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Spotlight! on Peggy Robles-Alvarado

Thu, 29 Dec 2011 04:01:51 +0100

Alaafia! I pray you are all very well as you read this and that those of you who may have celebrated any of the winter festivals of lights enjoyed spending time with your friends and families. I thought we’d bring 2011 to a close with another installation of Spotlight! the place where Ase Ire highlights people who are doing positive things. Today, I'm delighted to present a talented young woman who has some wonderful advice for us all to carry into the New Year. Peggy Robles-Alvarado is an artist, wife, mother, educator and author of the book Conversations with my Skin (see the promotional video here). She has dedicated much of her time to enlightening herself and others; here’s what she had to share with me about her life and journey.

Who is Peggy?
I was the girl who denied the truth.
I was the girl who became a woman after 12 hours of labor one stormy night.
A girl who didn’t know how to be a woman, but knew she could no longer be a girl.
Now, I am the woman who has accepted the truth, forgiven herself and become a resilient matriarch.
I am a woman who brings pride to my family.

How did you get into writing and educating?
Writing has always been my strength and it is the gift that allowed me to become an educator. Since I was able to write personal statements that sounded more like poetry and prose, with messages of personal triumph and distinction, I earned several scholarships, grants and stipends that allowed me to earn a bachelor’s degree in English. My love for learning and words motivated me to apply and receive a fellowship that provided me with a Master’s Degree in Elementary Education.

While in college, I began writing poetry as part of literature assignments, but I still did not own the title of writer or author. That identify was fostered in me when I decided that I needed to heal myself from memories of my past as a teenage single mother and a victim of relationship abuse. Writing poetry allowed me to transform feelings of pain, fear, anxiety and insecurity into healing. I became a writer when I wrote my first book, Conversations With My Skin, dedicated to my daughter and our journey together.

Today I continue to teach students in the South Bronx the value of their words. They heal, transform and inspire change within themselves and others.

Any new areas you are branching into?
I was recently hired to write and perform five original spoken word poems for a stage production that incorporated Latin dance. This form of performance poetry was an exciting challenge in that I had to write about four specific honorees, yet I had to relate to the audience who may not have ever heard of these accomplished individuals who all had achieved the American Dream on different levels and in various ways. It was spoken word meets mambo!

This project opened the door to another on stage production where I will be writing four original poems that will be performed as songs in a musical set in the South Bronx to be completed next year.

I am also partnering with several community service and non-profit organizations to empower youth through the arts. In addition, I am lending my support to the development of women centered documentaries that promote character building and education for at risk teens as well as women who have survived trauma.
Finally, I am working on my second book of poetry dedicated to women who have guided, inspired, and taught me strength by example. It is a bilingual collection of poetry and prose titled Homage To The Warrior Women/ Homenaje A Las Guerreras.

What is your biggest aspiration? What would you do if money was no object?
One of my aspirations is to establish a quality educational and social foundation for young mothers and female victims of sexual abuse to gain life skills through education, counseling services, vocational training and spiritual awareness. The goal of this organization would be to create a community of young educated women who can find healing through the arts, and spiritual development and aid in the healing of others by encouraging the idea of reciprocity as a tool for empowerment.

Words of advice for the readers?
Be perfectly imperfect and always hold your head high
Reiterate and proclaim you are worth every breathe
Exude confidence in all that you do
Be resilient and do not accept defeat
Continue to walk, live, dream and speak Head High!

E se gan ni (thank you very much), Peggy, for your time and energy. For more from Peggy, visit www.robleswrites.com.

