#reclamationofself

[theceilingiswhite]

An apology to myself. Because I deserve it and though I say it often, here its closer to what it should be. Less of the self blaming. . . . #poemoftheday #poetsofinstagram #poetsofig #poetscommunity #writerscommunity #heartonthepage #heartonmysleeve #apologytomyself #iamnotawhore #reclamationofself #spilledinkpoetry #loveyourself https://www.instagram.com/p/CCOb7Zklnj5/?igshid=1nwdt09jkzzgj

[learningaboutalexisgumbs]

Embodying the Teachings of a Queer, Black, Feminist Troublemaker

Dr. Gumbs gives explicit instructions to “tell them how we found each other again…tell them why we needed armor and what we did before the harm. tell them about … god… and what we left to tell the tale. tell them about the whales… how they taught us to make time out of salt. how they deepened our lungs. opened the top of our heads. how they made their whole bodies into drums to show us how it would be,” because it provides a necessary counter-history to what whiteness has tried to define Black life as and limit it to (Gumbs, Dub, 2020).  

I chose to do this project based on Sista Docta Alexis Pauline Gumbs because when I learned of her work, even though I had learned it in the competitive arena of debate, I learned that competition did not always need to be antagonistic and when facing other queer, Black folk, it was a chance to grow and extend the Shoreline. I loved that I was able to learn more about my identity in such a peaceful and mindful way. Her work of using poetry to break normative teachings and create coalitions around Black, Queer individuals how been brought to life through her literature as well as through the way I have chosen to interact with it.

The above images are matching tattoos that I have with my best-friend. She is my debate partner, my soul sista, one of my most important Black Mothers, and a lifelong companion that has chosen to learn about Gumbs and experience the Shoreline together with me. What we have done not only helps us reclaim autonomy over our identities but our bodies as well: “Black women’s literary and expressive culture is as invested in recovering a diasporic past as it is with creating alternative diasporic futures as a new avenue for exploring core themes in contemporary feminist thought, such as motherhood, women’s activism, women’s relationships, gender roles, and female sexualities... Women writers attempt to reclaim the terms of eroticism and desire, rescuing sexuality and the sexualized female (and male) body from the strictures of established social practice. ”(Montgomery, The Postapocalyptic Black Female Imagination). It’s not secret that the black female body is overly sexualized by society. Our chose with these tattoos reclaimed our sexuality in regards to our own bodies, while honoring our ancestors and reminding us to “inhale” and “exhale”. And in time when it’s too tough to breath, he have each other and our other black queer family with breath for us, allowing us to live through them. We have borrowed from the teaching of Gumbs and Montgomery and have chosen to embody our Black Queerness. 

[presentsofmindhypnosis]

I built this rock sculpture, made its picture, and the wind promptly blew it down... #itsametaphor I feel the structure upon which our patriarchal society is built dissolving. I feel my Higher Self, inner child, humanity raging against outmoded patriarchy programming. And with all of this #Leo energy, Sekhme, the Egyptian Warrior Goddess sent to restore balance and harmony on this planet, is loud. Uproarious. As the anger held in my body, cellular memory, DNA is triggered by forces outside of myself, Sekhmet, also a master healer, is guiding me to find compassion to alchemize this rage... the fury of the collective repressed feminine. Please hold space for Her rise. She's here now and She's on f()cking fire 🙏 . #presentsofmind #hypnotized #unhypnotized #unbecome #unravel #undone #sweatersong #Sekhmet #internalalchemy #alchemist #sacresrage #anger #darkfeminine #reclamationofself #sheisme #IAm #warrirogoddess #AriesSouthNode #VenusInSag #shadow #Venus #collective #consciousness #reikihealing #crystalalchemy #healersofinstagram #earth #air #water #fire #burnitdown (at Logan Pass) https://www.instagram.com/p/B0n-RlnJNS0/?igshid=3q52rrsg1hrb

[gurlgonenatural]

There are times in life that you meet people with whom your soul resonates. Meeting THE Mom and young ladies of @bournebrilliantco was one of those moments. Thank you so much @reclamationofself for a generous gift that keeps on giving! #chickweed Wild harvested with love and respect for nature. This is truly the way to a nature lover's heart! 💜🌻💜🌻💜🌻💜🌻💜🌻💜🌻💜🌻💜🌻💜🌻💜 #naturalskincare #GGNaturals #Herbs #Herbologist #naturalhealing #TeamGG #NaturalProductsPlug #NaturalSoapPlug #CleanBeauty (at Tallahassee, Florida) https://www.instagram.com/p/CCPK-dnFD4S/?igshid=1oqa8pxet63r0

[katywalesmmu]

KINO FILM FEST, 14th EDITION, DOCUMENTARY SHORTS, MANCHESTER 

Tattooist Frank Manseed is obsessed with dots - He feels like a drummer, leaving a mark.

[theempathyofthegoldenone]

At the #poetography #exhibition April baby @sanyarei feels connected to the #poems #Questions & #reclamationofself from the #AquariusCollection #aquariuspoems #inaquarius

[presentsofmindhypnosis]

I built this rock sculpture, made its picture, and the wind promptly blew it down... #itsametaphor I feel the structure upon which our patriarchal society is built dissolving. I feel my Higher Self, inner child, humanity raging against outmoded patriarchy programming. And with all of this #Leo energy, Sekhme, the Egyptian Warrior Goddess sent to restore balance and harmony on this planet, is loud. Uproarious. As the anger held in my body, cellular memory, DNA is triggered by forces outside of myself, Sekhmet, also a master healer, is guiding me to find compassion to alchemize this rage... the fury of the collective repressed feminine. Please hold space for Her rise. She's here now and She's on f()cking fire 🙏 . #presentsofmind #hypnotized #unhypnotized #unbecome #unravel #undone #sweatersong #Sekhmet #internalalchemy #alchemist #sacresrage #anger #darkfeminine #reclamationofself #sheisme #IAm #warrirogoddess #AriesSouthNode #VenusInSag #shadow #Venus #collective #consciousness #reikihealing #crystalalchemy #healersofinstagram #earth #air #water #fire #burnitdown (at Logan Pass) https://www.instagram.com/p/B0n9N4Epuoo/?igshid=1jh3gt7p5f17o