Tag: Ashe International

Taking Mom Home…

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Earlier this week I had the opportunity to watch the screening of “Awake: A Dream from Standing Rock”. Sitting in that auditorium, it was impossible to not feel the pain that permeated through the audience. Tears fell and chills were communally felt. Images of our brothers and sisters being shot with rubber bullets, covered in pepper spray, and hosed down with cold water in below freezing temperatures not only caused many to gasp, but caused all to feel the burns, the cold, the bruises. Everyone in the room was transported to Standing Rock that evening and we traveled on the prayers stated by tribal leaders during the evening’s inception.

 

While the entire documentary was impactful, there was a moment that affected me more than any other. Aside from the obvious human rights violations we were watching, aside from the political stance I am accustomed to taking with my fist high in the air, aside from the desire to continue organizing, supporting, documenting, and fighting… aside from all of this and more, there was one moment that affected me more than any other. This moment was wrapped in the following statement made by the narrator of the documentary: “This is more than the next front line. This is my home. I was born here”

 

Tears filled my eyes and chills consumed me. I immediately thought of my mom.

 

With all of the work being done for Puerto Rico, the efforts being invested in sending items to the island, educating others on what is transpiring (and has been transpiring) politically, organizing in the diaspora, and ultimately praying, focusing, and investing in the reconstruction of the island, I forgot something that is so simple and yet so profound. This isn’t just about my cultural roots, the home of my community, the land of my people… this is about the birthplace of my mother and father. Regardless of how personal the plight of our people and our island is to me, it will never compare to what it means to them.

 

I remember my mother explaining to me that when she was made to leave the island as a teenager, she didn’t feel welcomed in the states because she wasn’t from here. Then when she returned to the island, she didn’t feel as if she was completely welcomed back because she had left.

 

In a matter of weeks, we return to nuestra Isla Del Encanto with suitcases full of supplies for our brothers and sisters, a plan on reaching communities that are not receiving the level of aid other communities are, and spiritual tools to feed the spirits of all we can.

 

But on a personal; in a matter of weeks, I take my mom back home and hold her as she sees a landscape that doesn’t mirror her memories.

 

Luz, Amor, y Àsę.

 

©Dr William Q Ross 2017

Supporting the LGBTQ Community…

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Each and every day countless individuals struggle to be recognized and respected by a society so drunk on hypocrisy that one may make an argument that it has become society’s drink of choice. We can not afford to patiently wait for the masses to sober up and realize that judgement is a creation of humans who detest their own space and so impose their negativity on the space of others.

The struggle of the LGBTQ community is one that should not be ignored. It is a struggle rooted in the ignorance and fear of the masses who perpetuate injustice against members of the community and feel divinely justified in doing so. There is no righteousness in behavior that promotes the regression of humanity. Nor can anyone claiming to stand strong on a foundation of spirituality also ride the wave of condemning others for their sexuality or sexual identity.

Ashé International, Inc. proudly commits to supporting and providing the LGBTQ community with all services we offer. The connections one has to their spirit guides are not contingent on their sexuality or sexual identity. In the same manner that the services, ceremonies, and consultations one receives will not be contingent on their sexuality or sexual identity.

Support is not found in silence.

Advancements cannot be made with apathy.

Consciousness cannot be claimed when the community’s communication is contaminated with a condescending tone.

To our brothers and sisters in the LGBTQ community, we offer our support with sincerity and remind you that your spirituality should never be subjected to limitations.

Luz, Amor, y Àşę.

©Dr William Q Ross 2017

Maferefun Orisha Agayu 2017…

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Today, the energy of Orisha Agayu is celebrated throughout the world by practitioners of Orisha Worship. Commonly recognized as the Orisha who is represented by the power of volcanoes and the destructive as well as replenishing properties of their eruptions, it is imperative that we look deeper and see His ashe within the realm of our personal existence as well.

