Yoni Steaming?!! Vajacial?! Steam What?! Who? How?!! Yes, show your “girl” some love. It’s ok. The rhetoric about ladyparts being nasty and dirty has died with your great aunt’s missile bras and taken us deeper into our roots. By embracing our bodies, we are also dusting off ancient traditions that we lost through oppression, colonialism, slavery, witch hunts, and or westernization. Mannn, listen! You know it must be good if it survived all of that!! Today, I’m going to attempt to demystify the yoni steam (a ritual that is finally gaining popularity in the western world) by letting you be part of my yoni steaming session (in the video below). Yoni/Vaginal Steaming/Smoking is just a small part to a bigger picture. Yoni Steaming is a self-care regimen that helps detox the womb/yoni/vagina and maintains vaginal health. I witnessed yoni steaming/smoking from the African Muslim women in my community growing up. I didn’t really get invited to participate until after marriage. At that point, I learned how to incorporate it as a monthly regimen and the rest is history. Yoni steaming is “Me” time, self-care, and has its sensual pleasures too. When I say it’s a small part to a bigger picture, I mean it’s a break off from the Hammam (i.e. Turkish Bath) culture and from the womanhood rites of passage rituals throughout Africa, Asia, & Arabia (pretty much the indigenous world). To learn more watch the video below, visit our shop (where you can purchase yoni steam herbal blends, yoni steaming chairs/stools, etc), attend a Rites of Passage Institute Workshop, or book a yoni steaming session with us! Oh, and I am drinking tea in this video, but I promise I’m not putting anybody in the sunken place 😉
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Did you know breathing eliminates more toxins than pooping? Breathing gives you more energy, focus, peace, and straightens your teeth. You can't beat it. Remember to breathe in your nose and out your mouth or nose. No mouth-breathing because it's not cute and healthy is the new sexy, so yeah. Avoid these common breathing mistakes:
And check out Desmond Green at www.ibreathconsciously.com. He will be offering a breathing class in Raleigh, NC soon.
This is brought to you by the 20-Day Heal & Chill Challenge in celebration of the Heal & Chill Women's Wellness Event December 2. Check for updates on FB! If you want to be part of the 20 Day Heal & Chill Challenge, but you are not on FB, sign up and post below about your experience in implementing today's challenge. Have a ZEN Holiday!
3. Henna can be confused as Cannabis.
4. Henna originated in Africa. Henna or Hennu (the Ancient Egyptian word for Henna) originated in Egypt. It’s an arid desert shrub. Through the DNA and scientific study of 11th dynasty mummies such as Hierakonpolis and Ramses II, researchers found that Egyptians have been using henna since 3400 BCE (6, 000 years ago). Formulas for extracting henna oil etc have been found on papyrus. Egyptians used henna as an essential oil for healing and perfume, preservative in mummy wrappings, hair dye, sun block, coolant for the body, and body art. Learn the Secret to My Henna, Click the Video Below:
These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. This article is for entertainment purposes.
*Marie Anakee Miczak. Henna's Secret History As a belly dancer, the bengkung belly binding has been a lifesaver. I’ve had 3 children, and after each child I’ve had to retrain my abdomen muscles. After my 3rd child I couldn’t figure out why it was so difficult to strengthen and isolate my abdomen muscles, especially when I’ve been doing it all of my life. It didn’t help when my sister came to visit and asked if I was pregnant again. Although I had lost all my pregnancy weight, I still had a pooch. I didn’t really mind having it, I welcome all curves, but it didn’t make sense to me because I was so fit. Then I discovered that I had Diastasis Recti. After watching some surgeries on Youtube, surgery was out of the question. Thankfully an amazing sister friend introduced me to the art of belly binding with the bengkung wrap. It has put me back on the road to bellydancing and boosted my confidence. Every time I put it on I feel this overwhelming relief; everything becomes easier (ie lifting). This may sound weird but I feel mentally sharper and happier, strong and supported. It’s also a closeness that my husband and I share, sometimes I have him bind me. The only drawback for me is I can’t eat as much when wearing it, you have less room for food so you fill up faster. In my case I don’t want to lose any weight, so I actually take it off to eat, then put it back on. However, I can imagine this being a benefit for others. I consider bellybinding as part of my self-care regimen. Now, I aim to bring belly binding back as a tradition, especially a rites of passage tradition to mark the rites of passage into motherhood. Belly binding was once part of a entire ceremony (ceremonial bath, massage, henna and tea time) to honor a woman and welcome her into motherhood. These traditions build bonds that protect women and strengthen sisterhood. They make us strong so we can go out and perform our roles in the world. See Belly Binding details in my SHOP Recently, a post popped up in my newsfeed on Facebook. My friend had shared a post of a European American woman saying, “Black women look like men--there's nothing feminine about them.” Instantly I was thrust into a place in my past. I was 7 years old. Across the street lived an Euro-American girl (around 7 years of age as well) with long blond hair and rotten teeth named Anna. She often came across the street to play with us. Our house was an epicenter. I had 3 sisters close to my age, plus 2 African American girlfriends who lived next door, and a Cuban-American girlfriend the next house down, and lots of other neighborhood children with whom I played and roamed the neighborhood. Constantly busy in our play, a pack of us children, my big sister in charge, would roam down to the pond, pick fruit, pound rocks to powder, practice dance routines etc.
