Why I stopped celebrating Thanksgiving at 12, a reflection on its myths, and a call to reimagine how we honor connection and renewal during the holidays.
Beautiful Wildlings,
As we approach Thanksgiving, I am reflecting on why I stopped celebrating it 40 years ago at the age of 12. That year, my dad’s in-laws and parents joined us for dinner. Seeing my Abuelita Bea — an Indigenous Mexican — marginalized by subtle but unmistakable racism during the gathering made it impossible for me to ignore the contradictions of the holiday.
When I divorced, I even traded Thanksgiving for other holidays because it wasn’t something I celebrated.
Thanksgiving is rooted in myths that erase the violence and displacement faced by Indigenous peoples. This comprehensive interview of David Silverman, author ofThis Land Is Their Land: The Wampanoag Indians, Plymouth Colony, and the Troubled History of Thanksgiving, dives into the uncomfortable truths behind the narrative we were taught in school. It’s an important read as we consider what we celebrate and why.
This time of year also stirs memories of my grandfather — a staunch John Bircher, deeply racist towards Black people despite his interracial marriage to my grandmother. He abhorred MLK Day as another “woke” holiday — one we’ll likely see abolished under the next administration’s return.
But life challenged his prejudices. When his son, my dad, was killed, the justice system and the newspapers vilified my dad and his friends because of their brown skin. The reckoning with systemic racism came too late for my grandfather, but it is something I hope we all face sooner rather than later.
Instead of clinging to a mythologized holiday as a way to spend time (or fight) with our loved ones, I propose we shift our focus. Imagine replacing Thanksgiving with four holidays honoring the equinoxes and solstices.
These are universally significant days, marked for millennia by monuments and gatherings worldwide. Coming together as families on these natural turning points feels more aligned with global history and connection.
As we navigate the holiday season, I’m also here to support you with tools for grounding and renewal, the blessings from my Indigenous ancestors. My Black Friday/Indigenous Heritage Day sale is still live, with a few bundles left. The Sale ends tomorrow night.
If you want to purchase something from the sale but the timing isn’t right, please let me know as I evaluate my offers for 2025.
Plus, with coupon code IX9ETCD you can get an additional 20% off the the sales and my newest offer: the Time Devotion Renewal Kit ($47 $37). This kit is designed to help you — or the strong friends in your life — shift how you move through the chaos of the season with ease and intention. (To give as a gift, just use their email if giving as a gift and send a note to them about their gift.)
Check out the Black Friday/Indigenous Heritage Day sale here »»»
May this season inspire us to reflect, challenge harmful traditions, and create new ones that honor truth and interconnectedness.
Stay wild, love fiercely. Your presence is golden.
With wild and rebellious love,
Ciao! xo Ixchel
P.S. Ready to explore your personal cosmology and liberate your creative flow? Shop the Black Friday / Indigenous Heritage Sale here »»» This is your invitation to reconnect with Time, Earth rhythms, and your unique place in the universe.
P.S.S. If you’re unsure where to start or want guidance on how these tools can support your unique path, reply to this email — I’d love to connect and help you find the offering that’s right for you.
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I was raised and bore children on the traditional, unceded, and stolen lands of the Coast and Central Valley Miwok (colonized as Petaluma, CA) and Nisenan (colonized as Sacramento and Fair Oaks, CA), past, present, and future. I also write, work, and live in the highland forest of the traditional, unceded and stolen lands of the Totonac, Nahua, and Mexicah, past, present, and future, in what is known as Coatepec, Veracruz, Mexico.
P.P.S. I do not live or consent to the colonial impositions regarding the construct of Time. I also practice honoring rhythms of work, play, and rest so that I can serve you with embodied presence and with loving care. This means I may take several days to respond to your requests and questions. (h/t Eva Glamaris)
P.P.S. A mention is not necessarily an endorsement of someone. It’s an acknowledgment, a citation, of the origin of information in my process of understanding. (h/t Kelly Diels)
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Copyright © 2026, Cheyenne, WY, and Veracruz, Mexico, All rights reserved. Sharing your lineage of knowledge is decolonial. When iterating, please cite me. Not citing is epistemicide.
