Within the field of care.

The goal of the community is to make sure that each member of the community is heard and is properly giving the gifts [they have] brought to this world. Without this giving, the community dies. And without the community, the individual is left without a place where [they] can contribute.

Sobonfu Somé, The Spirit of Intimacy: Ancient African Teachings in the Ways of Relationships

Within the field of care, all beings are entirely resourced. I am creating from this field as I try to dismantle within myself the influence of the capitalist economy, which makes all forms of care transactional. To do this, I am learning to practice the gift economy and transformative community care. I am also returning to my Liberian ancestral roots of village caretaking (which has always been my way of living, to be honest). I want all of my work to be accessible, and I want to make sure I have my basic needs met. I offer some of my work at no cost, and I also never charge beloveds for my caretaking as a community birth worker.

In this season (March 2026 and May 2026), I will be traveling to Chicago for 2 weeks and Charlotte for 2 weeks to serve in the capacity of a birth and postpartum doula to my beloveds. I do not charge them for this care (this is a part of how I show up, and they deserve this care). This will mean my needs for housing, food, airfare, on-the-ground transportation, and miscellaneous expenses for supplies and materials.

There’s so much to learn about care and the gift economy, so I decided to sit with the voice of Spirit for guidance first. I am in ongoing practice and dialogue with the Spirit Way to guide me to a deeper understanding for the benefit of all beings. As a living and evolving being, I hold these reflections (below) as living and evolving as well. If these beliefs resonate, please support my work below.

I offer these reflections with openness and ask, if you would like to adapt any of this for your own work, please let me know or lift up my name when you do. I also would love to hear from you if any of this resonates.

- Care is a relational experience of the Spirit Way. Care is nameless, yet grateful to be named. Just call it. We get to know it by many names. By many sensations. Just allow yourself to know it. Care wants us as much as we want them.
- All is not lost. We are all. We are not lost. We can find our way. We are finding our way back to each other and the power of bare-heartedness. We are not stuck where we are. We can, and will, figure this out. Figure this in.
- Can we be willing to trust in the benevolence, abundance, and vision of the Spirit Way? The Spirit Way believes in us, hurts with us, wants for us, and needs us. We are the overflow, the bounty, and the beauty needed for whole living. We are capable of giving and receiving care unceasingly, lovingly, and deeply.
- Wanting to be cared for is not wrong. Having needs is the most natural experience of being. We want and need. We are wanted and needed. A hand that is out is a holy act.
- There is a quality of heartache that forever exists in the experience of care. A broken heart is a full heart. A broken heart is an illumined heart. A broken heart is a strong heart. Let us practice not shutting down in the face of broken hearts.
- We can rest our heads on the lap of care. We are warmed by the fire of care as we are called home and whole.
- We are created to care for each other. We are created to care with each other. The care we are called for goes beyond our understanding. It is OK to practice this. Over and over, let us return to this practice.
- It can be scary to care fully and be cared for fully. If asking binds the throat, what can we begin to listen to?
- Our relationship with all beings (human and more-than-human) will be transformed through the work of care. We can witness this in our lifetime. Let the work be done through us all to its completion.
- There is enough for all of us. Care comes to us all in aligned ways. All needs, for all beings, can be met.
To begin your unlearning around the influences of capitalism, I suggest tapping into:
Kazu Haga, Jen Lemen, Toi Smith, Worts and Cunning, and The Spirit of Intimacy.
I’ll add more resources as my unlearning continues.

Within the field of care.

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