2012 Review

It's that time again, time to reflect on the year and survey where I've been, see how far I've come, and map out where I'd like to go. I have to say it's been a fantastic year. Despite being unemployed for ten out of the twelve months, I've accomplished, experienced, and enjoyed quite a bit. Much of what I've experienced and many whom I have met have served as building blocks for the road ahead.

The year began with great music, not only from my favorite group Groundation, but also from two of my new favorite artists Junior Toots and Rocker-T. This is significant not just because music plays such a vital role in my existence, but also because all of these brilliant musicians have become dear treasured loved ones in my life. I usually try to keep ones anonymous, but these gentlemen and women have had key roles in the development of this year for me. 

Junior Toots invited me to be in his video for his song "A Little Bit of Love" from his wonderful album of the same title. At the shoot, he introduced me to some lovely people whom I am pleased to call friends now. The lovely Sol Atash, who sings with him, has become a dear friend as well. It was at Junior Toots' cd release party on my birthday where I met the magnanimous Rocker-T. I fell in love with his music that night, and maybe him a little bit too. Both he and his music are deeply moving, inspiring, and engaging. I have since had the privilege and honor to intern for him; an experience which enables me to learn and grow musically, spiritually, and mentally. I am proud to promote such a conscious, kind, and loving artist. His new EP "From Brooklyn to Oakland" is available now on iTunes download it here and his phenomenal album will be released in 2013. (Oh yeah, I'm good at what I do)


The accomplishment I'm most proud of this year is starting my new online magazine "Conscious Comments" check it out here which is a free magazine devoted to sharing ways people can and are living  more conscious and thoughtful lives. It is dear to me because my desire is to have a positive effect on the world and this gives me the opportunity to do it. I have been blessed to have some wonderful, thoughtful, knowledgeable and conscious beings contribute to it including the great Rocker-T who does the editorial every month, guest posts by Harrison Stafford, lead singer of Groundation and dear friend, Kelsey Howard, great trombone player from Groundation, Rusty Zinn, an awesome reggae artist and friend, Francesco Thomas (who did Rocker-T's 99.9 Percent video seen above) as well as contributions from dear friends Elizabeth Renter, Lance Malveaux, Angelica Erskine, Davina Estrella Oji, and beautiful photos by my dear brother and friend Hossein Attar. I am eternally grateful and in awe of these magnificent individuals.

I've connected with dear ones, experienced a great deal of awesome music, made amends, come to grips, and began coming into my crown. I feel so much optimism and enthusiasm for the future and so much more love in the present. I give thanks and praises to my Father The Mighty King Haile Selassie I for all my many blessings and lessons from the past years and those to come. I am coming out of the shadows in 2013...look for the queen in the whirlwind! Blessed New Year! More Love.

Find Junior Toots' music here on facebook here Twitter @juniortoots
Find Rocker-T's music here and on iTunes here on facebook here and here Twitter @theRealRockerT
Find Groundation's music here on facebook here Twitter @Groundation707
Find Reggae Professor here on facebook here Twitter @reggaeprofessor
Find Rusty Zinn's music here on facebook here Twitter @rustyzinn1
Find Sol Atash on facebook here on Twitter @solatash
Find Hossein Attar's photos on instagram younglion13
Find Francesco Thomas I.Livity Productions here

Right Wing, Left Wing...It Takes Both Wings to Fly

I am not one who is interested in engaging in politics, so please do not mistake this post to be about politics. In fact, it is an anti-politics post. I understand the need to know what your government is up to and who the players are, but knowing is not enough. When we find flaws, that something is broken or someone is corrupt, we must take action, and complaining about it alone is not effective action.


In the United States on November 19, 1863, President Abraham Lincoln delivered the Gettysburg Address (a two minute speech given by the President at the Gettysburg National Cemetery dedication four months after the Battle of Gettysburg). At the end of the speech, he described the U.S. government as "a government for the people, of the people, and by the people."  Earlier in the speech he said, "The world will little note, nor long remember, what we say here." 


 In his eulogy for the slain president, Senator Charles Sumner commented on that line of the president's speech, "The world noted at once what he said, and will never cease to remember it. The battle itself was less important than the speech."  If the Senator was here today, I think he would have to recant and acknowledge that the president was right.

I know many put little stock and/or trust in the words of those who run or even created the government. These words, their own words, however, can be used as fuel for the fire of freedom, justice, and equality. The preamble to U.S. Constitution begins "We the people." It's time we hold them to these words. We often complain about those who run the country, but we neglect to include ourselves. We have forgotten our own power...a power that goes far beyond voting.

I recently read a comment on a social networking site on a post about the occupy movements that read, "protesting doesn't work anymore."  What struck me is the puzzling contradiction of the article I had read just minutes before about how the government (White House level) ordered the dismantling of the occupations read article here. This suggested, to me at least, that the occupations were becoming a big enough concern that the executive branch of the U.S. government became involved. I wondered if those who think the occupations wouldn't work might have been too occupied with other things to see the world wide solidarity and attention they had garnered.

It seems that so many are so focused on political parties and left and right wings that "we the people"  are divided. Most discussions I see are about the pros and cons of each side and people become defined and condemned by that affiliation rather than defined by what they think, do, or desire for the world. Those that think that protesting doesn't work anymore should consider one fact; there were occupiers from all walks of life and political parties united for equal rights and justice...the real issues. 

I am solution oriented, so complaining without action or disparaging the methods of those who are acting rather than offering a viable alternative is fruitless to me. It is time we remember that the government works for us. We elect them, we should hold them accountable and fire them if they don't do their jobs properly. It will, however, take all of us collectively to do so. Left wing, right wing...it takes both wings to fly.