A Warrior’s Journey
Phillip Morales has one of the most infectious and heartiest laughs. A joyful sound of gratitude resonates from deep within as he shares his story of recovery, renewal, and healing. A journey that would reconnect him with his roots and usher him along his path to a new beginning.
“I’m from the Gila River Indian Community. I am Akimel O’odham and White Mountain Apache,” he says proudly.
The former U.S. Navy Seabee was born at the Phoenix Indian Medical Center, and while he did not grow up on the reservation, his life’s journey would one day lead him there.
“My mother who is Pima and White Mountain Apache was adopted and never searched for her family, so after the Navy, I sought my tribe out, went to school, learned the language, and now I’m an integral part of the tribe.”
While Phillip now carries a most joyful and gracious disposition, the road to where he is today was not easily traveled. In 2011 Phillip hit rock bottom as he struggled with Methamphetamine addiction.
“I lost my job, I was an addict, and I would fall asleep a lot,” said Morales. Towards the end of my meth use there wasn’t enough to keep me up anymore. I always got in trouble for sleeping at work and dozing off, but one time I fell asleep in the bathroom and missed a whole shift.”
After Phillip lost his job, he became homeless, began living out of his car under the Alma School bridge in Mesa, and eventually ran into some trouble with the law. His brief incarceration was a pivotal moment in his life. One that would lead him to self-discovery and a spiritual path to healing.
“I was in a jail cell, and I remember I could see the moon through the cell that night. I looked up and said, God, you never left me, I left you, come back into my life.”
According to Phillip that was the moment everything changed for him. He was released from jail and the charges were dropped.
“After that I went to one of the American Legion posts in Mesa, they fed me, gave me some clam chowder and a clean shirt, and while I was there, this guy offered me a bus pass,” he said.
Phillip said all he could think about was getting back to his two sons whose lives he had always been involved in but had a brief period of separation during his attempt to get clean. At that moment he decided to take the bus to the Phoenix VA.
“When I got there, I told them, I’m homeless and I don’t know what to do, and they said we have a homeless clinic.”
The decision to go to VA would be a turning point in his life. After checking in to the homeless program he was sent to a shelter where other Veterans were temporarily housed. Phillip says there seemed to be a common look of despair on everyone’s face but there was still a great sense of camaraderie.
“I asked a guy if I can borrow his clippers, so he let me, and I shaved my beard. And then I wanted to take a shower but I didn’t have soap so I asked him if I could borrow some. He gave me a little bit in my hand, but it was just enough to lather my whole body and hair. And I just felt cool and good. I had clean clothes, I felt like a million dollars. Every little thing, I was so humble and grateful for,” he said.
Phillip briefly stayed in an overflow shelter for two weeks and then transitioned to U.S.Vets where he stayed for two months before transitioning to the Madison Street Veterans Association. He remained there until receiving assistance through the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development-VA Supportive Housing (HUD-VASH) in 2012.
Phillip has been in recovery since September 1, 2011, and is grateful to his family, friends, sponsors, and the VA for their support.
“The VA helped me get stable in my mind and my heart, and I was able to get back into our culture,” he said.
One of the services that contributed to Phillip’s recovery and growth is a traditional healing ceremony at Phoenix.
Dino Haley, a traditional Navajo healer, and social worker in the substance use outpatient program at the Phoenix VA, incorporates traditional concepts from a ceremonial holistic approach in the form of therapy, stabilization, and all facets of mental health, specifically tailored for Native American Veterans.
“When it comes to traditional practices for many Native American tribes and Alaskan Native tribes as well, there’s that spiritual component that’s innate, that’s in existence even before our current life,” said Haley. “And for many tribal Veterans, creating that meaningfulness, that reconnection, that relatedness from within the cultures, the songs, the offerings, whatever the tribal practice may be is very important.”
“Dino helped get me reconnected to my spirituality, culture and my community,” said Morales.
“He had a healing ceremony and facilitated a Talking Circle for us Veterans, that really helped me a lot.”
Phillip attributes his 12 years of sobriety to programs like the healing ceremonies, and his participation as a Blue Sage Drummer in Phoenix where he continues his recovery by participating in traditional ceremonies and connecting to community.
“I’ve made peace with my past. I’ve made amends with people that I could. I have my Creator, I have God, I have the written word of the Bible, I have my oral traditions, I have the drummers. I have people who love me and care, but if I wouldn’t have gone to VA, I wouldn’t be something they care about.”
To learn more about VA Homeless Programs, visit the links below.