Signal

"Signal" explores the powerful role of spiritual practices in providing refuge, resistance, and community for me, LGBTQ+ individuals, women facing systemic oppression. Motivated by a belief that metaphysical and personal rituals can acknowledge grief and cultivate hope, I delve into the practices of LGBTQ+ and women psychics, witches, seers, and believers as acts of belonging and resilience. Through photography, research, and writing, I examine how these personal rituals disrupt oppressive systems and embody liberating and connective power. Over the past two years, I’ve photographed more than twenty practitioners across the U.S. and Mexico, observing how they use rituals to honor gender identity, sustain sobriety, commune with the dead, preserve ancestral legacies, and communicate with spirits. These diverse practices come together to heal and protect against the harm inflicted by anti-feminist and anti-LGBTQ+ cultures, illuminating how people find bodily autonomy and safety in shared spiritual expressions. My unique visual perspective on these rituals renders them as powerful acts of survival, bearing witness to the resilience of marginalized communities. My goal is to foster empathy and understanding, creating a future where these vital rituals are seen not only as personal acts but as collective threads binding people in strength and unity.