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soul-service:
“FOUR PENNY DIVINATION
(Please be advised that one should be initiated before consulting/reading with coconuts or pennies)
This divination technique is based on the practice of “throwing coconut,” which is probably the method of...

soul-service:

FOUR PENNY DIVINATION

(Please be advised that one should be initiated before consulting/reading with coconuts or pennies)

This divination technique is based on the practice of “throwing coconut,” which is probably the method of divination used most often in Santeria. The four-penny technique presented here is independent not only of all religious aspects of Santeria, but is taken out of the context of all religious practices entirely. The four-penny divination is a quick, handy and accurate method that can be used by anyone.

Throwing coconut involves tossing four pieces of coconut (the meat of the coconut is usually used, but the shell can also be employed) to the floor to obtain a response to queries. This will result in one of five possible patterns falling based on how many pieces fall face up and how many fall face down. The patterns and their interpretations are:

Alafia - means, “yes” and predicts peace and happiness but this is a tentative answer. If alafia falls, repeat the process of tossing the coconut. If alafia falls twice or if it is followed by ellife or itagua, positive outcomes are predicted. If alafia is followed by oyekun or ocana-sode, the potential for negative outcomes is great.

Itagua - means yes but is also a tentative answer. If itagua falls, there has generally been a mistake in the divination procedure. The question may need to be reformulated. It is also possible that the topic of questioning is not the topic of true concern.

Ellife - is the strongest and most definite answer and indicates peace and the most positive of outcomes.

Ocana-sode - means no and indicates the possibility for negative outcomes.

Oyekun - is a very strong and severe form of no and indicates high potential for extremely negative and undesirable outcomes.

There are specific procedures that are followed when throwing coconut, including precise ways to refresh the coconut pieces, specific chants and salutations made to the orishas. The coconut becomes the voice of whichever orisha is being consulted. Eleggua is the orisha most often addressed in this procedure. Pieces of coconut, which break or have crack are never used when speaking with the orishas.

The four-penny technique preserves the use of four objects, which are used as a focal point by the person doing the divination. The essence of the meaning of each pattern above remains the same. The difference is that the pennies (any evenly weighted object with two easily discernable sides so that the patterns can be read with merely a glance so as to not interrupt concentration and the flow of the process can be used, I recommend coins because most people will be able to locate four coins at a moments notice wherever they may be) are not acting as the voice of deity, but instead, will act as locators for information. As each pattern falls in response to a query, it is like the call number in a library catalog system and is a guide to finding the exact information desired.

To do a four-penny divination, get four pennies and hold them cupped in your palms. Let the pennies adjust to the temperature of your hands and become familiar with the way they feel, their size, weight and shape. Once this is done, begin to shake the pennies in your hands and focus on the sound and feel of them as they jingle. Do not become entirely absorbed by the pennies, but think of them as the conversation you are having with the people you’re sitting at the table with eating dinner in a restaurant. The pennies, like your dinner companions, have your “main” attention, but you can still hear the conversations of people at other tables on the periphery of your awareness. Even though you are aware of, and can understand the background conversations, you are not distracted from the conversation at your own table. Once you have reached this state of dual awareness, you can have the querent begin asking about their areas of concern. Repeat the question while shaking the pennies and as you finish speaking, toss the pennies to the floor. As you glance down to see the pattern, you will find yourself able to reference the information pertinent to the query. As you continue with the divination, you will find that, if the querent is someone other than yourself, you will be able to formulate the questions, which should be addressed by the divination without their input.

The basis of the four-penny divination is in achieving a fluidity and expansion of awareness. The information people seek when they perform divinations exists in what some call the “Akashic records,” this technique facilitates a change in consciousness, which allows access to the information.


http://www.cantrap.net/divination/divination.html

shareddreamingexperiment:

help-small-businesses:

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yea bud! i was on the grind nonstop for a few months until my body said haha watch THIS! and took me out of work for 3 weeks

(via donutbitch)

arandomthot:
“Need this kind of support in my life
”

arandomthot:

Need this kind of support in my life

(via donutbitch)

Anonymous asked: You're a little obsessed with yourself, aren't you?

andrewquo:

well no one else is gonna do it

naturalcurlenvyllc:
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naturalcurlenvyllc:

