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Yoga has always been a part of my adult life. The holistic adventurer in me was drawn to the physical and spiritual benefits of yoga. There have been periods in my life when stepping onto my yoga mat was a daily ritual and others when I was lucky to engage my yoga practice once a month. Over the years, what has become very clear is that yoga is an all-encompassing way of life with roots in ancient wisdom traditions. The temple walls of Egypt are filled with visuals of yogic postures. The meaning within the stories of Kemet, including those of Auset/Isis, Heru, and Maat represent the basis of the energy permeating yogic philosophy.

If modern cultures hold the secrets of the tenets of ancient indigenous cultures and spirituality, then it is easy to see that yogic philosophy was not only spread to India, but also held in such reverence that it has a continuum that has evolved over time.

The traditions and beliefs of indigenous cultures are easily recognizable in yoga philosophy. Yoga acknowledges that we are spiritual beings in physical bodies and that we can explore the essence of our souls through awareness of our physical bodies. In this way, yoga postures aren’t only about strength and flexibility of the body, but are also a pathway toward strength, flexibility and wholeness in our spirits. Such is the indigenous way.

bright orange mandala of svadhisthana chakra vector

Interestingly and certainly not coincidentally, my first Yoga classes were Kemetic yoga classes that explored the original postures from ancient Egypt. I’m one of many who have not only witnessed the journey of indigenous ways into modern expression, but also experienced the sacredness of the journey. Today, when I practice any posture, I give honor to the roots of yoga and my ancestors from the ancient lands of Nubia. Namaste. Or embracing my indigeousness (yes, that is now a word), Hotep.

The post Hotep to Namaste – A Yoga Journey first appeared on Eboni Adams Monk.

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Sometimes, ritual can last for long periods, until the work is done. And when the work is done, there is still more. As if the fervor of ritual wasn’t enough, something magical occurs. Just as the night surrenders its power to the dawn, the ritual transforms into a sacred afterglow. This is the space where silence gives way to the inner divine. It exists between each stacattoed sound in ancient chants. It swirls in the spaces left by the dance of bare feet. It rises in the eery pause of a mother’s wailing cries. It is beckoned by the call of love invoked by a warm embrace. In this space, there is oneness. There is stillness.

From afar, some indigenous rituals can seem very chaotic. They can take on a life of their own. But I’ve witnessed what seems like chaos become very purposeful, deeply moving, and filled with unbelievable calm. I’ve learned that every beat of the drum, every chant, and every cry open the veil for serenity. The law of duality makes it so. There is no stillness without the call. There is no peace without a bit of turmoil. Just as day and night allow each to be, indigenous ritual creates space for the awakening of that which needs to be healed and that which is healed. In the stillness lies the opportunity for them to merge into one. It is a beautiful dance. And I love to bathe in its afterglow.

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In indigenous cultures, ancestral energy and purpose are real. Our life journeys guide us to reclaim that purpose, often one that we agreed to before being born onto the Earth. And each individual’s purpose doesn’t exist for the self only. It is inextricably linked to the purpose of others, including our Elders and Ancestors. One of my Elders once told me “Where we go, so do the Ancestors”. How we live our purpose determines the future of the legacy our Ancestors have left for us. True connection to our highest self requires contemplation on purpose and meaningful action guided by that purpose. It is then, that we become enlightened, powerful, and connected to the divine plan for our lives.

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Indigenous cultures believe in the wholeness of body, mind, and spirit. The believe manifestation of dis-ease in the body is a symptom of spiritual distress or the need for awakening. As such, if you travel to the African bush, the mountains of India, or deep into the forests of the Amazon, you will find the medicine men and women who are focused on healing of the spirit in addition to the body. There, the healing process looks different. It is ceremony, truly. It is filled with plants and herbs from the Earth, prayer, singing, chanting, drumming and contemplation. Sterile walls are replaced with sacred spaces consecrated to and by Mother Earth. Shamans usher the process of healing on emotional, spiritual, and physical levels. Patients have the ability to shift their spirits in ways that will promote complete healing.

In the documentary, The Sacred Science, patients experiencing diabetes, cancer, digestive issues, and even Parkinson’s disease, spend time with Shamans to experience true traditional healing. A combination of the jungle environment, being close to nature, use of plant medicine, spiritual guidance, and examination of one’s life’s patterns propelled each patient to a sacred journey toward peace. They each experienced ceremony – sacred ceremony led by the Divine. Alternative holistic centers and natural food stores, many of which rely on traditional indigenous principles are available because of the importance of preserving these practices and beliefs.

In indigenous cultures, Spirit, permeates every part of life, including disease. Do we see it as something evil that needs to be rid quickly? Or do we view disease as an opportunity to check in with our higher selves? Is healing making the horrible evil go away without regard to the patterns that attracted the disease? Or is it time to commune with Spirit and to nourish self?

I say – Let the ceremony begin.

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Creator of All Things.
We give thanks to you.
Mother Earth.
We give thanks for your nurturing.
Father Sky.
We give thanks for your protection.
To the wisdom blowing in The Four Winds.
We give thanks.
To the strength of the Ancestors.
We give thanks.
To the Spirit of Peace, Love, and Harmony.
We give thanks.
May the world give thanks.

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