Blackbutterfly Soul Songs Read online

  Most cultures have names for soul. These names for the soul, its purpose and its function are often diverse and sometimes divisive. The Christian soul is made after the image of God and is perceived as eternal. It is this soul that dies and burns forever if it sinned. My early religious training about the soul was full of hellfire and damnation.

  Research led me to other names for the soul. One of the Jewish’s words for soul is nephesh. This cosmology has five names for the levels of soul. Kemet (Egypt) has nine parts of the soul. The ka and the ba are the most often recognized names for the Kemetian soul. The heart, ab, is one of the words for a part of the soul in Egyptology. The Japanese’s name for soul is reikon. Atman is a Buddhist word for soul. On the other hand, some Buddhists advocate the soullessness of man. All cultures have names and practices to access this inner world of knowledge and being.

  As my curiosity continued, I was led to other less punitive concepts about soul that aligned with my expanding cultural awareness and metaphysical worldview. I was initiated in the practice of Ifa, a spiritual system of the Yoruba people in West AfRaKa. In the student (aborisha) manual, Chief Priest Obafemi Ifayemi, the Maiyegun Awo Ode of Remo writes, “Ifa speaks of the wisdom of nature and universal truths which is referenced and understood through universal laws.” (3.) In the same manual on page 8, Awo Sangodare states, “It (Ifa) is a beautiful system of morality that teaches good, gentle character, veiled in allegory and illustrated by symbols, articulated by sciences, expressed through nature and whose language is mathematics.” (4.)

  Studying the ancient, traditional teaching of Ifa, I learned the Ifa concept called the ori (head). “Ori is the Yoruba word used to describe the vessel that is able to process conscious thought.” (5.) Ifa teaches that the ori is who we are. This is the part of soul that those on a spiritual path seek to awaken. In Ifa, the ori, divine personal consciousness, is the personality soul.

  Ifa lectures in spirituality taught me that the ori has three parts, similar to, but distinctly different, from the Western trinity of mind, body and soul. The physical head is the symbol of the inner person. The inner self, the ori inu is the life force given to man at birth which animates the body. The ori iponri is the Higher Self, the soul space of the innerself.

  An important concept related to the ori, is ori apere, one’s destiny. According to Baba Obafemi, “We are born with our destiny and our character in us. A contract was signed with spirit before we came to earth.” Studying with the Baba (spiritual teacher), I realized that our destiny is the events we came to earth to experience as we elevate our consciousness. Challenges in life provide opportunities to awaken to our purpose or become obstacles in our way.

  I began to know that I am part of the essential nature of God. A Godatom. Soul, as divinity, came to earth with me-individualized as Queen Shamala, to experience the fullness of All. Unity with this god concept, caused me to say, “I am not just a soul, I am soul”. Spiritual cultivation elevates the human consciousness to a higher level of being. Good character development, meditation and divine guidance help you achieve your destiny.

  Unaware of the concepts, people may unconsciously, in an attempt to steady the mind to gain some clarity and guidance, grab their ori-their head with their two hands. Or when something is deeply felt, one may grab the heart for stability. Ifa teachings encourage that the ori, soul, be kept in good condition. This way it may be well with the person and favor is gained.

  For me, as a licensed metaphysical practitioner also, I experience the soul as my individualized manifestation of God. God, being the macrocosm and man, the microcosm. The soul is that part of you that is eternal, unchanging The soul can be seen as your unique self, talents, gifts, personality, your God part, that which makes us human and good. With the good and the light of soul, comes the seeming ‘bad and the darkness’.

  Today I am grateful for my incidents from my childhood, ‘dark night of the soul’ as early Christians named these difficult, soul-wrecking experiences. Before I had received a better understanding of my soul journey, I suffered from the experiences and called them bad. A new perspective made me realize they were just ‘some life kicking off’. An expression spoken by the spiritual leader Meri Ka Ra at KRST Unity Center of AfRaKan Science where I studied many years. I realize that I am also who I am because of the shadowy, negative experiences and the clear, positive influences. Now I am able to find some good in every situation. I know that the journey of life is full of beauty, mixed with pleasure and pain. I have learned that all life experiences can be used for learning, growth and development. The great journey of soul is teaching me that all the reversals and lower energies can be harmonized.

  My soul led me to use reading and writing to seek refuge from troubling times during my youth. These creative twins became tools of transformation. Part of my purpose also is to integrate knowledge so it can speak to various cultures, races, genders and different educational levels of people. By necessity and intent, love and unity are underlying themes for my life and my writing.

  Soul Journey

  Soul always abides

  in life’s changing stride

  to traveled paths lived before

  forever re-turning to destiny’s door

  learning to see

  knowledge is the key

  And we, like butterflies

  carry the secret in our eyes

  in the soft cocoons of mind

  by the rhythm of changeless time

  experience life and death

  poverty and wealth

  from a former form

  a new life is born

  soul makes the whole journey one

  we live, love and re-design ourselves for pain and funning.

  just like butterflies on their journey of becoming.

