The work of Vanissar Tarakali has been a revelation for me. It is a pleasure for me to work with her and learn from her. (In) social justice education, and undoing racism work, in particular…too often, the emotional heat of honest (but re-traumatizing) conflict, confrontation and catharsis has been embraced as an end in itself, when what we really need more of is the light of deeper solidarity, of recovering wholeness, of resurgent creativity, resourcefulness and personal power.
We need tools to help people socialized to be oppressed and oppressors (all of us) to recover our full humanity and our power to see the full humanity of each other, and work together to serve the healing of the human family. Vanissar’s work represents a very new approach. With intelligence, courage and passionate compassion, her embodied approach to fostering activism and alliance-building work opens a way for the kind of deep shifts in the nervous system that allow resourceful changes. These nervous system shifts support activists to do social justice work with more enjoyment, inner peace and power. I am especially excited by Vanissar’s wisdom in dealing with issues of shame, powerlessness and other blocks to liberation by engaging the body powerfully, gently and with refreshing simplicity. Victor Lee Lewis, MA, EFTCert-I
Social Justice Educator & Social Trauma Specialist, Berkeley, CA
Vanissar approaches her work on allyship with compassion and a deep understanding of the role of trauma in perpetuating oppression. Her focus on the body helps people move through the work in a way that goes beyond mere intellectual understanding. She took the Earth Activist Training group into some deep places. Starhawk, global justice activist & cofounder, Reclaiming, San Francisco, CA
I appreciated Vanissar's grounded and focused presentation at the Earth Activist Training in January 2010. She modeled positive "female authority" in her wise and confident transmission of challenging material, while listening carefully to participants of varying ages and opinions. Good job! Vicki Noble, feminist shamanic healer, author, scholar & wisdom teacher
In the multicultural Bay Area, saturated with many “diversity,” “anti-oppression” and other “experts,” Dr. Tarakali’s work stands out because of her fierce commitment to developing powerful allies, her grounding in leading-edge multicultural theory, her blending of ancient wisdom and contemporary practices, and her insistence that transformative work be embodied into our lives in pervasive and lasting ways. This rare combination of attributes let me to invite her to convene and co-lead a healing event, co-sponsored by shadesofequality.org for those traumatized by the struggle against Prop 8 (the anti-gay marriage ballot initiative in CA). Her naturally collaborative style, thoroughness, depth of knowledge and skills, and networks helped make this a truly outstanding event. She convened a group of highly-skilled multicultural somatic-practitioners, and with them co-designed and co-delivered a stunningly effective workshop. Every single participant rated it highly and wanted more workshops like it.
I count myself fortunate to be able to work with Dr. Tarakali. If you have a chance to utilize her services, by all means do! Lawrence T. Ellis, Spiritual Teacher and Activist, Executive Director, Paths to Change Institute; Founding Executive Director, Shades of Equality, Oakland, CA
Vanissar, I wanted to thank you for doing your Embodying Your Allyship workshop as a Catalyst fundraiser.I have been hearing from a number of people that they really got a lot out of your workshop. Doing it as a benefit is really thoughtful of you and so appreciated! Thank you for all that you bring to this work. Ingrid, Catalyst Project, San Francisco, CA
I came to the Embody Allyship workshop wanting to understand what happens in my body when I am held back on my allyship. What are those fears about?
I came to the Embody Allyship workshop wanting to understand what happens in my body when I am held back on my allyship. What are those fears about?
That day I saw how white supremacy is like having a car accident on my front door step every day. I realized how numbness is an obvious and sensible reaction to that disaster, to my intense and frightening rage, helplessness and sadness about it. I learned that my way of going numb is to go to my head (to dissociate, I guess) and in the days following the workshop I realized that this is how I've repeatedly responded to trauma and violence.
It’s empowering for me to be more connected to this process and to be able to observe it happening. I find this new awareness acts as a kind of break or wedge, inserting a bit more choice into what is an otherwise automatic numbing reaction. Chanelle, white anti-racist activist, Toronto, Canada
I am the director of Seminary of the Street, a nonprofit that helps people develop their ability to transform systems, structures, and communities so that they serve the flourishing of all life.
I came to Embody Your Allyship wanting to bring some renewed attention to my allyship: I noticed that it was often hard for me (and other white folks) to be fully present and to listen when a person of color gave me feedback regarding my participation in racism or my use of power and privilege. This limits my ability to move into authentic relationship with people of color. Since the workshop I have had several opportunities to receive feedback from people of color, and have been better able to hear it because I have used tools learned in the workshop to bring attention to what is happening in my body and come back to being centered. It is very useful to be able to hear feedback without getting locked in defensiveness or shame. This work gives me so much hope!
