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Cover 8.7
By Barkanitah, on June 16th, 2010
 May Knowledge of our history lead us to a better future As we live in this world of colonial science,
bridled by modern villains, and their “civilized” criminal alliance;
in this imperial swamp of exploitation and grand-deception,
we fumble through life completely detached from human reality, lost, without direction.
Clumsily we carry on, deprived of the knowledge that we all hail from a culture of the Highest decree.
But if we examine what has been hidden from the world to see,
We will encounter the astounding beginnings of human history. . .
Emerging from the Great Lakes of Uganda and Kenya,
a majestic assemblage of the Black High Cultures did arise:
We flourished and spread up the valleys of the Nile. . .
We formed the great kingdoms of the Kush, Nubia and Meröwe,
and still we continued to grow –
Exuding renown and magnificence that none could defile.
Temples and shrines were built in stone, from Addis Abbaba to the Upper Lands.
We developed agriculture and astronomy, and built trade routes and titanic ships.
The prestige of our schools would train the world’s wisest men and women -
mothering all of the world’s philosophies, millennia before the first crack of a whip.
Our preeminence was so admired and well known,
That our High culture was mimicked across the globe.
Our traditional Kings and Pharaohs ruled by the Divine law,
in harmony with all.
They led by example for the people to follow
with intentions for mankind that were far from shallow.
Continue reading A Story of A King (Volume 1): Piankhi of Napata
Volume 8.7
By Baashu, on June 16th, 2010
Tradition to the Rescue
 The wetlands of the Inner Niger Delta in Mali is home to over 1 million people due to the natural irrigation from the annual flood waters. Wherever you may live, a healthy ecosystem is good in every way. In Mali, which is in the center of Western Meritah (colonial Africa), a rich cultural heritage runs through the region, just as the Djoliba (Niger) river does. The Djoliba is such a massive river that it creates an inland delta (flooded plain or marshland) within the Sahara Desert. The villagers of the interior delta are capable of many things: boat building, navigation, fishing, farming, construction of mud-brick structures and even building pyramids. Restoring the ecosystem can be added to the list. These villagers are working to reestablish regional wetland-forests. These forests serve as a refuge for plant and animal species during the dry season. Seven forests have been restored out of twenty that have perished, according to Mory Diallo, a research assistant at the local office of Wetlands International.
This is good news for the local economy because many fisheries have been restored, leading to income for local communities. Under the canopy of these forests, the water is kept from drying up entirely because of the shade that the trees provide. Small bodies of water remain throughout the dry season, which provides spawning ponds for fish. These submerged forests have recovered since being placed under the protection of traditional leaders. According to an article on Allafrica.com, much of the forests in this delta region were lost to drought in the 1970’s and 1980’s. However, beginning in the 1960’s, the increased usage of chemical agricultural inputs and exploitative farming practices of the so-called Green Revolution were implemented wherever colonial governments had influence. Because of its rice producing capacity, this region in Mali was exploited. The result, as we have seen wherever industrial agriculture has been adopted, is an environmental imbalance that forces the ecosystem to change.
Continue reading What Is News
Survivor's Notebook 8.7
By Kasabez, on June 16th, 2010
 To regain independence from colonial powers, we will first have to learn how to survive without their help.
In today’s world of super-fast computers, airplanes and the global economy, it’s sometimes hard to imagine a life of simplicity. It’s interesting that the more technology we develop, supposedly for the purpose of making our lives easier, the more energy we have to put into maintaining these technologies. We then have less and less time to devote to providing ourselves with the basics of life. Our society promotes the idea that people who are providing us with our necessities – our farmers, our seamstresses, our cooks, our housewives, our teachers and our garbage men - are less respectable than people who provide things that are absolutely useless like athletes, entertainers, and lawyers.
Let’s take it back to the most basic level. What if we all woke up tomorrow with nothing? What if our money wasn’t worth anything and there was no food in the grocery stores? What if the electricity and gas were suddenly turned off; who would be the most useful to us? Would it be the person who could design a computer program and hook up a whole building with internet or would it be the one who could grow food and build a house? When we look at it from this perspective, there’s not even a question. However, we take on the mentality that we will never find ourselves in this situation. The truth is that we may already be much closer to this than any of us care to admit.
