Peace fam! Hope you all are well. I am feeling very peaceful on this Thursday morning. The Tribe is sleeping after a long night of movie watching and my house is quiet. As I grow older, I find quiet mornings, lazy days, and peaceful nights to be more and more what I want and desire. I love to lounge around in my night clothes, burn incense, and relish in the art of doing nothing. To some people that might sound like I am being lazy but I have found that doing nothing sometimes is absolutely necessary for me to maintain my inner peace.

I have a confession to make. I am a bit of a workaholic. I spend the majority of my weekdays working 8 hours, then I come home and cook, help kids with homework, and begin to work again. I write, I paint, I make jewelry, I draw, I plan, I market. To make a long story short—I work on creating a better life than the one I had yesterday. I am often so exhausted that I will drift off to sleep fully dressed and sitting up (true story lol). Then, I do my best to make time to do community work, stay on top of current events, and continue activism work. It all gets to be very overwhelming. I have not always been the best at performing self-care and destressing.

Each year of life comes and goes and hopefully we learn lessons and apply them as we age. I have learned to embrace the things I love like a family member. I am a lover of hip hop, art, nature, dance, theater, among other things. I am a bit of a philosopher; I absolutely love pondering the workings of life. I love to play with my children. I love to talk to senior citizens. We must pursue the things that bring us joy in this life. Actively pursuing these things brings balance, order, and harmony. It is the personification of Ma’at.

The art of doing nothing is essentially the art of doing that which resonates with us as individuals and raises our vibration. I encourage you to do that which resonates with you. If you love to watch old movies, do it. You love to work on cars, just do it. You love to play video games, just do it. Find your place of joy. Maybe it is to be found in your pajamas too (smile).

 

 

Hetepu,

Ashaki Ali Kenyatta

The Tru Lioness

 

 

 

**Photo credit: www.stalbertleader.com

 

Peace fam! I hope you all are well. Yesterday was a day of emotional tumult. On the one hand, I got to celebrate the 6^th bEarthday of my son Bryson (Hooray!) and on the other,  I learned that one of the members of my all-time favorite groups transitioned from the physical.

Malik Taylor, better known as Phife Dawg, transitioned on the night of March 22, 2016. He was a member of A Tribe Called Quest. As I sat on my couch yesterday, listening to “ Electric Relaxation”, tears began to fall down my cheeks. Tribe is more than a group to me, they are the soundtrack of my youth. And to think that one of the voices of my past is no longer going to bless the mic, is heartbreaking to me.

My earliest memory of A Tribe Called Quest is watching their video “Check the Rhime” on Yo MTV Raps!. As I watched the Phife and Q-Tip dance verbally rocking baseball jerseys and fitted caps, I must admit I was captivated.  I love the easy flow of Tip and the raw lyricism of Phife. I knew that I had to get their album and shortly after seeing the video, I went and bought “The Low End Theory”. My love for hip hop is known well by those that know me personally.

Over the years, I have kept Tribe close to my heart; their songs reminiscent of times of wearing colorful Filas with the straps, Major Damage, of overalls and ponytails, of block parties and secret sips of beer, of buying looseys at the corner store, of days spent sitting on the stoop with the homies. I even call my children The Tribe. Most people think I say that because there are 6 of them but, I call them The Tribe as an ode to my guys. I even named my oldest son Malik after Phife (smile).

Phife Dawg will always hold a special place in my memories and my heart. And though his spirit lives as well as his music, I cannot lie and say that his passing is not hurtful to so many, including me. I am forever grateful for his life, his talent, and his spirit. Let me end with words from the man himself “Put one up for the Phifer, it’s time to decipher/The ills of the world make the situation lighter.”

 

Hetepu,

Ashaki Ali Kenyatta

The Tru Lioness

 

 

 

 

(Photo cred: Rolling Stone magazine)

Peace and many blessings!

I hope you all are doing well, feeling peaceful and what not. I am currently sitting on my couch in my living room, burning some wonderful incense, and allowing my spirit to rest in this immensely peaceful state. The past week was filled with tumult, tribulation, sickness, and some confusion. However, I have not lost my cool, gone insane, or blown my top (as I have been known to do in the past lol). I’m not even going to lie, I am still a work in progress but the growth is definitely real.

I cannot take sole credit for my progression though; I have connected with some beautiful spirits who I know were sent specifically to guide and educate me. I have learned so much in the past year, specifically of how life is definitely a journey and how valuable experiences can be, how they mold you, how they can improve your life, and lives to come. I have determined to master the lessons of the past so that I can truly move forward.

Meditation, affirmations, regular offerings, prayer, and honoring my ancestors has changed my life for the better. I overstand the power of words, of visualization, of knowing who I am. I rise each day with Ma’at. I used to see each day as a new day of troubles, of not knowing what else could or would happen, with a feeling of dread and anxiety. Now, I look through new eyes, I see opportunity, chances around each corner, and lessons in unfamiliar places. I will not lie and say that I don’t feel down sometimes, or frustrated, or angry but I will say that I am in control of my emotions. I allow myself to “feel” but not to dwell.

I encourage each of you to allow yourself the same liberty. Feel each emotion and do not dwell. Ascend beyond your current mindset. What is life without growth? We are all in constant motion, vibrating at different levels. Raise your vibration by infusing your life with as much positivity as you can muster. Be real about your life. We are human and we make mistakes. But we also have the ability to change. As long as we have breathe in our body, we have a chance. Remember life is good—live it!

 

Peace, Love, & Light,

Ashaki Ali Kenyatta

“The Tru Lioness”