-
Madonna of the FlamesMadonna of the Flames -
St. Michael’s, Clark’s TownSt. Michael’s, Clark’s Town
-
Silent SwiftsSilent Swifts
-
Passion FruitPassion Fruit
Emancipate yourself!
This Emancipation Day, which is a national holiday in Jamaica, I choose to reflect on the words of the great Jamaican reggae singer and songwriter Bob Marley ~ Emancipate yourselves from mental slavery, none but ourselves can free our minds. ~ I find these words very interesting, moving and inspiring and this concept of “mental slavery” leads me to the following questions:
What does Emancipation Day mean to me? Do I really feel liberated? Do I really feel free and at peace?
I know at times that I may feel a bit shackled and confined by old habits, thoughts and patterns that can burden and weigh me down. Sometimes I may also tend to feel oppressed and even feel as though I’m carrying the weight of the world on my shoulders. If I’m not careful of my perceptions I might even start to believe that is really the case!
When that starts to happen, I know it’s time to wake up! This just isn’t true. I am not a slave to my mind or thoughts. Slavery in itself was a most horrendous, cruel and inhumane act. This act however is over and must be let go of, just as I need to let go of being a slave to my thoughts so that I don’t have to suffer. And the good news is that there’s so much wonder, love and beauty right here, right now within all of us, to replace it with.
I know that what I need to do now is to be more careful, mindful and gentle with myself and to watch my thoughts. I want to release that which is negative and doesn’t serve me any longer. I want to let go of the past and be in the present, the here and now. This I believe is true liberation, true emancipation and true freedom.
Happy Emancipation Day Jamaica!