Conversations with Heniya Harmon

Today we’d like to introduce you to Heniya Harmon.

Hi Heniya, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
My love for healing is not circumscribed by one designation, it lives ubiquitously through the versatility of my service. In present, I am in a transitional space of mastering the good ol’ concept of not pouring from an empty cup. In my past, I have not always been so allotting. But, in my journeys totality, I’d be a fool not to acknowledge how vast and exemplifying of a role “Little Heniya” played in “Big Heniya” understanding her gift to the world.

If there was a camera present at Cedars Sinai on September 8, 1996, when this big-headed baby arrived for the new, most convivial day of September. I envision the doctors would say I came out to the womb laughing. The name Heniya is actually a Quranic name meaning laughter. So, although I doubt my parents knew that, I know God did. I am Puerto Rican and Black. So on Sunday mornings, when it was time to clean up, we played Luther Vandross and Elvis Crespo too. Chorizo con arroz con polo but also hot water cornbread. I was an intuitive child and shy was one of the furthest traits from me. Astrologically, my Sun sign, Virgo, has always been prevalent. I found interest in Shel Silverstein books, horoscope, astronomy and simply over observing human interactions. All while loving the limelight. On Christmas, the family looked to me to “..show us that little dance y’all been doing”,I was the first kid to volunteer as tribune for a solo Easter speech at church, on every report card a teacher mentioned how I talk and joked superfluously in class yet passing with flying colors, and in public, I viewed everyone around like a Grand Theft Auto character. That paradigm allowed me to always be myself since life was a video game I had the controller for and I only hoped at minimum my authenticity would inspire my surroundings to follow suit for themselves. My adamancy was birthed by confusion. Although I was and am loyal to exuding an energy of initiation, transcendence and overall happiness, it was also the tumult, pandemonium and heartbreak that ensued that my role in this video game of sorts was to spread love and laughter. I spoke love and expression even through my hurt. That’s what made me an artist. The artist you now see.

I grew up in Inglewood, CA. My fondest memories consist of riding my bike to what was then KFC on Crenshaw and Manchester, also the Forum was blue, getting a KFC Snacker, crossing the street and getting snacks from 7/11, then riding back to Circle Park. Although my parents got a divorce in high school and I felt stripped of my childhood home so young, there’s nowhere that screams home like Inglewood. I lived at church as a child. Of course “lived” is a slight exaggeration, but as proactive as my family was in a Black family church it was basically my second home. The pastor was somehow in my family and the option of not being heavily involved was slim to none. I rejoiced in the space to praise-dance and sing gospel songs that I know word for word to this day. I can mimic a church-like environment comedically accurate. My addiction to perfectly miming every member of my church emanated my true love for acting. I enrolled at Debbie Allen Dance Academy at a blossoming age of seven. I now teach dance and any place with stable flooring is my dance floor. I began my theatre & commercial acting journey at 6 years of age. By age 13, I had acquired 20+ National Commercials and 8+ Nationally Acclaimed Plays. In every grade school along the way, I participated in Cheer, Dance, Step, Drama, Theatre, Improv and/or Psychology. I graduated C.A.T.C.H High School and attended the one and only UCLA. One day, about five years ago, I picked up a mic and started doing stand-up comedy. I’ve been at the center of comedy roasts and joke-telling circles since I could remember because being a class clown was a job I took pride in. Co-median seemed as a comfortable transition of using my love for healing. An extension of my due diligence towards healing hearts that like me, might not say anything when in need of healing themselves.

A colossal thank you to Katherine, Henay, Vanyssa, Antione, Ethan, Jana, Jon, Khali, Evan, Joshua, Kierah, Chantay, Alexia and so much more persons in my love tribe that have attributed to my growth by way of love. I am empty without the people I love.

We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
As I mentioned, mastering setting boundaries and meticulously studying my own self-sabotage tactics was pivotal to my advancement. I had to, metaphorically, stop pouring from an empty cup. The first step was spirit, The spiritual obstacle that consistently enabled my success was combatting the ideologies derived from living with a narcissistic parent. There’s a bit of a distorted image and identity crisis that accompanies a person when they are The Golden Child. Then as adulthood transpires, and one is no longer of benefit to the narcissist portrayal of perfection, merely abandoned. The consistent disbelief in adulthood, that the parent perceived as perfect is indeed a manipulator the whole time has made continuance a debacle but has only deepened my inclination to further spiritual understanding. I am a firm believer that everything happens for a reason and it was this turmoil, accompanied by external denial and disregard from external sources I deemed important, was a heartbreaking task that in turn made me a beast. I endured enough distaste and alienation that any deliberate tactic to hurt me is seen a mile away. I had to first relinquish any trait of resemblance, admit to their existing and work on them. This transcended into my profession of Reiki Master, with an emphasis on chakra alignment and recognizing tactics of control.

