S6E14 - Sacred Walker
This week’s guest is Sacred Walker, founder at Kuumba Health International Coaching Institute based out of New York. She is also a mental health and mind, body, and soul health enthusiast.
At Kuumba, Sacred and her team work with ambitious leaders focusing on their mental, emotional and mind-body health often focusing on addressing issues in their past so that they are empowered to move forward from a place of strength.
We chat about:
Framing experiences as moving from “pain to superpower” and what this means for Sacred
Her approach of LOVE Medicine Coaching. Find out what the acronym of LOVE means
Meeting someone where they are in terms of readiness to seek professional help
Note from Rabiah (Host):
Sacred and I had two wonderful conversations. In the first, I was on her podcast which you can checkout online. The result of the second is this episode of More Than Work. We ended up meeting in person later on as well and she was as genuine and kind then as she was in our remote conversations. I felt empowered after our encounters and think you will feel empowered too after listening!
Rabiah (London) chats with Sacred (Brooklyn) about her work in mental, body and soul health.
Transcript
Rabiah Coon: [00:00:35] This is More Than Work, the podcast reminding you that your self worth is made up of more than your job title. Each week I'll talk to a guest about how they discovered that for themselves. You'll hear about what they did, what they're doing, and who they are. I'm your host, Rabiah. I work in IT, perform standup comedy, write, volunteer, and of course, podcast.
Thank you for listening. Here we go.
Hello, welcome back to More Than Work podcast, or if this is your first time joining, thanks for being here for the first time and I hope that you enjoy this episode and you check out some other episodes I've had. A couple weeks ago I said I wasn't gonna do this intro anymore. I wasn't just gonna kind of go right into the podcast and I decided that now I really miss doing this part of the podcast cause I think it's a good time for me to just talk about something I need to [00:01:35] uh, share with people or maybe if I wanna do promos of other podcasts, like promo swaps. And if you do hear noise, by the way, like honking horns, it's because I have not been able to get a quiet moment here in London where I live because people are just constantly honking their horns. As we all know. That makes traffic move, so, um, anyway, you may not hear it and then you wonder why I even mentioned it, but I can't tell right now if you'll hear it or not. So, um, basically I wasn't gonna do the intro thinking I could save myself a few minutes a week on the podcast, and now I'm trying to do the podcast every other week. I don't really like that too much either but the fact is, I work full time, do standup comedy and do volunteer work, and I want to make sure I'm delivering quality episodes and getting really great guests, but also having time like downtime for myself. And, I think in the spirit of More Than Work, I am just trying to make adjustments that that work for me and that will work for the listeners.
So thanks for your patience. I may do [00:02:35] episodes weekly sometimes, and I may do every other week, and just depends on how many guests I have lined up and how much time I have too. So, I'm really excited to bring you this episode with Sacred Walker. I won't talk too much about it other than tell you that I did meet her in person.
So we talk about it on the podcast at some point. I'm going to New York and she's in New York, but I did get to meet her. She actually, she, she's a person of her word. She showed up at one of my gigs in New York when I was performing at The Tiny Cupboard. That was really awesome. So I don't really get to meet people from the podcast in person too often, and that was really awesome and special.
So anyway, thanks for listening. Thanks for being here. And if you take away anything from this beginning part, it's just that setting boundaries takes work and figuring out what those boundaries are takes work and so that's why there's a little bit of flex on the podcast right now, and thanks for understanding.
I'll let you get to the episode now.
Rabiah Coon: So everyone today, I have a guest who was [00:03:35] actually recommended by a previous guest and we got along really well. So Naketa Ren Thigpe n was on the show quite a while ago. And we've been in touch here and there and she's brought me Sacred Walker.
So I'm happy to welcome her. She's CEO of Kumba Health International Coaching Institute and mental health and mind, body, soul health enthusiast. And that was a lot for me to get through, but we'll talk about all that means. So how are you doing, Sacred?
Sacred Walker: I'm wonderful. It's good to, good to see you Rabiah. How are you?.
Rabiah Coon: Good. Good. Thank you. So where am I talking to you from?
Sacred Walker: I'm calling in today from Brooklyn, New York. And I'm so excited to be connecting with people tuning in from all over today.
Rabiah Coon: Awesome. I think just really, we'll start out with what your Institute is and just talk about that and, and, and how you founded it and what you're doing there.
Sacred Walker: Yeah. Sure. So, we've been around for over a decade and we focus on working with those who are excellence driven, usually ambitious leaders who want to, because of they've had something from their past that was painful, or they've had something in their [00:04:35] family that was a health challenge and they wanna do something different than the way that they kind of were raised or grew up.
