Ishmael speaks of days long forgotten before declarations of independence or
before declarations of independence or
before declarations of independence or tear stains cotton before concentration
tear stains cotton before concentration
tear stains cotton before concentration camps in the broken backs of railroad
camps in the broken backs of railroad
camps in the broken backs of railroad workers before the bubonic plague or
workers before the bubonic plague or
workers before the bubonic plague or aids first surfaced before we became an
aids first surfaced before we became an
aids first surfaced before we became an amnesiac society stuck in our ways and
amnesiac society stuck in our ways and
amnesiac society stuck in our ways and filled with anxiety see we have
filled with anxiety see we have
filled with anxiety see we have forgotten labeled it pre history
forgotten labeled it pre history
forgotten labeled it pre history thousands of years of living outlined
thousands of years of living outlined
thousands of years of living outlined only in Chapter three as opposed to
only in Chapter three as opposed to
only in Chapter three as opposed to being at least three chapters we live in
being at least three chapters we live in
being at least three chapters we live in the after never stop to question the
the after never stop to question the
the after never stop to question the before but I assure you such a time
before but I assure you such a time
before but I assure you such a time existed there was that today when we
existed there was that today when we
existed there was that today when we live free of this myth that there is one
live free of this myth that there is one
live free of this myth that there is one right way and people were not afraid to
right way and people were not afraid to
right way and people were not afraid to live differently when it was not how it
live differently when it was not how it
live differently when it was not how it was done but the fact that it worked
was done but the fact that it worked
was done but the fact that it worked that matters
that matters
that matters somewhere between the Fertile presence
somewhere between the Fertile presence
somewhere between the Fertile presence and the Industrial Revolution this
and the Industrial Revolution this
and the Industrial Revolution this belief was shattered and we were left
belief was shattered and we were left
belief was shattered and we were left with splinters which left untreated have
with splinters which left untreated have
with splinters which left untreated have infected our point of view nature was
infected our point of view nature was
infected our point of view nature was once our brother now it is something
once our brother now it is something
once our brother now it is something that we abuse something that we assume
that we abuse something that we assume
that we abuse something that we assume was placed on earth solely for our use
was placed on earth solely for our use
was placed on earth solely for our use from the trees to the land to the water
from the trees to the land to the water
from the trees to the land to the water to the food it was only a matter of time
to the food it was only a matter of time
to the food it was only a matter of time before people became products – did we
before people became products – did we
before people became products – did we watch this happen to plants animals and
watch this happen to plants animals and
watch this happen to plants animals and insects smug from a distance not
insects smug from a distance not
insects smug from a distance not realized that we would be next but the
realized that we would be next but the
realized that we would be next but the earth was here before the first man took
earth was here before the first man took
earth was here before the first man took his first step was created to maintain
his first step was created to maintain
his first step was created to maintain balance so it has to self-correct remind
balance so it has to self-correct remind
balance so it has to self-correct remind us of our place here and how we all
us of our place here and how we all
us of our place here and how we all intersect if beef is what I eat from the
intersect if beef is what I eat from the
intersect if beef is what I eat from the cow and I connect and that deserves
cow and I connect and that deserves
cow and I connect and that deserves respect that is cause-and-effect and
respect that is cause-and-effect and
respect that is cause-and-effect and understanding that everything gives and
understanding that everything gives and
understanding that everything gives and takes and that is how it must be for
takes and that is how it must be for
takes and that is how it must be for this earth to rotate our tomorrow’s are
this earth to rotate our tomorrow’s are
this earth to rotate our tomorrow’s are dwindling beneath the weight of our
dwindling beneath the weight of our
dwindling beneath the weight of our waste because we’re stealing the food
waste because we’re stealing the food
waste because we’re stealing the food off of our brothers plates and not out
off of our brothers plates and not out
off of our brothers plates and not out of necessity but so he can’t have a
of necessity but so he can’t have a
of necessity but so he can’t have a taste because the goal is to control and
taste because the goal is to control and
