As we shift into this collective awakening, it means that people are beginning to see clearly all of the suffering that has existed in their midst all along. While life went about "same as usual" in spite of not acknowledging (many times being the cause of suffering/gas lighting/defensive reasoning) and not fighting to stop this evil.

Awakening is wanting to take a proactive way to be part of the solution of eliminating other's suffering instead of being the creators of suffering.

The majority of civilizations have been anchored and created from taking resources from each other and whomever exerts the most violence gets domination over another.

Binary thinking needs to be shelved.

Our racist systems created a false narrative and hierarchy based on created binaries. Example, males throughout history have been allowed to dominate females. Whites dominate non whites. Humans dominate other species. Insert whatever group and you have a caste system with a created false narrative. Good or bad is another example.

Some people rationalize that to be a klu klux klansmen is the only way evil manifests as racism. So that will absolve most microaggressions steeped in white supremacy behavior because one thinks of themselves in binary good versus evil way.

So if we eliminate this binary thinking then one can begin to see how many interactions are actually very harmful and participatory of the very paradgim we say we fight against.

Think of ways that you have caused harm and then take ownership to change. This means action bases. See the behaviors you have participated in then apologize, make amends and don't do it again.

I had an individual who constantly engaged in microaggressions and made  racist/ableist comments when I would ask questions to invite curiosity in this type of harmful interaction would use a pattern of wanting to reason and logic that it was perfectly alright what they had done or blame someone else or something else. Sometimes  it would be as if they would try to talk so much to confuse me. I realized through my studies this was a deeper rooted issue.

Eventually I became more grounded in being able to address these harmful moments to address the conflict and I was astounded at how their apology was about making excuses. Going through their personal history of hurts. Sometimes they would resort to crying, again re-centering the conversation around their hurt.

This is a manifestation of white fragility. Not having the emotional container to work with conflict specifically conflict they inflict because of unhealthy feelings and then the moment the conflict is named.

Then at that point even though I had been the person who received the harm now I found myself to be emotionally bullied even further having to babysit and be present to this person's suffering again asking me to prioritize their well being.

Soon as the tears had been dried they would promise to not do it again or justify how they have been socialized in this system so what were they expected to do? And if I was able to see with clarity where was my compassion? In other words how dare I a person of color ask for healthy boundaries? Can you see they patter again of white supremacy rearing it's face?

Later that day or the next with the promises of awareness invoked they would engage in another harmful conversation/behavior.

That's not genuine change.

For white people we know how this country was founded. Your skin color has provided you certain benefits whether you use them or not.

Part of your work is to either use mindfulness, ethics, spiritual practice to begin to see when you begin to act competitive, make passive aggressive comments (those are considered microaggressions) emotionally mistreat yourselves or others (this includes policing hence why the terminology of Karen's derived or Amy Cooper making bullying threats) impose self harm of perfectionism and then want to bully everyone around you to be the same. The socialization of Whiteness as I learned has brought about a neurosis of the soul.

When you utilize spiritual practice/ethics/ mindfulness with the resources of wanting to learn and dismantle change is possible. If you really want to change then you will engage in difficult conversations, education, having teachers/coaches, therapy to do this work.
Your soul will expand, your personal suffering will begin to shift as you begin your healing work. Wounded people wound others.
Being the dominant group inflicting violence on others known or not know purposely know has hurt and brought huge suffering to everyone in this world.
For my Black and Brown family our healing is about erasing the false narratives. Making peace for our ancestors, healthy boundaries, finding our voice and speaking truth to power. It also means healing work on our auric fields our patterns that have been created to keep ourselves safe. Much deep work in loving ourselves. Having great joy in our loving communities which is something that has never been taking from us. Our connection to our beautiful bodies. Our connection to sacred embodiment.

But we all are being called to do deep healing work now. This old world is falling away. Do you want to stay on the shoreline for fear of the monsters in the water? Do you wish to stay anchored to this old world because you think the world is flat and you will fall off?
Or do you want to expand your soul to new horizons so you can become free?
Noone is free until we are all free. ✊🦋

Art by @kimothy.joy and Words by @valariekaur

Juneteenth a time to celebrate a moment in time of liberation. A time to lament what the ancestors endured and the ancestral pain that is carried.

Take 15-30 minutes (longer time for practice is even better) for some Spiritual,
Self Care/Meditation practice to be in your body and get in tune with the energy of emotions that reside within.

First prepare the space you will do this. Part of practice is setting the intention and preparation. It is like cooking. You need the ingredients, right?

Light a candle or incense. Lower the lights. Or open windows. See what you need to have a calming/sacred space.

Sit and take 3 deep cleansing breaths.

Click the link below to listen to the poem "Emancipation" as your mantra and focus. Listen intently to each word and see what arises.

Then close your eyes and visualize a white light washing over your whole body.

Then take 3 cleansing breaths.

Ask for forgiveness of creating suffering in others. You may express this out loud or say it in your mind.

Take 3 cleansing breaths. If sound will come out allow that as well.

Then picture a white light washing over your body again.

Ask forgiveness of yourself for harming yourself when you engage in oppressive behavior. You may express this out loud or say it in your mind.

Then stay in that quiet space and see what arises.

If you need to cry do so this means your body is cleaning itself. When waves of feelings come up to greet you take a deep cleansing breath and dispel.

When you are finished think of one behavior trait you will work on to relieve other's and your suffering.

Anti Racism Ideas- For white individuals think of words or behaviors of policing, perfectionism, putting down, selfishness.

Healing Inner Oppression- For Black and POC think of feeling hostile, rage, not trusting, feeling inadequate.

Put your hands over your heart picturing white light sending love and healing. It may feel cool or warm. You may feel sensations. (Bring forth the feeling of when you have felt love or happiness) Remember to Smile while doing this. (their is science behind this)

Finally, If you feel called to play music and dance do so.

If you feel tender and sad. Go take a shower. Drink water. Take a nap.

Blow out your candle restore the room back.


Emancipation
Priscilla Jane Thompson
‘Tis a time for much rejoicing;
Let each heart be lured away;
Let each tongue, its thanks be voicing
For Emancipation Day.
Day of victory, day of glory,
For thee, many a field was gory!
Many a time in days now ended,
Hath our fathers’ courage failed,
Patiently their tears they blended;
Ne’er they to their, Maker, railed,
Well we know their groans, He numbered,
When dominions fell, asundered.
As of old the Red Sea parted,
And oppressed passed safely through,
Back from the North, the bold South, started,
And a fissure wide she drew;
Drew a cleft of Liberty,
Through it, marched our people free.
And, in memory, ever grateful,
Of the day they reached the shore,
Meet we now, with hearts e’er faithful,
Joyous that the storm is o’er.
Storm of Torture! May grim Past,
Hurl thee down his torrents fast.
Bring your harpers, bring your sages,
Bid each one the story tell;
Waft it on to future ages,
Bid descendants learn it well.
Kept it bright in minds now tender,
Teach the young their thanks to render.
Come with hearts all firm united,
In the union of a race;
With your loyalty well plighted,
Look your brother in the face,
Stand by him, forsake him never,
God is with us now, forever.
Priscilla Jane Thompson was born in 1871 in Rossmoyne, Ohio. A poet and lecturer, she taught at Sunday school at Zion Baptist Church and self-published two books of poetry, Ethiope Lays (1900) and Gleanings of Quiet Hours (1907). Her work inspired the Harlem Renaissance. She died on May 4, 1942.