  The ABC’s of Gratitude

  Recognizing that my soul journey draws to me the life experiences that I need in order to grow and to evolve, a feeling of gratitude and an attitude of appreciation engulfed my life. I consciously made a choice to experience and cultivate gratitude for the things I like as well as the things I don’t like. All had something to teach me or others. Here is a list of ways and ideas I use to promote gratitude as I travel my soul journey through life. The abecedarian format provides a foundational exploration of gratitude.

  A.Always say Thank You, Adupe, Arigato, Asante, Gracias, Grazie, Dante Sehr, Maholo, Toda, Merci or any other appropriate cultural term to acknowledge any act of love, service and care you receive. Even trials and temptations.

  B.Being thankful creates a positive mood in your daily life and opens a space for beauty of the spirit.

  C.Cultivate the practice of happiness and gratitude all day.

  D.Develop a greater sense of appreciation for the people, the things and the situations in your life.

  E.Express gratitude through your gifts and talents, like art, hoshi (art of selfless serving), music, painting and writing.

  F.Full alignment between the spiritual and physical world correlates with grace, health and gratitude.

  G.Get rid of anger. Anger is a poison that pollutes our joy, smothers compassion and mutes gratitude.

  H.Helpfulness is an effective way to extend love, expands bonds with others and to express gratitude.

  I.Identify with basic goodness, positive people, uplifting thoughts and present challenging situations.

  J.Jump with the joy! Be joyful and joy will come unto you. Out of joyous living comes freedom, happiness and gratitude-the juices of life.

  K.Keep a gratitude journal and note the many things to be grateful for.

  L.Live fully in the moment. Enjoy today and don’t postpone your enjoyment. Like the old saying goes, “Past is History, Future is a Mystery and Today is a Gift and hence it is called the Present”.

  M.Meditate on your breath, your purpose and
the wonder of your life.

  N.Notice things you normally take for granted-sunlight, colors, the sky, a worm on the pole. Be thankful for them.

  O.Open a space within and take a close look at the way you appreciate your spiritual path.

  P.Practicing spiritual principles, general patience and genuine gratitude help to remove spiritual clouds (old lingering energies).

  Q.Quickly recognize your blessings when they show up.

  R.Realize what you have right now and give thanks.

  S.Stop worrying. Start to appreciate divine guidance.

  T.Teach others how to be grateful by being grateful.

  U.Unification of the pursuit of both spiritual growth and enjoyment of the present moment can lead to true happiness, a sense of well-being and gratitude.

  V.Vow to compliment rather than complain, criticize, or gossip. If you slip, rally your willpower and keep going.

  W.Write a gratitude letter to someone who had contributed to your growth and development.

  X.X out negative thoughts of loss, defeat or seeming stuckness.

  Y.Yield and adapt to changing circumstances. Say ‘yes’ when flexibility and humility are required.

  Z.Zeroing in on the practices of sincerity, honesty and integrity always generate the best results. You will feel happy and thankful for deciding to live a life of good character: Iwa Pele, MAAT, Makoto and Adab. These are principles of purity of heart and authenticity from different worldviews. Look these terms up and see how others view their world. Knowledge of other cultures helps us to walk in others shoes without complaining.

  Following these suggestions allows gratitude to become an automatic response in your everyday life. Being grateful uses your emotions to connect with your soul in powerful, productive ways. Practicing gratitude can help you to live a life of good character and be in a good position with your soul. Your intention to be grateful will reverberate throughout the universe and return to you a harmonious, peaceful life.

  grateful

  soul traveling home

  glad life spreading its full heart

  happy like shade tree

  that spreads wide open its branches

  offers rest for the worn soul

  Part II

  The Call to Soul Love

  love

  butterfly soaring

  opening up to earth’s light

  sacred rainbow hues

  a blanket of love and peace

  across sky and my new life

  My History with Soul Songs

  During my early childhood, my mama sang songs that touched me greatly. Sometimes I sat at her feet when she was reading the newspaper. Mama leaned back in the rocking chair, dropped the paper, closed her eyes and started to sing. Other times when she was cooking or stirring clothes in the big black wash pot in the back yard, a song would come out of her mouth, a heartfelt tune, with barely recognizable words. The melody followed me all day and I found myself humming her tunes when I was alone. I hung around Mama often to hear her gift of music and words. Later, she sang in the church choir, which seemed to lift her spirits and to remove some unspoken sadness.

  I learned that these songs are called spirituals, gospels and folk songs. They stemmed from the slave song tradition of the enslaved AfRaKans in southern America. These songs expressed sorrow, hope, joy and pain under horrendous life conditions. Along with the freedom songs of the 60’s, all these songs expressed deep emotions and aspirations of the soul. I too sing my soul songs during my time of solace and daydreaming.

