Month: October 2016

Libation

On By dancingpalmtreesIn "I Dreamed of Rain"-Jan Garrett & JD Martin, Jimmy Cliff - Many Rivers To Cross, Psalm 137:1-4, rain, Rain Showers, Rivers of Babylon-The Melodians, Uncategorized, Underwater Sculpture in Honor of Africans Thrown Overboard, Weather6 Comments

 

https://weather.com/weather/today/l/Brooklyn+NY+11233:4:US

It’s a rainy Sunday here in New York.  Chillier than yesterday. Neither good nor bad. Just is. Sunday a day of reflection and worship for many Christians. I’m not a regular church goer. My attendance in a brick and mortar building is a rare occurrence. Gradually the Baptist Faith of my youth has morphed into an appreciation and Liberation from the confines, dogma and doctrine of the traditional church.  All faiths both traditional and indigenous for me have become one. All are pieces of the original stone. Yet I feel the call of my Ancient Ancestral beliefs calling me home.  I Long for the Zion of Africa.

Psalm 137:1-4

New King James Version (NKJV)

Longing for Zion in a Foreign Land

137 By the rivers of Babylon,
There we sat down, yea, we wept
When we remembered Zion.
2 We hung our harps
Upon the willows in the midst of it.
3 For there those who carried us away captive asked of us a song,
And those who plundered us requested mirth,
Saying, “Sing us one of the songs of Zion!”

4 How shall we sing the Lord’s song
In a foreign land?

Rivers of Babylon-The Melodians

For me I imbibe the magnificence of Creation more and more through Mother Nature herself. Even if I can’t be near a park or beach because of my heavy work schedule I see myself walking the beach early in the morning when there are only the seagulls flying overhead, the ebb and flow of waves lapping at sand.  Or I’m at the park. Perhaps Central Park or Prospect Park. Touching the trees, heavy protruding boulders, taking off my shoes making that connection to land.

I crave Oneness with Gaia, The Goddess, Mother Nature. African and Native American prior to the Colonizer. Praises to Oshun!!

Any Green-space where Gaia has left her mark in millennium stones, rocks and boulders pushed surface up that speak of eons past.

One hand touches rocks and stones. Voices of Tribal past speak Wisdom into my Life. Feet Grounded within Earth, Sand and Seas.

All geological evolutionary eras merge as one.

I was there at the Jordan baptizing Jesus. My flowing locs once jet black now white with mystical waves. I shook my bountiful mane and the earth trembled. Oshun welcomes back her prodigal son.

Oshun pushed aside Neptune and gathered up her children drowned lost in Middle Passage.  Watery graveyard. We search for each other. Shackled together. Far from the Motherland of our birth.

Brought on deck. Bound. Iron to Iron. Men. Women. Some pregnant. Children. Tossed like so much excess baggage from the good ship Amistad.

We cried out to the Goddess for Salvation. Swept away into the Abyss. Poseiden stepped on our necks and took our breath away. Only the Goddess of Our Royal Bloodline can redeem us. Our Orisha came and gathered our spirits into Her Bosom.

Meditate on Her. Meditate on Her.

I am She who was from the Beginning. I Birthed the Earth into Existence. All others who came after are just minor manifestations of true Grace. Manifestations of the Original Reigning Goddess.

She poured fragrant Libation upon our weary souls. She oiled the depths of our spirits. Deliverance was nigh. The New Sojourner Truth criss-crosses the Land gathering. Gathering. Sowing. Reaping. Transformation.

 

Psalm 137:1-4

New King James Version (NKJV)

Longing for Zion in a Foreign Land

137 By the rivers of Babylon,
There we sat down, yea, we wept
When we remembered Zion.
2 We hung our harps
Upon the willows in the midst of it.
3 For there those who carried us away captive asked of us a song,
And those who plundered us requested mirth,
Saying, “Sing us one of the songs of Zion!”

4 How shall we sing the Lord’s song
In a foreign land?

JIMMY CLIFF – rivers of babylon

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0118607/

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amistad_(film)

http://www.ninasimone.com/2013/01/underwater-sculpture-in-honor-of-africans-thrown-overboard/

 

Jimmy Cliff / Many Rivers To Cross

 

https://dancingpalmtrees.com/2014/09/03/seed/

Ibeyi – River

 

“I Dreamed of Rain”-Jan Garrett & JD Martin

 

 

 

 

 

Rain Walk

On By dancingpalmtreesIn B.J.Thomas - Raindrops keep falling on my head (HQ), Bible Verses Regarding Rain, Brooklyn, Brownsville, Rockaway Avenue, Uncategorized, Walking In The Rain 19727 Comments

 

https://weather.com/weather/today/l/Brooklyn+NY+11233:4:US

Decided to take an evening constitutional. Fortified myself with the other half of my Subway sandwich, collected my umbrella and small travel purse, keys, Metro Card in case I got too tired and had to take the bus, put on a light jacket and of course made sure that I went to the bathroom before neighborhood striding!!