Pamper Yourself with… Winter Solstice Bath Ritual

Thu, 22 Dec 2011 18:47:42 +0100

Image: winnond / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Blessed greetings to each of you today! I pray that the day finds you well and keeping warm if you’re in a cold climate like I am. Today is the winter solstice in the northern hemisphere (it happens in June in the southern hemisphere) – it is the shortest day and longest night of the year and it marks the beginning of winter in the northern hemisphere. The solstice has held significance for many cultures around the world since the beginnings of human history and it continues to hold significance for many of us today. One aspect of the solstice that many of us who practice African and other Indigenous traditions and forms of spirituality embrace is using the dark days of the solstice to shed any unwanted energy and to use the lengthening of the days – often called the return of the light, which also coincides with the New Year celebration – to bring in new energies that we would like to remain with us throughout the new year.

One way in which to clean and renew our energies is through the use of baths. As anyone who is a regular reader knows, I love baths! Not only for their relaxing properties, but also for the energetic shifts they can be used to direct when combined with rituals of prayer. I’d like to share an easy bath ritual that can be used by anyone, regardless of your spiritual or religious system, to clean negative energy away and bring in the positive.

Cleaning off:
Run a warm bath and dissolve a heaping handful of sea salt in the tub. Take another handful of salt and mix some dried dill and a small amount of water in a small bowl. Sit in the bath and use the salt/dill mixture to scrub your body. As you scrub, concentrate on and voice any concerns you have about your life, and focus on any negative or unwanted energy that you would like to dismiss. If it is a person, speak his/her name, say that you release him/her and ask that he/she move on from you. If you observe a particular tradition you may want to pray to whichever energy destroys or moves things away from you (Examples: Aspects of Oya and Ogun for Orisa devotees; the destroyer aspect of Siva for Hindu devotees; The Crone for Wiccans). You may want to combine this bath with the burning of dill or sage. Do not linger in the tub, scrub, pray and then get out of the tub and be sure to wash the tub out when you are done. Do this at night.

Bringing in:
Run a lukewarm bath and dissolve 2 cups of whole milk or one cup of cream, the water of 1 coconut (a can of coconut milk will also work), a sweet perfume oil (almond or gardenia are particularly nice), white flower petals (roses or carnations work well), a small amount of honey, and, if you have it on hand, efun or cascarilla (this can be purchased at a botanica or spiritual shop). Sit in the bath and use the water to wash over your entire body, including your head. Rub the flower petals on your body and as you do, concentrate on the things you would like to bring into your life. Be specific about these things. If you have a person in mind, speak his/her name and ask for strengthening or the budding of relationship. If you observe a particular tradition, you may want to pray to whichever energy heals, moves things closer and symbolizes new growth (Examples: Obatala, Osun and Orisa Oko – or whomever one’s crowning Orisa is – for Orisa devotees; the creative aspect of Siva, Krisna and Visnu for Hindu devotees; The Maiden for Wiccans). If you have previously burned sage or dill, you should now burn a sweet incense or oil. Do this in the morning and, if it’s not too cold, open the windows and blinds or curtains to let in fresh air and sunlight.

Many people like to do the “cleaning off” ritual on or close to the solstice (so tonight's a great night to do it) and do the “bringing in” ritual the next day. Some also like to do the cleaning off ritual for 3 nights in a row and then do the bringing in ritual 3 mornings in a row. Do whatever feels best to you, just making sure to start with the cleaning off and end with the bringing in. Let me know if you try the baths and how you feel after.

Here’s to shedding all the negative and bringing in the positive – Ase!

Please read our disclaimer about baths and other information on this site.

Don't Look Back in Anger

Sun, 27 Nov 2011 23:49:06 +0100

Image: sakhorn38 / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

E kurole o! (Good evening!) I pray you’re all doing exceptionally well and that those of you who may have traveled to visit family this past weekend enjoyed yourselves and had smooth, safe travels. Did you get my email message on Thursday? If not, be sure to join Ase Ire's newly improved mailing list to make sure you don't miss any of my special messages and posts.

