This episode for those folks who are feeling anxious about the holidays and the occasional uncomfortable interactions that come with it! A reminder that family can also be the people you choose -- your ride or die. Sending much love to my fellow gremlins this holiday szn! Hang in there and stay safe :)

If you appreciate this work, you can send tips here: Buy Me A Coffee

About the host:

Anna Dominique Santos (she/they) is a queer visual artist, art workshop facilitator, therapeutic art life coach, energy worker, Reiki and Akashic Records Reading & Healing practitioner, and meditation teacher from Bulacan, Philippines. She is also the creator of the Creative Portal Empowerment™ healing modality - made by an artist-healer, for artists, creatives, and those who need some creative push in their lives. For Anna, creation is a sacred act. She is passionate about inspiring others to explore this sacredness in their own unique journeys. Weaving together her spiritual practice into her art practice, she believes in the power of keeping our dreams and imagination alive to shape a better world. You can check out her energy-infused artworks, meditative art & painting workshops, and book your energetic consultations through these platforms:

Instagram

https://www.instagram.com/artbyannadominiquesantos/

Facebook

https://facebook.com/artbyannadominiquesantos

Website

https://artbyannadominiquesantos.com/

With or without identity labels? Maria and I talk about navigating life as part of the A+ (aro & ace) in the LGBTQIA+ community -- an under represented population in the Philippines!! We believe that this is an important episode for those who have been curious about their own identity journey. We hope that you also learn a lot about yourselves through our experiences identifying as aromantic (me) and demisexual (Maria). Enjoy!

Note: This is a Taglish episode

This episode covers:

- Kinds of attraction (physical, sexual, romantic, aesthetic, sensual

- Split attraction model

- Defining aromanticism

- Anna's romantic relationship experiences that led up to aro realization

- "Hindi naman pala mabigat magmahal for me"

- Improved relationship with the concept of love with aro realization

- Love is everywhere

- Anna's pansexual realization

- Grieving that comes with aro realization

- Maria's demisexual identity

- Defining asexuality

- Ace being "turned on" in other ways

- Paradox of being a sex-centered world yet sex being taboo

- Ace frustrations false notions "you just didn't find your person yet"

- Sensual vs sexual attraction

- Jungkook as ace-coded

- Sensual attraction + being sensually attuned examples

- Sensually starved society

- Dating world for aromantic and demisexual folks

- Being left out if people learn that you're aro or ace

- Superpower as a demisexual person

- Concept of sex as can be defined by you alone

- Expanded connotation of sex as a demi/ace person

- Expanded connotation of love as an aromantic person

- Understanding the romantic nature of other people through aromanticism "that's how their love moves"

- Dissolved judgement on how love moves within me / within other people

- Notions that the lack of a certain kind of attraction = you're missing out

- What if being aro and/or ace also frees you?

- What queer is, beyond what is conventionally known as queer "queering" your way into the world

- Queer is a position - "out of the norm"

- Queer is disassembling assumptions

- Wider definition of "queer"

- Identifying the self with label or without label

About our episode guest

Maria Mison (she/they) is also! a host of the podcast Integrated Awakenings which focuses on accessible spiritual transmissions with a good dose of play. Also a long time collaborator of Anna, they enjoy multiple artistic mediums and it’s natural potential to better know the Selves.

Connect with Maria:

Instagram: @mariamison__

Website: mariamison.io

If you appreciate this work, you can send tips here: Buy Me A Coffee

Connect with Anna

https://www.instagram.com/artbyannadominiquesantos/

https://facebook.com/artbyannadominiquesantos

https://artbyannadominiquesantos.com/

If you're on the fence about asking for help and still looking for a sign, I hope this is helps you finally decide!

If you appreciate this work, you can send tips here: Buy Me A Coffee

About the host:

Anna Dominique Santos (she/they) is a queer visual artist, art workshop facilitator, therapeutic art life coach, energy worker, Reiki and Akashic Records Reading & Healing practitioner, and meditation teacher from Bulacan, Philippines. She is also the creator of the Creative Portal Empowerment™ healing modality - made by an artist-healer, for artists, creatives, and those who need some creative push in their lives. For Anna, creation is a sacred act. She is passionate about inspiring others to explore this sacredness in their own unique journeys. Weaving together her spiritual practice into her art practice, she believes in the power of keeping our dreams and imagination alive to shape a better world. You can check out her energy-infused artworks, meditative art & painting workshops, and book your energetic consultations through these platforms:

Instagram

https://www.instagram.com/artbyannadominiquesantos/

Facebook

https://facebook.com/artbyannadominiquesantos

Website

https://artbyannadominiquesantos.com/