TRIGGER WARNING: This episode briefly talks about childhood sexual abuse. Please be mindful of when and where you listen to this episode.
Erin Caitlin Sweeney (they/she) is a politicized healer, lover of movement & dance, educator, storyteller, and group facilitator. They were raised in the woods on Susquehannock land, spent most of their adult life in New York City and Oakland, CA, and recently returned to the land that raised them, currently known as Lancaster, PA. Erin is a queer white person whose ancestral roots tie them to Scotland, Ireland, Germany, and France. They support white folks in building relationships of reciprocity with their ancestors and the land, while examining how white-bodied supremacy shows up in themselves and their lineages, with the intention of healing and repair. Erin believes that when we look inward with accountability, honesty, and compassion we can bring healing to ourselves, our ancestors, and show up rooted for collective liberation.
In this conversation, Erin and I discuss what ancestral healing is, the importance of reciprocity, and how systems of oppression have kept white folx entrenched in shame, ultimately perpetuating the very systems we know to be wrong and unjust. Erin offers us a unique perspective on how we can heal from our collective trauma by going beyond our whiteness, and reconnecting back to our ancestral roots, culture, and traditions.
If you are interested in diving deeper into this work with Erin, she offers 1:1 work, as well as an upcoming 6-month series called "Ancestral Stories." You can learn more here, or follow her on instagram @erincaitinsweeney
For daily content to support you on your journey, follow Eliza on instagram @elizab.well, or check out her website www.elizabwell.com.
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