill out the form below and I will contact you about the availability of the tuition level we have left at that time.
We hope that you join us for this powerful and reconnecting journey back to ourselves.
You can find the application form here.
*** Please note that due to being an independent teacher running a small business, I am not able to offer refunds ***
