Part direct action, part open-eyed group meditation, part street theater, part grief ritual and 100% unexpected, Vulnerable Rally isn't just "the opposite of advertising," it's a cultural somatics movement.

“I chose anorexia over my marriage.” –Vulnerable Rally Co-Founder Candice Holdorf’s Vulnerable Rally sign

Beloved recorded a call with the founders of Vulnerable Rally: Gabriel Diamond and Candice Holdorf to discuss how it started the day after the 2016 election, the way it evolved into a practice space, and how it shows us that often our greatest teachers are avoided at all costs.

"The thing that really unites us is we’re all hiding the same kinds of things. We all have shame around our sexuality, around our appearance, around our worth, around if we’re doing enough with our lives, if we’re showing up for others and the earth in good ways. We all have deep fear and shame around that, and no one wants to talk about it." –Gabriel Diamond, Vulnerable Rally Co-Founder

On the differences between feeling vulnerable and feeling shame: Shame gets dissolved in community and connection.

We also discuss how Vulnerable Rally mitigates the effects of toxic shame, how the Rally at Beloved is different from the Rally done in the street, and some stories of what happens when you tell a deep secret in public!

“Vulnerable Rally helps us, as James Kapicka says, to ‘re-mammal’ ourselves. –Candice Holdorf

We speak of power and privilege: Who has access to Vulnerable Rally? What does it mean to be truly vulnerable when bodily safety is stratified along identity lines?

We introduce Candice and Gabriel and then the interview gets underway at the 4:25 mark.

Content warning: mild talk/images related to eating disorders, suicide, sexual abuse and other traumas.

people holding signs at Beloved's Vulnerable Rally
people holding Vulnerable Rally signs at Beloved
two people hugging, one holding a cardboard Vulnerable Rally sign
People hugging and holding Vulnerable Rally signs at Beloved
Vulnerable Rally Signs at Beloved
Vulnerable Rally signs
Signs at Beloved Vulnerable Rally
people hugging and writing Vulnerable Rally signs
People hugging and holding Vulnerable Rally signs
A woman and child make Vulnerable Rally signs
Three people holding Vulnerable Rally signs at Beloved
Woman holding sign at Vulnerable Rally
Woman holding sign at Vulnerable Rally
Two women holding Vulnerable Rally signs
person holding sign at Vulnerable Rally
person with Vulnerability sign that says I'm afraid of my own power.
Person holding Vulnerable Rally sign that says, I compare myself to other people and I feel I'm Not Good Enough
Person with Vulnerable Rally sign that reads, I need more touch and connection but I self-isolate and I don't know how to change.
Vulnerable Rally Signs
person holding Vulnerable Rally sign that says, I long for the connection I fear and run from.
Person holding Vulnerable Rally Sign that says, I feel like there is something important missing inside myself.
two people hugging with a sign
Two people hugging holding Vulnerability signs.
Vulnerability Signs

With a final shout-out to Portland-based blessedupthreads.com!

Normalize Vulnerability Tote by Blessed Up Threads