Lily and I attempted to do this on a TOTEM Tarot Tuesday Instagram Live a few weeks back, but the “ghost in the machine” did NOT want this live meeting of the minds;)
Lily is one of the main subjects of the HBO documentary series “The Anarchists”- check out the trailer here:
It is an intense documentary that left a very indelible mark on me. As a shaman, I’m overtly a-political. I think it’s all a bunch of propaganda and manipulation and coercion…you know, like a cult. That said, there are certain stories, themes and causes that resonate with me spiritually, with personal freedom and plant medicine being at the top of the list.
As the world rightfully criticized Russia for imprisoning Brittney Griner for marijuana use, many took the opportunity to remind the media that tens of thousands of people are in jail here in the US for the same “crime”. Lily is living in Mexico without identification or citizenship due to such a marijuana “offense”. Lily started using marijuana after a painful accident resulting in major injuries to her jaw and teeth- a conscious move to avoid the addictive opiates now ravaging entire communities in this country. If you watch “The Anarchists” and you see her whole story, you’ll inevitably understand and feel deep, deep compassion for a very human story. I’m also sure that you’ll also be moved by the series of harrowing, transformative events to follow.
How is it that opiates are legal and marijuana isn’t? How is it that weed is legal in many states but not all? How is it that everyone is talking about microdosing and expensive ayahuasca retreats and plant medicine is a fixture of pop culture while so many human beings sit in prison for minor possession offenses?
In this video, we talk about all of this, pull some tarot cards for Lily, and even plant the seed of a future fund-raising effort. She shows us the crystals she uses to handle stress and anxiety, and we talk runes, tattoos, and abundance energy.
Please enjoy this special TOTEM Tarot Tuesday on Substack, and stay tuned for updates. I have the tingles of a big idea. It’s not everyday that I get genuinely inspired by another human being’s journey, resilience, and optimism…but Lily is one of those incredible people.
In the interim, you can reach Lily at: https://highlyfunctionalgrowth.com/contactus/ and on Instagram at: https://www.instagram.com/highlyfunctionalgrowth/
Also, I AM attending Anarchapulco in 2023- specifically the “fork”, which is about agorism and self-reliance. If you want to attend with me, please check out the website here: https://anarchapulco.com and use promo code “TOTEM”. I don’t get a kick-back- it’s just a lovely discount for TOTEM folks as I’m going to be presenting at the fork: a discussion around shamanism and self-reliance via plant medicines, including flower essences.
And no- I don’t think I can say I’m a legit anarchocapitalist, as those folks really live and breathe that ethos in major ways that I just don’t. Nobody likes a poser. But I don’t need to be tribally identical to those I find interesting or seek out for discussion.
After all- it’s from those that are different from us that we learn the most. What a boring world it would be if we were all exactly the same. And I’m eager to dive in and learn about homesteading, growing my own food, doing business directly with other humans on a voluntary basis, getting my sea legs in crypto, and meeting a community that is, inherently and vehemently, anti-cult. In other words: anarchists aren’t really group people, and neither are shamans;)
Lily is accepting donations to her legal fund so that she can return to the United States and see her family, so if you’re interested in helping please reach out to her via her contact us page.
-Rachel
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