Second step was body. Being in the film industry so young was a pro and a con. Not every 6-year-old’s day off from school consisted of being on set at 6am-10pm, food trucks, trailers, steady checks to support your Easy Bake Oven addiction and always having your hair done. I loved it as well. Loved. Wouldn’t change it for the world and if my future children show interest, hope they know I’m down for the long haul. On the flip side, I was in a world of comparison and being camera ready and became so hyper-fixated on external perception that I felt like a Disney character or something. What I mean by that is even though I was a happy kid, the relationship with actually being actively present in body was put to the side to “act”. Or that it was baby me thought. In adulthood, I was a victim of sexual assault which even furthered the disconnect. Learning how to be in body, like truly though. Saved me. I love me now. Stand-Up Comedy was a true savior through that journey because my brain operates humorously anyway. I was geeked when I got the mic. Little Heniya would be proud to know we still be joking.

Last step was my mind. We are our worst critics. Let me say it louder for the folks in the back, the only way to be true is to be you.

Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
Theatre is one of my loves I hold near and dear. I am an actor in a group of amazing women @sosproductionhouse. Our last play, “If Emotions Could Speak”, was a self-written play by all of us that we held at the Complex Studios in Hollywood. One of the last plays held at that iconic theatre before its untimely closing and one of the first times I’ve ever performed a self-written monologue. The group went crazy, we all had a piece we wrote ourselves, we build such a sisterhood over the weeks practicing since everyone’s piece was so close to their hearts. Emotions spoke all three nights. I love them all, stay tuned for more plays. Shout out to our directors Siecuna and Andrea. As far as acting I have to get in contact with 50 Cent and tell him BMF needs me. (lol) All jokes aside, I dream of the moment I get to showcase my love for acting on a big screen. As well as background dancing for a star, I’d love that too.

Stand Up Comedy is my healthy outlet of expression, It’s not just what I do it’s who I am. When I breathe, I joke. I still get butterflies every time I’m about to go on stage so I know my heart still skips a beat for it. The feeling I get when I hear a good laugh reminds me that laughter is the only medicine that has never failed me. I started this year with my first set at the Laugh Factory Long Beach and I plan to check more off the list. Shout out to every single comedian I’ve met along the way. We the Laugh Doctors around here !

Reiki Healing and Doula Services are my current services I am mastering. My journey toward being a doula has begun. Voyage LA, you all are second to know. Becoming a doula has been heavy on my heart for a long while and I am honored God has revealed another of my callings. If you want me there for your baby, we shall see. I actively provided astrological birth chart readings, intuitive readings, couples counseling based off birth charts, Reiki Healing and chakra balancing. My new interest has been in crystals both geologically and metaphysically and I plan to provide short TikToks eventually of basic crystal knowledge. Most people think they are just some “magic rock”. I’d love to dive deeper into that paradigm. My ultimate goal is to open a healing center in which I offer various forms of healing including but not limited to dance, comedy, 1v1’s, pottery, archery, choir and almost any extracurricular that activates the inner child in adults that have been missing that activation since high school.

What has been the most important lesson you’ve learned along your journey?
Patience. Whether it’s understanding who, what, when, how and why I am the way I am or simply writing a joke out. Whether it’s looking at a birth chart, memorizing a monologue, settling family disputes, waking up in the morning, choreographing a routine and answering these questions. Patience is a virtue worth valuing especially since life is truly like a video game. First one has to love themselves unapologetically. My upbringing, my mistakes, successes, loves, heartbreaks and everything in between. One must have the patience to know that everything will work out just fine. Keep laughing.

Pricing:

• Comedy Set $100
• Intuitive Readings $80
• Couples Therapy $TBD

Contact Info:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/niyaaabiyaaa/

Image Credits
Pictures by me. One at Laugh Factory Long Beach. One at Comedy Union.