Experience uncovering your inner Diosa Energy with the Leemos y Platica book club, starting September 10th at the Ruiz Branch Library. This session will focus on I Am Diosa by Christine Gutierrez, a book that aligns with the themes explored in the Emma S. Barrientos Mexican American Cultural Center (MACC)’s recent art exhibit, The Diosa Energy Within.
My journey into discovering my inner Diosa energy was enhanced through community conversations at an event held by the the MACC, called Community Conversation: The Diosa Energy Within. This event, also hosted at the Ruiz Library in Austin, Texas, was centered around the art exhibit The Diosa Energy Within, which ran from June 27 to August 12. Curated by Lorie Martinez—a dedicated community organizer at the MACC—the exhibit explored the meaning of "Diosa energy" and how it manifests within the comunidad.
Through this Community Conversation, Lorie created a space where artists and community members could connect, share, and reflect on what "Diosa energy" represents and how it can be expressed. Eager to learn more, I spoke with Lorie about the inspiration behind the exhibit and the ongoing programs offered by the MACC.
Holistic Wellness Program
The Diosa Energy Within exhibit was part of a larger program at the MACC known as the Holistic Wellness Program. As the program’s coordinator, Lorie explained that the program focuses on eight aspects of wellness: physical, social, environmental, financial, intellectual, emotional, mental, occupational, and spiritual.
“One of the goals of the Holistic Wellness Program,” Lorie emphasized, “is to address as many aspects of our overall well-being as possible and to remove barriers.” A key barrier the program overcomes is language, as Lorie proudly shared: “All of our programming is available in both English and Spanish.” This inclusivity was evident during the Community Conversation, where both English and Spanish translators were available for attendees. Attendees were given the option to wear headsets to receive translated words of the conversations.
All the activities in the the program are free of charge, to ensure that the events are accessible to the public. The program provides a wide-range of activities such as yoga, drumming, and gardening to film screenings and community conversations. The activities and services reflect the program’s dedication to the diverse needs of the community.
Community Conversations
Community Conversation , offered under the Holistic Wellness Program, creates opportunities for open conversations on relevant themes and topics in the community. The recent conversation I attended was centered on the Diosa Energy Within exhibit and included both the community members and artists whose work was displayed.
Lorie explained that the format of Community Conversations differs from traditional artist panel discussion. “There’s not a table dividing them from the community, from the audience or participants. Everyone's in a circle, and everyone has equal space to contribute.” This structure of conversation allowed for a more inclusive and engaging discussion, where ideas and experiences were shared openly by everyone in the circle.
Inspiration Behind the Diosa Energy Exhibit
The inspiration for the exhibit came from I Am Diosa, a book by Christine Gutierrez that focuses on healing, self-love, and reclaiming one’s inner power. Lorie’s goal for the exhibit was to break the traditional image of a “Diosa” figure as simply feminine and nurturing figure.
Lorie explained her definition of Diosa Energy as,“Diosa energy is about reclaiming strength, regardless of what you look like or how you present. It’s a form of power, self-love, and community that transcends gender and physical form.” I connected wth this definition, as my own understanding of Diosa evolved through the conversation. I realized that Diosa energy is not just about outward appearance but about inner expression and connection to self.
My Experience
During the conversation, we were all encouraged to reflect on what "Diosa energy" meant to us. Before the event, I had associated Diosa with a powerful feminine image that I struggled to connect with as I do not see my own appearance as that. Through the conversation, I came to realize that Diosa energy could be an internal force expressed through actions and self-expression, not just physical appearance. It allowed me to appreciate aspects of myself that I had difficulty embracing before.
I wasn't alone in this transformation. One artist shared with Lorie that the act of creating and participating in the exhibit had been healing for them. For many, it was the first time they felt that their art could be seen and appreciated in a space that connected to their lived experiences.
Feedback from Attendees:
● "Elevation of women generationally. There are not many inter-generational conversations, and this was a great space to learn wisdom."
● "La oportunidad de expresarme." (The opportunity to express myself.)
● "Engaging discussion and beautiful art, the artist talk and hearing different interpretations of the themes, the knowledge and how profound it was."
● "It was perfect. More of these events would be amazing."
Future Plans for Diosa Energy and Community Conversations
Looking ahead, the MACC and Holistic Wellness program iis continuing its commitment to community engagement. On October 10, they will host another Community Conversation called, Healing Through Earth Connections at the Wildflower Center, and on September 10, the Leemos y Platica book club will begin at Ruiz Library. The first book discussed will be I Am Diosa, further exploring the themes and conversations of Diosa Energy that was introduced by the exhibit.
For those unable to attend in person, a digital version of the exhibit can be viewed here.
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