The Initiate: Clarity Amidst Confusion

Unbeknownst to me, my spiritual journey began as a result of a talk radio show. The radio show in New York (WBAI FM), hosted by Hugh Hamilton, had as a guest Master Naba Lamoussa Morodenibig (a Dogon Spiritual High Priest). I listened to the dialogue between the host, his guest and the listening audience which, I must point out, is one of the most spiritual, cultural and aggressively demanding audiences I know. 

Questions that were asked to the guest were questions I would have asked. The answers to these questions were so clear and precise that I was finally left with clear definitions for terms whose meanings had long eluded me. Concepts such as an Ancestor, spirituality, and the impact these concepts have on our daily lives. There were no questions this brother did not answer; there was no answer that did not offer me a deeper understanding of questions asked. His answers to questions caught many by surprise, myself included. 

I was intrigued and curious to learn more about the Dogon/Kemetic paradigm this brother was so eloquently waxing about. I decided right then to attend his next presentation which he said would help us obtain the paradigm shift that I knew I needed to better deal with the mental confusion I was living in. His claim that the "culture, philosophy, and spirituality of the Dogon/Kemetic paradigm predates all other cultures" was compelling to me; in addition his claim that it is devoid of external influences was enough for me to at-tend his next lecture. 

Suffice it to say, at his next lecture I was taken to yet another level of understanding of the concepts of spirituality and Ancestral worship from a Dogon/Kemetic perspective. He explained how Ancestors affect our daily lives and why we were distracted from such ancient knowledge. 

At the Q&A session, questions were asked that seemed profound; but the answers provided exposed the limited understanding I had of these concepts. The only question I had was to ask when and where the next classes would be offered by the organisation that Master Naba had founded. This was the beginning of my conscious journey at the Earth Center. Under the guidance of Master Naba and his able assistant Brother Bikbaye. 

During my initial classes at the Center, my knowledge base was challenged by the simple application of logic and reasoning. It was the beginning of the paradigm shift I was looking forward to. The seemingly simple concept or notion of day/night as we knew it was challenged. It was explained why our perception of night and day had been altered and, more importantly, how to correct it so as to return to a perception of time based on reality. 

Explanations about how the brain works, logical thinking and deeper spiritual concepts all were assisting in my paradigm shift. 

As I continued with my studies of the Medu Myeet, Kaat-Ibi and the Sounnt (healing) class, I was able to see that many of the common sense teachings I had from my mother and grandmother were really part of an ancient tradition. That realisation was very encouraging to me. 

The key to my continued study at the Earth Center was essentially my spiritual teachers. They lived the concepts of the culture they were teaching. Their consistent display of humility and patience with everyone they interacted with, including their students, hit me. It allowed me to really see an application of two elements of spiritual initiation emphasised in the Dogon/Kemetic tradition: humility and patience. 

I knew then that I had to step up my game, and become more spiritual by applying the concepts learnt at the Center.