We recently had the chance to connect with Sensei Raven Ekundayo CLC and have shared our conversation below.
Hi Raven, thank you so much for taking time out of your busy day to share your story, experiences and insights with our readers. Let’s jump right in with an interesting one: When was the last time you felt true joy?
The last time I felt true joy was in August of last year when I went skydiving. I’ve had many happy moments since then, but that experience stands apart. True joy, for me, looks like the kind of freedom that comes from stepping out of that plane and surrendering to the moment. Skydiving was a life-changing adventure—one that I believe everyone should experience at least once. As I descended through the sky, I felt myself letting go of so much pain and hurt that I had been carrying. There was a sense of release, of liberation. The air felt peaceful and quiet, a calm unlike anything I’ve ever known on land. For those few minutes, I felt completely free—lighter, clearer, and truly at peace.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
My name is Sensei Raven Ekundayo, and I’m the founder of Ravolution Multimedia, LLC, The Healing Space Podcast, and The Love Movement, my holistic wellness brand — among several other creative ventures. My work spans multiple fields: I’m a Holistic Wellness Guru, operating within modalities such as Reiki Master Teacher, Certified Life Coach, Yoga Instructor, Breathwork Teacher, and Shadow Work Therapist. Beyond wellness, I’m also a published author in both science fiction and public health research, as well as a journalist, actor, and lifelong storyteller.
I founded Ravolution Multimedia in 2006 because I wanted to create space for people who often feel unseen or misunderstood by society. That same year, I launched my magazine, eXcape the matriX, as a home for readers passionate about social issues, fashion, politics, music, and culture — a place where they could see themselves reflected and celebrated.
In 2010, after hearing numerous tragic stories of young men taking their own lives on college campuses, I founded The Love Movement. During a radio interview, I told listeners that I was committed to action, not silence — and I’ve lived by that ever since. The Love Movement has reached people across the country: from unhoused communities to local schools, including the neighborhood where I grew up. I also hosted the first NOH8 Campaign photo shoot in Baltimore before the official organization ever came to the city — because people didn’t want to wait to feel seen.
In 2017, I created The Healing Space Podcast, a Black and Queer mental health podcast born from my deep passion for healing and emotional wellness. I wanted to craft a space that’s both safe and empowering — not only for our community, but also educational for those outside of it.
Today, I work with clients and students all over the country, both in person and virtually. My mission is simple but profound: to create spaces where people can learn, heal, and feel seen; to help them live with less fear each day; and to spread unapologetic, radical love wherever possible.
I often say that I love everyone — and while that may not always be a popular stance, I believe it’s essential. Love doesn’t mean we excuse people’s harmful actions; it means we hold them accountable while still recognizing their humanity. That’s the foundation of my work and who I am at my core. Changing that would mean giving in to what others want, rather than honoring what I know to be true.
Appreciate your sharing that. Let’s talk about your life, growing up and some of topics and learnings around that. What was your earliest memory of feeling powerful?
My earliest memory of feeling powerful was in elementary school, after winning a dramatic reading contest. I was always a shy kid, the kind who would shrink in crowds. But something in me always came alive when I was in the spotlight. Performing in that contest gave me permission to step out of my shell and show everyone the fullness of who I was, even if only for a few minutes.
The same “dramatic” energy that people — from friends to family — used to tease me for became my greatest strength that day. On that stage, I didn’t feel the need to dim my light or make myself smaller to fit in. I stood tall, confident, and free. I felt seen in a way that changed me forever. That moment taught me what it meant to own my power unapologetically, and it’s also the reason I fell in love with public speaking and the arts. It was the first time I realized that my voice, and my presence, could move people.
Was there ever a time you almost gave up?
I’ve almost given up many times. Loving the way I do, believing in peace the way I do, and caring for humanity as deeply as I do can often make you feel like the odd one out in society. I call the people who walk with me, I never say follow, “Misfits.” We’re not the norm. We’re unapologetically different, and we refuse to apologize for that. But choosing to live authentically often means being misunderstood, ostracized, or even labeled as “fake.” Those moments of rejection can be heavy, and there have been times when I’ve wondered if continuing on this path was worth it.
But then I remember my purpose, the mission I recognized and accepted when I was 21 years old. I’m a healer. I walk in love. And because I’ve stayed true to that calling, I’ve been able to help so many people along their own journeys. When I remind myself of that, the thought of giving up dissolves. I no longer want to let go of the very essence that makes me who I am.
In moments when I feel unseen or devalued for my beliefs, I remind myself of my order of alignment: I listen to The Universe, my Ancestors, and God first, myself second, and those who receive my message third. Too often, we allow the voices of those who don’t believe in us to become the loudest. I’ve learned that true strength, and true peace, come from remembering who you are and refusing to let the world silence your light.
Sure, so let’s go deeper into your values and how you think. What truths are so foundational in your life that you rarely articulate them?
I tend to articulate the truths that are most foundational to me, because I believe they are meant to be shared. One of my guiding words is balance — I see it as essential to living a full and meaningful life. I often share this with everyone I meet, because it shapes the way I move through the world.
I also see happiness and joy as interconnected, yet distinct. Happiness exists on the leaves and branches of our tree of life, fleeting, vibrant, and visible, but joy is at the root, the core of our existence, whether we consciously acknowledge it or not.
These truths form the foundation of my work in Holistic Wellness, guiding how I teach, heal, and live. Because they are so integral to who I am, I rarely keep them to myself; I share them openly, hoping they inspire others to connect with the depth and balance of their own lives.
Okay, so let’s keep going with one more question that means a lot to us: What is the story you hope people tell about you when you’re gone?
I hope people say that I loved in a way that set others free, that my love wasn’t just a feeling, but a force that empowered, healed, and uplifted. I want them to remember that I was uncompromising in my passion for peace, even when it wasn’t easy, even when justice demanded action.
Above all, I hope the stories told about me are hope-filled. I want the lessons, the blessings, and even the challenges of my life to inspire those who feel unseen or invisible, to show them that their presence matters, their voice matters, and that living with courage, love, and authenticity can leave a legacy worth carrying forward.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.scorpiyogi.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/scorpiyogi
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/ravenekundayo
- Twitter: www,x.com/scorpiyogi
- Facebook: www,facebook.com/scorpiyogi
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/ravenekundayo
- Soundcloud: https://www.soundcloud.com/ths-podcast
Image Credits
PHEAUXTOGRAPHY (The photographer with only two photos with credits that have been sent).
