No more massage therapy school....And updates on mi locs

SO yesterday was my last day of class at Massage therapy school. Saw that I'd passed the last test, and let rip a "WHOOP" that the new students will remember for a few weeks.

I've been involved in that school for almost the last year! So many things coming full circle... But of course, when things come full circle, new things start the merry go-round. I've decided that I'm more than capable of continuing on with school, until I have a bachelor's, or at least enough certifications to earn me a prosperous doctor's wage.

I believe that the next step is personal training. Gonna see what pops up soon.

My locs are wonderful! I have been having some trouble though. This cooling weather's got them getting dry. REALLY dry. Two days after I wash, they're flaky again... Just a shower of dandruff. When I spray a lot of spritz, they're kosher, but do I really soak my hair, and then throw a beenie on, or even less safe, go out into 50 degree weather with a head full of moist locs? I believe I should start oiling them again. I stopped when I started spritzing more heavy, thinking that would do it, but I'd prefer oil to a spritz, now that the cold season waxes fat.

I been massaging my scalp a bit more consistently, and must say I like the results. Just feels more comfy.

I was thinking about cutting my hair down into much shorter locs, if not completely shaving, in order to obtain employment now that I'm done with school. I went to my sister's to visit, and mentioned this to her, and she gave me one of the most sincere compliments I've ever heard her give. Told me that my hair identifies me as being a unique person, and that it would help me communicate my "earthy" quality, as it would apply to the healing I would facilitate.

OK, she didn't say all that, but that was a decent paraphrase. It was weeks ago, people, I'm gonna sensationalize. I've already told this story to a half million folks anyway...lol

so I'm not cutting my hair.

but I do want some good ole' employment...

Eh, we'll see what manifests. Recieved some citrine as a graduation gift from a good friend. All ready to be using that to make money happy here.

Lov, Light, y Lucini

Now life (For real Freeforming pt 3), and my Birthday resolution list

Happy birthday to me!

I turn 22 in a few hours. Past year has been full of positivity. kind of like the stock market over five years is supposed to always be up. I don't like making resolutions at New Year's, I prefer making them on my Birthday. And as a means of having a record of it, I'll just post some "Birthday Resolutions" here.

1. To put positive energy into building my conscious awareness with the cosmos, strengthening and balancing my energy centers, welcoming gratitude to exist in my life in a perpetual state, knowing my insignifigance in size, and realizing my ultrasignifigance in expanding consciousness.
2. To Put positive energy into nurturing my hair, and continue allowing it to freeform into its own glory, despite the naysayers. Using Green tea to keep my hair ph-balanced and growing, taking pictures to document my journey, posting the pictures in a show of love for my locs, for others' locs, and for the spiritual journey of loc'ing in general
3. To put positive energy into building my finances. Has it been the experience of anyone that you have all the mechanisms in place to make money, but you need money to begin moving the machine? Stocks and bonds and saving accounts, saving to buy a car, a loft, and other things that will help me further my business practices and career. Keeping retirement in mind!
4. To put positive energy into helping my family grow. My coming achievement will be inspiring to many people, but I hope that the downcoming and everlasting success will inspire those younger than me the most.
5. To put positive energy into the future manifestation of my plans for living. I look forward to so many things! And remaining positive and steadfast in my plans will allow the seed of thought I've created to grow into the plant, the tree of physical materialization.
6. To put positive energy into my circle of loved ones and friends. Many of my closest aquaintances are also in this natural healing field, and a means of ensuring success is payment forward. For me this means staying in contact with these people and referring clientele to them, while not expecting them to do the same for me. This manifests clientele, be it from referrals or no.
7. To put positive energy into expanding my base of usable modalities. Not just taking continuing education classes to retain my license, but also building on the reflexology, chair massage, Nmt, swedish, and deep tissue; continuing to incorporate shiatsu, reiki, and aromatherapy; constantly learning and absorbing.
8. To put positive energy into myself and my heart, in order to keep the party going!

Love, Light, and Lucini

Shout out?

Jay-Z 99 problems
"you're crazy for this one, Rick..."

All the time we hear it at the begining or end of songs.
I heard a Missy Elliot track a few weeks ago-"you're stupid for this one!"

