Hi there, I'm...
Alaska Moon LMT-25959
a they/them who looks like a fae femme
What each of my tenets are and how they show up in my work:
Radical Love is deep and unconditional; it is given freely, without any expectation, and is committed to honoring the sovereignty and well-being of others.
One of my mentors said it best when I asked her “what am I to do if I ever feel lost during a massage that I’m giving? How do I know what to do, when I don’t know what to do?” And her answer was so simple, yet so poignant, and has stuck with me to this day.
When in doubt, show love to the body.
When you show love to the body in front of you and lead with the intention of love, the both of you will leave the session happier and healthier for it.”
Radical Compassion is all-inclusive and deeply felt, extending to and beyond oneself unto others, committed to alleviating suffering and fostering greater understanding. This shows up in sessions with me, as I realize that even though you are the one booking my time, that time is not for me. Your pain is the reason I am here, and so you are the sole focus. However I can make you most comfortable and alleviate your hurts, I will provide for you without question; as long as it is not at odds with the care and compassion I have for myself.
Radical Accountability involves complete ownership and responsibility for oneself; all thoughts, words, actions, and subsequent results. It fosters a mindset of taking appropriate responsibility, not externally blaming others for your shortcomings or berating yourself into victimhood. It helps to generate proactive action; so we can be actors in our lives, as opposed to reactors.
I manifest this in my own practice by practicing solid and professional ethics and boundaries, representing myself accurately and honestly, and setting my prices, hours, and services in a way that honors my goals and values. Although I try to act with my best foot forward, mistakes and miscommunications do happen. If this happens with you, I would love to encourage you to bring it up to me, so that we might have a conversation about it and I may make it right.
Radical Accountability also shows up in the relationship we build together. Unfortunately, I can’t be the only one working to help rid your life of pains and ailments. “It takes a village” isn’t just true for raising a child; you’re allowed to have your own village of people helping to make your life and body the best it can be. Don’t forget that you are a part of that team too! Equal effort towards your own well-being means that our journey together is a collaborative one. I can only provide what I can provide, and I will give further recommendations and suggestions as I see fit. But ultimately the results are all up to you and what you, your mind, your body, and your life will allow.
Radical Understanding is being open to and exploring the fundamental and potentially transformative comprehensiveness of life, your life, and all that’s a part of it. Whether it’s examining a concept, situation, or person, it often involves challenging traditional pathways and old modes of thinking to embrace a greater, more holistic view.
The way this shows up in my sessions can sometimes be difficult, scary, and painful. Examining who we truly are and challenging the way we previously believed ourselves to be is not an easy or painless process. Some of our pain can be so deep or long set in, that even bringing it to the surface can be difficult to impossible. But we can’t heal what we’re not aware of. Only by shedding light onto our darkest parts, can we start the process of healing and growth. Find what shames you, whether it’s your own darkness or that body ache that won’t go away, and love it to death.
Another part of how I practice Radical Understanding is that if you are not ready to take the plunge and go deeper into your pain or to move through it, I will never force it upon you or ask for you to do anything more than you are ready for. I understand that it is not my choice or journey to make for you. I will always strive to understand, honor, and respect your autonomy, boundaries, and sovereignty.
Radical Acceptance is for me, the base and deepest core value. From my perspective, none of the rest of the tenets can be as powerful as they are without the presence of the all-empowering Radical Acceptance.
As stated above, we can’t change what we are unaware of; however, we can have awareness yet still be in denial. Only when we truly and completely accept what is, can we hope to change it to what it will become. And even more so, sometimes we need to accept that some things cannot, or will not, ever change. There will always be moments in life where it doesn’t seem fair; where what happened wasn’t, nor ever will be, ok, but we have to find a way to be ok with it regardless.
I truly understood the idea of Radical Acceptance and all the other tenets when I was in massage school and we were learning about the treatment of cancer patients. My teacher expressed this to us:
Everyone in this person’s life, including themselves, wants them to be different. Their doctors want them to get better. Their family wants them to get better. Their coworkers, friends, etc, you name it, they all want this person to get better, to not have cancer, to not be where or who they are, exactly as they are in this moment. We can’t want that. We need to be the place where it is safe for this person and their body to just be. To simply exist exactly as they are, exactly in the moment, with no exceptions or expectations. We might be the only person or place in their life that doesn’t want them to change.
That simple act: accepting someone, in their total, complete, and utterly imperfect humanness. Allowing them to simply be.
So please, you never need to change or do anything for me; I’m simply happy that you’re here with me now.
