Many Thanks to Don Cornelius: Sooooooul Train

    Don Cornelius (September 27, 1936 – February 1, 2012)

The producer and television host, Don Cornelius, who created the show “Soul Train,” was found shot dead in what appears to be a suicide.  Many will focus on his cause of death and will make that his legacy. Soul Train was one of the longest running syndicated shows in television history and played a critical role in spreading the music of Black America and many other cultures to the ears of the  world, offering wide exposure to musicians like James Brown, Aretha Franklin and Michael Jackson in the 1970s and 1980s. Let us remember people the way you would want to be remembered.  Before there wast B.E.T. there was Soul Train, before the was MTV there was Soul Train, before there was Yo! MTV Raps there was Soul Train.I many thanks and honor for the Life and career of Don Cornelius and as he would say "and you can bet your last money, it's all gonna be a stone gas, honey! ....and as always in parting, we wish you love, peace and SOOOOOOOOOUUUUUUUUULLLLLLLLLLLLL!" #BlackHistory

Xoxo

-Rain

Peace.

Raising your frequency Day 35: A little Goes A long Way

Patience is key!

The spring semester just started for many of us amongst many other things like, work, family, and all our busy entails.  Here is a little advice on how to cope.  

Even the Smallest increases in rate at which your energy vibrates can have a positive effect on you. Do not rush the process.  I know many of us feel the need to be on our A game at all points which is ultimately ideal BUT you have to remember there really isn't a a top level. The top level is the one you create for yourself. Take time with everything you do and it will result in happiness, joy in life; its the freedom you feel when you properly nurture yourself. 

It's the little things that widen your eyes and make your heart fill. 



Xoxo
-Rain

Warsan Shire - For Women Who Are Difficult to Love

For Women Who Are Difficult to Love - written and performed by Warsan Shire

You are a horse running alone
and he tries to tame you
compares you to an impossible highway
to a burning house
says you are blinding him
that he could never leave you
forget you
want anything but you
you dizzy him, you are unbearable
every woman before or after you
is doused in your name
you fill his mouth
his teeth ache with memory of taste
his body just a long shadow seeking yours
but you are always too intense
frightening in the way you want him
unashamed and sacrificial
he tells you that no man can live up to the one who
lives in your head
and you tried to change didn’t you?

closed your mouth more
tried to be softer
prettier
less volatile, less awake
but even when sleeping you could feel
him travelling away from you in his dreams
so what did you want to do love
split his head open?
you can’t make homes out of human beings
someone should have already told you that
and if he wants to leave
then let him leave
you are terrifying
and strange and beautiful
something not everyone knows how to love.
****

Director, Producer : Andrea Cortes-Juarbe & Christine Mehr
Editor: Christine Mehr
Co-Editor: Andrea Cortes-Juarbe
Special thanks - Lauren Stanton, Sara'o Bery, Ada Pinkston, Isa Nakazawa

Audio mashed by Christine Mehr
Instrumental track - Zoe Keating's "Sun Will Set."

Black History Month: Black Poet Gwendolyn Brooks (1945)

The Preacher: Ruminates Behind the Sermon

Gwendolyn Brooks (1945)

NOEL

I think it must be lonely to be God.
Nobody loves a master. No. Despite
The bright hosannas, bright dear-Lords, and bright
Determined reverence of Sunday eyes.

Picture Jehovah striding through the hall
Of His importance, creatures running out
From servant-corners to acclaim, to shout
Appreciation of His merit.s glare.

But who walks with Him?..dares to take His arm,
To slap Him on the shoulder, tweak His ear,
Buy Him and Coca-Cola or a beer,
Pooh-pooh His politics, call Him a fool?

Perhaps..who knows?..He tires of looking down.
Those eyes are never lifted. Never straight.
Perhaps sometimes He tires of being great
In solitude. Without a hand to hold.

Holiday Spirit- Giving Is Winning

Hey Guys! I hope you all had a wonderful holiday whether you spent it in the Christmas spirit or it was just a Tuesday for you.  This Holiday season my family, friends, and I spent giving back to those who need it the most.  My aunt Lynn started a program called Operation Santa 17 years ago.  The Operation Santa Program answers letters to Santa from children in Impoverished and underserved neighborhoods in the New York area.  This past week we visited family homeless shelters in Harlem and Brooklyn. We brought them tons of gifts, sang Christmas carols, and the holiday spirit magic.  My favorite thing about this Christmas holiday was giving out hats, gloves, earmuffs, and scarves on the street.  My aunt Lynn loaded my younger cousins and I into the minivan along with bags and bags full of new, cute, and very warm hats, gloves, scarves, and earmuffs and we went driving around Brooklyn.  We stopped every time we saw a child or a family outside without any of those items and we gave them out for free!  Oh the look on their faces was filled happiness and joy. The feeling of helping someone who doesn't expect help it at all is worth more than any gift I could ever receive.  Needless to say the Christmas spirit isn't about getting, it’s about giving.  That’s when you really win.

"It's not how much we give but how much love we put into giving.” 

Happy Holidays!

Xoxo

-Rain

Love In Vacant Lots

Two days ago I was getting ready to leave the house to walk over to a friend’s house and I received a text from my oldest brother saying to call him when I get a chance.  I thought it was odd and the first thing I thought of was my Grandfather.  I didn't think too much into it and I got ready and headed out the door.  As I was walking to my friends house just 10 blocks away I was thinking about when to call my brother, I was procrastinating for some odd reason.  I just kept walking bumping my tunes trying to move my mind from the thought.  As I became closer to my destination I was listening to 212 by Azelia Banks and I was rocking out to it walking down the street and I just decided to finally do the damn thing and call him. So I called my brother and he says "When you spoke to Grandpa how was it?"  He asks because I have never seen my Grandfather in person, he lives in Jamaica and I have only been when I was a small infant. I told my brother how awkward it was talking to him.  My grandfather bombarded me with questions of why my brothers and sister and I don't live together or why we don't visit.  It was hard to try to get to know someone over the 30 minutes or so they allow on a calling card.  After our one phone call ever I procrastinated in calling him again because I was afraid. I didn't want to be too boring or be a disappointment or say the wrong thing;I just didn't want to screw up.  I wanted to be so perfect so it would be easy for him to love me although he never knew me or seen me in person. So my brother delivered the news that my Grandfather passed away.  I thought I would be fine because it’s someone I don't know really.  When I arrived to my friend’s house it overwhelmed me and suddenly I was crying for a man I never met. I love my Grandfather even though I never knew him.  

Love does exist inplaces where no one has visited.

 Don't let the fear of things make you procrastinate.  Use your fear as a fuel of motivation. 

xoxo

 -Rain