Our Mother’s Light: Remembering Imaya Khefira Hasati
This is the first installment of "Our Mothers Light" in the Rising Firefly Magazine. It is a column that speaks to women from a traditional Kemetic perspective, providing insight and reflection from various women initiates covering topics ranging from our role in motherhood, women and children's health, etc. It is a platform for our challenges and struggles, our experiences and observations, our successes and celebrations as we continue to learn more about our ancestral culture. Khefira Hasati played a huge role in the development of this column, rightfully so we honor our sister and now ancestral mother and share some of our experiences with her in hopes that she will inspire you too to be better.
Inspiring Growth
by Thaoo Aishat Hasati
2nd Generation Chicago, IL USA
There is the saying "You don't know what you've got 'til it's gone," for many this is true. But to have the awareness of something or someone while they are still here and to be able to learn from what they have to share with the world is truly a blessing. Our sister Khefira was a blessing for so many. Through the life that she lived and what she shared, she inspired me and others in so many ways.
When I decided to learn more about natural childbirth and midwifery, Khefira was right there to share her wealth of knowledge through her own experiences with birth and other resources that she had available. I had the privilege of attending births with her and to observe her in how she cared for others through this process. She was so attentive and nurturing it was truly motivating. The qualities that she exuded were not only shown through caring for mothers through the birthing process but these qualities were something that were truly a part of her. She was always encouraging you to push yourself to go beyond what you thought your best was, recognizing the qualities in someone and doing what she could to help in making sure they go in the right direction. She was a true friend, sister and mother.
The Pillar Mother
by Zemoonitah Hasati
3rd Generation Chicago, IL USA
My beloved spiritual sister, Khefira HaSati was a phenomenal woman. She was a wife, mother, excellent cook, professional West African dancer, student, teacher and traditional healer at the M' TAM school of Kemetic Philosophy and Spirituality, otherwise known as The Earth Center.
The Earth Center is where Khefira and I first met almost 7 years ago. The generation that I studied with was approximately 3 to 4 weeks into classes if my memory serves me correctly. Our generation had been made aware that there was a new student coming from Seattle, WA. She would be a part of our generation and that we would have to catch her up on what we'd learned in the three classes The Earth Center offered. Upon meeting her I took notice of her smile, extra long hair and the warmest hug I've ever had from a stranger. When Khefira hugged you it was very energetic and comforting because she would rub your back with little circular motions and press on it, kinda like a massage if the same time. There are many things to miss about her, for me this is one of many.
Prior to our generation's graduation ceremony, most of us had the opportunity to all live together in a community house on Chicago's very own West Side. Khefira and I were the two women who lived on the 2nd floor. At this time she was a dedicated nanny for a family who lived on the north side of Chicago. Most mornings I would wake up to the sounds of a "late for work Khefira" scrambling for her things to jet out of the door. Or I would sometimes open my bedroom door that led to the kitchen and find a sandwich or a warm tumbler full of coffee she'd obviously forgotten before she left for work. Now, I don't want to give the impression that she was late for work due to laziness! Oh no! Khefira was a very hard worker. She stayed up until the wee hours of the morning often times due to studying, homework, projects, etc. Khefira was sometimes up in the night on the phone helping someone through some kind of crisis because she was such a good listener. But I think that we all appreciated her most for telling us what we needed to hear, Khefira was no "sugar coater". Unless it came to her delicious cookin'!
Now, I must admit that before meeting Khefira I could make a mean piece of toast and great sandwiches with the right amount of dressing, but I didn't have a clue about cooking! I didn't know which spices went together, what kind of oil to use and what a "side" dish was until I lived with Khefira. (This made my husband very happy) Khefira dreamed of having her own restaurant. She was Japanese so of course we had many excellent dishes with soups and noodles and rice. She also cooked West African style, Indian, Italian and others. Some of my favorites of hers were Yassa, peanut soup, and the Taste of Ethiopia dish. YUMMY! Khefira did almost everything from scratch. We had pizza night were she would make the pizza from scratch and she would put one pizza in the oven at a time with different toppings so they'd be hot, fresh and unpredictable.
Speaking of unpredictable, she was a chameleon when it came to her style of dress. She dressed traditional African, to hip hop, to stylish, to comfortable in one day. I remember she would tear up t-shirts and cut them and tie them into certain styles, turning a plain ole shirt into something fancy. Khefira was a fan of hemp and wool. She wore wool skirts, sweaters, socks and hats. In general a big fan of green, natural materials. She also wore lots of seed beaded bracelets and liked cowrie shell jewelry.