Continue reading Suvivor’s Notebook : Planning Our Escape
Feature 8.7
By Barkanitah, on June 16th, 2010
 This Kemetic wall relief depicts a woman giving birth squatting, which is more natural for a woman's body than lying on her back Last month we began to take a look at the value of natural childbirth and the responsibility that women hold as humanity’s “bringers of life.” We could see that since the beginning of human existence, women have been following through with their pregnancies the only way that they were intended to do it – naturally. With modern intervention, the percentage of women who deliver naturally (in America) has dropped below 10% in a matter of 100 years. This article is a continuation of the Natural Childbirth series and will identify what is involved in returning to the natural labor process, recognize modern intervention for what it truly is, and provide tips for finding support in the decision to give birth naturally.
Continue reading Natural Childbirth (Part 2)
Feature 8.7
By Zemoonitah, on June 16th, 2010
 The idea of the proud single woman and mother is new to humanity and was introduced as a divide and conquer tactic
In today’s society, women have come to the conclusion that they have made a big accomplishment by being single and independent. It is as if we hold trophies to our single status and are proud when we can pay bills, run a home and raise children without the assistance of a man. Colonial society has done a good job convincing women that we are somehow much stronger without men playing major roles in our lives.
It is important to understand that the goal of this system is to maintain control over the masses. I am sure that the message I’m trying to convey is no secret, but we as women need to start connecting the dots in order to see the full picture. Although we’d rather be perceived as a woman who has everything under control, the reality is, we as women need to depend on someone. But take a look at the society that you turn to when you finally need some assistance. Whether we need a career, pay raise, bank loan, food stamps, etc., when we need help we turn towards the same system that controls us.
If you listen to popular culture songs on the radio and see the average sitcom, you’ll begin to see how much aspiring to being an independent woman plays a big role in the attitudes of women today. Okay, you may have a nice home, car, bank account, designer clothes and all the “finer” things in life. Once you have accomplished the goal of spending all your money for material gain and making the same ones who control you richer, how do you sleep at night? Do you snuggle up with your cuddly fur coat or your Fendi bag? Certainly it should make us women think about what our goal is and what is really important.
Continue reading ALL THE SINGLE LADIES…
Volume 8.6
By Baashu, on June 9th, 2010
Growing Culture
Within the span of the last 100 years there has been an imigration of people from countryside to cities. The result of this migration was the industrialization of the workforce. People have moved away from their land and into cities, no longer working on their farms but working in factories and now offices. This changed peoples’ needs and how their needs were met.
 The Landreth Seed Company commissioned the above oil painting, inspired by a photograph taken by Rudolph Eikemeyer, for 1909 In the city, most of us are familiar with the things we must do to survive. On the land, people farmed for their food and utilized the natural materials around them for their other needs. Skills like iron-working and wood-working were common, there were also healers and story tellers amongst the variety of people who assisted each other within a local village or community.
For African-Americans, living off the land was different than it was for much of the rest of the world. This is because of two main factors. The first factor is slavery, which is well recognized and written about. A second, unmentioned factor, is the correlation between the westward expansion (1789-1849), when European settlers were given land for free, and the emancipation proclamation (1863), when slavery was outlawed in America. The chronology is deliberate, as told by the late Master Naba Lamoussa Morodenibig. “Before they freed the slaves they made sure that there was no place for them to go but back to the plantation they just left.”
Continue reading What Is News?
Kem Life 8.6
By Bousaa, on June 9th, 2010
 This picture represents a Kem woman carrying an infant on her back, which is in order to carry out her daily jobs. The woman represents life, stability, and the home which is represented in the picture by a hut. The woman represents the protective force of the family. The woman is the family, she is the voice of the home. In life, we often have difficulties in solving our problems, by the way we don’t grant value to certain advice which could have been used to guide us on the right track. This tale pays homage to the woman who is our mother, the source of life and the cradle of humanity because she occupies a very important place in our lives and in society.