So we kind of tend to work with underdogs around their mental health, their emotional health and their mind body health so that they can be the powerhouse they are. And, um, we tend to work really aligned with people who are the one of something in their role. So they're executives or their entrepreneurs, and somewhere along the way, they're like the became an island of one.
And so they're at the place where they're like, they hit that glass ceiling, they broke through, but they really wanna connect with others. And so because of that, we build online communities that are focused in, on self love, self care, and. So that they can connect with one another so they can thrive.
Rabiah Coon: Amazing. And so how did you get into doing this, this work? I mean, I know I've read like, and we talked about, you're a minister, an interfaith minister for one thing, but your coach and you do kind of a lot of different things. So how did you get into this specific work with these kind of people?
Sacred Walker: [00:05:35] Yeah, absolutely. So I started out at first to be honest, working with those around mental health, I was doing one on one in private. And I was combining my background of drama therapy and mental health therapy with interfaith ministry, because sometimes people come to healing because they're like, yes, I'm ready to get support from a therapist.
And other times they just really need something that feels very soulful. They need something that's gonna feel like they can really get that holistic approach, something that honors their faith background. And so I had enough people who felt like their faith and their healing went hand in hand that I really kind of focused in on that.
But what I kept finding was that they really were experiencing transformation in our work. They were sleeping better. Their headaches were starting to go away. They started to have less stomach issues because they were stress eating less and noticing they were communicating clearly with their partner. But their stress was still high because the work environment they were in was actually [00:06:35] really stressful.
And what they realized was, yeah, this is great that I'm, you know, transforming my. But what happens when I go back to my workplace and that's actually the source of my stress. So we began to do works where we began at first to work with individual. And then we started going into their companies and helping them function better, helping them to understand how do you work with someone who has a partner who is L G B T, right?
Or how do you work with someone who is of a culturally different background or of Muslim background? And you don't cause them stress just by them being who they are, right? And so eventually we said, you know what, it's great that we can transform their workplace, but how about we help them build. So when they leave work, they can connect, they can exhale and they can take care of themselves in a new way.
Rabiah Coon: Yeah. Well, and what's interesting about what you said about people who maybe are working in an environment where they're maybe the only L G B T person. Or the only person of color or something that can be a lot of [00:07:35] pressure and a lot of pressure in different ways that I've seen at work now. Um, or in the last say two years when there was definitely more of a reckoning than, than there had been before, at least among I'll just say among white people, you know, and I, I saw it put pressure on coworkers who like maybe someone who's black and they're the only person now. And they are suddenly the person who's supposed to be representing everybody for the people you work with. And that's really, I can see how that's really hard. There's a big difference between like inclusion and belonging too. And I think that's like a big one that I learned was you can include people, but do you make them make sure they belong also?
Sacred Walker: Right. Exactly. Exactly. And I think that that belonging makes such a difference, but you have to first feel like you belong in your own skin, right? You have to first feel like you belong and you feel safe inside your head, that the inner critic up here isn't louder than the people outside of you that are saying, Hey, help me understand what it is to be a lesbian. Or help me understand what it [00:08:35] is to be Afro-Caribbean right.
If you, sometimes you have to have that inner resilience and so we're actually about to launch something called Executives at Ease and it's for executives and entrepreneurs so that we can be in spaces where you don't have to explain yourself. You don't have to tell somebody, Hey, this is what we do in the bedroom, because it's none of your bees wax, right?
Hello. As a black lesbian myself, right? Like you don't have to take that time to really have to be on. And you can really experience transformation and self-care in a new way. So it's gonna be a self-care immersion because I just realize that sometimes you can't focus on yourself if you constantly are feeling like the critic in the world and the critic up here are saying the same thing, , you know, you know, sometimes you need a little break, you know, you need a little time to just TLC and then you can be like, okay, wonder woman, let's go. Powerhouse, let's go back in the world. But sometimes you need a moment to just recoup.
Rabiah Coon: Yeah, no, that's true. And I think I, yeah, definitely [00:09:35] have experienced where I thought what I was thinking everyone else was thinking. And then it turns out they weren't actually. It was just me doing it and me putting all this pressure on myself and when people. You know, found out what I had to tell them they were fine.
And it was just me the whole time, you know? And it's just, it's an interesting thing to go through that and to, to reckon with that. So, yeah, you're right. It's, it's a matter of both, really.
Sacred Walker: Yeah, it is definitely a dance. I think that's one of the things that I loved in our first conversation. I remember when I was listening to you and just hearing about your journey and hearing about how resilient you are, you know, it just, for me was so refreshing to know that you've overcome so much and then you have poured it into comedy.
