Hi! My name is Iasha (pronounced i-A-Shuh) and I am dedicated to being free.

I have many moments of being aware that I am free. I savor those moments as they are oh so sweet. I savor them by being present and/or going on an adventure, writing or creating something. I like to have something I can refer back to for moments when I am less aware of my freedom. In those moments of freedom I am relinquished of any expectations, of any worldly limiting boxes, titles or labels, of any narratives. Those moments of freedom have been so profoundly impactful to my overall well being that I have dedicated my life to expanding my bandwidth to experience that freedom for as long as possible, with as little effort as possible, and as frequently as possible.

Shame, self-hatred, fear, doubt are all normal emotions we can count on to be present as we experience life. My method to being aware that I am free is not to rid myself of negative feelings but to instead embrace myself even while they are present. This allows me to remember that I am not perfect I am beautiful (beautiful is synonymous to human for me).

My experience in this life has been that of an African American female that grew up poor and under educated in America. I literally have all the base attributes that Western society has told us to hate and look down upon. And yet, through a series of life events I found myself discovering that actually, none of those attributes are how I am. None of it is this soul that inhabits this body of the African American girl that grew up poor and under educated in America. I suspect that to be true of us all.

I of course have no proof of this, but I have a strong connection to the philosophy that we are born into lives that we are meant to understand the experience of and to learn to love the experience of, in order to evolve in our connection to the oneness of us all and with all things. To grow in our capacity for connection, love, and bliss. I find the more lovingly connected I am with my self the more connected I am with all things outside of me.

Is being free something everyone should strive for? I don’t know, but it is for me. I find it so unbearably rewarding that I want it for everyone. It’s what I want that for the people I am in close contact with. It’s a what I want those close to me to support me with.

This blog serves as a public space for me to talk freely about my triumphs, my stagnations, society as I see it. To tell stories, share my thoughts, and anything in between and beyond.

I have no intention of trying to convince you of anything. This is simply a public place to interpret the human experience. It is important for bot you and myself to be aware, I know nothing other than what I am able to interpret through my finite experience in this lifetime. I imagine we will differ in opinions, approaches, and beliefs at some point or to some capacity because of that. That is okay.

I am in therapy. I love therapy. It services me greatly and has a positive rippling effect to those I get to connect with. I appreciate the ladder. Therapy is but a tool for me to be able to see and understand myself better. It is not a requirement for accomplishing that task but it is a phenomenal tool for it especially when feeling stuck. If you can, if you are open to it. I highly recommend finding a therapist you feel safe and seen by.

Books, YouTube, and content recommendations that’s been helpful for me in my journey:

The Untethered Soul by Michael Singer (Book)

Complex PTSD by Peter Walker (Book)

All About Love by Bell Hooks (Book)

The Power of Vulnerability by Dr. Rene Brown (Book)

Bow Down by Lindsey Goldwert (Book)

Radical Ecstasy by Dossie Easton and Janey W. Hardy (Book)

Rajiv Surenda (YouTube Channel)

Dr. Mayim Bialik (YouTube Channel)

Big Think (YouTube Channel)

Anything Goes With Emma Chamberlan (YouTube Channel)

One Piece (Anime series)

Eva Oh (YouTube Channel)