Day 12 – Ogun
I need physical activity today. I haven’t been drumming so I can feel the need for a power move today. I am also made aware that some Ogun work is needed today. Something tells me that I am in for an intense session today.
Week two is when I began to settle into the vibes of Ghana whenever I travel here. It is the time when I look around and say, “I can do THIS.” But as quickly as that enters my consciousness, images of my family jumps in and says, “Not without US!” LOL! So, there remains the conflict of putting in long stretches of time here in Ghana. Noone’s fault. It’s my reality that dictates how I move between Africa and the States. I will be a traveler back and forth across the Atlantic for some time to come until the day comes when I have family here with me.
As I moved through the early part of this day, preparing the chalets and yard for the arrival of our guest, Jenifer, I started feeling like this is not going to be too bad. Ogun just needed me to move around and knock some things out, here and there. And then as I was finishing up a meeting with Sista Esther I looked down towards the beach and was reminded by the mini forest there that I wanted to have that cleared. At least clear a new path down to the beach because of the regular path being so steep and choppy from the rain. I kept telling Kofi that I wanted that done and he kept telling me that he will get some guys to do it. Now the worse thing for me to do in this instance with Kofi is to get out there and do it myself. So we are down to the day before leaving for Accra and he is in painting mode. Where are the ‘landscapers’? “Kofi, where are the machetes?” Actually, I have been asking for them for a few days now. He answers me with, “Do you want to cut the trees yourself?!” No, I just want to see how well you have kept them…Of course, Knucklehead! Well, he finally brought them out and now I keep looking at them and the forest. Then I get caught up in another meditation or task. I look at Ogun’s tool again, and then the forest and walk up to the trees and feel the thorns that are jetting out of most of the branches. I walk back and take a seat as if spirit is going to jump up inside of me to START this job. I see that after me sharpening one machete, Kofi has called one of our OYC boys up to start the job. I know he is panicking, because his Mothers he fears his Mothers will CANE him if anything happens to me. LOL! The young boy is our biggest youth, standing about 6’1” and built. He is 17 and his name is Paul. I took him in myself last year with his Brothers. Paul is very respectful and has a humble demeanor, but moves a bit slow. UNLESS there are plates of food in front of him, I heard. LOL! So, now I am watching Paul make slow progress and I feel Ogun coming on. I sharpened the blade more and made my way to the forest. I said my prayers and chanted my songs, now it is time to blaze a path to my goal…THE BEACH. I called Paul over to me because I knew the path that I wanted to create. So we went at it. I started off somewhat slow and was making slow progress forward because with each swipe, I was scraping up my hands. I was thinking, wouldn’t that be something if the leaves on these trees and bushes were for healing cuts. That’s what I made myself believe as the back of my right hand was dotted with blood. I had to remember my Ogun dance to help me make faster progress, because I will not feel accomplished if I don’t move this along more efficiently. The dance teaches you to hold the weeds, tree, or bush in one hand and bend it over as you whack it with the machete. I remember having to do it over and over in that little room in Brooklyn. I was thinking, why do I have to keep doing it over and over when I know I am doing it correctly?! Then the Elder told me to look at him and WHOAH! The crazy face that he had on him knocked me back a bit; but I GOT IT. So, I put the face on and it sure nuff brought the force behind those whacks more intense. But still something is wrong because I get the bending the trees down thing, but what about all of these DAMN THORNS?! Then I took a look at slow Paul and he has two long thick sticks that he’s using to bend over the bushes and trees. WHAT?! They didn’t teach me THAT in Brooklyn! LOL! So, I got my stick and IT’S ON! I got the face, the stick and I’m clearing like I have a machine in my hand. I knew I had the face because Paul’s expression on his face as he got caught standing there looking at me, looked just like my expression when I saw the Elder’s face in Brooklyn. Ogun is HERE.
Now it is time to ‘work’. I’m planting my feet firmly IN the ground and allowing my roots to settle in so that I CANNOT be moved. I am only moving forward towards my goal and vision. When I swing this machete, I’m removing whatever it is that is in my way. I am removing all obstacles that make it difficult for me to see my way to my goal and vision. I have solicited assistance but am willing to take this task on myself, because the vision is that important to me. I’m not worried about the scrapes and cuts that I receive. The manifestation of the vision will far outweigh them. I was IN IT. I even told Paul to go take a water break because I knew that Ogun was about to start barking at him and his slow movements. I was now alone for sometime in the forest and I was able to dive IN for a bit to unlock more secrets. I asked about the challenges of my right hand. It was becoming tired and somewhat sore. I began to feel like it would slow down my progress and make me feel as though fatigue was going to block the manifestation of my goal. Shango came in very briefly and said, “DRUM.” Immediately, I looked at my left hand and said, “Thank you Shango.” I switched the stick and machete in either hand and went back to Ogun. WHAT?! Like BUTTA! It’s a wrap. I turned because I heard something and it was Paul with that expression on his face again. I turned back and smiled…I’m in the right side of my mind and still GOT IT. I was thinking about the concept of sacrifice and perseverance. Is this fight and work really worth the energy today? As I got closer and closer, I could hear Yemoja sending her waves stronger and stronger. We’re getting there and I am more and more encouraged by the progress and the sound of Yemoja. But I am still pondering, am I psyching myself out to think that this mental exercise is worth the struggle? Is what I want to see, feel, hear, experience from this vision really worth all of this work? Then with a few more Ogun whacks, I see Yemoja. The feeling of accomplishment and conquering my anxieties overwhelms me and I just stop and stare for a moment. I looked back at the work and thought about all those that will be able to walk straight to the beach as they experience the beautiful flowers and forest habitat on the way. I thought about the physical fitness that I just put myself through that will help me to endure my journeys ahead. Then I look back at Yemoja and smiled. Yes, Mommy Waters, it was more than worth it. It is Divine. Then one more glance back I looked at Paul as to say with my eyes, “You see?!” And he looked at Mommy Waters, as to say, “AND?” I guess maybe the work wasn’t so Divine for Paul, but I’m sure there is a goal and vision that he lives with that will be well worth his struggle and perseverance.
Yes Family, it’s always good to go to the right side of the brain when we get too caught up with logic and THINKING so much. The creativity and subconscious flow, resides there. We need to balance out our mental state at times by changing up our thought process and allow the right side to dictate our movements sometimes. I don’t know what creative activities you like to engage in, but it will help when you DON’T feel like what you have been thinking about or trying to figure out, will help to manifest your goal and vision. (Vibe on it a bit. LOL!)
Fortification Time! ACCRA!
“I’m awake, I have worked, and I’ve been blessed. It’s Time to Take me Home”
Love Family
