Dee the Xatriarch is a 2-spirited, queer, multicultural Intuitive Guide. As a diasporic Boricua, xey help facilitate healing space for mainly diasporic QTBIPOC by guiding them to their innate, divine sovereignty through both collectivist and holistic modalities. Xyr philosophies and practices are rooted in pleasure advocacy, somatic wellness, ancestral reconnection, and communal interdependence. You can learn more about here work here on here Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/deethexatriarch/ @deethexatriarch.  I had the Divine pleasure in speaking with Dee, sharing our shared passion for dismantling the limiting constructs of our spiritual/cultural practices. Both Dee and I are Rican bodies, bending the rules of what is spiritually acceptable within the Puerto Rican communities. With the resurgence of Indigenous and African roots, I noticed how one-sided these practices can be in only honoring the old ways. I had a private conversation with Dee about this post: https://www.instagram.com/p/CdY2xevO-oJ/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link. It moved me so much because at the time I was having a deep look at myself in the context of my spiritual and ancestral practices.  Many of us whose ancestors hail from the Caribbean see a handful of closed practices, which I have felt wary about in my soul. I believe there is great wisdom in these practices that we can all see such as in Santeria, Espertismo, Voodoo, etc., but that is not the only way to have a sound relationship with your ancestors.  I have noticed the narcissism and egotism in the hierarchy of many closed practices. This includes those who want to reconnect with their Indigenous roots, and how putting it can be for those of us who want to reconnect with their roots. I have seen the ill effect of hierarchy placed in many spiritual practices both closed and not closed, and how it pushes people away like the church due to this "only way" type of thinking. This is all to say there is no "right or only" way in reconnecting with your roots, and many times it can be a lonely road because you don't know which way to go. When we are cast to the side or marked off before we have a fighting chance to try, it regurgitates this colonizer's wound of being less than.  The divide and conquer method from our oppressors still thrives to this day, in these repeated offenses to each other!! This is our take on this issue and dissecting it in an open-minded and objective way. By no means are we continuing this cycle of self-policing within our community, but rather bring light to this situation, as it has been hush hush for so long! We can still use these powerful tools from ALL practices of our ancestors melded into our unique and induvial practice, while still honoring them for their medicine.   That is my wish and the purpose of this conversation, and I hope this gives you the inspiration to explore what your spirituality and ancestor veneration means to you! If you are interested in learning more about my work and how I can help you in your connection to your ancestors click on the link below: https://calendly.com/ancestors-mama/platicas You can also find more of my and my work on Instagram @ancestors_mama --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/ancestorsmama/support