My Story: A Personal Experience
In my early 30s, I stumbled upon a life-changing realization: what I had been navigating wasn’t just the ups and downs of life, but deeply rooted trauma, mental health struggles, and, very likely, PTSD. For most of my life, I thought I could "fix" myself with productivity hacks, stress-relief techniques, or by simply ignoring the pain. None of it worked. It wasn’t until I dug deeper—into the confusion, pain, and silence that had defined my childhood—that I began to see the real source of my suffering.
Growing up, I was the outsider in my own home. No one seemed to see me. I questioned if I even belonged, convinced at times that I had been adopted because of the way I was treated. My home was filled with both physical and emotional violence, yet no one ever talked about it. As if to survive, we all pretended things were "normal." But my body and mind carried the weight of every unspoken word, every broken boundary, and every unresolved fight.
The moment I realized I was traumatized was both freeing and terrifying. I was finally seeing the truth, but it felt like opening Pandora’s box—everything came rushing in at once. The abuse I endured from my uncle, my mother’s dismissal of it as "discipline," the constant sexualization of my body, the verbal attacks—none of it was my fault. Yet, all of it shaped me, buried deep in my being, shaping how I saw the world and myself. I was conditioned to believe that asking for help meant weakness, and so I suffered in silence, bottling everything up.
As I entered my twenties, I didn’t yet have the language for what I was experiencing words like "trauma" or "mental health" were absent from my vocabulary. All I knew was that I was angry, anxious, and lost. I buried myself in self-destructive habits like drinking and smoking, running from my past without understanding what I was truly running from. Relationships crumbled around me, and I found myself searching for meaning—through books, movies, and anything that promised an answer to the existential questions that haunted me: Who am I? Why was I born? Why am I here?
It wasn’t until I discovered spiritual teachers like Mooji, Eckhart Tolle, and The Secret that I began to understand that healing from trauma was possible. Their teachings planted a seed, showing me that I wasn’t broken—just deeply wounded. But there was hope. There was a way to navigate through the pain.
The Impact of Trauma
What I’ve come to understand is that trauma is not just emotional—it rewires the brain. The constant stress and fear I experienced as a child put me in a perpetual state of survival, activating the "fight or flight" response over and over again. My brain was stuck in this heightened state, unable to relax or fully process life in the present. The emotional pain was buried so deep that, for years, I didn’t even recognize it as trauma.
This state of survival makes it difficult to form healthy relationships, to trust others, or even to trust myself. For the longest time, I didn’t believe I was worthy of love, happiness, or peace. I blamed myself for everything that went wrong and found solace in being a people-pleaser, desperate for validation and approval.
Reclaiming Power Through Healing
My journey toward healing hasn’t been linear—it’s been messy, painful, and full of setbacks. But it has also been full of growth, love, and the reclaiming of my personal power. As I’ve learned to name my trauma, I’ve also learned to confront it. I’ve found tools that help me reconnect with my body and soul, practices that ground me and remind me of my worth.
One of the most powerful tools has been connecting with my roots—turning to African spirituality, Hoodoo, and the Orishas. By setting up an ancestral altar, I’ve found a way to honor those who came before me, acknowledging the wisdom and resilience that runs through my veins. Hoodoo oils and spiritual tools like protection oil and love oil have become a part of my daily rituals, reminding me of my power to create change and manifest healing.
Connecting with Orishas like Yemaya and Oshun has taught me to honor my feminine energy, to embrace my intuition, and to call in protection and guidance. These practices have helped me step into my power with intention, to face my trauma head-on and begin the process of healing.
Healing Isn’t a Straight Path, But It’s Possible
If there’s anything I’ve learned, it’s that healing from trauma is not a straight path. It’s filled with moments of clarity and moments of deep struggle. But healing is possible. It starts with recognizing the wounds, with acknowledging the ways they’ve shaped you, and with taking intentional steps to reclaim your power.
For years, I didn’t know help was an option. But today, I know that I’m not alone in this journey. I know that there are tools, communities, and spiritual practices that can guide us toward healing. Whether it’s through spirituality, therapy, or simply sharing our stories, we all have the power to heal and to thrive.
Explore Tools for Healing
As you step into your own healing journey, here are some tools that have helped me:
- Ancestral Altar Kits: Create a sacred space to honor your ancestors and invite their wisdom into your life. Shop Ancestral Altar Kits
- Hoodoo Oils and Spiritual Tools: Incorporate protection oils, love oils, and herbs into your rituals for healing and manifestation. Shop Hoodoo Oils
- Orisha Statues and Offerings: Connect with the divine feminine energy of Orishas like Yemaya and Oshun by creating offerings and sacred spaces. Shop Orisha Statues
- Divination Tools: Use cowrie shells, tarot cards, and Ifa boards to receive spiritual guidance and insight on your path. Shop Divination Tools
Closing Thoughts
Healing from trauma, whether personal or generational, is a journey of deep transformation. By reconnecting with African spirituality, honoring the wisdom of the Orishas, and embracing tools like Hoodoo oils, ancestral altars, and divination, we reclaim our power and rewrite our stories. The sacred practices of our ancestors remind us that healing isn’t just about mending wounds—it’s about realigning with our higher purpose and stepping fully into the radiant power of who we are meant to be.
Take each step with intention, knowing that the path to healing is yours to define. As we honor where we come from, we open the door to where we are going, guided by the strength of those who walked before us.
Let’s continue to rise, heal, and thrive.