#events #fall #shopping #sipandshop #gifts #swagbag #sell #buy #christmas #christmasgiftsideas #weship #soulfood #soaps #bathandbody #publishing #cbd #cbdoil #clothing, #marykaymakeup #pursesforsale #charms #desserts #cakepops #cupcakes #sangria #dmv #cancerawareness #NBCF #love #godisgood
https://www.instagram.com/p/B2d8NXaJODq/?igshid=zuokuq6fkslx

11/29 Pleasure Principles: Exploring The Medicine of Pleasure for Black Women Convo Resources

blknwld:

In this conversation, we discussed our definition of pleasure, our relationship to it, what we have been taught about pleasure by our families and social institutions, how to create a pleasure practice in real time and how Black Women in pleasure act as a healing and revolutionary force for ourselves, our friends, our lovers and our communities. During the chat I (as well as a few attendees) shared a few medicines to work with in order to facilitate pleasure in our lives. Here’s a recap of what was shared:

Herbal Therapy for Pleasure 

Mother Earth provides for her children because she wants us well and she also wants us to experience pleasure, happiness and joy. The following herbs have resonance with pleasure. Not only do many of these herbs strengthen the nervous system to facilitate ease, relaxation and receptivity in the body, they serve several emotional and spiritual functions as well.

  • Lavender: Gives a sense of peace and stillness in the mind and body, relieves tension, aids in getting unstuck from old mental habits, eases shyness, self consciousness and embarrassment by engendering relaxation, calms frustration and irritability, an aphrodisiac that attracts male lovers, resonates with throat and third eye chakra
  • Rose: Known as the Queen of the Flowers, promotes an appreciation for beauty and pleasure of all kinds, balances yin energy in order to give an overall sense of well being, promotes self love and compassion, supports the ability to heal from rejection and deep loss that inhibits openness to pleasure, joy and happiness, aphrodisiac that helps to embrace sensuality and sexuality, inspires creativity and fertility, promotes heart chakra healing
  • Damiana: Aphrodisiac in nature, promotes a sense of groundedness for full embodiment and presence, provides energy and vitality in the face of exhaustion and fatigue, arouses feelings of lust and desire and awakens sexual appetite, facilitates the healing of sexual hang ups, inhibitions and trauma, promotes creativity through activating vision and inspiration, resonates with sacral and third eye chakra
  • Lemonbalm: Promotes joy, happiness in the heart and good cheer, chases away melancholy, grief and sadness, promotes creativity and self expression, works to address the inner child and mother/feminine wounds to cultivate goddess energy, works in strengthening/healing the heart chakra
  • Chamomile: Calms the mind and body, relieves feelings of anger, irritation and overheating, soothes inner child wounds, assists in releasing frustration around not having wants and needs met, gives a nurturing mothering energy, assists with tendencies to over-control and promote letting go in a healthy way, promotes comfort with receiving what others have to give, supports a sunny disposition, resonates with solar plexus and throat chakra
  • Jasmine: Aphrodisiac in nature and reawakens the sensual/sexual nature, especially when it has been repressed by fear, frigidity and anxiety, reawakens feelings of desirability, beauty and attractiveness, helps address feelings of inadequacy, promotes creativity and feelings of being divinely inspired, supports intuition, promotes rest and high quality sleep, resonates with heart chakra and third eye chakra 
  • Ylang Ylang: Helps address and eradicate fear surrounding pleasure, sensuality and sexuality, promotes reconnection to the body and to the senses, uplifts and relaxes the body and mind, quells inhibitions, assists in relieving depression and anxiety, resonates with the heart and sacral chakra 

Explore the herbs in whatever way you see fit. Not only can these be enjoyed via formal medicines like teas, tinctures, flower essences, yoni steams etc, they can also be incorporated in magickal/spiritual workings, baths, aromatherapy, smoke blends, in self/body care products etc. Something as simple as burning a candle or incense with the fragrance of the herb can be healing. Simply be sure to research your herbs first and consult with a medical professional before ingesting. 

Breathwork 

The element of air is crucial! The body has to breathe. Many of us are not breathing deeply enough and therefore our bodies are not fully alive, fully engaged or fully primed for pleasure. Make a practice of breathing deeply, all the way down through the stomach and the genitals. Tonglen Meditation is an example of breathwork that not only helps us circulate air throughout our bodies, but also assists in transmuting undesirable energy and teaches us the art of giving and receiving. 