Like I call them like a pain to superpower, you know, journey to be able to see like, what are the things that we've overcome in the past that didn't stop. Right. And it could have, cuz they've stopped a lot of other people and how do we transform that and still show up and actually show up even better, you know?
So I was like, oh, this is [00:10:35] this, this sister's badass. I need to be on her. I need to be on her podcast. I just felt that. I just felt like so refreshed by just hearing your story just off the bat.
Rabiah Coon: Well, thank you. I appreciate that. And, um, and yeah, and there's, there's always more to the story too, but it's just, you know, you find the ways to share what, what you can at each time and what impacts you. And I guess like, so for you, is there something that brought you to understand that you could help people in these areas because of what you've gone through yourself?
Sacred Walker: yeah, no, absolutely. I would say that for me personally, my pain to superpower, um, story was that like I lived through the Crown Heights riots, like growing up
Rabiah Coon: Um, Hmm.
Sacred Walker: You know, the Caribbean communities that were both Jewish and Caribbean and seeing the strife there. And then later on, when I came out, you know, being of L G B T and also Afro-Caribbean, It just felt like you couldn't be both and. It felt like I [00:11:35] couldn't find a space there either. And then later on down the line, and even when I came out as an entrepreneur, I felt like a lot of people didn't get that. I remember telling someone once that I was gonna be a therapist and they were like, are you gonna be helping people work out?
Like, are you gonna be helping people do stretches or build their muscles? And I had to teach that well, actually it is a different muscle, right? It's the emotional muscle. It's the muscle that we oftentimes underestimate how we can really transform the world when we take care of ourselves, how we show up.
So I had so many situations that I felt that. And actually recently I was in a situation where I was being gaslighted and I didn't even know, right? That I going through this experience where someone who I was in collaboration with, who I thought, you know, we were in one path, kept saying one thing, but was doing another.
And it wasn't until I actually ended up taking them to court like literally I had to be proactive and took them to court that I realized, oh, this is triggering my [00:12:35] stuff from the past where I felt like the little girl in me wanted to cower back. And I was like, you know what? I have a choice. I have a choice of letting the underdog in me, stand up and say no more.
Or I can shrink back because I'm afraid of what if no one believes me, right? And so that's, for me, that's a real thing. So I think I've had all these moments that made me realize, you know what, for me, anyway, my soul mission is God calling me to say, you know what? You've been called to this. I've put you through all these different experiences. Use those things for your greater good and help other people do the same.
Um, so I tend to attract people who are like me; who are service oriented, who care about the world. But sometimes if they're not careful, they're taking care of everybody else because they're used to being the underdog so they're taking care of everybody else and don't often take care of themselves.
Rabiah Coon: Yeah, I can see that. And yeah, because [00:13:35] you don't learn to do that sometimes when you're surviving, you're trying to please everyone, or you're trying to just defend against like yeah people even gaslighting you or whatever went on in your home so that, that makes total sense. And so then, um, you coined the term love medicine coaching.
So do you wanna talk a little bit about what that means?
Sacred Walker: Sure. So love is an acronym and L stands for living your principles, meaning that sometimes you get clear that what your principles are and what you've been doing all along are different. You're like, oh shoot, I'm in this job. Like I had someone I worked with that was a journalist and she started doing a lot of click through bait uh, kind of articles.
And she felt like she was really tired of just writing more pop culture things. She actually really wanted to write about advocacy and human rights. And so we were able to position her as an expert online in her niche. So she actually got a promotion because once she got clear about these are my [00:14:35] principles, all of a sudden she started living out loud in a clearer way more confidently, and then she was able to level up, right? So I believe like living, living your principles helped you level up level up. Then, O is for opportunity, right? It's like, okay, I recognize that I am the. Right. Like, I am my own differentiator as we say in business. So what is the opportunity that I am being presented as, and how do I step into it?
V is for turning vices to victory. Like I'm a recovering shopaholic. I was the queen of like putting on these power suits, showing up in these board rooms. And even when I showed up in some of those spaces, I literally had, I remember once I was in I'm a, you know, a member of a certain chamber that I will not speak the name and someone passed me their coat and said, ma'am, can you please hang this up for me?
And even though I was in my power suit, they assumed that I was the person putting away the coats because I couldn't possibly be the executive that was actually the keynote for the evening, right? And so for me, those are vice to victory moments that I remember, [00:15:35] I, I was spending on the outside because I felt like a fraud on the inside because I was like, oh my gosh, if I just had the right suit on, then they wouldn't treat me that way.
