by drlatoyadavis | Jan 3, 2024 | Ancestral
When you hear the phrase “one thing for certain, two things for sure” come up in a conversation, you know the speaker is emphasizing something that is an undeniable fact in their lived experience. This phrase is usually followed by a strong proclamation to educate the listener on a central point. This month, I want you to think about the Collective Ancestors as those who have lived “one thing for certain” and your Personal Ancestors as those who represent “two things for sure” so that you can feel the power of their presence in ways you have not considered before.
One thing for certain: There are people who have lived in such a way that we still call on and lift up their names long after their transition. Collective ancestors are those who are considered to be the spiritual ancestors of a particular people or community, without having any blood lineage relationship.
Here’s a small sample of Collective Ancestors of African American people:
- Harriet Tubman, leader of the Underground Railroad
- Sojourner Truth, Civil and Women’s Rights Leader and author of “Ain’t I a Woman?”
- Madam C.J. Walker, America’s first self-made female millionaire.
Collective Ancestors can also be specific to a spiritual community, such as:
- Remigio Herrera Adeshina Opara Meyi, a Yoruba Babalawo who is said to have brought Ifa from Nigeria to America
- Pramahansa Yogananda, who brought the practice of Kriya Yoga to the West
- Bayou John, a Senegalese Vodou practitioner who taught the religion in New Orleans
Our Collective Ancestors lived in such a way that their energetic imprint has a positive ripple effect through space and time. For the living, when we remember or call on their names, we connect to their energy to draw on the qualities they exhibited while embodied. They are believed to provide protection and guidance for the community as a whole.
Two things for sure: You come from a lineage of people. The blood in your veins and the strands of your DNA are uniquely combined from those who came before you. Your Personal Ancestors main objective is to maintain and progress the lineage. They offer guidance and support to the individual or family based on the specific needs and desires that are presented to them, and they respond to the elevation and healing that is offered to them by their lineage ambassador.
You are surely being impacted by your Personal Ancestors. Their energetic imprint is such that a whole family unit can operate under the patterns and qualities that others have lived before them, without being consciously aware of the Ancestral connection. Keep in mind, this is true for both challenging aspects and positive aspects. Just think of those families where it seems that everyone is musically inclined, or there is a physical quality that is distinct, or a great majority of them have athletic ability. We can thank our Personal Ancestors for the blessings they pass down to us, without us having to do anything to earn it.
In both cases, the energy of our Ancestors wants to be shared and felt. Now is an advantageous time to connect with Collective and Personal Ancestors. Here are three things you can do today to open up to their energy:
- Identify Collective Ancestors that you can look to for inspiration and support.
- Connect with Personal Ancestors by learning about your lineage and offering elevation and healing.
- Acknowledge and express gratitude for the blessings passed down from Personal Ancestors.
by drlatoyadavis | Jan 3, 2024 | Living
“When you think everything is someone’s fault you will suffer a lot. When you realize that everything springs only from yourself, you will learn both peace and joy.” – Dalai Lama
“If you don’t become the God of your world you will become the disciple in someone else’s.” – Tyrus Barnes
I know that quote may seem a bit *ouch* to some.
This is a snippet of a longer post from a FB friend. If I am being honest, as a spiritual teacher/mentor/coach, this perfectly sums up my position.
As I reflected on 2022 and set my clear intentions on my work for 2023, I doubled-down on my desire to spread the ideas on the importance of self-empowerment.
What do I mean when I say self-empowerment? Well, for me, it means standing fully in one’s own authority. It is taking ownership of the choices and actions we take in each and every moment. I live from the position that there is no authority higher than my own in every aspect of my life. With that, I don’t get to only take responsibility for my wins, I have to take ownership of my setbacks as well. The good, the bad, the ugly…as the god of my own world, I have to acknowledge, “I created that.”
Self-empowerment requires you to OWN the fact that you are a divine being constantly creating. It forces you to examine what thoughts and actions are incongruent with your stated desires. You are forced to uncover and heal old wounds that created patterns you unconsciously fall into. It seems like a lot, but the truth is once you accept that you are the owner, it empowers you to make shifts from a place of authority. You no longer need permission to heal, to adjust, to be happy.
