I started this series of blog posts with the question, “What do you do when your loves are under attack?” The urgency to find an answer came with my daughter’s proclamation that the two things she loves most - black people and the truth - are under attack. If you’ve been following my posts for the past week, then you know this attack is not new for people of color, particularly African-Americans. Something has attempted at every point in history to destroy our spirits, minds, and bodies and at every point in history, our response has been to thrive.
So my response to the question is, "We will thrive!" Today, I present art that symbolically shows us how to be conquering rulers of our destiny. The Summit is the first piece in the Crowns: Royalty and Resilience series. In ancient kingdoms royalty often fought in battle. They established their authority on the battlefield. Before every battle, the commanders, leaders, and warriors gathered together to strategize. They found a location removed from the conflict. It was a space above the danger and provided an unobstructed view to see who’s coming and going. It’s a space that allowed them to get comfortable with each other. The summit’s environment was just as important as the strategy being discussed. The women are the royalty in The Summit and they have gathered in such a space. The garden surrounds them with God’s creation. It is a place of living, growing, and blooming vegetation. Imagine the richness and strength of the fertile soil fiercely grabbing the roots of every plant. Can you feel the comfort of the sun’s embrace on every leaf? Do you taste the relief of cooling rain showers that replace an undeniable thirst? Every member of the garden has access to all of this. In the garden are visual reminders that everything needed to survive is provided. This is the space where these women have chosen to gather. They’ve gathered to draw on the spirits of their ancestors. The feminine memory of the ancients reigns down on their gathering. It helps them to recall struggles, mourn losses, and celebrate victories. The feminine memory leads to restoration, rejuvenation, and resurrection. It empowers a dead spirit to bloom. What do you see in the eyes of these women? What do you hear in their voices? What do you feel in their presence? What message flows to your spirit?
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AuthorRamona Dallum Lindsey is an artist, speaker and curious citizen who finds strength in the wisdom of her elders. Archives
February 2019
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