taste because the goal is to control and to own the right way but we’ve yet to
to own the right way but we’ve yet to
to own the right way but we’ve yet to find a way to prevent
find a way to prevent
find a way to prevent hurricane or to stabilize LA when this
hurricane or to stabilize LA when this
hurricane or to stabilize LA when this earth begins to quit therefore our fatal
earth begins to quit therefore our fatal
earth begins to quit therefore our fatal mistake has been to hoard and recreate
mistake has been to hoard and recreate
mistake has been to hoard and recreate that which nature did not intend we
that which nature did not intend we
that which nature did not intend we began the process of processing foods
began the process of processing foods
began the process of processing foods then you intake compounds that don’t
then you intake compounds that don’t
then you intake compounds that don’t break down when you chew get stuck to
break down when you chew get stuck to
break down when you chew get stuck to your heart like gum to a shoe now you’ve
your heart like gum to a shoe now you’ve
your heart like gum to a shoe now you’ve become a patient and medication is
become a patient and medication is
become a patient and medication is through the roof
through the roof
through the roof dependency sets in because your cure is
dependency sets in because your cure is
dependency sets in because your cure is stored away in a test tube next to your
stored away in a test tube next to your
stored away in a test tube next to your food and perhaps we could all just eat
food and perhaps we could all just eat
food and perhaps we could all just eat that but the cost is too high for those
that but the cost is too high for those
that but the cost is too high for those with low cash flows to afford every
with low cash flows to afford every
with low cash flows to afford every night especially with such limited
night especially with such limited
night especially with such limited options
options
options I guess you see a Trader Joe’s in
I guess you see a Trader Joe’s in
I guess you see a Trader Joe’s in Compton or farmers market in Nickerson
Compton or farmers market in Nickerson
Compton or farmers market in Nickerson gardens so pardon me I have a tendency
gardens so pardon me I have a tendency
gardens so pardon me I have a tendency to care deeply the way we are used to I
to care deeply the way we are used to I
to care deeply the way we are used to I have a tendency to give a damn don’t
have a tendency to give a damn don’t
have a tendency to give a damn don’t encourage not to and not understand this
encourage not to and not understand this
encourage not to and not understand this can be an inconvenient truth it could be
can be an inconvenient truth it could be
can be an inconvenient truth it could be hard to see your part and how you
hard to see your part and how you
hard to see your part and how you contribute to this cycle of deficit that
contribute to this cycle of deficit that
contribute to this cycle of deficit that we now represent so let me preface it by
we now represent so let me preface it by
we now represent so let me preface it by saying this was not the intention but
saying this was not the intention but
saying this was not the intention but here here is where we are it’s like
here here is where we are it’s like
here here is where we are it’s like being in a car that is heading south
being in a car that is heading south
being in a car that is heading south when your destination is north you can
when your destination is north you can
when your destination is north you can choose to turn around or you can choose
choose to turn around or you can choose
choose to turn around or you can choose to stay that course but only one of
to stay that course but only one of
to stay that course but only one of those decisions will bring you to where
those decisions will bring you to where
those decisions will bring you to where you need to be so here is the question
you need to be so here is the question
you need to be so here is the question that we must ask as human beings are we
that we must ask as human beings are we
that we must ask as human beings are we prepared to repair our relationship with
prepared to repair our relationship with
prepared to repair our relationship with nature or will we continue to spend our
nature or will we continue to spend our
nature or will we continue to spend our lives destroying things
so I’m going to share a quick story with
so I’m going to share a quick story with you about a little bit of what inspired
you about a little bit of what inspired
you about a little bit of what inspired the piece that I just shared with you
the piece that I just shared with you
the piece that I just shared with you when I was a kid I did what many kids do
when I was a kid I did what many kids do
when I was a kid I did what many kids do and I created this entire world for
and I created this entire world for
and I created this entire world for myself and in this world everything was
myself and in this world everything was
myself and in this world everything was alive my stuffed animals would walk
alive my stuffed animals would walk
alive my stuffed animals would walk around on their own or we’d have these
around on their own or we’d have these
around on their own or we’d have these great conversations and they share their
great conversations and they share their