There was a village, where there lived a chief and his villagers. But since the appointment of the chief, it was as if misfortune had struck the village. There was not sufficient rain to produce a good harvest. Thus, the hungry population was not able to eat. Also, none the chief’s wives ever had children. Rumors ran all throughout the village because there were too many questions about the heir to the chief. One day, the chief convened a meeting with his notables and the wise ones of the village and all inhabitants without distinction, so that they could see together how to solve these problems before the situation went from bad to worse. All of the villagers answered his call, and thus the wise ones and the notable ones proposed their ideas and the debate was open.
At a point when the meeting became very intense, they were disrupted by a rabbit who was being chased by a dog. The rabbit fled into the courtyard, directly beneath the seat of the chief to take refuge from the dog. The dog slowed down when it saw people and sat right where it entered the court to wait for its prey to try to escape. As he waited, he heard the people speak of the difficulties which arose while trying to find solutions so that the chief could have children and for there to be enough rain for the next seasons.
The chief threw his hand under his seat and snatched the rabbit from its hiding place. The rabbit then requested permission to speak. Having listened to the goal of the meeting, he addressed the chief in these terms, “Chief! Chief! Now that my survival depends on you, I ask you for help. I will be grateful to you. In my family we produce a good medicine which allows any woman to become fertile and to have children.”
Continue reading Homage to the Woman
Survivor's Notebook 8.6
By Kasabez, on June 9th, 2010
 Nadirah, Jauzeri and Kasabez Maakmaah
Since my son was born, everyone has been asking me how it feels to be a father. My answer has usually been that I can’t really explain. Honestly, it feels like the natural next step in my life. The difference is that I have never taken a step that has had such a profound impact on my life. This article is dedicated to all my brothers who want to start a family but are hesitant to take the first step.
Since I was a child, I always knew that I wanted children. Even in this culture that discourages parenthood, this never changed. The hard part was finding the “right person.” Ironically, I didn’t know who this “right person” would be or what she would be like. The most troubling thought was that I might meet this “right person” and she wouldn’t want me. With that fear came the idea that I would have to improve myself. Still, this left me with only a vague notion of what kind of woman I wanted and the even less clear idea of what kind of man she would want me to be.
My involvement with The Earth Center is the only thing I have to credit with giving me a clear idea of what it is to be a man and what to look for in a woman. The roles of each gender are clearly laid out according to the values of Kemetic culture. The man is the head of the household and keeps order and stability in the household. Whatever it is the family needs, it is the man’s responsibility to make sure they have it. With this in mind, it was clear that my life would have to be stable. I would have to be able to provide for myself and also show a high level of emotional stability and moral integrity to attract the kind of woman that would spend the rest of her life with me and our children; a kind of woman that is hard to find in Chicago these days.
Continue reading Survivors Notebook: Reflections of a First Time Father
Kem Life 8.6
By Zemoonitah, on June 8th, 2010
 We, the people of the diaspora, must return to the originators of civilization to reclaim our dignity and humanity. Is it true that a woman’s work is never done? Maybe. Our drawer full of hats, that we as women wear, proves how many roles we play throughout our lives. We are sisters, wives, mothers, and daughters. All of the above are busy working, cooking, cleaning, serving, teaching, dancing, washing, sewing, healing and raising children. Although none of these duties or expectations are small, this is what makes everything about a woman so great. The woman provides a sense of stability and harmony in the lives of others, from the household to the community. We would take more pride in our role as women if we truly understand how valuable it is.
As a student at the Earth Center, I had the privilege to go on a pilgrimage to Merita (Africa). Besides the beauty of the land, the beauty of the women left a permanent mark on my mind and heart. Yes, their outer beauty was apparent, but it was something much more than an image out of a coffee table pictorial. I observed how incredibly hard they worked. No woman was left to fulfill a task alone. All the women there take responsibility for each other and the genuine appreciation they have for one another was, and is, an unspoken language. Their energy was so pure it could melt one’s heart. The women in Merita truly exemplify the definition of sisterhood.
