WORKSHOPS & EVENTS
Shame: White Allies Working for Racial Justice
Guilt and shame are common issues for white people seeking to acknowledge and address racism. White people’s shame about racism often shows up as behaviors that reinforce racist dynamics, including denial, defensiveness, passivity and self-absorption, the calling out of which often serves to deepen shame and limit white people’s receptivity. How can we respond compassionately to this shame without condoning the resulting racist dynamics?
Vanissar Tarakali will offer a workshop that brings theory and embodied practice together to explore white people’s automatic, shame-coping behaviors, and offers insights into why certain racist behaviors are so entrenched, even in well-intentioned white people.
This workshop, which draws on over a decade of research into the psychology of how white people unlearn racism, will benefit white allies seeking to strengthen mutual support and compassion for everyone working to transform racism. People of color who would like to recognize when racial shame is motivating white behavior are also welcome to attend. This workshop will help everyone recognize when white racial shame is operating and offer options and antidotes to support white allyship and accountability.
Embodying Your Allyship: An Experiential Workshop for White Racial Justice Allies
Once we know what we are responsible for as white anti-racist allies, why is it often so hard to follow through? Why, despite our best intentions, do we freeze up when it's time to speak up and educate other white folks, or hold back when it's time to challenge systemic racism, or get defensive when it's time to listen to people of color?
In this experiential workshop, we will bring compassionate awareness and insight to individual and collective blocks to effective white anti-racist action and community-building. We will learn embodied practices that support creative, connected anti-racist responses when situations throw us off balance. Through discussion and practice, we will empower each other to challenge systemic racism and support the leadership of people of color.
Cost: $100
Where: Temescal, North Oakland
To Register: Please contact Vanissar at:
vanissar@vanissar.com
Emotional First Aid: Soothing Somatic and Energy Healing Techniques
At this workshop we learn and practice simple techniques for soothing, calming and centering yourself or another when one of you is very triggered (anxious, panicking, angry, shutting down, etc). The focus will be on how to increase the internal sense of safety, options and spaciousness when you are triggered, so you can take care of yourself and connect with others.
The workshop includes:
insight into how trauma due to violence and oppression shows up in the body
reflection on situations that trigger us
practice noticing--early on--when you are getting triggered
verbal interventions
breathing techniques
energy healing
somatic containment practices
being an ally for another
To register, contact Vanissar @ vanissar@vanissar.com or (510) 594-6812
Energy Healing
At these bi-monthly Energy Healing classes and 1-day workshops, we work with intuition and the energy body to heal trauma in ourselves and others, use our hands to heal; develop clear energy boundaries, support each participant to develop their own unique energy healing approach; ground spiritual emergence processes; and gain insight about the impact of internalized oppression and dominance on the energy body.
Please contact Vanissar to register: vanissar@vanissar.com or (510) 594-6812
Energy Healing Drop-in Evenings
Repeats on alternate Mondays: call or email for dates
30 minute treatments by experienced energy healers
$20 drop-in fee ($15 for social justice, trauma or anti-violence workers)
Activate the healing energy in your body
Relieve pain and stress
Work on specific physical blocks & injuries
Reduce impact of vicarious trauma
Emotional first aid
Learn simple self-care practices to support your work
For more info call: (510) 594-6812
Healing Oppression and Trauma in the Energy Body
Bringing presence and attention to the body, accessing compassion, and strengthening our connection to Spirit can create a powerful foundation for facing and healing the legacies of trauma and oppression that we carry in our bodies. Using the vehicle of energy healing, we will build this foundation in community. Topics include: how internalized dominance and oppression show up in the energy body, self-care and healthy energy boundaries, grounding our social justice work; ancestor healing, trusting your intuition and finding your voice; accessing your innate power; owning your privilege.
Date: TBA