While playing house Anna always cast herself as the wife or mother and she would try to get one of us (or any melanated girl) to play the husband/man or baby. She would say things like, “because your hair is shorter, you play the man.” Or when dressing up in finery, she would suggest that I hold my lips in. When she didn’t get her way, she would resort to pulling or throwing dirt in our hair, but we easily got the best of her.
We loved the way our braids swung in the wind and clicked when we jumped double-dutch. Second, our elders always admired us, commenting how we resembled this or that elder, or how so-and-so got the family lips, eyes, or hair. These were features to be coveted. AlhumdilAllah, we had healthy self-esteem and power in numbers. Anna, was Smeagol (Gollum). You felt sorry for her. One day, we were playing and my mother, who had already been upset about Anna throwing dirt in our hair, overheard Anna growling about our hair being nappy, short, and ugly. We had been arguing when I felt my mother’s shadow and looked up. My sisters and I fell silent, but you could hear Anna going on and on. I saw my mother’s face; her eyes were fierce and her mouth twisted. Mom folded her arms across her chest. I just knew she was about to send Anna home, and have a talk with her mother. “Come on Anna, let me braid your hair,” my mother snapped motioning us into the house. “Ma’am?!” responded Anna. We were all shocked. What did doing Anna’s hair have to do with this? Why would Mom invite her in when Anna was so mean and nasty? “You want me to braid your hair?” Asked my mother.
Occasionally, my mother would braid Anna’s hair, and she became good friends with Anna’s mother. After that day, Anna never called us names or talked bad about our features. We became good friends. Since then I have met many Anna’s in school, the workplace, and social media. So to the “white” woman (or anyone feeling inferior) who wants to talk about melanated women being masculine, ugly, loud, etc, I say with the wisdom of my mother, “Sure, I can show you how to be a Queen! I'm not less of a woman because of the crown I wear, and neither are you." Photos:
http://trendymods.com/kids-accessories/kids-hairstyles-for-girls-with-beads.php http://curlsclub.deviantart.com/art/Dont-touch-my-hair-436454688 The Afro Doll Party is another one of our recurring events that started from something small. I was at T.J. Maxx when I saw various Kenya Fashion dolls for $3 each. They were various shades of brown, with various African facial features. I was in love, but I hesitated on purchasing the dolls because all of them had b one straight hair. I’m meticulous about the children’s media that I expose my children too. If it doesn’t promote diversity, uplifting, growth, it’s hard for me to invest. My daughter, who is a toddler, was just starting to get into dolls. She loves her afro with a fierceness that challenges a mother who sees braids as the most practical hairstyle for little girls. What messages about her kinky hair and kinky hair in general would I be sending by handing her a dark skin doll with straight hair?
I turned to my husband and asked him if he thought it was ok to get the doll for our daughter. He said no. I threw it in the cart anyway. When I got to the register, I gave it to the cashier and told her I wasn’t buying it. Once I got in the car, my daughter being an immature warrior princess said, “Where’s my doll?” I had no idea she’d been paying attention. I had got something for everyone, but her. My husband told me to get the doll if I wanted it. So, I ran back in the store and bought them. I still wasn’t satisfied though. That night I went online and searched how to give a doll an Afro. A plethora of videos, blogs, etc. appeared. The process looked a bit arduous. What could I do to make it more fun? In the midst of all this doll business, I had been wrecking my brain for a way to get my daughter around other girls her age. You see she has 2 big brothers and most of my friends have boys. Therefore, she is always around boys, and trust me she holds her own, but I want her to be well-rounded.
