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Self-Healing – Hey empresses, Today at Unapologetically Caged, we’re doing something revolutionary we’re choosing to #SelfHeal. Not tomorrow. Not when conditions are perfect. Not when we’re finally “ready.” Today. Right now. Because here’s what I’ve learned sitting in this cell, separated from my two beautiful babies: transformation doesn’t wait for convenience, and healing doesn’t require permission. I’m Phoenix Rising, a mother of two, currently incarcerated, and I’m about to get brutally honest with you about something that took me years and these concrete walls to finally understand. We are our own jailkeepers. Long before I ended up here, I had…
Dear Younger Me – By Phoenix Rising Hey empresses (and young kings too y’all need to hear this just as much), If you could send a text message back in time to your younger self, what would you say? Would you warn yourself about that toxic relationship? That fake friend? That terrible haircut you thought was cute. (We’ve all been there, don’t even lie.) Well, I can’t time-travel trust me, if I could, I’d be doing a lot more than writing this blog. But what I CAN do is write a letter to my younger self and hope that maybe,…
Life Shuffle – By Phoenix Rising Hello empresses, and welcome back to another blog segment where we delve into the randomness of life, with a touch of humor sprinkled on top, because, honestly, if we don’t laugh, we’ll cry. The Shuffle Challenge Alright, let’s do a little experiment together. Everyone, pull out your music list on your tablets, iPhones, iPods, flip phones (yes, I see you, old-school folks still holding on to that T-Mobile Sidekick), or whatever device you’re using to keep your sanity intact, and hit the shuffle button. Go ahead, I’ll wait. A random song started to play,…
A Father Story of Loss – By Bajan Owl She used to sit at the kitchen table, watching me read the morning paper, copying the way I folded it just so. When she got older, she’d ask my opinion on everything – which university program to choose, whether to take that job offer, even which apartment to rent. “What do you think, Daddy?” was her constant refrain, and I’d give her my measured, practical advice in the same tone my father used with me. Firm. Direct. No nonsense. What I didn’t realize then was that she wasn’t just seeking my…
Disrespect Blvd – By Phoenix Rising Hey empresses, I feel like we’ve gotten quite acquainted over these posts, but you guys still don’t know who “Phoenix Rising” really is or where she came from. I wasn’t always this wise bird dropping gems of wisdom like I’m Oprah’s spiritually woke cousin. No, ma’am. I was the one who gems were being made for—the cautionary tale your mama warned you about. In all reality, I led myself down the path of destruction. Not my mother. Not my father. Not my siblings. Not even my friends. Crazy, right? Most people love to blame their…
A Letter to My Father – By Phoenix Rising Hey Empresses, Today I’m sharing something deeply personal with you all—a letter to my father. I’m doing this because I’ve learned that healing doesn’t happen in silence, and maybe my truth will help you find yours. So here it is, straight from my heart to his: Dear Dad, Thank you for being a wonderful and loving support system throughout this journey of incarceration. We’ve always been close because you raised me the first few years of my childhood, and it was terrific. The moment I went to stay with my mom,…
A Message to My Mom – by Phoenix Rising Dear Mom, Let me start by saying thank you for all the sacrifices, and I’m sorry for being an ungrateful brat about it. I held a grudge against you for years—many, many MANY years— because I always had it in my mind that you didn’t care about me. I always felt like the odd one out because I grew up a million miles away from you. Then, coming to live with you finally was completely the opposite of what I was hoping. You were always at work and barely home. I…
Being Real with Your Kids – By Phoenix Rising Hey empresses! So today we’re diving into something that makes most parents want to suddenly remember they left the stove on, need to check their phone, or have an urgent appointment with literally anything else. Yep, we’re talking about those difficult questions our kids ask that we dread answering every. Single. Day. “Where are you?” “Why are you never home?” “When will you be back home?” And my personal favorite gut-punch: “Mommy, is your job more important than me?” Insert the sound of my heart shattering into a million pieces here.…
Rebellion to Redemption – By Phoenix Rising Hey beautiful souls, Phoenix Rising here, writing to you from behind these concrete walls that have become both my prison and my classroom. I’m 26 years old, a mother of two precious babies I can’t hold right now, and I’m learning life lessons the hard way. Today I want to talk about something that literally changed my entire perspective on life: authority. Yeah, I know – authority. If only you could see my face when I first started writing about this topic. It was as stale as 5-week-old bread, and trust me, I’ve…
God Appointed Authorities – By Phoenix Rising Let me tell you something that every Haitian mama knows but might not say out loud: the road from the classroom to the cell block is shorter than you think, and it often starts with how we treat the teachers God places in our children’s paths. I’m writing this from a place I never imagined I’d be – behind bars, watching my two babies grow up through video calls and weekend visits. My name is Phoenix Rising, and at 26, I’m learning lessons I wish I’d understood when I was sitting in those…