I couldn’t do it with you,
so I’mma do it with somebody else.
Listen.
Cornea
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Category Archives: Art
KWANZAA AFTER DARK: DAY 4
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Reflecting on the days of Kwanzaa…
Kwanzaa After Dark is about reflection. After you’ve spent the day doing the Afrikan rituals within your community, go home and think about how you, as an individual can change.
We all come from the cradle of civilization. We all can support Kwanzaa. Why don’t we? Think about that.
Thank you for visiting.
Shila Iris,
KWANZAA AFTER DARK: DAY 3
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Habari gani? This is the question you ask your family, friends, and community at the beginning of each day of Kwanzaa. In the language kiswahili, it translates to “What’s the news?”
Your response is simply whatever day of Kwanzaa it is. So this morning, you responded: “Ujima!” Tomorrow you respond “Ujamaa!”
DAY 3 – UJIMA: COLLECTIVE WORK AND RESPONSIBILITY
Peace and blessings manifest with every lesson learned,
Shila Iris ♥
P.S. Divide and conquer has been a very useful tactic in taking from people of Afrikan descent. We can fight this! Let the circle be unbroken. Fix yourself, so that we can all be together. I’m in my healing flow, you know?
Word is Bond [9]
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… music that inspires higher stages of consciousness…
Modern-day proverbs and thoughts by Shila Iris ♥
Thank you for visiting.
I See God In You…
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“I want to go to a place where I have nothing and everything, that exists between here and nowhere. I want to go to a place where I’m suspended in ecstasy… I want to go to a place between dark and light, where wrong becomes right. I want to go to a place where time has no consequences. I want to go to a place where I can hold the intangible, and let go of the pain with all my might. I want to live inside the glow.”
To my dear family…
… and to anyone who wants to wake up.
Judith, Dalmira, Rosemary, Lesley Marie, Zarina Asha aka Tamika, Kavel, Gregory Wayne, Alexander, Eric Seth, Aaron, Brandon, Bobby, Imhotep, Kitwana, Kwame…
India Arie is on tour ya’ll!
My intentions are pure, I assure you. I am filled with gratitude, appreciation, and truth. Peace.
Thank you for visiting.
I am Shila Iris 
Word is Bond [5]
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Modern day proverbs and thoughts by Shila Iris
Thank you for visiting.
We Come in Pairs
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“Love is expressed by constant care and attention.”
He, the water
And I, a seed
He nourishes me
so plentifully
I am not independent
I am dependent upon
knowledge of self
Upon being in harmony
with a complementary twin force
I am not alone
We
male female
masculine feminine
spiritual physical
emotion reason
day night
left right
positive negative
above below
heaven earth
Sun Moon
I consume truth like food
for the soul, I
align with Mother Earth
the Universe, the Creator
We come in pairs, no opposites
complementing and completing
bringing solidarity to water
I disallow myself to interfere
With this love I have
Stay in flow
embracing all moments
with reverence and respect
for the apple in my first eye
I’m burning the program
changing the frequency
as the red pill turns blue
Art by Justin Copeland
he and I function so wonderfully
as his will-to-power and authority fade
the innate, he comprehends
“sticks in a bundle are unbreakable”
We are saving our own lives, in pairs
Baby, king, leader, father, friend, my man
I believe in you like I believe in me
Whatever it is, we will work through it
Our issues, our solutions, are One
I go hard in Love
delete, start over
I’m here for the death and the awakening
For this unicity
I got you,
in reciprocity
Trusting my reflection
through his protection
I, the Earth
and he, the seed,
plant him, in me…
After the Solstice…
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“One good thing about music, when it hits you, you feel no pain…”
-Shila Iris w/ Bob Marley
Everything I Need
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I’d love to have you join me next Saturday for a unique Wine Tasting! Everyone is welcome!
Dress in your Afrikan garb so we can take some fine family pictures. If you don’t have any, please, come as you are. Peace and Joy!
Purchase tickets here or pay at the door.
Shila Iris aka Honey
Throwback Tonight: Happy Kwanzaa!
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Tonight we dance!
The symbols of a culture, a heritage of humanity, mean a lot. When they begin to disappear, be very concerned. So, the moral of the story is: wear your color, wear your art, wear your culture to remind you of where we been and we’re going. Don’t give up. Sankofa!
Besides, color is so dope!
I stay woke,
Shila Iris aka Honey
!
