and This I Share...

I woke up this morning feeling a strange sensation - I was expanding. I could feel that my skin could no longer contain me - it was being pushed and pulled - stretched to its limits. I can feel this light inside of me wanting to burst open and surge free...
Even if I try I can't seem to do what I have done before...I can't seem to walk this path with my feet anymore...I know this path is not rooted in the earth but in the sky...It is as if I have been turning into this bird for longer than I known...my mouth can't even really speak, the words sound weird almost not my own...I find that I wake up singing in the sun...I can't stop until it is fully up in the sky and I have let everyone know...Food no longer stops my hunger for freedom, the promises of a lover's kiss no longer entices me, predictions of the future seem fleeting...because I am changing...I am shifting into something that I was born to be and this "reality"- this thing that people refer to as "life" no longer controls me...it tries to catch me but I have flown away...
Peace,
Sistah C

Happy Summer Solstice!

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Happy Summer Solstice! It is the beginning of summer and a perfect time to reflect on our relationship with nature. This morning I woke up before the sunrise and meditated on my goals for this new cycle. I realized I wanted to do more work on myself -healing many areas of my life. I know that in order to do this I need to take time to myself to reflect, to re-remember who I am and my power.
Under the moon light the other night I met with a powerful group of Sistah Goddesses and I was reminded that I have a divine right to have the life I desire -that I am the only one responsible for the life I lead on this physical plane - when I transition from this physical world and meet MAAT to go over my experiences in this life it will be ultimately ME who has to answer for all that has occurred - the good, the bad, the joyous, the sad... My Sistahs helped me realized that I have the right to speak my word and have it heard ONCE and to MANIFEST with that same word the EXACT experience I DESIRE. I was reminded that Wombyn tend to take care of everyone else before they take care of themselves - we are nurturers AND we also NEED TO NURTURE AND CARE FOR OURSELVES. I have realized lately that some biggest mistakes were made when I placed aside my own true feelings to care for someone else because I was concerned they would be disappointed however I realize that it is even more disappointing to ignore your soul's needs and desires to please someone else...It never works...
So this Summer Solstice is about taking off your shoes and placing your feet firmly upon the earth to connect with that earth power and vision yourself walking the path YOU wish to walk knowing IT IS the path you are destined to walk.
Many Blessings to You on this day!
Sistah C

Oya's Cleansing Light...

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I am up early today after a night of Sistah Goddess Oya's cleansing light. She has this way of clearing the air - of bringing clarity to situations that involve change. The storm last night sounded like she was playing a tin drum - waking us up to what is important. Her powerful music turned off the lights and put us soundly to sleep...

This ability for us to heal and change is on the forefront of my mind. I see my own individual opportunity to move forward and I see the collective's desire for change as well. For me, it is to realize that I AM a powerful being with the ability to manifest my deepest desires - the message is for me to TRUST the path that I am on...to know that change requires me to take a chance - to walk what appears to be an unfamiliar path - to only realize it has been the road I have been on for some time...

Collectively, I sense we are in a time when we deeply feel change will help us all AND we will have to let go of the "old" way. I believe what we desire is connection - connection with the Creator, with the Spirit World, with our Ancestors and with each other. How do we get there?

With the era of western thought and philosophy came their concept of time. Suddenly, we were bound to seconds, minutes, hours and days. We begin to believe in aging instead of our own divine immortality. The Ancestors were buried in the ground and forgotten and we spoke to God only on Sundays...This western clock clicks faster now because all that matters is what is new - what is shiny yet of little value...We feel ourselves in a rush to make things better because that clock is in our ear clicking faster and faster...produce more, have more - it never stops AND it WILL stop...

This society is changing whether we recognize it or not. The only insurance I believe we will have is our relationships with each other. All the rest will fall away. Rebuilding relationships - rebuilding trust and respect takes "time" - it takes the ability to connect and stay connected even as our past traumas come up...it is a process I don't believe we can pass over if we want true change.

These are my thoughts on this quiet morning before the sun rises...May you have a beautiful and most powerful day...

Peace,
Sistah C

Revolutionaries and Liberators...

