Patsy’s Daughters Moved Abroad Sistah Yaya / Soul Tribe Heals HARNESSING THE SPIRIT OF YUCATÁN TO BRING HEALING TO EVERYONE
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hen Chicago natives Ebony Duff and Tonya Cummings arrived from Virginia to Mérida, they knew that moving abroad required packing more than a toothbrush. Your mind, body, and soul all come along for the ride. After closing their cakes business in 2021 and suffering all the pain that came with such a loss and disappointment, they came to Mexico for healing. And that’s how Patsy’s Daughters Moved Abroad, named for their late mother, was born. Along with traditional relocation services, they collaborate with a tarot reader and an astrologer and host tours that “share the riches of the Yucatán culture.” So despite what reason a client has for moving to Yucatán — and there are many — relocating here is also an opportunity to “release the old beliefs that no longer serve the beautiful being you want to become.” Their journey here was serendipitous. After seeing Sistah Yaya on TV, the daughters tracked her down after doctors
were unable to prevent Ebony’s 6-year-old nect with their ancestors. And have fun. A daughter’s frequent daily seizures. Sistah recent beach gathering attracted 30 guests. Yaya stopped the seizures with her own All three agreed that moving to Yucatán Afro-Caribbean-centered herbal remedies has brought them peace in their lives. “It feels and therapies. She also recommended a like home. It’s very calming. It’s very mothmove to Yucatán, where she was running ering,” says Sistah Yaya. ”It kind of puts her Soul Tribe Heals. arms around you and holds you in.” Sistah Yaya, Ebony, and Tonya have Their move here coincides with the big smiles that go with their easy, Blaxit social movement among Blacks TEXT infectious laughter — we barely from the United States who are LEE STEELE made it through their photo shoot discovering other countries in which PHOTO for this story without cracking up they might fare better. CARLOS ROSADO van along with them. “There is such an energy of Sistah Yaya describes herself as der GRACHT oppression that we live through an indigenous medicine woman, daily,” says Sistah Yaya, recalling herbalist, oracle, spiritual medium, and her life in the United States. Here, they see doula, who provides expert guidance smiles when they walk down the street. through pregnancy and childbirth. “In Yucatán, they see you as a human,” “I know the power of what I do. I’ve had says Ebony. “Yeah, they don’t see you as this gift since I’ve been 4 years old,” says a color. They see us as people, they see Sistah Yaya. us. They love our children. They love to Previously in New Orleans before being embrace them, they embrace us.” forced out by Hurricane Ida, Soul Tribe Heals is based in greater Progreso, helping patsysdaughtersmovedabroad.com participants find themselves and even conand soultribeheals.com
From left, Tonya Cummings, Sistah Yaya, María Rafaela Canché, and Ebony Duff. Canché is a midwife who leads Maya Sobada workshops.
YUCATÁN MAGAZINE | ISSUE 8
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