Ancestral Hands: Somatic Nourishment
Winter invites us inward, to slow down, to rest, to let yourself be held. This guided somatic practice honours our collective connections to ancestors of kin, affinity, land, elements, and all beloved spirits. In this sacred virtual gathering, we explore the healing power of guided somatic, supportive touch and ancestral presence.
Through gentle touch practices—you might place a hand on your heart, touch your face, or cradle your head—we tend to our body's innate capacity for deep nourishment and restoration. This relational practice weaves somatic modalities and spirit-guided wisdom, creating space for individual and collective nourishment.
Rooted in socio-cultural attunement, this practice centres the wisdom of Black, African Diasporic, and multicultural healing traditions. We honour touch as nonverbal communication that speaks directly to your body, supporting connection to ourselves, ancestral wisdom, and our inherent resilience.
This experience centres body wisdom and participant choice. You're invited to move at your own pace, rest when needed, and follow what feels right. You can modify any movement or participate as much or as little as feels right. There is no 'right way'—only what is right for you.
Throughout, you'll have opportunities to:
Connect with ancestral blessings and spirit/energetic support to hold and guide you
Explore gentle, guided somatic touch practices that honour your body's boundaries and wisdom
Experience guided imagery that takes you from skin to bone—connecting with the ancient wisdom
Create your own deeply supportive resting place for your nervous system
Allow organic movement to emerge from deep stillness and rest
Engage in optional creative expression through journaling or drawing
Who This Practice Welcomes
This offering centres African Diasporic and multicultural healing traditions and welcomes all bodies who come with cultural humility and reverence for these ancestral wisdoms. You might be seeking refuge from the demands of daily life, yearning to slow down and be held, or curious about working with your ancestors and spirit guides. Perhaps you're drawn to explore somatic touch practices, or you have an established practice and are seeking community connection during winter. The practice will honour your pace, your boundaries, and the inherent wisdom your body carries.
No previous experience with movement, dance, or somatic practice is needed. All movements are adaptable and can be done seated, standing, or lying down. Resting is always an option. Your nourishment is the priority.
For questions about accessibility or to discuss how this practice can be adapted to support your needs, please contact Camille at [email protected]
What to Expect:
Duration: 2 hours
Format: Virtual (Zoom link provided upon registration)
How the practice unfolds:
Introduction and Orientation to the practice (Camera's will be on for this portion only and then will become optional for the duration of our time.)
Opening and acknowledgement. We'll acknowledge the land, honour the elements, spirits & energetic support.
Embodied Somatic Practice: Ancestral Hands — Guided: somatic explorations, imagery, supportive somatic touch, gentle movement and dance/stillness
Integration— meditation/reflection, drawing, journaling, and space for optional sharing
Closing — Gratitude and goodbyes
What to prepare:
A private space where you can move freely for the duration
Room to lie down, sit, stand, and move
Yoga mat / place to lie down; many blankets, towels and pillows for body support. Additionally: soft weighted objects, and heating pads
Comfortable clothing that invites movement
Something to hydrate yourself with/drink
A clear glass of water and a white candle (or candle alternative)
Drawing paper and coloured pencils/ markers/ crayons
Journal or paper and pen
Your Facilitator
Camille Djokoto (they/them) is a Somatic Therapist, Somatic Movement and Dance Practitioner, Somatic Coach and Somatic Experiencing Practitioner™. As an African Diasporic being, neuroexpansive™, artist and facilitator, they bring 40+ years of dance and movement experience with 14 years of healing work in mental health through somatic and embodied practices. Their approach is relational, experiential, and embodied—guided by ancestral wisdom they celebrate collective liberation, embodied resilience, and diasporic healing.
Camille's work centres lived experience and autonomy, offering invitations and options. They create space for participants to discover authentic movements and organic experiences honouring that each person carries their own embodied history and wisdom.
Instagram: @camilledjokoto.therapy
Website: camille-djokoto.com
Important Note:
Virtual wait room opens at 3:45 PM. Admission closes and we begin at 4:00 PM exactly. Latecomers will be admitted after the Opening.
Group Size: This will run with any number - up to a limit of 25 participants.
Price: Sliding scale $35-$45 CAD
No Recordings: This experience will not be recorded.
Refunds: No refunds are provided for missed events. All refunds are subject to service fee charges.
A note of invitation: Please don't let a lack of materials keep you from joining. You are welcome exactly as you are, with whatever you have available. The medicine of this practice lives in your intention and presence, not in perfect preparation.
This is an offering of care, held with deep respect for your journey. May you find the rest your body is asking for.