THE RH♥M

Over the past four years, we’ve all journeyed through an era marked by uncertainty, fear, and unprecedented isolation. These shared experiences have left deep imprints—on our hearts, our families, and our communities.

The Re-humanization He♥movement   (RH♥M)  was birthed after I attended my nephew’s wedding.

During the Hora Dance, I watched as friends and family formed a loving circle around the couple. That moment was a blue-sky realization for me. I began the painting on multiple canvases, symbolizing a mosaic approach—a coming together—after enforced separation-lock downs during covid. We all remember 2020,  we were told not to gather, not to celebrate, and not to embrace. These mandates used fear to strip away the very ways we show love and connect. I believe the collective trauma caused by lockdowns, separation, masks and mandates is still being processed by many people. 

Among the most damaging effects was the widespread dehumanization that quietly took root.

To understand the foundation of this movement the key concepts that inform and shape the RH♥︎M will be described: dehumanization, re-humanization, othering, trauma, coaching as an arts-based healing intervention from collective trauma. These concepts are the building blocks for making sense of both the suffering we endure and the healing we can co-create.

Dehumanization

Dehumanization often begins subtly—with a label. Labeling another human being or group creates separation and fuels division. During the COVID response, this became starkly apparent. In 2020, health officials and politicians used labels tied to private medical decisions in very public ways. Canadians became polarized: “VAXXED” was applauded; “UNVAXXED” was vilified as selfish or uneducated; “ANTI-VAXXER” was equated with conspiracy and stupidity. Even those labeled “VAXXED INJURED” were often dismissed as mentally ill or accused of lying.  Families and friendships fractured due to dehumanization. As David Brooks explains, “Labeling is when you try to discredit another person by tossing them into some disreputable category… they regard a person as ‘less than,’ lacking the mental capacities commonly attributed to humans”[1] When these labels go unchallenged, dehumanization becomes normalized paving the way for people to engage in group think which could, eventually lead to violence.

Re-Humanization

Re-humanization is the act of reversing the damage caused by dehumanization.

To stop dehumanization from gaining power, we must remember history. Isabel Wilkerson in her book “Caste’ reminds us that dehumanization has been central to oppressive systems—from slavery to genocide to caste hierarchies. “The caste system relies on dehumanization to lock in the marginalized… so any action against them seems reasonable.”[2]  

Re-humanization is the act of reversing the damage caused by dehumanization. It calls on us to resist the tendency to reduce others to categories and label them instead of recognizing and affirm their full humanity.   To stop dehumanization from becoming normalized, we must remember history. Isabel Wilkerson (2023) reminds us that dehumanization has been central to oppressive systems—from slavery to genocide to caste hierarchies. “The caste system relies on dehumanization to lock in the marginalized… so any action against them seems reasonable.” [3]  To re-humanize, we must remember. We must bear witness to the harm and suffering of people who have been labelled and othered. And we must act—with courage, fueled by empathy and compassion to rebuild our community piece by piece healing the divide. 

Othering

“Othering also involves attributing negative characteristics to people or groups that differentiate them from the perceived normative social group…it suggests intolerance and exclusion.”  Othering occurs when individuals or groups are defined as not belonging—labeled as different, deficient, or dangerous. It divides people into in-groups and out-groups, often fueling exclusion, fear, and prejudice. It is a subtle and pervasive force that influences how we perceive and treat one another, often without conscious awareness”. [4]  An example during covid was people that were in the OUT group ‘selfish’ for not doing their duty to protect others by getting vaccinated.  The people in the IN group were the people that stepped up to get vaccinated being ‘good’ Canadians, doing their part during the pandemic.

Trauma

Magsamen & Ross (2025) suggest that trauma is a universal experience—something we all encounter in one form or another. It’s a common misconception that trauma only happens to certain people, or that once it happens, we’re broken beyond repair. In truth, trauma is something we can learn from, heal through, and move beyond. It arises when the intensity of an experience overwhelms our ability to cope, leaving a lasting imprint on the body and brain. In those moments, we’re often unable to regulate our emotional response, and the nervous system becomes flooded.