And I realized, wait a minute, that's not on me. That's not on me. So how could I actually show up in my power suit? But sometimes I didn't need to buy 50 power suits and actually feel like a fraud on the inside. I can do that work with a therapist or a coach so that I can actually be victorious and actually shift that spending. And now I can spend that money on taking myself on a vacation after I did the keynote versus feeling like you talking to me in that way was my fault because sometimes we mistake the outside voice for the inside voice. That is vice to victory. And E is emerging in your unmatched potential. Like recognizing that you are one and only you and the way I see it, that spirit in whatever way and name you call it, whether it's Jehovah, whether you call it, you know, Messiah, whether you call it Elohim, you know, whether you call it Baháʼí. Like whoever you move with, whatever faith you move with, that we get a chance to [00:16:35] say that you are emerging in your unmatched potential.
And then that's how we stand in love.
Rabiah Coon: Hmm. Yeah, that's really cool. And I mean, it's a lot. I'm sure anyone listening and when, when this is posted, I mean, will really have to think about it for a minute, you know? Cause I'm, I was like kind of reflecting on those things and I think especially it's interesting that journalist living in her values because I think that that helps so much when you can, when you're brave enough to say what they are sometimes too, because sometimes your values won't align with what you, your beliefs about yourself are even, and, and then you have to work really hard to change those just to be living in your truth, but, and, and yeah, not chasing money necessarily sometimes to, to live in that. I think the younger people are starting to do that, where they're making decisions based on their values, not based on everything else.
And I think people my age and older, um, didn't do that for a while so it's a, it's a learning curve, which is interesting.
Sacred Walker: Absolutely. And depending on your family, too, like if you come from a family that [00:17:35] says one thing is valuable than the other- and sometimes be honest, there have been plenty of folks that I've worked with that have gotten clear on their values and realized they were undervaluing themselves.
That because they were so afraid of really standing in their truth, or maybe they stood in their truth and sometimes got knocked down, they were able to call in, well, actually this is how much I'm really worth and if I speak into it and I show that I, you know, have that value, then I can call in more than I currently am.
And they've actually called in books. They've been able to ask for promotions. They've been able to start their own businesses and they ended up making more on the other side of working through with the L.
Mm-hmm . Yeah. Have you found there's one aspect that's just generally more difficult for people or does it just vary by the individual?
You know what, I would say the biggest thing that I find in kind of taking people through the love medicine method is the habits that stick. So sometimes people come in. The biggest thing that I find is that people know that taking care of yourself is [00:18:35] important and they know that self love is important, but being an "executive at ease" means that you have regular habits that you stick with. That's the biggest thing. Or even identifying, yeah, I know that technically me stress eating and two in the morning is gonna actually make me exhausted and not have enough energy for the day. I know that, but, uh, it's within reach and I'm tired and I just wanna quick snack, right? But it's like understanding the deeper issues sometimes when we unpack it some more, we. Oh, this is why I just want comfort food. Like I know when I, my mom transitioned, I started craving oxtail. Now, mind you, I'm a pescatarian right there. Usually I'm not eating beef. And I was craving oxtail. And I was eating oxtail and my stomach started hurting and I was feeling sluggish, but I was like, this oxtail was so delicious and there's nothing wrong with eating beef for those who do, but there was something I was craving.
And when I began to do my own work, I realized, oh, I'm just missing home. I'm missing the comfort of home.[00:19:35] So sometimes habits can experience a breakthrough when you understand where do those habits come from. And then when we begin to do the work one on one, or in Masterminds, we realize, oh, habits can actually stick when you understand what's driving them.
So then you go back into the driver's seat. But I would say that's the biggest thing is helping people to create consistent habits. And then we hold them accountable for those habits so that you can thrive versus feeling like you're sabotaging or depleting your energy.
Rabiah Coon: mm-hmm. Yeah, cuz then you've taken away the negative thing too about. The person who's eating at 2:00 AM or whatever. And they're just saying how bad they are, the food's bad or whatever, but it's just really, oh, this is why I'm doing it. And this is where I'm not fulfilled. And this would be a habit that would fulfill me instead.
Sacred Walker: Exactly. So then now I have a habit of maybe I'll eat oxtail once a month, but I'll also light a candle in her honor. I'll also take some time to go to the water and walk alongside the beach and give honor to my ancestors in my tradition.[00:20:35] And I'll take a, a moment to center myself. And then in that all of a sudden insights will come.
That's actually how executives at ease came, right? I was walking alongside the water and I literally heard a voice in my spirit that said, I'm proud of you. . And that's what all you needed to hear. The oxtail wasn't gonna give me that but I needed that. I needed to hear, "I'm proud of you." And then all of a sudden, all these insights come, I think people forget like laughing, play comedy, walking, centering one's self the power of mindfulness.
