Sunday Sermon #051610: Unfenced Transformer

Getting out of the way and allowing divinity to guide me has been a radical experience.  I am learning that the fences I built to keep others out have locked me in.   While life cuts wholes in the gates, I realize that fences and walls have nothing to do with safety.  As I walk beyond and through this rubble formerly known as wall, I am learning my ability to choose peace and joy are my safety net.  It is my willingness and spiritual practice to choose peace no matter what that shields me. And that is work...on a physical, emotional, spiritual, astral and psychological plane. I am grateful for the process. It is a challenge though...

In addition, I am amazed at the beauty in people that I have denied myself just because they did not "fit" or I ass-u-me-d I would not "fit" them.  The beautiful thing about allowing yourself to see, think, and imagine as a divine being is that spirit does not need to "fit".

I must admit, this newness is troubling at times.  Seeing myself and others from a space of divinity challenges EVERYTHING I thought I knew about myself and others.  It requires me to be new in every moment with everyone.  It requires me to transform and transcend.

So my quote this week and song this week is by Gnarles Barkley.   A very dear person that I had the blessed opportunity to meet while working on At Freedom's Door (http://www.citypaper.com/news/story.asp?id=13204) sent this song to me at the beginning of the year and it still resonates with my soul.  Thank you Aidah Rasheed.  This gift keeps giving.  May you be eternally blessed.

"Behold the beautiful and bold. Everyday I wake up to be new." Gnarls Barkley

(fenced in image from http://cracksinthepavement.com/)

Saturday Sights: Falling for Philly

 I might be falling for Philly. Amazing sights, sounds, people.  Thank you Philly for having me as a guest.  I had an amazing good time.  In two days you gifted me with a garden, an amazing spirit and artist Alan Bell (award winning documentary highlighting him http://www.youtube.com/user/ElanGep#p/u/5/EOiok8gpW4E), a rooftop sanctuary, a youth poetry slam (it was OFF THE CHAIN! http://www.facebook.com/PhillyYouthSlamLeague#!/event.php?eid=123779577636264), a vegan cheesesteak, Tom Kenyon (http://tomkenyon.com/), allowed me to be a witness to the beautiful spirit and artistry of Elan Gepner ( http://www.youtube.com/user/ElanGep), a circus in someone's backyard, a fire thrower/spinner, a sword swallower, murals, murals, murals, Fairmont Park (http://www.visitphilly.com/maps/category/fairmount-park/0/257), fresh basil, pick and eat strawberries, PIZZA!, I could go on and on and on...  Oh Philly...I will see you soon.  Here are just a few memories from my camera phone.  I am a little sore that I left my cameras at home. That's ok...next time!

Sunday Sermon #050910: Who is imagining you?

Quote governing my week:
"It is not what you imagine.  It is who is imagining.  Are you a human, or a Divine Being?" -Law of Het Heru from MAAT: The 11 Laws of God by Ra Un Nefer Amen

Lately, the question in the forefront of my mind has been "how would my life be different if I didn't do anything out of fear or past pain?"  In my attempt to answer this question, I have left a 10-year career teaching middle school students, manifested a new job within the arts and in my community, wrote a book of affirmations that I am now shopping to publishers, and worked to dismantle all barriers to love within me.  Shifting my quality of life from living in fear/pain to living in love/peace is wonderful and amazing work but it is work indeed.  I have found that claiming it and visualizing it is a very important step, but a fairly surface step.  This mornings meditations led me to a deeper understanding and a key component of the act of visualizing and manifesting. Tua Neter Het Heru.


The first thing that I must consider when I am imagining is who am I when I am imagining?  Am I imagining/visualizing what I want from a very human space or am I imagining/visualizing as a divine being?  Answering this question first often changes the context and the depth of my visualizations.  It encourages me to see myself through an elevated/spiritual eye and feel myself with a cultivated heart.    When I visualize from a place of love/peace I find that the things that I want speak to my oneness with others, cultivates my will and fortifies my patience with my plans to attain what I desire.  In addition, visualizing as a divine being aligns me with divinity and keeps me walking on a divine path.

I am grateful for prayers and meditation.  I am grateful for my morning of dance with my Het-Heru sisters.  I am grateful for my experience and my family at KIMA.  I have left the building but that does not matter because our hearts and spirits do not rest in stone.  I am excited about manifesting/visualizing as a Divine Being.  I am grateful for being made in the image and likeness of God.  Let's go!


The Third Eye by Roy Ayers
Baby, Baby, Baby...look to the sky. Baby, Baby, Baby...look to the sky.  Seeking to find the third eye.  Seeking to find the third eye. Secrets of numbers.  Secrets of sound.  Secrets of sound.  Secrets of wisdom will be found.  