Stuck to Fulton Street which is a major thoroughfare in Brooklyn. Plenty of bright street lights and folks are out and about. Many are returning from shopping, visiting friends and/or family or on their way home from work.

Started out at 9:30 pm. Most of the rain had subsided but I was still anointed by rain drops descending from the trees. Continued my trek from Rockaway Avenue a little past Utica Avenue and made my turn around at Boys & Girls High School. Took half an hour to get to Utica so that’s why I reversed my course so I could be back home within an hour.

I accomplished my goal plus I had the pleasure of a resurgence serene divine essence from Heaven.  Now when I say peace and serenity I do not mean quiet. I Live in Brooklyn specifically the Inner City.  As soon as I stepped out the door I was greeted by wailing EMS and police sirens!! My neighborhood is loud!  I mean high volume. However I’m used to all types of loud noises. I’ve learned to sleep through Be-Bop, Doo-Wop, Hip-Hop, Reggae, Block Parties, Noisy neighbors, etc….  Yes I do have insomnia but that probably comes from inner turmoil and stress.

The warm caress of showers brought internal Blessings.  I was Walking in the Rain with the Ones I Love = Me, Myself and I!!  Yes I Feel So Good!!  In this Warm Soft Autumn Rain I Reign…..

Walking In The Rain 1972

 

Bible Verses Regarding Rain

James 5:18 – And he prayed again, and the heaven gave rain, and the earth brought forth her fruit.

Leviticus 26:4 – Then I will give you rain in due season, and the land shall yield her increase, and the trees of the field shall yield their fruit.

Zechariah 10:1 – Ask ye of the LORD rain in the time of the latter rain; [so] the LORD shall make bright clouds, and give them showers of rain, to every one grass in the field.

Isaiah 55:10 – For as the rain cometh down, and the snow from heaven, and returneth not thither, but watereth the earth, and maketh it bring forth and bud, that it may give seed to the sower, and bread to the eater:

1 Kings 18:41-45 – And Elijah said unto Ahab, Get thee up, eat and drink; for [there is] a sound of abundance of rain.   (Read More…)

1 Kings 8:35 – When heaven is shut up, and there is no rain, because they have sinned against thee; if they pray toward this place, and confess thy name, and turn from their sin, when thou afflictest them:

Jeremiah 14:22 – Are there [any] among the vanities of the Gentiles that can cause rain? or can the heavens give showers? [art] not thou he, O LORD our God? therefore we will wait upon thee: for thou hast made all these [things].

Psalms 72:6 – He shall come down like rain upon the mown grass: as showers [that] water the earth.

Jeremiah 5:24 – Neither say they in their heart, Let us now fear the LORD our God, that giveth rain, both the former and the latter, in his season: he reserveth unto us the appointed weeks of the harvest.

Zechariah 14:17 – And it shall be, [that] whoso will not come up of [all] the families of the earth unto Jerusalem to worship the King, the LORD of hosts, even upon them shall be no rain.

James 5:17 – Elias was a man subject to like passions as we are, and he prayed earnestly that it might not rain: and it rained not on the earth by the space of three years and six months.

Hosea 6:3 – Then shall we know, [if] we follow on to know the LORD: his going forth is prepared as the morning; and he shall come unto us as the rain, as the latter [and] former rain unto the earth.

Acts 14:17 – Nevertheless he left not himself without witness, in that he did good, and gave us rain from heaven, and fruitful seasons, filling our hearts with food and gladness.

http://topverses.com/about/rain&pg=10

B.J.Thomas – Raindrops keep falling on my head (HQ)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Rain Salutations

On By dancingpalmtreesIn Brooklyn, I WANNA GO OUTSIDE IN THE RAIN - THE DRAMATICS, Rain Salutations, Uncategorized17 Comments

 

I usually don’t like rain. When it rains I’m normally doing everything I can to stay dry. Today was different. When I got off work it was drizzling but I still stopped to chat with my girlfriend who works the 4-12 Midnight shift. Surprisingly the rain was quite comfortable but since I was carrying bags I just got on the bus to the subway then onward towards my home in Brooklyn.

When I got home I realized that I did not have anything to drink in the fridge so back out into the rain to my local bodega for liquid refreshment. Once home into the shower, quaff my tasty Chocolate Ensure, change clothes then I decided to go into! the backyard for a few minutes of Rain Salutations in the gentle soothing showers.  I just stood outside feeling the raindrops splashing my skin. It would have been nice to sit but all the lawn chairs were wet.  So I did a few stretching exercises extending my hands and arms to the Heavens. Refreshing!

