RE- Inventing : One's Self...

I wrote to my one of my best friend's today...I am REINVENTING MYSELF FOR THE 777th time!

Personally, it is something in my wiring that always wants to grow and expand. I am attracted to finding out what exactly makes me tick?!! Just when I think I know - I change. It use to be nerve rackin' and others would call me "flighty" but you know - I LOVE MYSELF JUST THE WAY I AM... I am this unique express of the Creator and I don't think the Creator has made a mistake yet! I have found peace in accepting this nomadic part of myself...it feeds my creativity and my healing practice...I think the Tao says something about allowing things to come and go AND return.

My art flows like the tide in Zanzibar...at moments it is fully present in my life then it floats out - goes somewhere and comes back with beautiful gifts like rainbow colored cowrie shells and translucent white crabs. No one curses Mama Ocean for floating out pass the coral reef, because they know she will return - warm, peaceful and abundant.

I have not worked on any art since December. I needed to rest and be...Lately, I have returned and started to work with my teacher Khalil who is teaching me West African Vertical Loom weaving. He is an amazing artist and elder. I am blessed to learn such a beautiful and peaceful process. I am totally amazed at the detailed of work that is involved in making a piece of fabric! Someone back in the day sat in deep thought and received the message on how to perfect this process...this is technology...human technology...

Art is just one new way in which I am developing and expanding. I am also thinking of where I want to settle and live AND how I want to use my current skills to create income...I want to find the perfect balance of creativity, leadership and progressive movement in my next line of work...People ask me "what do you want to do?" and I think "I will know it when I do it..." Either way, I have this feeling I am forging a new path AND its GOOD. My friend Rocky and I are starting a juice fast this coming Saturday - so if you want to join us hit me an email on how to prepare. I will try to post some of our juice recipes. I will also be starting the 40 day prosperity plan again -remember last year I was gifted with a trip to Africa...the plan works - spirit works!

I found out about this cool documentary 'Who Does She Think She Is?' It is the story of these SistahGoddess Artist who are balancing the fine art of life with creativity. It is about their necessity to make art a part of their lives. I hope to see it here in Atlanta or find it for rent ... I am attaching the trailer...(go to my blog if you get my email)



Lastly, tomorrow we will see the dream America has of reinventing itself...There will be lots of celebrations and great words being said...tears, laughter...
I simply remember the Tao...

41

When a superior man hears of the Tao,
he immediately begins to embody it.
When an average man hears of the Tao,
he half believes it, half doubts it.
When a foolish man hears of the Tao,
he laughs out loud.
If he didn't laugh,
it wouldn't be the Tao.

Thus it is said:
The path into the light seems dark,
the path forward seems to go back,
the direct path seems long,
true power seems weak,
true purity seems tarnished,
true steadfastness seems changeable,
true clarity seems obscure,
the greatest are seems unsophisticated,
the greatest love seems indifferent,
the greatest wisdom seems childish.

The Tao is nowhere to be found.
Yet it nourishes and completes all things.

53
The great Way is easy,
yet people prefer the side paths.
Be aware when things are out of balance.
Stay centered within the Tao.

When rich speculators prosper
While farmers lose their land;
when government officials spend money
on weapons instead of cures;
when the upper class is extravagant and irresponsible
while the poor have nowhere to turn-
all this is robbery and chaos.
It is not in keeping with the Tao.

54
Whoever is planted in the Tao
will not be rooted up.
Whoever embraces the Tao
will not slip away.
Her name will be held in honor
from generation to generation.

Let the Tao be present in your life
and you will become genuine.
Let it be present in your family
and your family will flourish.
Let it be present in your country
and your country will be an example
to all countries in the world.
Let it be present in the universe
and the universe will sing.

How do I know this is true?
By looking inside myself.


Peace,
Sistah C

Happy New Year!

A very peaceful Happy New Year to everyone. I got back just a few days ago from my 10-day meditation retreat AND I have to say that I am renewed in the way of spirit, body and mind. The last time I went on this type of retreat was about 7 years ago and in between that time I have practiced a little here and there but eventually chaos got to me - or I got sucked into my own personal chaos and I soon forgot the process that helped me to center and see things as they truly are...

