I never expected that a post about my nervous system’s response to fascism to blow up on Instagram. But there I was, green tea in one hand and a lit joint in the other, watching my phone light up with hundreds of shares and DMs from therapy clients, respected educators, somatic practitioners, friends, and organizers. Even my partner, who usually avoids social media like the plague, messaged me: “OMG, this explains exactly how I feel watching the news.”
What does it mean to say fascism embeds itself in our nervous system? Through a decolonial lens and Polyvagal Theory, we’ll explore how state-manufactured fear hijacks our survival responses, and how understanding this can be a portal to healing, solidarity, and resistance.
