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Note From The Universe

Don't be afraid to go where you've never gone and do what you've never done, Melisa, because both are necessary to have what you've never had and be who you've never been.

Food For Thought:

This. Right. Here

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And in this lifetime. Please guide me to my destiny knowing that I have done well for myself and all my relations. I am part of your great creation. My spiritual breath will return to you.

Virgin Mayor Apostal

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Watts Tower

Watts, CA

September 2017

I’ve lived in Southern California my whole life and I always wanted to visit the Watts Towers, I finally made time to see it. This community is upholding this beautiful expression of this man/artists’ work. Beautiful testament to a community coming together

Hope lives here.

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Vibrational Sympatico

On my way to the Oakland Airport after finishing up a work trip, I had a great conversation with my Uber driver. His name is  Lou- native to New York City- Astoria, Queens. I love listening to people’s stories and experiences. After he shared how he ended up in the West Coast & the Bay Area in particular-- I started telling him how much I love NYC because of its energy-- there is  SOMETHING about places that you are drawn to and moved by. NYC has always been that for me-- he then went on to say that New York City has this “vibrational sympatico.” I was so captivated by this expression and told him that I was going to start using that.

I’ve been thinking about these places that  move and ground me & how important it is for me to visit these places-- to think of them often, to remember that when we listen and feel deeply & connect to anything really--- music, people, nature, experiences, cities, countries, bodies of water--- that there is ALWAYS something for us to learn.

Here are the places I’ve felt vibrational sympatico:

Sunset Beach, California

Waynawayna “Mini Manchu Pichu”- Peru

Sacred Valley, Peru

Cusco, Peru

Batad, Banaue, Philippines

El Nido, Palawan, Philippines

Paoay, Illocos Norte, Philippines

Ojai, California

White Sands, Alamogordo, New Mexico

Landers & Joshua Tree, California

Food For Thought:

I am grateful for this moment and when time slows down.

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CaSO4 2H2ho- White Sands

New Mexico, you are indeed a special place. I’ll be back soon

November 2017

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Get you a man who is good for you mentally, physically and spiritually. A man who is patient, kind, compassionate, reciprocates your energy and who exposes you to genuine and unconditional love. Get you a man who acknowledges the light in you and does everything in his power to protect it while encouraging its glow. And ladies when you are blessed with a man like this, cherish him.

Meggan Roxanne

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Grateful for all the support and check ins folks are sending me as I am in my new work flow :) Especially from my parents--I just love them, they are the best.

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Cosmic Journey with Solange

“A Seat at the Table“

absolute perfection for my first experience at The Hollywood Bowl

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Thinking a lot about NYC-----

(Sol)rise in Brooklyn, New York

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Blessings 2

“I made it through, made it through, made it through. And everything I gave to you, I gave to you, I gave to you, I You got it, you got it, you got it. It’s coming [. . .] So are you ready? Are you ready?“

“Are you ready for your blessings? Are you ready for your miracles?“ -  Chance the Rapper

 This was my mantra and prayer that I followed last fall because it filled me with hope during another life transition. I went to Camp Flognaw last year which had a dope line up and by far the best music festival I have attended and it came at the right time because it was the weekend after Donal Trump got elected as the 45th President. I remember feeling this sense of calm and joy in seeing majority  brown and black folks gather, groove, and dance the night away to music by artists filled with uplifting energy.

I was standing on top of the wooden tables and had this view of the crowd vibin’ and moving to this song. In that moment I felt peace and affirmation that we are going to be alright.

 With all that is going on within the global political context that we are in and in this time of calamity where the historical trauma, wounds, pain, and darkness of the U.S. is coming to light, music reminds me to keep going and keep giving to the world in my own way. On another note, started my 3rd semester with the Long Beach Ethnic Studies Initiative and I am so excited. I also got offered a full time organizing position with a statewide youth organizing non profit! Ya girl is back and I am ready (now that I have had my “breath” year to rest, reflect, and reground) to continue the good work.

Food For thought:

I am God(ess), in flesh

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Cooking with my Dad

My family is from the Illocos + Nueva Vizcaya region of Luzon, Philippines. This dish is one of the “comfort foods” that I love to eat when I need to be grounded. Eating filipino food has been a way for me to transition back and/or feel closer to home.

It is a pescatarian hybrid/version of Ginataang ng Kalabasa with Shrimp & Pinakbet (”pakbet” known to Illocanos- people who come from the Illocos region of the Philippines- although not limited to just this region- Illokanos have migrated to different part of the archipelago; as well as, around the world)

Ingredients: bittermelon, tomatoe, onion, kalabasa, water, patis (fish sauce), long green beans, shrimp, & ginger

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“Made up of hope and meditation Love, imagination Water my creations Baby it's amazing”

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Let go of fear

Let go of fear

Let go of fear

Let go of fear

Let go of fear

Let go of fear

Let go of fear

Let go of fear

Let go of fear

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We all have a true calling, a true nature. It is our duty to follow that call, yet sometimes we do not have everything needed in order to do so. It is in these odds, with these conditions, when we must summon our bravest selves, adapt, and find a way to thrive; despite the odds, despite our fear. Allow the wounds to heal and be who yo are meant to be

Liz Huston, 2014

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I fall in love with myself [. . .] and I want someone to share that with me. To share me, with me

Eartha Kitt

The topic of dating has come up in recent conversations and my journey of dating has been an exciting learning curve this year.  How do I navigate dating (meaningful connection in a romantic context) in my late-20s? Over the years,  I have come to understand and accept that I can only meet the men that I date/have dated as deep as I have met myself. self inquiry/self love is an eternal process- never ending. I continue to turn to the words of bell hooks and Erich Fromm when it comes to understanding the complexity and  definition of love- in relation to ourselves and to others. I have grown to understand love beyond romantic love, but to see love as “a verb- in action” which has allowed me to learn/accept love as the following:

love as presence-- the act of being present (physically, emotionally, mentally, spiritually, intellectually) with another human being.

When I first listened to Eartha Kitt’s interview on relationships and compromise-- this particular quote resonated with me. As I am typing, I am realizing that there are specific men that I dated this past year where I experienced this sense of “sharing myself with someone”-- just like she said. Moving forward, I now know what it feels like to ...

- be spiritually connected/elevated with a man 

-  be intellectually challenged

- want to become a better version of myself by watching how he aligned his values with his actions seamlessly as he walked his life/this world. 

- allow myself to feel, be vulnerable. Embrace, acknowledge , and honor my sensitivity (still working on this one).

- feel safe, provided, and protected for

- truly laugh, not that fake laugh shit

- “radically honest” with myself and him (even though it’s hard & it hurt. sidenote: heard this on a podcast earlier with heyfranhey as one of the hosts and loved it because it’s so real & on point with what that episode was about)

- feel like “I can breathe.”

- let go

- love

Food for thought:

What are the greatest love songs?

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Melisa, Portraits of eating Moule (mussell) soup.

Lake Como, Italy

July 2017