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Stepping Into Your Most Authentic Self

Owning Your Mental Health Rituals

It’s Never Too Late

These streets (both IRL and URL) are filled with holiday bustle, but we're here as a reminder that you're allowed to step away and slow down as much as you need. How can you nurture your mind, body and spirit? How can you find more time to set intentions this season?



**1. Treat yourself to a new holiday recipe**

Whether it's an old or new recipe, take the time to create something special that brings you warmth and pleasure. This is the time for you to indulge in tastes and notes that spark delight. You can find recipes to your favorite warm holiday drinks from these recipes developers and food bloggers: [Murielle Banackissa](https://www.instagram.com/muriellebanackissa/), [Monique Polanco](https://www.instagram.com/peaches2peaches/), [Mariam Hamdy](https://www.instagram.com/mariamhamdy/)

Start with some delicious recipes we love:

* [Vegan Egg Nog](https://minimalistbaker.com/easy-vegan-eggnog/)
* [Caramel Apple Cider](https://www.food.com/recipe/hot-caramel-apple-cider-78607)
* [Chai Spiced Tea](https://www.teaforturmeric.com/masala-chai-recipe/)

**2. Create a to-do list of "slow" hangs with friends**

Take a moment to assess all the ways you're excited to spend time with people you love this season. There are so many activities (virtual or in-person) you can do with friends or chosen family to unwind and relax.

* Make holiday cards for friends and family. You can purchase holiday cards from these BIPOC owned brands [Aya Paper Co](https://ayapaper.co/), [YayDay Paper Co](https://yaydaypaper.com/) or [Clap Clap Designs.](https://clapclapdesign.com/)
* Swap music playlists: You can check out [](https://tidal.com/)Tidal's Black Holiday Music [here](https://tidal.com/browse/playlist/c80df1f1-2a39-400f-bcad-973110eb4268)!
* Watch something new on [Black Film Archive](https://blackfilmarchive.com/), [kwelitv](https://www.kweli.tv/?locale=en) or [Slay TV.](https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCOeNedFYkuMEVpbj_RqSmfg)

**3. Journal your new year manifestations into reality**

Put pen to paper and give life and spirit to your dreams. Where do you see yourself in the future? How can you achieve your personal and professional milestones? Be as abundant with your thoughts as possible. These writings are small ways to check in with yourself over the next year.

* What am I thankful for in this very moment?
* What am I looking to bring into 2022?
* What dream projects do I want to start working on?

Slowing Down This Holiday Season

3 Tips for Nurturing Your Creative Practice

Five Tips For Support with Seasonal Depression

Here We Meet, Again

“Hope is a woman who has lost her fear.” -  Alice Walker

The Color Purple, by Alice Walker, explores race, feminism and queer love and should be on everyone’s reading list.  If you’re anything like me, you’ve read this book cover to cover more than a couple of times. Lucky for you, I have created a reading list that explores similar themes around sexuality, written exclusively from the point of view of feminist writers of color. Here are 5 Books on Sexuality all written by women of color:

## Pleasure Activism, adrienne maree brown

A NYT bestseller that explores the politics of feeling good. In their book, adrienne brings in Black feminist teachings to touch upon social justice and healing as resistance. According to the author, many people who don’t fit the norm of society are denied pleasure and how prioritizing their sexual wellness is central to our activism. This book highlights sex work, climate change, race and gender to sex and drugs. You can follow adrienne’s work [here](https://www.instagram.com/adriennemareebrown/?hl=en) and buy their book [here](https://www.akpress.org/pleasure-activism.html).

## What a time to be alone, Chidera Eggerue

You might know internet sensation, Chidera Eggerue by their pseudonym ‘Slumflower’, but what you didn’t know is that they are the founder of #saggyboobsmatter and the author of this incredible book on exploring single life. Much of society’s emphasis is around coupling up and being sexual within the confines of a romantic relationship. However, in their book, Chidera brings in proverbial teachings from their Nigerian heritage to highlight the importance of prioritizing the self and platonic relationships. You can follow Chidera’s work [here](https://www.instagram.com/theslumflower/?hl=en) and buy their book [here](https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/what-a-time-to-be-alone-chidera-eggerue/1128305625).

