Azayla Rodriguez
Apr 5, 2023
“I got here because of my response to trauma, and I had experiences that led me to find different ways to help others and myself. "
Our caregivers are the first people to teach us what love is or what it is not. We learn our attachment styles and love languages from these relationships; the relationships formed to teach us and guide us. We all know the saying, “Mother knows best,” and some experienced it firsthand. In this sense, your “mother” is not always the person who birthed you; but the person who cares, supports, guides, and loves unconditionally. We all need this type of love, and Richaun Bunton is the woman caring for us all.
Richaun Bunton, known as Mwt (MOOT) Djehuty Bnr Nst, is a Priestess, mother, wife, sister, community leader, advocate for families, and Licensed Social Worker. Chaun values the role of a caregiver, believing learning is a shared experience and a caregiver’s voice is an essential component of success. Her passion for empowering and helping women and mothers in their leadership roles for their families derives from her experiences.
“I got here because of my response to trauma, and I had experiences that led me to find different ways to help others and myself. I explored healing, found mutual love and affection, and continued to heal, grow, and develop submitting to my faith and found my purpose along the journey, for REAL,” Chaun expressed.
Chaun loves to create, teach, learn, and talk to people. Her passions are a part of her everyday life as a way of giving back and serving humanity, and they keep her connected to happiness and joy. Chaun prides herself on “Finding Divinity Within,” which means turning your ears and eyes inward. It speaks to self-exploration and self-validation; it is finding the special parts of yourself that define you as unique.
Trauma is not easy to deal with, nor is living intentionally to find your divinity. An essential part of trauma healing is self-exploration creating a space and time for someone to be vulnerable and honest with themselves. Don’t worry; it does seem energy consuming and scary! However, Chaun guides us and lets us know it starts by saying, “I want to experience something different.”
“I was inspired to begin Finding Divinity Within because so many people asked me about what I was doing and reached out to me for help; then it was born. The pandemic amplified some of what I was doing because our virtual presence allowed the work to reach further,” Chaun explained.
While caring for ourselves can be difficult sometimes, imagine carrying the gift to care for yourself, others, and whole communities. Chaun continues to show up for herself by connecting with things that restore and nurture her. Things like talking to her family, writing, and practicing her spirituality, including rites and rituals that help Chaun recenter to herself. Stimanesouly, Chaun carries several roles in her life (i.e., teacher, healer, light bearer, etc.), and she is the same person no matter what roles she serves.
“I follow the principles of Maat (balance) and understand the importance of having Good Character -Nfr Bit. Challenges arise when I try to separate who I am, and it causes confusion and internal conflict. I’m the same person because of my character,” Chaun proudly proclaimed.
In the same sense, Chaun values the principles of her character and exemplifies them in many other ways, such as how she shows up for her communities. Showing up for Chaun means being present to listen, being willing to serve, and walking alongside those who need a hand in their journey. Chaun honors the divinity within each person crossing her path as second nature because, as we now know, it is a part of Chaun’s character.