An Ode to Madeleine
Dragon 🐉 Letters # 67 Growing up 🏳️⚧️, I often felt like I was born into a parallel universe
I hope this message finds you weaving your own unique tapestry of time and passion. As we stand at the threshold of another year, I'm reaching out to share something deeply personal and invite you to a journey that has been a lodestar in my own life.
In 2006, the first time I ran for Petaluma City Council my head was shaved. I had been shaving my head for over 10 years. I dressed fairly ambiguously in my genderfluid way.
I came in 6th out 6 for 3 seats with about 3200 votes.
As I continued to build credibility with a commitment to run again, some of the politicos decided it would benefit us all to run together to attempt a progressive majority.
The handlers arrived to convince me to dress the part. Grow my hair, wear more formal, (femme) attire. And they brought someone in to show me how to wear make-up “to accentuate my features for television.” Wink wink, nod nod.
Two years later on a slate with the moderate front runner endorsed by the the Mayor, I received nearly 11,500 votes and beat out the two women Republican incumbents with my progressive platform to become the first Latina elected to Petaluma City Council.
There were many good things that came out of this sacrifice for my community. And it felt like a death of a thousand cuts.
Very soon I will be submitting my request for name change and gender reassignment. It will begin a lengthy legal process that includes reissuing my passport and updating my Mexican residency.
This feels very tender and scary to share. And if this leads to some unsubscribing, that’s probably for the best.
Words do not convey what this means for me. If you’re as excited for me as I am and would like to support this life-changing occasion, I’m running my 4th annual Boundless Vision Retreat. (more deets below)
If you’re unable to attend, but would like to support this gender-affirming journey (and my 52nd birthday yesterday), you can donate here:
Embrace Transformation and Ancestral Wisdom at the Boundless Vision Retreat 🌌 🌿
Growing up, I often felt like I was born into a parallel universe, like Camazotz, the planet of extreme conformity and uniformity in A Wrinkle in Time (from my favorite series by Madeleine L'Engle).
The rigid, linear construct of colonial time, like the powerful, disembodied brain known as IT that controlled the people of Camazotz, never resonated with me. It was like wearing a garment tailored for someone else - constricting and alien.
This dissonance was further amplified by my neuroemergence, a vibrant part of me that I felt required to mask to survive in a world that wasn’t built for people like us.
I remember the countless moments of feeling out of sync, watching the world move to a rhythm that jarred with the beat of my heart. It was a journey of navigating a world that often made fun of my dreams and visions.
But in this challenge, I knew my difference was valid.
Boundless Vision emerged from this personal quest - a retreat to embrace our authentic rhythms, to decolonize our perception of time, and to celebrate our unique paths with the guidance of our ancestors.
It's more than an event; it's a sanctuary for souls seeking alignment with their true nature, away from the confines of a clock that ticks without understanding our internal tides.
On December 30th, as the sacred Cholq'ij calendar aligns with 13 Kame in the trecena of Ix, we stand at a profound moment of connection and transformation. On this day, the veil between our world and the spirit realm is at its thinnest, inviting us to commune deeply with our ancestors and embrace the wisdom they offer.
It is a time when the spirits of those who walked before us are exceptionally close, providing us with strength and guidance to confront and transcend our deepest fears.
The Boundless Vision Retreat, set against this powerful backdrop, offers more than just a gathering; it is a portal to profound change and revelation. The energy of 13 Kame brings forth the potential for significant shifts in our life paths, urging us to be open and receptive to the transformations that unfold.
This is a day to honor the journey of our souls, to remember and thank our ancestors for their enduring wisdom, and to step boldly into the higher aspects of our being.
Join me on this auspicious day for an experience that weaves together the potent energies of the cosmos with our collective journey towards enlightenment and growth.
Let us gather to harness this extraordinary moment, where the boundaries between worlds blur, and the path to our true selves becomes illuminated by the light of ancestral knowledge and the courage within our hearts.
Boundless Vision Retreat - Saturday, December 30th, 9 AM - 1 PM Pacific Time
On December 30th, I invite you to join me for the 4th annual gathering with others who walk this path of awakening. Together, in the span of four transformative hours, we will:
Dive into the essence of true leadership - leading not just with ambition, but with heart, integrity, and a deep connection to our collective purpose and ancestors’ wisdom.
Explore the disciplined art of inclusive goal setting, where our aspirations are grounded in wisdom and a profound understanding of the rhythms of life.
Explore the Anumi concept, aligning our intentions with natural cycles and rhythms.
Expand our horizons, drawing upon the vastness of our visions to see beyond the immediate, into a future rich with possibility and passion.
Craft our personal Massively Transformative Initiated Purposes (MTIPs), rooted in our deepest passions and wisdom.
Share stories and strategies to unmask our true selves in a world that often demands conformity.