I found that Vanissar somehow communicated a kind of unconditional acceptance and compassion that is very rare, especially in this work. She holds white people accountable without reinforcing shame. Nichola Torbett, Executive Director, Seminary of the Street, Oakland, CA
Buddhist Unlearning Racism Workshops for White Allies: Participant Quotes: “I find the practices presented to be extremely appropriate and helpful in sustaining a commitment to anti-racist action in the face of resistance (fear, doubt, etc) when it arises.”
“I feel that I am much more comfortable with and committed to and motivated to seek out other white anti-racists and build coalitions to do this important work. I feel that it has become central to my life and being.”
“The course gave me the courage to do community building outside of the group. I have a much better ability to articulate what white privilege is…and to understand the impact that racism has on people of color.”
“I actually feel like we made an anti-racist community, rather than just talked about how to….The course, in a relatively short time, planted seeds within me that I can now foster and nurture. I have resources, skills, tools, awareness and commitment.”
“What really worked for me was feeling safe and feeling like everyone’s experience was honored and appreciated. That, and the enormous resources and thoughtfulness that went into this course.”
“This class has been a vehicle to faster growth for me…what I feel I have learned the most about is what racism is, and how it manifests, and how I can connect emotionally with that reality to become active…I will not be able to passively accept racism now and in the future…I am more able to see and work with race issues as they manifest in my life.”
“The course’s exceptional balanced approach—examining racism on micro and macro levels, was effective. Every member of my course expressed commitment to continuing to self-educate, to deepen spiritual practice, and to engage in “outreach” in personally meaningful ways.”
Sustainability & Self-Care
Emotional First Aid
The night I took the Emotional First Aid workshop I took with Vanissar, I realized that smoking was a hindrance to my emotional healing. The awareness practices helped me see that, for me, smoking had served a protective purpose for many, many years, providing emotional safety by acting as a container for strong emotions. I realized smoking was holding me back from healing. While smoking served as a container for my emotions, it was a false container. This realization inspired me to quit soon after, and the gunk started pouring out, emotionally, spiritually, and physically. This is a new beginning; I am ready to begin a new year a new way. Robert Haaland, Elected Member, Democratic County Central Committee; Co-Chair, SF Pride at Work, San Francisco, CA
I came to the Emotional First Aid workshop having worked with Vanissar before. I really trust her knowledge on how to work with the energy body in a healing way. I liked the openness and candor of this workshop. Because of the safe, supportive group atmosphere I felt safe to be myself and express myself. I came away with some simple tools that I feel can bring up quickly, even in tough situations. Lyndsay Barrett, Oakland, CA
Energy Healing Classes
In working with trauma survivors, I continuously search for ways in which to deepen my listening—to my intuition/the wisdom of the universe and to those with whom I work. Vanissar’s energy healing workshops have provided me with practices which help me cultivate this depth.
I appreciate the way in which Vanissar invites participants to voice what learnings would be relevant and useful, and skillfully encompasses each person’s needs and goals into her workshops. Each workshop is a balance of information presented, developing skills through hands-on practice, and giving and receiving feedback.
I walk away from each workshop with practices that I can immediately apply, both in my work with clients and for my own personal healing/growth. These practices may appear simple, yet they are powerful. What I have learned is effective in helping me to return to center and stay grounded while bearing witness to difficult stories and emotions. This helps me be better at facilitating a client’s healing from trauma. Teresa Gee, San Francisco CA
I came to the Energy Healing classes because I wanted to find out why I didn’t love myself and what I could do to change it. I was feeling so down all the time I felt like there was no way out and that I would never heal.
In class I have experienced tremendous support to acknowledge the truth—no matter how bad I thought that truth was. I feel as if I have the space to discover my core; the things that make my heart beat.The work is providing me with more compassion for myself than I’ve ever had and the self judgment is being uncovered. It’s scary sometimes, but I find a certain comfort in Vanissar’s classes that helps me to deal with the fear and work through it...enough to see the roots. I am learning, through these courses, to trust what I see and to have my own back.
The major shift for me has been in the area of my job and how I had been relating the people around me. I was very unhappy and unfulfilled in my work.
