A is for Adinkra


As I am sure that we are all aware, October is Black History Month.  I have views on this, that I will probably share in my next blog, but for now I would like to explore an area of African culture that is dear to my heart - Adinkra.  

In the absence of a black language that unites the African diaspora globally, I would like to propose the learning of Adinkra symbols as a way of communicating on a deep and spiritual level.  I am sure that visual communication has been a key form of communication for all cultures historically, but the beauty in the Adinkra symbols hasn't, I believe, been employed by our Black communities to the fullest.  The Gye Nyame symbol is one of the most popular ones and signifies the omnipotence of God the Creator and how He empowers us to do amazing things.  Sankofa, as shown in the image above, is another well-known symbol which stands for the need to deal with our past in order to move forward.  It is similar to the pull-back motion of a bow and arrow.  In my experience, the intensity of the pull-back is an indication of how far forward we will be propelled.  So, in practical terms, what constitutes 'pull-backs'? Well, my life journey has given me the opportunity to put into practice the pull-backs that I am about to share with you, as suggestions for moments of transition.

Rest is a pull-back.  Taking time to rest our body, soul and spirit can seem like a waste of time when the world around us is rushing forward all of the time.  However, just like the precision of an arrow, in the hands of a skilful archer, our subsequent move forward is more effective in achieving our goals, than trudging wearily through life without taking strategic moments of rest.  Fasting is also a pull-back.  I have found that consistent fasting (abstaining from something like food or entertainment) gives me the clarity to move forward with wisdom and understanding.  It has been most effective when done for half a day on a weekly basis, so as not to leave me physically or socially depleted, and is a practice that I recommend if you are physically and emotionally healthy enough to.  It is also important to have people in your life to help hold you accountable for keeping well.  Lastly, sacrificial love is a pull-back.  The act of giving something of yourself purely for the benefit of another person can often put you back a few steps.  However, I have never experienced the giving of a sacrificial act of love where God has not either repaid me exponentially or made a promise to.

As we celebrate our history, let us take moments to be kind to ourselves through the disciplines of resting, intermittent fasting if possible, and sacrificial acts of love one to another.  God bless you.

Dr. Monica

💜

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