I can't believe I nearly let May slip by without a message for AAPI Heritage Month.
I've been working with my friend and colleague Katy Valentine on the Ancestors Summit that finished a couple of weeks ago, and also on the course Ancestors; Journey Towards Wholeness that starts on Thursday.
I got to talk recently with some AAPI young adults who care greatly about social justice, and I shared with them the path that led me to connecting with justice work, grounded in my cultural identity and also accountable to other communities facing injustice. I talked about Grace Lee Boggs and Yuri Kochiyama whose experiences as AAPI women led them to Black solidarity work. I talked about the history of solidarity between South Asians (particularly caste abolitionist South Asians) and Black liberationists, particularly as documented on the website BlackDesiSecretHistory.org. And I talked about how seeking out the ancestors I wanted to learn from had given me hope and encouragement in hard times.
This has been a hard season for AAPI people. I am grateful people are showing up in solidarity with us and learning that hardship on US soil is not a new thing for us.
And connecting with ancestors has also given me the gift of remembering that we are not only our suffering.
If you've read my most recent book Rebels, Despots, and Saints, you know I love the Storytelling Project Model, which reminds me that in addition to the stock story of the "model minority," there are hidden stories of how AAPI people have been exploited, invisibilized, and otherized for centuries. There are also stories of resistance, where Asian laborers joined with Black and Latinx workers to demand better conditions, or where Asian students created the political category of Asian American to stand up collectively against oppression. And there are emerging stories, where AAPI folks continue the work of resisting oppression, through things like Asians for Black Lives or Stop AAPI Hate.
I think all of us have ancestors who can push us forward.
If you'd like to delve into the subject more deeply, I'd love to see you at the class that starts Thursday (you can also catch replays if you can't make the first or other sessions). Details below my signature. :)
Either way, I hope that in honor of AAPI Heritage Month, you'll explore some AAPI history heroes/sheroes/theyroes. I hope you'll also look into which of your spiritual, cultural, and movement ancestors might offer you encouragement in your work of solidarity with the AAPI community. And perhaps consider connecting with one of the organizations I love at AACRE (Asian Americans for Civil Rights and Equality) to see what kind of AAPI work is going on today.
With gratitude,
Sandhya
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I'd love to see you at this class that starts on Thursday. (Also, this is the only time you'll come across this class for this low a price, so I hope you'll consider it even if you have to watch a couple or all of the sessions on replay.) Here's a little about it:
Join us as we delve into the top three aspects of ancestral connection:
Your Ancestral Story: Connect with the presence of ancestral spirits or guardian spirits that guide and protect your family lineage. Discover their wisdom, and rest assured, you do not have to work with individuals who were abusive or exploitative.
Ancestral Healing: Explore ancestral traumas, challenges, and strengths to uncover and address unresolved issues within your lineage. This journey of healing will lead to personal growth and a positive impact on your own life and spiritual path.
Not all ancestors are biological! Discover your cultural and spiritual ancestors from your heritage, spiritual tradition, or history. Find the heroes and sheroes that inspire YOU on your journey.
Building Your Future: The ancestral journey brightens your future and helps us build strong communities here on Planet Earth – which we all desperately need right now.
By the end of this course, you will emerge with a renewed sense of self, a stronger connection to your ancestral heritage, and the tools to navigate potential challenges with grace and understanding.
Don't miss this opportunity to honor your ancestors and embrace the wisdom they offer for your life today. Enrollment is open right now.
This is a PILOT version of this course. That means it’s the FIRST time we’re ever teaching it. Sandhya and I are committed to making a FANTASTIC experience for this cohort, and you’re invited to join us.
Since it is the first time we’re teaching it, the tuition is super low. Right now it’s available for $177, but after May 31, it goes up to $497.
And, as a special courtesy, we also have a $97 scholarship rate that is available if you need it (no application – if you need the scholarship rate, just grab it).
You can explore enrollment right here.