Continue reading Sisterhood
On the Ancestral Path 8.6
By Bikbaye, on June 9th, 2010
 (from left to right) God Son Heru, God Father Wsr and Goddess Het-Heru For every human being born into this world, there is a path or course that has been set for their life to follow. This path is what we call destiny. In the modern belief system, the common perception is that the destiny of the individual was given to him/her by the God of his/her respective religion. If the life of the individual on Earth is free of suffering, poverty, sickness, etc. the individual then entertains the thought that he is doing what it takes to please the God of his choice, and therefore his life is favorable in the eyes of that God. On the other hand, if the life of the individual is stricken with the before mentioned influences, the individual will either feel that he should continue to try harder to please his God, or he may feel cursed by his God and lose hope altogether. These scenarios would make perfect sense if Gods dealt directly with humans, which is a common belief among worshipers of modern religions, but the reality is that Gods are not directly responsible for the outcome of the life of humans. This area is reserved for the ancestors of the individual.
All humans are born with two destinies; the prenatal destiny and the conditional destiny, which were both given to the individual by his ancestors many generations before he was born. The prenatal destiny is the path that many of us believe was given to us by God. But this notion couldn’t be further from the truth. Within the Kemetic (original) spiritual system, it is taught that the prenatal destiny was set for us by our ancestors (through the blood line of the mothers) based on what that particular ancestor wished for us during that time, seven generations back. But if one traces his history back to that time and compares that to how things function today, one can see that what would have been a sufficient path for their life to follow back then may not be enough in the present time in which we live. This where the conditional destiny comes in.
Continue reading Coming Closer to The Divine
Cover 8.6
By Barkanitah, on June 8th, 2010
The gift of pregnancy and the ability to endure childbirth inspires mankind to celebrate and honor our women. This marvelous ability is recognized by people of all cultures and traditions as a great responsibility that women hold, distinguishing a woman as the bearer of life, the unconditional care-giver, and mankind’s very first teacher. From traditional spiritual practices to modern religions, women are identified as upholding the beauty and esteem of a culture, and are worthy and deserving of protection and adoration. In Kem culture, we know that the woman is responsible for the destiny of her children, and the well being and maintenance of her household and her community. Some of the duties and abilities that women carry are even exemplified by female deities. Pregnancy and childbirth are associated with practices and traditions that reflect just how important they are to a culture and how very connected the process of childbirth is to spirituality. Even in modern cultures, we can see remnants of practices coming from traditions that recognize the significance of the natural pregnancy and birthing process. While human beings come from a long history of acknowledging, respecting, and enduring the natural process of bringing life into the world, the ways of the modern system have managed to twist our views and encourage us to stray from practices that have worked for our ancestors for hundreds of thousands of years.
Continue reading Natural Childbirth Part 1
Graduation 8.6
By Nekhitem, on June 2nd, 2010
 The Shemzura Generation (from left to right) Kefaibra, Hamiba, Jazra and Hatnima
The Earth Center is happy to announce the graduation of the Shemzura generation. They are the 15th generation of M’TAM initiates in the colonial world. This graduation symbolizes the first mile-stone of their initiation, an important gateway into the beginning of their journey of spiritual growth. Even though the first year of initiatic education is just the beginning, it does not come without tremendous challenges for the initiates. The first part of the initiation challenges the student on a deep psychological and emotional level, and it forces the student to become very honest with themselves. Honesty is not easy for us as humans. We strongly congratulate the Shemzura generation. The 14th of Penipt, year 409 (October 24th 2009) marks the date of this special occasion.
The graduating students hail from the New York branch of The Earth Center. They are Hatnima Shemzura (formerly Gordon Reneau), Jazra Shemzura (formerly Jennifer Zachariah), Kefaibra Shemzura (formerly Menelik Livingstone), and Hamiba Shemzura (formerly Brandon Glaude). “Hatnima” translates as “Body of Truth”, “Jazra” translates as “Ra Commands”, “Kefaibra” translates as “Loyal to Ra”, and “Hamiba” translates as “Shining Soul”. The generation’s name as a whole is “Shemzura”. This means “Followers of Ra.”
This generation is unique in a couple of ways. Hatnima was born in Belize, and Jazra was born in South India. Also, Kefaibra and Hamiba are both the youngest graduated initiates in the history of the Earth Center in the US, graduating at 19 and 21.
Continue reading The Challenge to Improve the Self
Poetry 8.6
By Irita, on June 9th, 2010
 We must reclaim our fathers kingdom
Know that these words are for you.