This retreat isn't about learning a new way of planning or goal setting. It's about reclaiming our time, our narratives, and our right to exist in a world that wasn’t made for us.
Befriend time, liberate your flow, and center your revolutionary body of work.
This retreat is a sanctuary for those who are ready to lead, to create, and to transform. It's for executives, entrepreneurs, writers, politicians, activists, and all who feel the urgent call to shape a new world.
It's a call to those who walk the liminal spaces of Nepantla, to BIPOC, decolonizers, anti-racists, neuro-emergents, 2Spirits, QueerAF, trans, enbies, feminists, and all who dare to dream of a post-hegemonic culture.
This is not just a retreat. It's a rebellion against the cis-heteronormative, imperialist, white supremacist, capitalist patriarchy (h/t bell hooks and Laverne Cox).
Join me in this intimate and powerful gathering. Let's unite our energies, our visions, and our spirits in a collective dance of liberation and creation.
Link to Register/More Information
Spaces are limited, as the journey we embark on requires focus, commitment, and a shared resonance and I wish to keep this experience intimate and personal. If this resonates with you, I encourage you to reserve your spot today.
Let’s Chat!
Today I’m announcing a brand new addition to my Substack publication: the Dragon 🐉 Letters subscriber chat.
This is a conversation space in the Substack app that I set up exclusively for my subscribers — kind of like a group chat or live hangout. I’ll post short prompts, thoughts, and updates that come my way, and you can jump into the discussion.
To join our chat, you’ll need to download the Substack app, now available for both iOS and Android. Chats are sent via the app, not email, so turn on push notifications so you don’t miss conversation as it happens.
How to get started
Download the app by clicking this link or the button below. Substack Chat is now available on both iOS and Android.
Open the app and tap the Chat icon. It looks like two bubbles in the bottom bar, and you’ll see a row for my chat inside.
That’s it! Jump into my thread to say hi, and if you have any issues, check out Substack’s FAQ.
New Year Readings $222 off!
Book a reading before the end of the year and get $222 off.
TikTok’s I’ve enjoyed
(This is a curation, best to watch them in order. If these don’t get you on the decolonial side of TikTok, I don’t know what will!)
Learned about the term Necropolitics today. This book (The Right to Maim) summarized here blew my mind.
Speaking Indigenous languages changes you.
Indigenous cooking wisdom (BTW wounds from cutting avocados is a thing)
My presence challenges your comfort…
It’s natural for you to be overwhelmed…
The silence over the destruction of Palestine culture and history compared to Notre Dame Fire 🍉
Nitric oxide is central to the teachings I provide. Mouthwash destroys Nitric Oxide in the gut biome…
You are not your brain. Your brain is an organ. It needs rest.
Brilliant! Replace Goodwill with Mutual Aid Centers, owner-ran coop.
It’s a brown-throated thrush…
The cutest thing you will today 🦥
xo Ixchel
P.S. The Boundless Vision Retreat is more than an invitation; it's a rallying cry for those ready to live in rhythm and flow with the cosmos. If you feel this call, register now. Our time is now. Feel free to reach out if you have any questions or thoughts.
P.P.S. Citing is a feminist and decolonial power move (/ht to Kelly Diels for making that an anthem). If you've gained insights and shifts from my work, please remember to cite me and share Dragon 🐉 Letters with a friend. Not citing is a form of epistemicide.
💖 Your consent matters. In alignment with the consent marketing method developed by Feminist Marketer Kelly Diels, this email is an invitation to my Boundless Vision Retreat. If you wish to no longer receive Dragon Letters (via Substack) or my offerings, then you can unsubscribe from my offers and invites on Substack and here.
I’m on Threads (where I’m sharing my favorite TikToks, musings, and links over there too)!
If you enjoy these posts, please support by becoming a paid subscriber.
Your Sanctuary to Cultivate Wild Presence for Thriving with a Planet in Transition
I was raised and bore children on the traditional, unceded, and stolen lands of the Coast and Central Valley Miwok (colonized as Petaluma, CA) and Nisenan (colonized as Sacramento and Fair Oaks, CA), past, present, and future. I also write, work, and live down and to the left of Huitepec in the highland forest of the traditional, unceded and stolen lands of the Winik Atel (Tzeltal) and Batsil Winik’ Otik (Tzotzil), past present and future, in what is known as San Cristobal de Las Casas, Chiapas, Mexico.
P.S. I do not live or consent to the colonial impositions regarding the construct of Time. I also practice honoring rhythms of work, play, and rest, so that I can serve you with embodied presence and with loving care. This means I may take several days to respond to your requests and questions. (h/t Eva Glamaris)
P.P.S. A mention is not necessarily an endorsement of someone. It's an acknowledgment, a citation, of the origin of information in my process of understanding. (h/t Kelly Diels)
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