Inner Child Work

Many Black Women were robbed of the opportunity to just be girls. Therefore many of us are disconnected from the part of us that is carefree, imaginative and light hearted. Inner child work can help to reclaim this aspect and reacquaint us with what delights and satisfies us. Taking time to consider what you used to enjoy as a child/what you always wanted to do/be/have as a child is a simple yet powerful piece of shadow work that teaches to play and imagine our way back to pleasure, aliveness and pure joy. 

Chakra Engagement 

The health and functioning of our feminine chakras (energy centers) play a large role in our ability to perceive, receive and experience pleasure. 

  • Sacral Chakra: The seat of creative power, stores our emotional experiences and those of our ancestors, deals with relationships, the ability to connect, the ability to feel and experience pleasure. When balanced we are juicy, comfortable with our sensuality/sexuality, able to experience healthy relationships of all kinds, have good emotion regulation and good taste and are able to give and receive pleasure with ease. We are able to play the role of the Empress. When out of balance, there can be shame, guilt, fear, codependency, martyrdom, self denial, issues with addiction, frigidity and disengagement from the senses that inhibits the ability to experience satisfaction and pleasure. This chakra is supported by staying hydrated, spending time by water, movement of the body, making time for creative self expression and leisure, yoni steaming, herbs such as ginger, cinnamon, cardamom, orange, ylang ylang, jasmine and crystals such as carnelian, citrine, orange calcite, tiger’s eye and moonstone.
  • Heart Chakra: The connector chakra, speaks to our ability to give and receive, holds genetic, ancestral and past life memories, deals with issues of self worth, deservedness and self esteem, helps us perceives beauty in ourselves, in others and in the world and speaks to upholding boundaries. When balanced we are able to receive just as much as we give and experience reciprocity, feel worthy and hold ourselves in high regard. We can show up healthily as the lover, of people and of live. When out of balance we may have poor boundaries, an inability or refusal to receive, experience relationships with unsatisfying power dynamics, a poor self image, be plagued by the issues of our ancestors/our past life selves and a lack of appreciation for the beauty of life. This chakra is supported by loving affirmations, exposure to beauty and culture, honest communication and connecting authentically with others, herbs such as rose, lemonbalm, sandalwood, bergamot and mint and crystals such as rose quartz, rhodonite, rhodochrosite, chrysocolla, malachite and pink opal.
  • Third Eye Chakra: The place of vision, speaks to our ability to perceive beyond our 5 primary senses, deals with our ability to dream and allows us to correctly discern. When in balance, we are able to receive intuitive messages from our bodies about what is pleasurable and good for us, imagine new possibilities for lives and instinctively know the truth. We are able to rest in the energy of the High Priestess. When out of balance, we lack vision, are prone to deception by self and others and disconnected from divine intelligence. This chakra is supported by meditation, dreamwork, healthy sleep and rest routines, prayer, visualization, herbs such as mugwort, lavender, frankincense, passionflower and holy basil and crystals such as herkimer diamond, amethyst, lapis lazuli, lepidolite and clear quartz. 

Ancestral Practice

Living in pleasure is an intergenerational affair. We inherit many of our beliefs, thoughts, emotions and patterns around pleasure from our ancestral lineage. It can be extremely impactful to bring up the issues of pleasure, happiness, joy and satisfaction at our altars for healing, insight and wisdom. Consulting with the ancestral mothers (and the daddies, too) can help us heal and untangle intergenerational traumas for ourselves and for our dead. Many of our ancestors did not have opportunities to experience the pleasure we now have access to now and they want us to get our inheritance. If you are interested in learning how to begin/nurture an ancestral practice, we recommend checking out the following reputable practitioners and priestesses:

A Little Juju Podcast  @Jujubae

Satarra @iamsatarra

Iyalosa Osunyemi Akalatunde @got2boshun

Negarra A Kudumu @negarraakudumu

Astrological Moon and Venus

Planets in astrology represent psychological impulses and can shed light on how we receive pleasure, what we deem pleasurable and how we can get our needs met. The planet Venus is the planet associated with affinity, our tastes, preferences and likes, style of connecting, how we give and receive affection (love language), receptivity, femininity, aesthetics and sensuality. The moon is associated with the body and its cycles, physical and emotional needs, our natural instincts and what is inherited through the bloodline, particularly through our foremothers. Taking time to explore the chart can assist in getting us acquainted with what we want and what we need to maximize the pleasure we experience in our day to day lives. I recommend checking out the following astrologers for more information:

