A New Era
A note of appreciation, reflection, and updates on the official Highly Human shop. 🥹
Before I get into the post, here are some important news (toxins) + actions (antidotes) to be aware of. May we connect the dots of imperialism, colonialism, and capitalism. May we resist and become useless to it. And may we continue to collaboratively dream and build systems that evolve our humanity forward.
Start where you are.
News
① Administration approves nearly $3 billion arms sale to Is Reel
② Is Reel announces plan to seize ‘large areas’ in Ga Za
③ Tracking those detained by I C E as tourists or U.S. residents
④ What the World’s First Case of Bird Flu in Sheep Means for us
⑤ A third global recession in 20 years looms
Actions
① How To Boycott With Low Energy by Janae Brown
② Anti-Capitalist Tools by Janae Brown + Earthlings Undone
③ What to Do if You Are Arrested or Detained by Immigration
④ Find or start a community fridge in your area
⑤ Community Mutual Aids to Support
Opening
The past has created the present and the future emerges from the choices we make today.
Showing up in the vastness of our human expressions requires a lot of energy, which we may not have readily available. Many of us have been shielding ourselves and each other on the daily, wielding our collective and individual powers with little room or re-sources to replenish the wells of our well-being.
The exhaustion is real. Wanting to disengage and retreat is real. The constant feeling of being in limbo and living in instability is all too real.
Sometimes I question if what I’m doing is even worth it…
and the answer is YES.
What we are called to do is always worth it.
In response to the deliberate attacks from those enforcing and upholding systems of oppression, centering my mind, body and spirit and grounding with the energies that guide my life has become a necessary tool and daily practice. This allows me to replenish and remain in touch with my truth—the truth that connects me to my (tr)ancestors, to you, the person reading this, and to every being and energy that makes up our world.
Is this daily practice easy?
Nope.
Do I stumble?
Yup, a lot of the times.
Growth has always been non-linear. With every misstep, a new lesson is revealed. As we get closer to a shared understanding of our interconnectedness, our compass sharpens, our paths clear, and our North Star shines that much brighter.
New Era
Side note: I’m currently in my disappointment era.
Through my parents' immigrant struggles, I’ve been conditioned to hold everything together tightly to please and appease everyone, often at the expense of my well-being. Now, I’m at a point in life where I can practice being ok with disappointing people when I can’t meet their unspoken or projected expectations. Similarly, I’m learning to be ok when others disappoint me and can’t meet my unspoken or projected expectations.
We will face many disappointments in our lives—whether from each other or from circumstances beyond our control. Examining my response and reaction to disappointment helps me understand how I can be a better communicator. It makes me more aware of my unchecked biases and the mechanisms within me that perpetuate systems of oppression and perfectionism.
I’m learning to be more curious and less presumptuous, more understanding and less reprimanding. In turn, this is deepening the bonds I have with the people I’m building trust with. Cause being in community with each other isn’t all sunshine and rainbows; being equipped to weather the storms plays a big role in how we evolve beyond the binary.
Affirmation: May I continue to be a disappointment to fascism, capitalism, and all the isms and phobias that have kept us divided, misguided, and asleep to our magic. Who knew disappointment could feel so good.
Gra-titty-tude
Part of my centering and grounding practice is expressing gratitude and appreciation. As I gear up to launch the Highly Human shop I want to extend much love to everyone who has witnessed and honored my journey of coming home to myself. Embodying the fullness of my humanness from my Queerness to my Transness to my Non-binaryness to my Pilipino Islanderness and everything in between.
Maraming salamat for truly seeing me.
May we continue to shake our asses and build our networks of communal care and sanctuaries for all!
Sharing photos of the beautiful beings who have shown love to my creativity and artistry throughout the years. Many folks and collabs are not pictured but please know you are deeply appreciated.
Top left to bottom right: , Joy, N4than, Arnel, V, , , Jay, Francis,
Top left to bottom right: Joshua, , Melanie, Nadirah, Duana, Xiuhtezcatl, Dustin, ,
Announcement
Highly Human Shop
Official launch day is (tentatively) set for Friday, April 11th! 🥹
This has been a long time coming, and it didn’t start with Highly Human. This is a manifestation of a seed planted back in 2010. I just didn’t realize it was still a dream I needed to fulfill. To many, this may appear as another online shop, but to me, it is part of an intergenerational healing moment that’s connected to my mom’s side. More on this in a future post.
Newsletter
I’ll be using Substack as my official newsletter so if you’re reading this you’re already on the list to receive updates on releases, drops, offerings, and my periodic ramblings.
First Drop
Vol. 9 is titled Beyond the Binary and the first design I’ll be releasing from this collection is the TransFormation design in honor of the expansiveness of our human expressions. There are more designs that I’ll be dropping but as a team of one, I’m moving at a pace that is sustainable for me.
The first design will be available on the following garments and accessories ↴
Closing
Let me know your thoughts on the first drop! Hope ya dig it.
As always, receive what resonates and let go of what doesn’t.
Till next time,
Willa
🥬🧧🥬
I can't wait for the new shop! I put a mention of this post in my latest post but it won't let me restack for some reason. Thank you for being such an awesome shining light in the darkness.
Ahhhh cannot wait to adorn my body with these shirts !!!