Within us all exists the nucleus of our souls. The very core of who and what we are is alive and erupting. Whether we allow this eruption to reach its full potential is a decision that we must make not once, or twice; but each and every day. No opportunity to grow from where we are to where we want to be should be ignored or overlooked. Such is the lesson that the powerful Orisha Agayu teaches us as he causes our chests to rise in anticipation of the next stage of our lives.

“Orisha Agayu, dueño del fuego que arde dentro de mí, te doy gracias. Thank you for filling me with the heat needed to melt away the freezing effects of regression and never allowing the chilling air of stagnation to thrive. On this day,I celebrate the anniversary of when I received the crown of He who is often recognized as your son and in doing so an eruption of emotion took place. This eruption was rooted in the depths of my soul and came to fruition with such force that its effects were evident on my physical being. Again, querido Agayo, I thank you; For it is this eruption that cleared the way for the beauty of àsę to reach each and every crevice of my being. Luz, Amor, y Àsę.”

Maferefun Orisha Agayu!

©Dr William Q Ross 2017

Personalized Prayer for Work Opportunities….

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Querido Orisha Ogun, I come to you first and foremost with appreciation for all the obstacles you have removed from my path thus far. I know that it is you with your tools of progress and advancement that have made it possible for me to continue onward. It is your ashe that removes the obstacles that present themselves to me and at times prove overwhelming and so I come to you today asking for the warmth of your ashe as in my mortal state, I am beginning to feel overwhelmed.
Orisha Ogun, I ask that your ashe fill my mind and allow my thoughts and vision to act as the caster and turn in any direction necessary to reach my ultimate goal. At this time, mi querido Orisha Ogun, I ask that you understand that my ultimate goal is to establish new employment. You, whose energy is the pinnacle of hard-work and focus are undoubtedly aware of my needs. I know that with Orisha Ochosi guiding your work and Orisha Eleggua opening the roads that need to be cleared, you will make visible the best path for me. However, it is in this moment of mortal need that I ask for your guidance in clearing the obstacles that are internal for me. I ask that you clear away any feelings of desperation for a new start as well as resentment to where I currently am. I ask that you clear away these feelings and replace them with new focus, new strength, and new understanding that all I need is within my grasp…. I just need to focus and reach for it. I understand that when in my grasp is the next opportunity, their is no greater tool to maximize this opportunity than the tool of commitment, consistency, and consciousness.
Orisha Ogun, I am not asking for the strength to jump into what I think I want; I am asking for the strength to identify what is most beneficial for me and subsequently accepting it into my path.
Orisha Ogun, I thank you. I thank you with all I am. I understand that as you work tirelessly to provide us all with the tools needed for growth, I will work tirelessly to always maximize these tools in my life.
Modupe Orisha Ogun.
Ase, Ase, Ase-O!
©Dr William Q Ross

Gracias Papa…

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“El Santo le quiere dar Claridad….Claridad, Claridad….El Santo le quiere dar…”
 
The drums beat strongly behind me. From a device that embodies many of the technological advances that have come to exist as social norms for the western world, traditional rhythms are created and my body responds with instinct. My fingers dance over the keyboard hitting each letter in sync with the count made by Grupo Afrocuba de Matanzas’ track after track.
 
For a moment I close my eyes and it is in this moment that I can truly see. I accept that the trials and tribulations of my temporal existence must first hit up against the physical structure that is known as my body. Supporting this structure is my soul. Warmed by the fire of Shango (Kabieosile) and employed by the divination of Orunmila, I take a moment to feel my essence flow and ignite sensations in every nerve of my spine. My attention is called by the flickering of the flame that I have recently lit in honor of he who 19 years ago made the transition from embracing me physically to embracing me spiritually; My father.
 
