Men and women are miniature universes…

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… who reflect in their balanced relationship the larger universe.

It is important that we gain knowledge of who and what we are in order to be in a balanced partnership with another. You are the UNIVERSE. Study it. It is our nature to be together, not with many, that is a form of imbalance, but with a twin spirit. And by twin spirit, I mean the person who will compliment your existence. If you look at the concentric zodiac calendar, it can sometimes be the person completely opposite of you. What I’ve come to find is that often times, this person won’t be like you, behaviorally. Of course, you’ll share similarities, but they will be the other side of you, and together, you create a whole. We’ve been trained to be narcissists, looking for someone just like us when by Universal Law, that doesn’t measure. It isn’t so natural. With a twin spirit, you love them for not being you! You are enamored by their gifts, as they are yours. The two of you represent balance. Different sides of the same coin. It’s so beautiful to find peace in a union like this!

The G.U.N. = God, Universe, Nature = 1

Whatever the case may be with who you’re with, the important thing is for you to be at one with yourself, and then co-create, harmoniously, with one person at a time. It’s healthy to be able to connect with a person in a spiritual way whereas you’re not involving or running to many many people for validation. Let go of drama. In order to see this, you’ll have to be willing to be alone. If you’re already married, find a space to be in silence daily, for as long as it takes to connect with and love yourself.

Being by yourself allows you to hear the most important voice of all, yours, and in you, is God. Meditate. Embrace being in a state of solitude. It isn’t easy, but it is the most rewarding experience, for in this silence, you’ll hear the voice of God, and, you will hear and see yourself. Be quiet. Sit still. Listen.

So grateful for a Sunday afternoon, in the park, filled with butterfly kisses…

peace and joy!

Shila Iris

P.S. By being in solitude, I gained this uncompromising love for myself. It’s unconditional. And now, I reflect that love out into the world, in a reciprocating manner. I no longer feel confused and challenged by other people’s truths or realities. I embrace the All. I feel free! And I’m growing and changing the traumatic patterns in my DNA constantly. Must we all?

As not to decipher my rights or my wrongs, he cried with me, and this was empowering…

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He knew I didn’t have the strength to ask, so he offered
Letting go of cliches like “a closed mouth don’t get fed”
He decided to feed me instead

To bring light to my day
To empathetically morph into my existence and look out my eyes,
his eyes

He became me, and when he did

he became clairvoyant

seeing right through and into

he felt my heart beat like it was his own

And rather than judge, he offered all he had

Pulled me out of the water
when I was drowning

This is more than love
This is a force of nature

Thinkin’ bout you…

P.S. Because sometimes tornadoes interfere with hurricanes… I am a hurricane,
and because there are those of us, who offer life, over and over, from the cradle to the grave, and back again.

I am Shila Iris, for now…

drawing above by Jamaican artist, Donovan Nelson

I am Eclipsing

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“Don’t be satisfied with stories, how things have gone with others. Unfold your own myth.”  – RumiEclipse

i am the moon, eclipsing

i was not waiting in darkness for you to bring me light,
my world was already bright
but I am obliged that you have added to my majesties
with simple acts of faith

teacher, no preacher
lover, no hate
brother, no enemy
adventure, no drama
truth, no contradiction

allegiance, no opposition
bravery, no blame
harmony, no aversion
human, as in nature.

that’s what you are.
A mariner.

I am not blinded by your light,

i can see.
i can see my mistakes.
i can see, I am great.

clearly,

you are free.
And you make me,
want to be,

an explorer.

of myself,
of my individual wealth.

thank you for unleashing,
this dreamer inside of me.

i am the moon, eclipsing

spinning on the earths’ axis
my day, my night, is mine.

moth to a flame,
my experience, i claim

rising, OsiRis.
the sun belongs to me,

me, myself, and I,
my holy Trinity.

by shila iris

NatureToday, I am inspired by my dreams of Khem. I feel like I was there. Explore.

Queen OSiRis

5

 

There are people all around us, but all I can see is you…

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Just want to share some poetry with you...

Just want to share some poetry with you…

Enjoy!

Shila Iris aka Kush

What I am reading today: Goodbye, Sweetwater by Henry Dumas

Goodbye Sweetwater: New & Selected Stories

More poetry by Kush: Not Loving the Lies

6

 

 

I think I’m in love with a woman… wait, maybe several of them!

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Yes, I love the ladies! These sisters know how to bring the fire! Check em’ out.

DYNASTY, this lyrical beast, IS MY MAIN CHICK RIGHT NOW!

“Listen to the MC when he spittin’/ if he represent the elements, he’s furthering the mission.”

Dynasty

Dynasty

Not only is she super cute, but her lyrics are amazing. Definitely deep and dope! CLiCk here to hear. FORGIVE, Live at FUNKFEST, MAGNIFICENT, EPIC. WEBSITE

____________________

SA-ROC, the rap genius, IS MY SIDE CHICK! She is intoxicating and most definitely untouchable. However, she is my “go to” and I would actually choose her over my main! How can I say no? Have you seen her? What’s so great about her is that her lyrics are not surface. You have to dig deeper and deeper and deeper. So be prepared to experience truth.