I posted it on social media and it was an instant hit. People wanted to do it! I got a lot of interesting responses. One woman messaged me that her daughter didn’t have any African dolls. I thought that was interesting. No matter what ethnic group you belong to, living in multicultural America, why not have dolls of various ethnic groups, colors, shades, facial features, hair types? I love that we live in a country where such options are available. There’s no excuse. But I let her know that the doll did not have to be African or of African descent. Like white people don’t have Afros! Heck, it didn’t even have to be a doll. Some parents had informed me that they were bringing horses! Many people posted that their daughters didn’t have any dolls and that they would have to go out and buy them. Then I started to wonder, are dolls popular anymore? Are they going out of style? Some other person mentioned that dolls set girls up to be doormats. Another said that this is the age of electronic toys. One mother was relieved to learn that dolls hair could be curled; her toddler daughter of various ethnicities had been complaining about her own curls and saying how her doll’s straight hair was better. Some parents mentioned that their daughters didn’t even know what an afro was…..
They danced to the music and watched doll skits on You Tube (our son was the DJ). Another pro, I conversed with amazing women as I attacked the mundane task of rolling my daughter’s doll’s hair. Mission accomplished!
I’m very grateful to Down 2 Earth Natural Hair Salon in Tulsa, OK for keeping my locs luscious throughout the years, accommodating my needs as a hijabi, and letting us use their salon for the Afro Doll Party! Currently, I’m organizing Afro Doll parties in other cities. Call me or throw your own Afro Doll Party!
How does it make your melanated son feel when you give him that Buzz Lightyear Toy, Mario Brother’s game, etc? If s/he has been fed a steady diet of mainstream media (cartoons, clothes, books, toys), s/he will be excited. In fact, any child may be excited because the mainstream media are exciting, colorful, fun, and it connects one to a group experience. After all, these companies spend loads on marketing to children and parents. However, what is the subconscious message and what is it doing to your child?
but the packaging usually has an Anglo girl/boy on it. Oh, yeah it gets very petty. And some would call me petty for acknowledging it. But honestly, these clichéd tropes are exhausting, boring, and uninspiring.
Play at the expensive of my child’s self-esteem—no thanks. “Hispanic and Black girls who watch more Black-oriented television have higher body satisfaction,” (nationaleatingdisorders.org/media-body-image-and-eating-disorders). Negative media stereotypes (thugs, criminals, fools, and the disadvantaged) are demoralizing and reduce self-esteem and expectations. Dealing with negative expectations may also create stress and drain cognitive resources in some contexts — leading to the lowered performance. Not to mention these negative media stereotypes feed white fear/imagination. Lack of diversity in children’s literature is a blockage to melanated children becoming motivated, engaged, and proficient readers. And even when they do become proficient readers, despite the lack of positive representation, guess what that teaches them? Don’t be yourself and you will be successful. Serve those not like you and you will be successful.
