Time is not linear, neither is history…

The following account of the Genesis Healing Institute’s journey is simply one aspect of its entire history- told from the perspective of its founder Nova Ren Kai-Enqú Ananda. While we hope this history offers an informative and grounding perspective, bare in mind that the complete history of Genesis lives within the hearts and minds of every person who has ever contributed to the organization.

History: Genesis Healing Institute

Since 2005, I would go to the ocean every few years and make an offering in order to set new intentions, open up possibilities and release what was no longer needed. It started as an informal, solitary conversation at the beach during difficult moments in my life. However, by 2017, the offering became a special ceremony to me and one I held with the deepest of care and intention. What I didn’t realize, was that the ocean ceremony I’d conduct in 2017 would radically alter the course of my journey.

I decided to opened up my ocean ceremony for the first time to my loved ones and broader network. I texted my circle of connections to ask if there were any offerings, wishes or intentions I could amplify on their behalf. I also posted the invitation on my social media platforms at the time. To my amazement, I received over 150 requests for support, healing and intention-setting. However, my amazement and excitement quickly subsided as I began reading people’s requests. Almost every message mentioned or alluded to suffering from chronic illness, depression, anxiety, PTSD and unexpected deaths. Many of these people were my close friends and yet, I had no idea what they were truly going through. It was both heart-breaking and humbling. I did my best to honor the mother who was battling breast cancer; the children crippled by allergies; the grandfather in a coma; the aunt who had lost her job; the cousin recovering from a car accident; the co-workers who suffered a stroke; the neighbors who struggled with insomnia; the teachers who couldn’t get out of bed in the morning. The experience was eye-opening and Earth-shattering, to say the least. I would hand-write everyone’s wishes and intentions in my journal and then spent several hours reading every single one to the ocean during the ceremony. In reality, it was those 150 people who planted the seed for Genesis. It was their love and hopes for healing and transformation which brought Genesis into being.

After the ceremony, the work I was doing seemed so inadequate for the scale of the suffering I had glimpsed. I was working as a mental health specialist & consultant at the time, and I would travel the country to provide training and technical assistance to mental health professionals as well as agencies and organizations. Though my work was impactful and fulfilling, it was also quite limited. After what I had witnessed on the beach that day, I knew that my efforts had to deepen and expand- both to heal myself as well as extend opportunities for healing to others.

On February 2018, the Genesis Healing Institute was officially launched.

HISTORY: SOUL REFUGE

Shortly after launching Genesis, I fell gravely ill. I was completely incapacitated and would end up spending the greater part of 2018 in and out of emergency rooms. Yet the medical professionals and Western doctors who treated me were unable to identify the cause or source of my condition. By this time I had lost most physical and cognitive functionality, and I was desperate to find a way to heal. With Western medicine unable to support me, I turned to my own community of healers to help me recover. I was incredibly fortunate because by this point, I had a vast network of powerful healing practitioners from across the country whom I could access. As I remained on bedrest, waves of practitioners would check in with me, put me through healing ceremonies, offer me herbal medicines and perform various forms of energy work. I had created a “healing-hub” for myself in order to advance and accelerate healing for my body, mind, heart and soul. It was my very own “soul refuge”. So when the opportunity presented itself to develop a program to help support the healing of social justice advocates of color in the Bay Area, I immediately thought: “what if anyone could access their very own soul refuge whenever they needed it?” I invited a group of highly experienced and trusted healing practitioners in the Bay Area- Erica, Adilia, Elokin, Katina, Shenaaz, Lucia, Ella, Rachel and Angelica- to help co-create the program structure. And after 7 months of planning and development, the Soul Refuge program held its first opening ceremony in Oakland on January 19th, 2019…

HISTORY: central valley healing COLLECTIVE

In 2012, I had the honor of attending the May Day March in Fresno, CA. I was marching with my dear friends and fellow organizers at the time, when one of my friends asked me if I knew someone by the name of Grisanti. I replied that I did not know her, but had seen some of her work through social media. My friend told me that I “had to meet her because we would have so much to discuss”. My friend was right! Grisanti and I met at a park where the march procession ended. We began with the normal pleasantries, but the conversation quickly turned to the topic of healing. We sat at the park for hours talking about the need for healing and what could be done to respond to the trauma felt across various communities- especially in the central valley. The seed was planted. It would take 6 years, however, before we’d be able to move this vision forward. Shortly after launching Genesis, I called Grisanti and asked if she was still interested in building out a healing initiative in the central valley. Not only was she interested, she already knew who she wanted to invite to form the core committee! On April 8th, 2018, the Central Valley Healing Collective’s core committee- Grisanti, Marsha, Yenedit, Angela, Boo, Lorena and Crissy- held its first meeting…

HISTORY: LIFEFORCE INITIATIVE

In 2019, I was seeking a therapist to help me integrate new spiritual lessons as well as address lingering trauma, stagnation and fear. I began my search as many do- online. I had a clear expectation of the type of practitioner I was looking for, given my experience training mental health professionals throughout the country. I was seeking a politically-conscious mental health practitioner of color who incorporated holistic wellness practices and who understood the spiritual aspect of any healing journey. I searched within well-established databases and directories to see if I could find a good match. I scrolled. And scrolled. And scrolled. And scrolled. And to my dismay, simply finding a practitioner of color was a challenge! Though I knew in abstract how much the field of mental health lacked diversity and intersectionality, it wasn’t until that moment that I realized how pressing this gap was. I called upon five therapists whom I believed already embodied a decolonized and spiritually-centered practice. Together, Lalis, Tobirus, Helen, Angelica and Johana began to brainstorm what could be done to help advance access and effectiveness of mental health care for people of color and other marginalized communities. Our discussions led to the creation of a conference focused on cultivating a new generation of mental health practitioners of color. And on September 8th, 2019, the Lifeforce Conference opened its doors…

HISTORY: kinship Rising festival

The story for Kinship Rising is still being written. Stay tuned…