“My grind metaphysical/spiritual/hustler/I’m a wild seed like Octavia/Butler/they study my demeanor/ trynna get my lotus poles/drop a cool 16 with my poets prose/Like I’m Nikki/definitely not Minaj/Giovanni!”

Sa Roc

Sa-Roc

CliCK here to hear. BLACK GOD THEORY, QUEEN’S PHILOSOPHY, DEMON DESTROYER, THE SLEEPING DOGON GIANTS. WEBSITE

____________________

AKUA NARU, rapper and poet, IS MY AROUND THE WAY CHICK! I will travel far to see her because her presence is water to my flowers and food for my soul. She is refreshingly sophisticated and mature. Above that, I admire her career because she has been successful with promoting her music around the world. I also love to hear her smooth voice. I think I need her. Smile.

Akua Naru

Akua Naru

CLIck here to hear. HOW DOES IT FEEL NOW?TALES OF (WO) MEN, THE FLIP. WEBSITE

____________________

THE LES NUBIANS ARE the sultry WOMEN I LIKE TO WATCH. They are gorgeous, melodic, confident, and super eccentric in such a great way. I’m loyal to them- always. Oh my! Check out the way their bodies move! Pure hotness! They will forever have a place near my heart. Peace and love to them.

Les Nubians

Les Nubians- a bit blurry, but one of my favorite pics

CliCK here to listen. LIVE, MAKEDA LIVE, AFRODANCE. WEBSITE

Bonus! Check out Ms. Lauryn Hill. I really believe that we need to stop judging this sister here. I’ve noticed that people have been so quick to dog her out! Damn,  chill already! She just got out. Let her find her voice again. It can be hard to put up with the bullshit that comes with success. Let’s allow her to breathe. 

Thank you for stopping by! Remember to keep an open heart and an open mind. Have fun.

Reading: LET YOUR MOTTO BE RESISTANCE by Deborah Willis

Let Your Motto Be Resistance: African American Portraits

– Shila Iris aka Kush

Being Free

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Walk like a queen, think like a goddess…

I really like Natalie Stewarts’ poetry. I prefer this type of deliverance more than others such as slam or spoken word. This is slow and sensual, allowing us to think and grasp the words. I dig.

Being Free – It’s Poetry

The reality is that sometimes I am open

I am open to the world around me

The people I see inspire me to be the best that I can be

I am open to the man or the woman that is aware of my love vibrations

Understanding that I am not moved by lust or lack of trust

I am moved by the soul acceptance and the humility that oozes out of your heart

Judged mistakes make it seem like you think that you are better than me
It’s a sad reality that you choose to be bothered by my freedom
Your troubled glances, take me out of my natural high trances and you leave me wanting to abandon your community

I want to be so far away from your ego and your drunken stupors that I  am willing to leave it all behind
Just so that I can breath

Mother nature is calling me and urging me to spread my wings

But I am here, trying to fight and win back the time when I was your native queen

My heart is not under lock and key

My mind is not hard to decipher for the person that is meant for me

I respect myself, I respect my growth, I respect the yellow brick road that goddess has paved for me. My journey is golden no matter how low I am or how high

It’s all a part of the beautiful image of me that sits on your mantelpiece

If I never told you this, let me be clear what I am and what I am not

I am water

I am constantly flowing creating a vortex around the minds of people who choose to receive me

I am not too proud yet I do not possess low esteem

I am well versed on where I come from and I intend to share that world with anyone who crosses my path

I am uncompromising when it comes to my values and I will not be told that I am anything less than great

I am the spitting image of what it means to be human

I am good I am bad I am love I am hate

I use the scales to weigh the situations that bind my mind

I get confused when you decide to use me and walk all over my ability to remove myself from harm and chaos
I am not a cheerleader, I am more like a friend who is not afraid to tell you that you are wrong and dead wrong and you need to go home, maybe be alone

to reflect on what it is you really want

I don’t want to drag my feet across filthy floors and be defined by my ability to please you, and inability to see you through a storm that might last forever

I don’t want to scream and shout about love, there should be no doubt

I don’t want to paint beautiful pictures of people who cannot see me, will not see, and refuse to stop killing me over and over and over, it’s not softly
It hurts to be stabbed and jabbed with words that are meant to pierce my soul and destroy my freedom

I do not comprehend waiting, when momentum is now
I am not interested in missing any chances I have to eat, pray, and love

If I am not eating with you and if I am praying with you than love is cancelled out and it’s time to move on

I am not easy in any manner and I am not unreasonable banter

I am just a woman who is interested in the real thing

by Shila Iris

July 4

Queen Duafe for African Essence