DuEwa (not sure if this is the artist or not but click on name for website...)
SiSTARS!!!! Are you ready to begin the journey of Heart Wellness? I am. I literally spent a good part of my day submerged in the "other world" meaning I slept all day - which is very unusual for me however I do my best work in my dreams. All week and weekend I had been thinking of the heart and consequently love. I just observed so much within and without about the condition of the heart.
Heart dis-ease runs in my family. In fact heart disease is the number "killer" of all women in the United States. It is said by the medical community that heart disease happens over time - slowly and results in heart attack in which two thirds of women never recover...One day on Facebook Sis. Marilyn brought up that dying of a broken heart IS a real condition called cardiomyopathy and more women than men suffer from the condition. The difference between cardiomyopathy and heart attack is that the arteries are not clogged in cardiomyopathy however the person is experiencing a mild heart attack due to a stressful and/or traumatic event...The doctors says it take about a week to recover from cardiomyopathy but many of the old stories say that people die from a broken heart...
Sistahs, forgive me for starting off speaking of pathology but it is good to have some context to why we gather to heal the heart...Personally, I want to look at this journey for myself as a way to stop the cycle of "broken hearted-ness". I wish to break free from walls that I have built, stories I have believed as to why I think I can not experience the love I desire...
It came to me in my meditation today that I have been the "victim" and the "perpetrator" of love crimes. Sounds serious, doesn't it? The "victim" AND the "perpetrator" but for some reason Spirit wanted me to look at that statement. As I opened up around it I got that I have equally committed unloving acts as well as been on the receiving end of unloving acts. The Buddhist say you can be very harmful when you don't know yourself - when you are not self aware... I get that most unloving acts are unconscious - they are done because are part of us that we are not fully conscious of feels threatened. So, for me another part of this healing is about what bell hooks (Sisters of the Yam) refers to as truth telling. I must face the truth of not only the unloving acts I have experienced but those I have (whether I am aware of it or not)done to others...
I don't think you can seriously approach the healing of the heart without first dealing with what is within...I know folks who read articles and books on how get the love of their life but none of these books speak of self love FIRST. Looking for love outside of yourself before doing the work within sets you up for something you may not ultimately want...I am doing this journey because I am seeking to fall deeply, reverently and passionately IN LOVE WITH MYSELF. I want to LOVE MYSELf so much that the taste for any less that caliber of Love leaves my desires. That any person, place or condition that is not right for me and my purpose cease to cross my path.
I spoke with several SistahGoddesses about this 40 Day Hear Healing: LOVE FEST and they have agreed to share with us what they know. This process is about sharing the healing ways -we all have something to contribute. I also think things will come to us during this time as we open our hearts so will our intuition open - our Ancestors who sit at the feet of the Creator/God/Goddess will speak to us and guide us. Take what works for you...
I was wondering where we would start -what would we do first??? I get all energized sometimes and get complicated but Spirit said to start with a prayer and a song...
Giving thanks and calling in to the Creator/the Mother/Father/God/Goddess
Giving thanks and calling in the Venerated Ancestors who sit at the feet of the Creator - who work directly with the Creator
Giving thanks and calling in the Venerated Spirit Guides - those here to help me on this journey of true love...
First, I give my gratitude,
Thank you for my life,
my health,
the health of my family,
thank you for the material means I have,
the ability to take care of my family,
to take care of my home,
to pay the bills,
to provide food from my household,
to serve in work that makes it possible for me to be a provider in my household,
thank you for my creativity,
thank you for a working with me, guiding me, loving me
I ask that you guide me through this journey,
I wish to heal my heart,
I ask that you guide my speech,
my actions,
my feet,
my sight,
my heart,
I ask that you show me what needs to be healed,
I know that this life is about re-remembering my union with the Most High,
I ask that my heart be strengthen,
that my heart be opened to be a vessel for healing,
I know that healing myself is a direct action that helps the world heal.
Please keep me strong...
I give thanks for seeing this healing path as my a part of my purpose,
I give thanks for being supported in this purpose.
Ashe, Ashe, Ashe 'O
Isn't that BEAUTIFUL!!! This journey IS a CELEBRATION, too! As you can see, I like to celebrate before, after and during!!
Ok, this is what I thought we could do this 40 day LOVE FEST...
Journal:
I think journaling is a way to do that "brain dump" in the morning...Julia Cameron in the Artist Way calls it Morning Minutes. You just take a couple of minutes first thing in the morning before rising and dump out those thoughts. No need to edit or punctuate...this is not for anyone but you...just get all that stuff out and on paper.
