Moving Away from the Binary

In this episode, I am challenging the rigid binaries that fracture our sense of self and keep us locked in cycles of performative survival. I am uncovering the deep connection between modern gender fluidity, metaphysical principles, and the ancient Yin & Yang philosophy that predates modern physics. By tracing these concepts back to the spiritual foundations of pre-colonial Africa, I find myself also reclaiming a history where gender was understood as a manifestation of energy rather than mere anatomy. This episode is an invitation to move past inherited distortions and find the balance of my own—and perhaps your own—natural rhythm. As you listen, I invite you to reflect on this question: Where in your own life have you been conditioned to overdevelop one energy at the expense of your own wholeness? I look forward to hearing your thoughts in the comments.  SHOW NOTES & RESOURCES RESOURCES: * Memory Held by Land: Inside the Sacred Vodun Forest of Ouidah (Acetheyogi YouTube) * Haliwa-Saponi Tribe* Macaulay, T. B. (1837). A penal code, prepared by the Indian Law Commissioners. J.L. Cox and Son* The Indian Penal Code, Act No. 45 of 1860* Smith, E. W., & Dale, A. M. (1920). The Ila-speaking peoples of Northern Rhodesia. Macmillan and Co. * Signorini, I. (1973). Agɔnwole agyalɛ: The marriage between two persons of the same sex among the Nzema of southwestern Ghana. Journal des Africanistes, 43(1), 187–205. * Amadiume, I. (1987). Male daughters, female husbands: Gender and sex in an African society. Zed Books. * Somé, M. P. (1994). Of water and the spirit: Ritual, magic, and initiation in the life of an African shaman. TarcherPerigee. * Somé, M. P. (1999). The healing wisdom of Africa: Finding life purpose through nature, ritual, and community. TarcherPerigee.* Epprecht, M. (2008). Heterosexual Africa? The history of an idea from the age of exploration to the age of AIDS. Ohio University Press.* Gupta, A. (2006). Section 377 and the dignity of Indian homosexuals. Economic and Political Weekly, 41(46), 4815–4823.* Gaudio, R. P. (2009). Allah made us: Sexual outlaws in an Islamic African city. Wiley-Blackwell.    * Tamale, S. (Ed.). (2011). African sexualities: A reader. Pambazuka Press * Nyanzi, S. (2013). Dismantling reified African culture through localised homosexualities in Uganda. Culture, Health & Sexuality, 15(8), 952–967.* Wang, R. R. (n.d.). Yinyang (Yin-yang). Internet Encyclopedia of Philosophy. TIMESTAMPS 00:00 - Intro  00:44 – The They/Them of it all 02:30 – The Diversity of Human Genetics: A Look at Biology vs. Social Constructs  07:48 – What is Sexual Orientation? 11:53 – My Personal Journey 19:19 – My Social Identities 22:15 – Everything is Energy: The Philosophy of Yin & Yang 25:14 – African Traditions: Decolonizing Anti-Gay Colonial Mindsets 27:50 – A Look at Pre-Colonial Africa  30:42 – I Love You  This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit sacredkoipodcast.substack.com