The Spirit of Tranformation

In the spirit of transformation, among tribeswomen and tribesmen, tells are often told of the miraculous changes protagonists undergo before coming into total culmination of their being. Just like the caterpillar that sheds it old skin, we marvel at the butterfly as it climbs its way from rotten, old cocoons—thus, beginning its flight into the new world.

I can recall watching those butterflies perch themselves on flowers in my mothers garden, respecting their strength which lead to insurmountable beauty as it fluttered its wings commanding gentle attention and reverence. But lately, I’ve been feeling less like a butterfly and more of the caterpillar in its cocoon phase. Hanging upside down, unmoving, almost hauntingly still save for small movements that motion the caterpillar toward dissolving its tissue in small stages to release its wings. In this cocoon stage, I sometimes wonder if I will ever begin to take my rightful flight as a butterfly.

In reflecting on the effects of the pandemic, I’ve frequently found myself toying with this idea of liminal space. Liminal space points to a period of stillness where one has left old existence and is in transition, waiting for the arrival of new creation. In anthropology, it’s a rite of passage, where the initiated is in process but not embodying complete status. In liminal space, it can almost feel as if one is “stuck”, not able to return back to old comfort zones yet still waiting for their arrival in new stages.

Transition often does feel like dissolving tissues on the subtle body in order for a new one to emerge. Some days the discomfort threatens one until they begin retracing old steps, leading them back to what is old but well-known. Other days the promise of newness beacons them to an invigorating journey where the commitment toward expansion allows for rebirth. But as we wait for the sweetness and finality of rebirth, we must endure the process of pregnancy. In those stages where it seems that life is forming from absolute nothingness, growing at a steady yet unhurried pace, we can begin to nurture and prepare ourselves in subtle cues so that it translates seamlessly to the new life.

This is truly what transition is all about. It is not the process of landing, where we finally reap the benefits of what we have sowed—but each process in between. The decision to leave the old, the waiting for the new, what we do during that wait and the inevitable arrival. In liminal space, we lay groundwork for how we wish to live in the new emergence until one day we wake up in our new identity. Transition, in its brilliance often creeps along weary but firm tissues and vigorous cells until we surprisingly have enough strength to crawl from the birthing canal, the cocoon, spread our wings and fly into new, anticipated space.

Thus claiming our rightful place on the petals of plentiful flowers, basking in the gift of expansion and transformation from the Divine.

The Art of Being in Flow

Do you really trust your Creator?

Do you even trust yourself?

From self-observation, one will find there are many ego games at play all in one instance. When we talk of surrender, we literally mean the ability to be able to completely relinquish control— or the illusion of such in which we place our faith in the hands of our Creator. Surrender requires trust: understanding that God’s plans are much more unbounded and perfect than our own. Some may say that they find surrender on the mat in the midst of yoga. When one contorts their body into pretzel-like poses or even a simple leaning forward onto stretched out legs, feeling muscles pulse in their struggle to release its hold, break, tear and form deeper into this shape.

Or perhaps surrender comes during that moment in meditation where words become sparse and one begins to hear sounds circling around them. Listening to cars whiz by; laughter from children across the street at a playground; birds in flight, the wind carrying melodious chirps or; a slight ringing sound of silence. In those moments where oneself begins to blend with the world around them, the realization that separation is the mass hallucinogenic illusion we’ve all implicitly agreed upon becomes ever so clear.

Maybe surrender arrives in the midst of prayer. When a chant and intention becomes vibration—pulsating across a thousand membranes and cells implanting itself through muscle memory. Our voices mirroring the very tremors that shaped the universe. With Gods name heavy on our tongue, hearts begin to tremble at the humble awareness of the familiar essence of its Creator. Reverence becoming our name, we bow our heads in humility understanding our own creation and God’s mercy in manifesting us.

In reality, many humans have issues with surrender in many aspects of daily living. Perhaps it’s a trouble to commit to a routine, to acknowledge our imperfection, a negligence to pull ourselves from self-importance, a lack of humility, difficulty with bowing our heads in prayer or even admitting that we do not have all of the answers.

The lesson of surrender arrives in many forms; in many that we have endured during this very year. As difficult as it may get, I am keen to remember that surrender often arrives in places where God seeks to be revered. In these spaces, we are asked to drop the force of “personal will” to allow something much bigger and wiser than ourselves to emerge. We are joined with the force of nature which knows no illusory separation and fully submits itself to the will of the Creator, following His commandments. And due to this submission, nature poses as eternally and infinitely beautiful—a reflection of God Himself which stands as a reminder to those whom seek wisdom. This wisdom allows for us to reclaim the seat of our being, causing the to submergence into submission and reemerge of our likeness of God, thus returning to our own timeless divine nature. In this we never fear the illusion of death as we return to infiniteness.

