Today we’d like to introduce you to Sonia Iris Lozada.
Hi Sonia, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself
My current project which includes my poetry books is my podcast Poetic Resurrection.
During the pandemic, I noticed how volunteers at food banks and others who marched for the Black Lives Matter movement inspired me to reach out to the community, and this along with my third book Inspired Me Perception to produce and host, Poetic Resurrection, a mindful podcast exploring perceptions. An introspective view of self-reflecting questions. What a beautiful life we would have if we understood and helped ourselves understand our behaviors. Self-knowledge and acceptance reflects on how we treat others. Mental health is important and not everyone feels comfortable or can afford a professional. On the podcast, we’ve covered perceptions of trauma, joy, being, and incarceration to name a few. It includes meditations and poetry readings. I am blessed by the quality and knowledge of the guests on the Poetic Resurrection podcast.
In 2017, I collected my poems, and since these poems were so personal, it was difficult to publish. I figured if not now, then when and self-published my first book Inspire Me: Raw. It was all about raw emotions and feelings. It was difficult allowing myself to be vulnerable. I currently have three poetry books available Inspire Me: Raw; Inspire Me: Perception and Follow: Akashic Dreaming Through Time.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way? Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
There have been many challenges and obstacles along the way. I’m a woman of Puerto Rican heritage and Los Angeles has been my home for over 40 years. I’ve been writing poetry since I was a child. It was my way of writing my thoughts, fears, traumas, and triumphs reflecting my bi-cultural life and experiences. I was born and raised in Chicago and my parents were recently here from Puerto Rico, so all we spoke was Spanish. In my early educational years, there were no courses similar to Bilingual studies or English as a second language. You fit in or get reprimanded for not knowing how to speak English. I understood but couldn’t answer. My second-grade teacher enrolled me in speech class, and I’ve excelled since then.
Throughout my life, I have had several interests including acting professionally (still doing this); had a punk underground fanzine in the 1980s where I interviewed and photographed several bands including the Clash, Echo & the Bunnymen, the Cure among many others. At UCLA, I published an Ethnomusicology newsletter for the dept. My challenge with all of this was I was self-taught and didn’t have a mentor. It’s so important to have mentors and not just while growing up, adults need mentors too. That’s why I started my podcast Poetic Resurrection where perceptions are explored. It’s a place for listeners to start asking themselves self-reflecting questions. What a beautiful world it would be if we felt safe and secure.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
I am most proud of my poetry and my podcast – Poetic Resurrection. I set out to help others understand themselves and ask self-reflecting questions and what I have realized is that it has also helped me. It connected me with amazing people from all over the world trying to make a difference. I’ve just recently closed the first season. Season two will start in June 2021. The episodes are a mixture of guest (every other week), poetry readings, meditations, and talks.
I’m fascinated with perceptions of time, history, dreams, psychology, and the metaphysical. My poetry and stories reflect these interests. My #1 bestselling publications include Inspire Me: Raw (2017), Follow Akashic Dreaming through Time (2019), and Inspire Me: Perception (2019). My upcoming book is entitled “Inspire Me: In Time of Need” the third in the “Inspire Me series”.
I believe I’m known more for being an actor because I’ve done this for so many years. As an actor for both stage and screen, I’ve appeared in films such as Out of the Wild and Expired among many others.
Are there any important lessons you’ve learned that you can share with us?
The most important lesson I’ve learned and one I wish I would have learned earlier is to love and accept myself. It has taught me to be patient, and because I’m patient, I’ve become patient with others. When I accepted myself, I practiced gratitude and realized I had more than I ever thought I did. The idea of lack dissipated and I realized there’s abundance for all.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://poeticresurrection.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/poeticsonia/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/poetic.resurrection/
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/Myst2cal
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCAJgk3HMADdbg3iIyzHlH9A
- Other: https://poeticresurrection.podbean.com/
Image Credits
1. Mark Atteberry 2. Mark Atteberry 3. Alex Greenwood 4, 5 & 6 were licensed photos and book designers