  I spent years listening to Mama singing her songs. During the last five years of my mama’s physical experience on earth, she resided in a convalescence home. Mama did not talk nor walk. And her singing stopped. Often my mama slept through my visits. Yet, realizing that life is more than the physical body, I sought ways to communicate with her. In spite of her blindness and her silence, I knew she could still feel me.

  To commune with Mama, I brought her plants and flowers, talked to her about family matters, anointed her body with oil and gave her massages. I draped her bedspread with a piece of AfRaKan mud cloth or hang a piece of my new art on the wall, for I had just began to paint. I constantly spoke words of love and encouragement to her. Sometimes she responded to my gestures by following my voice with her head. Other times Mama did not stir from her slumber.

  One sure thing that made my mama take notice was when I sang to her. Her eyes stayed opened, she smiled and her hands became animated. While I was not a public songster, I often sang regularly and loudly in the shower. As I sang to my silent mama, other residents came in the room or stood outside in the hallway to listen. Sometimes I strolled quietly into their rooms and sang to them.

  One day I sang a new song to Mama that I had received in a vision, called, “Initiate Song.” The poem is found under PART II of this book. As I sang the song, I cried. When the sobbing ended, I glanced around my mother’s rooms. I was astonished! It was filled with administrative staff, nurses, attendants and ambulatory residents who gathered when my substantial, though rocky soprano voice traveled through the rooms, down the hallway and inside the dining area.

  Mama looked up at me with unseeing eyes, her magic sun smile and spoke to me for the first time in about three years. She said, “Yealang (my daughter) is the best part of you and you are the best part of me.” She fell into a deep sleep. I never heard her speak another word in this life.

  I was amazed that my mama had chosen now to say something so powerful, deep and mystical to me after a long hiatus of complete silence. In her silence she was able to apprehend this divine idea about my daughter and me. My mama got me! She did understand me! In that moment I forgave her for her silence and sadness. I also forgave my self for blaming her for my life’s experiences. She recognized her soul’s desire to be connected to something eternal and timeless–her love and songs.

  The more I sang to Mama, the more the patients and the employees wanted me to sing. The more I sang, the more songs were given to me to sing. The words usually came first and I quickly jotted them down. The tune haunted me for days. I hummed the tune until it was buried in my subconscious. Soon, soul merged the tune and the words together. My inner life became a moveable word feast-a backstory of music, songs, poems, tankas, stories, books, novels-which highlighted my adventures as I awoke to the creative voice inside of me.

  Sometimes I did not feel like singing. The elders from Armenia, Korea, South America, England, Nigeria, Mississippi, Detroit-Black, White, Yellow, Brown, Red still begged me to sing. At one point a voice whispered behind my neck, “You pay a karmic debt to the ancestors when you sing and attend to the elders. It’s not about just you.” Remembering the power, the wisdom and courage of my mother, my soul taught me how to embrace all people, all nations and to sing through my changing moods. The singing lifted my spirit at the same time.

  Years before, I had asked my mama why she sang all the time. Her reply was, “I sing my songs while I have a chance and I’m still clothed in my right mind. ’Cause one day I may not be able to sing.” Remembering this, I could see that my mama was operating from a principle of gratitude. This experience with my declining mother evoked many songs and poems from my soul. It also taught me how to open up and sing my soul songs of life right now.

  Queen Mother Mamie Lee Miller had sung many songs for me. When her music had stopped, it became my term to sing for her the songs she had forgotten that she had taught me. They are still in our soul. Even now, sometimes in my solitude, I can hear Mama humming one of her favorites, like I Need Thee Every Hour. Sensing her presence, I look around for her. Knowing that she lives in another realm, I join her in the music. And get to experience the unity of Soul.

  Opening The Way

  Beautiful woman

  Open up to your purpose, your soul knowledge

  Open up t
o the wisdom you received from Tehuti, the love you share with Auset.

  Your loveliness flows across the Nile to the Alps where

  Hannibal your son ruled.

  How beautiful feats that have taken universal knowledge from Kemet to Cinque

  The reassuring voice of ancestors sounds through

  memories’ door

  To proclaim peace has come for you and that we are one. Whose lovely arms hold nations, cradle civilizations and cause earth to mumble or jumble, depending upon the voltage of your caress.

  Your limitless eyes now pierce through time and space

  Beholding the whole of creation,

  Unifying the seen and the unseen.

  Your mind now the gateway to the 12 powers

  Your mouth always the source of creation and the energy of love.

  While love heals the wounded spirit, Self

  recognizes itself and

  Soul is empowered and wizened.

  Blackbutterfly

  Blackbutterfly dismembered cried

  its rainbow wings clipped

  too soon hastily taught

  by unskillful patrons of words

  rather than love

  blackbutterfly

  awakening to self

  ausar and auset the power