Keeping 120 Relevant, or is it?

Peace. First of all, Happy 2010 to all of our readers and followers out there. On behalf of the staff of The 14th Degree and Beyond, we thank you for your support of our Blog and magazine over the last year and a half. We are continuing to build and renew our history with you, for you, and for US as a collective and we build that you continue to ride this wave with us.

In on our last blogs, Eboni Joy asked you all if you still get anything out of our blogs and what, if anything you want to see moving forward. A few of you gave great feedback and we will definitely be looking at the blogtalk radio, and in general, keeping our role in your ciphers relevant. Thinking on that, brought me to another questions (which relatively ties to where we want to go with our magazine) and that is,

HOW DO YOU KEEP 120 RELEVANT IN YOUR CIPHERS, OR IS IT?

For me, I am not memorization guru, and I frequently have to find myself renewing my degrees because I start tripping over them, combining them, or just completely drawing a blank on them. Many of you know what I mean? But what I've found is that in renewing of my own qu'ron, that that is usually the beginning and end of it - memorizing the degrees. I KNOW that we should internalize them, absorb their meaning on different levels, and build on how it applies to us...yadda, yadda, yadda. However, in all honesty, it become redorick after a while. We are in a day when single mothers are not nurturing and rearing their children properly because we are busting our ass 10-12 hours a day just to make sure the basic needs of food, clothing, and shelter are met...with little to no additional support. Our Black Families are crumbling because our Original Men and Original Women who come together in the name of love, still do not know how to sustain it long term, or even how to initiative a serious committed relationship based on communication, trust, and devotion. Our Original Men are struggling to find employment in this economy, while still struggling to support their babies, women, and selves by progressing themselves through education or trade training. How in the world can 120 help with these daily challenges we face?

I can't tell the next God or Earth how to keep 120 relevant for them and some would answer questionably whether it even is or not. However, what I DO know is, that arguing over whether the knowledge knowledge degree of the 1-14 says "shall" or "will" won't teach your babies or keep the rent paid... but rather, the degree itself may be able to help you set realistic goals for 2010, start looking at GED or University programs and scholarship opportunities to pay for them. UNDERSTANDING the degree may help you find ways to improve the relationship between you and your mate by re-affirming your bond and commitment to each other, or attending a couples retreat together.

As the times change, so must our ability to apply change within our ciphers. When I look at my lessons now, I tend to spend equal, if not more, time on how the degree will help me better myself and my family in more practical terms, rather than just simply memorizing words on the 4 corners of a page.

So, I ask again...HOW DO YOU KEEP 120 RELEVANT IN YOUR CIPHERS, OR IS IT?

Add on.

PEACE
Victorious Lanasia Earth

PS - Also, stay tuned for our Winter 2009-2010 14th DEGREE AND BEYOND Magazine...out this month!!