This week I was reflecting on some of the various people who have passed through my life in recent years. I thought about people with whom I was once close, those who have taught me – and others who I have taught – who, for one reason or another, are now no longer a regular part of my life. It can be very difficult to let go of past teachers, friends, godparents or romantic partners with whom we have parted ways. Depending on the circumstances of the separation, bitterness, anger and hurt may continue to lurk beneath the surfaces of our souls for far longer than we think. But a mention of the person’s name, seeing him on the street (or these days, on facebook) or being reminded of her in some other capacity can sometimes pull these feelings that we didn’t even realize were there to the surface.

These reactions are natural and, like all of our emotions, they are a part of what make us human. But I pray that we are all able to work through these feelings a little more smoothly when we realize that, as an oft-cited proverb states: people come into our lives for a reason, a season or a lifetime. And the truth is, very few people will be in the lifetime category. Most often, a person will come into our life to teach us something, to start us on a path, to learn something from us, to help us grow, or for a variety of other reasons, and they will only stay in our lives for a period.

While separating may be painful, when the time comes – let go. Offer a prayer of gratitude for all you experienced with the person and let go because holding on to relationships past their time can stifle both your growth and the other person’s. This doesn’t mean, of course, that every relationship that hits a rough patch should be abandoned, but if you find that there are more rough patches than smooth ones, or you discover fundamental differences in your attitude and approach toward life, it may be that the relationship has served its purpose and run its course.

Today and every day, I pray meaningful, fruitful relationships for each of you. May they be sweet and beneficial while they last, and may they end smoothly and peacefully if and when the time comes for them to end. May we recognize the reasons, the seasons and the lifetimes.

To all of those who have helped me on my path and who have been a part of my life at one time or another, modupe! E se pupo! (I am grateful! Thank you!) I pray immense blessings on each of you always. Ase.

Funlayo

Do the DO, Leave the don't

Fri, 04 Nov 2011 01:34:12 +0100

Image: graur razvan ionut / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Se alaafia ni, family? I pray this message finds you each well and bright. Things are busy in a wonderful way on my end. I’m working on a few special projects that I’m really excited about, and I’m looking forward to sharing them with you in upcoming posts. In the meantime, do save the date for a special symposium I’ll be hosting next April. It seems like a ways away but it’ll be here before we know it.

Remember this post where I talked about what I learned from a banana? Well, I got another delicious lesson from a food item *laugh* this time, it was instant oatmeal. As I pulled the variety pack from the shelf yesterday morning, I thought to myself “I don’t want blueberry today” as I reached my hand into the box. When I pulled my hand out, what do you think I was holding? Blueberry! Of course.

I couldn’t help but laugh because it reminded me of a lesson that I’ve been taught over and over again: don’t give energy to what you don’t want. Instead, concentrate on what you do want! Like it or not, when we think about something – whether we are thinking positively or negatively about that thing – we are giving it ase (power/energy/force), thereby drawing that thing nearer to us. As a society, we are so conditioned to think negatively – in terms of don’t – that we don’t spend nearly enough time thinking about do. And when we think about what kind of man, woman, job (or whatever) we don’t want, often we may find ourselves with that very thing. This is especially true with our children; we often “don’t” them so much that they end up doing exactly what we’d rather they didn’t.

So here’s the question: What do you want?

Spend some time thinking about it on all levels. What do you want today? Tomorrow? Next year? Five years from now? Ten years from now? What, overall, do you want for your life? The sooner we are able to answer these questions in the affirmative and give our ase to what we do want for ourselves – rather than what we don’t want – the better we are able to keep undesirable things out of our space and the more effectively we are able to bring that which is desired in.

As we can learn from the orisa Osoosi, the sacred hunter whose symbol is the bow and arrow, you don’t hit the bull’s-eye by concentrating everything around it. You hit it by focusing squarely, aiming, pulling the string and – most importantly – letting go.

Let’s do it! Ase!

~ Funlayo

Pamper Yourself with... Pumpkin & Potato Bisque

Wed, 26 Oct 2011 04:39:15 +0100

Blessed greetings to you! I pray that you are well as you read this and that those of you in continental climate zones, like me, are keeping warm as the temperatures begin to dip. When it's chilly out, few things make me happier and warm me up faster than a nice bowl of soup. Soups are tasty, filling and easy to make! And while canned soups can contain a lot of sodium and preservatives, by making soup yourself you can keep it pretty healthy and low-sodium.

