New Soil, New Timelines: Creating Legacy Leaps
Three years later, I finally made it to Dominican Republic
This past Saturday was my father’s 75th birthday. I was only 5 years old when he passed and have no memory of him, just of his funeral. I remember standing on my tippy toes to peek over his open casket to take a look at the man everyone was mourning. That’s all I remember.
A few years ago when I requested a copy of my birth certificate to initiate my dual citizenship, I found out his date of birth.
November 22nd.
A Sagittarius-Scorpio cusp. Fascinating…
But also wild because my mother is a December Sagittarius. I can only imagine the dynamics of their relationship.
To honor his life and memory, I lit a white candle and put out some Hennessy and Habichuelas con Dulce (traditional Dominican sweet beans) on my ancestor altar as I played some Merengue Tipico in his honor. It’s always so special to remember them with their favorites.
If you’ve been following me for a while you know that my initial plan when I decided to leave Chicago in 2022 was to move to the Dominican Republic. I’ve always envisioned myself living between DR and the US, so it felt right to finally begin taken steps towards that reality after all the heartbreak and loss I experienced in Chicago. I wanted to go into deeper relationship with the land there and study herbalism with the elders. I had so many plans for my time in DR.But as you know, life had other plans for me.
A pit stop in Virginia for the holidays before taking off to DR turned into 2 years of introspection and solitude while studying herbalism in the mountains. A lot of that journey is documented on older posts here on my Substack.
Last year around this time, I was making my way back to New York after following my intuition when it revealed to me that my time in Virginia had come to an end. My intention was to stay for the holidays and make my way to DR on February 4th. Y’all know how that story ends because I wrote about that too.
I never understood why the path to make it to DR was so difficult for me. I been trying to make this happen for the last 3 years. Maybe I’ll have full clarity on this soon but for now all I know is that I am FINALLY on my way to DR and I am so excited. I’m writing this post on the plane in deep gratitude for the way everything has unfolded in my life.
First of all I’ll be in DR with my partner which is so crazy to even write out because a relationship was not on my bingo card for 2025!! I swear when you let Great Spirit surprise you or show you how good it can get, you gonna be gagged every single time.
We will be attending his cousins wedding and I’m excited to meet more of his family and get to know the part of the island they’re from. We also plan to spend some time with my family so they can meet him as well. I can’t wait to show him all of my favorite places and the charm that makes our beach town so special. This trip feels really monumental for us individually but also as a couple.
What’s really interesting about all of this is that my sister from my fathers side called me in September to share that there’s a tree that is uprooting my fathers grave in the cemetery he’s buried in. The family is planning to build out a new grave site for him and relocate his remains to the newer cemetery in our hometown. She knew I was coming to visit soon and offered to have this all happen when I’m there so that I can be present for the moment.
The symbolism of all of this is something I’ve been sitting deeply with since she told me, especially with all the root chakra work I’ve been doing over the last few years. It’s as if this tree uprooting his grave is mirroring the generational work and root chakra healing I’ve been doing. Actually, I know it is. I had a beautiful dream with my great-grandmother last week that confirmed it.
And the beauty of it all is that I know I am not the only one doing the work. My family has been on their own healing journeys too, in their own unique ways that is true to their path and unfolding. I know that we have all been uprooting old patterns and slowly shifting our lineage whether they know it or not and whether we talk about it or not. That collective effort and ripple of transformation moving through our bloodline is whats creating this shift.
When you been doing the work for so long you start to wonder if you will see the fruits of your labor in your lifetime. If the inner work that you’ve been doing for yourself and on behalf of your ancestors is actually making an impact and if you will live to see the effects of it ripple across your immediate family.
You eventually detach yourself from your expectations because in your heart you know you’ve done a damn good job even if the proof of your healing is not tangible. That feeling and knowing alone is all the evidence you need to know that your work was not in vain. I’ve found comfort in that over the years, but to have a dream with my great-grandmother affirming me of it brought me to tears of deep gratitude. It was such a gift.
I don’t know what will unfold on this trip but I know without a doubt that nature is mirroring my inner work back to me and that my families legacy leap is here. Just as that tree uproots my father’s grave to relocate him to new ground, our generational healing is uprooting us to replant our family in new soil—fertile earth for deeper love, unity, joy, healing, abundance, and expansion. The tide is shifting and new timelines are opening before us. And so it is. Ashé.
Looking forward to sharing what wants to be shared upon my return. In the meantime, I hope this post can serve as a reminder that the incredible healing work you’re doing is not in vain. Your ancestors see you and are cheering you on. They are sooo proud of you for your commitment to create legacy leaps in your lineage. Sit in that knowing as you gather around your loved ones this Thanksgiving.
With Love,
Ada
P.S I’ll be teaching my Energetic Hygiene 101 workshop upon my return on December 11th. It’s sliding scale and you can sign up here.
When you been doing the work for so long you start to wonder if you will see the fruits of your labor in your lifetime.-
Oh Ada, thank you for this I often wonder why me? when the ancestors ask for more of my work. Although I don't plan on giving up I cant help but wonder if its worth it.
Safe Travels!