Although trauma can be incredibly painful, it's also part of our survival system—our body’s way of protecting us from further harm. Understanding the different types of traumas can help us make sense of our reactions and begin the process of healing. For example:

• Collective trauma occurs when a group experiences a distressing event together.

• Intergenerational trauma is passed down through families and communities, sometimes even affecting gene expression through epigenetics.

• Acute trauma stems from a single, intense event.

• Chronic trauma results from prolonged or repeated exposure to distress.

One of the biggest challenges with trauma is how it gets lodged in the body as described by the author Bessel Van Der Kolk in the book ‘The body keeps score’. Even after the danger has passed, the body may continue to REACT as though the event is still happening making it difficult to reach a state of balance or homeostasis. Research on Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACE) highlights how, for many, the stress response system gets overwhelmed more quickly, and the ability to “reset” after a difficult experience is diminished. [5]   Over the years, l have coached many people who have experienced trauma from the lockdowns, mandates, being dehumanized or discriminated against. 

For communities to come together and truly heal from trauma, it’s essential that the pain be acknowledged and the people affected are seen and heard. Prentis Hemphill (2024) reminds us, we must keep learning from our collective history—because if we don’t, we risk repeating it.[6]

Judith Herman (2022) brings our attention to the role of the bystander in trauma. She writes, “When traumatic events are of human design, those who bear witness are caught in a conflict between victim and perpetrator… The bystander is forced to take sides. All the perpetrator asks is that the bystander do nothing, forget the past and move on. The victim demands action, engagement, and remembering”.  Elie Wiesel, who experienced unthinkable atrocities, offers his insights for humanity.  I  included his quote in my story to acknowledge him “What hurts the victim most is not the cruelty of the oppressor, but the silence of the bystander” so we can all to reflect on his wise insights.  

Health promotional coaching  

I used the process of Health promotion coaching (HPC) to start the movement.  It is an arts-based intervention that uses graphic facilitation to scribe participants' stories, allowing them to understand hidden programs running their lives. HPC is not therapy.  It increases awareness of disempowering thoughts and beliefs that trigger emotions unconsciously.

HPC can be used to release the trauma response to reveal insights needed to take the next step.   It helps identify the root of low-frequency emotional patterns by making visible the beliefs that anchor them in the body and life experiences that continue to trigger these old programs rooted in trauma. HPC draws on the wisdom of thought leaders Tara Brach, Byron Katie, Sandra Ingerman, Judith Herman, and Mel Robbins.

The overall outcome of coaching is to help people process emotions to reset and come back into balance.  Unfortunately, most people don’t know how to process their emotions in a healthy way, much less communicate their needs in a direct and respectful fashion.  

In David Hawkins' book "Letting Go” he emphasizes the importance of resolving negative emotional programs. He explains that emotions carry different frequencies, with high-frequency emotions, love, joy, kindness being UPLIFTING and low-frequency emotions, anger, resentment, depression DRAINING VITALITY.

Can we look in the mirror and break this cycle?

Now is the time to co-create a more loving, connected, and compassionate world.

We can all participate in the RHM…

1. Become aware of when you are REACTING  instead of  RESPONDING so you can connect human to human without labels.

2. Listen deeply, to hear other people’s stories and be open to a different perspective.

3. Learn tolerance. Love others even if they do not agree with you or they are stuck in a trauma response.  We are all connected.  Be the person who can suspend judgement and offer your heart.

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The RH♥M uses art as an approach to heal the divide. This is a different approach from presenting scientific evidence to help people come together.  Art making and art viewing engages the right brain igniting empathy and compassion with the potential to transform the dehumanization causing collective trauma.   Art helps us speak when our voice cannot.

“Art creates a profound connection between the artist and the audience.

Through that connection, both can heal.  Rick Rubin.

