Hi., I’m Alka Arora
My life’s work is about birthing a new form of feminism, rooted in respect for the sacred, gender healing, and justice for all beings - including our animal kin. This work was born from a deep struggle to reconcile my fascination with the mystical teachings of religion with my outrage at the injustices perpetrated in the name of religion.
My Journey
As a first generation Hindu Indian born in the U.S., I’ve been exposed to the profound wisdom of the Hindu tradition, the scientific materialist worldview of academia, and the patriarchy within both. My journey to find healing and justice amidst this has taken me down myriad roads.
Developing a Feminist Consciousness
I had a feminist sensibility even in childhood. This spark for justice was strengthened when I took my first feminist studies course in college. While I remained a math major, my minor in gender studies was the first step on my path to where I am today. I went on for a PhD in Women’s Studies (2008) at the University of Washington, where I developed an intersectional lens on feminism - recognizing that we could not undo sexism without also battling racism, classism, homophobia, and an unjust global political economy.
As my eyes were opening up to the depth of injustice in the world, however, my spirit was flagging. I yearned for a way to find peace and healing in a broken world. Religions were suspect because they seemed to intensify women’s subordination, not alleviate it. The alternative was the soulless world of scientific materialism, which was dominant in academia. The idea of a cold, impersonal universe where consciousness ended at death was no solace.
Embracing the Sacred
Fortunately, I had a wise mentor, Dr. Kate Noble, who helped me realize that consciousness was vaster than narrow-minded religions - and narrow-minded scientists - could fathom. I began to get a small taste of this vastness through Buddhist meditation practice. I devoured accounts of others’ mystical experiences, yearning for a transcendent experience of my own that would pull me out of the mundane suffering of the human realm.
Alas, I realized that there was no easy transcendence - to experience peace, I had to face the depth of my wounding with compassion. Somatic therapy, Theta Healing, and gender reconciliation supported my healing from internalized patriarchy. I learned that the sacred was in the body and in every living thing. It was in the pain as well as the joy. In short: I discovered the path of the Sacred Feminine.
Integrating the Spiritual and Political
Political liberation is freedom from patriarchy, white supremacy, and the domination of the world’s resources by an elite few. Spiritual liberation is finding freedom from our narrow, ego-bound perspectives and connecting with the sacred mystery of life. Integrating both lenses allows us to make meaning, find connection, and cultivate inner peace while working to transform the systemic oppressions that currently shape the human experience.
My journey to unite spirituality and feminism has led me to develop a new paradigm of education, help people undo internalized patriarchy, and inspire groups to envision new possibilities of freedom and healing.
My work is rooted in recognition that humans are simply one part of the vastness of life; we must reclaim wisdom teachings that honor the sanctity of all life, including nonhuman animals, plants, and Mother Earth. I believe that one step toward resisting the exploitation of life is by advocating for animal liberation and adopting a vegan ethic.
As my journey continues, I look forward to connecting with fellow travelers on the path of sacred healing and justice. Please contact me if you’d like to collaborate.