Black Woman University: Grandma Toon

In this episode, we reflect respectfully and humbly on Grandma Toon’s influence on my understanding of community, spirituality, and family: exercising love as a practice, investing in the transformation and growth of community members, applying the concept of family-first, being congruent and real, and holding space for inner wisdom (prayer, somatic practices, quietness). I hope this intimate reflection will help you draw parallels, become inspired, and develop a sense of curiosity.The recited poem is self-crafted and self-written:Queen Mother Granny, life has been exceedingly daunting when wanting more collides with the growing pains generated by the heartbreak and existential sores the body absorbs… disenfranchised by grieving alone in front of the only window seal in this cold, dark, depressing home - Oh, Granny, what time is it? how did I get here? Is my mere existence in alignment with and according to your prudence, purpose, and visions? when the clock stops ticking, time will tell and reveal the heavy, hearty truth - buried… hidden… concealed… and shielded by earthly spectacles glamorizing pop culture on the center stage, supplying pure entertainment on sick days rather than preventative medicine, as our souls are encroached upon by the narrowness of life’s wicked maze… Sweet Granny, I’m engulfed by suffocating shadows of impermanence and poisonous hazes of constitutional destruction, my heart bleeds with sadness for holding such existential weight of the unsavory fate without your perceptiveness and grace so much is at stake… with so little time to waste… please, Queen Mother, look over this place - and help us - all of us - see your lovely rare essence manifest and inculcate graceful, moral immunity in every village, town, city, or COMMUNITY!Ways to Connect and Support Genuinely:Subscribe to the ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Podcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, share with a loved one, and write a review - We are on Spotify, and ⁠⁠⁠⁠Apple Podcasts⁠⁠⁠⁠, too!!Subscribe and share the Substack publication,⁠⁠⁠⁠ CREATIVST.⁠⁠⁠Subscribe and share Soul MedicineWatch the Podcast interview w/ Brotha Gary Taylor, LCSWLast article on Soul Medicine: A Liberation Social Workers PerspectiveListen/Watch the last episode of Gracefully Imperfect:Order my self-written poetry anthology,⁠⁠⁠⁠ "The Depths Below"⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Send comments and feedback to the business email [email protected]⁠⁠⁠Connect, follow, and share on⁠⁠⁠⁠ LinkedIn ⁠⁠⁠⁠and the⁠⁠⁠⁠ Service page⁠⁠⁠⁠Connect, follow, and share on FanbaseConnect, follow, and share on ⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠ Get full access to CREATIVST. at creativist.substack.com/subscribe