ALOHA.
Creative energy is a life-giving force that we share with our Creator and all of Life. This energy frees our imagination, supports our capacity for co-creation, and helps us envision and bring to life unique new worlds. This inherent superpower requires us to engage aspects of ourselves that incorporate the intelligences of the body, a spacious mind, the soul, and the allegiance of the non-visible beings we coexist with. This creative force is powerful and was always known and available to African people before the oppressive systems of patriarchy, religion, and white supremacy sought to alienate African people and people of African descent from this force. Today, African people and their descendants all over the world suffer acutely from the dissonance and tensions caused by embodied and generational trauma. This disproportionately affects our ability to tap into the creative energy that can help us work with our imaginations to recover and restore our communities and lives.
African cosmologies and Black feminist sensibilities postulate that disharmony between abaNtu (plural for umuNtu), intelligent beings of human Being, and their environment can significantly reduce the vital force or Ntu of descendants. In African indigenous knowledge systems, it is believed that the historical trauma—or soul wounds—of ancestors can be passed down to descendants. This legacy of trauma can disrupt the natural flow of creative energy, making it imperative to address and heal these wounds to regain our full imaginative potential.
In this conversation, Austen Smith and I explore ways to regain our creative energy and use our imagination to project our way into the reality we desire for ourselves and all Black communities. By reclaiming our ancestral wisdom, resilience, and veneration for the Earth, we can harness this creative force. The radical imagination entails stepping outside the confines of the now and into the expansiveness of what could be. It has been described as the ability to dream of possible futures and bring these possibilities back to the present to drive social transformation. It starts with envisioning alternative Black futures, nurturing radical hope, and fostering collective courage. These elements are crucial for breaking free from the mental and spiritual confines that have been imposed on us.
To imagine alternative Black futures, we must engage deeply with our history and cultural heritage. This involves a process of healing and reconnecting with the spiritual and cultural practices that sustained our ancestors. It means creating spaces—both physical and metaphorical—where Black creativity can thrive without the constraints of mainstream societal expectations.
Radical hope is the belief in the possibility of a better future, even in the face of overwhelming odds. For Black people, nurturing this hope involves supporting each other, building strong communities, and celebrating our achievements and strengths. It means finding joy and purpose in our shared experiences and using that collective energy to fuel our dreams.
Collective courage is essential for realising the dreams that our radical imagination brings forth. This courage is built through solidarity, mutual aid, and unwavering commitment to our values and visions. It requires standing up against injustice and working together to create the world we want to see.
Episode 7 of Conscious Conversations Season 3 is here.
Reimagining Black lives is not just about envisioning a different future; it’s about actively creating it. By tapping into our creative energy and harnessing the power of our radical imagination, we can project our way into a reality where Black communities thrive. This journey involves reclaiming our ancestral wisdom, fostering resilience, and nurturing our deep connection to the Earth.
I have come to understand that Reimagining Black Lives is Reimagining a New Earth. By embracing this vision, we can move beyond the limitations imposed on us and create a world that reflects the fullness of our potential and the richness of our cultural heritage.
Austen Smith is a spirit-forward visionary artist, writer, social researcher, and founder of Our Lunar Intelligence (OLi), a black-centered organization focusing on spatial justice and spiritual creativity. The ImaginationDoulas, an OLi project, uses ancestral reverence and dreaming as a methodology to restore the imaginations of systemically disempowered peoples. Learn more about Austen's work at www.ourlunarintelligence.org.
Conscious Conversations features spiritual teachers, seers, and thought leaders who, through their insights, help our listeners gather tools to navigate life, enriching their minds, bodies, and spirits. Our intention is to share with our community a deeper perspective on spiritual awakening, the journey that follows, and how we can utilize these tools in our daily lives. Our listeners are interested in our guests' personal journeys of transcending challenges, breaking boundaries, walking with spirit, and fulfilling their purpose.
Through Conscious Conversations, we aim to create a collective safe space that encourages honest human connections, helping listeners reframe the self-limiting ideas they hold about themselves and their experiences. We hope these podcasts inspire deep and meaningful conversations that lead to intentional changes designed to facilitate healing and expansion.
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Reimagining Black Lives is Reimagining a New Earth.
- Mmabatho Montse
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