I had been watching online sermons, blasting gospel music in my car in the mornings on my way to work and meditating before I prayed at night...but something is amiss. Its one of those days where I have a burning desire and a deep yearning to connect with those who have come before me, I need to have a conversation with my ancestors. So at 12 midnight, I kneel down facing my bedroom window which is located in the east of my room. I have two candles, a calabash filled with water, two silver coins and my bible. I get lost in my thoughts when I remember the time I tried to use snuf and choked on it uncontrollably and another time where I tried to incorporate imphepho but it wouldn't ignite. Hey man, its trial and error but I find comfort in knowing that I have found the elements that resonate with my spirit. I begin by lighting the candles thus inviting light and what is of light into my space. I close my eyes, clear my mind and as soon as I hear the loud thumps of my beating heart, I speak.
Nature is a reflection of the essence of God, but not God. Nature is utilized to align, commune and communicate with our ancestors; ancestors are angels who carry our prayers to the heavens. In African spirituality, the four elements of water, earth, fire and air are expressed through coarse salt, snuf, candles and imphepho respectively. In Ancient Kemet, these elements are expressed as divinities known as "Neteru" which are defined as gods or principles. All of these gods are connected to the Source and form part of cyclic process in rhythmic phases where the four dimensions exist, interpenetrate and interact through space and time. The god of water is Manu, the god of earth is Rostau, the god of fire is Aakhut and the lastly the god of air is Ament. All beings, celestial and human have a sole purpose to manifest in the spiritual as well as the physical; we are all God realized.
This can be further seen in the bible where after Elijah prays for rain, he is summoned to Mount Carmel to have a heart to heart with God. "Go out and stand before me on the mountain" God said. And as he stood there, the Lord passed by , and a mighty windstorm hit the mountain. It was such a terrible blast that the rocks were torn loose, but the Lord was not in the wind. After the wind, there was an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake. And after the earthquake was a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire. And after the fire there was the sound of a gentle whisper." 1 Kings 19v11-12. The connection between God and Elijah was established through nature. Nature is a great tool in allowing us to fully immerse ourselves in God's presence, to bask in He[r] light and to be filled up with eternal love.
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