Reflections on 11.11 at the National Building Museum

I sat in the Great Hall of the National Building Museum with my body planted on the ground and my heart somewhere between Washington, D.C. and the lands my ancestors once walked in Ecuador and Nicaragua.

I kept thinking:What does it mean for the daughter of immigrants to be here, in this historic space, holding a sound bath and meditation for a room filled with mostly Black, Indigenous, and people of color—just a few blocks away from institutions that have so often told us we don’t belong?

The answer didn’t come in words at first. It came as a collective exhale.

The Daughter of Immigrants in a Monument to Power

As I set up my instruments and took in the towering columns and echoing arches, I thought of my grandparents and great-grandparents - who likely never could have imagined their descendant standing here, guiding a space of rest and liberation.

This building sits in the heart of D.C., just steps away from places that have historically held power over our bodies, our communities, our stories. For many of us, these are the same places that have made us feel small, invisible, or out of place.

And yet, this night, the energy felt different.

We gathered as a majority BIPOC group and allies in a venue that has witnessed so much history, bringing our own quiet revolution: mats and blankets instead of briefcases, sound bowls instead of gavels, breath instead of performance.

When everyone settled in and the last shuffle quieted, I could feel it:

A room full of people who were ready to set down the weight they’ve been carrying.

A room full of nervous systems longing to soften.

A room full of spirits ready to remember themselves.

And then it happened—that moment when the whole space seemed to sigh together. The collective exhale that said, “We are here. We belong. We deserve this.”

Self-Healing as a Collective Act

During the meditation, I guided everyone through a visualization I’ve been sitting with for a long time - one that ties self-healing and manifestation to our broader collective.

I invited folks to see themselves standing at a doorway within their own inner landscape, the 11.11 portal not just as a date on the calendar, but as a threshold.

A moment to ask:

• What truth am I ready to see clearly now?

• How am I ready to embody this new way of being?

• How can my healing ripple outward to support others?

  
  

As we breathed together, I asked them to imagine that every inhale was a reclamation: of breath, of body, of story. Every exhale, a release: of shame, of scarcity, of the narratives that say we are too much, not enough, or out of place.

We talked about how manifestation isn’t just about individual goals or checklists.For those of us who are descendants of colonized, displaced, and marginalized peoples, manifestation is deeply entwined with justice.

To envision a life where we are fully seen and fully held means also envisioning—and co-creating—a world where our people have access to rest, care, safety, and joy. Where policy and power begin to reflect our inherent worth and humanity.

The meditation was a reminder:

• Your healing is not selfish.

• Your rest is not a luxury.

• Your joy is not separate from the collective good.

Self-healing is one of the ways we plant seeds for a future where joy and justice coexist.

We Still Show Up

There are still spaces and people who do not wish to see us liberated. Who feel threatened by our presence, our success, our visibility, our gatherings. Who would prefer we stay quiet, small, and grateful for crumbs.

And yet—we still show up.

We show up with our breath, our culture, our ancestors behind us.

We show up and lay down our mats in rooms we were never meant to occupy.

We show up and create portals of possibility in buildings built to symbolize power.

This night, as the sound of the bowls traveled up into the rafters and back down into bodies, I felt so clearly:

They might not have built these rooms for us, but we are here anyway.

We are here, breathing.

We are here, healing.

We are here, co-creating the future.

Held by Community: Gratitude

Spaces like this are never held alone.

I am deeply grateful to my sound sister Bri Alexander of Bri Alexander Wellness, who brought her beautiful energy and skill to the evening. Her presence allowed the sound to feel layered, expansive, and deeply held. Thank you, Bri, for the way you pour so much heart into your work and into our community.

Thank you to Rosa Cuyun of Roma Vista Photography for capturing the evening. All images in this blog is Rosa's incredible work. Thank you Billy Mayfield of JTB Entertainment Group for providing your audio expertise to ensure that every person could hear and feel the sounds in this space.

I also want to offer a special shout-out to my husband, Dennis. Yes, he was there capturing video - and I can’t wait to share some of those moments - but it was more than that.

It was him witnessing, in real time, what all of the sacrifice has been for:

• The long nights,

• The risks,

• The decision to step away from a “traditional” career path in order to listen to my calling.

And perhaps the most emotional part for me…

Having our daughter there to see her mother in this light. To watch me stand in my power, rooted in my heart, doing work that truly fills my cup.

I want her to know that it’s possible to create a life where you are in service to your community and also true to your soul. I want her to see that success doesn’t have to look like titles and ladders; it can look like helping people feel more deeply, breathe more fully, and remember their own worth.

The 11.11 Portal & the Next Chapter of Luna Serenity

The 11.11 portal is often seen as a moment of clarity and alignment, a time when the veil feels a little thinner and we can connect more deeply with our higher selves and our purpose.

Last night felt exactly like that—a portal into the next chapter of Luna Serenity.

This next chapter is about more than one-off events. It’s about building accessible pathways for people - especially Black, Indigenous, and other people of color and our allies - to:

• Practice regularly

• Learn about these healing modalities

• Integrate rest, sound, breath, and ritual into their everyday lives
  

I’m committed to continuing to create spaces, both in person and online, where our communities can gather, exhale, and remember themselves. Spaces where our healing journeys are honored, and where we can root into both joy and justice.

If You Feel the Resonance…

If something in this reflection is stirring something in you, I’d love for you to stay connected as this new chapter unfolds:

• Join my email list to hear about upcoming gatherings, practice spaces, and new ways to work together.

• Share this blog with someone who needs the reminder that their healing matters, and that they’re not alone.

• If you’re a workplace, school, or organization looking to bring this kind of restorative space to your community, reach out, Luna Serenity is expanding our offerings for BIPOC-centered and justice-aligned spaces.

• If you know of a venue that can help us continue to bring these events, please email us at hello@lunaserenity.com.

  
  

Last night was more than an event. It was a glimpse into the future we’re co-creating—one breath, one sound, one collective exhale at a time.