Join Samwise Raridon, Community Herbalist, for the sharing of healing stories exploring why we are where we are in relation to capitalism, whiteness and separation from nature. Together we will consider the histories and traumas of colonizer descended peoples so that we may grieve and feel into them with the support of the collective, and then offer potential pathways for meeting and healing these wounds. In the spirit of the wisdom offered in My Grandmother's Hands, this class offers an opportunity for people in relationship to whiteness to feel deeply into the grief of these histories, to begin metabolizing them so that the traumas of whiteness no longer get passed to the next generation, and to imagine cultures of repair, reparations and more beautiful futures that do not necessitate the exploitation of anyone. This class was designed by weaving together the wisdom from three texts -- My Grandmother's Hands by Resmaa Menakem, Sacred Economics by Charles Eisensteinand Witchcraft and the Gay Counter Culture by Arthur Evans.

This exploration will be broken down into three sessions where we can observe these histories-- the body, the earth and the community.

The first class will explore historical stories that illuminate why white people have become separated from their bodies and will offer space for participants to share their experiences as well as useful tools for reconnecting with the body (as shared in My Grandmother's Hands).

The second class will focus on how we have become disconnected from the earth, particularly exploring the role of money in this disconnection. Participants will have space to share grief and reflections. Together we will explore reconnection practices that reimagine how we relate to the earth, the plants, and to our economic system.

The third class will weave together the previous two classes and focus on the role of whiteness and racial oppression in our current context. We will explore the question of how whiteness has served the economic elites, and what we can do now to disrupt the trajectory of white supremacy. Together we will create space to grieve these histories, and explore pathways to continue to uproot white supremacy. We will also focus on economic practices that not only do not necessitate the exploitation of others but encourage the flourishing of our most vibrant and alive gifts.

Please do come for all three sessions as they build on each other. In the spirit of these teachings, these classes are offered on a gift economy, meaning that these teachings are shared freely as a gift so that everyone has access to this priceless knowledge. If you are inspired by gratitude to give a return gift to the teacher, they are graciously accepted, as gifts from students and clients sustain Samwise's livelihood so they can continue teaching and offering accessible healing wisdom and medicines. There will be a space for gratitude offerings at the end of the class.

This class is a 50/50 fundraiser for Freedom Community Clinic which offer free healing services for Black and Indigenous people provided by POC healers.