One evening at the discourse the teaching said "there is nothing that can cause more harm than the untrained mind, there is nothing that can facilitate more healing than a mind that is calm, peaceful and full of love." This really was true for me...I have seen the path of destruction I have made by submitting to the wild, unruly mind - a mind often filled with suspicion, craving, over loaded desires, sadness and rage.

The body is one of the most fascinating machines ever created. It is so resilient, so forgiving and so strong. Even when we are ill it spends all of its energy trying to get well - trying to create balance. The mind is linked to this body and it is my theory that the two are so deeply integrated that what ever is impressed upon our minds begins to feed the experience of our body. In Vipassana meditation we are taught to observe the sensations on our body as a way of revealing some of our deepest sufferings. This process is not about affirmation or thinking positively, although these are helpful in their own rite. Observing sensation helps you to get at the root of your suffering not just heal the surface.

I got to a point in the meditation retreat where I could see the reality of the relationships in my life and I realize they have all been a reflection of my mind - my untrained mind - a mind that has created cravings, has concocted fantasies and generated anger. I have been such a slave to expectations - others and my own...Now I can see that in letting this old self go I can put my life in order again...I can prioritize the things that are important to me. I can be present - inside of my body. This has created the most profound peace inside of me - peace that I know I have work diligently to preserve.

Sistahs, this is a NEW DAY - everyday is a new opportunity to cultivate self love and train our minds for peace. Mind you, this peace is not passive but highly active. Once we see the reality of our lives we will crack the surface of "overfunctioning" or "grave-digging" as BLACK WOMEN, BLOW THE TRUMPET teaches. We will also begin to generate a set of principles for our selves - more than affirmations but truths to live by...Our divine birth rite is to be liberated and free from all forms of suffering. All suffering starts on the inside - a free person CAN NOT BE OPPRESSED for those who come toward her with shackles will be compelled to turn away - they will be rendered powerless. We must work hard to free our minds - with patience and persistence we will succeed.
______________________________________________________________________

Remember this year is about the Bones. Bones hold the stories. If the story is untold this energy will find a space for it to be heard. If the story has been told over and over again, this energy will help you finds the "end".

Now, I would like to share a story that is told by Clarissa Pinkola Estes in a book called Woman Who Run With the Wolves... a perfect story about re-creation. This is a bone-woman story...

La Loba

There is an old woman who lives in a hidden place that everyone knows but few have ever seen. She seems to wait for lost or wandering people and seekers to come to her place.

She is circumspect, often hairy, always fat, and especially wishes to evade most company. She is both a crower and a cackler, generally having more animal sounds than human ones.

They say she lives among the rotten granite slopes in Tarahumara Indian territory. They say she is buried outside Phoenix near a well. She is said to have been seen traveling south to Monte Alban in a burnt-out car with the back window shot out. She is said to stand by the highway near El Paso, or ride shotgun with truckers to Morelia, Mexico, or that she has been sighted walking to market above Oaxaca with strangely formed boughs of firewood on her back. She is called by many names: La Huesera, Bone Woman; La Trapera, The Gatherer; and La Loba, Wolf Woman.

The sole work of La Loba is the collecting of bones. She is known to collect and preserve especially that which is in danger of being lost to the world. Her cave is filled with the bones of all manner of desert creatures: the deer, the rattlesnake, the crow. But her speciality is said to be wolves.

She creeps and crawls and sifts through the montanas, mountains, and arroyos, dry riverbeds, looking for wolf bones, and when she has assembled an entire skeleton, when the last bone is in place and the beautiful white sculpture of the creature is laid out before her, she sits by the fire and thinks about what song she will sing.

And when she is sure, she stands over the criatura, raises her arms over it, and sings out. That is when the rib bones and leg bones of the wolf begin to flesh out and the creature becomes furred. La Loba sings some more, and more of the creature comes into being; its tail curls upward, shaggy and strong.

And La Loba sings more and the wolf creature begins to breathe.

And still La Loba sings so deeply that the floor of the desert shakes, and as she sings, the wolf opens its eyes, leaps up, and runs away down the canyon.