The People’s Oracle (Sidereal Astrology)

Samuel F. Reynolds (Tropical Astrology)

Sagittarian Mind (Tropical Astrology)

Books

We stan a book over here. These are suggested reads from me and a couple of the beautiful ladies who contributed to the conversation.

“Pleasure Activism: The Politics of Feeling Good” x adrienne maree brown 

“Please: Radical Self-Care for Wild Women of Color” and “Pussy Prayers” x Black Girl Bliss 

Chakras and Their Archetypes: Uniting Energy Awareness and Spiritual Growth x Ambika Wauters 

“Urban Tantra: Sacred Sex for the 21st Century” x Barbara Carrellas 

Fascinating Womanhood  x Helen Andelin

The Herbal Alchemist’s Handbook: A Complete Guide to Magickal Herbs and How to Use Them x Karen Harrison 

New Post has been published on http://www.naturalhairjunkies.com/fighting-covid-scalp-and-the-quarantine-blues/
“Fighting “Covid Scalp” and the Quarantine Blues
This post is long overdue. Covid 19 has been wreaking havoc on our lives, routines and...

New Post has been published on http://www.naturalhairjunkies.com/fighting-covid-scalp-and-the-quarantine-blues/

Fighting “Covid Scalp” and the Quarantine Blues

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This post is long overdue. Covid 19 has been wreaking havoc on our lives, routines and normalcy since March of 2020 – We’re now coasting to the end of 2020. Here are some tips to fight Covid Scalp and the Quarantine Blues.

*This is NOT a judgement post; it’s a simple reminder for all of us, Myself included, to wash & love your hair (& self).

Fighting “Covid Scalp”

What is Covid Scalp? Covid Scalp is what I’ve been calling what our scalps are exhibiting at this time. It’s dry scalp and dandruff, itchiness, possible scalp psoriasis flares and more; that come from stress and the lack of sticking with your pre-Covid hair (and skin) routines. Yes, that white coat of powder in your hair? THAT!!!!

Many of us, myself included are dealing with hair issues we haven’t experienced since the beginning of our natural hair journey. And Covid is definitely to blame for that, since we are no longer living in what was once normal times. Because of this, it’s time to truly get back on schedule.. How you may ask?

But We’re Quarantined…

Yes. In America, and most places, we are still on a mandated quarantine. And for many states (and countries) we’re aiming towards another total shut down as states start to scale back how “open” outside is. And you are being affected by Covid and the holidays, it may be a bit harder for you to (re)find your groove.

A Simple Tip: Just Wash Your Hair

Speaking for myself and sharing my own journey, my schedule has changed so much. Everything changed, teleworking and distance learning. The change really had me NOT keeping up with my routines. My hair routine went out of the window. In April, I installed mini twist in my hair and after a couple of months with them installed. I made the lazy decision of just letting it loc because I didn’t have the time to try to rip and pull them apart. At a point, I was washing my hair religiously, every week or biweekly and then I just stopped.

One day, what eventually pushed me to truly get back on track was just stepping into the shower and just washing my hair. There is something therapeutic in the act. Just getting on track and washing my hair.

New Covid Scalp Routine

Choose a shampoo and wash your hair. Condition your hair with whatever conditioner you have in your shower. We’re just trying to make this process as easy as possible. We’re really just trying to start simple and find our “new” groove. After you shampoo, oil your scalp and seal in some moisture. Keep it simple. Do it often enough to prevent “covid scalp” or to clean it up if you just let it go too far.

Start taking care of yourself. I know many states, including mine, are going back into lockdown. And seasonal depression is out here and popping. But seriously, give yourself a bit of grace and understand that we are STILL in the midst of a pandemic, and many of us are NOT as acclimated or okay as we pretend to be. We just have to find small methods of getting ourselves back on track and find our ways back into our rituals and self-care routines.

Peace, love & light

Sie.