I tried my hand at making a pumkin & potato bisque the other day after a fun afternoon carving pumpkins with my neighbors (I carved an Esu face into mine, he's standing guard outside *smile*). To my delight, it came out wonderfully. I also made some delicious roasted pumpkin seeds. The recipes for both are below.

I know that many people, particularly children of Osun, have pumpkin as an eewo (taboo) but no worries -- the bisque can be made with sweet potato! I'm going to try that next time. I have to tell you, I cook like a real African woman which means I tend not to measure anything unless I'm following someone else's recipe so consider these measurements approximate. Feel free to alter them to your taste! Also, I used half-and-half and butter in this recipe, but if you're vegan, you could likely substitute a non-dairy milk and maybe coconut oil to replace the butter.

Remember, Ifá says "a hungry man never rushes to eat hot soup" -- and for good reason! So, be careful and enjoy!

~ Funlayo

Roasted Pumpkin & Potato Bisque

Pulp and about 2 cups of rind (without skin) of one large pumpkin, most seeds removed

OR 8 large sweet potatoes, washed, skin on

2 large white potatoes, washed skin on

1 large onion, skin removed

5 Tablespoons canola oil, divided

3/4 cup half-and-half

3 cups water

1 Tablespoon butter

1 Tablespoon salt

1 teaspoon garlic powder

1 Tablespoon maple syrup

1/8 teaspoon nutmeg

1/8 teaspoon cinnamon

1 drop vanilla

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Cut pumpkin rind (or sweet potatoes), potato and onion into medium pieces. Coat the bottom of a large baking dish with half of the oil. Place cut vegetables and pulp into dish and drizzle remaining oil on top. Bake for about 45 minutes or until very tender, do not drain the liquid that forms. Mix the water and half-and-half together. Using a blender, puree the vegetables and liquid together, using the water/half-and-half mixture to thin as needed. It will probably take about 3 batches to blend all the vegetables; after blending, transfer the puree to a large soup pot. Once all the puree is in the pot, heat on medium heat until hot, adding all remaining ingredients as the soup heats. It should be thick, but if it seems too thick, a bit more water or cream may be added.

Roasted Pumpkin Seeds

Fresh, raw pumpkin seeds

Butter (about 1 teaspoon per cup of seeds)

Salt

Garlic powder

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Rinse all pulp from seeds and drain. Melt butter in a saucepan, stir seeds with butter until coated. Spread seeds in a single layer on a cookie sheet, sprinkle with salt and garlic powder. Bake until golden brown.

Messages from Egun (Ancestors): Psalm 58

Thu, 29 Sep 2011 18:35:28 +0100

Original image found here

Blessed greetings all! I pray you have all been very well since we last "met". I have been re-adjusting to life on this side of the pond after spending the summer in Naijiria (Nigeria), getting back into the swing of graduate school and preparing for the changing of the seasons. I have also recently moved, which means re-setting my altars and assessing the energies in my new space. It seems to be full of light energy, adupe! (we give thanks!)

This morning, I was sitting with my Egun -- many of whom, including my late father (iba e) -- were Christians. I keep my father's Bible with my Egun altar and today was moved to open it and was directed to Psalm 58. This Psalm speaks (quite graphically) about unjust rulers and likens them to "cobras who will not heed the charmer no matter how well he plays". It also makes reference to the snail, which is one of the animals sacred to my orisa, Obatala, and to a few images that I have recetly seen in my dreams.

The advice I take from this and that I share with you today is manifold. First, let's examine ourselves: are we oppressing or being oppressed by others? If you are the one being unjust, you are challenged to "check yourself" and to understand that because someone is weaker than you or subordinate to you today doesn't mean they will stay that way. If you are being treated unfairly, you are challenged to stand up for yourself and believe that, if you are behaving righteously, you can overcome the unfair treatment you are receiving. But it's up to you to start the process.

