Toccarra Cash, creator of The Image Monster and actress of stage and screen
"Intuition shows up in my very bones."
In a world with so much damn noise, Toccarra Cash has made it her mission to carve a space for women to hear themselves.
I heard Cash speak about the Image Monster on an episode of the Deep Dive while I was out for a walk and her words quite literally stopped me in my tracks. So much of what she spoke about regarding the mixed messages women receive from social media, family, celebrity culture and on and on resonated with the research I was doing trying to separate anxiety from intuition. We are caught in a cacophony, and Cash is turning the noise down. We had a fantastic interview for Everyday Intuition, in which Cash spoke about how we can begin teasing the messages apart and lowering the volume in order to hear ourselves. I asked her about intuition, acting, and elders. Take notes, people!
What is intuition to you?
I'm pretty spiritual, so I like to think of intuition as that "God voice" that shows up in my very bones. That whisper that's loud and clear, no matter what other noise seeks to drown it out. That tingle that I can't quite explain, but I just know I had better listen to what it's trying to tell me, because it's always for my own good.
How does it show up for you?
Sometimes, it shows up during meditation--when I allow myself to slow down from my "busy-ness" addiction (lol) and just get still and quiet. During those times, it feels like it shows up as thoughts that I didn't conjure up on my own. I've been doing The Artist's Way recently, and it's showing up a lot as I write my Morning Pages (if you know, you know lol). I'll be writing and my pen just takes on a mind of its own and I'll write down something that afterward I think "Whoa... where did that even come from?"
Most times, though, I recognize it as synchronicity--when things are just way too much of a coincidence for me not to pay attention to its intentionality. It may even show up as something someone says to me that just... makes me feel like I've been struck by spiritual lightning. I especially love it when it shows up in nature... during a walk in the park, or hike, or staring at the ocean on the beach, or even just sitting on my balcony. It becomes very clear that it's God speaking.
How do you use it in your daily life?
I don't know that I use intuition so much as I just... listen to it. I try to let it guide me in my creative ventures, in keeping me mentally, emotionally and physically safe. I'm a self-described "recovering perfectionist," so the one way I can think of where I use it as a tool is I tend to really try and tune into it when I feel overwhelmed, since it talks me down off that ledge of perfectionism. I stop and ask myself, "Ok, what do you need most right now?" And it always tells me what I need at that moment... whether it's a break, to deep breathe, to pray, to switch gears and come back to the task at hand later with fresh eyes and a fresh mind, a nap, fresh air, a talk with a trusted friend or family member, to listen to some music, etc.
Tell us about the Image Monster!
Oh, it's one of my favorite things to talk about, lol!
The Image Monster is my workshop (of which I'm the Creator & Host) developed to help young Women of Color adopt a mentally healthier sense of body image. It seeks to help them navigate the complexities of self-image specifically as it pertains to existing in bodies that are considered on the margins of--or outside of--the "beauty standard," especially in our social media driven, image-obsessed world. The workshop targets middle school, high school, and collegiate young women, but we are currently expanding our offerings to different demographics of adult women as well (such as postpartum mothers, moms of teens, Black actresses, etc.) which I'm very excited about! The workshop utilizes the tools of interactive games and activities, improvisational drama, writing exercises, and facilitated discussion. I work to guide them towards personalized strategies for self-empowerment.
It sounds like connection between women is a vital part of the workshop, as well as finding our elders and being an elder. How can those connections help us develop intuition?
Connection between women is the centerpiece of the workshop. This is why the pandemic was so catastrophic to us as humans--we were all so disconnected from one another... sealed off in vacuums, staring into screens, and that did a lot of damage to our young women (and adult women!) regarding body image and their sense of self. I feel like we learn the most about ourselves when we are in genuine community with one another in person--when we feel seen and heard by others and realize we are not alone in what we're experiencing. I believe this helps us develop intuition because if we gain the courage to give voice to our experiences with others, and have that reflected back to us or validated, it then helps us to better hear and trust our inner voice when it speaks.
And when it comes to elders, there is something powerful about helping young women unearth their own voice as it pertains to their experience in their bodies based on what we've already experienced. I've seen it happen in workshops where I've had teachers, professors, and adult mentors who've felt compelled to participate with the young women--the realization unfolds on its own as we impart our experiences with body image that we are all somewhat akin to elders in the room to these young women, even if we're only in our 30's or 40's and not of the age we typically consider "an elder." I've even seen it happen when a high school senior ends up imparting wisdom through connection to a high school freshman. It starts to expand the definition of who is an elder... that it's more about experience than age, and connective experience can be illuminated at any age. Therefore, I believe intuition can be developed at any age.
You are also an actress of stage and screen! How do you use intuition in acting?
In my personal experience, I'd say acting is 40% training and technique (because I'm a firm believer of always being a student of the art form, no matter how much experience or training you have... I've been acting for 20 years, with two degrees in it, and I still work with an acting coach when I book a major role), and 60% intuition. After rehearsal and my own process have helped me learn every line and beat and move, the magic happens when I just trust that all of that is there, and now my only job is to be 100% present and listen to my scene partner... to let them inform my next reaction... to listen for how the scene wants to naturally unfold. To let my instincts and humanity do what it does inside the structure of what we've rehearsed. Intuition is always that invisible extra scene partner, whispering in my ear.
Thanks, Toccarra!
Upcoming events to work and twerk your intuition in person:
Mark your calendars for May 6, baby! The launch for Everyday Intuition will take place at Powerhouse Arena in Brooklyn, where I will be in conversation with the brilliant Melissa Coss Aquino, my muse for this project. Everyone is invited!!! RSVP here!
NYC: come catch me talk intuition with Women in Innovation on March 19!
SF: I’ll be speaking at my alma mater, the University of San Francisco, on March 22! RSVP here!
And in the meantime might I recommend…
Professional whimsical skidaddlers, commentary on.
“The Heavenly City” by Stevie Smith
I finally got it together and saw Anora and I think this might be the funniest slapstick comedy of our time?!
Ada Calhoun on Death, Sex, and Money— paraphrasing, “If I have to give everything I’m also allowed to want everything.” Very excited to read Crush!
Going for long walks in the sunshine. Spring forward, bitches!