Monday Meditation #050310: No Fear

Focusing on a prayer every week has brought me a lot of peace and opened me up to some wonderful conversations about prayer and spiritualized living.  Usually this post is on a Monday, but, I was up late on the phone talking to my mother about our favorite prayers and I think I JUST recovered from my 48-hours of film-making.  (REMINDER: Straight No Chaser's film shows at AFI on Friday night.  We are in GROUP H. Buy your tickets early they sell out fast.  We killed it! Come see it! http://www.48hourfilm.com/dc/) 


My mother loves the Psalms and I can see why.  They are beautifully written and you can find a psalm for any time and any situation.  Recently, I manifested a new job and experienced a little trepidation about moving on.  That's when I had to go back to an old standard.  


Psalms 27 has always been my FAVORITE Psalm.  When I needed to be reminded of my direction against adversity or in the winds of change- it is in Psalms 27 that I find solace and clarity.  Right now, we need to be courageous and speak up for our selves and our future in so many ways.  Whether it is about the environment, injustice, or just day to day living - we all need a shot of courage to move forward.  Here is what's in my glass.  I have posted two versions here.  Enjoy.

Psalm 27 (King James Version)

 ¹The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? the LORD is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?
 ²When the wicked, even mine enemies and my foes, came upon me to eat up my flesh, they stumbled and fell.
 ³Though an host should encamp against me, my heart shall not fear: though war should rise against me, in this will I be confident.
 ⁴One thing have I desired of the LORD, that will I seek after; that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the LORD, and to enquire in his temple.
 ⁵For in the time of trouble he shall hide me in his pavilion: in the secret of his tabernacle shall he hide me; he shall set me up upon a rock.
 ⁶And now shall mine head be lifted up above mine enemies round about me: therefore will I offer in his tabernacle sacrifices of joy; I will sing, yea, I will sing praises unto the LORD.
 ⁷Hear, O LORD, when I cry with my voice: have mercy also upon me, and answer me.
 ⁸When thou saidst, Seek ye my face; my heart said unto thee, Thy face, LORD, will I seek.
 ⁹Hide not thy face far from me; put not thy servant away in anger: thou hast been my help; leave me not, neither forsake me, O God of my salvation.
 ¹⁰When my father and my mother forsake me, then the LORD will take me up.
 ¹¹Teach me thy way, O LORD, and lead me in a plain path, because of mine enemies.
 ¹²Deliver me not over unto the will of mine enemies: for false witnesses are risen up against me, and such as breathe out cruelty.
 ¹³I had fainted, unless I had believed to see the goodness of the LORD in the land of the living.
 ¹⁴Wait on the LORD: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the LORD.

Psalm 27 (New Living Translation)

 ¹ The Lord is my light and my salvation—
      so why should I be afraid?
   The Lord is my fortress, protecting me from danger,
      so why should I tremble?
 ² When evil people come to devour me,
      when my enemies and foes attack me,
      they will stumble and fall.
 ³ Though a mighty army surrounds me,
      my heart will not be afraid.
   Even if I am attacked,
      I will remain confident. 
⁴ The one thing I ask of the Lord—
      the thing I seek most—
   is to live in the house of the Lord all the days of my life,
      delighting in the Lord’s perfections
      and meditating in his Temple.
 ⁵ For he will conceal me there when troubles come;
      he will hide me in his sanctuary.
      He will place me out of reach on a high rock.
 ⁶ Then I will hold my head high
      above my enemies who surround me.
   At his sanctuary I will offer sacrifices with shouts of joy,
      singing and praising the Lord with music.
 ⁷ Hear me as I pray, O Lord.
      Be merciful and answer me!
 ⁸ My heart has heard you say, “Come and talk with me.”
      And my heart responds, “Lord, I am coming.”
 ⁹ Do not turn your back on me.
      Do not reject your servant in anger.
      You have always been my helper.
   Don’t leave me now; don’t abandon me,
      O God of my salvation!
 ¹⁰ Even if my father and mother abandon me,
      the Lord will hold me close.
 ¹¹ Teach me how to live, O Lord.
      Lead me along the right path,
      for my enemies are waiting for me.
 ¹² Do not let me fall into their hands.
      For they accuse me of things I’ve never done;
      with every breath they threaten me with violence.
 ¹³ Yet I am confident I will see the Lord’s goodness
      while I am here in the land of the living.
 ¹⁴ Wait patiently for the Lord.
      Be brave and courageous.
      Yes, wait patiently for the Lord.

Sunday Sermon #050210: Music, muse & inspiration

Inspiration for the week:

 “Life isn't about waiting for the storm to pass…it's learning to dance in the rain.” - Unknown.


I got my quote this week from the end of an email from Mesi Walton.  She teaches an Afro Venezuelan dance class on Sunday's over at the Joy of Motion Atlas Theater location.  I have to get out there and check her class out.  Thanks Mesi for the quote! 


Music for the week:
"As the Rush Comes"

We drift deeper into the sound...life goes on.  We drift deeper into the sound...feeling strong.  So bring it on. So bring it on...Embrace me. Surround me as the rush comes!"

Something about this song makes me dig my heels into life, relax and enjoy the ride.  No matter what life brings you...relax and make the best of the ride. That is exactly what I plan to do this entire week.  Dig deep, relax and enjoy the ride.