"Hennaglyphics: How to Henna" was released Spring of 2022 and what better way to celebrate than glam, tea, nosh, & HENNA!!! These are a few of my fav o rite things! Alhumdil'Allah, I'm so relieved and overflowing with gratitude for my family and community who helped me through the process of balancing self, family, and business.

What I love about "Hennaglyphics: How to Henna" is that it pays homage to the African roots of henna, which you don't hear about often. Writing this book was a journey through my ancestors time, my own childhood, and into the future to my children's. When I set out to write it I had no idea it was going to be 500 pages. It became it's own animal--much like applying henna designs-it just keeps expanding and you add a leave and a vine and you can't stop as the design builds before your eyes and before you know it, the entire arm or leg is covered-maybe more!!

The Henna Tea Party was fabulous and I look forward to doing more!! Catch you at the next one!

Peruse our other Henna Vlogs:
Hennaglyphics at NCMA
Hennaglyphics Does D.C.
Hennaglyphics at the Goldenbelt Gallery

Once a year, under the moon, we gather: women, wise women, sacred women, women healers, lightworkers, creatresses, poets, dancers, artists, singers, and musicians as one sisterhood under a canopy of stars. 

The purpose is for women who are pillars in their families/communities, women who put out so much, to come to a safe space where they can relax, reconnect, release, renew, and raise their vibration. The light of our hearts connect us!

Our soothing lineup includes dancing, singing, open mic, yoga, a healing sound bath, a guided discussion, all in the cloak of night and the embrace of mother nature.

We have been doing this event for 6 years and it has grown so much. It takes a village and ubuntu. My warmest gratitude to Sister Jean Bey, the Shimmy Sisters of Pink Moon Bellydance, Bianqa Bizune of Yoga Monarch, Shavon Marie of Unity Music Academy, Moor Journeyz & The Imani Nia School of Fine Arts & Trades, The Coconut Kitchen Jamaican Food Truck, and all of those who share their gifts & talents. Ubuntu.

See the post on last years Dancing Fire Circle HERE.

The Dancing Fire Circle takes place every Fall, but we have other Moon Ceremonies in the Spring (May 2023) and Summer. If you want to attend you must RSVP and gain clearance HERE. If you want to lead an activity,  perform, or have a food truck please contact us at admin@passageinstitute.com or 1-877-570-3108. 

Come dance with us! sign up for Pink Moon Bellydance classes HERE.

The "Hennaglyphics: How to Henna," author event at Lost City Books in Washington, DC was fabulous! I know, I know. You might be like, "What? You wrote a book?" Yessss!!! "Hennaglyphics: How to Henna," just released Spring 2022. I didn't get to blog about this 5 year process. So it may feel like a total time bleep, but that's what happens when you are balancing mothering, wifing, homeschooling, cooking, housekeeping, and a wellness business. But, hey, no worries, I'm going to catch you up and if you need a faster update, you can always check my social media: hennaglyphics on IG & FB.

One of our major author events of the Summer was Body Art & Books at Lost City Books. Empress (Kidist James), my sistarfriend, joined me on the panel for the discussion of "Hennaglyphics." She is a Podcaster, YouTuber, Jewelry Designer and Co-Owner of the Vintage Clothing Store and Cafe Shop WnWnn(Waste Not Want Not) in The Gambia. Presently she is documenting her repatriation, building projects and homesteader journey to The Gambia on her YouTube Channel "Global Green Book". She is also the creator of TIEbyKidist, a lifestyle brand focusing on "Bridging Two Worlds Together, The Diaspora & African." Moreover, she has been with me on this henna journey for years as a client and she has read the book. So it was great to have her input on this new release. Connect with her on youtube, ig, or fb. 

DC gave us a warm welcome and we enjoyed it to the fullest. Some of the places we visited was Swahili Village, Bus Boys & Poets, and Sankofa Book Store. "Hennaglyphics: How to Henna," is now in stock & available on the Rites of Passage Institute website and Lost City Books!

Check out the videos below for the recap where we discuss the parts of the book "Hennaglyphics."

We traveled all around the world with the Mute the (dominant) Mic event with the Global Fashioning Assembly at the North Carolina Museum of Art (NCMA). This event was in person and virtual. Societies are just now learning to value crafts/art, such as Henna Body Art, created by and dominated by women especially melanated/indigenous women. Discussing the journey of Henna Body Art in a museum felt like putting something in it's rightful place and giving it the proper respect. Henna has been a language and a voice for women for over 6,000 years and it's time that it be heard. A huge thanks to NCMA especially Dr. Amanda Maples for providing such a platform. Learn more about the journey of Henna Body Art in our new book release "Hennaglyphics: How to Henna." 

We are thrilled to announce that the Henna Hands photography series is now at the Golden Belt Arts Campus in Building 2 next to YaYa Tea (807 E Main St Ste 2-150, Durham, NC 27701) in Downtown Durham. Please come out and show your support. And if you order me an oolong boba tea (almond milk, tapioca pearls) and crab rice ball I will magically appear! Lol! 

The exhibit goes until the end of December 2022. Every Third Friday is the Downtown Durham Art Walk and the Goldenbelt Campus is always alive with activities, artists, restaurants, galleries, and all the best of downtown Durham. I, Shemora Sheikh, will be in the house for Third Friday November 18 at 5pm for Open Reception. Meet me there to discuss the Henna Hands photography series and my recent art textbook "Hennaglyphics."

While you are here you might as well embark upon the Henna Hands Photography Series Henna Scavenger Hunt.  