Sometimes we think, oh, it's just, you know, we're, we're out in the world doing our own thing and we're running away. It actually can give you insight. And all of a sudden it's like, oh, this is what I'm supposed to be doing. And I wouldn't have had that if I didn't realize that's where it was coming from.
So sometimes that's why working with a coach can help with that.
Rabiah Coon: mm-hmm yeah. And I've talked to different... It's funny because I have some friends who, you know, I've gone to traditional therapy, some who have used coaches and some who just say they don't need it. I don't need it. I'm good. I handle things myself. And I always question [00:21:35] that and I wanna interrogate that because it's like, well, you've been complaining about the same thing for the last two years but you think you're good and can handle it? Why? Like just, I don't know. I just, what do you say to people who resist coaching or resist the idea of any kind of coaching or therapy or anything and, and think they can do it a alone.
Sacred Walker: you know, I have to admit that with due respect, I find to let people be where they are for me person. And the coaches that I'm fortunate to be a part of our team, because what I have found is that when sometimes there's there's different levels, right? Like a car, sometimes a car needs to tune up, right.?
And you're coming in and you're like, oh, I'm hearing a little something. Okay. All right. Like with the body, you might feel like, Ugh, there's a little tinge in my stomach there. I don't know. Every time I eat, I hear a sound, you know, and you might be someone who goes to the doctor when you hear a sounds, or, you might be something, [00:22:35] you know, I hear a, a creak in my stomach every time I eat.
And it sounds like this little air, you know, coming whenever I eat, but, you know, I'm sure it'll be fine. I'll deal with it. You know, I can handle it. Right. Because sometimes that speaks to intimacy. That's a, that's about attachment. How do you feel if it's okay to be vulnerable or how do you feel like it's okay to be taken care?
And if you are not ready, I can tell you till the cows come home, that that sound might be a gastrointestinal issue, or that might be actually a precursor for you having a major issue down the line, but you're not ready for that. And that's okay. That's when you come and you get to join our Wellbeing Wednesday. Join the group on Facebook.
You get to tag me at Ask Sacred, join the group, connect, say hi to people, you know, send memes, do your thing, hang out, have, have fun. Have a gag, right? Because you're just, you're, you're not really like the, the, the car needs little oil, but you're like, yeah. OK. I think I can drag it. It's a Honda. I can stretch it out, right.
Then maybe, maybe a [00:23:35] couple months down the line all of a sudden you haven't gone to the bathroom for a week. Oh, red flag. Cuz now the body's in crisis. Now you're snapping at your partner. They're like, what did I what's going on? What did I do? Or now you're noticing that the way you're managing your business is, is, is under surge, right?
Because sometimes our emotions affect our financial management. All kinds of things are intersected. So now the car is like, eh. it's it's, you know what I mean? You're see the light flash. Now the taillight is also out. You're like, oh shit. Like I shoulda just taken it to get the oil change. But at that point, if you bring it to the mechanic and you say, you know, I'm good, I actually don't need your help, the mechanic is gonna say, okay, I'll see you when you're ready. Right. So fortunately, what I have found is that resistance just means that you have different levels of what you are comfortable with and how you are ready to receive help. And that's [00:24:35] okay. There are different levels for that.
And then when you're ready, then you can join the mastermind. And then you can come in because you are ready to get those hard questions asked, but we get to look at our blind spots. Whether you're somebody who comes in and you're like, oil change, let's go. And then you might actually end up saving your internal engine because you got that fixed early.
So you end up saving more money in the long run. Or you're someone who waits and all of a sudden you can't go to the bathroom for the week and we're like, oh shoot, this requires surgery. Oh shoot. I wish now I have to invest a couple thousand, right. Versus investing, you know, something that could actually a little ginger that might have helped to still my stomach early because actually it was more based on emotions than I realized, right? So I think it's just wherever you are great. But I would always heed for those who are struggling if you're hearing this you're tuning in now, and you're hearing this, just see, just know that help is available, but similar to the mechanic, if you show up and say, I actually don't need help, [00:25:35] you get a chance to say, you know what? You join the group, you connect, you interact. You say, Hey, But don't ignore the fact that your stomach has been telling you, poke, poke. I need you.
Rabiah Coon: That makes sense. And it's a good way of, of looking at it and just kind of, yeah, I really like that. Cause it's always, whenever I do have someone who co is a coach or therapist, something, or that I even talked to in my personal life, I always like to know how they handle those kind of conversations with people cuz it's, but it's like a very compassionate way, which isn't surprising really.