The energy classes enabled me to focus my energy on healing this area of my life and create something different for myself. This has changed the situation dramatically and now I have a supportive team, a very caring boss and a pay increase. Ikeena Reed, Social Work/Non-Profit worker, Oakland CA
I decided to participate in the workshop to gain insight, tools and support in dealing with the stresses of work as well as personal life issues of difficulty. I appreciated feeling connected to others going through the same difficulties and challenges in a safe space, and I gained tools that I can apply to working wih clients and partners within the Non-Profit sector. Setting healthy boundaries at work with clients and co-workers and using these techniques to manage work stress and relationships hugely helps in maintaining my overall health and effectiveness in the field. U.E., Non-profit employee, Oakland, CA
I appreciated the safe, supportive space Vanissar helped create because it allowed for more intimacy and trust to exist, and made me feel more capable of learning something new. Spending so much time with hands on practicing allowed for integrating and confidence building learning. I came out of the class ready to practice energetic tools for myself and others, and clearer around how to engage in healing work. I feel clearer and more grounded in my ability to be in relationships with people, as a healer and friend, while maintaining healthy boundaries. Sarwang Parikh, Therapist-in-Training, Child Behavioral Coach, San Francisco, CA
I learned a lot during the workshop. Having awareness of my boundaries and remaining grounded is essential in the work that I do. I see energy healing as a tool to help me maintain my ability to do my work, thus remaining energized vs. succumbing to burn out. I appreciated Vanissar’s knowledge and honesty with the material, and the pace of the meditations was perfect. I was able to actually get something out of the experience. Vanissar checked in with where the group was "at" and conduct the workshop according to the participants needs. It had structure, but was fluid at the same time. Alyx Banyan, Oakland, CA
I came to class hoping for some personal healing and some skill building in self-care and working with others. On a personal level, I have noticed surprisingly profound changes in myself. I find these workshops work well in deepening and focusing my work in therapy. The classes have given me confidence to do energy work, and tools for grounding, compassion, clearing my energy, and working with other’s energy. Vanissar is extremely intuitive, and seems to tailor each class to the needs of each participant throughout the session. She is compassionate, kind, gentle and clear. Jess Katz, Oakland, CA
Coaching for Change
Vanissar was recommended to me by a friend because of her wealth of personal experience with energy healing, trauma work and spiritual growth. I've always felt seen, accepted, and understood in our work together. Vanissar has encouraged me to recognize the inherent wisdom in my body's natural reactions. This has been the backbone of the healing work we've done together. Learning to validate and accept my body's processes, I've learned to take a proactive role in my healing, and to remember, in my day-to-day experiences that I am responsible for my healing.
As a result of my work with Vanissar, I am coming to trust myself and know the wealth within me, and to make room for this story in my life. When I am grappling with fear and feeling like a victim, I am able to tap into the wisdom Vanissar has shared with me and take positive, supportive actions. "Sweetheart" Oakland, CA
I began somatic coaching with Vanissar to work on sexual assault issues, because talk therapy wasn't working for me. Somatics has made some huge shifts and resolutions possible for me as it works with my body which is where the memory of my assault lies. I am now able to relate more easily day to day with others and loved ones. I am able to say yes and no more consciously and accurately.
I feel good about the work we do; I find Vanissar is able to hold and say the things that I may not be able to see at first, and to help me acknowledge my successes and appreciate what it takes to shift the way I interact with the world.
In my work setting at the mental health center, this work has enabled me to be calmer. I am able to work in more challenging situations with more confidence. I have found myself better able to assist clients in learning how to manage their anger and intense emotions. I trust my intuition more, which enables me to listen and sit with my clients in intense situations. This in turn models new ways for my clients to handle situations. Its a wonderful thing to have someone skilled and passionate walking the path with me to find a happier relationship with myself. Vanissar has been a great guide. Sscot, Mental Health worker, Santa Clara, CA
Working with Vanissar as a somatic coach is making a huge difference in my life. With her support, I am steadily clearing old traumas and limitations, and stepping powerfully and gently into more and more freedom and self-actualization. Vanissar is sensitive and versatile in responding to each moment at hand in our sessions, and she is skillful at helping me navigate important, uncharted territory in my unfolding process. In her presence, I go in deep, and come out grounded. Her level of integrity invokes trust and inspiration.
I offer low-cost and free yoga instruction and massage therapy as part of a team of holistic healthcare practitioners in community clinics throughout San Francisco. Working with Vanissar greatly impacts my ability to provide a safe, welcoming space for people of diverse socio-economic, racial, and ethnic backgrounds, as well as with people with chronic illness and disabilities. Having experienced her groundbreaking, embodied approach to social justice work, I am able to connect with more awareness to the people that I serve, and meet their needs more effectively. Kate Ramsey, Community Yoga Instructor, San Francisco, CA
Vanissar has taught me so much about working with the hard feelings and emotional blockages that can come up when we begin to investigate our personal participation in institutions perpetuating racism, as well as the importance of diligent self-awareness and compassion when we encounter trauma in our daily jobs. I draw heavily on my training with Vanissar as I continue to lead consciousness-raising workshops and self-care trainings at the small health clinic where I work on the Texas side if the Mexico-U.S border. Thank you, Vanissar! Michelle B., TX