Daily Toast- Kujichagulia 328171 ( redefine the story)

Peace FAM

Here we go, another great day and a new filming technique that I have been working on. Hope you like the effect. Now to redefining the our story. On this day of Kujichagulia we are given the gift of re- framing our experience in this country. We can stick with the old story, but we have to ask the question, has it helped us. If the story is not helping us in our goals of rising in this country then we need to step back and re-frame them. I have been struggling with this for a long time, because our story maybe limiting us. Along with the studies on PTSD, and PTSS we also need to identify and look at those studies of individual and groups who have developed PTG (Post traumatic growth). There are studies on individuals who have been through traumatic incidents and have grown dramatically because of the incident. They have learned to draw strength from their trauma that has catapulted them into a new frame. They appear to prosper inspite of what they have been through, and I believe we can do the same. We need to look deeply into our story and use the power of mental alchemy to transform them into what we need rather than weights that hold us in place. We are in a unique place and time in history simply because you are here. You and your story are what we have been waiting for. We need to look at the hero mythos and realize that every hero went through trauma that turned him/her into the historic person or legend that we know. We are unique because we have a whole group that has been traumatized, and continue to experience trauma, and I am simply suggesting that we begin to re-frame it in away that is empowering to us as a group and even more importantly as individuals. This constant waiting, begging, borrowing, and needless suffering needs to stop.
Checkout the video and let me know what you think.

Daily Toast- Imani 319171 Imani (Faith is the power behind Resurrection)

Peace FAM

I wish you a great Imani, and pray that everything is going your way. On this day we salute our ancestors and align ourselves with our other worldly allies. Keeping in mind the proverb that we are working with in this week "Let shame come upon those that would hinder the rising of the dead", I want to remind you about our short discussion from yesterday about the power of Kuumba when it comes to resurrection. Now as we move into Imani I want to stress that today's principle is what provides the fuel for resurrection. Imani is required in this process, but must be applied properly. It is beyond just believing, but carrying oneself in a way that shows that you know that resurrection is possible. When we know something, and act as if we provide the extra force required to bring something into existence. Some just believe and that is it, but faith requires action to be activated. in the process of resurrecting something we have to believe that it is possible, but also know that it is and will happen. The lack of action in our belief systems is what stops us from attaining what is possible. When we just sit around and wait in belief we are only fulfilling half of the equation, and  hopefully we know that half of an equation solved is equal to none of the equation being solved. With all that being said I challenge you on this day of Imani, put the action with your belief and resurrect your life, your dreams, and those around you.
Also today I take you through the brewing process for "That Ambrosia", or at least a portion of the tea brewing process. I use a cold brewing method so I use no heat in my process, so enjoy the video and feel free to leave comments.
Nuff said
Peace & 1hunidyears

Daily Toast- Kujichagulia 221171 (To much of a good thing)

This was my first session with my new phone, and it is unbelievable. I mean it is so good the camera is great, the speakers are outstanding. I have 64 gigs to use plus another 64 gigs on the sd card. So now i'm ready to go, or so you would think. My camera is to good, it picks up all the light, and makes all the videos at least from the selfie side look shadowy, so I cut off lights, and my black self disappear. I guess you can have to much of a good thing. I'm not complaining on this glorious day of Kuji (this days nickname). Kuji and myself have a real great relationship. Kuji has helped me mold myself into who I am and will help me get to where I am going. She will do the same for you.
In a prior conversation I spoke with you about setting up small steps/goals to build your faith. Now let's use the same process for Kuji. A short term goal is to push myslef into a split before the summer. A small goal that has been a life time challenge. I figure if I can get my old body  down into a split by summer, you can do something incredible, but small as well. Kujichagulia shares the day with the law of  Correspondence and the Maatic principle of Justice. The power of Kuji is the ability to define (which for our Journey is of the utmost importance), to be able to look at the world and put your stamp on it. Not just to make crazy claims, but make assesments for yourself so that you can analyze and build your view from the information present. Kuji also brings determination into the picture which is another powerful tool, especially when the pain starts. Please know that when you start to pursue your goals, defining the world for yourself and your community, you are going to experience pain, and you will need determination to pull you through.
It was Kuji that pulled our ancestors off the plantation, and forced them to run and not give up. It was Kuji that helped us build Oasises of hope in the mist of deserts of despair, and then rebuild them when our enemies destroyed them.
Today I do not believe that we are giving Kujichagulia the focus it desreves. We have fell into viewing the world from safe angles and places of comfort. Safety and comfort does not provide the enviroment that innovation, and growth require. Kuji requires you to get familiar with her as she runs you through your paces, because will hurt, and will suffer, but you will achieve your goals.
I got off on tangent, but I want you to take some time and toast this marvelous day.
Great Kujichagulia

On Purpose

Stop surviving and start living. falling from one event to the other. Allowing outsiders to determine where you go, and what you become. Find your purpose and be on it.

