Heru TchaasAmen on Nurturing Community and Embracing Legacy
Photos by Jordan Somers
Heru TchaasAmen returned for another enlightening segment of Mindfulness Monday on The Day With Trae. Joining host Trae Holiday, TchaasAmen talked about his recent accolade within the Ausar Auset Society, shared his vision for the community, and reflected on his connection to the legacy of the late community leader Elijah Lewis.
Diving into the episode, TchaasAmen highlighted his new title as a Shekhem or "chief" within the Ausar Auset Society. This role not only signifies his elevated status within the organization but empowers him to further his work within the community. With the unwavering support of the society behind him, TchaasAmen expressed his enthusiasm for expanding his outreach efforts to guide those in need.
"My goal is to take care of [and] heal our people. My mandate is to do that for King and Pierce counties, all the way up and down the I5 corridor, to love on my Black people, to help my Black people heal, to guide them to what is healthy for them," TchaasAmen. "Holistically speaking, nutrition-wise, spiritual-wise, physically, whatever it is that they're going through. I want to support them. So, getting empowered to do that in an official capacity is what it's about for me."
TchaasAmen got involved with the organization after reading the work of its founder, Ra Un Nefer Amen.
"I was hurting, broken, and lost. I tried different things but came across this book, Metu Neter Volume 1," TchaasAmen said. That book changed my life. I started practicing what was in the book and saw my life change. I saw myself begin to heal, break habits, and grow and mature in ways that I hadn't experienced before. I realized that if it could work for me, it could work for anybody."
From then on, Tchaas Amen began sharing the work with people and utilizing the teachings in his lifestyle. When Nefer Amen established a study group in Seattle, TchaasAmen joined, becoming critical in expanding it within the community.
"We just came together and started studying this way of life and working on meditating to see ourselves free. Seeing ourselves as divine beings rather than broken, [affirming] that we were divine rather than lost, [transcending] our pain, and free and [choosing] to be free and embrace that freedom by choice," TchaasAmen said. "We're still here. We're growing, and people are getting healthy. It's fun for me to see my people become vibrant in their stuff and share with the community."
Later in the episode, Holiday and TchaasAmen discuss his connection to the work of the late community leader Elijah Lewis.
"Elijah opened the doors of Liberty Bank Building for me. He brought me in to practice Qigong with the residents. He introduced me to all the residents. He was up early in the morning, sleeping his eyes. He was at every event. I just saw his personality bubbling over the way he was dedicated," TchaasAmen.
Having met Lewis when he delivered a speech about his aspirations for change and the profound impact of gun violence on his life at a George Floyd rally, TchaasAmen began thinking of ways to utilize his practices within Ausar Auset to aid leaders making community changes.
"I tapped in and said, I'm going to support him. I'm going to support Africa Town. I'm going to support whatever my Black people are doing that is healthy. I'm going to be there and show up. I don't care what it is. I don't care if it's raining. I don't care if it's snowing. I don't care who's going through it. I'm going to be there," TchaasAmen. That's been a commitment. To show up, to show my face, to hold those people who are crying, to help them find health, to help them transcend grief, to help them find a better way of life. That's the goal: to heal the Pacific Northwest. I want to resurrect society and civilization."
In his ongoing efforts, TchaasAmen envisions launching webinars and workshops to empower individuals with the tools to cultivate peace in their lives. Whether through teachings rooted in Ausar Auset principles or his expertise in Qigong, he aims to provide accessible avenues for personal growth and transformation. Furthermore, he plans to immerse himself where help is needed most, reaching out to those in need of relief and those providing it.
"I'm done with our brothers and sisters getting murdered in the cities. We have to do something about it. There has to be response. We talk about health and wellness, but we have to actually advocate. We have to go touch the children that are dealing with these crimes," TchaasAmen. "My goal is to step in those places and be in those faces. Somebody came to me when I was out on the street, hustling and doing things like that. I want to be there too. You're going to look for me on the corners now. That's what's going to happen."
Click here to learn more about TchaasAmen's teachings at his organization, Heru Heals, and reach out to him on his social media page.
For more stories about health and wellness happening in King County, tune into Trae every weekday at 11 am on all Converge Media platforms and The Day With Trae YouTube Channel.