Here is a list of Black-owned businesses that create children's toys, books, etc with equity and positive representation. Go shopping:
https://edanimeproductions.com/shop/dvd-meltrek/ http://www.blackbeautydolls.com/ http://www.misszee.net/ http://www.myakids.com/store/c1/Featured_Products.html http://www.bbe4.com/vandora.html http://www.martidumasbooks.com/books http://babysparkles.biz/index.php?route=product/product&product_id=259 https://www.amazon.com/dp/1530439191/ref=cm_sw_su_dp https://www.icecreamtoysandbooks.com/ http://www.pattycakedoll.com/black_dolls http://www.sugarfoots.com/ http://shawncrealcreations.com/ http://yeslioness.bigcartel.com/category/coloring-books https://www.etsy.com/shop/OffDHookCreations https://sites.google.com/site/buymoorish/place-your-order http://www.funrise.com/positively-perfect/#/store/collection/zair http://www.itsbathtimebaby.com/order.html http://www.taylormadenc.com/new-products/ http://www.kujichaguliapress.com/ Swift Walker Books Fred Crump Jr Fairy Tale Books Children's Backpacks, clothes, shoes: https://www.facebook.com/AyAnnAsArt/ ayannasartfashion@gmail.com Islamic Children's Books: Reading Books Fairy Tales *The Prophet *not Black-Owned, but positive representation. “Where do you get your clothes?” People have been asking me this since high school. I really didn’t have a place to which to direct them. Wearing a mix of African, Eastern designs that I mix with contemporary accessories or cuts probably sums up my style. Although one sees the tribal/bohemian style at the forefront of fashion, I draw my inspiration from my idea of the classic Moorish woman. What I love about African and Eastern clothes are the flowing feminine cuts, the buttons, the detailed beadwork and embroidery, intricately dyed and woven fabrics, variety of fabric, the comfy fits, the range of colors which don’t even exist in the western vocabulary and the fact that there are no sizes. Well, at least not the Western concept of clothing sizes. One of the biggest challenges women face, including myself, is finding one’s size. Well, with the African/Eastern clothing tradition you just go to the tailor with your hand-selected fabric, he measures you, and in a few days your clothes are sewn perfectly to your size. Forget being thrown into a number that never measures up to your specific curves. Along with that, is the alluring fact that you’re not picking an outfit off a rack where there are dozens of others just like it! No one else will have what you are wearing! One can’t help but feel like royalty when wearing something of such unique detail. In addition to my love of classic Moorish styles, is thrifting! I grew up thrift shopping with my mom and 3 sisters. To this day, it is a sport in which we compete. I don’t know how many conversations have started out with, “Guess what I found at the thrift store today!?” And the cool thing about thrifting is you are not picking an outfit off a rack where there are dozens of others just like it. You get where I’m going with this! My styles are acquired through travel, festivals, and family gifts. However, the average person does not have access to these avenues. The desire to make these fashions more accessible and my love for thrifting gave rise to The Regal Rack. Feel royal in our unique fashions for bargain prices! Shop the Regal Rack Resale now!! Kudos to my girlfriend who gave this onesie to my daughter! An amazing accomplishment according to some. Many of our friends have complained that gifting clothes to our children is too challenging. Not because we are too posh or crunchy. But because we prefer not to dress our children with clothing bearing cartoons or name brands.
But this onesie, I do so love it. Not "I heart" Mom, or Dad, or Step-Mom, but "I heart my FAMILY!" Usually, I get a lot of "I love Mommy" gear (which is necessary because I carried her for 9 months), but then hubby is like "Where's her "Daddy's Girl" stuff and brothers are like "Where's her Little Sister onesie." This way everyone feels included and it makes the statement that no matter who your family is or what structure it consists of (extended, nuclear, foster parents, single parents, etc) there is love for and acknowledgment of all families! Ahumdil'Allah, I have such fashion forward open-minded friends. I give this onesie 2 thumbs up and a faire la bise. Cleaning Recipes Vinegar (windows/mirrors/glass), Recipe: water & vinegar in a spray bottle. It looks crappy when you start, but when it dries it's clean and clear. Grapefruit Seed Extract & Lavender oil (antibacterial disinfectant used in kitchen & bathroom), Recipe: GSE is good by itself, but lavender gives it an extra kick: water, 10 or more drops GSE, 5 drops of lavender oil in a spray bottle. What other cleaning product doubles as a cleaner and a facial spritz? Cedar Oil (insect/pest repellant used all over the home, especially in kitchen), Recipe: put in a fogger or spray bottle with water. Probiotic Solution This stuff still gives me the creeps because it is live bacteria. In a house full of guys this will do wonders to keep your toilet from smelling like, well you know. Also, works great for keeping your trash from smelling up your whole house. Put this in a spray bottle and go to town. Activated Charcoal Neutralizes smells I like that all of these ingredients are eco-healthy, inexpensive, effective, and they smell really good. Above all, I like the energy they bring to my home. I’ve also heard peroxide and lemons (used in place of dish detergent) are wonderful for cleaning too. Contact Windows of Opportunity Window Cleaning + for services and information regarding proboitic solutions, fogging, cedar oil, etc. Or click on the tab in the navigation menu that reads "Windows of Opportunity" |
Hakim & ShemoraHealing thru Art Archives
December 2022
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