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As one who has watched The Secret on several occasions I try to ascribe to being grateful everyday. I can't say that I am always perfect in doing so. In fact I could quite possibly say that many think that I can be overbearing with idea of it. I can't help the feelings of others in that regard and I don't do it to be a pain. I merely think about the blessings we all have and how sometimes we get caught up in our daily grind to realize them. Thanksgiving is my absolute favorite holiday. Even as a little kid the idea of Turkey Day has been divine. There are so many people telling me "This is just one day you should be thankful everyday." Yes this is true and I am. One of my co-workers expressed that indigenous Americans died on Thanksgiving Day. It was a morbid idea especially for a lover of the holiday.

But I have always been grateful for the fact that my family were all in the house at the same time. Not running in grabbing a bite and running out. We all sat down around a table with food prepared by my pop-pop with assistance and specialties from select folks like my uncle's eggplant parmigiana. I can smell the creamed onions that my grandfather would make. It wasn't a favorite of mine though it was our tradition. I was always partial to the TURNIPS and mashed potatoes! Folks in DC don't know what I am talking about when I start talking about the side dishes that my grandfather would make for dinner. But this time of year lately I get a little melancholy. After my grandfather past, Thanksgiving dinner was not the same of course. He always made it no matter how much folks were bickering with one another or who was angry with who. He was our glue. They don't make that kind of glue that fits with our family anymore. Traditions change and it can definitely be hard to take. Take for instance... a seafood Thanksgiving... "Mom where is the turkey."

But seriously my traditions are slowly changing as I journey through life. It doesn't disappoint me in the least. I am grateful everyday and tomorrow I will be grateful as well. I think about those people who don't have any family to have a meal with, those who have lost someone dear and for them, this holiday will be a tough one to get through.

Earlier this evening I thought about those new to America who have adopted its traditions. What is their celebration like? In the future beginning my own family what will my traditions look like. Tonight, I did a pre- holiday dinner. On an evening that I thought "my cabinets are bare" I was able to create a meal of yams, mashed potatoes, string beans, stuffing, cranberry sauce and rice with a mushroom gravy. The only thing that was missing was the turkey, but I have gratitude for the Blessings that have been supplied.

Evelyn says....

Hi!

hmmm...where to start and what to say. Well my (almost) full name is Evelyn Antoinette. For those who know me, do I look like an Evelyn Antoinette? Funny enough, when I was younger I always wanted a name like Jennifer, Michelle or Crystal because there were a lot of them, and I just wanted to fit in. I was the only "Evelyn" in school so I stuck out by virtue of my name (but that's not the only reason why I was unique). It's interesting that when we are younger all we want to do is fit in and then at some point, we do everything we can to stick out and differentiate ourselves. Yep, I went through that phase too, but that got old...quick.

Now, I am at a pretty good equilibrium. I have a pretty good understanding of who I am, and that understanding changes almost every day. The biggest success in my life at this point is finally becoming comfortable with who I am...the good, and the not so good (because yes, everyone has a shadow side).

In terms of personality- I am a sharp-minded and creative entrepreneur. I teach, train, develop, coach, consult, advise and write. I vacillate between being funny and being serious. I have serious Type A tendencies, and I am task master. Another AZA recently referred to me as an M&M (think about the tagline). Thats a pretty accurate description. I'm just happy that she didn't refer to me as a Peanut M&M.

I am also a pretty simple person. Integrity is everything and "word is bond". I am a rather deep person, but I don't think that I am too complicated. I say what I say, I mean what I mean and I am very honest. I don't like to waste time and I value people who are honest as well.

Let's see- what else, I am accepting my role as a healer. For a while I was confused as to how I was supposed to go about that task...and I got frustrated. But I have figured out, that I heal through writing and teaching. If I must toot my own horn- I am a natural when it comes to training and teaching. I am glad that I was brave enough to leave the comfort of a FT job to pursue my natural-born talents.

I mentioned this before but I am a highly creative individual. At some point I lost the drive to pursue my creativity, but I am happy to report that it is back in full effect. This time, I am expressing my creativity through makeup artistry and jewelry design.

I think I will leave it at this for now...besides, if I give away everything, how else am I going to entice you to come back and visit?

Kimberly Christina Gaines - My Guberment Name

Sondai All!
I am, as the title bar states, Kimberly Christina Gaines. Goddess, Empress, Sister, and Visualist. I handle up on the imagery for the Afro Zen Amazon. I let my sistren know what looks good and... what don't. For me it is about color, balance and texture. Within those elements of art you can surely make things fabulous.