The Water
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The water heals
so, I swim deep
the depth of it all
just seems so out of reach
so I fetch, dig deep in my memory
the spirits rise, so again I can see
at the bottom of the ocean
in Labadi beach
The horses, they come for me
I am the master of this ceremony
new life, new mind
3 dollars and 6 dimes
Cause the woman that knows something,
knows that she knows nothing at all
Change
-by Shila Iris
Mood: Jesse Boykins III
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If you don’t know him, you should. Try him. I did, and I am very pleased…
Birthday: February 20, 1985 (Age 32)
1.Jesse Boykins III & MeLo-X: Black Orpheus…
“I played her heart strings…”
chase Jesse with Eric… “Met her at Howard, lived in the Towers, same floor that I was, which did allow us, to sit and talk for hours, in between dealings, and all this unveiling, clearly there was feelings…”
2. Eric Roberson: A Tale of Two
Eric’s Birthday: September 25, 1976 (Age 40)
chase Eric with Raheem… “I’m so proud, to have a lady, a Queen who wears a crown…”
3. Raheem DeVaughn: You
Raheem’s Birthday: May 5, 1975 (Age 42)
Raheem with Bilal… “I wish I was drug free, sometimes…”
4. Bilal: Sometimes
Bilal’s Birthday: August 23, 1979 (Age 37)
and Bilal with Musiq… “You’re my baby, my lover, my lady. All night, you make me,
want you, it drives me crazy. I feel, like you, were made just for me baby…”
5. Musiq: So Beautiful
Musiq’s Birthday: September 16, 1977 (Age 39)
and then, with your last glass of wine before bed… “You won’t regret it no, no
Young girls they don’t forget it, love is their whole happiness, yeah, yeah, yeah…”
6. Otis Redding: Try a Little Tendeness
Otis’ Birthday: September 9, 1941 (deceased at Age 26)
Jesse. Eric. Raheem. Bilal. Musiq. In that order. Otis. ♥
Peace and joy,
You got me… I am Shila (pronounced Shy-lah)
Whenever I got lonely, or needed some advice, he gave me his shoulder, his words were very nice…
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I picks my friends, like I picks my fruit,
and granny told me that when I was only a youth,
I, don’t walk around trynna be what I’m not,
I don’t waste my time trynna get what you got.
I work at pleasing me, cause I can’t please you,
and that’s why, I do what I do,
My soul flies free like a willow tree…
Fruit…
He brought so much excitement to my day. Spending hours in my cypher, he began to write poems, inspired by the way my mind floated. He remained untainted by false profits, and listened to the elders. He meant what he said. He said, he’d see me through my healing. He was strong. He needed me, just as I needed him, sustained by my unpredictable existence, he levitated in the walls that I cultivated- orange and red hues, with yellow overtones. My creations empower. I am the water bearer, the loyal one. Blossoming spirit, they desire, but I chose him. I swallowed his insecurities, and I deciphered his anger. He gave to me purely, without expectations.
I am Shila Iris, life-sustaining…
The Orijin Store – Amazing African Accessories
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Look closely at this bag. Now scream! This is absolutely beautiful. For a person like me, who loves African and African-inspired fashion, I feel like I hit a gold mine. Sistas and brothas, you must indulge in this greatness.
Today is Friday, and perhaps you have some extra cash, or disposable income left, and want to reward yourself for a goal that you accomplished. Well, this is the way to do it! Check out the Orijin Store! I am all about African fashion and this company hit the nail on the head with this line of amazing accessories.
Ori j i nal Design, Culturally Inspired. Visit Orijins website to see the full collection of bags, glasses, and signature clothing. Given my beliefs in living the Nguzo Saba 365, this is a purchase I can be proud of because it’s for us, by us. You can share in this greatness too, if you’re ready. Sure, break the rules! 🙂
I will be getting one of these amazing bags. Based on my experiences with leather, the price is really good – $169. I think you should go for it. I love, love, love it. No pressure, though, you don’t have to love it. Just give it some time. I’m sure you will.
Shot out to Orijin for supporting my art on Instagram. Much love. Peace.
You can find them on IG @orijinculture and I am @kushqueendom
I’m sending signals to your mental, so we can connect… see you soon,
Shila Iris
My Introduction to the Wu-Tang Clan
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The year was 1997, and online music was no where to be found. Most of the world experienced solid, art-based hip-hop through Rap City, Video Vibrations or through either the Vibe, Source, Right On! or Word Up! magazines. My older brother was a hip-hop nut! He introduced our family to this raunchy, fun, yet highly political style of beat-based poetry. When I saw my first Wu-Tang video, Triumph, I was so intoxicated that I wanted to be a rapper. The intensity of the lyrics made my heart percolate! The fast-paced imagery tugged at my youth, urging me to be free. The 10 men I saw on the screen were raw and oddly intellectual.
They seemed to be well-read, open, and real. They were from another world, far away from where I was from. The beats were right up my alley. I was intrigued. The music of Wu-Tang has taught me that we can’t sanitize Black life, making it appear to be easy, and we cannot not alter our stories to please others. Life is what it is. Give it to them raw. I feel blessed to have seen them perform live. It was a fun experience. I also saw the solo performances of Ghostface Killah, and last year I saw GZA perform in Akron, Ohio. RZA had a book talk at the public library, where he shared parts of his personal life story, talked about the business side of Wu-Tang and explained his book, The Tao of Wu. These men are such heart throbs! Their ability to be honest makes them all the more attractive. Whenever Wu-Tang is in town, I will be there, no doubt. The Clan is an ultimate example of the Nguzo Saba aka 7 Principles of Kwanzaa. If you ever see me in the gym, nearly falling off the elliptical, it’s because I’m listening to Triumph, and I have gotten so lifted, that I’m in another world! Be careful when you listen to the Wu. Peace.
Thank you for reading,
ShiLA IRiS
Orbit 