A tour around the world and around the world's religions through the lens of some of the world's black and dark blue spiritual guides.
One reason I chose to create this photo essay is for it to represent a certain type of spiritual empowerment that is available specifically to people of the African Diaspora simply through the presence of these images. Similarly, I also believe these images can provide a certain type of empowerment to LGBT people as well. Symbolically, the color black, from a spiritual understanding of the universal color spectrum, represents overcoming obstacles, transmuting negativity into something more beneficial--usually compassion and wisdom, letting go, particularly the letting go of rage, transmuting the "darkness" in us, etc. These are awarenesses that can easily be translated into everyday practices that can be beneficial to anyone especially however, those who are victims of oppression of any kind. We can develop practices around any of the "dark" spiritual guides," particularly "the dark mother" without a corresponding religious devotion or "worship" of such figures.
Yes, it is true. The Dark Mother, for example, is an absolutely universal concept that crosses many cultural and religious/spiritual lines. The Black Madonnas of Catholicism, Kali, from Hinduism, Isis from ancient Egyptian religions and Black Tara from Buddhism are all considered expressions of The universal Black or Dark Mother. Their appearance may at times seem quite frightening and/or foreboding. However, they are primarily spiritual mother figures. Remember that. Still, there is an undeniable type of "fierceness" in them. This type of fierceness however, is well known and respected in the LGBT community, particularly the African American, trans and drag queen communities. So this makes The Black Mother exceedingly accessible to many members of the LGBT community. These practices I speak of, at their most basic expression, simply involves us allowing or inviting the "dark spiritual guide" to be a channel for positive transformation within us. They do not need to involve worship or devotion of any kind. In other words, these practices are available to those who view themselves as atheist or agnostic as well. I plan to say much more about all of this in future posts here at moyo afame.
Yes, it is true. The Dark Mother, for example, is an absolutely universal concept that crosses many cultural and religious/spiritual lines. The Black Madonnas of Catholicism, Kali, from Hinduism, Isis from ancient Egyptian religions and Black Tara from Buddhism are all considered expressions of The universal Black or Dark Mother. Their appearance may at times seem quite frightening and/or foreboding. However, they are primarily spiritual mother figures. Remember that. Still, there is an undeniable type of "fierceness" in them. This type of fierceness however, is well known and respected in the LGBT community, particularly the African American, trans and drag queen communities. So this makes The Black Mother exceedingly accessible to many members of the LGBT community. These practices I speak of, at their most basic expression, simply involves us allowing or inviting the "dark spiritual guide" to be a channel for positive transformation within us. They do not need to involve worship or devotion of any kind. In other words, these practices are available to those who view themselves as atheist or agnostic as well. I plan to say much more about all of this in future posts here at moyo afame.
Ashé. Namaste'. Om Shanti Shalom. Amen. And So It Is.
Depiction of Jesus,The Nazarean, as a member of The African Diaspora (Jamaica)
"Rasta Jesus" Painting by Frank Hazen
"Rasta Jesus" Painting by Frank Hazen
(Christianity)
Bronze statue depicting The Buddha as a member of The African Diaspora
"Black Buddha"
"Black Buddha"
(Buddhism)
Our Lady of Częstochowa, one of world's many "Black Madonnas" (Poland)
(Christianity/Catholicism)
Our Lady of Candelaria, one of the world's many "Black Madonnas" (Canary Islands)
(Christianity/Catholicism)
Our Lady of Einsedeln, one of the world's many "Black Madonnas (Switzerland)
(Christianity/Catholicism)
Medicine Buddha (Buddhism)
Kali (Hinduism)
Black Tara (Buddhism)
Isis (Ancient Egyptian Religious System)
(Egypt, Northern Africa)
Krishna (Hinduism and incarnations in other world religions)
