"Single Most Important Bit of Knowledge You Can Bestow Upon Someone"

Peace Asiatics!

So my sista Queen Zafirah, a regular contributor to the 14th Degree magazine, posted a question on the Nation of Gods and Earths myspace group, under the topic - What do you want to know about the N.G.E but were too afraid to ask - on June 9th asking:

"What’s the single most important bit of knowledge you can bestow upon someone coming into this?"

Only herself and two others had responded when I posted my answer. And my answer was really just an extension of Zafirah's because what she said, in retrospect, I KNOW was primary in my growth as a person and development as an Earth. Because of this, I'm compelled to ask this very same question as my blog topic for the week, also sharing with you Queen Zafirah's insight and my answer to her question.

Zafirah's answer was (and being that she writes for the mag on a regular basis and is an AVID supporter I'm sure she'll be peace with me sharing this... RIGHT ZAFIRAH??? LOL): "Being here and acquiring knowledge of self will not change you. There is no one here with 'special powers' who can summon the energy of the ancients and save you. What you get here are tools to save yourself. So when you walk in the door, your journey has only just begun."

I responded, specifically to the sistas, with:

"Remember that you are here to gain knowledge of SELF. This is not a religion any more than it is a God-worshipping culture. As women we tend to be about the man rather than the plan, be about the messenger rather than the message - this is why our numbers are so small, because we fall off when our relationships fail since we focused only on being Queens and knowledging our Gods, rather than focus on gaining knowledge of self and learning what it is to be women (rather than girls, chicks, bitches, hoodrats and the like), sistas, moons, Queens, Mothers of Civilization, AND Earths - what it means to portray or apply the traits of these various beings and what it takes to qualify us for each one of these titles/roles. Knowledge of God and being his Queen will only get you through the door - it is not a shield and he can’t save you any more than a mystery God can. Your receptiveness to knowledge and thirst to learn more and continuously elevate, and the effort you put in to apply what you learn, live righteously and achieve all the above is what will save you and power your elevation as a true and living Earth to knowledge your fullest equality (Earth-qualities). Stay elevated and keep elevating. This is the single most important bit of knowledge I have learned in living this culture."

So, not to bite the Earth, but to reiterate the importance of our sharing what we've learned, and especially what we know in retrospect, to be of the upmost importance in our growth and development, I too ask you to share with us...

"the single most important bit of knowledge you can bestow upon someone coming into this [the Nation of Gods and Earths]?"

Peace,
Eboni Joy Asiatic

Blink

Peace.

When I was in my 2nd year of graduate school at NYU, I took a Psychology of Music course in which we studied various psychologies and applied them to composition of music, as well as how classical and contemporary music can effect or direct us psychologically. During our final builds, we had to read a book and make a presentation of it. The book I chose was Blink: The Power of Thinking Without Thinking written by a brother named Malcolm Gladwell and had just been newly released at the time that I presented it (2005). I recommend this book to every conscious-minded person to at least do the knowledge to, and make a decision whether or not the information would benefit you or not.

The concept of the book is based on what he calls "rapid cognition," that in the blink of eye, we could make decisions such as what someone is feeling at the time, if it is the right job for you when its offered, buying a new car or house, etc. He conceptualizes through various examples that many times having too much information hinders our decision-making authority.

What made this book so interesting to me is that as God or Earth, we are always looking at things through our "third eye." This is where we draw up and filter truth from fiction, right from wrong, and where we should cognizantly be able to make our best decision. So, to me, to be able to add on to that the power of rapid cognition that Gladwell builds on, essentially has the potential to magnify our builds for making these sound decisions.

You can read more about Gladwell's book and rapid cognition concepts here

Peace
Victorious Lanasia Earth

Eye on the Prize

Peace and Blessings.

As of late, I have felt my cipher going and stretching in a million different directions, sometimes seemingly without organization, direction, or purpose. Just going from sun up to sun down doing what must be done to get through THIS DAY - rarely thinking about the next day, or the next year. Many of you know how it goes. You do what you have to do for your children. Bills are paid when you can - you juggle your career, childcare, school (or homeschool), educating our selves, refining our homes, tending to our Gods/Earths, building on Nation business, all while never or hardly thinking of manifesting our own blueprint for the future. What usually deters us is lack of financial education and/or resources, little to no emotional support, motivation, or even where to start.

However, as I come up on less than 6 months from my 37th bornday, I find that I am starting to look at my cipher with more distinct foresight. I need to assure that my daughter and any future children are secure, well-educated, and have the necessary faculties for the world when I'm gone. I want to spend my future years in my heaven with a cipher full of people who love and support me and I, them. I want to be assured that I am building monuments from my blueprint to reach my goals, successes, and "prizes." To do this, I know that I need to focus, be diligent hold fast to my goals and keep my "Eye on the Prize."

This year has been very transitional for me with many health changes, cipher changes, and just general refining and working to better myself and family. In doing this, its impossible to not begin to look at my goals for a year, 5 years, and 10 years from now - in essence, writing my history or Quron for the next 25,000 years. So, I have begun to employ certain methods to help myself begin working on my goal:

=======

1) "Eye on the Prize" - What that means is to remained FOCUSED, diligent, steadfast, and flexible in what that goal is and the resources needed to reach it. I strive to not tunnelize the direction of getting to that goal and understand that environmental and financial changes may mean altering my direction.

