The Earth Awaits
Many of us have undoubtedly asked, "What is life about? On a recent subway ride home, I overheard a middle schooler ask her mother: "Mommy, how long will I live?" "Oh, honey, you’ll live a long, long time...eighty more years, at least." After a short pause, the little girl responded, "But why so many, mommy?" "What do you mean, hon?," asked her mother quizzically. "Well," the little girl replied, "If a worker bee lives for a month, and a tiny shrew lives for a year, and lion lives for 15 years, and a humpback whale lives for 50 years, then why do I get to live so long?" Before I knew it, I let out a hearty laugh. What a profound question! Her mother, clearly not expecting a question of this depth, replied: "I don’t know, honey, we’ll ask your father when we get home." I must admit that I’ve been searching for an answer that may have satisfied the inquisitive little girl from the train that day. She clearly had her numbers in order.
I did a little research of my own, but on human life expectancy, instead of animal lifespans. It turns out that early records of human history suggest maximum lifespan of 120 years among the ancient Egyptians. The World Health Organization’s World Health Statistics (WHOWHS, 2009) report some interesting disparities in life expectancy. Which country reportedly has the lowest life expectancy? Which has the highest? Go ahead, guess. The members of Japan have the highest life expectancy of 76 years, an average of both sexes. The lowest? Well, I had guessed Afghanistan before I read the WHOWHS report. But I was wrong. Sierra Leone holds the lowest at 35 years, and Afghanistan’s average is higher by one, at 36. Interestingly, US life expectancy is 70 years. While the political, socioeconomic, and historical sources of these numbers and their discrepancies are beyond the scope of this article, it has not escaped my notice that the average life expectancy for those of African-ancestry is far less than 70 years in America.
Given that we are afforded an average of seven decades on Earth, what do we do with them? Or, to repeat the words uttered by the precocious little girl on the train, "But why so many...?" Now in my fourth decade of life on Earth, I ask myself this question often, and in various ways. "What have I done with yesterday?" "What am I doing with today?" "How will I make the most of tomorrow?" When I stop to think about why I am thinking about this question, I realize that I don’t have a guarantee of more years. None of us do, not even the unnamed little girl who offered the question that inspired this article. Like vanishing vapor, we are here for a moment, then gone. Since this is true, perhaps we should approach our days with the understanding that life has purpose. I have purpose. You have purpose. Regardless of the the number of days lived out, our life purpose should be fulfilled.
"So, now what?" I can hear the little girl asking me in my head? "Well," I would say to her, "Human beings are given time on Earth because human life
holds a great potential. It is about something. And if it is about anything, is about quality." What does that mean? What are the components of this quality, and what is its source? Let’s examine a few definitions of the word quality. Interestingly enough, the meaning will change depending on who you ask. Those in business, engineering or manufacturing, who make products for purchase, may define quality in terms of a standard or grade of something. Those in phonetics, who study sound and sound waves, may define quality as the character of a vowel sound that depends the shape of the mouth and position of the tongue when it is uttered. If you inquire of those who specialize in music, they may tell you that quality is nothing more than the distinctive tone of a musical note. When asked, my best friend defined it as I would have before I understood the spiritual definition: the highest or finest standard that differentiates a person or thing.
The M’TAM School of Kemetic Philosophy and Spirituality seeks to preserve, promote, and proliferate the knowledge of the mystery schools of Merita (traditional Africa). The committed Kemetic initiate is extended the opportunity to grow his or her potential quality. At The Earth Center, we are exposed to the spiritual meaning of quality. Here, this commonly used word has substance, roots, and standards. The quality that we speak of at the Earth Center is a process of deep, honest exploration and assessment of the self. The initiate is, therefore, a seeker of truth. We have been invited to the path by someone who has spent his life in the pursuit of quality. The founder of The Earth Center, Master Naba Lamoussa Morodenibig explains that quality is the result of an uphill journey; it demands that one finally take control of his/her life.
