COMMUNITY BULLETIN BOARD
This page is full of offerings: online classes to take, communal resources, group healing updates, and crowd sourcing links for community. If you have suggestions or requests, just email them to domonique@universalmother.love
*A reminder that many of the healing people listed on the HEALERS page are group facilitators and educators that offer weekly groups and virtual wisdom shares
*Shop local this holiday season! Supporting local artists and merchants is a gorgeous anecdote to consumer capitalism! A few members of the Universal Mother community will be vendors offering medicine and treasures in various forms. . . please share and bring your friends!
“The House That Vera Built Year 4” is a fundraising campaign supporting the Cultural Association Casa De Cultura SoMovimento (CCSM) in Salvador, BahiaBrazil, created by Founder/Artistic Director Vera Passos. Vera Passos is a choreographer, master teacher, dancer, and producer whose profound relationship with Afro-Brazilian movement, music and culture richly influences her artistry and her social justice practices. Vera Passos is also a co-artistic of Viver Brasil
in Los Angeles. Vera valiantly divides her time between Salvador, Bahia, Los
Angeles, CA and the world.
“The House That Vera Built Year 4” fundraising goal is to raise $20,000
in 17 days from June 1-Aug 30, 2024.
HOW THE $20,000 WILL BE UTILIZED
>To pay off year 4 house payment to its former owner.
>To continue the ongoing updating of the building’s electrical systems.
>To promote educational artistic training for children and young people.
>Install the appropriate ventilation and air conditioning for the studios and rooms that serve the numerous classes offered to dance and music students and professionals.
>To create accessible entrances to the studios.
THE MISSION
Casa De Cultura SoMovimento’s mission is to provide an inclusive and accessible space for rich programming that includes dance and music classes, performances, choreographic seminars, rehearsal space, community engagement, and cultural exchanges. The staff must also be paid to provide the necessary infrastructure to make this beautiful cultural space function efficiently. Black artists in Bahia face constant political, social and financial challenges. CCSM does not receive local, state, or federal funding; therefore, Vera often invests her personal finances in supporting this most important cultural center. Just recently, Vera received official notice that the national government has recognized CCSM as a cultural center and, therefore, can receive individual donations.
Your generous donation is significant, tax-deductible, and appreciated.
“THANK GOD FOR ABORTION” Is a community run abortion rights and advocacy group led by Viva Ruiz. Visit their links and find out how to donate, participate, and receive care.
LINK:
https://slowfactory.earth
*Sign up for Slow Factory’s virtual classes on systematic change for collective liberation!
CONTORTION, DANCE, STRETCH & MOVEMENT CLASSES
CROWD SOURCING LINKS, PAY IT FORWARD:
https://borderkindness.org
Border Kindness began in the fall of 2018 as a direct response to the “migrant caravans” leaving Central American countries escaping the ongoing violence of colonization. From our earliest days, we have provided asylum-seekers, migrants, refugees, and the displaced with comprehensive services that include food, shelter, clothing, medical care, and legal services.
OPERATION OLIVE BRANCH
Grassroots movement to support and amplify Palestinian families in crisis.
LINK HERE:
“The liberation of immigrant, LGBTQI+ and Black communities are deeply bound together. The violence our communities suffer is rooted in white supremacy and colonization. We stand in solidarity with the Movement for Black Lives and their ongoing work for a just and free world.”
— IN PLAIN SIGHT
DONATE:
LGBTQ RESOURCES
* Hetrick - Martin Institute (Home of the Harvey Milk School) is the oldest and largest multiservice non-profit agency for LGBTQ youth. http://www.hmi.org
New York location: 2 Astor Place, New York, NY 10003
Phone: 212-674-2400
New Jersey location: 550 Broad St., Suite 610, Newark, NJ 07102
Phone: 973-722-5060
*New Alternatives for LGBT Homeless Youth provides basic needs, life skills training, case-management, education and recreational activities for LGBT homeless youth.
Phone: 718-300-0133
http://newalternativesnyc.org/contact-us/
*The Door offers crisis intervention, short/long term counseling, living skills, legal, education, as well as vocational, and recreational programs for youth 12-21.
