We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Sway LaCroix a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Sway, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Parents play a huge role in our development as youngsters and sometimes that impact follows us into adulthood and into our lives and careers. Looking back, what’s something you think you parents did right?

The only thing my parents ever did right… was underestimate me. That’s really the only way I can answer that. All of my parents, both adoptive and biological, made the mistake of thinking I would never do what I said I would. It’s impacted my business in the sense that I am doing things my own way. My parents are the type that seem to stick to the same program until things change. I on the other hand feel that change can only happen if you switch up the format and CHOOSE to operate differently. My parents taught me how to choose differently. That helps me teach others how they too can choose differently. It gives truth to the words “Life is the greatest teacher.”

Sway, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

Welp! Allow me to reintroduce myself! My name is Sway LaCroix, or you can call me Big Sway. I am a Pansexual secular minister, rapper/singer and hoodoo practitioner. The way I got started? A lifetime full of trauma and needing to find a better way. I grew up in the church a majority of my life, so the singing comes from singing in the church choir. I always knew that one day I’d be a minister, but after 28 years of religious, parental and familial sexual abuse, I was in a crisis of faith. Needless to say that led me down a long road of confusion, narcissistic abuse at the hands of both friends and lovers; and some really screwed up mental health. When I started my road to healing, I started reconnecting with my roots. That led me to Hoodoo. It is through hoodoo that I have been able to heal from my traumatic past. I wanted to use that to help others, so that’s exactly what I started doing. I’m here for those that system and the church failed. Those that have been victims of abuse because the world around them does not accept them for simply existing. I am proud of my ability to help people dig deep and deal with the most uncomfortable truths about themselves and their circumstances. I am proud that with the work I do, I not only help people heal their past traumas, I allow them to feel their feelings and know that they are seen.

Learning and unlearning are both critical parts of growth – can you share a story of a time when you had to unlearn a lesson?

I had to learn that not everyone finds value in what I do. I have come across people that feel like because I am a spiritual practitioner, that I am supposed to be foolish and offer my time/energy free of charge. I get a lot of people who assume that because I give SOME free advice (Check out the website), that I am supposed to be doing personal readings and workings for free. I used to get offended by it. Now, I’ve learned that when it comes to what I do, I must be firm in my price. If they can pay a therapist to half a** listen and lie to them, they can pay me to tell them truth.

Any insights you can share with us about how you built up your social media presence?

I was on Tik Tok one day and I just so happened to duet a video that was already viral. I didn’t do anything special, I just said how I felt. Before I knew it, I had over 1000 followers and the video had gone viral. That’s actually happened to me a few times now. Then again, I’ve gone through a few Tik Tok pages. I’m not really safe for T.V. or the internet ha! Honestly. The key for me has been JUST BEING MYSELF. Don’t get on the internet pretending to be something you aren’t. Be YOU. So what if you is weird, derpy, video game loving bundle of depression in cute footie pajamas. BE THAT! There’s literally 1,000,000 people just like you within in 100-mile radius. Don’t hide who you are just because the rest of the world doesn’t like it or understand it. Authenticity will get you further then pump faking for the camera.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.practicalasfuck.us

Image Credits
All images courtesy of Sway LaCroix