85. Occupation, Dehumanization, and Healing Trauma in Palestine with Ashira Darwish (S6 E5)

In this episode, I talked with Ashira Ali Darwish about the realities of occupation, dehumanization, and healing trauma in Palestine as well as the new documentary Where Olive Trees Weep. Ashira is the founder of Catharsis Holistic Healing, a trauma therapy project in Palestine. She is known for pioneering Sufi active meditation to help people suffering from continuous trauma. This type of active meditation draws its roots from ancestral and Indigenous knowledge. Her personal journey of healing from full body paralysis with a severed spinal cord in 2012 has given her a deep insight into the process of recovery and healing. This unique perspective allows her to offer a highly specialized and culturally sensitive approach to trauma healing. In 2021, she received the "ISABS Honours" from the Indian Society for Applied Behavioural Science for her contribution to positive societal transformation through the application of behavioral science principles and practices. Ashira started her career in Palestine as a journalist; she worked for 15 years as a TV and radio journalist and researcher for the BBC, Amnesty International, and Human Rights Watch.Connect with Ashira Darwishwebsite: ⁠⁠ashirapremrachana.com

IG: @premashira

Resources Mentioned

Where Olive Trees Weep film  

'Where Olive Trees Weep': A 21 Day Journey Begins: Ashira Darwish, Maurizio & Zaya Benazzo YouTube video

My Grandmother’s Hands by Resmaa Menakem

As Long as the Lemon Trees Grow by Zoulfa Katouh

All the Black Girls are Activists by EbonyJanice

White Women by Regina Jackson and Saira Rao

If you like what you heard in this episode, share it with a friend and on social media. I really think that little by little, person by person, we can broaden the narrative. In addition, make sure to subscribe so you don't miss an episode. Then, rate and review to help others find the show.Connect with Nicki PappasWebsite: ⁠⁠⁠⁠nickipappas.com⁠⁠⁠⁠IG: ⁠⁠⁠⁠@broadeningthenarrative⁠⁠⁠⁠Twitter: ⁠⁠⁠⁠@broadnarrative⁠⁠⁠⁠Facebook: ⁠⁠⁠⁠facebook.com/groups/broadeningthenarrative

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Broadening the Narrative blog⁠⁠⁠⁠Episode Transcripts: ⁠⁠⁠broadeningthenarrative.blogspot.com⁠⁠⁠⁠ (transcripts can be found here as they become available)