So far from you, my heart must be strong
Listen, to the expression of my thoughts
I hope everyone there is doing well
Mama, it has already been 500 years
since I left you
Mama, 5 centuries since I was snatched
from your arms
Since then, I have just been following
the path of my destiny
searching for my daily bread
searching for my survival
searching for the survival of my roots
searching for the path that will lead me back to you
I know this vibration in me comes from you
and your brave sons
For your voice never stops resonating in my heart
Oh Father you know me very well, call your kinsmen
and tell them that your son will bring your breath
to the doorway of the elders
I will never throw in the towel
So far from you, my race destroys itself.
Courage is my only motivation
Continue reading Nostalgia
Poetry 8.6
By Boubasti, on June 10th, 2010
 "coursing through newly charged circuits of wind, fire, water and earth, We move" Tribal seeds sprouting
Watered by the future
Awakened from eternity
Forged by desire
We move
Gradually gaining focus
Searching for the frequency
Negotiating currents of forced materiality
Synchronizing to magnetic points of
potentialized perfection
We move
Continue reading The Arrival
Poetry 8.6
By Kasabez, on June 10th, 2010
 Heru/Herut the God Child within all of us We came into this world alone
No one to protect us from the place we call home
Like orphans
Taken to an unknown place
No way to know what hides behind that unknown face
Yet we trust, accept, adopt, repeat
The values that are held by the ones that we meet
The ones we call
Family
Claiming that they love you
And put no one else above you
But our parents
They were orphans too
No telling what they learned to do
Continue reading Family
On the Ancestral Path 8.7
By Bikbaye, on June 16th, 2010
 The only way to know where to step is by knowing not only which path to follow, but also who set the path for you. If survival is your goal, then you will do things that lead to survival… it’s that simple. I can imagine that this statement is a very simple one to understand. There is no hidden meaning behind these words. There is no hidden agenda behind me writing these words. The purpose is to show the reader how simple it is to comprehend this logic regarding survival. Even the most closed minded individual cannot deny this logic even if he chooses to involve his emotions as a way of trying to complicate it. Now comes the difficult part that I will put here for you in the form of a question… Is survival your goal?
This may appear to be a simple question, but really it is not if you choose to answer it honestly. Because if you say yes to this question, you will be forced to first look into your life, to look at your lifestyle, to look at your habits, to look at the vices you are attached to, to look at your health and so on and so on… Only then will you be able to answer this question honestly. Even after this self inventory is done, many of us will find it difficult to admit that we are not doing things that will lead to survival individually or as a people. It is a sort of mental defense mechanism that will keep one in a state of denial concerning this topic, as if admitting this failure will leave a scar on the image we feel the need to portray to the world, a world that does not care whether you exist or not, a world that sees you only as an object to be exploited and thrown away when you are no longer useful in carrying out the plan it had for you since your birth. Ironically, it is because of this same “plan” that we were not taught or exposed to the things, ways, and means that will ensure our survival. This is another aspect that makes my initial question difficult to answer, even honestly, because if we only know what we are exposed to and we have not been exposed to what will allow us to have a future, then how can we know whether we are doing things that will lead to our survival?
The only way to know where to step is by knowing not only which path to follow, but also who set the path for you. In other words, the way to know if you are doing things that will lead to your survival is by first learning the ways, wisdom, and knowledge of your ancestors and compare that to the lifestyle and goals that were set for you by the society in which you now live. When we look back at the history of people of color, we will not find most of the societal ills that plague the world today. You will find the difference, by comparison, shocking if nothing else. Our history does not reveal that hundreds of thousands of our people were dying from heart disease, diabetes, or cancer. Our history does not reveal that we were committing massive acts of suicide. Our history does not reveal that we were killing our unborn children because we were not willing to do whatever it took to raise them. Neither does our history reveal that we murdered and slaughtered others to steal the resources of their lands. Additionally, although many of the drugs that are destroying the lives of millions are naturally grown around the world (heroine, cocaine, marijuana), I have yet to discover a history of drug addiction, being that most of these “drugs” are considered to be medicines that were used ceremoniously by our ancestors. These are just some aspects of our culture that clearly show the difference between what we have become now and what we come from. The determining factor simply relies on the goal that the society sets for us.
