The Conjure Woman by Charles W. Chesnutt Reflection

 

This felt like like home. I heard about this book a few years ago but I didn’t know just how close to home it was. North Carolina. It’s encouraging me to sit down with my elders and to listen to them talk. Just have them talk about their lives and stories they’ve heard. Stories that have been passed down to them. I know my family knows. I know there’s a lot of interesting history that our “Uncle Julius” has to share. Our history is not something we’ve ever talked about. I think we’ve been so set on living our lives that we’ve never talked about our family history. It’s time. I enjoyed all the stories in The Conjure Woman. Throughout, I smiled, felt angry, then felt sad...however, my favorite story is “Mars Jeems’s Nightmare”. This is the story of a recurring daydream I have. How awesome it would be for people to experience just a few moments of someone else’s experience: for hateful people to experience the hate they give, for dispassionate people to experience the impartiality they lend, for oppressors to experience the lack they offer...we would have the pleasure of living in a much more harmonious and loving world. It could be so beautiful. 

Rolling in the Deep - Adele 

Alright - Kendrick Lamar 

John the Conquer Root - Toronzo Cannon

The Memory Librarian: And Other Stories of Dirty Computer Reflection

When I saw Janelle Monae: Dirty Computer in 2018, I was like, "that girl ‘gon write a book and then turn it into a series!". I felt it.  Four years later I saw, “The Memory Librarian: And Other Stories of Dirty Computer” by Janelle Monae come to fruition. (Look at that intuition workin’!)  On The Daily Show with Trevor Noah in April she hinted at a series. (C’mon, intuition!) 

I thoroughly enjoyed reading The Memory Librarian. I saw myself in most of the stories. I’ve always low-key wondered, “am I a dirty computer?”. Even though The Memory Librarian And Other Stories are set in the FUTURE, I felt everything in the present moment as I was reading. Every thing from the PAST that had accumulated in my life up to the moments I was reading that book were being felt in my space/soul/existence at that PRESENT moment. Even one of the characters and I share a name - “Ola-Ola-ay!” 

I see myself in a lot of the individuals throughout the collection of stories. In particular, “Timebox Altar(ed)” is live with divers aspects of me. Ola, especially, is me. Not to toot my own horn, but I’ve been practicing how to big up myself, so, here we go...She is/I am compassionate and understanding. Her curiosity is my curiosity. Ola’s intrigue is my intrigue. 

                                                                                ~                                                                                    

I used to think that I needed so much - so many material things - to manifest what I needed and wanted in my life. I realize now that I am all I need and that I am valuable as I am. I am vital to the world. Most of all, I am vital to me.  

This is what I consistently remind myself of.  These words have helped me grow tremendously.  My spiritual, mental, and overall health have improved by using these words as I speak to me in my mirror.  I was reminded of these words as I read about Mx. Tangee.  

As soon as the white-robed, coppery scarf-wrapped Tangerine Waters/Mx. Tangee entered the scene, I felt. Me. Of course, at the point of her entrance, I didn’t know anything about her, but I felt me. The talk of altars - which I have been drawing on for 11 years now; sacred land - which I am much more comfortable with than I have been; mojo - which I have experienced the power of; and creation - which I have found pride in, made me feel alive. My word of the year is “action”. That’s what Mx. Tangee made me feel. She spoke of intention. Ola represented the north traveler. That’s what I’ve been working towards - trying to understand the lessons that my north node have to teach me. I just recently began to understand how important intention and action are to each other. They are literally bound together through cosmic matrimony. Carrying intention and action with me over the past few years has shown me an awesome reality. (Those details will come some time later.) 

Intention + action + my altars have shown me how far my mind can lead me into creating and living my own reality. I have envisioned so much. I thoroughly enjoyed “The Memory Librarian” and now keep as a reference and reminder to my own memory and acknowledgment of self. 

You Are Valuable - Terrell Grice featuring Janice Freeman

I’m All I Need - Beautiful Chorus

Take Up Space Sis - Toni Jones