Somewhere in its running, whether by the speed of its running, or by splashing its way into a river, or by way of a ray of sunlight or moonlight hitting it right in the side, the wolf is suddenly transformed into a laughing woman who runs free toward the horizon.

So it is said that if you wander the desert, and it is near sundown, and you are perhaps a little bit lost, and certainly tired, that you are lucky, for La Loba may take a liking to you and show you some thing -- something of the soul.

May the New Year be a blessing of Love, Light and Deep Transformation - not only for yourself but for the world.

Peace,
Sistah C

To See...To Be...

I have been reflecting on the end of this coming year and it has been full of ups and downs. If I could think of any word that fully describes this year it would be observation. I feel that most of this year has been in deep observation of my self and how I participate in my own life.

I was listening to a wise man give a talk and he said that we all come to this earth with a God mandated purpose that we agreed upon before taking our physical body and because the earth is the way that it is - we can easily have our purpose diverted. Perhaps our purpose is sidetracked by people or circumstances yet it is up to us to re-remember somewhere along the way what it is that we came to do.

I have spent a great deal of this year looking at my diversions and realizing that they were a necessary step in me becoming even more committed to my soul and living a full, joyous life.

This year I decided to meditate the new year in using a practice I learned about 10 years ago called Vipassana. Vipassana translates to mean "to see things as they truly are..." People from all faiths have learned the practice of Vipassana. It is an ancient meditation practice that teaches you to observe the various sensations in your body to the point that you are deeply aware of tiny hairs moving on your body. Somehow in this awareness you began to understand the human condition of desire and aversion - the belief is that most of our suffering comes from these places. Vipassana is practiced globally and is accessible to all people. If you would like more information the website is www.dhamma.org Retreats sometimes fill quickly depending on the time of year and location.


This will be my last post until the new year but I am grateful to all of my subscribers and readers who have followed SistahGoddess. Next year proves to be a year full of change - I can feel this already. I am a "daughter of the bones" and according to the Dagara community in Africa the year 2009 is the element of mineral. Minerals are the rocks which they refer to as being the bones of the earth - the bones hold the stories. This is what Some' says about the mineral year and those born in a mineral year:

Mineral is about communicating, the ability to translate things, the ability to converse. It has a lot to do with social connections. A lot of Mineral people are relatively talkative. In the indigenous world they are the Storytellers, the Great Communicators. Mineral is also something that we must see in terms of the conveying of energy, to convey energy that comes through you on its way somewhere else. This is why any person who is a Mineral person is supposed to be running energy, whether it is through your hands or your body or whatever. Mineral people are also recognized as Stone people—not that they’re stone but because the stone is seen as the one that stores information. They say if you want to know the story of the earth, listen to the stones or listen to the rocks. Every time you go to someone’s house and you see all these rocks, that person has something to do with mineral. This is the closest way to express that. It is interesting that in many communities in Africa, your birth certificate is a stone. Of course the stone does not record the date of birth. It records why you were born. Maybe that’s why we don’t bother with people’s birthdays. The reason I'm bringing it out is because in the computer systems they use stones. They crystalize stone to the point where it can forward or manipulate or store information. This is to say that it’s not all that disconnected from modern facts and reality.

As we leave this year of nature we step now to the bone mother and sit at her feet and hear her stories. Some of us will take her stories and learn a new way and others will leave their old stories with her and re-remember who they are...

Prayer for the New Year

Giving thanks and deep gratitude to the Creator
Giving thanks and deep gratitude to the Spirit World (Orishas,deities,and helpers of God)
Giving thanks and deep gratitude to the Ancestors who are fortunate enough to sit at the feet of the Creator
Giving thanks to the Animals guides - those who walk the land, those who fly, those who burrow deep in the ground, those who swim and those who slither
Giving thanks to our earth helpers, our families, friends and kind strangers
Giving thanks to our own spirit - a powerful microcosm of all those beings that have come before us,
all those beings that will surely come after us
all those beings that stand to the left of us,
all those beings that stand to the right of us,
all those beings that stand above us,
all those beings that stand below us,
and all those beings that stand in through and around us
here for our best benefit
guiding us,
helping us to heal,
helping us to see clearly,
helping us love,
helping us to live with peace in our hearts,
We give thanks for the presence of Spirit in our lives
and we move forward, strong and true to our purpose.
We are grateful for all that we have and
all that we have lost because it made us stronger.
We ask that the Spiritworld continue to bless us,
continue to guide us,
continue to help us heal and grow.
We ask that we continue to receive the blessings
of good health, prosperity, love and friendship.
We ask that we be protected from any and all forms of negativity,
bad luck and illness.
We ask that we continue to be a clear vessel for the goodness,
strength, love and joy the Creator made us for...
We give thanks.
Medasi (thank you)
Ashe (and let it be so)

HAPPY NEW YEAR!
Sistah C

A Great Tree Has Fallen: Miriam Makeba (1932-2008)

I wanted to give honor and tribute to Miriam Makeba. (March 4,1932 - November 10, 2008) Here is a bit of herstory I found on the web at wikipedia and some videos of her songs:

She was a South African singer and civil rights activist. She was born in Johannesburg, South Africa to a Swazi Sangoma mother and Xhosa father. She began singing when she was a child and started her professional career in the 1950s with the Manhattan Brothers then formed her own group called the Skylarks - blending the sounds of jazz and traditional South African melodies.



Her break came when she starred in the anti-apartheid documentary Come Back, Africa in 1959 by independent filmmaker Lionel Rogosin. In 1966, Makeba won a Grammy Award for Best Folk Recording together with Harry Belafonte for An Evening With Belafonte/Makeba. The album dealt with the political plight of black South Africans under apartheid which resulted in her South African passport being revoked.
This did not move Makeba, in 1963 she testified against apartheid before the United Nations - with this South Africa revoked her citizenship and her right to ever return to her country.

In exile, Makeba went on to release her famous hits, "Pata Pata", "The Click Song" and "Malaika". In 1968 she married civil rights activist and Student Non-violent Coordinating Committee leader Stokely Carmichael which caused controversy in the United States, and her record deals and tours were canceled. As a result of this, the couple moved to Guinea, where they became close with President Ahmed Sékou Touré and his wife. Makeba separated from Carmichael in 1973, and continued to perform primarily in Africa, South America and Europe. She was one of the African and Afro-American entertainers at the 1974 Rumble in the Jungle match between Muhammad Ali and George Foreman held in Zaïre. Makeba also served as a Guinean delegate to the United Nations, for which she won the Dag Hammarskjöld Peace Prize in 1986.



After the death of her only daughter Bongi Makeba in 1985, she moved to Brussels. In 1987, she appeared in Paul Simon's Graceland tour. Shortly thereafter she published her autobiography Makeba: My Story (ISBN 0-453-00561-6).

It was not until 1990 that Makeba returned to South Africa at the request of Nelson Mandela. In January 2000, her album, Homeland, produced by Cedric Samson and Michael Levinsohn[5] was nominated for a Grammy Award in the "Best World Music" category[6]. In 2001 she was awarded the Gold Otto Hahn Peace Medal by the United Nations Association of Germany (DGVN) in Berlin, "for outstanding services to peace and international understanding". In 2002, she shared the Polar Music Prize with Sofia Gubaidulina. In 2004, Makeba was voted 38th in the Top 100 Great South Africans. Makeba started a worldwide farewell tour in 2005, holding concerts in all of those countries that she had visited during her working life.

Makeba addresses the United Nations...


On November 10, 2008 Makeba suffered a heart attack on stage while giving a benefit concert for writer Roberto Saviano in his stand against the Camorra a mafia-like organization local to the Region of Campania, Italy. The final song she performed was "Pata Pata".

Michelle Obama: A Sistah In The House

The last couple of days - if not the last couple of months have been interesting...and I woke this morning with the thought that "Ummmm...a Sistah will be living in the white house...What does that mean?" I have heard and read a lot in the last day or two about the impact of having a black president in office. Some people are amazed and elated - they believe it proves Amerika has finally "melted". Others are wary that this is just trickery and that a black president will be used as the one to usher us into deeper oppression...Personally, I find myself just observing all the reaction. At this time I tend to have more questions than I do solid affirmation of a "change consciousness of Amerika..." I will see...we will see...