great conversations and they share their thoughts and feelings it was awesome my
thoughts and feelings it was awesome my
thoughts and feelings it was awesome my sister thought I was weird
sister thought I was weird
sister thought I was weird my parents they looked the other way
my parents they looked the other way
my parents they looked the other way because I mean at least I was
because I mean at least I was
because I mean at least I was well-behaved I went to school I got good
well-behaved I went to school I got good
well-behaved I went to school I got good grades I made friends but it was behind
grades I made friends but it was behind
grades I made friends but it was behind my bedroom door that I could engage the
my bedroom door that I could engage the
my bedroom door that I could engage the abnormal and create the extraordinary it
abnormal and create the extraordinary it
abnormal and create the extraordinary it was there that I felt the most means and
was there that I felt the most means and
was there that I felt the most means and that I could do big things then it was
that I could do big things then it was
that I could do big things then it was time to grow up and like most of us I
time to grow up and like most of us I
time to grow up and like most of us I had to leave my world behind in exchange
had to leave my world behind in exchange
had to leave my world behind in exchange for the real world which far too often
for the real world which far too often
for the real world which far too often buries the extraordinary now I have to
buries the extraordinary now I have to
buries the extraordinary now I have to admit I’ve had a difficult time with
admit I’ve had a difficult time with
admit I’ve had a difficult time with being a grown-up
being a grown-up
being a grown-up I really hate wearing shoes
I really hate wearing shoes
I really hate wearing shoes and being inside of a building away from
and being inside of a building away from
and being inside of a building away from the Sun for eight hours just feels bad
the Sun for eight hours just feels bad
the Sun for eight hours just feels bad but we are taught to believe that these
but we are taught to believe that these
but we are taught to believe that these are just normal growing pains but
are just normal growing pains but
are just normal growing pains but nothing felt normal about it I was
nothing felt normal about it I was
nothing felt normal about it I was starting to miss that connection to
starting to miss that connection to
starting to miss that connection to something big I felt like the tree that
something big I felt like the tree that
something big I felt like the tree that had no roots so I started to ask myself
had no roots so I started to ask myself
had no roots so I started to ask myself questions and the more I dug at who I
questions and the more I dug at who I
questions and the more I dug at who I was and what was that connection that I
was and what was that connection that I
was and what was that connection that I was missing the more I asked questions
was missing the more I asked questions
was missing the more I asked questions like if my ancestors were never brought
like if my ancestors were never brought
like if my ancestors were never brought here as slaves
here as slaves
here as slaves what would I eat what would my spiritual
what would I eat what would my spiritual
what would I eat what would my spiritual practice be what would community looks
practice be what would community looks
practice be what would community looks like an education what would a wedding
like an education what would a wedding
like an education what would a wedding look like these questions just started
look like these questions just started
look like these questions just started to gnaw and gnaw at me and I became more
to gnaw and gnaw at me and I became more
to gnaw and gnaw at me and I became more and more Restless you see African
and more Restless you see African
and more Restless you see African American history is often told as though
American history is often told as though
American history is often told as though it began with slavery but nothing could
it began with slavery but nothing could
it began with slavery but nothing could be further from the truth there is more
be further from the truth there is more
be further from the truth there is more to that story but what I was missing was
to that story but what I was missing was
to that story but what I was missing was a way back to my roots a way to talk to
a way back to my roots a way to talk to
a way back to my roots a way to talk to my ancestors and get those missing
my ancestors and get those missing
my ancestors and get those missing pieces so in my search to find your way
pieces so in my search to find your way
pieces so in my search to find your way back I stumbled across the opportunity
back I stumbled across the opportunity
back I stumbled across the opportunity to go to a yoga retreat in Sedona I
to go to a yoga retreat in Sedona I
to go to a yoga retreat in Sedona I packed my bags impulsively said I was
packed my bags impulsively said I was
packed my bags impulsively said I was going to leave and headed for the desert
going to leave and headed for the desert
going to leave and headed for the desert to find this thing only to find myself
to find this thing only to find myself
to find this thing only to find myself surrounded by 14 other black women who
