Month: January 2017

Be Your Awesome Self!

Posted on by Ashaki Omikunle

Peace peace everyone! I do hope you are enjoying your day/week.  I must admit that this week has been quite challenging and I have had to put my spiritual practices to work in order not to fall into a depression. I know that this is a blog but it is also my diary and I feel comfortable enough within my space and self to keep it all the way funky.

I have said it before and I will say it again, family is NOT defined by blood, meaning that I have family is of no blood relation to me and I have relatives that are not family. It is a very bitter pill for me as I have always, always had a huge amount of love for my blood family. However, I am seeing that my feelings are not going to be reciprocated from some of them and I just have to swallow it and not allow it to make me bitter. I have been ostracized for embracing my cultural roots, for stepping away from tradition that was not serving my higher purpose, for shunning faith for facts, for speaking on injustice, for changing how I eat, even for teaching my children Yoruba phrases (if you can believe that one!).

And the relatives in which I am referring to are quite close, not like a 2nd cousin, twice removed or anything. But, you know what? It is their loss. I am an awesome person and I am not saying that to sound big headed. I have overcome so much and still maintain a high level of integrity and humbleness. I have done great work in my community and am continuing to do so. I am also nowhere near to being done with my self-work. I am working on becoming my greatest version daily.

So, why do I share with you my business? Because I am sure that someone in your family or even friend groups who has treated you poorly for no apparent reason other than you being you. Because most of us have felt like the black sheep at some point (some of us more than others). But mostly because I want to let you know that you are awesome as well! And do not allow anyone to tell you any different. The messages that others give us about what is supposedly wrong with us can sabotage us, stunt our growth, and cause us to give up before we have even begun—often without us even knowing. The subconscious mind is mighty indeed! The things they have said use to play repeatedly in my mind but no more! I changed the tape. Remember we are creators and we have control. We must write our own stories. If someone else has the pen, snatch it from their damn hands!  So, from this day forward, I want you to look in the mirror into your eyes and say “I am enough”. Simple right? Simple and yet poignant. You are absolutely enough! Have a beautiful day….

 

Hetepu,

Ashaki Ma’at Mirembe Ali

We Need a Revolution

Posted on by Ashaki Omikunle

Peace and love to the fam on this beautiful (though little gloomy) morning. Man oh man, what a turn of events we are experiencing at this time. Donald J Trump is president. I never thought I would be typing that but it is true. I did not partake in watching the festivities on yesterday because to be honest I have absolutely no desire to do so and really am not concerned with him at all.
I recently created a video on my YouTube channel discussing why people should not concern themselves with his election and focus more on their local government and their homes. I still feel the same way. This next statement may make some people be angry, unfollow me, even curse me but in my opinion, Barack Obama did no more for black people than any other president.

He made many, many, many statements in support of law enforcement when we all know the overseers, I mean officers of the law have been attacking and murdering our people like never before, with no recourse. He even signed into law the “Blue Alert Law”, a law that specifically protects police officers. He has helped many segments of people in America, including transgender and even Jews. The one action that I have seen him take that has affected the Afrikan community in Amerikkka is his commutation of sentences of non-violent drug offenders. But, I honestly feel that there is something to that action and not all positive. Nevertheless, his time in office is over and now we have Trump at the helm.

Historically, Amerikka has not served Afrikan people well at all. We were viewed as property, brainwashed beyond belief, and still have issues from all that has been done, even though some of us have family that were here before the Europeans. The presidents of Amerikka are in place to maintain the corporation. We that live here must learn to navigate effectively within this system because whether we want to believe it or not, we are a part of it. Change come not through focusing on what we have no control over, but by working on issues that we absolutely do have control over. Revolution begins in the mind. Many of us are sick, mentally ill, and delusional. The most important work one could ever do is on self. Everything else will align once we break the chains off the brains! We have way to many niggas and not enough gods!

My challenge to my people is to do the work that you can within your own community. We have more power than we realize and working on self and our immediate environment is of utmost important. Doing worthwhile work with others working towards liberation is highly important. In the words of Assata Shakur “we need a revolution of the mind. we need a revolution of the heart. we need a revolution of the spirit. the power of the people is stronger than any weapon. a people’s revolution can’t be stopped. we need to be weapons of mass construction. weapons of mass love. it’s not enough just to change the system. we need to change ourselves. we have got to make this world user friendly. user friendly.”

 

 

Hetepu,

Ashaki Ma’at Mirembe Ali

Moving Forward

Posted on by Ashaki Omikunle

Peace, peace. I do hope this post finds you well. This weekend has been quite eventful. My family and I celebrated my oldest daughter’s 11th bEarthday so you can imagine the running around that I had to do . Luckily for me, my daughter did not have many bEarthday wishes so I was able to make her smile and spend some much-needed quality time with the Tribe (my name for my children).

Well, near the end of last year, I made some changes to my plans for this year—major changes and I have dedicated much of my down time to reflection, self-work, womb work, meditation, yoga, exercise, etc. I am doing the work to allow me to continue to work for others and help others reach their highest potential. Through the periods of self-reflection, I have had to deal with some issues and emotions that are not very pleasant—feelings of regret, stagnation, hurt, disappointment. But, I am doing so much better and am feeling more grounded than I ever have before. I realize that if I am going to do the work that I came to do , I must heal myself, work  on myself, and continue to push the limits of myself.

Through this journey, I have unfortunately lost people and at times caused others to feel hostile towards me. It is obvious to me that I evidently am doing something right for people to be up in arms about my lifestyle. I am unapologetic about the path I have chosen and I am going to be going even deeper this year and going forward. There are people who are cheering for me, seeking me for guidance, and searching for me all simultaneously. I much rather focus on the positive aspects of my so called unconventional lifestyle than the negativity that seemingly attempts to evade my sacred space. So, I will continue to carry crystals in my pocket, sage my space when needed, meditate, give offerings to ancestors, be guided by the moon, and commune with the Sun. I am on a journey and it is just beginning…..

 

 

Hetepu,

Ashaki Ma’at Mirembe Ali