Reader,

You are receiving this (pre-scheduled) email while I am on a break. So it doesn’t address or reflect on anything that might be happening in the world at the moment. (And honestly, I’m really hoping nothing major is happening… because we’ve all had plenty happen already.)

Since I continue winding down for the year, I want to share with you some of the book titles I read, semi-read, or re-read this last year:

• ​Who Is Wellness For?: An Examination of Wellness Culture and Who It Leaves Behind by Fariha Róisín. Big inhale and exhale in awe …how do I even begin to explain how amazing this book is? I felt so validated reading it. Fariha breaks down how mental health, healing, and wellness—in our deeply oppressive world—are often reserved for a privileged few and what to do about it.
• ​Undoing Border Imperialism by Harsha Walia. I first read it a couple of years ago and it is -unfortunately- so relevant today. I needed this reminder that undoing oppressive systems is worth the work. (Because, yes, I felt helpless and hopeless this last year, I mean who didn’t after all we witnessed?)
• ​Micro Activism: How You Can Make a Difference in the World Without a Bullhorn by Omkari Williams. Basically Omkari tells you that there’s no one way to be an activist. Whether you’re yelling on the front lines, writing to representatives, organizing in your community, or something else entirely, it’s all valid. Because we need all of you activist therapists and healers doing what you do best.
• ​Decolonizing Trauma Work: Indigenous Stories and Strategies by Renee Linklater. This was a re-read for me, and so worth it. Read it if you haven’t! It’s about healing in Indigenous communities and working through trauma in ways that are truly decolonial.
• ​Anti-Racist Psychotherapy: Confronting Systemic Racism and Healing Racial Trauma by David Archer. Practical advice and framework for therapists and healers, like you, invested in bringing anti-racism to the therapy room and your treatment.
• ​La revolución silenciosa. Mujeres rurales jóvenes y sistemas de género en América Latina by Carolina Trivelli and Raúl H. Asensio. Yes, it focuses on Latin American Native women experiences as you may have guessed from the title. This book reminded me of home and made me more aware of anti-oppressive efforts outside my current PNW/USA reality. It highlights the resilience of Native women in rural Latin America and their fight against oppression. If you’re in Latin America, grab this book… not sure it’s sold elsewhere.

And for the new year, here’s what’s still on my to-read list (leftover from last year, because there’s never enough time to read everything!):

• The Risk It Takes to Bloom: On Life and Liberation, by Raquel Willis
• Black AF History: The Un-whitewashed Story of America, by Michael Harriot
• The New Saints: From Broken Hearts to Spiritual Warriors, by Lama Rod Owens
• Social Justice for the Sensitive Soul, by Dorcas Cheng-Tozun
• Disability Visibility: First-Person Stories from the Twenty-First Century, by Alice Wong
• What My Bones Know: A Memoir of Healing from Complex Trauma, by Stephanie Foo
• The Pain We Carry: Healing from Complex PTSD for People of Color, by Natalie Gutierrez
• We the Indians: The Indigenous People of Peru and Their Struggle for Land, by Hugo Blanco

And honestly… there’s so much more I want to read, but there’s just never enough time, right?

Even though I’m on a hibernation break, I want to hear from you:

Are there any books you've read this last year and ones you're looking forward to reading next?

Send me your answer, I’ll be so excited to read it when I’m back.

In community and in unlearning colonial healing 🔥

Silvana @ Decolonize Your Practice​

PS. You can read previous Liberatory Letters here.

PPS. I hope that your gregorian new year is off to a good start 💫

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Let's connect!