I know what it means. It means they did a good job on production. I wonder if Quincy Jones would take it as a compliment. Or Stevie Wonder. Or Babyface.

Lol, it's gonna get worse...

How about let's get some future shout out's in the comments section, I'm anxious to see what You guys can come up with. I'll start

"You're retarded for this one!"
"I'm telling your mama for this one"
"You should be prosecuted for this one!"
"You're shitty for this one!"

:P

Freeform for real pt 2

Now Luv.

Massage therapy school.

Massage school has been a blast. So many decent people! I won't go into details here, but I've been blessed to be in the company of so many wonderful folks from all over the country, and all different backgrounds. I call Gwinnett College the school of the Jedi.

And it's more than that. When I'm in clinic, or at a community event, or even trading with a peer, the energy exchange is something to be very grateful for. The look in people's eyes when they lift their head from the face cradle is something I cherish everyday. Something that fosters an ever-present gratitude in my reality.

Aside from that, the knowledge that I'm entering into a burgeoning field, where healing is paramount, is immensely gratifying. And the knowledge that I know, that I know, that I know what I'm doing. when someone says they have an ache, and I work on them, and take it away, because I know, makes me feel a greatly increased sense of self worth. I wish that on all people, friends and few enemies alike. I hope everyone can experience that. Everyone.

Imagine having the experience of feeling that you've been asleep your entire existence, and now...Abre los ojos. I'm opening my eyes. :)

Love, lux, and bux

For Real Freeforming

Hello all, it's been quite awhile since I have posted. And while much has been going on in my life, we'll take things slowly.

First locs, then love, then life.

LOCS

My hair is... no words can describe it. the two locs in the front got clipped of much of their length, because I was bent on the hair at my crown being more evenly distributed. In stead of two locs, there are three now.
I'm deep off into the freeform. Just wash, oil, and go. and even the oiling has become much more simple: spread some jojoba on my hands, rustle them through the drying hair, and that's about the story of oiling. the length of hair that was comb coiled is definitely loc'd, while the new growth is in varying stages of locing. I enjoy playing with the ends that, only months ago, I was begging to seal. now only about a handful of them havent sealed. I've got this sort of "halo" of new growth that makes me feel such like a lion. Seperating the roots is my biggest maintenance task now, and one that I undertake with plenty of enjoyment. Anything to do with my hair is savored! Mid December will be the one year mark for my locs. SO much growth in the past ten months...
In the past month and a half, as I embrace the freeform, people have started complimenting my hair. I hear awe as I walk Atlanta. At massage events, those with locs touch their fist to their heart and give me a small bow, which I'm only to happy to return. I wear a jamaican flag bandana, and yellow and green armbands. People ask if I'm from Jamaica, and I tell them no, but that I identify with the country as if it is my home. Looking in the mirror at my locs, in all their unkempt glory, I feel a profound sense of gratitude and self love (more on that later) and a gratefulness at my ongoing decision to remain loc'd. LUV

developments since then...

Gee, its been a minute. Full of developments in life in general, and my dreads are no exception!
Let's see here. well, I went ahead and had them maintained...Ironically, a classmate said she would do it for me, and I relented, deciding that to have them maintained, (washed, rinsed with ACV-baking soda- salt- lemon juice- and tea tree oil mix, olive oil hot treatment, and finally palmrolled) at least every two to three months. plus, she didn't want to be paid, and I have a hard time saying no to what seems an obvious blessing.

Well, here's something you maybe didn't know. I get my hair from my mom, as all men do. well, science says that, but in this case, my mom started losing her hair at age sixteen, and while I didn't notice it while I had braids, now that I'm dreading, its easy to see that there is just less hair on top. the loss seems to follow the same pattern as hers too.
I say all that to say that the hair on top of my head is much thinner, and after I trimmed two of my locs to make them more, how shall we say, multiple, its even easier to see. I thought that by starting new locs while the rest were in the shooting stage, I could capitalize on the increased growth and stimulate new follicles to materialize...