Next, the image of the cobra not heeding the charmer speaks to us not heeding advice. Is there something that you have been advised to do -- something that you know is right and that you should do -- that you have not yet done? Remember that failure to heed good advice can lead to downfall, especially when this advice is related to sensitive areas, like health.

This experience is also conformation of advice from the odù Ifá Oyeku Obara I posted on facebook a few days ago, reminding us to pay attention to our dreams. That my Egun would direct me to a passage that highlights my dream images is encouragement to go back and review the dreams for things I may have missed. Perhaps you should do the same with your recent dreams?

Lastly, this speaks to a question presented on Omo Oduduwa Radio a few days ago where a caller asked about continuing to integrate Christian items into our spiritual practices despite converting to Ifá-Òrìsà/Lukumi or any other African or Afro-descended tradition. Although I don't incorporate Christian imagery into my practice of Ifá-Òrìsà tradition, I do keep some Christian items in my Egun space because, as a child of the Disapora, I pay homage to my many ancestors who were Christian and provide items -- like the Bible -- that they can use to direct me in their own way. My Egun space is a space for my ancestral spirits to gather, it is their place, not mine, and I keep these items there in their honor.

As well, practicing one religion or spiritual tradition does not mean we cannot draw comfort, wisdom and understanding from another. While I devote the majority of my study to the odù Ifá and their associated wisdom, I appreciate and draw from many bodies of knowledge, including the Qur'an, the Upanishads and the Bible. Divine knowledge, indeed, eminates from many sources!

Adupe Egun, for your support and guidance! May you continue to speak to us and direct us. May you never sleep a forgetful sleep as long as you have children on the earth. Ase.

Riding on Mother’s Back

Sun, 04 Sep 2011 13:27:57 +0100

E kaaro (good morning) from Massachusetts! I’m back in ilu Amerika and feeling very blessed to begin my 32nd ride around the sun today. I’m spending this birthday weekend with two of my favorite people –my parents – and I’m looking forward to reconnecting with sista-friends to break bread and laugh lots later on this evening. So much fun to have and love to share!

As I knelt in prayer this morning, I began to reflect on all the beautiful babies I saw riding their mother’s backs this summer in Nigeria and how just a few short years ago, I was one of them. I then smiled and became full as I realized that I am still riding on the back of the great mother, mother earth, the Orisa who is called ile ogeere a foko yeri in Yoruba. With each step I take, she supports me. With each breath I breathe, she sustains me. With each bite of food I take, she nourishes me. I am ever surrounded and filled by her gifts and blessings, and I am ever thankful for each and every one of them.

Coupled with my gratitude, I am also deeply saddened by the havoc being reaped on my mother’s back as our society becomes more and more disposable. From one piece of trash thrown on the ground to millions of gallons of oil being spilled into her waters, our mother is being disrespected and not recognized for the treasure she is. Would we throw garbage on the floor in our mother’s house? That’s exactly what many of us do every day with little regard. As I begin the next year’s journey on my mother’s back, I am committed to being better, to doing better, to showing my mother more honor and love.

For Orisa worshippers, the earth is more than just our “habitat” or our “home,” she is a sacred being. She is our mother. She is the one who sustains us in life and who inherits and cradles our bodies in death. She is to be respected, not exploited. Treasured, not trashed. Today and every day, let us be kinder and gentler to our mother. Let us see environmentalism and sustainability not as causes, but as sacred duties. As our ancestors kept her for us, let us let us keep her for our future descendants. Ase!

Funlayo Says...: How Can I be Better?

Tue, 16 Aug 2011 12:28:19 +0100

Do you have questions about your spiritual journey, staying positive or other issues? Send them to Funlayo@AseIre.com or use the contact form. All inquires are confidential and you could see your question answered here on the site!