surrounded by 14 other black women who
surrounded by 14 other black women who were all so restless and searching for
were all so restless and searching for
were all so restless and searching for something imagine our surprise when we
something imagine our surprise when we
something imagine our surprise when we found it while playing and laughing
found it while playing and laughing
found it while playing and laughing wearing all white in this beautiful
wearing all white in this beautiful
wearing all white in this beautiful river now I know we don’t often see
river now I know we don’t often see
river now I know we don’t often see images of black women playing and
images of black women playing and
images of black women playing and laughing but that day we defied all the
laughing but that day we defied all the
laughing but that day we defied all the stereotypes and I looked up and I had a
stereotypes and I looked up and I had a
stereotypes and I looked up and I had a tribe we offered the river honey and
tribe we offered the river honey and
tribe we offered the river honey and fresh jasmine and in exchange she
fresh jasmine and in exchange she
fresh jasmine and in exchange she allowed us to leave as freer versions of
allowed us to leave as freer versions of
allowed us to leave as freer versions of ourselves and I knew that my ancestors
ourselves and I knew that my ancestors
ourselves and I knew that my ancestors were there that day but even more so I
were there that day but even more so I
were there that day but even more so I left with the Peace of knowing that they
left with the Peace of knowing that they
left with the Peace of knowing that they had never
had never
had never left me so I returned to my urban life
left me so I returned to my urban life
left me so I returned to my urban life after this awakening with a new thirst
after this awakening with a new thirst
after this awakening with a new thirst for nature I began to seek it at every
for nature I began to seek it at every
for nature I began to seek it at every single opportunity to talk and commune
single opportunity to talk and commune
single opportunity to talk and commune with my ancestors I started talking to
with my ancestors I started talking to
with my ancestors I started talking to plants and animals the way I had those
plants and animals the way I had those
plants and animals the way I had those stuffed animals all those years ago in
stuffed animals all those years ago in
stuffed animals all those years ago in my bedroom and I finally realized what
my bedroom and I finally realized what
my bedroom and I finally realized what they were trying to teach me then my
they were trying to teach me then my
they were trying to teach me then my ancestors were trying to tell me that
ancestors were trying to tell me that
ancestors were trying to tell me that they were here if I were willing to see
they were here if I were willing to see
they were here if I were willing to see them in the wind in the bin of a Raven’s
them in the wind in the bin of a Raven’s
them in the wind in the bin of a Raven’s wing or the fragility of a blade of
wing or the fragility of a blade of
wing or the fragility of a blade of grass or just willing to realize that
grass or just willing to realize that
grass or just willing to realize that Mother Earth is alive efforts to heal
Mother Earth is alive efforts to heal
Mother Earth is alive efforts to heal the roots of displaced people oppressed
the roots of displaced people oppressed
the roots of displaced people oppressed peoples including the intentional
peoples including the intentional
peoples including the intentional disconnection of indigenous people from
disconnection of indigenous people from
disconnection of indigenous people from their native land and their traditions
their native land and their traditions
their native land and their traditions has to begin with a return to nature
has to begin with a return to nature
has to begin with a return to nature find a stream of moving water and step
find a stream of moving water and step
find a stream of moving water and step in Bend at least an hour every day
in Bend at least an hour every day
in Bend at least an hour every day beneath the Sun plant your feet into the
beneath the Sun plant your feet into the
beneath the Sun plant your feet into the earth as frequently as possible and
earth as frequently as possible and
earth as frequently as possible and while you are there plant a seed gather
while you are there plant a seed gather
while you are there plant a seed gather together wear white invite your
together wear white invite your
together wear white invite your ancestors bring honey don’t be afraid to
ancestors bring honey don’t be afraid to
ancestors bring honey don’t be afraid to get wet but more than anything remember
get wet but more than anything remember
get wet but more than anything remember our ancestors have never left us they
our ancestors have never left us they
our ancestors have never left us they are always listening and willing to
are always listening and willing to
are always listening and willing to reach out to us if we are willing to
reach out to us if we are willing to
reach out to us if we are willing to step out into the grass and look up to
step out into the grass and look up to
step out into the grass and look up to the side thank you
you
you [Music]
”
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