Welcome to In Search of My Own Gardens. I’m Catherine Speaks (she. they) survivor of trauma, speaker, writer, poet, performance artist, yogi and yoga instructor. On this website, you’ll find a lil bit of all these things. Poetry, some healing movements, think pieces on black femme existence, and more. I created In Search of My Own Gardens because I’ve been constantly on the search for the Gardens my mothers left behind for me to find. Just maybe as I search for my own gardens, you also find yours rooted somewhere within mine. In Search of My Own Gardens is about the healing process, the search, the journey and the community that gets built along the way.
I offer private yoga sessions.
I am available for bookings/collaborations:
Contact Me: damalispeaks@gmail.com
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Catherine Speaks
Catherine Braxton is a performance artist, yoga instructor, writer and doula based in Portland, Oregon, originally from Long Island, New York. They are the founder of “In Search of My Own Gardens”, a blog space, devoted to discovery of self, reclaiming ritual practice, BIPOC queer identity, as well as healing from sexual trauma.
Most recently their work has woven worlds as Blogger & Advocacy Trainer with Indigenous Women Rising, a nonprofit organization based in Albuquerque, NM and R.E.A.D & R.U.L.E., a nonprofit based in Brooklyn, NY that inspires literacy and self care for black and brown children & teens. They are 200HR Yoga Certified and passionate about engaging daily in more work with black and brown community and those healing from sexual violence.
Education Credits include:
Full Spectrum Doula Training – Birthing Advocacy Doula Training
200 HR Yoga Certification – Jai Yoga Studio
Education Internship – Trinity Repertory Company
Performances – Brown/Trinity MFA Acting Program
B.A. Theater & Dance Studies – Wheaton College
B.A. Africana Studies – Brown University
In Search of My Own Gardens 