Phone: 212-941-9090
*The Trevor Project provides crisis and suicide prevention efforts through a free and confidential helpline.
Phone: 1-866-488-7386
http://www.thetrevorproject.org
*Audre Lorde Project is a Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Two Spirit, Trans, Gender Non-Conforming center for community organizing. Through mobilization, education, and capacity-building the organization works for community wellness and progressive social and economic justice.
Manhattan: 212-463-0342
Brooklyn: 718-596-0342
*Callen-Lorde Community Health Center provides sensitive quality healthcare and related services targeted to NYC LGBT communities.
Phone: 212-271-7200
*Live Out Loud inspires, nurtures, and empowers LGBTQ youth to build a successful future by connecting them to positive role models and affirmative experiences.
Phone: 212-378-4091
ALI FORNEY CENTER
"Our mission is to protect LGBTQ youths from the harms of homelessness and empower them with the tools needed to live independently.
AFC has been heralded for our full continuum of care approach to services for LGBTQ homeless youth. AFC's founder, Carl Siciliano, was named a White House Champion of Change by President Obama citing the wide recognition AFC's programs have received for their quality and innovation."
http://www.aliforneycenter.org
ALI FORNEY CENTER MAIN HEADQUARTERS
224 W. 35th St. 15th Floor
NY, NY 10001
(212) 222-3427 (Tel)
(212) 222 5861 (Fax)
ALI FORNEY DROP-IN CENTER
(212) 206-0574 (Tel)
(212) 206-7486 (Fax)
"If you are a young person who needs help, has questions about services, or has waiting list inquiries, please contact the staff at the Drop-in Center."
LETTERS FROM HEALERS
I’ve been thinking a lot about what’s going on, and this time reminds me of when I first got out of the hospital, and my prosthetic technician told me that I would adapt faster than most because I was an artist & that artists were used to having to channel creative solutions; we are used to thinking outside of the box. . . So I’m passing it on. I know that this time feels really overwhelming and scary but when I think about the communities that I’m apart of, I think of all the times you have channeled creative solutions for events, for your art, for your inner circles, how you have jumped into motion and organized and channeled creative solutions for the collective. Many of us have literally had to save lives because friends have gotten sick, or over partied, or have gotten injured, or didn’t have family, so we stepped. I’ve seen us transform dodgy spaces into sanctuaries all over the world. I see how our ideas get duplicated and amplified into the world. Take this time to breathe, ground, listen, work your magic, and activate your webs🕸
Love,
I will be offering sliding scale readings & curated wellness routines via facetime/zoom/skype for anyone seeking guidance and support. To schedule a session email me at domonique@universalmother.love
How to Cleanse Your Space and Crystals
by Camille Langston
One of the most common questions I receive as a healer is “how and when should I cleanse my stones?” I always like to remember the elements when cleansing myself or any sacred object: Air, Fire, Water and Earth. Energy Healing Modalities as well as powerful sound vibration from instruments like crystal/metal sound bowls, tuning forks, bells, drums, etc can cleanse your space, body, and crystals.
The simplest way to cleanse your stones is using Air & Fire together in the form of burning sage or palo santo. To use this method burn a small amount of sage in a bundle form, or burn the crushed leaves in a metal or ceramic incense burner. Sage has been used as a cleansing and healing herb by all civilizations that have come in contact with it. As a member of the mint family it has amazing anti-inflammatory properties when taken internally or rubbed on the skin in essential oil form. Sage also balances hormones, promotes healthy digestion, and has been used as an astringent and antiseptic. Its always best to buy organic and local sage to ensure you’re not burning leaves covered in pesticide in your lovely home.
Palo Santo (Holy Wood) is also a potent cleanser for your space and your crystals. This wood comes from trees native to South America, and belongs to the same plant family as frankincense and myrrh. When burning palo santo take note that the wood requires more heat than sage to start burning, so you may need to hold it over a flame for 30 seconds to 1 minute at first. The energy of Palo Santo is calming and clearing, but also energizes your space and crystals with high vibrational energy. This holy wood is useful for mediation and connecting with your own Divine Presence.
