catching up.

I took time off in October + almost didn't make it to write this one. I've been traveling + living life in full color. I am intentionally processing my life more slowly so writing often consists of scribbles in my journal, my faithful Notes app on my phone + early morning sleepy reflections in my dream notebook. So, choosing what to share on this and other platforms has gotten increasingly harder. I'm hyperaware of our culture of overshare, instant reactions + with the ongoing crises around the world, keeping up with a monthly newsletter felt like a silly (privileged) task. Still, the affirmations from this readership (THANK YOU for reading) + my comrades have kept me motivated to continue. Consider this a catching up session, one you would have with a friend who may not share the same time zone as you so when you finally connect you're cramming to tell them all that has transpired since your last heartfelt conversation!!! :)

SPAIN - October 2023

In my September Musings, I shared with y'all that I was preparing to head to Spain with my mother in honor of her 60th birthday. On the trip, mama + I connected deeply about our family origins, on ways to hold the complex history of colonialism that plagues our own family + how to show up with wild bravery to face the challenges of today.

My mother inspires me to live fully. It was the honor of a lifetime to gift her this trip to the land of her grandparents.

Barcelona continues to be one of my fave cities! Exploring Casa Batllo remains a highlight of the trip. I was reminded to dream bigger, that nothing is beyond reach.

COLOMBIA - November 2023

Soon after Spain, I was globetrotting again - this time to my favorite destination: Cartagena, Colombia. I was joined by an incredible group of friends to celebrate my birthday. Knowing that I didn't want this to be just any birthday trip - I curated an experience for us that centered healing in community.

As of late, I've been called to sit more with rituals, plant medicines + ancient ancestral practices that support openheartedness, conscious connection and self-reflection. Through my spiritual teacher, we've been working on ways to re-introduce spiritual Caribbean, Indigenous + African practices through dance, rituals and ceremony that support my ongoing healing and evolution. As I've continued my explorations, I knew I wanted to open the door to do these practices in community with people who I loved + cared for. My birthday trip offered the perfect opening to experiment with community healing.

One of the ancestral practices I've been learning about involve ceremonial cacao. The main ingredient in our modern-day chocolate, cacao has been harvested + grown by Indigenous communities for the past millennia. In its purest form, raw cacao is revered by these communities as an ancient medicine to support with grief, loss and heartache. It has been commonly used as a way to initiate tribal ceremonies, to enhance connection with the Gods + support tribal leaders in accessing their heartspace in times of conflict.

For our cacao ceremony, we headed to Tierra Bomba, an island off the coast of Cartagena where we met with our ceremony facilitators. Our cacao was locally-sourced in the Sierra Alta region of Colombia where Indigenous communities have been producing + harvesting cacao as one of their main staples. The ceremony consisted of our group gathering + grating the cacao, choosing the ingredients to go into our cacao beverage, and setting intentions about what we hoped to birth together in our lives. We sang songs, laughed, and shared poetry while the cacao simmered + cooked in our ceremonial fire. The ceremony lasted three hours all while we hugged + held each other in dance. We reflected on the lessons learned through our lives and time together and opened up space to share our fears, vulnerabilities + what often kept us from opening our hearts to ourselves + the world.

I feel so honored to have shared this wonderful, spiritual experience with my friends. Since the ceremony, we've felt a deeper calling to ourselves and each other. I hope to continue exploring ways to further support healing in community. I live by the belief that community care is the way forward.

INTRODUCING MY NEW WEBSITE

I've been intentionally pouring more time into my craft + building out my business. I'm so proud to share my new updated website: beyajimenez.com

Here, you will find more information about my social impact + anti-racism work as a practitioner and community advocate. I'm looking forward to finding more avenues to partner with those looking to respond to the harms of the past while making way for a more connected, equitable future.

More to come on this!

website design: Joelle Riffle

I worked with the super talented, local graphic designer Joelle Riffle. She was a doll to work with and really brought my vision to life. Thank you, Joelle!!!

con amor y cari?o,

Beya