12 Days of Christmakwanzakah: Day 6-Navegante

On day 6, I want to give a gift to you: music. hot sh*t. for free. thank me later :)

I have been following Navegante since early 2009. I discovered them at Camarada's El Barrio, a smoothed out uptown bar and live music spot, and have been a fan gal ever since. Their live show is an experience to say the least. Everyone that I've even taken has been literally mesmerized at how dope their music is, and how talented the musicians themselves are. Navegante only has 2 members, Jean and Wash, but the sounds that comes from each of their 2 hands and 2 feet is f*ckin' mindblowing. How to describe their sound: funky raucous electronic instrumentation combining elements rock, hip-hop and Afro-Latino rhythms. Their songs take you on a journey, changing up beats and breaks...they're one-of-a-kind. I consider their show a legitimate work out because that's how hard they go. Their live show makes people lose their daggone sense (myself included)...folks grinding, gyrating, jumping, fist-pumping, stripping, whatever makes 'em feel good. It's that serious.

Anyhoo...you can experience a piece of that magic via Youtube or even better download their EP for free. The video below is their docusode so you can learn more about these Brooklyn/Miami natives, and check out Combat Rock which was filmed at Santo's Party House this September to a packed house. We were sweating it out, literally. And thanks Navegante for the cameo (woot woot!). So check out these vids, find them on Facebook, and follow them on Twitter to find out when they are playing live next...and I'll see you on the dance floor ;)



and this is for my homegirl, Samhita :)

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It's Carnival Time...

(thanks to @bfp on Twitter and the Huffington Post for the picture and article)

...and I'm in New York City, not really the most poppin' Carnival celebrating city. But I did go out and see "Men Love Vaginas," a V-day tribute at the Nuyorican tonight...that's another story to be posted soon...

Anyway, I've been kinda celebrating Mardi Gras/Carnival here in NYC, more so by learning more about some of the history of New Orleans, and the Black Carnival traditions. I've been doing a little dancing too...there's spirits in my bones making move, I can't help myself everywhere I go I must dance! I've also been sad because I really wanted to go this year and thought about it earlier and bullshitted and...doesn't matter. I'm here in my bed writing this now, that says it all.

To get my fix, Goddesses Rising sister Queen Makeda, brought this documentary last time in NOLA, "All In A Mardi Gras Day", and we watched it about 3 times, showed more people who came to the crib, even watched the extras. Learned something new every time. There is a rich history and unrelenting spirit that needs to be preserved and respected.

Above, there's a picture from Rio's Carnival from the famous, or infamous, carnival queen, Viviane Castro, silently protesting the sale of the Amazon to the U.S. which many Brazilians oppose.

As Carnival is happening around the world, get your party on wherever you are. In the shower, in your office, on the subway platform, at the grocery store, cooking dinner. You've got til midnight to do so. Let those spirits out!


(Mardi Gras 2008, jaz and QueenMakedaB, New Orleans)

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artistic blessings

(art by Dancing Shakina and LeonieLife)

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Crying, Dancing and Imbolc

Today I wanted to dance really badly. I felt it in my soul like I had to move and express. I left work too late. Just missed the A train that I needed to make it to class in time. I started crying. I couldn't explain why but I felt so overwhelmed with emotion or why that was the release I needed. I disappointed myself.

Today was an emotional day in which I was faced with a lot of reality. I had to destroy some old beliefs, walls, and blockages and I feel renewed. I was extremely sensitive, my emotions were on high alert. Themes of life and death stared me in the face. I got in touch with my heart and and opened it. I'm still afraid but quite hopeful. I earned another badge of courage today.

Well, even though "today" is officially February 3, I celebrated Imbolc, a traditionally pagan holiday that recognizes the midway point between winter solstice and the rebirth of the spring equinox. Groundhog's Day seems to have derived from this tradition; agrarian cultures read nature to decide when to plant in preparation for the upcoming spring. Thank Goddess, because I am not into the winter but am learning to appreciate it. So anyway, celebrated is the wrong word, more like I experienced Imbolc and with today's beautiful 50+ degree weather, I feel like the Universe is telling me to plant my seeds early because the next cycle is gonna be frutiful :)

Below is some more info about the roots of Imbolic, thanks to a wonderful sister goddess friend, courtesy of the We'Moon Calendar 2009.

Imbolic/Brigid (February 2, 2009)

At Candlemas, awakening begins and the return of the light seems assured. Energies within the earth, as well as the physical body, begin to gently pulsate as the days lengthen and our hopes turn to spring. Traditionally a time of transformation and initiation, Candlemas brings "big dreams" and a raised vibration. Sap rises, trees bud and agricultural people everywhere look to nature for the omens that might tell them whether to plant their crops early or late this year. In our tumultuous time, however, human-caused global climate change has wrought more intense storms and weather conditions, making it difficult to read these simple oracles.

With powerful Pluto having recently entered the physical sign of Capricorn (until 2024), we look forward now to momentous planetary and personal change. The wise woman releases obsolete forms. As old structures crumble, inside and all around us, a mantra can help to stabilize our energies and subdue our fears. Try saying the protective Sanskrit syllables OM AH HUM over and over whenever you feel afraid, and imagine yourself sitting safely inside of Kali's dance of liberation.

Solo ritual: http://paganwiccan.about.com/od/imbolcfebruary2/ht/CandleRite_Sol.htm

(art from: atlas-art.blogspot.com/)

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