Every year we pick a theme for the Pink Moon Bellydance Brunch & the Dancing Fire Circle Guided Discussion. This year the theme is Building Sisterhood. If there is a common thread that ties together all of what Rites of Passage Institute does, that is sisterhood. We are blessed with the bonds of sisterhood--Tribe! Tribe! However, to keep those bonds healthy and growing, we have to be intentional. We have to be intentional on an individual level, but also on a group level. Sisterhood takes constant nurturing and building, especially in this society.

Our experiences and stories are so deep and layered that two annual events really can't contain all that it takes to analyze and improve our relationships. Therefore, we didn't want the discussion to stop at these events. We want the discussion to continue beyond the Dancing Fire Circle & Bellydance Brunch and to invite others into it. This is the space for that! Below are the Keys to Sisterhood that are being discussed (it is a working list). These keys are based on African Womanism & Spirituality. Feel free to drop your comments, suggestions, questions, stories and more below. Rites of Passage Institute offers many opportunities to strengthen sisterhood within your own groups and with us. Check out:
Henna Party
Hennaglyphics
Sip & Steam Party
The Journey Within
Pink Moon Bellydance
The Blessing Way
The Queen Mother Ceremony
Moontracking
The Yoniverse
Yoni Eggs
​and more...

(a working list)

We go through many Rites of Passages: baby, girl, maiden, mother, crone. Much of my work lately has been in the mother stage. Many people ask me if I'm a doula. I'm not a certified doula, though I come from a family of birth workers. My mother is a certified doula, my sister is a licensed certified lactation consultant. Me, I take care of the spiritual educational aspect of the mother phase. Honestly, I just love attending births. I cry at every wedding and I cry at every birth. Lol!

I also understand that women are the foundation of society, of family. Spirituality and sisterhood is what supports us under that pressure. Spirituality and sisterhood empower and nurture us so we can be strong and healthy. And in turn our families (children & partners) can be strong and healthy, which means we can actually get free and reach our highest potentials. Which ultimately means Happiness and Balance. See, its all part of the divine master plan. ;)

We are in the midst of a sisterhood  renaissance. People are awakening and realizing the value of sisterhood--of women caring for women. In the face of the maternal health crisis, postpartum depression, & infant health care problems, we are standing up and saying, "enough!" 

So as people increasingly call upon Rites of Passage Institute, I realize the importance and seriousness of my role. When I care for a woman, I speak life over her to contribute to her wholeness and to strengthen her in her new role. I know that because of this she can be a better woman, a better wife, better mother--that she can smoothly transition. I work to connect us to the Creator Source, to our roots and to educate and empower.

To ease the way into Motherhood, Rites of Passage Institute offers:

1. Moontracking
2. The Yoniverse
3. Original Birth (Child Birth Education Classes)
​4. The Blessingway
5. The Queen Mother Ceremony

The Blessingway Ceremony occurs in the last trimester of pregnancy. Childbirth is an "open" experience. Labor is about opening; opening physically, opening emotionally and opening spiritually. The Blessingway helps to ease the opening. Just as a tree grows best when firmly anchored in the earth, so can a pregnant mother feel strong and capable when supported by a sisterhood of nurturing friends.

The Blessingway can include:

• Creating Sacred Space: Smudging, Alter/Musala
• Womb Prayer/Blessing/Chant
• Blessing Beads (waistbeads or necklace)
• Candle Blessing
• Water Flow
• Tribal Face Paint
• Belly Henna
• Bellydance
• Fear Release
• Herbal Foot Bath: Washing of the feet 
• Tea Time w/Stories

The Queen Mother Ceremony (Referred to as The Closing of the Bones (Al Shedd), The Sealing Ceremony, or Mother Roasting) occurs after the birth/labor. Once the baby is born, the body requires closing (the bones) or sealing it. The body requires bringing ‘chi’ or ‘prana’ back to the center channels; the energetic space at our core that we once shared with a baby. Our bodies must rebalance as that which was full is now empty and that which was shared can find its own rhythm again.  It’s about finding restoration again, rebalancing and honoring your body, so you can get back to Queening in full effect!
​
The Queen Mother Ceremony Includes:

• Smudging (i.e. sage, copal, frankincense)
• Floral Bath, Vaginal Steam, or Herbal Foot Bath
• Oil Rub Down
• Tucking (placing hot flax seed or rice bags around the body) & Closing
• Binding & Blessing
• Presenting Waist Beads
• Tea Time w/Stories
• Henna w/Stories

I have to say that I'm so grateful to the amazing families that I have served. There is a time that I thought that Rites of Passage Institute would die, that there was no place in Modern Society for my role. We had become so disconnected from our roots, our traditions, our elders--from each other. There is so much suffering when we are isolated. Together we are strong. Knowing how delicate my position is in a Modern Westernized society, I am so humble that people still see the value & wisdom in our indigenous culture--in my role as Curator of the Feminine Arts. With Humble Gratitude! Ase!

Cant explain what an honor it was to be part of my nieces Rites of Passage Celebration. It is my sacred duty to stand by my sisters & help 2 prepare our youth. Ase!
A rites of passage helps give a child the tools to advance to the next stage, reinforces their connection to the community, creates a network, preserves our traditions/culture...

Rites of Passages are not just about a change in one's age, but preparing the person for the next phase of life and to partake in society life as a whole being. Rites of Passage Institute has been facilitating Rites of Passages for boys, girls, adults for 10 years. 

Boys Rites of Passage
Girls Rites of Passage
​
If you are interested in our Rites of Passage Programs please click the links listed above. The girls rites has 3 levels including the 1st Moon Ceremony (the onset of monarch or 1st period). We recommend the Moontracking Class for girls who have started menstruating. The boys rites has 3 levels. Get a birds eye view of the levels HERE. The Adult Mentorship Programs (Women's Reflection, Men's Pillar) will be available in 2022.