Our Identity Crisis "If you don't know who you are, anyone can name you; and if anyone can name you, you will answer to anything" African Proverb If you do not tell the truth about yourself
you cannot tell it about other people.
Virginia Woolf
Many of our people have no earthly clue who they are, and what they are. I find this issue very disconcerting coming from a people who descend from greatness, not to mention, one of the oldest cultures known to mankind.
Some of our women are content to be referred to as "my baby momma," "bitch" and other derogatory terms of today.
We have no problem with calling each other "nigger," validating for those who oppressed us that we are as they say we are.
In cases where there is abuse, children and their mothers will answer to anything the abuser calls them, no matter how bad and degrading to stay safe. This causes injuries to the psyche when nothing positive is there to balance out the negative.
In the Western Orisa, African Spiritualist community, where I have been an initiated Priestess almost 15 years, the identity crisis is evident there as well. Female initiates of Ifa (which I am) are not happy unless they are called "Iyanifa" and feel as if they are equal to male initiates of Ifa, the Babalawo. Iyanifa is a conferred title, which is not common at home, and given to outstanding servants of Ifa who has devoted their lives to Orunmila. You may meet one of these women and never know who they are.
We have other Sistahs so out of touch with reality, they name themselves "goddesses."
What's wrong with us? Do you know who you are? Are you willing to put in the work and time it takes to go within to find your true self? But again I ask, who are you?
Each of us, through either drama or trauma must confront who they are and go within to find their true selves. The search for our identity can be difficult as many of us face unpleasant truths and many more lies about ourselves, and realize labels have been imposed upon us without our permission and have controlled our lives, our souls, the very essence of whom we are. If you don't like who you are, to the degree that you allow others to define you or create an identity that is not the real you, you are not living your best life . . . you are living the life of someone else. If this is happening, you have to confront you. Your past and present circumstances must be carefully examined with a licensed professional. There is no shame in your game to seek help to live your best life. What no longer serves you, or those things you are wrongly renting head space to must go in order for you to heal.
To say to yourself and others that you are a "mind with a body," a "spiritual being," "a part of the great I AM," you are indeed facing an identity crisis and your soul is in need of emergency intervention because you are unaware of your true self. Your soul cries out for the you that decided to come here. Go deep within to find you and work on you.
Know that with the help of our Creator, all things are possible, even finding the you He created, your true, authentic self.
Ase
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