FEMININE MELANIN RICH! “Reclaim, Restore and Repair” |
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Great uprising Griots, Storytellers and Divine Souls! International women's month, a time to show love for the energy that is feminine. To show respect for our creator, to honour the melanin feminine rich energy of the universe! This energy for the most part has been responsible for protecting us, feeding us, teaching us and guiding us as we walk our path of purpose. |
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Artists impresson of Buchi Emecheta |
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Friday 9th March 2018 in honour of international women's month, having been commissioned by the leadership foundation, I ran a self empowement storytelling workshop for middle eastern women. It was the first time I had sat down with a group of women like this, 95% wearing hijabs. I know nothing about these women other than they are women. I came with my preconvieved ideas as did they. I introduced myself as Griot Chinyere and definied my name, outlining my principles, clarifying my path of purpose and how I work with my ancestors to achieve my goals. I talked about the leadership roles I have had; one being captain of the netball team and another being director of shadow puppet company. I also talked about the leadership roles I currently hold which include being the Artistic Director of Shanti-Chi and most importantly the leadership role I hold as a Mother. I stated that in my humble opinion the important characteristic of leadership is the knowing of self. I shared my observations of comparing ourselves to others. Women comparing themselves to Men, One culture comparing themselves to another. This comparing habit showed a lack of self esteem, self respect and self knowledge. Comparing ourselves to others means we always see our lives through the lens of lack as opposed to abundance. We focus on what we do not have instead of what we do have. We use our lack as a reason for non progression instead of using our gifts to enable us to rise and shine. |
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In England we have a saying "keeping up with the Jones", it means whatever our neighbour has we want. They have a green car we want one. They have a blue carpet we want one. They earn £100,000 p/a we want to earn it also. We have little to no idea how happy or disappointed they may feel about life but we just see their mateiral gains. And because we spend so much energy focused on the "Jones" we have little to no idea of who we are, why we are here and what our prupose is. That being the case how can we hope to be effective leaders. Leaders that serve the greater good of the universe of our community, of our family and of ourself. I shared the sexism I faced while I studied for a B'Eng in Aeronautical Engineering at City University London. I was surrounded mostly by men. Just for banter they would wind me up. If we were in a debate and they were loosing or could not find a reasoning or simply to undermine me, they would dismiss my responses by saying "you are a feminist", "your are just a woman", "your place is in the kitchen". I must admit it did get me mad. There came a point where I had to sit with myself and really consider why it got me mad. Did they have a point, was I a woman fighting to fill mens shoes because society encouraged me do so? Was this my form of keeping up with the Jones'? |
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Map reading training on the Feminine Rise Equinox Retreat March 2018 |
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After my deep and considered mediation on the matter, after speaking with my mother and a number of ancestors, women and aunties, I discovered who I was as a woman. When the day came for them to throw those phases at me again for the upteenth time I responded. I am not a feminist. "Yes you are", came the reply. "You want equality". I am not a feminist. I am a woman. I seek not equality with a man. I am a woman. I have a womb. I carry the spirits of my ancestors in my womb. I give birth to the next generation. I nurture the future. I am feminine melanin rich. I gave birth to humanity. I am responsible for creation. I am a woman. I have no desire to be equal to a man. I am a woman. I am the womb of creation. To seek equality with man would be to think less of myself, to lower my status to undermine my purpose for being. I am no feminist. I seek not equality. I gave you life. I have the power of life and death over the energies that come into the world. The well-being of the feminine energy is the well being of the nation. All sacred beings come into this world via a womb. I am a wombman. |
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Images from the Feminine Rise Equinox Retreat March 2018 |
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The women sitting before me on this leadership training, listened intently to my declaration and once I had finished they gave me resounding applause. My preconcieved ideas of women in Hijabs as being complient, docile non-challenging was wrong. They knew what time it was. There universities had paid for them to travel from their mother land to England to attend leadership training as part of the Aurora conference. They asked me how my relationship with the men after that continued. I said, I was surprised. All the mocking of being a woman stopped. We had sensible beautiful authentic conversations. They stopped being defensive and opened up to me. I listened to men in a different way. It was no long female vs male. We found a respect for one another. Some revealed to me that when a woman knows who she is, it makes life easier for them as men. They admitted that they do take liberties if allowed to do so. They want to be kept in order with love, guidance and strength of a woman. It led me to innerstand that if we focus on deepening our knowing of self, knowing of our principles, be authentic and live by those principles, call on the wisdom and protection of our ancestors, explore the divine laws of the universe, align with the natural forces of the universe, know the difference bewteen what we want and what we need, to be authentic, innerstand our ability to bring into fruition that which we need to walk our path of purpose, we can stop trying to keep up with the Jones' and become true leaders. As a storyteller, theatre director and Chigwa practitioner I then took the women through a series of exercises to put into practice the great leadership ideas we had discussed. It was challenging for us all and yet so satisfying because action speaks louder than words and practice makes the impossible possible. Divinely yours Griot Chinyere xxx |
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NEXT NIGHT RAMBLE I think about the conversations I could have had with Winnie and it makes me sad to know that it not going to happen. I just thought she would be around for ever. Date: Friday 20th April 2018 Time: 7pm - 9.30pm Venue: Meeitng Lewisham DLR station Cost £10 for further details call 0758 222 8967 shanti-chi.com |
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SHANTI-CHI PRESENTS Nne Agwu pre-Festival Gathering TASTING THE MAGIC - Last chance to enter Short Story writing competition
- Storytelling and writing exercises for all to join in
- Mesmorise your senses with the magic of storytelling.
- There will be an Inside and outdoor roaring fire to keep you warm
- Raffles - Prizes and Surprises
- Meet the Nne Agwu Team
- Come and ask questions about the Nne Agwu Festival
- 3 STALLS available at £15
- SHORT STORY WRITING COMPETITION GUIDELINES
New Date: Friday 11th May 2018 Time: 4pm - 9pm Venue: Bears Wood Scout Hall and Camp, Osward Courtwood Lane Croydon CR0 9HJ REGISTER FREE TO ATTEND "TASTING THE MAGIC"
Stall hire and further details contact: 0772 081 6360 |
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SHANTI-CHI PRESENTS Nne Agwu Afrakan Festival - early morning yoga separate sessions for children and adults
- over 18 storytelling, drumming, creative workshops daily catering for all
- Professional storytelling performances every evening
- Around the fire and under the stars sessions
- Night walks
- Afrakan Market place
- Healthy delicious food
- Well being practitioners
EARLY BIRD ENDS 18TH MAY 2018 WEEKEND PASSES, DAY PASSES, GROUP DISCOUNTS, - Adult (18+) weekend pass £120 Early bird £108
- Young (12+) weekend pass £60 Early bird £54
- Child (7+) weekend pass £10
- child (child 6 & under) FREE
- 10 or more Adults / Young people recieve 10% discount
DAY PASSES TENT HIRE, DORM HIRE! BOOKING DETAILS CLICK HERE ENTREPRENEURS - Weekend Stall holders pass £150 Earlybird £120
- Weekend Well-Being practitioners pass £150 Earlybird £120
- Weekend Caterers pass £200 Earlybird £180
ENTREPRENEURS BOOKING CLICK HERE EARLY BIRD ENDS 18TH MAY 2018 |
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