Khefira studied West African dance and was especially drawn to Sabar dance. She traveled abroad and studied professionally with many master Sabar dance instructors and drummers. She had a deep attraction to the Senegalese. I used to love going to see her at a Sabar dance class!. Her movements indicated her passion and her technique indicated her years of study. Sometimes when she'd really get into the dance and the turns, her tongue would kinda stick out a little bit as if she was feeling more relaxed and confident in her moves.
Earlier I talked a little about Khefira being a professional nanny. This speaks to her love for children although she hadn't bore her own at this time yet. While she and I lived together my husband and I were expecting. Khefira was an experienced doula and I'd asked her to be with me when I delivered my baby. On Dec. 9th, 2005, Khefira drove me to the hospital and assisted me through my beginning intense stages of active labor. She'd hold my hands, rub my back, stomach, legs anywhere I ached. She gave me ice to chew on and asked me to look at her when it was time to breath during a contraction. Returning home after delivery she took care of me. She cooked, made sure I was taking care of myself appropriately. One night my newborn had bad stomach pains, which was just gas, and she showed me a trick that helped prevent giving the baby medicine. A couple of nights I'd wake up and daughter would not in bed with me. I walked to her room and knock. Due to silence I'd open the door and find her and baby sleeping and cuddling. Sooo cute! She'd tell me, well I heard the baby crying and I didn't want her to wake you, I want you to get rest. Now THAT is my sista! A couple of years later she and her husband was blessed to have their own daughter, Neehra.
We had an opportunity in 2009 to go on the pilgrimage to Merita/Africa together with other students. We went to Burkina Faso. I remember riding next to her in the Bush taxi traveling from Ouaga to Tambiga. She pointed out the different land marks and types of trees, etc. She took lots of pictures. Oh yes, that's another thing, she was an amazing photographer. She was very artsy, and had an eye for that kind of stuff. She was so excited to go and that I was with her. You see, one of the reasons we were going to Tambiga was for her traditonal wedding ceremony. She was getting married! When we'd arrived in Tambiga she'd asked me if I could braid her hair for her wedding. I started her hair late so eventually the sun turned into moon and stars and I remember finishing braiding her hair with a flashlight in my mouth. Also, on this trip my daughter and I got a little sick. She was the one to administer the herbs to us and others as needed. As a traditional healer this was her responsibility.
One of my last memories of my sister was when she was ill. She had come down stairs into the sitting room. Everyone who was present was happy to see her up and out of bed. She sat on the couch and put some cover over her. She asked me to get some of her favorite yogurt out of the frig, the apricot mango yogurt from Brown Cow. She ate this and then it was time to drink her tea. She said she was chilled and put the tea down to relax. I came to her and said oh no ma'am, we have to finish this tea. So I sat close to her and fed her the tea until she finished it. She spoke of how warm my body was and that her chills were going away. I told her, well then I will just follow you around like this, hip to hip. And that made her laugh and smile. It was so good to see that because she had a wonderful smile with a dimple that peeked out every time. And a laugh that you had to be there to witness. She had the kind of laugh that made you laugh even if you didn't know what was funny!
Khefira was such a dedicated woman. Anything that she decided to do she executed with extreme effort, dignity and class. She was very soft but to balance she could be very hard! She took her education at The Earth Center very, very seriously as a teacher and as a student. Her spirituality was everything to her. She invested deeply in her spiritual bank. She did her ancestors work and wanted them to be proud of her. Khefira didn't leave room for people to make excuses to the reasons why they couldn't grow and just simply do better. She would strive daily to be a better per- son than she was the day before. She sought out the help and ad- vice she needed to keep herself in check. As human beings we all naturally come with our flaws, we grow up learning and adopting a pattern of behaviors based off our environment and the society we live in. In other words we are taught to be emotional instead of logical thinkers, for Khefira, and most of us, this was her biggest challenge. But she learned to face those challenges with humility. This is a big sign of growth and her journey through it was a lesson to be learned by all of us who knew her or those of us who have heard her stories.
One paragraph can turn into an essay, one essay could turn into a book. This is how much I can say and share about my sister, Imaya Khefira HaSati. But in closing, I'd like to wish her a continuous successful journey through the Imentet. I know she is with ancestors and that she is still with us. We all will continue to take care of her spiritually and do our very best at taking care of Neehra. As human beings, all of us are in a stage of becoming. What I have learned from my sister is that, if I must Become, Become a person of Quality!. I love and miss you, my sister Khefira. I am grateful to have known you and have learned from you. Em ren Khepra!
