During the spring of 2026, a small group of curious, adventurous, courageous, and kind Black folks gathered to discuss three poignant and powerful works of speculative fiction: Kindred by Octavia Butler, Beloved by Toni Morrison, and Daughters of the Dust by Julie Dash.
What began as an outdoor book club about exploring freedom and fellowship in some of my favorite stories ultimately blossomed into a collaborative healing space. The first cohort of The Polaris Cypher met on Saturday mornings in beautiful natural spaces across Los Angeles for short hikes, snacks, and deep conversations about race, faith, gender, family, power, politics, all kinds of supposedly impolite dinner conversation. All the while, we laughed, wept, and listened intently while exploring literary paths toward our collective healing.
I wish to express sincere gratitude to those who accepted my invitation to play in the inaugural cohort The Polaris Cypher: Christi, Sequoia, Ash, Destiny, and Tracey. This dream I’ve had since at least 2022 finally exists beyond my heart and mind because you were willing to wake up early on three different Saturday mornings, when you could have been doing literally anything else, and trust me to hold that space and your stories with love and care. Thank you for affirming a need for The Polaris Cypher, and your thoughtful feedback about how to make this experiment even more magical moving forward. Also, thank you to my dear friend Auziah for creating this video and encouraging me to always dream bigger. Love you, girl!
And guess what, reader: we’re running it back! The waitlist for the next cohort of The Polaris Cypher is open. If you are a Black woman or femme in LA and anything you’ve encountered here interests you, please visit @weare.polaris on Instagram and tinyurl.com/polaris-waitlist to learn more. I would love the opportunity to study freedom and fellowship by your side.
