Journey 5 Week 2/RVA and Week 1/Greensboro/Winston Salem, NC

Merry meet Friends!

Michelle here bringing lots of light and love

I AM WOMAN

Helen Reddy

I am woman, hear me roar

In numbers too big to ignore

And I know too much to go back an’ pretend

Cause I’ve heard it all before

And I’ve been down there on the floor

No one’s gonna keep me down again

Oh yes, I am wise

But it’s wisdom born of pain

Yes, I’ve paid the price

But look how much I gained

If I have to, I can do anything

I am strong (strong)

I am invincible (invincible)

I am woman

You can bend but never break me

‘Cause it only serves to make me

More determined to achieve my final goal

And I come back even stronger

Not a novice any longer

‘Cause you’ve deepened the conviction in my soul

 

Oh yes, I am wise

But it’s wisdom born of pain

Yes, I’ve paid the price

But look how much I gained

If I have to, I can do anything

I am strong (strong)

I am invincible (invincible)

I am woman

I am woman watch me grow

See me standing toe to toe

As I spread my lovin’ arms across the land

But I’m still an embryo

With a long, long way to go

Until I make my brother understand

Oh, yes I am wise

But it’s wisdom born of pain

Yes, I’ve paid the price

But look how much I gained

If I have to, I can face anything

I am strong (strong)

I am invincible (invincible)

I am woman

 

I am woman

I am invincible

I am strong

I am woman

I am invincible

I am strong

I am woman

On Thursday, I sent a message to my friend, Rev. Sonya Brown thanking her once again for the amethyst pendulum and the thought she put into the purchase.  I had looked up different gems and their meanings and the amethyst was exactly what I needed for this journey.  Sonya said she was in tune with my vibe, which she is.  I went on to tell her that I was, (as the young people say), feeling some type of way and to send healing energy.  Sonya asked me to send her a power word and she would beam it back to me for 24 hours.  I thought to myself, power word, hmmm and immediately “invincible” came to mind.

Earlier that morning I read the One Spirit affirmation about water and it reminded me of one of the phrases Sam Christensen used to describe me when I took his workshop in 2009, in DC.  Sam is the creator of Sam Christensen Image Design Process.  “The Process” as created by Sam is the widely known and innovative system that defines personal identity.  Many actors have used his process to define their “lane” so to speak.  My daughter took his class in LA and felt it was worthwhile for me to take.  I did and it was.

The phrase that I am referring to is “the intelligence of water”.  When I first read that out of the many phrases he gave me, I was almost offended, almost.  My daughter Kiya had me to rethink it.  She said, “Water goes with the flow, Mom.  It goes over, under, around and through any obstacle in its way.  It’s a good thing.”  So when I read about water in the OS post, I was reminded of that class.  The word invincible took me to the song and the wording of the song brought me back to water.

I have been faced with many obstacles in the past two years, as I am sure many people have.  These past three weeks have brought car challenges; not just the losing water but no longer having access.  I know I heard Spirit say take this journey and I haven’t heard to end it.  Whatever the reason is for undertaking the journey still exists.  It is definitely an obstacle to not have the car at my disposal but if I truly do have “the intelligence of water” and I do, then it is an obstacle that I can and will overcome.  It is less expensive to drive as opposed to the bus or train plus I can stop anywhere I choose if I drive.  But, where there is a will, there is a way!

Before I spoke with Sonya, I sent my friend Iliana, a text asking if she was free to have a conversation.  Iliana is a coach and was mine for 12 weeks before I left on my journey.  She has a way of getting right to the heart of the matter.  I am honored to have so many friends that I can rely on for advice and strength when needed.  Spirit does speak through them.  We spoke after my conversation with Sonya and I was feeling, oh I don’t know: invincible, maybe?  We still had a coaching session and once again Iliana helped me to “see” what I was feeling.  I am now speaking about the alone feeling.  Iliana said that when we raise our consciousness, we vibrate at a different level than before.  Others may be vibrating where they are and where I was, hence the alone feeling.  It was a reminder that I needed and she vocalized it for me.  It’s not a better or worse vibration but a different one.

I have been so anxious to get going on the next leg of my journey.  I’ve been feeling trapped especially without the car.  I didn’t understand why I was still in Richmond.  Of course, I knew that the car is a reason but I felt that it was taking much too long.  The gypsy bug is biting and I am restless.  To be completely honest, one reason that I wanted to get out of VA is because I felt that those reading the blog would only want to hear about exciting physical places.  But I am on a journey no matter where I am and no matter how long.  It has always been an inward journey even if it manifested outwardly. 

My intent in writing the blog is for me to have a record of my inward and outward journey and to heal from the experiences that I have had, through writing.   I invite people to read because perhaps my healing will help someone else to heal as well.  I, too, want to continue and will continue to go to new, exciting places and to have the adventures I had at Earthaven, however I feel that the most exciting adventure is the one taking place inside me.

On Friday, my friend Octavia and I drove to Greensboro to her sister Laurie’s house.  We came to Greensboro to attend a wine festival on Friday and a Juneteenth festival on Saturday.  When we attended the Funk Soul 2014 wine festival, the singer, Doby told us about the Summer Solstice festival at the Arboretum on Saturday.  I celebrate all of the solstices and equinoxes so I was definitely feeling it.  The soul fest was an outdoor event.  The food and music were wonderful.  When it rained we sat under the tent and continued to enjoy the singing.  I asked Doby to take a picture with me and she did.  She said she noticed me when I came in, (it was the hair), and she thought I was beautiful.  I told her I felt the same when I saw her picture on the flyer.  Goddesses recognize each other.

On Saturday we attended the Sumner Solstice festival.  It was a huge event with folks dressed as fairies and elves.  There were singers and dancers, a parade, a fire bowl, the releasing of butterflies and many other activities.  I had my face painted as a butterfly.  I love butterflies because of the transformation they undergo.  They start out in a dark cocoon as a caterpillar and emerge as a beautiful winged creature that can soar.  Since we also wanted to attend the Juneteenth celebration, we left to go to Winston Salem.

The Juneteenth celebration was not as large as the Summer Solstice but it was a nice event.  Periodically the voice of Maya Angelou would come across the loud speaker as she recited her works.  There were pictures and replicas of the slave ships that our ancestors were brought in to America.  It’s not comfortable to watch but I feel it is necessary for our history.  There was a jazz band which was very good, a natural hair show and a gospel group.  When it looked as if it were going to rain, we left.  We went by the house of a friend of Laurie’s whose father’s funeral was yesterday to pay our respect.  The weekend was very full but tiring.  We were glad to come back to the house to shower and relax.

Let’s see where my travels will take me next.

Until next Sunday…

Merry part and merry meet again,

Gypsi Mama Michelle