“I am so thankful have been surrounded by such a supportive group of folks this past year. There was a lot of uncertainty and major shifts happening in my life and SOUL’s healing circles definitely kept me grounded and connected to community during that time. I’m so grateful to have been a part of the mutual healing process. Thank you and all of the folks in the circle for sharing your wisdom, good vibes, and love.”

— Sienna R.

“The WoC Circle came into my life right when I needed it. I was seeking a space where I could be in communion with other WoC committed to healing and personal growth. The diverse activities allow for multiple ways to engage, leading to insights that have accelerated my inner work. The Circle is a restorative community of empathetic witnesses where self-expression, compassion, and our whole selves are valued, and it has since become a monthly ritual to support my emotional and spiritual well-being.”

— Cassie Z.

“In the sky of uncertainties and grief, SOUL’s women of color healing circles were the shining Northstar that brought a creative and safe space to my life. I was able to drop in and soak up the joy of connection with the other women and femexx of color from all walks of life. We laughed, we cried, we danced. We looked at the stars, the healing herbs and overall femifested our dreams. I highly recommend this community.”

— Shabnam S.

June 2021 Circle: "Transforming in the Seasons of Self Love" 

Together on June’s full moon we explored the topic: “Transforming in the Seasons of Self-Love”.

In this month’s soul circle visited the sacred practice and ceremony of self-love. Through that lens we will explored questions such as:

What are the false narratives our shadow selves are teaching us about self-love? How does judgment, criticism and perfectionism limit us from experiencing self-love? And how might we cultivate self-love with our ancestry in the transformation of seasons?

Together, we collectively accessed the wisdom of what being women, femmes, queer, and gender non-binary people of color means as we reflected on the stories we tell ourselves.

Full moons are all about amplification, expansion and completion. This particular full moon in Capricorn comes at a time of culmination and fulfillment that was started during the Gemini New Moon on June 10th, an emotional moment of romance to prepare to plant ourselves to bloom in relationships with ourselves and others. Together we leaned into this energy to do our individual and collective healing together surrounded by the loving, healing, heart opening magic of our beloved community.

YOUR FACILITATORS:

Sonia Montoya (she/her/ella/they/their) is a movement teacher, educator, lightworker, holistic self-healer, and a fierce love warrior based in the East Bay. She received her RYT-200hr certified teacher training with Community Rizing: People of Color Yoga Teacher Training with core teachers - trainer/author Rolf Gates, RYT-500hr and meditation teacher/author, Spring Washam.

Sonia is a Chicanx/Latinx queer femme who honors her intersection of identities and desires to create inclusive brave spaces for all bodies and identities to practice movement through yoga and meditation. She returned to yoga through her own holistic self-healing journey while in recovery with a chronic illness that nearly threatened her life. In August 2020, she celebrated her two year remission milestone through healing the whole body integrating autoimmune/anti-inflammatory protocol, naturopathic medicine/acupuncture, shamanic healing ceremonies/rituals, emotional freedom tapping (EFT), talk therapy and hypnotherapy, and yoga/meditation. She gives gratitude everyday to her yoga and meditation practice for continuing to inform her healing journey and for saving her life - mind, body, and spirit.

Off the mat Sonia is a change agent in higher education with 10+ years of experience in student and academic affairs. In her former role, she incorporated holistic wellness in academic advising to first-generation, low-income, and disabled students to empower their own interpersonal development and holistic self-healing & self-care as a part of their academic wellbeing. Her current passion projects is writing her first book manuscript (nonfiction/memoir) about her journey breaking the cycle of historical generational trauma of her family’s story and their contributions in Mexican American herstory in the early Civil Right era. Her second passion is creating her first blog Warrior Fénix Movement (coming soon!) to honor and celebrate her healing journey with a chronic illness, and to share the stories of womxn of color warriors. We are not alone and our healing journeys deserve to be witnessed and celebrated!

Mona Mabengi Williams is guided by and grounded in the power of her ancestors. As a Congolese-American raised by a single mother in Memphis, TN, she believes strongly in acknowledging the strength, grace and beauty of womxn, and in particular, Black African womxn. She is a life-long knowledge seeker, an attorney, educator and yogi.

Mona, who now lives in Oakland, CA, is an avid traveler that enjoys exploring the nuances of culture, language, and identity. She believes her outer journey of travel and exploration sparked her inner journey towards radical self-love and acceptance. That journey began in earnest when she started meditating in the Buddhist tradition at the East Bay Meditation Center and practicing yoga focused on holding space for, and nourishing, people of color.