Thus our very breath turning into a return, reverence and prayer to The Most High.

Dissolving Illusions— A Process of Psychological Deprogramming

Fraught with fear, each of us has been the victim of deep programming that has taken place over the course of millennia. With our descent into this earthly plane, we have been sold this story of illusion where we were stripped of divine nature and placed into a universe that was somehow separate from us. Never mind that we contain all of the stuff that the universe is created from, no—we were sold this story of separation, creating disillusionment and amnesia of who we truly are.

Are you ready for remembrance?

Over the course of the past three years, I’ve been diving deeper into the spirituality of my native peoples. My forefathers and foremothers knew of no belief that created division but only of the One true Creator from which all of Creation derives. This Creator could be found mirrored in all of creation, as the patterns in trees modeled the pattern in human anatomy, veins coursing through taut skin make from earths dirt like roots running in the core of Gaia. A mirror of all of creation, reflections posing back up to the Creator. This spirituality forgotten the longer we stayed on this earthly plane and began to create the illusion of separateness through category, different symbols, language, culture and of course, race.

At the core of it all, we are all one, each seeking a place to call home. In their disillusionment, many may search for home in a place, a country, a temple or even a persons arms. Search we may, the answer is certain. As we continue to have this communal experience with everything in nature speaking back to us, our home is and has always been in the One from which we were never separate. In the One whom exists when all ceases to endure, when play ceases to continue and the curtains close. The witness, ever present and ever knowing.

The deprogramming is dissolving the illusion of separation created by egoic chains. The ego wishes to create this illusion of separateness to maintain the arrogant story of self-importance. In truth, we are important because we are One, not separate into fractal pieces each fighting for selfish power and domination. The infinite connection is a birthright known by our ancestors, a hidden truth they’d fought to understand. The true seeker understand that there is no truth to be sought. It has always been within, waiting to be recognized.

And so it has always been. We are here. We are whole. We are one.

Chineke Speaks— Remembrance of Natures Divinity

My whole life is a dedication, offering, surrender and love affair between my Creator and I.

What does it mean to nurture a relationship with The One? In my spiritual background, humankind was formed of clay then God breathed into us His spirit. From His Holy Spirit, we arose and were taught the nature of all things. With this, God raised us to a status above all of creation, providing us with the trust of choosing Him, infinite connection—or forgetting Him and therefore forgetting our very own nature.

Nurturing a relationship with your Creator means to have a deep longing for connection with Him. For connection to yourself. It’s the process of prayer when you speak softly words of kindness, compassion and love to your maker. It’s the process of bonding in which you seek that which makes your Creator seen and appreciated. It’s the process of loving in which you seek to unravel the layers and depth of your loved one so that you can see them clearly.

Cultivating relationship with your Creator is similar to any relationship. It’s the art of knowing when to listen and when to speak. Its submitting to unconditional love when it touches your being. Its walking into the store and seeing your loved ones favorite dish then bringing it back home for them to enjoy. Or walking into nature and counting all the tiny veins on green leaves, lingering in reverence for His handiwork. Its looking in the mirror and seeing yourself as a reflection of Gods mercy. Then falling to the ground with tears on your face singing His praises. Its knowing yourself in the deepest and most intimate level. Knowing that your beautiful, complex, awakened being comes from something so much more expansive, awe-inspiring and majestic. And knowing that you are infinitely connected to this being.

This is the subtle, simple but powerful remembrance of your nature. And the One who created that nature and all that surrounds it from absolute nothingness. Chineke materializes creation and awaits recognition of their artwork. Remembrance, being that the illusion of separation from the Creator is destroyed until all one beings to witness is the Whole. This is God. This is living.

This is your purpose.

Why Choosing Your Truth Leads to Success

How many times has your mind tricked you into choosing things, places and people out of fear of not being liked. Not fitting in. Not getting that job. Not being good enough.

Or perhaps being alone.

Are you tired of gaslighting yourself yet? Are you tired of always choosing others over you? Are you tired of turning away from deep intuitions, Gods simple blessings, the hunches that nurture you to your truest path? Are you tired of walking away from your highest good?

To be in a place of serving your highest good means to be in a place of nurturing ultimate fulfillment. It means to work toward your passion and purpose regardless of initial reward, dedicating yourself to honoring your truth, choosing a life of growth over comfort, expansion over contraction. It means deepening the relationship with yourself so that you can hear clearly the next step on your path. It means lingering in solitude long enough to hear the echo’s of Gods speech. And letting His speech vibrate through your being. That is what truth feels like. That is what choosing yourself feels like. Like Gods kisses are being placed along your spine. When waking up in the morning feels like a gift. When the earth and universe begin to nudge you in agreement, harmonizing with your existence. You are infinitely connected to the whole. Choose your truth.

Choose you.