A Quality Kem Woman
by Hapi Kamenthu
5th Generation - Brooklyn, NY USA
A Quality Kem Woman was Khephira Hasati.
In her short lifetime she wore many hats.
In her lifetime she played many roles.
A Quality Kem Woman was Khephira Hasati.
In her lifetime she traveled to many countries.
In her lifetime she had many crafts.
A Quality Kem Woman was Khephira Hasati.
In her lifetime she was a Friend
In her lifetime she was a Daughter.
A Quality Kem Woman was Khephira Hasati.
In her lifetime she was a Mother.
In her lifetime she was a Sister.
A Quality Kem Woman was Khephira Hasati.
In her lifetime she was a Wife.
In her lifetime she was a Aunt.
A Quality Kem Woman she was.
A Quality Kem Woman was Khephira Hasati.
In her lifetime she made you laugh.
In her lifetime she made you cry.
In her lifetime she told you the truth.
A Quality Kem Woman she was.
A Quality Kem Woman was Khephira Hasati.
In her lifetime she was a Cheff.
In her lifetime she was an Accountant.
A Quality Kem Woman was Khephira Hasati.
In her lifetime she was a Babysitter.
In her lifetime she was a Office Manager.
A Quality Kem Woman was Khephira Hasati.
In her lifetime she was a Dancer.
In her lifetime she was a Comedian.
A Quality Kem Woman was Khephira Hasati.
In her lifetime she was a Traveler.
In her lifetime she was an Adventurer.
A Quality Kem Woman she was.
A Quality Kem Woman was Khephira Hasati.
In her lifetime whatever shoe she had to fill she did.
In her lifetime whenever you call she did respond.
In her lifetime however she felt it did not matter.
In her lifetime she was a Quality Kem Woman.
A Quality Kem Woman she was.
Simply Caring
by Zirt Menura Maktitaoui
7th Generation - San Diego, CA USA
Khefira, was a very polite and caring person. I felt that she applied the education in every aspect of her life. She was the one that I could call on and get answers to my many questions; and if she did not know, she would make sure to get it to me by the end of the day. I often called her for advice through my many troubled times, or just to get a better understanding on things; she also had connected with my daughter Hadiyah.
When you call the EC, It did not matter what time of the day, you could never tell if she was sick, tired, hungry, upset or sleepy she was always on the other end with a smile in her voice. I remember her coming to the house during our graduation. I admired the simplicity in her and her ability to make do with the situation at hand. The sista had secured a spot on the floor for her and her baby. As we will say "no problem man" for that was alright with her. That was who she was. I was fortunate to have met her and to have seen her exhibit some of the qualities of a Kem woman.
...duaoo
Have Courage
by Trwrt Sakuhai
17th Generation - Chicago, IL USA
As my personal hat tenee (mentor), Imaya Khefira Hasati graciously shared much wisdom with me. From the first conversation we had on the phone up until her last days with us here in the land of the living, she was a glimmering example to me of what it means to be a Kem woman. Often times it was her actions rather than her words that came to deliver a valuable lesson...but in ad- vising me on one particularly sticky situation (at least I thought so at the time) she uttered two words to me that stuck like glue: "have courage". Now, at the time, I couldn't tell if she meant "have courage?" like, c'mon kid where are your cojonas or "have courage!" like, Ill lend you a little of mine and you better use it wisely or "have courage", like, oh, you dropped it over there, here you go. However she meant it, those words quickly popped the bubble to fear and anxiety that was expanding in my gut and prompted me to action. The stories that she shared with me over the course of a year allowed me to call upon visuals of her displaying incredible courage: from overcoming stage fright and pre-show jitters to traveling across country to deliver her first child.
In those moments when I am stuck between explosive expan- sion and cowering retraction, those words come to me showing me the right course of action. When I heed, I bask in delight know- ing that Imaya Khefira would be proud, when I don't heed the consequences are heavy as my hat tenee has blazed such an incredible path inspiring nothing but solid show-stopping greatness. It is an honor and a delight to have started my path back home being guided by Imaya Khefira. She showed me what it means to be human, to be whole, and to live with an open heart. Now it is my responsibility to constantly expand moment by moment using the courage lent to me by Ancestors.