No longer are the tears that flow down my face only serving as messengers of pain. Now they serve as reminders of the fact that I need only look at my reflection to see him. The world promised to up the ante and he vowed to support me in ways that would never fail. As is the case with every growing pain, going from the ability to physically hug my father externally to the place where these embraces could only take place internally was initially paralyzing. It has not been until recent years that I realized when I thought my legs could not hold me anymore, it was because they were being reconstructed to hold me as well as empower me to hold others.
 
I remind all who have mortally lost a loved one that until they are accepting of the growth that is inevitably taking place, they will not only be fully embraced by their loved ones nor will they be able to fully embrace them in return.
 
Never underestimate the potency of your soul for it is the very essence of who we are. Never allow yourself to be fooled by the shenanigans of the shell we occupy. Our Ori is, and always will be, greater than it.
 
We walk on the shoulders of all who came before us and our steps are cushioned by love and guidance. To allow our stride to be anything less than proud, grateful, and progressive is to cause pain on those we love and who love us.
 
Gracias papa… te quiero, te agradezco, te siento.
 
©Dr William Q Ross 2017
 
#asheintl #papa #nsalamalecum #fathersday2017

Happy Father’s Day 2017….

William Ross 0 Comment Uncategorized , ,

Today, while society sets the stage for Fathers to be recognized, I encourage you all to go further by recognizing, honoring, and celebrating the paternal energy that exists in your life. There are many whose life circumstance has left them without the tangible representation of their biological father; however, they are most definitely not without paternal energy in the matrix that guides them.

First and foremost, let us recognize the men who have not only stepped to the plate of fatherhood, but who have lasted longer than one inning. These brothers understand that the responsibility associated with fatherhood is not a game and should not be taken as such on any level.

Next, let us recognize the countless mothers who have accepted the responsibility of being both parents, for they two are being guided and reinforced by the energy that surrounds us all. To my own mother: I thank you and I love you.

Next, let us recognize that the paternal energy that has embraced us with love and commitment from the moment of our conception comes from the the Eggun and the Orisha. Their unwavering love, guidance, and again, commitment, is profoundly powerful and has been instrumental in keeping us up…even when we thought we were alone and falling down.

Today, and every day, let us make the time to reflect on the guidance that we receive and remember that we also contribute to it.

To my own Father: I thank you. I thank you for the embrace that you provide me with daily. It is now that I understand that the loss of your physical presence during my adolescence was not the end. Rather it was the beginning of your spiritual presence in my life as a force that would never be further away from me than a look in the mirror.
I love you, Dad.

Luz, Amor, y Àşę.

©Dr William Q Ross 2017

#asheintl
#happyfathersday
#family
#paternalenergy

Regarding Trump’s Announcement on Cuba…

William Ross 0 Comment Uncategorized , ,

Luz, Amor, y Àşę. 

As the President’s announcement regarding Cuba has been made, our Spiritual Tours to Cuba remain unaffected. We will continue to provide this service to all who are looking to experience the potency and feel the impact of the Cuban people, their warmth, their culture, their traditions, and their land. Ashé International, Inc. is proud to have received confirmation from the United States Treasury Department that the documentation we provide all who participate in our tours, as well as the structure of the tours themselves, are in accordance with the regulations that have been in place pre the former president’s changes and subsequently post the current president’s changes. 
For those who have already made travel plans, we remind you that as per OFAC, your travel plans are not at risk of being cancelled as long as they were made in accordance with the requirements that existed as of today. This includes, but is not limited to, the maintenance of all documentation outlining your itinerary and activities on the island for five years. 
For those wishing to travel to Cuba, such is still very much an option. 
The fever with which Cuba and the policies surrounding it are discussed give the impression that travel to Cuba is new for Americans. Such could not be further from the truth. 
We are proud to have been traveling to Cuba for the past two decades. 
Many travel to Cuba to talk ABOUT the Cuban People. 
Ashé International, Inc. travels to Cuba to talk WITH the Cuban People. 
To Cuba With Ashé,
*An aspect of Ashé International, Inc.