Journey Works
More than just therapy
The singing and drumming have already begun. It’s been a journey to get here. So many sacrifices were made to cleanse and prepare myself with intention and love.
Madrinha mouths a prayer as she prepares the sacred sacrament for me. I see love in her eyes as she hands it to me. I inhale its dense forest smell and drink, taking her in fully, as grateful relief washes through me.
I slowly dance my way over to Padrinho, who cleanses and blesses me before he blows a tepi of Rapé into me while I inhale it long and deep—clearing my third eye, so I can see. Suddenly overwhelmed, tears of gratitude spill out of me.
We are dancing. Singing. Madrinha is moving through, sweeping away the dark spirits and pain as we dance with her. Light opens the clouds, peels back the trees, and washes all through me. Sweat and tears burn holes in fire skin. Letting enough dark out and more light in. I move through. Pain. Pulling it out from deep in my chest, blowing it into the fire to be cleansed. Love. This way too. I draw you in, then exhale you to the wind. Releasing all expectation of you.
I begin dissolving and reassembling. My bare feet feel the earth enter me. It moves through my veins and begins to turn me green. My skin is shimmering iridescence in colors I have no language for nor have ever seen…