I considered this gift from my peer something of a... well, gift. only thing was, instead of leaving all the small newer locs alone, she incorporated them all into the next two longer locs on the top of my head.
While this is aestetically pleasing, or at least more so than the strange look from before, I still believe that follicles are waking up! I haven't resigned myself to my mother's fate: I feel as though with plenty of faith, I can discover what went wrong and regrow what hair has shed. I see this somewhat karmically... hopefully that statement serves to relate my belief in a way that many can overstand, since usually, if a male's mother goes bald, so does he.

Anyway, I also notice she left the ACV rinse in. I didn't think this was a problem till a few days later, when my scalp started itching. I mean REALLY ITCHING. the minute I hit sunlight and sweat starting coming, my hair starting itching! The only positive thing, and it was quite positive, was that the top of my scalp started itching too! all my studies tell my that whereas before, the top of my scalp was pretty numb, hinting at dying follicles and shrinking pores, the itch means the nerves are waking up. this I take to be great news.

So I'll keep everyone posted on the developments of my hair growth.

As far as the locs...

I'm starting to see a sort of...maturing. in all of them, there is no comb spiral left. its all bunching together very nicely. I've decided to start washing once every two weeks, with dr bronners soap bars. doesn't really matter which, since when I got the ACV rince, it wasn't very dirty at all. I mean, I don't use many products at all: soap for washing, my aloe gel/juice-rosemary and peppermint essential oil spritz, and jojoba oil every couple days. that's pretty minimal from what I hear from more cultivated hair wearers. Most, if not all of my ends are closed, and they look like locs. Now if I could just get some length...

spirit work in so many words:part one

Ok...So there are spheres of thought that ascribe to the belief that entities are bad and they should be cleansed from our personal area, our "bubble". That clearing spirits of negativity and vice will improve our lives, and help to clear karma, that we may continue on our mission in the lives given us. those in cahoots with such a school of thought, however, are missing key elements of a fundamental overstanding of the purpose of these entities. They fear that these cats are purposefully trying to screw us up. lemme pull ur coat on my perspective, grabbed just a minute ago in what alchoholics call a "moment of clarity".

I read Carlos casteneda's works with the shaman Malthus. From there I've learned that entities are attracted to emotions. entities that feed on fear hang around the horror movies at AMC. Entities that like bar fights hang at the watering hole with the alchoholic entities, and so on. There is a dependence there. Since they can't realize their desires physically, since they have no physical body, they do so vicariously, through us, by whispering in our ear.

The fundamentals begin with this: you can't lump all entities with the negative sector of things:like vice. That's dualistic, as it implies there are also entities that want good work done vicariously. (and while that's true, read on.) forego the duality understanding, and approach all with the intrinsic knowledge that all is meant to be. If there's an entity that craves a vice, and ur given to partaking in that vice, when u vibrate at a particular pitch, that entity will flock to you, cause ur in a moment of weakness. BUT there is where many stop with their understanding of entities and their purpose, like it's always to mess us up. perhaps they are hoping we will grow past the vice and not partake, and they will latch on in that moment of weakness, then ride with us to a higher vibration. Wouldn't that just beat all? If they have no physical body with which to resist, then they latch onto us, hoping we will carry them higher. That gives church a whole new benefit! u go in to church at the Sunday, raise ur self in accord with others in the name of positivity, and all the entities latched to u get to vibrate higher! I love it...

But this is a temp fix, and we must pinpoint all vices, and by association, all entities attached to them, and deny ourselves these things first, then forego the desire for them. The entities are only really helped in a cumulative fashion, as we learn new thought patterns, so do they.

That's the realm of the positive, of helping entities vibrate higher. Now for some other thoughts...

So these entities vibrate higher with us. They like a good thing, and ALL is energy exchange. These entities see things we can't: causality, since they have no monkey mind, no full spectrum consciousness as we do. they can clue us in to things that lay under the surface of what we consider mundane situations. This is INTUITION to some. Just listen...

Then there's another form of doing. Now, as we work through vices, more and more entities will be attracted to us. in a way, they come as contenders, and, if we persist in our chastity of vices, they become spectators to a great show. The singing of angels comes to mind.
As one goes on in this practice, one will begin to forego vices as they appear. this means keeping the desire or urge from progressing past a single thought in our minds. as the urge grows, the entity grows closer, tentative at first, and as it wins the little battles of mind, more voracious and hungry. TURN THAT THOUGHT OFF AT THE LAST MOMENT! this traps hungry entities in your space for healing. they spend energy being attracted and fighting with your conscience, and they are all but powerless when the thought is turned off. this is when other works can commence.