When using the sage or palo santo for your stones, allow the smoke to cover the crystals entirely for a few moments. Some prefer to use a sacred feather to blow the smoke around their space or crystals, but wafting the smoke with your hand works just fine. For those that are sensitive to smoke, you can make or buy your own sage essential oil and add distilled water to a spray bottle. Use caution when spraying the solution on certain crystals as it might damage the surface.
It is important to note that after burning sage or palo santo, one should fill the space with a pleasant aroma. Think of it as cleaning out your closet and going out to replace the old clothes you no longer need. In this way, you can customize your smudging process. Perhaps you want to light a lavender candle afterwards for relaxation, or maybe you’d like to energize your space with a citrus spray. Have fun with it!
The Water element method for cleansing crystals is powerful, as water is a strong conductor of energy and electrical current. When using this technique place your stones in a container where they can soak over night or all day. Placing a pinch of salt in the container allows the water to conduct electricity and charges the ions. This is why sea water is a better conductor of electricity that pure freshwater. The electrical current assists in clearing away any unwanted energy from your stones.
Many people like to use the water element for cleansing their crystals during the full moon or new moon. During these times the moon provides amplified power to the water; Similar to how the full and new moon effect the tides. I personally find that my crystals are super
charged when I leave them in the water during the full moon, and use sage or palo santo during other times of the month. It’s best if you can place the crystals on a window sill or outside where the moonlight can shine directly on them, but don’t worry if this isn’t possible — the energy will still reach them. I like to leave my crystals out under the moonlight for a night, and in the sun for a day which allows the Yin and Yang energy within each to be balanced. Be warned that certain crystals should not be placed in water else they become cloudy and rough like selenite and angelite. Some people also prefer to leave out any stones that are heavy in metals like iron or copper for the water element cleansing, but that is up to the user.
The last method of cleansing your stones is a simple one — returning them to their birth place, the Earth! I usually use this method if I feel a crystal has absorbed an extreme amount of energy. The Earth element stabilizes, grounds and protects. Placing the crystals in potted plants also works, but it’s most powerful when placed in the ground. Be sure to leave a marker where you bury them. Use your intuition when it comes to the length of time in the ground, but I find a couple of days to a week works well with this method. Sometimes when a crystal breaks it can mean that it has absorbed too much energy, or it has served its purpose in your life. Returning it to the Earth is a way of saying “thank you” to the mineral kingdom!
Many life long practitioners also swear by the method of cleansing their bodies, space, and crystals with Sound. This technique not only cleanses, but also charges the minerals with an extremely high sound vibration. Since we live in a Universe of vibration with light being the highest vibration and sound being the second highest, sound bowls and other instruments can provide what we call a quantum leap; going from a lower to a higher vibration almost instantaneously. Within the last 5 years medical experts and scientists have been able to successfully heal damaged cells and tissues in the body by blasting the affected area with high- power sound waves. Attending a soundbath is a great time to relax and bring your stones with you for the journey. Energy Healing Modalities like Reiki, Qi Gong, and Pranic Healing can also cleanse your crystals, body, and space. You can find a list of practitioners of theses modalities and more on our Healers page.
Finally, become aware of how you want to use your crystals. Perhaps you have a few that you allow others to touch and feel, or perhaps you don’t allow anyone to touch your special stones. No matter your choice please know that the mineral kingdom works a lot with subtle energy, so they can easily absorb and emanate energy from their environment. If someone has touched your crystals just give them a quick smudge of either sage or palo santo to restore balance. The same lesson goes to crystals that have been with us through emotional traumas — sometimes it is better to let go than to hold on to these stones if we truly wish to release the experience.
My last piece of advice is to find a way to ritualize this process. I personally like to smudge myself when I come home either immediately or sometime before I go to bed to ensure I haven’t empathically absorbed anything that is not mine to carry. As stated before I deep cleanse my crystals monthly, and cleanse them all other times as needed. Ritualizing your process in this way gives the actions more power. Saying a short intention or prayer for cleansing can help, or simply taking a moment to focus on your breathing.
Happy Cleansing to you all!
IG: @reikimedicinegoddess