The Re-Humanization He♥︎ART Movement Next exhibit

An Invitation to Reconnect

The Re-Humanization Art Exhibit invites us to gather, reflect, and come together.

Our Mission — To rebuild compassion, piece by piece,through ART—connecting human to human, without labels.

The Transformative power of ART, we reconnect to our shared humanity.

This movement was born to address the collective trauma of:

Lockdown—Mandates—Dehumanization/Labeling—Discrimination

Each portrait represents the many faces, the many voices, the many stories—acknowledging those who were silenced, marginalized—dehumanized.

You could sign up for the Re-Humanization HeART movement project scroll down.  

If there are 10-15 people by next March 2026 we could hang another exhibit.

OFFERING THE PROCESS OF COACHING AS A WAY OF TALKING ABOUT IT

I will use the process of coaching to hear and see the person underneath the LABEL transforming both the listener and the storyteller. A reference photo taken following the session will serve as a guide when painting the story teller's portrait. The storyteller and the coach’s reflective writing will be posted beside the portrait to deepen the visitor’s experience during the art show. 

HOW DO I KNOW I HAVE A STORY TO TELL?

If you have had an experience where you were paralyzed with fear not able to think, you were labelled, discriminated against, coerced to take an injection,

You choose to take an experimental covid injection and now you regret it,

You witnessed the suffering caused by the declared pandemic causing people to lose their jobs, loose their business, or careers barred from travel or eating in a restaurant,

You have been injured by the injection you took in exchange for your human right to access work, travel or enroll in education because you were promised things will come to normal,

You witnessed workplace bullying experienced loss, grief or moral distress working in horizontally violent workplaces. You have a story to tell.

IS THE PROCESS OF COACHING A FIT FOR ME? As a coach, l will hold space for people to tell their story, to be acknowledged, to be heard, and to be seen. Coaching is not about fixing or advice giving. I will remain curious and ask curious questions while suspending judgment based on the following principles:

• Every person is creative, resourceful, and whole.

• Everyone is a holistic being, integrating mind, body, spirit, heart, and soul.

• Each person can identify their own needs, discovering their own answers, and solve their own problems if given the opportunity.

• The client chooses the topic for each session, and transformation emerges through insights discovered in the magical process of coaching.

 If you have any questions, or want to book in for a coaching session if you decide you would like to be part of the Re-humanization movement project please contact Lynda McLeod at createwithlynda@protonmail.com  .

THE RE-HUMANIZATION HEART PROJECT INCLUDES THE FOLLOWING:

A. 1:1 coaching session (90 minutes)

B. Access to a group coaching session (75 minutes) once a month via zoom call with the intent of supporting each other to write a reflective piece to place beside their portrait and to learn how to start respectful kitchen table discussions to bring Canadians back together.

C. Your portrait, an oil painting (18-20 x 20-24) completed by Lynda McLeod is part of the project and is yours.

Here are the three $ options to be part of the Re-humanization project which includes:

1. Angel investor: cover self as a participant and then pay it forward for one participant to be part of the project $300

2. Participant: $150

3. Sacred economics sliding scale to cover art costs: $25 or $50 or $75 or $100

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Respectfully yours,

Lynda McLeod

[1] Brooks, D., (2023). How to know a person: The art of seeing others deeply and being deeply seen. New York. Random house.

[2] Wilkerson, I. (2023). Caste The origins of our discontent. US:Random House. (p. 149).

[3] Wilkerson, I. (2023). Caste The origins of our discontent. US:Random House.

[4] Cherry K., (2025). How Othering Contributes to Discrimination and Prejudice 

The psychology behind us vs. them. Verywellmind. https://www.verywellmind.com/what-is-othering-5084425

[5]  Magsamen, S., and Ross, I. (2025) “Your brain on art How the arts transform us”. New York:Penquin Random house.

[6] Hemphill, P., (2024). What it takes to heal How transforming ourselves can change the world. New York: Penguin Random house.