Open Roads Only
It’s been a long road since I was reminded that all of them are open to me - no matter what may tell me otherwise.
Back in September 2024, I was in ceremony in Brazil, a guest at my friend Rox’s terreiro (spiritual house in the Candomble tradition), and in the after glow that I can share - an email sat in the Ancestors in Training inbox. I check my notifications fairly regularly, and it was a pretty gray day in Sao Paulo - but I’ll never forget the invitation from my former editor, Jasmine Respess, who introduced themselves and asked if I had ever considered turning AIT into a book.
Personally, I was riding a wave of changes, some of which would come to pass in the following Spring, all of which have required me to grow and show myself a little more publicly. I laughed and cried, thinking about how many times my mom said I should try and find a way to write and make that all that I did. But in the middle of all of the rejections of grants, opportunities, and even other jobs that felt more values aligned - I had gotten a bit weary with what I thought would be next for me.
The answer I wrote back to Jasmine was yes, despite my fears.
Personally, I was riding a wave of changes, some of which would come to pass in the following Spring, all of which have required me to grow and show myself a little more publicly. I laughed and cried, thinking about how many times my mom said I should try and find a way to write and make that all that I did. But in the middle of all of the rejections of grants, opportunities, and even other jobs that felt more values aligned, I had gotten a bit weary with what I thought would be next for me.
The question now is, if I felt the weight of the words once I had finished pouring them out - how will you receive them? Will they feel like a salve, or a balm that soothes you, or affirms that you’re not alone in a world that profits off of your desires for belonging? Will you hear my own stories and journey with ancestral healing and see yourself? I can’t tell you how many times I almost didn’t finish, equal parts imposter syndrome and needing to grieve the aspects of my life that had to go to make one for the world that I am writing into existence. Now, after 57,000 words across thirteen chapters, the first official draft was sent in on the anniversary of my paternal grandmother becoming an ancestor. Perhaps that was the undertow that was pushing me along to finish - maybe it was a version of avoiding procrastination by digging in to writing.
In any case, I am so grateful to be on this journey, amid heartaches and challenges in my own life, my family and friends, and across the world.
Ancestors in Training: An Abọ̀rìṣà’s Guide to Lineage Work, Healing Praxis, and Black Diasporic Memory, is truly on the way - with the first draft submission making it one step closer to being in your hands - somewhere along these future memories and open roads.
Meet The Writer
Veronica Agard (Ifáṣadùn Fásanmí) is a visionary muse and multifaceted creative rooted in the power of ancestral healing and joyful storytelling. Through Ancestors in Training™, she inspires others to honor their roots, build intentional legacies, and envision brighter futures. Known for her warm, approachable presence, Veronica blends poetry, community care, and cultural identity into her work, fostering spaces for healing and transformation.
Her journey includes facilitating workshops, curating transformative experiences, and collaborating with institutions such as CCCADI and the Studio Museum of Harlem. She is invested in cultures of healing. With a digital presence reaching thousands, Veronica weaves vibrant visuals, meaningful conversations, and nature-inspired aesthetics to spark curiosity and connection.
From her soulful captions to her upcoming projects, Veronica invites her audience to explore the intersections of joy, resistance, and legacy. Veronica’s debut book, Ancestors in Training: An Abọ̀rìṣà’s Guide to Lineage Work, Healing Praxis, and Black Diasporic Memory, is out next year with North Atlantic Books.
