Spirituality Knows No Color: It Is Not A Black Matter

This takes me back to a time I stood forth western judges and sanctioners of behavioral nonconformists. I remember being on my knees, refusing to stand on my feet. My reasons I uttered in English “ I have found God, and he lives in us all''. Humbled that I was on the receiving end of an overwhelming love, I chose to stay on the ground to show gratitude and respect to the most divine.

What happened next, still weighs heavy on my heart; the verdict was that I am “bipolar”, obsessed with ideas not known to men (diplomatic way to say I am crazy). And this was the first time I was locked up in a mental institution.

The truth is, after days of crying, fighting to sit on the ground, insisting to clap my hands on receipt of the blessing of food and addressing myself by a name I dreamt of. My educated self got tired of being around what I perceived then to be insane people. Because what I had experienced was not topical, I swear I didn't even have the words to explain where my mind went, the people I met, the wisdom they gave me and the responsibility they entrusted me with - I mean I was just 21 years old. I was on my own, I couldn't share what I couldn't articulate, and to my greatest regret, I fell into the trap of believing the fate the western doctors had bestowed on my life.

I felt ripped off my dignity and will, but because destiny is aggressive in nature, the wisdom that found me, just kept following me. I saw it in every billboard, TV show, music, numbers, random patterns and in the stories of others. Inquisitive and now matured, I began walking towards my past and embracing my experiences. What I did learn is; that the messages are only for me to understand, because it's my picture and protecting it means not fighting the ideas of others, but making sure that their ideas don't move me to a place not created for me.

Shoo... I feel like I am going on a tangent. All I wanted to relay and the message I wanted to give in this article is that, we all are born into a culture, and the greatest lie ever told was that culture and spirituality is only for black people.

The phrase “mind, body and soul” is at no level connected to race, creed, class or religion otherwise it would read “mind, body and the black soul”. And this misguided notion has hurt so many people. I realized this on my third stay at the mental institution where I had to sit before the western jury of psychiatry doctors again and this time lie about who I am, because then I would fit into their conditioned belief of what is normal...and I just wanted to go home.

I am lucky to have gathered the strength to stick to my convictions, but I can't help but think of those who have lost their destiny drugged beyond consciousness.

Listen here... everything I know and speak about spirituality does not come from men. It is my willingness to understand what is and my openness to love out of this world that has seen my fearless walks in lands only known by the greatest shamans and spirit leaders of time. What I know I was given by God himself on the condition that I go back and share the truth with those that are willing to rid themselves of pre-assumptions of reality and indigenous healing methodologies.

The spirit is the hot air you breathe out your mouth...please tell me who’s air is different or off temperature because of the color of their skin, or geographic location, twang of the English language or stance in the society.

I pray for the days people come to me and request readings for fun and spiritual upliftment, because they know that they will walk away with a deeper understanding of who they are, their personology and what destiny their name holds.

“True wisdom comes to each of us when we realize how little we understand about life, ourselves and the world around us”

- Socrates, Greek Philosopher

Let love and light find you in your path.

Gogo Bella