Interview with Extraordinary Wildfire Womxn, Lydia the Free
Lydia the Free (she/her/they) is a poet, writer, phoenix, healer, mother, lover, and friend residing in Yonkers, New York. Lydia is the founder and owner of both Wildfire Womxn, a movement to encourage BIPOC womxn to be unapologetically themselves, as well as Lydia the Free and Family, a collection of services that include guidance, creativity and familial nurturing.
Papers: We had the amazing opportunity of publishing your poem, The Night Concert as one of our first features on our website. You illustrate a touching moment between you and your daughter. Do you mind telling us a bit more about how your family tends to influence your writing, or how they even motivate your creative endeavors?
Lydia: Ah, the night concert! Such a precious memory and capture of sacred moments.
That baby in the poem will be 2 in a few months, I'm so glad to have captured that moment and have it shared here with Papers!
My family means so much to me. I have always felt the connection to writing an expressing the myriad to feelings that I do, and as an artist and mom of 4 and partnered for almost 12 years, I have many pieces that are influenced by my experiences of loving my hearts outside of my body. A lot flows out of me naturally, especially when I'm moving through the big feels like love, and worthiness, attempting to break generational chains of trauma, childhood, anger, torment all that stuff.
I wanted to record my thoughts, feelings, and memories so they may look back and have a legacy to hold of me. The realness and mystic of life.
My family motivates me with my creative endeavors especially my children because I want them to see Mommy try.
I want them to know that they can and are encouraged to express themselves creatively and dream big! I want to create pathways that were stolen from many of the ancestors & womxn in our families & lineage
Papers: We love that you can be such an influential and feminine force in your family, and also love that you brought up your ancestors and womxn before you. Speaking of womxn, we know that you own Wildfire Womxn, which you describe as a movement curated to uplift and inspire BIPOC womxn. Where did the inspiration come from for Wildfire Womxn, and how would you yourself describe yourself as a wildfire womxn?.
Lydia: The inspiration for Wildfire Womxn comes from a desire to create spaces centering Black, Indigenous, Womxn of color. I've seen us be and live small and how us as BIPOC womxn can end up condensing ourselves to appease the judgemental perception of others.
Well, shit, I say enough is enough! I want a world where we don't have to be ashamed or afraid of our bold expression! Whether it be through words, speech, dancing style, motivation self-portraits many different ways. From conversations with women over the years, friends or women I've witnessed, there is a theme of us wanting to be free. Free from the judgment of society, especially the male gaze.
I describe myself as a Wildfire Womxn because I continue to grow and change, morph and evolve regardless of what many others may be doing around me. I have bid a do to many versions of me that no longer align, and that might not sit well with many. But, I follow my heart. My path. My calling. I've never been one to want to follow a crowd, I couldn't even if I tried. I dance to my own drum and I express myself in many ways. I'm not perfect, I'm sweet and soft and passionate and loud. Fiery placements all on my chart and much water which has me connected to my emotions easily.
Papers: We can definitely see your identity shine bright through your creativity. Your writing seems to build from a very raw and unfiltered place, almost as if you’re speaking directly to the reader and want to pour who you are into them. Where does that come from, and how were you able to become so comfortable with presenting your vulnerability in this way?
Lydia: I can say that I have always confided in my pages as a silent confidant. It's very easy for me to connect to my emotions or as I have mentioned and I've always wanted someone to see what I see, or feel what I feel, and what I understand. Like a beautiful way to translate vision to words for others to feel and see. I feel safe in my books and my home to pour out my soul. I want to record this very real felt life for my children too. I was a silent child, a shy and scared one- and I wanted to share my imaginative world with others one day.
Papers: And honestly, we can’t thank you enough for sharing who you are with us! Since you mentioned your children, we see that you recently created Lydia the Free & Family. Can you tell us a bit more about these services and why you’ve chosen now to offer them to an outside audience?
Lydia: I created Lydia The Free and Family because my desires and dreams include uplifting, not only myself and my own family, but the families and folks in our communities that I know could benefit from them greatly.
After witnessing so much growth and expansion in our own nest, together with my partner, who is an amazing supporter of my big dreams and insights, We felt we would be honor to guide help, support, uplift and teach and reach out to those that are looking for holistic care.
The services that we aim to offer are dynamic in nature to promote fun freedom, wellness, connection, creativity, & supporting healing. These offerings include: LydzKydz (children's services), creative arts, play based experiences like dance, arts and music in her child. Focus experiences, wildfire women goddess gatherings- focusing on collective healing as women and fems. We are looking forward to sound healing, movement, central workshops, Oracle readings, and peer guidance. I'm working with those in the communities and looking forward to witnessing what impact these offerings will have on the collective hearts.
Papers: That is incredible! We can’t wait to take part in those services ourselves. We know you’re always doing so much, but we would love to know what else you’re hoping to bring to your community, family, the people around you, and yourself.
Lydia: These are such beautiful questions. Thank you so much for asking, truly.
I have such a desire to help reach those that are struggling in the world. I really want to start in my own city of Yonkers, the 5 boroughs and as far as we can reach. I'm hoping to bring more peace, love, understanding and spaces to be witnessed in our uniqueness and receive support and guidance on our journey through life together. There's so much unbelievable, hurt and suffering that happens in our world and I'm grateful to have gathered insight into how he can possibly heal and be with, soothe, support, our community wounds and our pain, and more than that, remember who we truly are. Are. I hope to continue to learn and build and let my body lead me to what I've come to this plane to do. Asé.
Papers: Thank you for allowing us to interview you, Lydia! You are really a walking work of art, and we can’t wait to follow the journey you take us on.
Insta: @Lydia_the_free / @wildfire_womxn