One of the biggest comfort blankets that being a disciple in someone else’s world gives you is the ability to abdicate responsibility. Unfortunately, it also slows your ability to enjoy a life of joy, ease, and abundance. I offer that you take some time and evaluate the areas that you are the god and those areas where you are the disciple. This is a self-excericse and at the end of it you may realize that you don’t mind the roles and power structures in your life. That is fine as long as whatever role you play in your own life, you are doing it consciously. Journal Prompts – Here are some questions that you can use throughout the year to help you investigate underlying motivations. Remember, the truer you are to yourself, the quicker you get to live your best life.
What areas of my life am I allowing someone else to be the leader?
Is the decision I am making true to the desires of my best self? If no, why am I compelled to value someone else’s desire over my own?
If this thing were to happen, what story(ies) am I telling myself? Is there something in this story that is causing fear or doubt that I need to address?
This choice didn’t turn out how I thought it would. What areas during this process did I doubt my own internal knowing?
I teach a lot of tools and offer a lot of ways to come into alignment with a self-empowered lifestyle. Personally, I use the Akashic Records to help me understand areas in which I have given away my power, why I have given that power away, and ways to reclaim my authority and offer myself forgiveness. You can also use meditation, journaling, energy clearing, somatic practices, etc… I care less about your methods and more about the goal of you taking stock.
Here’s to actualizing success through the POWER OF OWNERSHIP in the year 2023.
by drlatoyadavis | Jan 3, 2024 | Living
“Autumn whispers the wisdom of letting go, teaching us to cultivate gratitude in the quiet corners of our hearts.”
As autumn sets in, the balance of energy shifts. Nature, in its wisdom, moves from the vibrant activity of summer to a more introspective pace. This rhythm offers us a lesson: amidst our busy lives, there’s value in pausing and reflecting. Many of us, in our quest for transformation, seek out the most flashy and immediate solutions. However, meaningful change often comes from steady, consistent efforts.
Becoming the Self-Cultivator:
Think of personal growth as farming. A good farmer knows the importance of daily care, patience, and understanding the land they’re working with. I’ve spent years as an Energy Healer, and one core belief has remained – we’re made up of energy. If we liken our inner selves to a plot of land, the tools and techniques we choose become crucial to our growth.
Questions to ask:
– Are you opting for quick fixes that offer little lasting impact?
– Are you overwhelming yourself with countless courses or workshops, leaving no space to internalize and apply?
– What are the main tools that anchor and uplift you?
Enter gratitude. This simple, profound practice stands out as an essential tool for nurturing our inner selves. Here are a few practical steps to cultivate gratitude in your life:
a. Set the Intention:
Start by deciding what you want. In the context of gratitude, it means actively choosing to focus on the positive aspects of your life, even the small moments.
b. Create a Suitable Environment:
Be mindful of your surroundings. Engage with positive influences, be it people, books, or activities. Guard against consistent negativity.
c. Daily Nourishment:
Consistency is key. Use tools like gratitude journals to create a daily habit of recognizing and appreciating the good in your life.
d. Pruning:
Identify and reduce sources of negativity or distractions. This might mean setting boundaries, or simply learning to let go of past hurts.
e. Consistency:
Keep at it. True benefits of gratitude aren’t from occasional thankfulness but from making it a regular part of your life. Where your focus goes, your energy grows. In the area of gratitude, the more you focus on it, the more life will present you with things to be grateful for.
Celebrate the shifts in your mindset. Recognize the moments where gratitude has changed your perspective or brightened your day. This practice not only brings personal joy but has tangible benefits for overall well-being.
The practice of gratitude, much like the lessons from autumn, reminds us that genuine growth and transformation are often the result of consistent, grounded efforts. Today I am launching the CHI Healing Institute Gratitude Journal, filled with insight and guidance to help you become an expert at identifying, articulating and writing down all that fills you with gratitude. With dedication and tools like a gratitude journal, you can nurture a more positive, resilient, and contented self.