Walking With A Sister's Wisdom
by Hershaba Khefnheru
21st Generation - Brooklyn, NY USA
It is much easier to find those who will help in your spiritual deterioration than hold you accountable for good behavior, attitude and growth. For much of my life I had many people around me that helped me foster habits that enabled my misbehavior and instability, and I would do the same for them. In M'TAM we recognize this as having a partner in crime. It is only people who knowingly or unknowingly do not care about another person's stability and growth that would agree to be a partner in crime. Unfortunately the modern society that many of us come from is producing a people that get into emotionally based rela onships that contribute to one another's devolvement. We are cheerleaders for each other's corruption. I can honestly say that it was only after I met Khefira Hasati that I begin to understand how engrained it was in me to seek others who would give me comfort in my bad behavior and habits.
I initially met Khefira in her role as an Ankhasta healer. I had only had contact with Herpw Bikbaye and Hhatenee Nehez Meniooh at this time. Khefira had started helping with some health issues I was dealing with. My calls to Ankhasta were regular so I was speaking with her often. Anyone who met or knew Khefira knows that she availed herself to all and was earnestly willing to help others be healed physically and spiritually. I was also reading some of the Firefly products and I would always have a list of questions for her when we talked. She would often bring explanations to some of what I was being exposed to, and at other times she would just tell me to be patient because there were many other concepts I needed to understand first. After several conversations I began to realize she was becoming my teacher and my Hhatenee. (Hhatenee is a word /title in Medu {hieroglyphics, that is used to address those who have been M'TAM initiates lon- ger) Once I understood what a hatenee was this is how I referred to her even before becoming a student of the Earth Center.
As understanding as Hhatenee Khefira was, she made it very clear to me early on that I was not to bring my mediocrity to our conversations. This is what I mean by her not being a partner in crime or rewarding my ignorance. Again I was used to being able sway people to side with whatever I perceived to be going on, but this was not the case with her. I remember calling her to discuss some challenges I was having with my mother. I talked at length about the details of what was going on, how my relationship with my mom seemed to be troubled frequently and I just wished she would stop making things difficult. I communicated in a way that I thought she would understand what I was dealing with so that she could confirm or verify all my perceptions attached to my struggle. She listened quietly, and when I was finished talking finally she said, "Sis we always like to think we are the victim in situations. We usually will not stop being emotional about things long enough to understand that maybe we are being very judgmental and opinionated about the other person and lose sight of our own misbehavior. You will learn soon enough that you aren't always receiving some sort of energy from someone else because you are a victim, it is you too that is giving off energy as well. And when it comes to our mothers we honor them and that is that. We may see them doing things we think are not good, but really you have to always honor her." I was somewhat set back by her response because I thought I would've received a message encouraging me to remain strong in my stance and that my mother was wrong, but no she told me to look at myself.
On another occasion, I was telling her that I was going through It seemed like things were constantly so many things at once. changing and I just wanted for some aspects to level off or cease. I was asking her for suggestions so that life would be easier for me. She said to me, "You shouldn't try to keep yourself fragile, it is like you are holding yourself like a little egg. Allowing yourself to go through challenges and being exposed to different territories is going to help you in your life." That was all she had to say and again I was left to examine myself and my attitude towards my life. She didn't let me feel sorry for myself and told me exactly why.
In just a few words she gave me wisdom that is helping me grow up and will allow me to confront challenges with dignity throughout my life. It was through Hhatenee Khefira that I learned very clearly how someone behaves when they are concerned with your well-being. She was able to plant seeds with me that are allowing me to hold myself and others accountable to the requirement of being on this path. She shared many other words of guidance and wisdom that I could share this is just a couple of instances. There have been many shifts in my life since coming to this path and in many of those instances it is her guidance that comes to mind. I have learned to look to others who are doing better than I am to keep myself moving in the right direction. Hhattenee Khefira exemplified many behaviors that I will be able to draw on for the rest of my life and in my journey, including how to be an initiate/student, be a good mother and wife and to always keep an open mind so I can recognize when I am being presented with opportunities to learn and refine my quality and to not hide from those opportunities.
You can't really ask for any other way for someone to show you they are concerned about you other than them telling you what your weaknesses are and to deal with them. This is how we help each other grow and evolve. It's not a matter of making each other feel good, it is a matter of helping each other BE good. I am thankful to the Ancestors for the timing of when I met Hhatenee Khefira, the lessons she shared with me and for the example she set that I can live by. It allowed me early on to know, even before I took classes, that I just should be quiet, observe what was going on around me and be thoughtful and honest about what I was do- ing or seeing. I will always honor her and strive to be able to heal and help others -- the way she did for me.