I am reminded of the part in the scary movie where the audience thinks the hero has slain the ugly villain but the clue is that you haven't seen the "dead body" to confirm that it is actually true and later on his journey the hero is once again is confronted with a wounded but even more vicious villain. This country was built on the bloody rock of racism and unrelenting oppression - with such a foundation one must be careful about the way we access "change". We should not just use our two eyes but also our third.

What does it mean to have a Sistah in the white house? My friend Christa called on election night and said "Gurl, there are going to be five African women in the white house! Michelle, her mother, her two daughters and Oprah!" We laughed but then THAT IS A LOT OF SISTAH WOMB ENERGY IN ONE HOUSE! It has been said that a woman can change the feeling in a room using the power of her womb! I can't say for sure what type of woman Michelle Obama is but I have read things she has written and listen to her speak and there is a part of me that senses she is present and watchful AND brothas know that when it comes down to it - this is the kind of Sistah your gonna want on your side. A Sistah who is down for you AND who is going to tell you the truth (the "real deal") - one who is going to advise you.

I don't want to go any further with assumptions about who the Obama family is - I think only time will tell. My only wish is that we all continue to fight oppression, demand justice and continue to heal ourselves regardless of who is in the white house...
Peace,
Sistah C

LUNAVERSOUL: Ethnic Design with a Unique Style!

Lately, I have been feelin' a lot of energy around adornment -earrings, bracelets, necklaces, nose rings, etc... I desire beautiful "statement" pieces that compliment my personal style.

I recently found the work of Lunaversoul by CJ and this Sistah's work is BEYOND BEAUTIFUL! I would describe her work as burst of colors and a fine combination of modern clean design with unique ethnic/indigenous style. I had to connect with her right away to get the word on who she is and what inspires her work.

The first piece that caught my eye was this Ocyrus Leather Cuff Bracelet for the Sistahs and the Brothas.


Camisha better known as CJ is a 3d graphic artist/Fine artist for a video game company out in Seattle & The mother of an 11 year old son. She told me,

"Art,music & fashion is a huge part of my life & who I am.
I LOVE underground hip-hop culture & music (not that stuff on the radio) I'm a true B-girl ;).

I started designing jewelry about one year ago. I was tired of not being able to find jewelry that fit my style & personality. On a whim I purchased some beads and made my very first bracelet and it took off from there.

I make unique handmade necklaces, bracelets and earrings that are funky, eclectic and soulful with a touch of ethnic flair. Many of my pieces are one of a kind, which I love because you know that you are wearing a beautiful piece of jewelry that no one else has.

My inspirations come from elements of nature and different cultures from around the world. I feel that a small part of my personality is reflected in each piece of my work. Each piece is special because none of my pieces are planned. When I want to create something I just relax,reflect on all the beautiful things & people that influence me ,put on my music and just go with it."

Check out these Nefertiti Earrings!!!

I also like the mysteriousness of these Mesi Earrings...

Her signature colorful Kanani Bracelet Set is another favorite...

I wish I could display every piece here on SistahGoddess but you can go to her shop at Lunaversoul on etsy.com or you can check her out at the Urban Craft Uprising Show Dec 6 & 7th in Seattle. Either way, support this Sistah's beautiful work.

Peace,
Sistah C

October: Domestic Violence Awareness Month - My Two Cents...

I think that we should be aware of Domestic Violence no matter the month but this is a special time to remind ourselves that many women and children live in an environment of fear and violence - even as you read this post. My son and I are survivors of domestic violence and it has been a hard road BUT I will tell you our liberation has been worth all of the set backs - large and small. I have dedicated my life to moving forward and developing my work around helping to restore the female spirit.

If you are in a violent relationship it is important to recognize the patterns of violence and KNOW that you are NOT alone...although it can feel like it...If you can take some time to re-evaluate what it is that YOU WANT FOR YOUR LIFE - if you want peace, love, joy and freedom then consider what it will take to get you there...often that means leaving a bad situation. I will not lie, the first step is the hardest and known to be the most dangerous (depending on the level of violence you are dealing with...)

1. Make a PLAN for yourself and your children (if you have any)-this could include talking to a domestic violence organization/shelter, talking to a "trusted" family member or friend, packing a secret/hidden bag for yourself and children with essentials such as medicine, extra set of keys, diapers, clothes, shoes, copies of important papers and money. It could include getting the assistance of someone to help you leave.

