Cinema Ceremony and the Land: Filming an Ancestral Healing Journey A conversation with Nova Scott James

In this episode of the Remembering and ReEnchanting podcast, Sara Jolena Wolcott sits down with filmmaker and spiritual innovator Nova Scott James to trace the profound arc of her film journey.The journey begins with an exploration of Nova’s origins—from the influence of Harlem and childhood memories to the transformative power of cinema as a spiritual practice. We delve into the creation of her film 'Wild Darlings Sing the Blues' and the personal healing journey that informed her creative vision.The conversation then transitions into a deep dive into the collective’s latest work: a land-based healing documentary. Nova shares the visceral experience of honoring ancestral land, navigating the energetic weight of filming on former plantations in Virginia, and the serendipitous rituals guided by spirits. This is a story of building a Black queer women’s collective through trust, patience, and the labor of collective transformation.00:00 - Podcast Intro01:30 - Introduction to the Wild Darlings Collective03:18 - Exploring Origin Stories and Childhood Memories07:56 - Understanding Lineage and Spiritual Innovation17:06 - Cinema as a Temple: The Spirituality of Film25:05 - The Healing Journey Behind 'Wild Darlings Sing the Blues'28:19 - Healing Through Psychedelic Therapy30:13 - The Birth of a Creative Vision33:34 - Exploring Ancestral Lineage37:11 - Confronting Family History and Trauma40:06 - Introduction to Day 2 Recording40:28 - Introduction to the journey of creating a land-based healing documentary42:33 - The initial visions and spiritual downloads that inspired the film44:38 - The healing and spiritual practices of the Darlings Collective46:48 - Building community through workshops and shared spiritual work49:23 - The significance of land and spirits in the collective’s rituals52:43 - Challenges faced with facilitators and group dynamics56:58 - Rebuilding after adversity and seeking an elder for guidance1:01:13 - Connecting with land in Virginia and the impact of sacred sites1:05:38 - The serendipitous process of land selection and the role of spirits1:12:28 - Filming on plantations: rituals, ceremonies, and the energetic environment1:25:30 - The immersive experience of land-based ceremonies and prayers1:32:48 - Observations of healing and collective transformation during the process1:35:28 - The importance of compassion in ancestral healing work1:38:38 - Personal reflections on integrating trauma and ancestral memories1:41:48 - Deepening trust and love for the land, spiritual practice, and creativity1:43:58 - Final thoughts: upcoming release and ways to support the projectMovie Trailer: Wild Darlings Sing the Blues Fundraising pageWebsiteInstagramSend us a messageSupport the showLearn more about Sara Jolena Wolcott and Sequoia SamanvayaMusic Title: Both of UsMusic by: madiRFAN Don't forget to "like" and share this episode!