Sacred Walker: That's so sweet and it's also super respectful, right? It's like, why do I need to force you to buy the car? If you're still looking,
Rabiah Coon: mm-hmm
Sacred Walker: You know when you are ready and maybe you are still learning along the way, what it is that you need. And when that aha moment comes, sometimes people are more in crisis mode than they are in kind of tune up mode.
And those are different places.
Rabiah Coon: Yeah, that's cool. So as far as just your [00:26:35] way of, I mean you're obviously pursuing what you're passionate about and, and what you've come to know is your purpose, but still like in doing coaching work and being involved with people's emotions, I'm sure there's a time where you have to detach from it. And so what do you do to give yourself space and, and get away from work?
Sacred Walker: Yeah, that's a great question. I would say that I recently went whale watching my partner and I have not seen whales in years, since I was a young girl and I was able to take some time away to exhale and to just be, and it was beautiful. And, I would say that being at the ocean is probably one of my go-to places.
I gain the most clarity from there. And just on a day to day basis, to be honest, I'm a writer. I love journaling. I love taking some time to just write things out. I love creating, I love creating vision board. You know, whatever something feels super unclear to me and I need just an exhale moment, I think those [00:27:35] three things are the things that bring me the most joy. Is taking some time at the ocean taking some time to write or journal. When I was younger, I used to do a lot of poetry. That was my thing. And taking some time to create a vision board when my vision doesn't feel so clear. I just step back and take a moment so that I can move forward.
Rabiah Coon: That's really cool. And yeah, I just did a writing class on Sunday. I just I'd wanted to go for like a year and I never went and it was so cool just to sit and not have to feel pressure about what I was doing, but just to do it and be in a space with other people, you know, who were just there for the same thing and yeah, cuz sometimes
people put pressure on themselves about the writing, but it's really just what you're saying, like poetry or something else. It doesn't have to be specific. So it's good.
Sacred Walker: Yeah, just for people to connect with like-minded folks or just kind of looking across the room and being vulnerable, right? Like even if you're like a closet creative, you know, like, you know, some people are like, I'm not creative, you know, like my partner's biggest joke [00:28:35] is that they're like, okay, well I do a shoulder roll when we go out dancing.
It's like my shoulder, like, that's the level of their creativity, you know what, like we all have different levels of creativity, right? But I personally feel like for those who are tuning in, sometimes it can feel. Like, oh, you get a chance to write. You create, like, I write like workbooks, like for people who bring, do coaching. They kind of get their own workbook, but sometimes it can be fun to just say like, I'm gonna write without any expectation.
And sometimes the most be I've heard other people write and create, or times that I've run, uh, women of color writing circles I've heard people write. And I'm like, that just came out of you. These like Afro futuristic things. And it's like, I create the future where the future is bright and the world is free of racism and homophobia.
And all of a sudden, you know, zantax the warrior breaks and it's just like, this is powerful and prophetic. You know, I just, I just, I have, I'm a lover of Octavia Butler and I'm a [00:29:35] lover of writing that just speaks something that comes from this other place, you know, I think it's, I think it's the most beautiful thing.
Rabiah Coon: Yeah. Wow. That's cool. So, um, do you have any, I mean, we've talked quite a bit, but do you have any advice or mantra that you'd like to share with people just that maybe that grounds you, or that you just feel like it's important people hear from you.
Sacred Walker: I would say when you get up in the morning, take some time where you, and I'm happy to send this as a love offering for anyone who direct messages me on Ask Sacred on Facebook or Instagram, but take some time to write out, and I do this every morning, what do you want, what do you need, what do you desire, deserve and wish for? I recommend doing that daily. There can be something that gets clear like if I write, like, I really want a smoothie. It's like, oh, okay, you know, or I really wanna hug, you [00:30:35] know, you know. And I really need a raise. Real. Let's let's make, let's figure out how to call that in, you know. I really desire good love making.
Okay. Let's figure out how we tune into that in your relationship. Or maybe you're one of have good love making with yourself. Heal some of that, right. It's like, well, I really deserve to be spoken to with respect at work. And I really wish for a community where I feel seen. It's like, okay, we'll join the Facebook group or whatever, you know. But it's like sometimes we write those things out daily and now the truth is now we've gotta manifest it in the day. And I have found that, you know, that has really changed my life. So if you want that in the form of a journal, I'm happy to send that to folks. If you direct message me. I do that for anyone who is connected to those in my extended network. And now that you and I are friends and whoever's listening are friends, you know, um, but I have found that, that, that wish every time I've put a wish down over the [00:31:35] years, whether it's taken me a day or years, it's always come.
Rabiah Coon: Hmm. Nice. Yeah.
Sacred Walker: Yeah.
