More Stories = Less Silence
"We aint working out til we exorcise the demons that's inside us."
- Talib Kweli "Hostile Gospel (Pt. 1)"
Barbadian playwright and director, Matthew Kupakwashe Murrell, has used this exact angle in his latest piece of art, "Demons in Me." The play presents different scenarios and real life situations (domestic abuse, child prostitution, homosexuality, rape, etc) that may be a basis, reason or a catalyst for these "demons" in us to thrive on or to continue to exist. When describing the play to my sister who is currently working in Asia, she asked, "What stance does the play take on homosexuality?" I replied, "The play takes no stances. It merely raises questions."
However, as an actress in this play, I realized that my own "demons" had to be raised and battled and overcome.
As a child, I was molested countless times. In the play, one of my characters is recounting the events that took place on the night she was raped by someone she loves dearly. It was extremely hard for me to get into character and I honestly had no idea why. The following is something I wrote about that experience.
"The irony that, even to act as someone other than myself, I have to be more of myself was mind-boggling. Until my director showed me that someone who is other than myself could be and often is feeling the same feelings I have once felt while going through experiences that, while vastly different, are still hauntingly similar."
The cast of "Demons in Me" are currently gearing up for a performance that will be held on November 4th at the National Independence Festival for Creative Arts (NIFCA) in Barbados. This controversial yet cathartic play has made it to the Finals in this event and will be able to be seen by more of the masses.
Demons...and Karma
Some of my clients asked me to speak about Karma in this week's blog.
Karma, in many cultures, is looked at as the law of cause and effect. In Western societies, we usually sum it up as "You reap what you sow..." or "Live by the gun...die by the gun."
Today, while riding in the car, my best friend said, "What goes around, comes around."
This is something that makes all the sense in the world to some, and yet, for others...it may raise a few brows, concerns, questions, and even tempers.
As one of my friends from Africa once asked me, "What have the children in war torn countries done to deserve all of the pain and turmoil that they are enduring?"
Are we, as my best friend said today, actually paying for the "sins" of our ancestors?
Are demons being passed down because of unhappy spirits...or unfulfilled dreams?
And, if we have no possible way of actually knowing this, are we at least trying to work on healing in the moment so we can change the cycle?
Breaking the Cycle
As a healer who is constantly seeking to heal self, I do not nor do I proclaim to know all of the answers. So, I need some assistance. I want to find out what you think we can do to break the cycle that we are in. October is Emotional Intelligence Month and today, October 24th, was coined "National Bare Day" by Janet Aizenstros.
In my humble opinion, one of the first ways to heal the hurt from our inner "demons" and break the cycle of pain and abuse (whether inflicted by self or others) is to speak out about it...to bare all. The more we sweep these issues under a rug, the more other people think that they have to suffer in silence.
What ways would you suggest?
Feel free to share your story with us. More stories = Less Silence
Be Peace...Be Love...Be Better
Women's Wisdom Wednesdays is brought to you by Ayesha NuRa.
Ayesha NuRa is an empowerment motivator who focuses on healing and uplifting the Divine feminine. She provides counseling, coaching and expertise in countless areas that lead to empowerment. Reach out to her here:
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