libation for ITANWA ORINWA

i caSATURDAY 7 PM

wouldnt say i nailed it but i did okay, 75 - 80%

forgot a couple of strong lines, forgot to blow my bluesharp but i did okay

dont know how the students felt but the parents gave me some amens, i did okay,

i felt blessed they asked me to participate, some 400 folk or about, mostly family, a good congregation

it made my heart full when they walked in on procession, my legions

took that feeling and just beamed it out on them

sincerity - works every time

all my love

rdoc

SATURDAY 5:00

walking out the door -

okay, heres what im going to do, im going to go out there and just say whatever is in my heart to say

i cant read it, that aint no libation, trust yourself rick

just be sincere, and whatever you come up with - will be okay

rdoc

SATURDAY

after all that hoorah yesterday, today i dont want to do this libation,
who needs the unnecessary anxiety,

been trying to memorize it but it hasnt stuck, if i try to do it right  i will be
hesitant and stumbling and lacking in power

ima have to read it, bummer

zuma is now president of south africa

wouldnt it be a pleasant surprise if he grows into the role and acquits himself well

su mfa alum, adam levin, just cut a deal w/mcsweenys for big doorstopper novel
and a book of shorts - levin on a sungun, 360%

leaving for memphis tomorrow - have to keep my production up

clearly i dont have much to say - im just using up bandwidth

bulled thru that 8 page hump and rather pleased with myself, didnt think i could for a minute there

get past this libation thing and i can get back to work - im too desperate for sidegame

i should have told them no,

all my love

rdoc




FRIDAY

hello world, im supposed to be on my way to the delta but sas, student african society,
the undergrad black org on campus, asked me to do the libation for their itanwa orinwa graduation ceremony, for grads who identify pan african

what could i say, it moves me when the folk acknowledge my presentation of hoodoo as a spiritual tradition
specially my knucklehead black students - truth is id walk thru fire for them

im the faculty advisor for bgsa, the black grad org, but no real connection with the undergrad org
and i was kinda moved they asked me  -

i used to do libation for the caribbean student orgs annual extravaganza but that cohort graduated and moved on,

i kinda miss that ritual connection w/student body -  i like being the resident hoodoo man on campus - so i came on out of the woodshed

long enough to put a little something together for them, for this Work
i think ima use the conch, bluesharp and bells

been trying to get it memorized so i can do it instead of read it,

what will happen is that i will get up there without a cheat sheet and blow it, forget stuff, garble lines, but i will come strong enuf that they dont realize i blew it, that i came in at 60% instead of 100.

what i got to do is stumble through w/confidence, like i know what im doing, on a mission from god

i kinda like what i came up with for them, i might start all my performances in the tradition with some variant of this, do it 100 times or so and i will be ready to move the congregation with it

they didnt really ask me for no pep talk but thats what i do, move the congregation, and i have no intention of doing your cliche libation everybody else do, rickydoc flowers dont play cliche

this work like i think it will ima blow them away, thats the way i roll- shock and awe

(curious note: whenever i read babagriot david walkers quote it makes my eyes water, it fills my heart)

been working the novel real good, slow and torturous but when has it ever been otherwise

all my love

rdoc

----------------------------

ITANWA ORINWA LIBATION    (Conch horn, bluesharp, rattle and bells)

Want to thank you all for coming out, want to thank the parents and congratulate the students.  For we have gathered here
this evening to celebrate your achievement – and to fortify you for the long haul ahead.

I consider it an honor to be asked to libate this evening, for graduates who identify pan African, fellow travelers and keepers of the faith -
for these are trying times, full of challenge and opportunity, and  you and I, we must step up

we achievers, and overachievers, we got to step up, for we have been blessed    and there are certain responsibilities
that come with blessings of this sort      we talking leadership now

we talking commitment and sacrifice, taking care of the people, guide and guardian of the tribal destiny -

babagriot david walkers words as good today as when he said them during the great gitting up morning, "our greatest happiness shall consist of working for the salvation of our whole body. when this is accomplished a burst of glory will shine upon you which will indeed astonish you and the world."

And as you venture forth this evening, on the next step of this great journey, life, carrying with you the hopes and dreams of all the folk whove come before you, I ask for the blessings of the ancestors upon you

and I would like you to help me call down the ancestors this evening, I would like you to call out the names

Of ancestors who have inspired you, family ancestors - Arthur Flowers Sr (come down) tribal ancestors like martin luther king (come down) and harriet tubman (come down)

call the names,  call them,        (come down) the ones who have inspired you, call them      (come down) you there, who would you call        (come down) And you and you and you,       call the names    call the names (bluesharp)   Ida B, walk with me       (come down) 

(hopefully by this time I got them fired up, them calling out ancestors, me chanting come down and blowing bluesharp, I let that play out then go calm on them)

listen o traveler to the geas of rickydoc and i will give you a mission greater than your adversity, i will give you a destiny  -  I ask only that you be the great and glorious people you were meant to be - the illuminated children of the sun - awaken the sleeper, protect the weak, guide the strong

And when the hard times comes, they always do, I want you to hold on you must be strong
Yes, we have come such a long such a long long way   But we still got so very far to go

may you be strong in faith, may your vision be clear, may you
never falter in struggle, may your work serve many generations.

That is all, this spell is done.  Gods blessings on us all
Gods Blessings on us all.

Comments

[Lafreya]

what a beautiful and powerful libation. I love the part about awakening the sleeper, protecting the weak, and guiding the strong.
Glad to hear that the writing on your novel is flowing a little easier.

[arthur flowers]

well thank you lafreya, hope things going well w/yours

summer draft do or die