March 2021 – Spicy…

There he is again, that crow. Every time you think his cast of darkness has diminished, it’s back again. He hovers over what he thinks is his domain, swooping down on folks he feels resemble him. He is personified by those who feel that his presence will purify their land. He is their totem; they have kidnapped and laid claim to the crow the way they do with everything they touch. They have stigmatized him.

How could the crow, a symbol of spiritual transformation, be distorted? Name him; call him Jim, and POOF..he transforms into this repressive tyrant that flies in your face, moving you back, back to where he thinks he can capture you, encage you. He’s slick, too; he thinks you don’t see him coming, but your eyes are wide open.

Eyes wide open, you cast a wide net to capture “Jim” and reclaim the crow to its original symbol of transformation. “Black is the new Jim!” Eyes wide open, (you know you dare not blink), you must nurture “Black;” fight, if you must, to realize her strength, beauty, and determination, to realize truth and justice. Jim has no power or place in your existence, as long as you keep your eyes wide open.

AL Legislature SB152 Bill against Florence protest.

I had to use the image of this powerful pin to symbolize ***BLACK,*** Pin by Takara

Protesting Confederate Monument in front of Lauderdale County Courthouse

Featured Image: raghav-srikanth-vpdo-igvre-unsplash.jpg

Joy Juice

Our young folks are making “good trouble,” but we are vigilant, keeping a protective lookout for old “Jim.” We do what we can, post, speak, pray, and hold the consciousness that truth always outshines the darkness. Our eyes are wide open to recognize what must change and to initiate it however we can.

“The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.”John 1:5

“Hope is being able to see that there is light despite all of the darkness.”

~ Desmond Tutu

“One may not reach the dawn save by the path of the night.”

~ Kahlil Gibran

“Be a full bucket, pulled up the dark way of a well, then lifted out into the light.”

~ Rumi

“It’s all/good/love/God” – Victorine

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Victorine, Bio

Author of Be S.A.F.E., StillAware, Faithful, Excellent, now available on Kindle Amazon as an e-book.

“…the book title and its content are intended to be a whisper, reminding us that by taking the time to connect with our spiritual self, we can center through anything and that we are forever within the bubble of God’s protection.”

Don’t forget to check out Garden Spices Magazine, Celebrating our differences.

NEWS FLASH!!

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So, I was commenting on a post about what identifies Chicago, (thanks, Lorraine), and I posted a picture of Abundance. Bakery. I couldn’t believe that I was publishing an issue of Garden Spices Magazine on the topic, Abundance, and that I had not thought of my Chicago crave or the place that satisfies it. My must-have on my visits…the delectable Uncle Villy’s Upside-Down Cupcake(s), from Abundance Bakery. Notice the plural? Just one won’t do. I can never wait long enough to get to the Bronzeville bakery to buy one; Co-owner, my sistah-friend, Janice Ball has to bring me my stash, which I guard and savor like Cujo. I’m like the Godfather eating his cannoli; it’s serious. What?!!!

Quick story: My friend, Pat Kline had a gathering for me at her home. As usual, friends mingled throughout her home. I was upstairs when Janice rang the doorbell and entered the kitchen. As grace would have it, I was by myself in the kitchen, where she handed me my golden goose – the cupcakes. I went into stealth mode and hid them behind one of the appliances. Was there enough to share? Never…until I get my first bite. I went back downstairs to mingle. Venturing back upstairs for whatever, (certainly not to have a bite of cupcake), I noticed one of my nieces, Iman, eating ~~one of my~~ an Uncle Villy. I looked at Pat, with horror and asked, “Where did that cupcake come from?” She pointed to the bag that was clearly mine.

Pat tried to tell me that Iman loved the cupcakes as much as I, and I was like, “Nobody, but nobody loves them cupcakes like I do, and you have clearly kicked the dog by giving some of mine away!” Of course, we laughed, ~~not for real~~ and I had at least one more cupcake to quench my craving for the evening. Of course, Janice promised to bring more.

By the way, we always make at least one stop at Bill and Jan’s Abundance Bakery. They are old friends, like family that have kind hearts, but they know they definitely have some fine, soulful bakery. Oh yes, they have plenty to choose from, and my friends make their selections, but you know my fave, those caramel cupcakes carry Chicago home with me. What?!!

Joy Juice

Did you miss the part about Jan bringing me her/my Uncle Villy’s Upside-down Cupcakes? That’s the kind of blessings I dwell in on my visits to Chicago. I am nestled in a wealth of warm friendships that laugh, cry, pray and always love. May you cherish your family/friends old and new. We breathe for loving. Ase’

“It’s all/good/love/God” – Victorine

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Victorine, Bio

Author of Be S.A.F.E., StillAware, Faithful, Excellent, now available on Kindle Amazon as an e-book.

Don’t forget to check out Garden Spices Magazine, Celebrating our differences.

NEWS FLASH!!

Month: March 2021

Eyes Wide Open: To AL Activists

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Abundance Bakery and MY Upside-down Cupcakes

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