In the modern system, we find a culture based on and maintained by subjective truth. The motto of the time being: "What is true for me, may not be true for you." Or even seen another way: "What is true for me is what is true." To this The Maakheru (Master Naba’s title as an initiatic priest, meaning "voice of truth") replies: "If the truth bothers me, I am a liar." This is because the traditional meaning of truth is not subjective, and is not subjected to the circumstances, whims or desires of the individual. Quality, then, refers to the inherent goodness within the depths of the heart and mind. It shows itself through the deliberate practice of acknowledging and fighting to contain the evil in each of us. The seeker of truth in pursuit of quality acknowledges the evil within. Period. We know that the evil is there; we were born with it. We can’t pray it away, wish it away, or deny it, and maintain inner truth. Quality also represents that goodness which is of the Neteru (Gods). A quality that may be ours through acceptance and adherence to the 77 spiritual laws of a quality person, the 77 Commandments of the Divine Code of Human Behavior. For me, the code is the well spring of a quality life. How does the initiate identify and connect to this wellspring of life? How does the initiate raise his/her standards and achieve spiritual quality? You must first be drawn from within. Meaning, you must be a true seeker. The true seeker cannot rest easy without seeking to learn deeply of the nature of the self, the universe, and the relationship between the two. Spiritual quality, we are taught, is rooted in regular communication with our ancestors. Those who have gone before us have determined our destiny. They know why we have so many years. The Maakheru has told us that spiritual enlightenment is attainable, in this lifetime, by adopting our ancestral paradigm.
For some, these are harrowing times. The monuments that have been envisioned, erected, and exalted by men are crumbling. That which we placed our faith in is passing away. Many IRAs, 401Ks, and the like have seen tremendous devaluation since last year’s global fiscal crisis. We see more clearly upon loss of material worth that we are mistaken to place our confidence in the wind. That which we thought had inherent quality and value, has shown itself to be illusory. The Earth is ready for a change. It demands it. The bearers of the Zujatah name have been called by The Great Mother Earth to heal her, to strengthen her; to receive the mission of reconciliation of one to another, one to the land, one to the ancestors, one to the Neteru. This is their purpose. These brothers and sisters have a mighty work to do. They may not squander their years. Rather, they must build, they must plant, and must reap the harvest to show the ancestors, Neteru, and world their awesome quality. When the years become decades, and the decades centuries, what will the descendants say of their works, of their capacity to contain their evil, and manifest their goodness? As I have had the privilege to share time with each of them as a Hat Tenee (Elder and Teacher), I am beaming with confidence that, led by their intently focused Merr, they will indeed use their years wisely: Replenish the Earth, plant trees - Cultivate the Earth, build a community garden - Feed the people of the Earth, open a food cooperative - Cleanse the Earth, research and implement ways of reducing waste - Beautify the Earth, grow flowers and preserve park.
Honor the Earth, humbly remember your place in the Universe. Go forth with power, Brothers and Sisters. May the ancestors bless the work of your hands.
The Earth and its energies unite with those who heed the call for change. The call went out to many but few turned an ear to hear. A powerful collective of seven represent the most recent generation of graduating initiates. The Earth has uncovered the true nature of this seven. They have received the collective generational name Zujatah, which means to heal and strengthen the Earth.
The spirited, upright Merr (Class Leader) now bears the Kemetic name Haouti: The one who is marching in front.
The steadfast, disciplined financial officer is called Saneteru: The Son of the Gods.
The ever-growing, creative scribe is now Barkanitah: The blessings of the Earth.
The humble, considerate senee (brother), husband, and father is revealed as Ajdousa: The child of Sa.
The charitable, resourceful wife of Saneteru is now known as Maufpatou: The ally to all mankind.
The man of quiet confidence and strength is now called Hemsboura: The one who dwells in the house of Ra.
The inquisitive, studious senee is now Shetaneferu: The one who proclaims goodness.