**Taino Illustration by Ferni Vazquez "Let the Waters Bring Forth"
ART- the use of skill & imagination in the production of things of BEAUTY
RaheNi Gonzalez I'naru is a Two-Spirit Boricua Taino Ceremonial Prayer Warrior, Healer & Activist. They have spent the past 20 years focused on healing and learning how to transform trauma, chronic illness & suffering into beauty, love and a higher consciousness. In 2014 they spent a year of living a mostly solitary life, off the grid in the forest of Mendocino County, which profoundly impacted them and the deep relationship they have with nature. RaheNi is committed to healing the earth, the waters, our indigenous ancestors and the collective wounds of colonization, modernization & industrialization. They have taught meditation in prisons and to women with cancer. As a caregiver, they have helped many in their journey to the other side. They have completed a year long Mindfulness Yoga & Meditation Training, a year long intensive in Commit to Dharma and a year long intensive in the North American Nonviolent Communication Leadership Program. RaheNi has over 2 years of accumulated silent retreat practice, they have completed 4 traditional vision quests & 20 years of ceremonial and meditation practice. They are a Master Gardener & an Indigenous Permaculturist.
2018 Highlights
The entire month of October was spent in my ancestral land, Boriken (Puerto Rico). Myself & my partner Myrna Caban Lezcano were the healing artist residents at CEPA. We offered 2 Queer Circles of Meditation, Prayer & Song. One of these circles also included a sacred pipe ceremony. I gave many limpias to beloved community members & helped create a medicine garden! Below are just a few photos of this healing justice journey & here is a link with full details: Community Healing in Boriken
Flyer by Myrna Caban Lezcano for the Queer Moon Circles we offered at CEPA
Happy Boricuas after a full moon Pipe Ceremony
Our Altar
Working in the garden at CEPA
After lots of work we left the space with some young medicinal plants that will grow & care for the community
Altar for August 2018 "Presencing Circle" - Meditation, Sacred Songs & Plant Medicine. Co-facilitated with Myrna Caban Lezcano of Flor y Machete
Altar by RaheNi for "Sanacion de la tierra, el cuerpo y los ancestros" a day of Yoga, Meditation & Ritual. Co-facilitated with Lilia Roman of Olin Yoga liliaroman.com
2017 Highlights
Altar for one of the QTPOC Meditation Prayer Circles RaheNi held in the Redwoods of the Oakland Hills - Summer of 2017
Playing flute for the QTPOC Meditation Prayer Circle
2016 Highlights
#aguaesvida RaheNi spent two weeks at the Oceti Sakowin Two Spirit Camp, supporting the Standing Rock Sioux, protecting the water, and fighting the Dakota Access Pipeline from November 22nd to December 4th.
Photo by Marie Kyoko Morohoshi, Dec. 4th 2016 - Oceti Sakowin Camp, ND
In October RaheNi travelled to Spain to participated in The Truth & Reclamation Pilgrimage. The pilgrimage was a journey toward healing and restoration. A ceremony, a part of a much larger vision toward restoration and healing for Indigenous people and people of African descent in the Americas. A collective of women from Turtle Island (America), who walked in the footsteps of Christopher Columbus. The pilgrimage started on Indigenous People's Day, Oct 10th in Cordoba, Spain, where Queen Isabela & the Catholic Monarchy decided to fund Christopher Columbus' voyages. The walk took about 2 weeks and ended on Dia De Los Muertos/Day of the Dead at the coast of Huelva, Spain, where Christopher Columbus set sail.
- We walked to educate people about how this history continutes to impact our lives
- We walked to bring healing to the ancestors & the collective trauma of colonization
- We delivered a letter to the Archbishop of Andalucia, inviting Spain and the Catholic Church to give a public apology to Indigenous Peoples of the Americas and People of African descent who live in the Americas.
This prayer walk was held in solidarity with both the Standing Rock Sioux who were fighting the Dakota Access Pipeline and the Black Lives Matter movement.
The following people led the pilgrimage: Caro Acuña Olvera, RaheNi Gonzalez I'naru, Vaschelle André and Alicia Lueras Maldonado.
- We walked to educate people about how this history continutes to impact our lives
- We walked to bring healing to the ancestors & the collective trauma of colonization
- We delivered a letter to the Archbishop of Andalucia, inviting Spain and the Catholic Church to give a public apology to Indigenous Peoples of the Americas and People of African descent who live in the Americas.
This prayer walk was held in solidarity with both the Standing Rock Sioux who were fighting the Dakota Access Pipeline and the Black Lives Matter movement.
The following people led the pilgrimage: Caro Acuña Olvera, RaheNi Gonzalez I'naru, Vaschelle André and Alicia Lueras Maldonado.
Group Selfie, Truth and Reclamation Pilgrimage, Almote, Spain - Nov. 2nd, 2016 Dia De Los Muertos