One of the many great advantages of naturally curly kinky coilly hair is that I don’t worry about my hair getting wet like I did years ago when I straightened my hair or had perms in my hair.  If you’re a Black Woman No Explanation is needed. You know exactly what I mean!  🙂

As you can see from the Weather Link it is warm in New York. Trust me when I say I will not be doing this when the temps in New York drop below 40 degrees or when it starts snowing!! LOL!!  🙂    😀

Here is today’s New York Forecast for Brooklyn.

https://weather.com/weather/today/l/Brooklyn+NY+11233:4:US

 

I WANNA GO OUTSIDE IN THE RAIN – THE DRAMATICS

 

 

 

 

Old Tyme Family Photos

On By dancingpalmtreesIn Edward G. Palmer, Edward Gordon Palmer, Edward Palmer, Eva Gordon Palmer, Eva Sophronia Gordon Palmer, Eva Sophronia Gordon Palmer -- Grandmother, Mable Elizabeth Palmer, Mable Palmer, Old Tyme Family Photos, Thelma Palmer Varner, Uncategorized, William Henry Halstead, William J. Palmer, William Junius Palmer, William Palmer19 Comments

William Henry Halstead Tombstone
William Henry Halstead Headstone ~ Sleepy Hollow

These are some some Old Tyme Family Photos mostly from my Dad’s side of the family some of which date back to just after the Civil War.  The photos cover both the 19th and 20th Centuries.

This is a Tin Type photo of an unknown unnamed Ancestor
Grandfather William Palmer with 4 of his children 1923
My Grandmother Eva Sophronia Gordon Palmer
My Dad Edward Gordon Palmer
My Aunt Thelma Palmer Varner

 

rosalie-palmer_william-palmers-sister
Rosalie Palmer My Grandfather’s Sister

 

Aunt Carrie ~~ George Gordon’s Sister
My Dad Edward G. Palmer
My Dad Edward G. Palmer
Fredrick H. Halstead_Sept. 6, 1898_Little’s Brother
My Maternal Grandmother Hattie Finney Banks
My Maternal Aunt Helen James
Henry Keyser
Mom Mable Palmer
Mom & Dad

 

 

Shout Out to fellow Photography Blogger Cee Neuner!!

https://ceenphotography.com/

https://ceenphotography.com/2016/10/03/share-your-world-2016-week-40/

 

Share Your World – 2016 Week 40

On By dancingpalmtreesIn “Though she be but little, she is fierce!” ― William Shakespeare, A Midsummer Night's Dream, Periwing Navy Blue Satin Frog Button Dragon and Phoenix Mini Chinese Dress Qipao, Stephen, Stephen Vincent Palmer, SYW, Uncategorized16 Comments

 

https://ceenphotography.com/2016/10/03/share-your-world-2016-week-40/

Share Your World – 2016 Week 40

041514 sywbanner

 

Why did you start blogging?

To gain exposure for my writing and photography as well as to engage with those of similar interests. Also to inspire, uplift and encourage people worldwide.

A piece of clothing you still remember?

An Asian dress that fitted me like a glove. It looked like I was poured into the dress. Was like having a second skin. Also helped that at that time I was in my 20s so I looked a whole lot better than I do now! Something similar to the one shown below.

http://www.idreammart.com/periwing-navy-blue-satin-frog-button-dragon-and-phoenix-mini-chinese-dress-qipao-1020969.html

 

Periwing Navy Blue Satin Frog Button Dragon and Phoenix Mini Chinese Dress Qipao
Enter a caption

Periwing Navy Blue Satin Frog Button Dragon and Phoenix Mini Chinese Dress Qipao

Who are you trying to reach with your blog?

Folks with an interest in writing especially poetry plus short stories, commentary and photography. My Photography Blog is Roaming Urban Gypsy.

Those who like to engage in enlightened intellectual discussion and people with a sense of humor.

Is there a stuffed animal in your bedroom?

SpongeBob Squarepants. Oh wait! He is not animal or is he?  Not sure whether a sponge is considered an animal or not?!  As for the rest of my stuffed animals they are downstairs boxed up because if I put all of them on my bed my cat Sylvester and I wouldn’t have any room to sleep! LOL!

The best birthday present ever?

The Gift of another Year of Life.

What would surprise me about you?

“Though she be but little, she is fierce!”

― William Shakespeare, A Midsummer Night’s Dream

Bonus question:  What are you grateful for from last week, and what are you looking forward to in the week coming up? 

The Following Magnificent Email Message from my brother Stephen who is an Amazing Awesome Autism Guy!!

Hi sister how are you doing today . I had a good day at program today , I draw and colored with my peers, I also helped with the paper work in the class room . After i went to lunch, it was good i really enjoyed lunch time with my friends. I wanted to know if you still have the drawing of the picture i made.

 

As Always I’m Grateful to Cee Neuner for Her Wonderful Photography Challenges!  I too have some old paternal family photos some dating back to right after the Civil War.  I will share those in my next post.  When I was living in Rochdale Village, Jamaica, Queens I had a combination printer/copier/Scanner so I scanned as many of my family photos as possible.