Habari Gani, everyone- and a Happy New Year to you all!

When this post goes live I will most likely still be in my bed, as my beloved and recover from the nerdy masquerade ball we'll be attending New Year's Eve.  So I wanted to make sure this was ready for you- our last day of Kwanzaa, and our last Principle: Imani [or 'Faith'].

Habari Gani, everyone?

Did you miss Part !?  Part 2?  Part 3?  Part 4?  Part 5?

It's New Year's Eve!  How has the time flown by so quickly, huh?  But just because we're all ready to say 'good riddance' to the collective dumpster fire that has been 2017, that doesn't mean that we are done with Kwanzaa!  In fact, as we make the transition to 2018, I think this is one of the potent times to really consider today's Principle: Kuumba [or 'Creativity'].

Habari gani everyone?

Did you miss Part 1?  Part 2?  Part Three?  Part Four?

Yes I know this entry was late, but honestly when I sat down to write this last night my eyes felt like they were seconds away from exploding out of my skull.  So this is a belated Day 5 of Kwanzaa post [and you'll be the getting the last two on time to compensate!]

So, yesterday's Principle was Nia ['Purpose'], where we are asked “To make our collective vocation the building and developing of our community in order to restore our people to their traditional greatness.”

As I mentioned before, keeping in mind that Kwanzaa is a hella-Black festival, the emphasis in the last part of that phrase is critical.  'Restore OUR people to their traditional greatness.' No doubt it's pointing to the times before our ancestors were treated as chattel and goods.  Before the centuries of colonialism, slavery, apartheid, etc. stripped us of everything that made us great as a people.

However I think that that is a struggle that is hard to articulate in a tarot spread- at least, not here.  For Kwanzaa is about pushing forward and making the future better for those yet to come. And thus, that's the direction I went with the spread for Nia.

Habari gani?

Did you miss Part 1?   Part 2?    Or Part 3?

We're almost at the end of 2017 [holy shit] but only at the halfway point of Kwanzaa!  Today's Principle is Ujamaa ['Cooperative Economics'], where we are asked "To build and maintain our own stores, shops and other businesses and to profit from them together.”  This particular Principle might be amongst the most important for us as members of the African Diaspora to consider- especially in today's sociopolitical climate.
But let's deal with the spread first!

Habari Gani everyone!

​Did you miss Part 1?  Or Part 2?

It's the 3rd Day of Kwanzaa, so our principle today is Ujima ['Collective Work and Responsibility'].  Essentially we are asked  “To build and maintain our community together, and make our brothers’ and sisters’ problems our problems and to solve them together.”

I'm only able to offer you today's spread however.  I had a long day where I went from work to rehearsal immediately afterward... and also had an week-long injury/muscle sprain flare up to the point where certain movements just suck.  So I'm going to go to bed now and hopefully some rest and a heat pack will help!

The only thing I'll point out with this spread is that the point is to see how everything is connected- our trials, tribulations, achievements and victories.  That philosophy is what Ujima is about.  So while the obvious connections are there between cards 1-2 and 3-4, consider all 4 positions in the spread as just one facet of the same picture.

​I'll see you all tomorrow~

Habari Gani?

[read pt 1 here!]
It's the second day of Kwanzaa, so our new word for today is Kujichagulia ['Self-Determination'].  It encourages us to name and define ourselves, and to create and speak for ourselves.  I feel like this particular principle is the easiest one for me to grasp, so I wasn't too surprised to see that coming up with the corresponding spread was relatively quick as well.

​Happy Holidays everyone!  I trust that you all had a wonderful time celebrating whatever holiday you hold dear with your loved ones.
Today is Boxing Day and thus, the first day of Kwanzaa!  As part of my personal journey into exploring my own African heritage, I found it important over the last few years to start studying Kwanzaa for myself.  created in 1966 by Dr Maulana Karenga, it's more of a cultural festival as opposed to a religious or spiritual one- so literally the only prerequisite to celebrating is having some of that sweet Melanin in your blood~  but everyone should learn about Kwanzaa anyway, so that's what these posts will be about!