A Healer for The Movement: About Ifasina
My given name is TaMeicka Lashelle Clear. I have come to love this name as it says a lot about the time frame that I grew up in (early 80s) and displays my southern, Black roots in a way that really shows the color and creativity of Black people during that time. I believe that Black American English is real, valid, and a whole language. TaMeicka Lashelle is a proud badge of Black American English that I love to wear!
I received the name Ifasina during ritual initiation into the African Traditional Practice of Ifa, in 2014. Ifasina translates loosely to "Ifa brings forth blessings with power and great force". It is a powerful name and a vibration I strive to walk in. Most people in my life know me as Ifasina at this point. My roots and history both from the name I was given at birth and given at rebirth are a large part of who I am.
I am a big bodied(fat), Black, genderqueer person (they/them pronouns) from Dallas,Texas living and working across The South and California. I've been a dancer since I was 8 years old and I've been teaching dance since I was 15. Dancing and teaching are core to who I am. Dance is my home based creative gift. I make offerings to spirit, take care of my body and soul, and channel a large portion of my creative energy through dance. Teaching is my second gift and it tends to be the kind of work I enjoy most. Both dance and teaching are what I am purposed to do with my life. Life has allowed me so many ways to use these two parts of myself in the world to impact and support others, to heal myself, and my contribute to my community.
In my work over the years, those that I have served, taught, or led have been just as much my teacher as I have been theirs.
I've been working since I was 14 and come from a working poor/working class family. We have multiple generations of being impacted by poverty, welfare, mass incarceration, foster care systems, and gender based violence. I am a product of these experiences and the teen parents that believed "it takes a village to raise a child". This strong foundation and ability to navigate complex life circumstances informs the way I approach my work as a trainer, consultant, and coach. My art, my leadership, and my work in the world are largely shaped by who I am and who I come from.
I am currently in my 5th year of 7+ year training as a priest in the Ifa tradition. I am a Master Level Usui Reiki Healing Practitioner with 10 years of practice and training. In my commitment to stay current with my own healing, I regularly attend talk and process therapy, ritual healing with my elders, and engage in other kinds of trauma recovery. I lead a life that centers radical honesty about who I am and where I am on the journey of recovery, community contribution, and leadership development. I believe in transparency and this shows in how I collaborate, forge teams, and do my work in the world. I have a gift for active listening and translation, including authentic communication and synthesis, and getting to the heart of the matter. All this makes me an excellent resource for collaborators trying to pull together teams. I am a grounding force as a group facilitator and a compassionate and accessible ritual and culture keeper. It is my absolute joy and passion to partner and collaborate with complex teams on the meaningful initiatives and projects they are leading.
Some positions I've held and roles I have had:
Sr. Director of Culture and Healing, Young Women’s Freedom Center 2016-2022
Leadership Consultant ACLU Northern California-DECRIM Coalition, Winter 2021-2022
Co-Chair of Youth Committee for San Francisco Mayors TaskForce on Anti-Human Trafficking, 2017-2018
Co Director and Performance Coach Black Rage//Black Magic Theater Arts Program, Spring 2016
Ritual Lead for Community Based Vigil (Mac Arthur BART Station Oakland, Ca), August 2018
Healing Coordinator for Sister Warriors Freedom Coalition, 2017-2019