## Bodymap, Leah Lakshmi Piepzna-Samarasinha

A must read for every poetry fan. Leah Lakshmi Piepzna-Samarasinha is a Sri Lankan queer disabled femme-of-colour. As one of the finalist for the Finalist, Audre Lorde Award in 2016, Leah Lakshmi explores themes of sex, lesbian love and disability. Bodymap introduces a profoundly refreshing narrative around  intersectional feminism. You can follow Leah’s work [here](https://www.instagram.com/leahlakshmiwrites/?hl=en) and buy their book [here](https://www.mawenzihouse.com/product/bodymap/).

## Body is Not an Apology, Sonya Renee Taylor

Another NYT bestseller written by Black feminist Sonya Renee Taylor in which they celebrate the body and all it’s changes. The book is a result of a radical social justice movement that centers on that very theme, a digital community founded in 2011. Through their online platform and book, Sonya is a thought leader on self love, body empowerment, and global intersectionality. You can follow Sonya’s work [here](https://www.sonyareneetaylor.com/) and buy their book [here](https://www.sonyareneetaylor.com/books/the-body-is-not-an-apology-the-power-of-radical-self-love-h2x6p).

## We Have Always Been Here: A Queer Muslim Memoir, Samra Habib

Winner of the 2020 Lambda Literary award, Samra writes about their personal journey of marriage, abuse, racism and queer sexuality. In this memoir, she talks of growing up in a muslim refugee family in Canada, and how she escaped an abusive arranged marriage. Samra bares it all, highlighting cultural influences on sexuality and how coming out was not just an act of rebellion but a way for them to find their truest self. You can follow Samra’s work [here](https://www.instagram.com/samra.habib/?hl=en) and buy their book [here](https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/565780/we-have-always-been-here-by-samra-habib/).

5 Sexuality Books by BIPOC Women + Nonbinary Folks You Need To Read

Varuna Srinivasan on Breaking Intergenerational Trauma in the Bedroom

maya finoh On Being a Cultural Worker 

Building a Decolonized Spiritual Practice with Jordi

Bringing Mindfulness to Our Food with Arielle Simone

Sexual care is self care. It’s important to carve out time in our day to practice sexual wellness. While this may seem obvious, why is it so important to prioritize wellness? Much of what we think we know about sexual health comes from a patriarchal male point of view. It is only more recently, with a more critical understanding of sex and gender, that sexuality has become more inclusive and reframed from a queer and female standpoint.

Sexual health wellness is an expansive concept, below are some practical tips on how to get started.

## Setting goals

Different people approach sexuality differently. What works for one may not work for another. Creating a plan can help create clarity about what your individual goals are. This can include masturbating more regularly, getting in touch with your sexuality, coming out to yourself, trying out a new form of contraceptive this year or dating outside your comfort zone.

## Finding sensuality in everyday life

Sensual and sexual acts aren’t just reserved for the bedroom. Sexuality extends beyond sexual acts: it can extend to clothing, food and behaviours. Wear a sexy piece of lingerie just for the fun of it; eat some fruit, let it drip down your arms, lick your fingers sensually; massage some lotion on your feet. Go at your own pace and find ways to introduce activities that feel comfortable to you.

## Practicing mindfulness

Mindfulness meditation can be an integral part of sexual practices. You can mindfully watch porn, read erotica, and masturbate. You don’t necessarily need to be a monk to do any of these mindfully! Simply breathing deeply can exponentially increase your orgasm and finding a center of focus can alleviate any associated anxieties. In addition to mindfulness, visualization and journaling are also key pieces of practicing sexual wellness.

## Find your ritual

Incorporate little rituals in your sexual wellness plan. For example, masturbating before a shower every morning, finding time to write down affirmations about your sexual health, doing kegel exercises, stretching before and after sex, or buying from a favourite sexual wellness brand. Rituals can have variety if you don’t enjoy routines and like to spice it up everyday. Find what works for your schedule and liking!

## Prioritizing the important stuff

As much as it’s important to find time to masturbate and explore your sensuality, it’s just as important to invest time and resources around your sexual health. Finding the right contraceptive method, a more sustainable form of menstrual products and going for regular health check ups/tests are essential practices to include.

Think of sexual wellness as a map into your soul. Part of the journey is finding what works for you, where you want to go, how you want to get there, and visualizing what the final destination looks like. Remember this can always change! You may not be able to draw up this map immediately and that’s okay, what’s most important is that your sexual health roadmap is unique to you and trusting that you’ll eventually figure it out.

Digital Journal

writings and resources to heal, create, and find joy.