As I stare at the dollar bill in my hand, tracing the pyramid with its all-seeing eye. It feels like a cold stone of a monument to power, built on stolen labor and coded symbols that whisper, “You are beneath this. You are watched, owned, contained.” For generations, this gaze has tried to define us: reduced to discarded bodies, property, and problems waiting for someone’s solutions. But what happens when we rip off the label? When do we stop seeing ourselves through the lens of a system that profits from our diminishment and start seeing through the eyes of the universe itself, the same force that dreamed us into being?   I watched a short video that explained the concept of just that, as a Black American, how do I step outside the shadow of that pyramid? How do I shed the mentality of a “slave”  and step into the truth of who I am beyond the vast cosmos, as ancient as stardust, and as limitless as the imagination of the Creator? How do I wake up from this psychosis of smallness of lack of power, and understanding, and remember that my existence is not a plea for salvation, but a declaration of sovereignty?  

“You are the universe, expressing itself as a human for a little while.” Eckhart Tolle (reimagined through our lens)  

This isn’t about self-help. This is about self-reclamation. It’s about peeling back layers of conditioning, believing the lies that say our worth is tied to productivity, approval, or proximity to whiteness, and excavating the brilliance beneath. It’s about asking: If I am not what they’ve told me I am… then who am I? And more importantly: Who might I become when I finally give myself permission to dream beyond the boundaries of this world’s imagination?  You are not a passive observer but the author of your story. The universe’s gaze is one of boundless love and curiosity for your unfolding. As you shed layers of imposed identity, remember…. Your existence is a revolution. Stand in your power, create fiercely, and let the world adjust to you.

To transcend societal constraints and embrace your true potential as a Soulaani (Black American), consider the following holistic approach, rooted in empowerment, spirituality, and self-discovery.

 1. Decolonize Your Mind

   – Reclaim Your Narrative: Study works by Black thinkers like Frantz Fanon (Black Skin, White Masks), James Baldwin, Audre Lorde, or contemporary voices like Ta-Nehisi Coates. Engage with African philosophies (e.g., Ubuntu: “I am because we are”) to reframe your sense of self.

   – Affirmations & Rituals: Start each day with affirmations like, “I am the universe experiencing itself,” or “My ancestors’ resilience flows through me.” Create rituals that honor your heritage (e.g., libations, storytelling).

   – Critical Media Literacy: Actively critique systems of power (e.g., the pyramid/eye symbolizing colonial hierarchies) and replace them with symbols of your choosing (e.g., Adinkra symbols like Sankofa).

 2. Spiritual Reconnection

   – Cosmic Perspective: Meditate on your interconnectedness with the universe. Practices like yoga, forest bathing, or star-gazing can ground you in the truth that you are an expression of cosmic energy.

   – Ancestral Veneration: Connect with your lineage through genealogy, African spiritual traditions (Ifá, Vodun, or Hoodoo), or by honoring ancestors in daily practice. Their survival is your foundation.

   – Creator Consciousness: Embrace the idea that you co-create your reality. Write a manifesto of your divine potential: “I am limitless. I am my own salvation.”

 3. Self-Actualization Through Exploration

   – Creativity as Liberation: Use art, music, writing, or dance to express your unfiltered self. Explore movements like Afrofuturism (e.g., Octavia Butler’s novels, Sun Ra’s music) to reimagine your future.

   – Skill & Knowledge Building: Pursue education (formal or informal) in areas that ignite your passion. Platforms like Coursera or local community centers offer accessible learning.

   – Role Models & Mentorship: Seek out Black visionaries in fields you admire, e.g., Katherine Johnson (STEM), Chinua Achebe (literature), or Patrisse Cullors (activism). Learn their stories of self-definition.

 4. Crafting Your Authentic Identity

   – Niche Discovery: Identify where your passions meet community needs. For example, if you love tech and social justice, create apps addressing racial inequities. If art calls you, curate spaces celebrating Black creativity.

   – Lifestyle Alignment: Design daily routines reflecting your values. If sustainability matters, explore eco-friendly Black-owned businesses. If community is key, organize local mutual aid networks.

   – Visibility with Intention: Present your truth boldly but strategically. Share your journey via writing, podcast, or public speaking. Let your identity evolve openly, perfection is not required.

 5. Healing & Resilience

   – Therapy & Community: Seek therapists specializing in racial trauma (e.g., directories at Therapy for Black Girls). Join groups like The Brotherhood/Sister Sol for solidarity.

   – Body Liberation: Practice somatic healing (yoga, dance) to release stored trauma. Read My Grandmother’s Hands by Resmaa Menakem.

   – Joy as Resistance: Prioritize activities that spark joy, cook ancestral recipes, celebrate Black holidays (Juneteenth, Kwanzaa), or create a “joy list” of things that make you feel free.

 6. Practical Steps for Today

   – Daily Journal Prompt: “If societal labels didn’t exist, who would I be?”

   – Resource List: 

     – Books: The New Jim Crow (Michelle Alexander), Soulcraft (Bill Plotkin for nature-based spirituality).

     – Films: 13th (systemic critique), Moonlight (identity exploration).

   – Community Engagement: Volunteer with organizations like the NAACP or local cultural hubs to align purpose with action.

This work isn’t easy. It requires confronting the trauma you hold within, the violence of systemic erasure, the quiet ache of assimilation. But it also requires reveling in the magic that survived: the rhythm in our hips, the fire in our stories, the resilience in our DNA. We are not starting from scratch. We are remembering.  

Closing Provocation:  

So let’s begin here: Close your eyes. Breathe. Imagine the universe pausing to sculpt you not from clay, but from supernovas and sacred rage and your grandmother’s laughter. That is who you are. Not a footnote in someone else’s history. Not a character in their narrative. But the author. The artist. The oracle.  

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Comment below: What’s one lie about yourself you’re ready to unlearn? Let’s burn it together.

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The pyramid’s eye may surveil, but its vision cannot contain the galaxies we’re becoming.

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Next Post Preview: “Ancestral Codes: Rewiring Your Mind to Hear the Universe’s Whisper”  

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 “You are your ancestors’ wildest dreams.”

-Kinsey Simmons

Now dream wilder. ✊🏾🌌