The Village that Holds Us

Sometimes, healing doesn't arrive as a breakthrough, but as a feeling of being safe enough to soften. A feeling of being held. On June 14, I attended a collaborative Shamanic Sound Bath with Hapé and Blue Lotus Tea facilitated by Dany Kaye of Rå Holistics. It was my first experience being served Hapé by another person, and I walked into the evening with equal parts curiosity and nervousness, not entirely knowing what to expect.

AI-generated illustration of a ceremonial setup inspired by the practices described in this journal entry. The image depicts a collection of ritual commonly associated with this type of gathering to help visualize the atmosphere and elements of the experience, as I did not photograph the ceremonial space out of respect for the sacred nature of the gathering and the privacy of those in attendance. The illustration is intended as an artistic representation rather than a photograph of the actual event.

Jaguar Medicine

Before I even arrived, something interesting had been happening.

Throughout the day, I kept noticing jaguar symbolism appearing in unexpected places. I didn't think much of it until it came time to choose a Hapé medicine. Among the different blends offered was Jaguar Medicine. The moment I saw it, I smiled.

Sometimes our intuition notices patterns before our minds do.

I chose the Jaguar blend, a medicine intended to cultivate full-body grounding and presence. Looking back, it felt exactly like the medicine I needed at that time.

Dropping Into Stillness

The evening began with introductions before we settled onto our mats. A soft cloth infused with lavender rested gently over my eyes. Crystal singing bowls, Native flute, voice, and other instruments slowly filled the room. The sound became something I rested inside.

By the time Dany gently came to wake me for my turn with the medicine, I had already slipped into such a deep meditative state that it took me a moment to remember where I was.

Receiving Hapé from another person felt very different than sitting with it alone. There is a vulnerability in allowing someone else to guide you through an experience.

Dany moved with incredible patience and presence. She invited me to breathe the medicine first into my heart, then into my mind while it remained in the applicator. Prayers were offered. Florida Water was used to cleanse the space. A feather fan gently carried the intention around us.

When the medicine was served, I simply leaned back into the arms of the co-facilitator. I didn't have to hold myself together. I didn't have to manage the experience. For a few moments, I simply allowed myself to be held. There was something profoundly healing in that because I remembered what it felt like to let go.

Featured Image: Robin & Brandilyn facilitating the shamanic sound healing portion of the ceremony. Using a blend of Native-style flute, crystal singing bowls, voice, and other sound healing instruments. Photo used with appreciation to Rå Holistics and adapted from their TikTok.

Remembering Who I Am

As the medicine settled, I felt myself sink deeper into the Earth. Everything became incredibly quiet. I became aware of tension releasing from my body, especially through my hips.

I also noticed what felt like a blockage on my masculine (left) side, something I couldn't quite name, but something my body seemed ready to begin acknowledging. Throughout the experience, one message continued returning.

Be your authentic self. You are a being of love.

Not that I needed to become more loving.Not that I had something to earn. Simply that love is already part of who I am.

Then came the message that has stayed with me ever since.

You are embraced by the village.

As someone who has spent much of my life searching for belonging, those words landed deeply. But they didn't stop there. Almost immediately another realization followed.

You are part of the village.

Receiving love is only one part of belonging. The other part is becoming someone who offers it. As I sat with that realization, I recognized that while I long deeply for community, there are still moments when I hesitate to fully embrace others. Perhaps belonging isn't something we find. Perhaps belonging is something we help create.

Finding my Way Back

By the time the ceremony came to a close, I realized just how deeply grounded I had become. In fact, I found it difficult to raise my energy enough to leave.

I drank plenty of water. Shared food with everyone. Sipped blue lotus tea. Slowly, gently, I returned. The transition back into ordinary awareness felt just as intentional as the journey inward. There was no rush.

As I look back on this experience, I think the gift was remembering what it feels like to belong. To belong to the Earth. To belong to community. To belong to myself.

The Jaguar medicine was said to cultivate grounding. For me, grounding wasn't about becoming heavier. It was about becoming more authentic. There is a quiet confidence in the jaguar. It doesn't need to prove what it is.

It simply is. Perhaps authenticity is the same.

🌿 A Question for Your Journey

Where in your life do you already belong?

Not because you've earned your place. Not because you've proven yourself. But simply because you showed up as your authentic self. And how might your life change if you trusted that you are not only welcomed by the village, but that you are also part of creating it?