A common theme throughout Mona’s life has been her dedication to use her knowledge to unveil and invite positive change into the lives of those living at the margins of our society. As an attorney she has worked on behalf of immigrants of color and incarcerated people. As an educator, her work has centered on ensuring that immigrants and refugees enjoy a safe environment in which to learn English and acclimate to their new lives in the U.S.

Currently, Mona’s interests are focused on dismantling systems that criminalize and incarcerate youth.

“After attending a WOC full moon circle with Lotus, I knew I would be back for more. Lotus and the sisters in circle offered such beautiful, loving, gentle, and safe space. I hadn't attended many circles and if you haven't done so, you will not be disappointed by these unique, heartfelt offerings. I highly recommend taking the time to resource yourself in the company of fierce, yet tender in heart women. This is true healing. No code-switching. Pure, embracing community.”

— Amabel N.

On the path toward self development there are many tools you can use. Being in circle is a beautiful experience. The journey with other women of color in particular was a way to process the external trauma of 2020 in a safe space with other women of color who were experiencing life in similar ways. I witnessed our beginning as individuals, metamorphose into a sisterhood. We held one another’s experience with support and encouragement along the way. It’s a beautiful journey to behold and be part of and I was able to explore and get to know my emotional self in a deeper way.”

— Joann W.

“"I first met Lotus on social media and was drawn to her because of her aesthetic and open-hearted personality. In my time with her this last year I can say she has a way of creating immense beauty and flow in her life and in her offerings.

I was drawn to participate in her women of color healing circles because they are based in Oakland and I needed a place to be in a decolonized space with a feminine community.  I was impressed with her ability to hold space, create a deep container of wide experiences, and bring together such powerful and inspiring women.  

I felt connected to myself, connected to a community, and empowered as a woman of color when leaving her circles.  

I’d recommend Lotus as a facilitator and space holder to spiritual women looking for a deep dive into their self-awareness, a space to rest from the power structures that tell us we are small, and a place to find and thrive in community. "

— Natalie O.

From the October 2020 Circle: "Self Care + Community Care"

In light of this trying time and our country seemingly falling apart, we ask, how are you taking care of yourself and those you care about?

In this circle, we focused on how we are showing up for ourselves so that we can be intentional about how we show up for others.

Inspired by the energies of the season and the wisdom of the stars, we were guided by Astrologer & Tarot Reader, Coryna Ogunseitan and Herbalist & Acupuncturist Mayssa Sultan.

Together, they weaved their unique gifts of elemental meditation, movement, meaningful dialogue, and an astrological reading of this time to support us in reclaiming our power and moving forward with as much ease, grace, and connection as possible.

Mayssa and Coryna also offered beautiful and relevant journaling prompts around Self Care & Community Care (see below).

Together we were able to raise $150 for the “We Are Tomorrow’s Ancestors” WATA Fund - a community practice of reparations supporting black and indigenous people and Surfear Negra - a non-profit bringing girls of color to the sport of surf.

Learn more about Herbal Consultations with Mayssa @eyeoflotus and Astro & Tarot Readings with Coryna @houseofgoodspirits_.

From the May 2020 circle: "Strength, Softness, & Sensuality"

Sitting in the sweet softness of gratitude 🧘🏻‍♀️ this morning for this life-giving Womxn of Color healing circle Karmay Gorley of Gloetry Assembly LLC and I offered 💗. 
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The theme was "Strength, Softness & Sensuality" and we began with a guided Touch meditation from Karmay that helped us reconnect with our bodies. I guided a journaling practice where we redefined Strength, Softness & Sensuality for ourselves.

From there, we reflected on different archetypes and how each of those energies show up in balanced and imbalanced ways. We examined questions such as:

• How does strength show up in your body, mind and soul?

• How does sweet softness sing to your inner being?

• And of course sensuality, how does that look, feel, smell, taste to you?


You see sensuality and sexuality are not the same thing. Sensuality is about being pleased by, fulfilled and in touch with all the senses! And to me sensuality is about being lusciously alive! I know with shelter in place and quarantine it hasn't been easy, so many of us miss human touch. So it was healing to love on ourselves a bit using an Awakening the Senses touch exercise led by Karmay.

People came in feeling drained, discombobulated and emotional and left feeling lighter, present and restored.

SO THANKFUL for the beautiful beings who joined us and for Karmay Gorley of Gloetry Assembly for co-creating with me as my longest time friend of 17 years and a women's circle space holder herself, it was so special to combine powers. 

Lastly, a reminder to all: You are brave, you are beautiful, you are special. You matter. You are enough.