2) Stay Motivated - Motivation is probably the most crucial factor in reaching our goals. What is the purpse of reaching this goal? What do we see ourselves getting out of it? How will it benefit my and/or my family? Knowing and building on the answers to these questions will allow me to further clarify and reach that much closer to my goals

3) My personal Cheerleading squad - These are the people in my cipher who I share my goals with and who are there to support me, offer ideas and resources, and also be there to cheer me on when I read the end zone with the ball in my hand.

4) Create a Personalized Action Plan (My Cipher Blueprint) - I will sit down and clearly define my goal, the resources I need to get there, and the steps I plan to take to reach it.

5) Visualize the End Result - Anyone who has ever sat through my "Creative Visualization" workshop knows that one of the most motivating factors of reaching our goals is actually SEEING ourselves in the end result. If the goal is to lose 5 pounds, you visualize yourself in that divine dress you have been striving to fit into, enjoying a healthy meal with your friends and family all telling you how great you look.

These are just a few of the ways I have begun to embrace in keeping my eye on the prize.

What are some goal-reaching suggestions do you have have?? Share a goal with our staff that you have recently achieved and how you successfully reached it.

PEACE
Victorious Lanasia Earth

My Neck... My Back...

Peace -

So I just did a crazy bout of Spring Cleaning this Sunday. I was moving stuff around and cleanin carpets... closets and kitchens. Even hooked up a stereo system. What I noticed was that after wards...my back was KILLING me. I had a horseriding incident that messed my hip up when I was 16 and then it never really healed properly.

While I do try to get to the gym regularly it's not always easy. So I thought that perhaps I wasn't the only one in this predicament. Below - is a list of easy exercises that can be done at home or work to strenghten your back.


Back Hyperextension:

How to do the Exercise: Start by lying face down, then raise your arm and head with the oppostie leg. If done properly you should feel a stretch in your lower back. Finally, lower your leg, arm, and head to the starting position at the same time.

Band Back Lat Pull Downs

How to do the Exercise: This exercise band lat pulldown exercise can be performed by tying the elastic/exercise band around a stationary object from up close to the ceiling and then sitting on the ground with your back straight. To begin grab the two handles and bring the elastic to your side (as shown) making sure that your lats are doing the work (along with your biceps). This is an excellent exercise if you do not have a lat pulldown machine.


Dumbell Bent Over Row

How to do the Exercise: Stand with your knees bent and your torso at a 60 degree angle. Now with the weights fully extended in your hand bring them straight up to your chest contracting your shoulderblades fully and then inhaling and slowly returning to the starting position as shown.

I can say that the above have helped me in the past with my back and I am going to start doing them once again. Take care of yourselves.

Peace

QCZ

Midnight Train to Jo'Juh

Peace Family -

I just recently came back from a 14 hr drive. Chicago to NJ. By myself, with the seeds. Just hopped in the car and went. I love the freedom that I felt of being able to just pick up and go... and the children had a ball!!! I remembered the WHOLE journey... which is significant because that means I didn't have to black out on them once. lol. They colored and read and sang songs. It was a beautiful time.

A few women I know said they wouldn't or haven't traveled that distance alone. It seemed odd, or scary or just... not of interest. I have no problem with picking up and going however. Because if we wait on someone else to do it or go with us... it may never happen right? I have always been an advocate of moving, living, being whatever and where ever you want. By taking that ride... I had a long time to think about my priorities, my past, my present and future. It was theraputic and it freed me so to speak.

What journeys have you taken on your own that maybe some may not? Either mentally or physically? What would you recommend to any of us that may prove to be positive in our lives?

Peace

Q. Civilized Zag

Show and Prove Memories

Peace,

With Show and Prove 2009 right around the corner, I started to wonder about my experiences at each one that I've atteneded since 1998. Wow! My first thought is Hot!, then Family!, then The Babies! and more. I remember my first Show and Prove was a little overwhelming. It was Hot, Crowded and full of Love. I wore a yellow headwrap that was the worse fabric that I could've possibly worn on a day like that. It was hot and heavy. :-) Since then, I've learned my lesson. lol What is your all-time favorite memory of Show and Prove Past?

Peace,
Devotion

Raising Our Babies in the Hood

Peace,

Growing up in NYC has given me the opportunity to see many things. One of these interesting things is how parents in the “hood” raise their children. I think I’ve seen it all from putting lip gloss and a pocketbook on a little boy to mothers sleeping with their son’s friends. I know this seems simple to many of us, but for single parents, those with little money, those living in “the hood”, those raising children with special needs or exceptional challenges, or just being a parent with no damn common sense, it could be an especially troublesome road to navigate. Often it becomes a trial and error process, because there is little guidance available on the subject. I am doing research on the subject and want to know, What dumb sh&% have you seen parents do and what advice would you give to parents raising children now-a-days? Do’s and Don’t Do’s ? *Remembering that we are talking about parents in the hood who are trying to survive day to day, while having limited resources. They may not have the option to expose them things like art classes at the finest art schools, international sleep away camps, etc. They need some real live, tangible advice on how to raise their children. What should all children know when walking the streets? Ex; Stay in groups, make sure you have ID on you, etc. Consider the lessons you’ve learned while growing up.


Peace,
Sci-Honor Devotion