The ReMembering and ReEnchanting Podcast
Conversations
Conversations with amazing people connecting what is all too often disconnected
In this episode of the Remembering and ReEnchanting podcast, Sara Jolena Wolcott sits down with filmmaker and spiritual innovator Nova Scott James to trace the profound arc of her film journey.
The journey begins with an exploration of Nova’s origins—from the influence of Harlem and childhood memories to the transformative power of cinema as a spiritual practice. We delve into the creation of her film 'Wild Darlings Sing the Blues' and the personal healing journey that informed her creative vision.
The conversation then transitions into a deep dive into the collective’s latest work: a land-based healing documentary. Nova shares the visceral experience of honoring ancestral land, navigating the energetic weight of filming on former plantations in Virginia, and the serendipitous rituals guided by spirits. This is a story of building a Black queer women’s collective through trust, patience, and the labor of collective transformation.
00:00 - Podcast Intro
01:30 - Introduction to the Wild Darlings Collective
03:18 - Exploring Origin Stories and Childhood Memories
07:56 - Understanding Lineage and Spiritual Innovation
17:06 - Cinema as a Temple: The Spirituality of Film
25:05 - The Healing Journey Behind 'Wild Darlings Sing the Blues'
28:19 - Healing Through Psychedelic Therapy
30:13 - The Birth of a Creative Vision
33:34 - Exploring Ancestral Lineage
37:11 - Confronting Family History and Trauma
40:06 - Introduction to Day 2 Recording
40:28 - Introduction to the journey of creating a land-based healing documentary
42:33 - The initial visions and spiritual downloads that inspired the film
44:38 - The healing and spiritual practices of the Darlings Collective
46:48 - Building community through workshops and shared spiritual work
49:23 - The significance of land and spirits in the collective’s rituals
52:43 - Challenges faced with facilitators and group dynamics
56:58 - Rebuilding after adversity and seeking an elder for guidance
1:01:13 - Connecting with land in Virginia and the impact of sacred sites
1:05:38 - The serendipitous process of land selection and the role of spirits
1:12:28 - Filming on plantations: rituals, ceremonies, and the energetic environment
1:25:30 - The immersive experience of land-based ceremonies and prayers
1:32:48 - Observations of healing and collective transformation during the process
1:35:28 - The importance of compassion in ancestral healing work
1:38:38 - Personal reflections on integrating trauma and ancestral memories
1:41:48 - Deepening trust and love for the land, spiritual practice, and creativity
1:43:58 - Final thoughts: upcoming release and ways to support the project
About Nova Scott James
Nova Scott-James is a filmmaker, innovation doula and community organizer from Harlem, NYC.
Her childhood experiences of being flooded with the sounds and culture of jazz has impacted her creative aesthetic greatly as her work honors improvisation, altered states of consciousness, ritual and collaboration.
Nova is also a reiki practitioner and dedicated intuitive worker – she uses these abilities to serve people as a director and creative coach by guiding them in honoring their creative genius.
