Navigating Religious Trauma, Self-Discovery, and Family Estrangement: A Journey of Healing and Growth. A conversation with Dan‪.‬ Rich Queer Aunties

This episode is sponsored by Rich Queer Aunties. Visit Rich Queer Aunties for all your fly RQA merch.
In this episode of Rich Queer Aunties podcast, host Christabel invites guest Dan to share their journey from being raised as Jehovah's Witnesses and their spiritual journey afterwards.
Dan, a multi-dimensional being who is an organizer, spiritualist, sorcerer, and abstract visual artist. Dan also uses sound and music as tools for healing and celebration.
They discuss topics such as religious trauma, being ex-Jehovah's Witnesses, the experiences of gay individuals shunned by their families, African religious spirituality, spiritual journeys, self-development, and estrangement from family. Here are some key highlights from the episode:
00:03:31-00:06:40 - Upbringing as a Jehovah's Witness: Dan and Christabel discuss their strict upbringing as Jehovah's Witnesses, the lack of individual development, and the suppression of curiosity and individuality.
00:09:33-00:12:19 - Experiences of subconscious conditioning and rebellion within a religious community: Dan discusses engaging in rebellious behavior and seeking love in the wrong places, while also reflecting on the suppression they witnessed in Black women around them.
00:15:18-00:17:59 - Challenging Suppression and Making Independent Choices: Dan reflects on making choices that centered themselves and asserting their independence.
00:17:59-00:20:40 - Decision to Leave the Congregation: Dan discusses their decision to stop attending meetings at their congregation due to the suppression of women, influenced by their own mother's experience.
00:20:40-00:23:39 - Suppressed Identity and Self-Expression: Dan reflects on how their identity and voice were suppressed by their father, finding comfort in making their own choices and exploring their sexuality.
00:23:39-00:26:33 - Leaving Home and Coming Out: Dan reflects on leaving home as a symbol of freedom, and the challenges faced by queer individuals in religious communities.
00:29:36-00:32:33 - Choosing Freedom over Fear: Dan expresses gratitude for coming out as gay and standing up for themselves, despite negative reactions from their family and community.
00:32:33-00:35:34 - Ignoring Subtle Parts of Life and Choosing Intuition: Dan reflects on their experience with ignoring certain aspects of life, and the importance of listening to one's feelings and intuition.
00:35:34-00:44:39 - Exploring Grief and Depression: Dan discusses the concept of grief, its relationship to personal growth and healing, and the importance of embracing grief and allowing oneself to feel.
00:47:26-00:51:06 - Coping with family rejection and finding personal fulfillment: Dan discusses the impact of their parents' rejection, finding solace in creating their own life, and the importance of trusting intuition and taking care of oneself.
00:51:06-00:54:19 - Choosing Freedom over Fear: Dan reflects on their personal experience with grief, the transformative nature of the grieving process, and the importance of embracing discomfort for growth and evolution.
To listen to the full episode and explore more about religious trauma, self-development, and family estrangement, listen to Rich Queer Aunties on all podcast platforms. Don't forget to follow Rich Queer Aunties on social media for more inspiring content:
Instagram: @richqueeraunties
You can find Dan at:
Instagram: @kkingboo
Soundcloud: Stream 7000COILS
Website: 7000coils.com
Remember, you are not alone in your journey. There is hope, healing, and a community of individuals who have experienced similar challenges.