When the student is ready, the teacher will appear.
My first teacher appeared as a classmate named Pierre at Kearny Mesa High School in San Diego, California. He'd challenge me about eating pork on my pepperoni pizza and drop little nuggets of wisdom that I wasn't ready to understand. My mind hadn't yet expanded beyond what I'd been taught.
Then came the golden age of Hip-Hop in the 1990s. I remember being deeply impacted by the conscious rap community—especially the song "Self Destruction." I was in a trance-like state listening to those lyrics because they touched my soul. I loved how these artists had united to help stop violence in our communities. Hip-Hop prepared me for expanding my consciousness.
From that point, I attracted the teachings of a Master teacher who would forever change how I see myself. I no longer saw myself through society's lens. I understood that the melanin in my skin and the kingly texture of my hair weren't curses—they were blessings.
I went on to encounter other Master teachers who helped me discover that our essence is deeply spiritual, and our soul is who we really are.
These life experiences led me to a profound realization: I am a spiritual being having a beautifully Black experience. I'm experiencing this world as a Black woman, but my essence is so much more.
All of this has shaped me into a confident woman who knows how to navigate this world. The same way I needed this awakening, I know others in my community need to be uplifted too.
This is SoulSeed Apparel.