I've gone through this entire preliminary to spirit work without truly even mentioning the prerequisite. Mastering thoughts is quite a task, nigh impossible, unless u first RECOGNIZE ur thoughts. this takes much meditation and a high lvl of overstanding to accomplish. u must become conscious of your thoughts. this is usually done with meditation and stilling the mind. the theory goes that if u can stop thoughts from constantly running through ur mind, and do this with increasing frequency, till it becomes second nature, then u become aware of the thoughts' individual frequency. Once this is accomplished, u will be able, with much practice, to spot thoughts forming, whether positive or negative, and decide whether they can take root in your mind for growth.

Part two coming soon. This is tiring...

another day of locing and travesty

So today was pleasant. Had a community event at united way downtown (ATL) and really enjoyed the opportunity to massage so many bodies. my skills are blooming. I listened to the christ consciousness isochronic last night, so I was very zen and flowing today. Went to a book store in the west end mall and heard about a woman who has done 20 years of research into dreadlocks's spiritual aspect, and discovered that locs have code written into them, individual to every person. Makes sense to me since everyone's hair is different. I love being around afrocentric brethren, building mathematics, and so on...I'll be sure to be back on the 19th with an update on how that turned out. I CAN'T WAIT!

Oh, and a question for those of you...Since I'm freeforming, and my hair is more or less used to the pattern of locing, can't I just sleep on it now? Do I have to wrap it all careful? It makes sense that I should If I don't want lint and stuff in it, but other than that, is it really necessary? it almost seems counterintuitive. Like my hair could be accomplishing something while I'm asleep. LOL.

I was feeling a little down today. I'm not sure what my locs are gonna teach me, but as the days go by, and my unkempt lovely universe grates on people's idea of decorum, tempers are flaring. Funnily enough, I have a lone loc that stands straight up on my head. I'll post some pictures of it soon, since it doesn't appear to be going anywhere. SOOOO many people at school are saying things like: " u should twist that one" or, "its getting on my nerves" or "whats up with the antennea?"...ok, I like the antennea thing, but the other ones are.... well, they're not discouraging, cause I love my process. But they're...well it hurts to have people who were sooo down with locs while they're manicured totally turn and flip the script and start behaving like it...scares them almost. This one lady came up and just started flicking it, telling it to go down. My lovely loc, it bounced back ertime, and she just gave up...My locs lend me resiliency....

But then there's Dion, the lovely who first opened my eyes to what my hair wanted to do. She asked me today if I loved the journey, and I gave her a very sincere yes. I LOVE IT.


My locs are teaching me something everyday. People who understand give u ups for the bravery, people who don't understand just...stare. but its a different look. At united way with the massage, I had a bandana covering the new growth. Everyone I touched LOVED me. said I had magic hands. I wonder how dif things wouldve spun if I'd had my stubborn lovely loc flipping the luv to all in attendance, daring someone to comment....

IONO, INI...

LUV, LUX, and BUX

I accidentally moisturized my hair, and...

I finally got a couple coins Mario style, So I decided to make the best of it and purchase only things I needed either for my business practice (sheets) or for my personal hygiene (LOCS). to the end of the latter, I visited the life grocery store on roswell rd in marietta, which is conveniently located about a mile and a half from my domicile.

When I got there, I put down my other bags and asked a question many locers can relate to: "Where are ur essential oils?" I found some rosemary and some peppermint at great prices for the little bottle (y'know, the thumb sized numbers) and as luck would have it, the shampoos were right on down the aisle!

So having heard a number of good things about the black african shampoo and soaps regarding locs, thats the first name I sought, but to no avail. "the manufacturer has provided none of this product at the current time" was the verbage that looked back at me, taped onto the front of the shelf, partially covering a row of...well, nothing.

So I did the next rational thing. I asked the nearest black woman for help. she pointed me toward Nubian raw shea butter body wash. I'd heard on many a site that body wash was also good for hair, and shea butter sounded good for some reason, so I grabbed it, the essential oils, and some kombucha tea for good measure, paid, and rushed home to wash...