Wants to be Better says...
I am emailing you as I sit at work, a place I am not too happy to be at, however I feel all of that is about to change. I may be going back into the field I enjoy working the most in and I am so excited. The reason I am reaching out to you is because my mind and spirit are racing and I am trying my best to come to terms with what I must do to get my life in order. I want to be more positive, more spiritually in tune with life, most of all I want to be more centered. There have been times in the past where I thought I knew what I wanted or how I wanted my life to be, simply put: I was wrong. I'm not asking to be perfect, I just want to be better. I would like some feedback on how I can go about making a change or how I can go about moving in the right direction. I'm not a spiritual person, I don’t believe in all these different religions, but I do feel there is a higher power and I do pray to my ancestors. Are there any books, or tools you feel may help me to gain some clarity and help me to be more positive?

Funlayo says...
Blessed greetings to you! I thank you for reaching out to me and hope that you visits to Ase Ire help to bring a little sunshine into those times when you're at work. I pray all the best for you as you seek to move into the field you enjoy working in -- nothing makes a person feel better than doing something he or she enjoys. It's good that you feel a positive change coming!

There are many tools one can use to center and find direction. For those of us in the Ifá tradition, divination is one very important way to gain clarity about what kind of energies are around us -- including ancestral energies which I'm glad to know you recognize and pray to -- and what we should be doing in our lives. If you feel comfortable doing so, I would encourage you to have a consultation with an Ifá Priest, who is known as a Babaláwo, such as my mentor, Awo Ifakunle. You may be amazed by the type of clarity that can come from a reading! As well, a trained and knowledgeable priest can make what we call an ancestral pot for you which can help to bring the energies of your ancestors closer to you. For many people, this can lead to feeling more grounded and supported.

In terms of books, one book that I often recommend is called Finding Soul on the Path of Orisa. The author is an Orisa Priestess and, although I don’t agree 100% with all of her viewpoints, I love the book because it is one of the few Orisa-centric books that focuses more on inner development and working on self than on the practices of the religion. It provides some pointers about connecting with ancestors, centering and the like. What I like most is that she admits that the road isn't quick or easy, but that it's worth it to do the things that will lead to lasting changes in your life.

Finally, I suggest taking some time to simply be alone and think (and sometimes not think!). Think about what truly makes you happy in life. What would you do if money wasn't a concern? What do you genuinely enjoy? Once you identify those things, try as best you can to do them. Of course, we have to make money to live but if we can make money doing something as close as possible to what we enjoy, it feels less like work and more like we're simply doing what we love.

You said that you thought you knew how you wanted your life to be and that you were wrong. I would say that you weren't necessarily "wrong" but that you have grown and matured and what you want has changed and that's to be expected. At 5 all we want in life is to play and eat french fries for dinner... at 15 all we want is for our parents to leave us alone, let us go to parties and do whatever we want... at 25 we want something else... at 35 something else, an so on. Growth and maturity help to refine us and get us closer to what we truly and ultimately want. It sounds like you're going through some growth and I am very excited for you to find the path that will make you feel most satisfied!

All in all, believing that you can be better and doing your best to maintain a positive attitude even when you don't feel like your 100% there is one of the most important things you can do for yourself to aid your success. Trust yourself, trust the process and believe that you can be better. No one will be perfect but, as one of my childhood mentors always said: "reach for the stars and if you fall, at least you'll land among the clouds."

All the best to you today and always. I pray that you find what you are looking for, but most of all I pray that you never stop seeking. Ase!