Sorry, I have not posted as much lately - it has been pretty busy for me and there are many new doors opening in my life. I feel very grateful to the Spirit World for giving me the opportunity to re-experience love inside of myself and share it with others...

The Ancestors have told me that this new "Turning" - this new cycle that we are entering has its strength in relationships. It is a time for us to really stretch ourselves and begin to practice cooperation and reciprocity now - not later. Live tomorrow as today and today as yesterday. This "Turning" is also about honoring those Ancient Female Spirits and Ancestors that have stood upright, many times "alone" within a silent majority.

All too often the Warrior Mother Spirit is ignored in the fight for liberation of our people. I see countless websites, books, speeches that speak of the greatness of Afrikan men in glorious detail (which is very well deserved...) AND when it comes to the Warrior Mothers there is only a reference to them as "Strong Afrikan Queens" with very little analysis of their lives, their scholarship, their impact on the whole Afrikan community. We need more than honorable mentions...a token few...The Spirits of these Warrior SistahGoddesses stand at the gates with swords in hand ready to infuse us with their spirit of unfailing victory. Will we greet them? Will we bring offerings? Will we converse with them? Seek their advice and guidance? Perhaps, yes...If so, then we must know who they are...

A friend shared this powerful website with me called Suppressed Histories...Below is a video from the author Max Dashu. Check out her website which is also a wealth of information on Rebel Shaman Warrior Women...

Sistah Nu World Music ...

I had an ear for some world music from Sistahs on the continent. Here are three videos for your enjoyment...(if you get my email you will have to view on my blog. You can mute the music at the bottom of the page.)
Peace,
Sistah C

Simphiwe Dana from South Afrika



Zamajobe



One of my favorites...Zap Mama "Sweet Melodies"

Ancestors...

Last summer I as speaking to my aunt about finding some documentaries on Afrikan traditions and honoring of Ancestors. I had given her a list of films but she could not find any at her university. She did give me a film which starred a friend of hers called Maangamizi. It is an East Afrikan film written by Queenae Taylor Mulvihill.

The story is filmed in Tanzania (one of my favorite places) and tells of two women - one who was born in Tanzania and the other who was born in the rural south in America. Both are brought together by a common Ancestor called Maangamizi - the Ancient One.

The movie stars Barbara O (Yellow Mary in Daughters of the Dust) and Amandina Lihamba (a well known East African Actor/Artist). This film is soooo beautiful and powerful. It gave me a different understanding of our relationship with our Ancestors. It also speaks to the notion that we have a reciprocal relationship with the Ancestor world - the work we do here (prayers, offerings, care of shrines...) helps their world, and their work helps us in our world. I believe it is in the best interest of every Afrikan to learn how to honor and work with your Ancestors. From what I understand not everyone who dies in your family becomes an Ancestor - instead it is a position of honor in the bloodline. Certain traditions even have a process for making sure deceased relatives become Ancestors.

I recommend this film highly. I am not sure how available it is but you can order it from Gris Gris Films www.grisgrisfilms.com


My Birthday Gift To YOU!

For the month of July - my birthday month I plan to do a series of interviews with some powerful SistahGoddesses that I know...It will be my gift to my blog readers (and myself!)...I will interview traditional Priestesses, Mothers, Elders, Midwives, Artists, Writers, Musicians... I am just going to go for it! Also, I will be giving away a Medicine Doll every week in July to one of my blog readers. It is my way of celebrating my life on this planet earth...So, look out for the month of July!!

Peace,
Sistah C

Moon Salutation

Ok, the moon is finally full today...maybe it will begin to ease up on us a little. Personally, I had a huge day or two of feeling really restless. Over the weekend a classmate (in the middle of a finance lecture) said, "I feel like running around the block. I have so much energy - I need to do something..." And I keep hearing this from various folks who are effected by this moon.

I remembered last night yoga's Moon Salutation. It is real powerful to do these poses while the moon is out...Below is a video I found of the practice (she is doing it a bit faster than I would but you can get the general idea). A favorite yoga teacher of mine taught me this practice at a retreat in California.

Did you know there is an International Association of Black Yoga Teachers?? Click here for their website.