Give Yourself Permission Listeners

I would like to welcome all of my new listeners, thank you for joining the Journey. Together we will explore the world, better ourselves, and accomplish our goals. When I first started #giveyourselfpermission I did not expect to build up a network so quickly. I stress the word network because that is what we have become. Daily you tune in and give me the blessing of your time, the gift of your listening ear and I just open my mouth and pray that what comes out will help, and inspire who ever tunes in. This show is yours and by investing your time you create the content. I have decided to throw another hash-tag out to mark our territory, #asmilethenamile. This hash-tag is how we will be able to share our progress on the Journey with each other. I encourage each listener to begin your own program of personal mastery. I chose to meditate for at least 10 minutes which brings a smile to my face, and then I hit my mile run which takes me about 10 minutes. These small steps are my personal way of mastering myself. Now as a a member of this team I would hope that you create something similar for yourself. I stress doing something when you wake up that will make you smile like meditation, prayer, mirror exercise, sing a song, say a verse from a favorite book, write a poem, post something in your journal or something else you create. By starting our morning with a smile we generate a energy that will build in our lives and help attract what we are seeking for our life. The smile is a symbol for us that sets our mindset for the day, and gives us control.We start our day on a positive note that is self generated, and relies only on the creative power that was granted to us  by our Maker. Then we take this positive mindset out into the world spreading a energy that can balance out all the negativity that may come our way.
After we set our smile we move into our physical activity that takes the smile from a simple mental aspect of our personal development and move it into our body. Now I choose to run but you may chose some other physical workout. I recommend that you set your goal for at least 10 minutes (because it takes me around 10 minutes to run a mile). You can do yoga, jumping jacks, walk, push-ups, sit-ups, or what ever physical activity you feel. Just make sure it is something that you can do on a consistent basis. Start small and work yourself to your goal.
As you start to implement this program you will begin to see small changes in your life, and the more you do it, the more personal power you develop.  To help each of us I have have created the hash-tag #asmilethenamile that we can post at the end of our sessions detailing the accomplishments we have made each day. I will monitor this hash-tag and begin to announce each of your accomplishments along with your name so that we can begin to follow and inspire each other. Once again I want to stress the fact that this is a network, and by us helping each other we can do nothing but grow.
Here is an example post that can be used on g+, FB, or twitter:
I just walked on the treadmill for 10 minutes #asmilethenamile
I woke up and started writing in my journal #asmilethenamile
*The smile- is a symbol for mental well being that is brought on by a personal action that a member of the Journey has taken.
*The mile- is a symbol for the physical action that a person on the Journey takes that stimulates the body that last between 8-10 minutes.

Nuff said
peace & 1hunidyears

Professionalism Vs. Mastery

Are you a professional or a master? At first glance they may appear to be the same but when we look at their roots and motivation they are not. When we take a look at the word "professional" it is a person who practice a skill for a livelihood.  A "Master" on the other hand is someone who pursues a passion, and develops a great skill  in what they do. Today the problem is that we have to many "pros" and not enough "Masters". A Professional can be driven by purely financial gain. They may not have a love for the art that they practice, they do it because it pays the bills. They may have been forced into their field by life circumstances, they may have showed some natural skill, or just following a family tradition. The key ingredient of a "Master" is missing, the love of the art. It is the love that separates the Master from the professional . It is the love of the "Master" that generates advancement in his or her craft. A "Master" is driven to perfect their skills because of their love, and more than likely is held in the field by this love and would do it without being paid.

Living in a society where the love of money is elevated over all things, then Professionals will rise up, and look at their skill as a simple commodity rather than a gift that is to be shared with the world. Don't get me wrong everyone should be compensated for their skills, but when compensation outshines everything else the art suffers. We get "pros" that are more interested in stacking cash  rather than taking there skill to the highest heights. "Pros" become stuck in old ways of doing things and their sight can be limited by what can produce more income rather what can help more people. Innovation begins to fade as we lose "Masters" and we get stuck in cycles that eventually decay and fall apart because it is the love of the art that moves the craft forward.

The question that those on the Journey need to deal with is are you moving toward "Mastery" or are you simply a "Professional". In Mastery your craft becomes part of your life because you love it and find away to mix it into your every activity. I know this sounds strange in culture where we work hard to save money for vacations so that we can escape our work and in some cases our lives. We are taught that a job is a chain that holds us back, but for those "Masters" out there we know that we were born for our craft and our craft is reborn through us. So work is life, as a matter of fact it ceases being work and becomes something beautiful. You know that you have found your craft, or skill if you could actually work on it for absolutely free. When this path is taken one does not have to look for the money, but the money will find you. Of course their will be hard times, but you will pull through them if you stick to it. 

Find your path and begin your Journey.... become a Master, we have enough Professionals.

Nuff said

Peace & 1hunidyears

The Player's Pyramid PDF available on Gumroad

I have finally made the PDF of my book available through Gumroad.com, check it out and thank you for supporting the Journey. Just follow the link to get your copy:
The Player's Pyramid


*"The Player's Pyramid" is still available as a book at my bookstore on createspace.com just click the cover: