Heart - Head - Hands logo

Words Cast Spells: Spell-Casting for 2020 to Experience Grief, Temperance, and Abundance

Filed Under: Contemplative Practices, Everyday Feminism By Leave a Comment

This image invokes the idea of spell-casting with smoke and light swirling upwards from an open book. “Words Cast Spells” is written above this image, which is framed with rows of candles and a black background.

Though the new year marks a time for review and renewal, it’s often a few weeks into the year before I’m ready to set new goals via the contemplative practice of spell-casting. It’s as though I have to get out of the turbulent holiday season and new year energy before I’m ready to engage the magic of habit formation. This year (like the past couple) I’m returning to the practice of writing spells (like mantras, poems, or intentions) that I’ve learned through adrienne ... Read more ...

Eating for Justice? Why Explore Relationships with Food

Filed Under: Everyday Feminism, Racial Justice, Why Vegan? By Leave a Comment

This ad shares the webinar’s name “A Conversation about Our Relationship s with Food,” the date “Tuesday, January 28th at 8pm EST,” and the websiteaddress “Heart-Head-Hands.com.” Colorful foods are arranged along the bottom, and the background shows light gray wooden planks.

Relationships with food are tricky at all times of year, but this is especially the case in January. From the pressures of new year resolutions to weight-loss goals and fitness challenges, January highlights the swing from decadent December eating to body-shaming that’s associated with “getting in shape.” Or, in the words of a recent article by Zoe Fenson: “January is the month of body shaming. I’m tuning out.” In recent years, January has also been fashioned as ... Read more ...

Q&A with Traci Higgins: Being of Service in the World

Filed Under: Higher Education, Interviews, Racial Justice By Leave a Comment

Photo shows Traci Higgins (right) and Alexa Eason (left), standing shoulder-to-shoulder, both dressed in black.

In this Q&A post, we learn from Traci Higgins, a governing board member of Kindred since 2017 and director of human resources of the Legal Services Corporation since 2012. Alexa Eason, intern with Heart-Head-Hands in fall 2019, initiated this interview with Traci, recognizing her years of work toward social and racial justice. Alexa and Traci met through the Georgetown Scholars Program: Alexa as a current scholar, Traci as a mentor. As Alexa says: On paper Traci ... Read more ...

When Speaking Up at the Holidays Means “Complaining” and Being the Killjoy

Filed Under: Emotional Literacies, Everyday Feminism, Racial Justice By 1 Comment

This image shows a stack of books with Thich Nhat Hanh’s How to Fight on the top, a blue bookmark sticking out—all against a blue background. These books teach about “complaining” and speaking up as a killjoy.

Last year, during the holidays, I blew up (yelling, cursing, and storming off), and the experience highlighted for me the need to embrace criticisms that I’m “too sensitive,” “too critical,” and “too complaining.” On the day I blew up, I was so overwhelmed, disconnected, and worn down by systemic oppression that my body couldn’t take it. I held myself together until I couldn’t hold it in anymore: then, I released a tidal wave of rage. I’m still processing, but I’m ... Read more ...

Vegan Stuffed Dates: 4-Ingredient Decadent Dessert (vegan and gluten-free)

Filed Under: Recipes By Leave a Comment

Vegan and gluten-free stuffed dates ready to eat, scattered across a serving plate: stuffed with a creamy mixture of chocolate, peanut butter, and coconut cream.

Wanting a simple vegan and gluten-free dessert to serve this holiday season? Looking for foods that connect and fuel us, even when times are tough? This 4-ingredient recipe is a favorite in my house. I find that stuffed dates are a decadent and delicious dessert—and one that many people can eat and build relations around, across faith traditions. It’s a plant-based dish that can comfort and support, making possible liberatory work and public outcries needed now and into ... Read more ...