Spotlight! on Nubia Earth Bowman

Fri, 12 Aug 2011 08:48:34 +0100

Blessed Greetings! I am very happy to welcome you to another installation of Spotlight! the place where Ase Ire highlights people who are doing positive things. I am joyful to introduce a sista who I have known since high school, Nubia Earth Bowman, and her company, Birth from the Earth, which provides birth and postpartum doula services, and childbirth education for families. In this time when childbirth has been largely removed from its sacred context and turned into a business that serves the best interest of insurance companies and doctors rather than women, men and babies, it is beautiful and refreshing to see Nubia and others like her remind women of the natural feminine power and the strength and resilience of their bodies. Here’s what Nubia shared with me about herself and her business:

Who is Nubia?
I am a devoted mother, daughter, wife, sister and friend with a passion for women’s health, a thirst to acquire knowledge and a strong desire empower individuals with factual information so that they can make informed decisions. I am an educator, a student, a giver, a calming force, a doula steeped in the Wise Women Tradition of healing, which teaches us to honor, nurture, nourish and respect our bodies. I am still, constantly learning...

What made you decide to become a doula and make a career doing what you love?
I had my first two children in a hospital and my last 2 at home with my midwife, husband and mother... the difference in the two sets of births were worlds apart. It was freeing to surrender and simply be... in a peaceful environment, with familiar hands and voices attending to me. I realized with the birth of my youngest son the importance of having continous labor support and also how vital it is to have an advocate there by your side during this sacred time. These are the things that led me to become a doula. I become so in tune with my clients that I can anticipate their needs simply by being aware of their body language. So far everyone who I have provided labor support to has had all natural births!

Any upcoming events or new areas you are branching into?
On September 21, 2011, I will host the first (of what I hope will become a continous event) Sister Circle: Healing Birth Stories. An opportunity for moms, moms-to-be, mothers-in-spirit, to share and listen to one anothers birth stories through the ancient art of storytelling and various exercises and activities. For more info or to attend this event, please visit my website for details.

What is your biggest aspiration? What would you do if money were no object?
My biggest dream/aspiration is to become a Midwife (something that I am working to make a reality). If money were not an issue I would open up learning centers and birthing centers throughout this country so that we can serve our women and their families with factual information about birth, the process... and the importance of turning it back to nature.

Closing piece of advice:
My advice to everyone (regardless of whether you are planning to have a child, or if you are male or female) is: take a course in YOU! Study yourself and how your body works. Take the time to be still, tune in and listen to what your body is telling you. Trust the brilliance of your body’s natural instinct and have faith in its ability to do what it is intended to.

E se gan an ni (thank you very much) Nubia for your time and the wonderful work you are doing! For more about Nubia and Birth from the Earth, visit her website and join her on facebook.

Pamper Yourself With... Shea & Palm Oil Soap

Thu, 11 Aug 2011 06:32:54 +0100

E kaaro (good morning) from Victoria Island, Lagos! I am happy to share that I have completed the 8-week course in Yorùbá language that I came to attend at Obafemi Awolowo University (Greeeeaaaaat Ife!). Although I was certainly sad to leave my new friends and colleagues at the Institute of Cultural Studies, it feels great to have accomplished the goal that I set out to accomplish.

One of the nicest things about being here in Nigeria is experiencing all of the wonderful arts and handcrafts that are produced here. From hand-dyed adire cloth, to wood carvings, to paintings, to bronze casting, to beading, to the most sharply and creatively tailored clothing you ever want to see, Yorùbáland is replete with incredibly talented people making beautiful things!

One thing that I’ve fallen in love with is this handmade, 100% natural, cold-processed shea butter and palm oil soap crafted by Iya Ifaronke, a Trinidadian Iyanifa who now makes her home in Oyo. The soap is super moisturizing, gentle enough for use on babies and at only $6/bar (2 for $10) it’s quite affordable. I will add the soap (and some other goodies!) to the site soon, in the new shop. But you can pre-order now for shipment on September 10, 2011 to guarantee that you get to try this amazingly rich soap. She’s working on making some different varieties that I know will be just fantastic!

I look forward to sharing this and more wonderful Yorùbáland pampering products with you! (Don't forget you can visit my mentor’s shop for Ifá needs such as opon, iyerosun, ikin, and more!)

O digba kan naa (bye for now)!