Every Sunday at 11:00 PM Manila time, the Light Warrior Collective gathers on Zoom for an hour to engage in practices meant to awaken, inspire, and support inner healing and personal power. I notice that whenever I attend, I step into the new week with more ease and a bigger smile on my face.
No two Sundays are ever identical, since the Collective’s birth five years ago, a wide range of topics has been covered, including issues on health, money, career, family, and relationships. In terms of facilitating, Light Warrior core members rotate among themselves and frequently open the stage to guest experts.
The modalities also vary and I appreciate how I get the opportunity to be exposed to different methods and styles because it allows me to figure out what works best for me so I know what to pursue more extensively. Most sessions feature guided stillness meditation. Other times, it might be breathwork or a sound bath. Occasionally, the practice involves movement, like qigong, yoga, or dance. Journaling is often a part of the mix. Whatever the approach, it always fosters calm, reflection, and intentional presence.
The hour typically starts with welcome remarks from the core team, then the facilitator takes over. Most of the time, there’s a short presentation before we proceed to the practice proper.
Afterwards, the floor is opened for sharing. There’s never any pressure to speak, and taking part in the discussion is entirely optional. Still, almost everyone raises their hand, freely expresses themselves and shows vulnerability. I think it’s a clear reflection of how safe the space feels. Whenever someone becomes visibly emotional, there’s never any awkwardness, just so much compassion and empathy that it radiates through the screen. There’s something powerful about a group that isn’t afraid of tears.
This year, they added a once-a-month Healing Circle. For this, the order of activities changes: the sharing comes first, followed by a meditation created specifically to address what everyone is going through. Trent Thomason, a founding member, always leads. It is quite impressive how he manages to compose the meditation on the fly and touch on everyone’s concerns.
It’s interesting how, despite coming from different corners of the globe, what is spoken during sharing often resonates with the majority and creates a sense of connection. It is a striking reminder that no matter our colors or accents, we are all human and more alike than we think.
“The energy of Light Warrior Collective is, we are one. Our doors and our hearts have always been open to whoever needs support, seeks connection, and feels called to be with us,” points out Inken Stolley, another founding member.
Joining the Light Warrior Collective sessions does not take much. It is completely free of charge, you don’t even have to register, and can participate with your video off. All that is required is for you to click on the Zoom link on their Facebook event announcement.
“Those that join, sometimes join for a week or two, and I know, even if we don’t see them again, they are receiving what they need at that moment. And for me, that is very important and very special. You’ll not see someone for a while, and then they come back for a couple of weeks, and then you don’t see them again. And it’s because they just feel safe that when they need something, they receive it from the community,” states Vivienne Keytel, also a founding member.
Inken, Vivienne, and Trent started the Light Warrior Collective. “Some of those who were part of the group’s early days had to leave because they were in their own life journeys and that’s okay. We are still sometimes in touch with them, which is a gift. It makes my heart smile when they join us again for a session” says Inken. “But we have been blessed with new people stepping in, we attracted them. They came, they joined, and co-create in flow with us,” she adds.
Light Warrior Collective founding members: Trent Thomason, Inken Stolley, and Vivienne Keytel
The new core team members consist of Jen Thompson and Jovial Ker from the United States, Nohemi Gdzromo from Mexico, and Wouter Verburg from the Netherlands. “It’s beautiful. The growth of our core team feels so aligned and with ease. We organically attracted these amazing people that came with an open heart and mind, with the intention to serve, give love, and wanting to connect and hold a safe space,” describes Inken.
There’s something magical about how everything in the Light Warrior Collective unfolds naturally. Nothing is dictated, demanded, or imposed. And yet, they are able to keep things up and hold an event every Sunday, without fail, except on rare special holidays.
Light Warrior Collective core team members (L-R): Wouter Verburg, Nohemi Gdzromo, Jen Thompson and Jovial Ker
“What the three of us have always stood very firm in is that we’re consistent and that we’re providing the service from our hearts for the community,” shares Vivienne. I’m still very passionate about it five years down the line because we are adding light to the world,” she emphasizes.
It was during the pandemic that the Light Warrior Collective was formed. “When COVID hit, there was this mix of overwhelming emotions and of wanting to be a changemaker that was coming up for me, and in the moment, I just felt like we all need to come together,” recalls Inken who is originally from Germany but has now settled in the United Arab Emirates.
At around the same time, sitting in his hotel room in Thailand, was a stranded American racking his brain for how to contribute in alleviating the situation. “I need to do something, there’s a problem, there’s trouble in the world, there’s these struggles, what’s the answer?” thought Trent then. “What about just putting something good out there because there’s so much negativity, so much fear. So being the change, being an example, what do I want to feel instead? Love, safety, comfort, emotional regulation, not giving into fear.”
Along with Vivienne who is from another corner of the world in South Africa, they put into motion what they felt called to do. The three had a common denominator, the transformation platform, Mindvalley. So they were already on the path to healing. It is quite fascinating to hear how each of them found their way into that space.
From a rock and roll lifestyle as a musician, Trent shifted his focus toward taking better care of himself both inside and out. He got into fitness and eventually discovered meditation and spirituality. This led him to open a holistic health center where he began helping people in his community. During a near death experience, when he was severely ill and taking too many medicines that were not working, he had an epiphany. He decided to apply the knowledge he already had from his wellness studies, and that enabled him to recover quickly. “I just started getting rid of all these parts of myself that were the root of my struggles, I just started to build on that and then started to share that with other people.”
Inken was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis (MS). When conventional treatments did not help, she began searching for more holistic solutions and today, she is symptom-free and helps women with MS from different parts of the globe, sharing her story of transformation and promoting a healthy lifestyle, which has helped her.
When Vivienne entered motherhood, she felt overwhelmed and isolated, so she sought healing and personal growth through chakras and energy work, eventually training in Reiki. From being an executive in the competitive world of corporate marketing, she now has found a different purpose in helping others heal and grow. “My path was to be a global mother, you know, and I was grappling with that. I kind of knew it was going to be service, I knew there were going to be various aspects to it, but I didn’t have a form for it. And what the Light Warrior gave to me was that form. This is where I’ve really found my voice, in this space.”
The sincerity behind their intention to serve is unmistakable, and I have felt it firsthand. I consider it a huge gift to have crossed paths with this group, and I am grateful for every session I share with them. On days I cannot join live, I head to their YouTube channel and watch the recordings. Don’t worry, only the lectures and practice are recorded, the sharing stays private. The first session I ever attended was on healing the abandonment wound with special guest Despina Charavgi. That was back in 2023. I’m sharing the recording below:
If you’re finding yourself a bit curious, you can get started by exploring @lightwarriorcollective on YouTube. Though nothing quite compares to the energy of a live session. To see the schedule and line-up, follow @lightwarriorcollective on Facebook.
Hope to see you one of these Sundays!
All images courtesy of The Light Warrior Collective.