2. Many people are ignorant to the issues of domestic violence so you may encounter various non helpful gestures BUT THIS IS ABOUT YOUR LIFE NOT ANYONE ELSE'S. Get help from someone willing to help you -sometimes this may be a stranger on the other end of a crisis line or a counselor at a shelter.

3. Keep yourself safe - don't speak about your whereabouts to people who will tell your abusive spouse, screen your calls, alert your workplace of your situation (often you will find they will screen calls for you or alert there security), alert your daycare or children's schools.

4. Try to secure your financial situation - save cash and have it on hand. If you have left -close joint bank accounts and secure your credit (this was a big downfall for me but you need to know abusers will strike your finances if they can't strike you...) Write landlords to alert them you have left the premises and send all mail verified. Make sure your divorce is documented as a domestic violence situation -this may help with creditors later.

5. Consider the help of Legal Aid Societies and the Department of Family Services. Often you need to apply for these services early BEFORE you are in a desperate crunch - it could take up to 30 days to get assistance...

6. DOCUMENT everything - dates of abusive incidents, police reports - YES -call the police if there is violence and have them FILE A REPORT. Take it from me you will find yourself having to prove you were actually abused...If the police seem like they don't want to help or get involved (yes, this happens...) then insist that they make a CITIZEN'S ARREST - if you need your abuser in their custody for a short while - and it may be short!

7.KEEP IT REAL - be honest with YOURSELF first - your in this situation for various reasons and now you need out - YOU CAN DO IT and it may take some time to really get your head above water. Get counseling and do some self reflection. Be around people who BELIEVE IN YOU. In time you will find that you have moved forward...

8. This is hardly as simple as a numbered list but this comes from my own experiences - so I hope it is helpful... Below are resources...

*If you know someone who is being abused the best thing you can do is EDUCATE yourself on the issues and provide a LISTENING EAR. Judgement can send a Sistah spiraling back to her abuser. PLEASE NOTE SISTAHS: I know survivors who are PhDs, doctors, scientist, activists, women's advocates, ministers, housewives, teachers, wellness practitioners, and more... I know abusers who are doctors, lawyers, ministers, high profile stock brokers, basketball players, teachers, activists and so on...Don't let yourself get caught up in status -look at people's actions -pay attention to their deeds and they will reveal who they really are...

Resources:

If you need immediate assistance, dial 911.

The National Domestic Violence Hotline: 1-800-799-SAFE (7233).

The National Coalition of Domestic Violence has good resources on protecting yourself and making a plan.

The Legal Aid Society
See how you can get free legal help and advice on how to proceed legally.

Here is a resource on Understanding Domestic Violence


Healing:

Healing takes time. You will have anger, rage, despair, depression mixed with leaps of hope and positive thinking with leaps of anxiety. Just be open to all these feelings -sometimes we need to sit in the dark to see the light. Don't put yourself on other people's time tables -THIS IS YOUR LIFE - YOUR HEALING. Do small things for yourself - candle lit baths, massage, walks, singing, dancing, ART of any kind. Get a NEW lease on life! Acknowledge the past BUT really start spending a great deal of time living in the present and visualizing your NEW LIFE with peace, love, joy and true prosperity. Meet new people who are about positive living. Try a spiritual practice like meditation, yoga, prayer and affirmation. Everyday wake up and declare that it is a NEW DAY FOR YOU and give blessings and gratitude for what you do have. If you are in a rut - clean your house from top to bottom - throw out the dirty water through the back door - light some incense, dance, sing and laugh as LOUD as you can and give negativity no space in your life. Every time you think of your oppressive past and it is mingled with fear and anger - JUST START LAUGHING (this sounds "crazy") but do this until you actually are naturally laughing. The Igbo people call this "hooting at danger" - meaning to laugh it off - you have been through the worst trial AND YOU SURVIVED. YOU ARE THE MOST POWERFUL MANIFESTATION OF THE CREATOR/GOD/GODDESS - YES YOU! Much peace and blessings to you!
With Light and Love,
Sistah C