I mixed the lekair oil free shampoo with the nubian number, a few drops of olive oil, and about three drops of rosemary, rolled the bowl to incorporate all, then headed for the shower.

AN HOUR LATER...

I emerged from the shower smelling great, and looking forward to popping the lovelies. I grabbed a spritz made from the last tenth of a bottle of mango lime spray, some purified water, some olive oil, and more rosemary; a bottle of kombucha, the green one (more on that in a later post) grabbed my neice, heaven, and took a walk to some community chairs in our apartment complex for2 pop my locs, spray with the love, and let them airdry during a prolonged walk.

after that bit of fun, back at the nest, I palpated my hair, expecting to feel the dry signs of locing that greeted me last weekend with the lekair alone, and instead...my hair felt soft...

uh oh...

Like many, I've heard on site aplenty that moisturizing your locs before they're completely loc'd will retard the process. hoping I was wrong, and heeding the warning to not cover my hair before it dried, I slept with nothing protecting my hair. decided that the process of drying, combined with sleeping on just cotton sheets, would give me results by morning...

I woke up this morning with errands to run. (nothing like being busy during spring; all bout dat progression, dig?) checked my hair, and...Success! While my hair was definitely softer from the moisturing bod wash, the loc process wasn't undone. they felt softer, but definitely just as loc'd as before, with a sweet smell of shea butter. I went out in the sun for maybe an hour errand running just to make sure, then hit it with the spritz.


IN CONCLUSION:
the moisturizer didn't hurt anything. now granted, I'm almost six months into the process, so maybe a month ago the results could have been disastrous, but Hey! I like the smell, I like the texture, and hell, if it retards the process, So what? I know people who wish they had enjoyed the rebellious days a bit fuller, dig? So that's that. oh, if anyone has any suggestions for how to use the essential oils to fullest, just lemme know in the comments section. luv

Hands that move the sky are quite high,
Zebulohn

My first words...

Hello. I'm Zebulun, Born in Mississippi, Learned in a bit of everything, and starting this link into who I am at an interesting point in my life. I'm half done with school for massage therapy, I been living in Atlanta for a year this July, and I'm about...five and a half months into locing my hair. Here's a pic of me and my hair a few days ago.
<------ So here's the thing about my locs. I've been growing my hair since about...eh, 8th grade. So about 7 years. I'm attached to my hair! When I came to ATL and saw all the happening cats with locs, I decided it was time to stop manipulating my hair (and hurting my scalp) by braiding such coarse hair down. I got two strand twists...The woman who did that put beeswax on them. They lasted for about a month. Something just didn't feel right about them. Took them down, had another set of hand twist them...that lasted a few weeks too. Just didn't feel right! the last time I had them comb coiled...They looked, as someone once said, "like black gummi worms". I loved them, and I could see, just for a moment, the progress on the way. So I've only in the last month taken my locs into my own hands. I visited the loctitian twice after the initial twist to have them maintained, but being a student, my funds are quite low. So I decided to twist on my own. Found lekair's oil free shampoo and went from there. They turned out good, but I noticed something. Now, I had already heard that as my locs matured, I would have a favorite. I had two. And these two didn't want to stay twisted. The new growth just stood out like uncut grass. one on my left temple, and one at the very nap of the left side of my head. I loved them. And they inspired me to begin freeforming.

I've made this blog for three reasons. First, I wanted to have a place where I could vent my questions, insecurities, and other feelings about my locs. Since I just started freeforming, I get the feeling some of my supporters may become naysayers, and I want a place to talk about that. Second, I've combed the net (haha) looking for sites that will tell me about my specific kind of hair, and what I should do. And while I've found some great sites, I'm starting on another leg of my loc journey: transitioning from comb coils to freeform. I can already tell that it's going to be wonderful and inspirational, and I wanted to have a place to look at and document it. I'm going to tell the world what I'm doing, and how it turns out. Third, I like reading blogs about locs, and wanted to contribute to the conversation, dig?

So to sum up: I'm in month five of locing my hair, and I've decided to freeform. This blog will primarily serve to document the process. Nice. God Bless