So what is the goal of this current society here in America? Is it set for its people to survive? The implications are truly staggering. But what is even more profound is the fact that we, as a people, can clearly see the traps that have been set for us, but we still choose to take the bait. Basically, we have a reactionary tendency to justify our own destruction. Although this behavior can honestly be seen as a mental retardation, it stems from the absence of a culture that was suppressed many generations ago by the hands of colonialism.
To say we have been lucky to survive all that has been aimed at us to bring our demise will be an insult to our ancestors, because it is only the powers of the ancestral spirit that has allowed us to endure these atrocities that we face. We cannot take credit for our lives, being that we are being made weaker on a daily basis by our society. I can only imagine then the effect it would have on our lives and what it would mean for our future survival if we acknowledged and honored our ancestors for the role they have played in our survival. Through building and strengthening our relationships with the ancestors, we are then able to give our children and grandchildren the opportunity to be survivors as well. This concept of the ancestral spirit is a very real one. If you, the reader, are unaware of this aspect of your culture, then you will not know how to benefit from the same blood that is flowing through your veins. Take the time to investigate the content within these words. Doing so may entail going outside of what your current values are, but unless it is the same values of your ancestors, you truly have nothing to lose. But if you choose not to investigate… you have already lost.
Graduation 8.7
By Irita, on June 16th, 2010
 Herpw Bikbaye (center) welcomes the Bakiou Generation Sahtehuti (left) Iritmaat (right)
An ancient wisdom says “Little by little the bird builds its nest”. If you have ever been given the opportunity to touch your fingers to a bird’s nest, you understand the profundity of this proverb. Even more, if you will challenge your logic to understand how the bird is able to realize such a feat, you will be impressed by the patience shown by the bird to ensure its survival as an entity of the cosmos in which everything is subjected to the principle of perpetual transformation. Unlike this tiny bird who, like so many others, has understood that patient, harmonious work will contribute to the perfection of this existence, it is the supposedly intelligent humans who, of all species, still think we control this world. However, time and time again our patience and commitment can be seen but not towards our own survival; instead it is put to work for the ambitions and future set for us according to the utopia of our leaders in a world where reality is constantly challenging us. We have become the only species to believe that we will gain our freedom by ignoring the natural wisdom of traditional culture in order to invest in the propaganda of what we want to see in the illusions set by colonialism. Modern man is now left confused in his delusions, only because he is led to reject his ancestors and their traditions in order to embrace the empty rhetoric of leaders promising a bright future. Until the moment the individual realizes that his leader has only set him towards self-destruction by asking him to ignore or forget what has given him life and ensures the perpetuation of that life, he is doomed…. as it has always been said in Kem (Black) civilisation, “The branch who wants to flower learns to honor its roots.”
Continue reading Reconciling with Tradition
Feature 8.7
By Baashu, on June 16th, 2010
 The Nuclear arms race was justified as a way to protect America and keep peace, but how can an arsenal of weapons capable of destroying all life on Earth Guarantee peace? It is no secret that a strong bond among family and community members provides a very stable foundation from which an individual can utilize and build their life. These bonds transmit the values which define the culture and the person. The more people sharing your values, the more people can depend upon each other for assistance. An extended family is what the community becomes, and it plays a fundamental role in the development of a quality human being. It is summed up in the proverb ‘it takes a village to raise a child’. While shared values and strong bonds are one aspect of a stable community, it is the values that determine a civilized community from a barbaric one. It is interesting, though, how a community may become more or less civilized through the bonds that connect them.
Our words and our actions affect our families, our communities. When a rock is tossed into the water it creates a set of waves rippling out in every direction. This can be seen as the physical representation of how our actions go on to affect everything around us. That which is closest to us is affected first, and so on, until things that we can’t see, think of, or things we haven’t perceived are being affected by our actions. Over the bonds shared by family or community members goes the wave of our actions, our behavior and our influence. It is on a daily basis that the improvement or degeneration of the individual, and the society, happens. That means we are either upholding or letting go of our values whenever we think, speak or act. In this way, our behavior can serve to inspire others toward improvement or degeneration.
Continue reading Love, Hate and the Nuclear Solution
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The Sidereal Calendar
Year 409
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Philosphy Podium
Volume 1:
A Dogon Perspective
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