From childhood I have always liked "pretty pictures", making them for myself and others. Hell, in high school when everyone did the practical thing and took typing, I was in art class creating line drawings with the end of a compass on black shiny paper. Anything creative I enjoyed, reading, writing and drawing were my favorites. I taught myself how to paint with my mother's left over paint supplies from the basement. I would sit for hours sketching images from Essence, Vibe... any magazine(thus I have an obsession with magazines) that I could get my hands on. My grandmother and mother both dabbled in drawing. A librarian and teacher respectively, they were both my inspiration for art in general but my uncle was responsible for my love of photography. Sometimes I feel like a broken record but I always have to say it. In a world of color... his camera saw me in black & white and that intrigued me. The image that he took of me definitely inspired the next level of art for me which was photography.

Borrowing my grandmother's 35mm that was collecting dust, I set off to document the underrepresented of Camden Catholic High School in Cherry Hill NJ. We were in the minority of the catholic school, black and latino alike so I set out to reverse that. I created my own documentation of our high school experience. It never actually made the yearbook but it was the beginning of something I loved doing.

Fastforward 2008, I am an Afro Zen Amazon... I have been called boho, also and elitist (not sure how a Camden New Jersey girl can be such a thang) I actually adopted bourgie-boho as a descriptor as of late... (mind you because of the artist in me that may change tomorrow... or 5 minutes from... NOW) Ultimately, I am a creator! From words to images, to playlists, to altars I create and share in this collective and beyond my talents, opinions, and spirit. Welcome to the minds of the collective, remember AZA is I as well as it is...you!

Drea

wow!!! time and space escapes me...this force of us is long overdue and oh so necessary...women...for women...supporting women...being women....

as a girl growing up i often wondered what my peoplescape would look like and now i needn't question any longer. afro zen amazon....being who we are....doing what we do....taking it world wide.

i came to this group because the waters of life brought me. now, i give to and receive from these powerful women the gift of hope, peace, laughter, courage, beauty, creativity and love.

journey with us...as we explore it all

Risi...Kat...Iyabo...IA is/are in the Building!

Greetings Good People!

My name is Risikat "Kat" Okedeyi and I am a proud member of this group that I have affectionately called the Afro Zen Amazon (in my head) for some years. The name came as I watched my sisters flourish around me. We work as "modern-day market women" and use our skills and gifts as part of our destined path of learning. I go by several names and adjectives, but the ones that remain consistent are: Healer, Teacher, Mother and Visionary. Within the "Healer" category, I work with people in need of spiritual guidance and under the moniker of Iya Agba Centering Services. Rituals that engage on the spirit plane, along with the medicinal use of herbs are where my powers lie. As IA, I am able to evoke the folk woman that exists within me, to serve those in need.

I am also known as LiL SoSo Productions, which is an artist management and event planning firm, that allows me to use my holistic approach to life, in the arts. I believe that balance is the single most important thing worth striving for and am constantly on the lookout for ways to engage balance on a daily basis. Most times, I fail, but sometimes I achieve balance and I see a glimpse of what life could be like if things were perfect. As a teacher, I share my experiences in hopes of learning how to do better and as a visionary, I follow spirit which guides my business steps in so many ways.

Finally, I subscribe to a Goddess theology that views women as divine beings who posses the power to initiate and maintain the change they want to see in life. Within the AZA collective, this understanding serves as our foundation. We are not victims and do not allow ourselves to be cast in that light. When you take responsibility for your destiny in partnership with spirit, things have a way of revealing themselves.

All of this being said, I welcome you to our journey and hope that as this blog grows you will find bits and pieces of insight, wisdom, and lessons that you can use and share. In the meantime know that we as the AZA are just messengers on a path of self-discovery and ultimately, so are you.

Take Care

Introduction from Carla

Hi I am Carla L Thorpe writer, motivator, friend, business owner and most importantly an inspiration. I have finally found my passion in life which is to help others with my gifts.
For instance
Bi-monthly Persevere Newsletter that is teaching and inspiring the masses Make It Happen Consulting that is a business consulting firm turning dreams into reality Wedding Coordination service helping brides get and stay sane to the big day

I only hope that what I do assist people to be better than what they use to be. We all deserve only the best.

This collective has shown me my talents, made me want to do better and also helped me understand sisterhood. Things can be good or bad but no matter what we are still connected.

Please share in our experiences, comment and show love to the AZA.