In today’s episode Dario sits with poet, independent scholar, and self-ascribed cousin to all sentient beings, Sista Docta Alexis Pauline Gumbs.  As described by writer, Sharon Bridgforth,  “Alexis serves as guide and translator of vibrational realities of dreaming into how to survive, thrive and shape-shift this world.”  Dario and Alexis discuss how creatives can use their own archives to find their voice and the many lessons of love that come from grief. 
Today’s conversation is the first of two with Alexis. During these conversations, we invite you to slow down and simply listen.To listen in between the pauses of life, to listen for the lessons in grief, and to listen for your own voice.  Sista Docta Pauline Gumbs leaves us with a benediction and closing ceremony for 2021
We mentioned over the course of two conversations 
A couple of books 
https://www.akpress.org/undrowned.html (Undrowned: Black Feminist Lessons from Marine Mammals )by Alexis Pauline Gumbs 
https://www.dukeupress.edu/dub (Dub: Finding Ceremony ) by Alexis Pauline Gumbs 
A few mentors 
http://alexisdeveaux.com/ (Alexis De Veaux )
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/M._Jacqui_Alexander (M Jacqui Alexander )
https://english.columbia.edu/content/farah-jasmine-griffin (Farah Jasmine Griffin )
A favorite writer 
https://english.columbia.edu/content/farah-jasmine-griffin (Sharon Bridgforth )
A noted singer 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lnUV4cz0gv8 (Solange )
An Academician without Institution 
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anna_J._Cooper (Anna Julia Cooper )
A spiritual experience 
https://www.mobilehomecoming.org/our-vision-we-see (Mobile Homecoming)
https://twitter.com/alexispauline/ (Alexis Pauline Gumbs) on Twitter
https://www.instagram.com/alexispauline/ (Alexis Pauline Gumbs) on Instagram 
https://www.alexispauline.com/ (Alexis Pauline Gumbs) website 
This conversation was recorded on November 23, 2021.  
Original Music composed by Dario Calmese, Show Art by River Wildmen, Social Art by Stéphane Lab, production Carmen D. Harris, Dario Calmese