You may want to create another journal for writing poems, words, works and/or art. SiSTAR Marilyn has created some beautiful and powerful journals on her blog. Also, feel free to share your works as we go on...you can email pics to me or links to a video/audio, recipes, ideas to sistahgoddess@gmail.com. This is a Sistah Healing Circle so don't be shy about sharing your way...
Meditation:
If you ask me about the foundation of my healing, I call it meditation. It is a time that I sit at my altar and I commune with my Ancestors. I sit in a comfortable position and I simply pay attention to the breath entering and leaving my body (best done by focusing on the air around the outside of the nostrils and upper lip area). I just allow thoughts to come and go...I do my best to stay focused on the breath until the mind is silent, too.
Prayer:
After meditation, I pray. I start with giving thanks and calling in the Creator/God/Goddess/Father/Mother. I then give thanks and call in my Venerated Ancestors (not all Ancestors have the tools yet to help you so it is best to call on those who are working directly with the Creator). From there I call on my Venerated Spirit Guides - those who work with my and my family for our success. I also begin with what I am grateful for...there IS so much to be grateful for and if you wake up feeling down or depressed this IS the place to start - in gratitude. After recognizing my blessings I ask humbly for the help of the Spirit World. I then end in gratitude again because the Spirit World is working with me, healing me... Then I say Ashe because I know it is so...
I find that Prayer, Meditation and Journaling is the first medicine...It helps me to stay self aware. I do this in the morning and before going to bed.
I emailed Queen Mama Imakhu because I heard of her mention a practice of working with Maat and the 42 Principles. I will back up to say that Queen Mama Imakhu is a powerful teacher. I have found her wisdom to nourish me and help me when I needed answers. I read both of her books (which I highly recommend), Understanding Kemetic (Egyptian) Magick and The Cowrie Blessings Book She also post a video blog show on youtube called Ashe'. Spirit keeps pointing me in the direction of Maat - saying that we can not fully spread Love and the healing of the heart in the world without her...Maat was the Ancient Kemetic SistahGoddess of truth and balance - she was the justice. The Kemetic people honored and practiced the ways of Maat through her 42 Principles. These principles or laws made sure that there was balance in society and they gave a framework for respect (inward and outward). Queen Mama Imakhu has agreed to join us on the journey of heart healing and will make videos specifically speaking about Maat, the 42 Principles and the heart. I give thanks for her generosity. I will provide the links to the video soon and for now you can see other videos at youtube.com if you search Imakhu.
I am thinking I will recite the 42 Principles during my morning and evening meditations as suggested by Queen Mama Imakhu. I will also journal on those place where I had difficulties. Starting here - in Maat, we will develop a safe place within and without to do the work of the heart.
42 Divine Principles of Maat
1. I have not committed sin.
2. I have not committed robbery with violence.
3. I have not stolen.
4. I have not slain men or women
5. I have not stolen food.
6. I have not swindled offerings.
7. I have not stolen from God/Goddess.
8. I have not told lies.
9. I have not carried away food.
10. I have not cursed.
11. I have not closed my ears to truth
12. I have not committed adultery.
13. I have not made anyone cry.
14. I have not felt sorrow without reason
15. I have not assaulted anyone
16. I am not deceitful.
17. I have not stolen anyone’s land
18. I have not been an eavesdropper
19. I have not falsely accused anyone.
20. I have not been angry without reason.
21. I have not seduced anyone’s wife or husband.
22. I have not polluted myself.
23. I have not terrorized anyone.
24. I have not disobeyed the Law.
25. I have not been exclusively angry.
26. I have not cursed God/Goddess.
27. I have not behaved with violence.
28. I have not caused disruption of peace.
29. I have not acted hastily or without thought.
30. I have not overstepped my boundaries of concern.
31. I have not exaggerated my words when speaking.
32. I have not worked evil.
33. I have not used evil thoughts, words or deeds.
34. I have not polluted the water
35. I have not spoken angrily or arrogantly.
36. I have not cursed anyone in thought, word or deeds.
37. I have not placed myself on a Pedestal.
38. I have not stolen what belongs to God/Goddess.
39. I have not stolen from or disrespected the deceased.
40. I have not taken food from a child or abused a child.
41. I have not acted with insolence.
42. I have not destroyed property belonging to God/Goddess.
I am excited to be on this journey with you...Each day, I will pose a question to you in hope that we can dialogue during this time... Please comment below...
