Posts by Rebeccah Bennett

 One day our mothers will ask“Who do you love completely?”May we grow to respond“Ourselves. Ourselves. Our lovely selves”-@BeingUpile Relationships are a beautiful struggle. We are literally birthed into them. Families teach us the dynamics before we get out into the world, and mold us, for better or for worse.  They teach us lessons, build bonds,…

How do we love beyond enchantment? We don’t. When love is given permission to be free, love is enchanting, and the enchantment is the beyond. Love is the fairytale, the “happily ever after,” the all-consuming affair, the eternal presence, and the unconditioned force we all secretly desire. In this way, it is not our belief…

As Americans have become known as the “workaholics of the world,” what does that mean for those of us whose backs have been the foundation upon which this country has been built? In a recent video feature for The Atlantic, Derek Thompson imparted, “Work has become the centerpiece of our identity, the focal point of…

From the plantation field to the White House, black women took an active role in the Civil War.  These women were the chief source of information.  In fact, free and enslaved black women who were operating as spies, scouts, couriers and guides were willing and able to offer enormous support to Union military personnel and…

Mainstream ideas of “intentional living” fall short. It is not enough to be a “vegan,” with no understanding of food deserts and food inaccessibility. It is not enough to be a “minimalist,” if one neglects to acknowledge housing inequality and generational trauma among people of color. Living an intentional lifestyle is also living a socially…

Some people think of the wild as dangerous because of its unpredictability. It also lacks industrialized amenities. I like to think of the wild as untamed. It pushes us to be creative and resourceful. Darkness cannot be confronted with a flick of a switch – you must gather the wood and spark the light. And,…

I invite you along a journey to redefine fitness. Take a few deep breaths and, as you release, imagine “fitness” as a passionate threesome of your mind, body and soul, where you playfully explore your zenith of potential as a limitlessly fluid being. Now, empower yourself with another deep breath. This time before you release,…

As of late, I’ve noticed that my mom likes to keep her right arm at a 90 degree angle, whether it’s when we’re taking a walk or while I’m helping her bathe. At times, I tell her to relax and straighten her arm so that it can just hang by her side. She does not…

Through his theological imagination, the Apostle Paul wrote letters to communities of faith meant to encourage and proclaim the good news.  Similarly, this letter is my attempt to empower women to embrace their sexuality in ways that honor them and resist ways others use tradition to put their bodies under subjection for the exploitation of…

The source material we call “daily life” is full of parables, psalms, and allegories that have the ability to loosen mental, emotional and spiritual chains. As Black women, we are alive with histories, jokes, and life lessons. Monologues sparked by living slide from our lips in improv fashion during conversation. Our very imaginations create characters…