Home Is Where My Hero’s Are
An exceptional visual essay
“Home is where my heros are” explores the concept of the root chakra and how the tribe is the foundation of the journey to self.
Muladhara, the Foundation Chakra
In Hindu teachings, Muladhara, also known as the root chakra, is the first of the seven fundamental energy centers. This chakra is often referred to as the tribal chakra, as it encompasses our connection to our tribe, our feeling of security, our will to survive, and our commitment to the values of our tribe. The muladhara development spans from infancy to the age of seven, the years we are the most impressionable.
As I approach my second year of living in atlanta to purse my career in the arts, I look back and give thanks to the values of the tribe. I owe all of my triumphs to the lessons my family has taught me in regards to resilience, the power of prayer, and our unbreakable link to our ancestors.
My spirituality is rooted deeply in my families connection to our ancestors, prayer, and a special union with the divine.
I will forever be grateful for the love of my tribe; the most beautiful people I know. At a young age, I was introduced to spirituality through church and through the divine spiritual gifts of my family. We have always had a close connection to our ancestors. Stories were always passed down, often talking about the members of the family who had since passed. Our family graveyard is the most sacred space in our tribe. It sits privately and beautifully in the back of family land, where all of my family was raised: my mother, aunts, uncles, and grandmother. From childhood, it wasn't uncommon to find someone at the graveyard speaking to the transitioned or simply manicuring the plot, adding flowers and gifts. Our prayer circles, which we had when I was a child, taught me the power of unity in prayer. This is often where I would see my grandmother, cousins, aunts, and uncles express their devotion to the divine. It was the most beautiful experience and played a significant role in my maturation in spirituality.
"Home is Where My Heroes Are" is a collection of photographs that bring me back home, even if I am hundreds of miles away. As a little girl, I spent most of my time going through my mother's photo books. I fell deeply in love with the unfiltered, nostalgic, and innocent images of loved ones. My mother's photo albums greatly influence my style of work today. I enjoy capturing the true essence not only of the moment but also of the beauty of the people I capture. What I love about photography is that I get to preserve that exact essence; it becomes more than a memory but a moment that I can always go back to, just like the photos in my mother's photo book.
