July News from The Witch’s Therapist
Hello and welcome to summer, lovelies!
My name is Aisha Husseini and this new moon it’s my turn to share my voice. If you’re new to getting to know me, I’d love to introduce myself: I am a Somatic Art Therapist with The Witch’s Therapist. I offer support to all peopled aged 10+ around various life experiences including but not limited to trauma processing, grief/loss/bereavement, life transitions, spirituality, anxiety, stress, self-esteem, and interpersonal relationships. I combine the creative process and somatic awareness with psychotherapy, facilitating self-exploration, expression, understanding, integration, & healing.
I’m so excited for the opportunity to connect with you today!
Welcome Summer!
Summer solstice graced us on June 20th this year, offering us our longest day and shortest night of the year. This leads me to wonder: how are you wanting to move forward with your summer? Are you someone who enjoys packing your days full of activities while we can enjoy the light and warm weather? I know summer can be a busy time for many and I totally understand; I love this time of year.
I’d love to offer ways you can celebrate the shift into summer and move forward with intentionality:
Make a list of things you want to do this summer.
Make a playlist and fill it with tunes that resonate with you and this season of life, or add songs you hear and like as the summer goes on.
Remember to hydrate and drink enough water as you spend time in the sun. I encourage you to try decorating a water bottle.
Create a new summer ritual for yourself, making space for new beginnings.
Go for walks and hug a tree that speaks to you, returning to connect with it as it calls.
Practice some gratitude and look for the glimmers of joy scattered throughout your days, even if it’s only one thing.
I hope that at least one of these offerings resonate with you or maybe spark a unique idea that makes sense for you.
National Indigenous People’s Day
June 21st was National Indigenous Peoples' Day here on Turtle Island and I want to share a quote by Robin Wall Kimmerer from her book The Serviceberry that was shared with me by an Indigenous member of my community: “I want to live in a society where the currency of exchange is gratitude and the infinitely renewable resource of kindness, which multiplies every time it is shared rather than depreciating with use.”.
How gorgeous is that? I wholeheartedly agree with this statement and wish for a society of this nature, too. I also want to highlight that I deeply believe the personal is political and make space for this in my work.
Some of you may be aware that Bill C-5 was passed earlier this month by the provincial government in Ontario. This bill was passed despite widespread opposition by First Nations and Canadians. There is widespread resistance to the passing of this colonial law as it is a direct attack on Indigenous land, law, and life while also threatening the water, forests, and animal life. In addition to this, there are raging forest fires threatening the safety and lives of First Nations Peoples in Canada with little care and support from the Canadian government.
You can learn about actions taking place in opposition to this legislation here.
Our nervous systems deserve care more than ever during these times. It’s important to be aware of how these personal and collective traumas overwhelm our bodies and what we can do to care for them. The capacity and flexibility to come back into our bodies is not so we can endure oppressive systems, but so we can fight for our shared humanity and nurture hope for a better future. Being able to understand what our bodies are communicating is an embodied experience the colonizers have stolen from us. Embodied liberation isn’t neglecting the suffering of others to keep your peace; it is learning to protect your energy while also doing your part for a better world.
Book Recommendation
I’ve started listening to Resmaa Menakem’s book this month as I have only heard amazing things from others and the time feels right. Resmaa is a Black American Psychotherapist and Somatic Experiencing Practioner (SEP) who focuses on racial trauma. I became aware of his work after listening to a podcast he was on during my art therapy training years ago and have been interested in his work ever since. In May of this year I completed Somatic Experiencing® Professional Training Beginning 2 Module as I’ve recognized the importance of the body in healing and trauma.
As a person of colour, I am especially interested in his perspective on racialization and cultural somatics. His book is targeted for readers who are willing to explore the intersections of white supremacy, racism, neuroscience, and somatic healing. Though some aspects of his book focus specifically on exploring the experiences of African Americans, white Americans, and American police there are chapters and information for everyone outside of the American context.
Resmaa also provides readers with valuable and practical step-by-step body-centred practices with the hope that readers will find some level of guidance for healing.
Before I sign off, I'd love to share this poem with you as it speaks to so much of what I've been writing about this month (or click here to have it read to you).
Work Updates
All of our practitioners are accepting new clients. If you are looking for spiritually-aligned support, check out our About Us page or you can book a free, 15-minute consultation here.
Honouring Grief and Nurturing Hope Through Art, Aisha's new group program, is open for registration. This 8-week art therapy journey meets weekly online beginning July 10. The group will utilize art making, creativity, and somatics to support adults who are looking for support in navigating the depths of their grief about the state of the world, and want to make space for the hope that also exists. Learn more.
The Inward Path, is a psychedelic healing retreat being co-faciliated by Maggie. This community based offering is happening October 21-25th. Over 5 days, you'll be guided through safe and powerful ways to re-connect with yourself, spirit, community and more. Many of us are helpers, healers and caregivers and during these difficult times it's so vital we make space for ourselves so that we can continue to show up. Here is hoping you'll join us on The Inward Path. Learn more.
Upcoming Spiritual & Aligned Events
July 11-20
London Pride
London, ON
Pride London Festival celebrates inclusion & diversity with our annual 11 day summer festival including 3 days in Victoria Park alongside a number of events throughout the whole year. This year’s summer festival runs from Friday 11th to Sunday 20th July 2025, including 3 days Friday 18th to Sunday 20th at Victoria Park and the Parade that runs from noon to 3pm on Sunday 20th! We'd love to see you; come visit our booth in the community tent on July 18-20!
July 16
Illness, Disability, and Ancestral Healing - Illness & Disability as a Sacred Path
Online (via Zoom, no recording provided)
Offered through but not by Ancestral Medicine. Discussion on the intersectionality between ancestral healing (and spiritual healing in general), chronic illness, and disability.
July 19
Midsummer Witches' Market
Guelph, ON
Shop over 40 mystical, magical, and witchy vendors offering handcrafted goods, spiritual tools, holistic wellness, and more. You can look forward to face painting, creating a sugar spell at the candy bar, a potion bar, an ice cream truck, and enter to win magical prizes throughout the evening. Bring your friends, family, and familiar spirits for a night full of fun, shopping, treats, and community love.
August - November 2025
The Maiden to Mother Rite of Passage
Online (Recordings Provided)
This is the Great Mother work. this is where we dissent from patriarchal wasteland, descent to the inner great mother to resurrect and begin again. this is the work of moving From the Patriarchal Feminine to the Primordial Great Mother again This is the Maiden to Mother rite of passage Work: Re-envisioned + rewritten for the archetypal mothers to this world to rise in the polycrisis of Genocide, Ecocide, Fascism + Femicide.
As we become more aware of events, I will continue to post them on Instagram so please give us a follow.
And of course, we'd love to hear from you! So if you'd like to reply to this e-mail with thoughts on your favourite books and teas, the activism you're engaging in, or to let us know about an aligned spiritual event in Ontario, we would love that.
With love,
Your favourite witches
The Witch's Therapist
242 Dundas St.
London, Ontario
Canada
N6A 1H3
1-226-977-1660
► London Ontario Holistic Psychotherapy
The Witch's Therapist is located in London, Ontario and offers holistic psychotherapy therapy throughout London and surrounding areas.
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