How do I engage in liberation work when I feel disconnected from my cultural roots?

Liberation Lessons: Actionable Advice for Radical Change A Weekly Paid Subscriber Bonus

Dear Liberators,

For many of us, the disconnection from our cultural roots is not just a feeling—it’s a wound. Colonization, forced assimilation, and oppressive systems have severed countless people from the languages, traditions, and stories that once defined their communities. This loss is profound, touching not only our identities but also the sense of belonging and connection that anchors us to ourselves, each other, and the earth.

Cultural loss is not just the erasure of practices—it is the silencing of ancestral voices, the displacement of generational memory, and the severing of ties to the cycles of life, community, and spirit. This disconnection leaves a void, a grief that can feel overwhelming and difficult to name. But grief is not just sorrow; it is also an invitation to transform—to remember, reclaim, and rebuild.

The solstice, marking the longest night of the year, holds profound lessons for this journey. In the peak of darkness, the solstice reminds us of the cyclical nature of life and the inevitability of light’s return. It is a time to honor what has been lost, to sit with the stillness and silence of the void, and to plant the seeds of what we wish to grow. Just as the sun begins its slow return after this night, so too can we nurture the light of healing and reclamation, even in the face of immense cultural erasure.

Reconnecting with your cultural heritage is an act of resistance, healing, and renewal. It is a reclamation of what colonization and oppression tried to destroy. By grounding ourselves in the practices, stories, and wisdom of our ancestors, we honor the resilience of those who came before us while contributing to the liberation of those yet to come. This solstice offers a sacred opportunity to reflect, release, and reclaim—to acknowledge the darkness while committing to the light of transformation.

In this Liberation Lesson, we’ll explore how to embark on this deeply personal and transformative journey of cultural reconnection, using the LIBERATE framework to guide us. Together, let us plant the seeds of renewal, remembering that even the smallest light can break the deepest darkness.