Rabiah Coon: So my last set of questions is called the fun five. And I just ask, ask everybody these questions and it's led to some, an interesting, um, Spotify playlist for one thing, but, uh so what's the oldest t-shirt you have and still wear?
Sacred Walker: The oldest t-shirt that I have is ironic because I work with people and for those who are listening, I need you to know that that doesn't mean I love you any less. But what it says is, " some of my best friends are animals." So it's pretty much insinuating, like, uh, people, not so much. And it's a shirt that I've had since high school.
And it has all these different animals on it. And I kid you not it's a little tight, but it still fits. And it's one of my favorite shirts. Some of my best friends are animals.
Rabiah Coon: That's cute. [00:32:35] All right. Good. And it's good. I mean, as far as still fitting, it's very weird though. Some of the clothes, I don't know how big we wore them back then too.
Sacred Walker: Right. That part, cause I'm like 20 years ago, it, I was still coming into myself. and I was a little, you know, I was a little bit and you know, our bodies morph but we still can hold onto the little pieces.
Rabiah Coon: Yeah. Yeah, that's good. So if every day was really Groundhog's Day like it seemed for quite a while when we were all more in our homes than we have to be now, what song would you have your alarm clock play every morning?
Sacred Walker: The current song that I listen to every day that plays at 5:55 AM, literally is "I Am Light," by India Arie.
Rabiah Coon: Oh,
Sacred Walker: And it's so beautiful. It's like, I am not my past. I'm not what you've said about me. I am light. I'm like, I'm once I hear heard it, I was like, and this is me.
So all about that for those who don't know India Arie, amazing singer. Check her out. You'll thank me later. [00:33:35] Second song. I feel like everyone is like waking up, like to it now is Beyoncé, "You Won't Break My Soul".
Rabiah Coon: Oh,
Sacred Walker: And I that's, the, the I ending is like break your soul or something. And I'm like, that is, that is everything.
I, I'm pretty sure my teenage self that was into R and B and punk rock would probably throw on a punk rock skirt and a flower top. And like, you won't break my soul, like going into high school. So I feel like that song is probably gonna be with me for a long time.
Rabiah Coon: It's um, it's so good. And my friend was telling me about too, I didn't realize, but he was telling me that cuz when you listen to the remix with the Vogue, um, stuff inserted and just how she names all the designers, all the fashion houses that were appropriated basically, and even Madonna had appropriated vogueing from.
All the houses back, so it was, it was interesting to, and he watched Pose and so Pose covers a lot of that . And so I don't know, it was just made me love it even more, just learning that [00:34:35] about it, but it's a, the album's great. And I, I will admit, like, I'm not someone who's probably ever listened to Beyoncé that much just because I listen to other artists and I think she's good, but then I listen to the hits and that's it.
But this one I've been like, it's, there's no skips. You just go through the whole
Sacred Walker: Yeah, no, absolutely.
Rabiah Coon: It's like part one of three or something like
Sacred Walker: Yeah. And I was like, like and counting down. Yeah, no, absolutely. I, I recently was in a black pride NYC commercial. And, I was able to be, I mean, I'm a big fan of the ballroom scene, in general, cause before this, I was working in L G T adolescent medicine prior to stepping into my private practice full time.
And I have to admit like the vibe and the energy, and then being in this commercial and being in community, I just have a real love for the songs that remind you. You are like on the runway and you are embodying fierceness and you are feeling included because you made yourself feel included. So I agree with you, like for her to [00:35:35] honor, that legacy for me was pretty awesome.
Rabiah Coon: Yeah, it's really cool. So, yeah. All right. So coffee or tea or neither?
Sacred Walker: Tea. Chai, half and half, three pumps of caramel delicious.
Rabiah Coon: Nice.
Sacred Walker: Oh my goodness. Yeah. I discovered Chai like real Chai, like when I lived in India, when I was studying mind body medicine and I have to admit that once you taste the robustness of the flavors. Yeah. I actually don't drink coffee at all.
Rabiah Coon: That's probably good just being someone who drinks, what I would say is too much coffee. That's probably good. Can you think of something that just like cracks you up or a time you laughed so hard you cried or just anything that kind of gets you going in that way? Just I and I, this question, I don't know why it's just, I like to know.
Cause I think it's funny to know what makes people laugh.
Sacred Walker: Yeah, no, absolutely. And I have a thing about laughter that I'm like, okay, this has gotten really, really deep. And can we also bring in some humor? Like, so I'm a, I'm a big fan of the [00:36:35] fact that you've access question. Childhood thing that still exists. Two things. Probably the thing that still exists is put me on a swing. I crack up so hard that you would think that someone is tickling me. I mean, definitely. And I, and I want, whoever's listening to know this doesn't mean that you now get to put me on swings. This is not what I'm inviting, ma going on a swing on my own. Yeah, I laugh. I laugh like it's nobody's business. Number one, number two, I pull affirmation cards. Every time I meet with a client or I'm doing a mastermind and I usually have somebody like pull a, a card and they, they they're like, oh my gosh, I want that one. Every single time. And somebody's gonna laugh a lot because I don't want it to be like, I don't want you to feel uncomfortable.
