decolonizing creativity part 2: how to create a reality your inner child would be proud of

This month, we stand in solidarity with students across the nation, boldly asserting their collective power. Their calls for the safety and freedom of the oppressed resonate deeply within our collective spirit as we witness a real-time shift in this final month of spring.

Within each of us lies a wild, wondrous child, eagerly awaiting awakening. This inner child carries a vision and passion for our lives that still pulses within us, perhaps at odds with the reality surrounding us. What changes must we make to empower them to speak boldly?

In the tapestry of our lives, childhood holds threads of innocence, curiosity, and boundless creativity. It's where we first learn to express ourselves, to make sense of the world through colors, shapes, and stories. Our inner child, that youthful spirit within us, retains the essence of this creative energy, but often it remains wounded, stifled by the weight of systemic and family trauma and how that shows up in societal expectations. As an eco-therapist and trauma-informed coach dedicated to guiding BIPOC folks through healing journeys, I've witnessed firsthand the transformative power of inner child healing in preparing us for change, healing old wounds, and making space for new ways of being.

Rekindling Childhood Creativity:

Our childhood creativity is not just a phase we outgrow; it's a fundamental aspect of our development as adults. Through play, imagination, and artistic expression, we learn to navigate emotions, solve problems, and cultivate resilience. However, societal pressures often dim this innate creativity as we age, relegating it to the sidelines of adulthood. But reclaiming our creative essence is crucial for healing our inner child and unlocking our full potential. Life is too short for adulting to get in the way of truly living.

Art as a Gateway to Empathy and Healing:

Art has the remarkable ability to build bridges of empathy and understanding. By engaging in artistic expression, we step into the shoes of others, exploring different perspectives and fostering compassion. In times of collective grief, turmoil, and trauma, art becomes a lifeline, offering solace, catharsis, and hope. For BIPOC communities navigating the intergenerational wounds of systemic oppression, art becomes a sanctuary for resilience, a conduit for reclaiming agency and narrative sovereignty.

Breaking the Chains of Systemic Trauma:

Yet, for many BIPOC people, the journey to reclaiming creativity is fraught with obstacles. The intergenerational trauma inflicted by systemic oppression leaves deep scars, instilling beliefs of unworthiness and inadequacy, stifling our creative voices, and perpetuating cycles of suffering.

I’ve been holding these words close with my clients all spring long,

"Creativity is not just about making beautiful things; it is about curating a new reality outside the confines of white supremacy culture."

By embracing our creativity, we honor the resilience of our ancestors and embody the legacy of resistance. Our artistic endeavors become acts of reclaiming sovereignty, challenging oppressive systems, and envisioning a world rooted in justice and equity.

Unlearning and Reparenting:

To heal our inner child, we must unlearn damaging messages from dominant culture and reparent ourselves with love and radical self-acceptance. This journey involves acknowledging and healing abandonment wounds, nurturing our inner child, and creating spaces where creativity thrives without judgment.

Read last month’s blog post to learn more about how we are listening to that powerful inner voice, creating rituals of artistry, and seeking community support. It is one of my favorite pleasures as a healer to witness what happens when my clients learn to tap into their creative power - their reality starts to shift. As we enter this final month of spring, let's embrace our power to co-create a new reality.

3 Essential Questions To Be In Solidarity With Your Inner Child

1. What parts of your life need access to your divine creative spirit? Identify stagnant and stifled areas and infuse them with creativity, joy, and connection.

2. How can you bring awareness to wounds hindering a new abundant reality? Get the support you need to confront perfectionism, self-abandonment, fear, and shame, recognizing your light's brilliance.

3. How can we co-create liberation that is safe, fulfilling, and powerful? Forge alliances rooted in solidarity and empathy, understanding liberation's interconnectedness.

Creativity is a force for transformation, ancestral healing, and hope. It is a tool for liberation, a vehicle for ancestral healing, and a beacon of hope in times of darkness. Together, we can break the chains of generational trauma, embrace our inner child with tenderness, and co-create a world where all beings thrive.

To delve deeper into this transformative work, I invite you to join me in 'Dear V,' a trauma-informed community coaching space exclusively for BIPOC folx.

Tomorrow, Thursday, May 2nd, from 8:00 to 8:30 pm, I'll be facilitating a mini-art therapy session for inner child healing.

Together, we embrace our shared journey of self-discovery, healing, and liberation.

I’ll see you in the trees,

V WOODS 💚