Why do you feel it is important to heal the heart?
Again, lets share, lets create a circle of healing wisdom...
Hugs,
Sis. Camara
Posts
7 comments:
thanks again big sis. i appreciate all that you share. i'm excited about all things bell hooks and love the reference you made..i also own the artist way and have used the morning minutes for creative healing in the past.. and can add my positive testimony in practicing it's activities. i think that i will just add to what you already stated..
a healing heart needs patience..we are often so hard on ourselves, our big ego's creating harmful doubts that hinder and paralyze our spirits..we need to be more patient and gentle with our process.
a healing heart needs truth and stillness. we need quiet spaces in solitude, where self examination and deliberate/intentional stillness is part of reflection- where we connect with our pain and forgive ourselves.
a healing heart needs creativity and passion.
i could go on but..lol
Ashe mama's
@Soraya,
Thanks so much, Soraya! YES!!! I patience with our process is such a big thing...Being kind to ourselves and each other as we feel our way back to the heart. Sometimes, I get caught up in all that has to be done then I realize - it all would be just as powerful if I relax in the power and flow of Spirit.
Thank you for your contributions...
HUGS,
Sis. C
I think tonight, I will journal here with your readers as well as my personal journal without consideration for proper writing format :).
I am so close to loving myself 100% but I am not there yet because yesterday, I wondered if a stranger noticed me.
Once upon a time, I didn't care what anyone thought, said, or felt about me. I didn't care if I was noticed and in fact preferred not to be. I walked to my own tune and got others to hear it without wanting or trying to...then I became a product of societal bullshit: without self love, without self awareness, and without self knowledge.
I was a tired woman of color who hadn't gotten the memo that I was utterly full of shit...the kind of shit that results in someone not realizing that they have almost completely lost their sense of worth...dang...pretty funky.
That had to change quickly - for no one other than myself.
I know me today.
I know to dance deeply and honestly.
I know to look up and every where around me without searching but appreciating. Ha!..with a smile!
I know I'm close to being 100% me.
I know love - not from the outside but from the inside!
I know to love the delicate loose skin that gently shows the proof that three (3) children flourished there.
Damn it I'm hot and I don't need any stranger to confirm this.
I am working on my heart chakra so that I will remain extremely happy from the simplicities of life and the complications of myself.
Fabiola
@Fabiola,
Thank you, for this POWERFUL declaration! Ain't it deep how quickly one can't get caught in "man-made" consciousness. I find myself going there - just not wanting to "fight" that stuff but each time Spirit brings me back.
You also remind me that a large part of this journey is our own beauty and hotness - we are the new Hotness!!! Ain't nothing more powerful than a confident SistahGoddess!
Thank you for sharing.
HuGs!!!
Wow how powerful is this post and they prayer I am full of your wisdom and truth standing in MAAT and I love Mama Imaku's book I have it too.
yes I am inspired by your post for today. The heart needs to be healed so the whole/collective can beat in rhythme.
ashe.
Day one's post http://creativehealinggoddess.wordpress.com/2010/03/01/day-one-of-40-day-heart-blog-feast/
Feelings of resentment, suspicion, possessiveness and sorrow are all stored in the heart chakra. This is why it is important to heal the heart center. A healed heart brings a sense of hope and inspiration, a willingness to share, and an overriding sense of compassion.
Like Sis C, "I have been the 'victim' and the 'perpetrator' of love crimes." I've been hurt by men because of their fear and/or misunderstanding of love and because of just plain foolishness. But also because of my acceptance of that tainted love (which isn't love at all) and my own manipulation, deceit, and lack of self-love.
I look forward to healing my heart for real! I have much work/healing to do, but I'm not discouraged! True healing can't be rushed! My heart healing is worth every calculated step.
Let the healing continue!!!!!!
@Marilyn,
Thanks so much, Sis!!! I am always thinking that once Sistah heal everyone will follow suit.
Heart healing requires so much bravery and I feel like we are all Warrior Wombyn plotting our course, making a plan...They will tell the story years later, "we never saw it coming...all that LOVE..."
I also tried to upload that Mr.Linky but I am not sure how it works. I have another widget I am going to try tonite so I can get folks responses from their blogs...Hugs!
@Shelly,
Yes, the heart is the high road to freedom. I think of our children and it keeps me thinking that this healing is so necessary so that we can stop the generational cycle of hurt...What beautiful work is ahead of us!! Hugs!
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