You I'm like, cuz I naturally am a giggler, right? Every single time. They're like, how did you know?.
Rabiah Coon: Perfect.
Sacred Walker: you know, like the reaction who told you? Cause the cards are always on point and they're [00:37:35] like Oracle cards too. So it's just like that one, oh my gosh. That for me, like tickles my whole stomach, cuz I'm like never fails. I'm a mystic. Can't help it.
Of course you chose the card. You're powerful too. What're you going to do? So that for me is a combo like, and I don't think, I think I actually laugh just as hard as I do when I'm on the swings, when that happens, but on the.
Rabiah Coon: On the
Sacred Walker: Yeah.
Yeah.
Rabiah Coon: cool. All right. And the last one who inspires you right now?
Sacred Walker: Hmm. In addition to my mom, who was my ever inspiration, who else inspires me? I would say, I mean, I, as I said before, your story definitely inspired me. So that was one. And my mom, and then who else? I would say to be honest, I would say Octavia Butler. I have to go back to her. That book that she wrote Parable of the Talents, where she was just like, God is change.
You are change. It just really, for me, like just reminds me of the power of change. [00:38:35] And she wrote in the eighties. Like she was writing in the eighties and nineties about stuff like flat screens and all kinds of things that were not around. So for me, it just, I don't know, I just have a real respect for visionaries and creatives.
And I just really, really, really respect and appreciate Octavia Butler. So every once in a while, I'll kind of go back and reread one of her many books. And if you don't know her, those who are tuning in, you will also thank me later for check, you know, introducing you to her.
Rabiah Coon: Yeah. Oh, that's really. good. So then as far as if people wanna find you, they wanna join your Facebook group, any of that stuff, where do you want them to go?
Sacred Walker: Sure. So I would say the most direct way is if you go to Facebook and you check out, Ask Sacred, like asking a question. And you can on the Facebook page request to join the group. Right? So we have a "Love and Level Up" group that I think is awesome. And every Wednesday we have something called Wellbeing Wednesday.
[00:39:35] So we do watch parties in there, people interact. Jump in, say, hi, take a picture, show your face, say hello, meet and greet all that good stuff. So that would be a one good place. And then I'm also on Instagram at the same place. So I would say that's another good place at Ask Sacred (@asksacred). And then you can also connect on LinkedIn at Sacred Walker.
So, um, I would say those are three good places. And then for those who are interested in the Executives and Entrepreneurs at Ease Mastermind that's gonna be coming up the retreat that we have, that's focused on like transformation and the self care immersion. If you feel like you're someone who kind of broke the glass ceiling, and sometimes it can be lonely at the top and you wanna connect with some other visionaries who make an impact and
take the better, good care of yourself and really kind of gain some tools. But also if you have a team or you don't, just model the self care that the world needs. We are gonna be announcing that. So if you request us on either Facebook, Instagram, or LinkedIn, and you send me a direct message, then that I'll connect you to [00:40:35] that.
And then either way, I'm gonna send everyone who tunes into fabulous you and is tuning in right now, if you direct message me, I'll send you a love medicine journal with the tools that I gave and some other secret surprises your way. So if you direct message us, then my team will respond and connect to you.
Rabiah Coon: Okay, cool. Yeah, so if you're listening, you should definitely do that and, and get the tools and I'll be doing it too. So, Sacred, it was wonderful talking to you. It's just, it was a lot of fun and I'm glad we got to connect again. So thanks for being on More Than Work.
Sacred Walker: Amazing. Amazing. And thank you for having me on this was probably one of the best podcast experiences I've had, so thanks for those who are listening in.
Rabiah Coon: Thanks for listening. You can learn more about the guest and what was talked about in the show notes. Joe Maffia created the music you're listening to. You can find him on Spotify at Joe M A F F I A. Rob Metke does all the design for which I am so grateful. You can find him online by searching Rob M E T K E.
Please [00:41:35] leave a review if you like the show and get in touch with feedback or guest ideas. The pod is on all the social channels at At More Than Work Pod (@morethanworkpod) or at Rabiah Comedy (@rabiahcomedy) on TikTok. And the website is more than work pod dot com (morethanworkpod.com). While being kind to others, don't forget to be kind to yourself.
