The symbol of honesty is the Sabe` (sasquatch) because it stands closer to the heavens than humans. Sabe` reminds us that remaining true to ourselves and accepting who we are, guides us in being honest. Honesty comes from within and should not be confused with truth (law). Humans struggle because they cannot accept the truth about themselves or the environment that supports them.

The elders say that when you are honest and have nothing to hide, your spirit is the size of the Sabe`. Live your truth, honor your gifts, and be a role model for others. Changing yourself for others only encourages others to remain closed-minded. Accepting who you are and healing yourself encourages others to heal and grow.

The patriarchal need to cover up atrocities and avoid accountability has colonized the healing process for everyone. We are all grieving deep and unimaginable trauma that impacts how we connect. It's emotional and spiritual wounds that result from the history of violence that we all have. No matter if we come from an oppressor population, an oppressed population, or if our ancestors simply witnessed the violence and destruction of the oppression.

We've been socially conditioned to view pain as a sign of weakness. We've been told to avoid feeling or looking too closely at pain. We do everything in our power to avoid feeling uncomfortable. We instead learn how to distract ourselves from it or insulate and deflect. But pain is an incredible teacher who gives us a clear signal that tells us when we need to transform.

When trauma becomes your identity, it's challenging for you to move forward. We respond to situations through the lens of our traumas & lived experiences. How someone acts with one person can completely differ from how they interact with another. It is in our nature to feed off each other's energy. Emotional triggers to energy are based on an individual's trauma and lived experiences. What triggers one person does not always trigger another. There is very little ability to have compassion for others or their survivalist behavior when we have not done the inner work to heal the trauma that has shaped how we perceive others and how we interact in relationships.

Find the courage to trust your natural cycle and allow pain to rise. Sit with it and observe any discomfort without acting or reacting. We must face our fear, realize that we are safe with our truth, and begin allowing our pain to pass through our awareness and return to the source.

Organizers are often members of the communities they support. Organizers are exposed daily to the trauma associated with the people they support. We aim to uplift and support organizers while encouraging healing to ensure the longevity of organizing work. We are what we give our attention to. A healed organizer is mindful of their focus. Healed leaders help to heal and have a greater capacity to serve their communities.