peace + love...

February has always been a very ambivalent month for me
filled with so much good and yet at times, so much pain
 but i am good, and thankful for the impermanence of life
and will continue to look to JAH for strength and guidance.

JAH is love, touch love. feel love.
JAH is light, shining bright for all to see
JAH is good, overflowing with tender mercies
JAH is peace.  He lives in I and I.

unchained spirit...

Out of the night that covers me,
Black as the pit from pole to pole,
I thank whatever gods may be
For my unconquerable soul.

In the fell clutch of circumstance
I have not winced nor cried aloud.
Under the bludgeonings of chance
My head is bloody, but unbowed.

Beyond this place of wrath and tears
Looms but the Horror of the shade,
And yet the menace of the years
Finds, and shall find, me unafraid.

It matters not how strait the gate,
How charged with punishments the scroll,
I am the master of my fate:
I am the captain of my soul.

(Invictus by William Ernest Henley)

* * *

Not since Bob Marley left this earthly plane

have I touched this hidden part of my self

how can hearing his voice now make me cry

when it is the one sure thing guaranteed

to light a cozy fire deep within my soul?

the voice of the poor, innocent and downtrodden, 

you are a trumpet of hope, an example of free spirit,

a source of strength and conscious enlightenment

so i wipe away these tears and lay my burdens down

as i lift you and your family up in prayer unto the Most High.

love you Buju.  the unconquerable one. Selassie I know.

*have a conscious friday and a divine weekend.  one love.  

let go...

release
set free
liberate
your mind
body and
soul

(exhale)

a sign of love...

i woke up this morning
give thanks for life
said prayers unto the Most High
Oh Jah, please hear my prayers
lit a few incense to firm up my meditation
sending you positive vibes
and in the rising sun, i saw a sign
JAH is love.

can you see the heart? ;)

on a friday night...

in my bachelorette days, when the lights come on each friday night, it was time to start choosing my new outfit to pose off in de dance hall.  no other place like it.

a smooth yet gritty kinda place

where you can really feel the music, 

fall into the arms of your king

in the dark corner over there ;)

and release the stresses of life 

or you can always step into the middle of the floor

and show dem dat you are the original dance hall queen

 (but you better know de latest - lol), 

so nice to share brotherly and sisterly love, and
lift up our consciousness to higher heights 

through word, power and sound...

even nicer still when JAH soldiers come cross.  

Big up you self Buju!  onward and upward.

wishing you a conscious friday and a divine weekend.
one love, my friends.

my guiding light...

"so help me god," they say

before unleashing a forked tongue

to create fantasies in the minds of men

but I call upon the Most High JAH

Almighty defender of truth and righteousness

and step forth, armed only with my conscience.  Selah.

* * *

*I am enjoying a week of prayer.  I couldn't resist pulling out my half-a-century-old bible for this one.  Closing my eyes, I exhaled.  Turning the very, very worn pages, I could almost feel the earnest prayers of all those before me who held this bible while on bended knees, seeking help or deliverance from JAH.  And out of this divine consciousness, came this prayer for our brothers and sisters around the world who are fighting to prove their innocence.  May you all find great strength and courage in JAH.

one love.

prayer + meditation...

from the depths of my very soul,
i pray for peace and love to reign supreme
throughout this beautiful universe.

oh Jah, please shield the innocents
who raise their voices against injustice,
only to be entrapped by the snares
of those who shun righteousness,

as i retreat in deep prayer and meditation

i would like to offer one of you

a set of authentic Tibetan prayer flags

as part of a special "one love" gift set.

*to be eligible for this giveaway, please leave a comment on this post on or before February 20, 2011.  feel free to share your prayer for the world.

*to enter another exciting giveaway, please click here.

*CONGRATULATIONS to BUJU BANTON on winning the Grammy for Best Reggae Album - Before the Dawn.  Sending positive vibes your way as you step out on the battlefield once again.  May truth pave your path towards freedom.  one love.

Update:  Congrats to Wanda for winning the "one love" gift set.  Thanks to all for your loving support.

feel the stillness...

You can imagine if

everyone on earth did have

one day where we just 

put all our minds together

regardless where the force is, as long as

it's positive, and just meditate for even

a hour that day.  
(Bob Marley)

c'mon Sistahs,

let's be still together. 

meet me wherever you are

out there in the omniverse,

if only for one minute.

at two o'clock in the afternoon

let's share a quiet moment
in the realm of our consciousness
and release positive vibes, filled of love

for someone in need of prayer.

won't you please join me?

february 14th through 20th

random act of kindness week.

*Jah Guide Buju! 

before you go...

what can i possibly say to you
now that death is knocking at your door?
do i relentlessly tell you how much "i love you"
or simply continue to pray that
you rest your head softly
on the pillow of your breath
and for JAH to gently cradle you
in the palm of his hands
as you prepare to enter
the gates of Zion.
(exhale)

songs of freedom...

Happy Birthday Bob Marley !!!

Give thanks for your profound efforts in spreading JAH's message of love, peace, global responsibility and social consciousness...

despite tremendous adversity and suffering all around the world, we continue to march on...

one love.

embracing my roots...

A people without the knowledge of their past history, origin and culture is like a tree without roots.

(Marcus Mosiah Garvey)

Little Se'lah and I were feverishly chasing Carmen Sandiego around the globe.  This vintage game is full of action, historical facts, diversity and culture.  What joy it brings me to now have a legitimate excuse to play this game once again ;).  We dashed over to Africa, where we were told the world's largest diamond was found.  But how could I just leave that factoid so bland?  We started to discuss the systemic depletion of Africa's natural resources and its relation to the cruel institution of slavery and other atrocities across the continent.  

Over 100 million innocent Afrikan men, 

and even the women and children too

shackled and literally packed like sardines

in the belly of slave ships crossing the oceans.

 Oh Jah, they died so inhumanely.
None were properly laid to rest,

their bodies carelessly tossed overboard
and swallowed up by the vast and open sea.

The remaining survivors were held in bondage,
against their will, as the chattel of unjust men
on the shores of the Americas and
throughout the West Indies.

As a descendant of a victim of slavery

I dare never forget what they endured
as long as their blood runs through my veins.

It is, and will forever be, a special part of me.

But it is now our time,

not to ignore or rewrite the history before us,

but to steer the course of present day history

on a more loving, tolerant, and humane path.

one love.

swing low, sweet chariot...

There was a special energy in the room.  Little Se'lah came home singing the Black spiritual, swing low, sweet chariot, coming for to carry me home...  It was the most angelic voice (if i may say so myself) and it instantly commanded my attention.

whe she hear dat from? I wondered for a moment.  And then it dawned on me...Black.History.Month!

I've always been bewildered by the concept of Black History "Month".  On the one hand, I always enjoy celebrating the historic accomplishments of our freedom fighters, and appreciate their brief moment in the public spotlight, but on the other hand, since I was not born in america, each month has presented me with cultural opportunities to embrace my Black.History so I can't quite grasp the limitation.  I will say, however, that at no other time during the school year does my daughter ever learn Black spirituals in her predominantly white school.  It was certainly food for my soul to see her joyfully exploring her own culture in this way.  

How do you celebrate Black History Month?

*The "wishing stone" featured above was hand painted by Little Se'Lah.  Much love to you all.  To those who celebrate, Happy Black History Month!