by James Weeks | Jan 7, 2016 | Blog
2016 is here…
And I hope you’re ready to take massive action to achieve your personal and spiritual goals!
There’s no time to lose if you’re serious about making 2016 your best year ever. You’ve got to be laser-focused.
My goal is to complete my book by end of year. It’s called “Meditations Across The River: African-inspired Wisdom for Life’s Journey.” And I’m also working diligently on my film.
I only have 15 seconds for foolishness in my day…
What about you? What are you working on? What sacrifices are you willing to make? Do you have a good mentor to show you the way and to help keep you accountable?
Do you have a good diet? A daily spiritual routine? Are you getting adequate rest? Are you open to opportunities the ancestors are sending your way?
How are you feeling? Mostly positive or mostly negative? So So?
These are important questions. Feel free to answer them and send me your response. I would love to hear what’s on your agenda for 2016. I’ll help to keep you on track.
Here’s what I know for sure! Most people give up way too soon, sometimes when they’re on the brink of success, when the door of opportunity is about to swing wide open.
Sometimes all that’s needed is one more phone call, knocking on one more door, sending one more email, writing one more poem, taking one more class, taking one more chance.
Give yourself time to succeed in 2016! No looking back! No more excuses!
Blessings
P.S. Don’t forget to reply to this email to share your dreams for 2016.
James Weeks
Producer, Across The King’s River
P.S.
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by James Weeks | Dec 18, 2015 | Blog
We gave thanks for our blessings! That’s what we did as we gathered for dinner on Thanksgiving. Of course one should give thanks every day. But let’s face it, on some days we give thanks more than other days.
My wife, Stephanie, led the prayer by acknowledging my brother-in law, Hashim. He’s no longer with us. But he had dinner with us last Thanksgiving. About two months ago, he lost a harrowing, battle with leukemia.
I was in my office writing when Stephanie broke the news to me one sunny, Friday morning. We hugged. They were good friends.
This photograph was taken in 2003 on Hashim and Joan’s wedding day. He’s wearing the hat; that’s my sister, Joan, in the middle. I’m on the right and Stephanie is the woman with dreads on the left.
We still feel Hashim’s spirit around us. Handsome man! I still hear the deep laughter, I see the smile. His illness and death reminded me how quickly life can change from one moment to the next. We were deeply affected by Hashim’s untimely passing. It will take time to heal; it always does.
As we prayed before our Thanksgiving meal, we gave thanks to other ancestors as well. The “hidden ones” as they say in South Africa. “The shining ones.”
I share this with you with the prayer that you might remember your loved ones in Spirit and with the prayer that you will find something or someone to celebrate with and to be thankful for today.
Every minute counts…
I also share this with the prayer that you will make the most of your life. As a spiritual counselor I often witness how close people come to making powerful changes in their lives but fail to follow through.
Many folks ALMOST make important changes but don’t. They ALMOST make the right decisions but don’t. They ALMOST take that leap of faith but don’t. They ALMOST reach out to someone they love but don’t. They ALMOST leave a legacy but don’t. They ALMOST write a book but they don’t. They ALMOST pursue their dreams but don’t. They ALMOST make a commitment to improve their finances but don’t. They ALMOST let go of anger but don’t.
Don’t ALMOST live your best life. Live it!
And live it with style and with courage and with gratitude and with thanks!
Every second counts…
James Weeks
Producer, Across The King’s River
P.S. Be sure to sign up for my monthly inspirational newsletter below.
by James Weeks | Dec 14, 2015 | Blog
Myles is here…
His birth is one of the miracles of 2015, and he’s teaching me faith and courage and perseverance.
His Mom, Letitia, says “nothing is too hard or impossible to achieve when you’re walking in your destiny. When you follow the voice of God and guidance from the ancestors, everything that is meant for you will come to you at the right time.”
Letitia is a friend as well as client. I first met Letitia and her husband, Derek, back in January when I traveled to their home in Baltimore to perform a spiritual ceremony that helps one connect with the orisa of wisdom, Ifa. She received her “Hand of Ifa.”
Sacred Ifa Kernels
The birth of Myles is miraculous for many reasons: 1. Letitia had been unable to conceive for 13 years. 2. She became pregnant the weekend of the ceremony. 3. Because of her age, 41, she was a high risk for miscarriage and other complications.
The statistics were daunting: the fertility rate at age 40 is 5%. Chances of having a baby with genetic or chromosome abnormality like Down Syndrome, 1 in 38. Chance of miscarriage, 33%.
Going through with the pregnancy was also difficult for another reason: Letitia had lost a baby girl before and the memory of her death haunted her during the pregnancy with Myles. “I had periods of doubt and fear of losing him,” she says. “The odds were never in our favor and I would question the strength of my faith. There were times when I felt foolish or naive to have faith and ignore all logic. I was in a battle with myself.”
Both Letitia and I believe the pregnancy was a gift from the ancestors; we’re convinced that there’s a link between the ceremony and her conception. During a reading she had two years ago, the Ifa oracle spoke of a child waiting to be born.
“I didn’t believe it at the time,” she recalls. “There were some things I had to do to receive my blessings, including picking a spiritual path. The ceremony put me on track with my destiny.”
Because of the high risk, my elders in Nigeria got involved and provided crucial ritual and spiritual support during key phases of the pregnancy. Letitia and I communicated almost every day during the nine month period.
There were many scares: like the time Letitia started bleeding heavily at the eight- week mark. Then, in the fourth month, doctors performed a procedure to stitch her cervix because she was in danger of losing the pregnancy.
For me, the biggest scare came a few days after his birth when I got a call from Letitia early one morning. “I’m scared,” she confessed. Myles had an abnormal heart rhythm. His heart was beating too fast, and he had to be rushed to a more advanced intensive care unit.
After that call, I got on the phone with my elders and they began working with the orisas and a team of senior priests around the clock to save his life. Meanwhile, at the NICU unit of the John Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore, a team of doctors worked to stabilize Myles.
That was three months ago…
I have good news to report. Letitia says Myles weighs a chunky 12 lbs right now. Developmentally, doctors say Myles is right were he’s supposed to be. Perhaps even a bit advanced. Letitia says he rolled over by himself the other day.
“I’m so in love with him,” she says. “I have a greater appreciation for life and the delicate process of creation. It’s something we can’t take for granted.”
I agree with Letitia…
We can’t take life for granted. One of my elders who led the ritual work on Myles recently passed. One soul arrives, another soul returns to the ancestors. We thank Baba for his love and expertise in helping bring Myles safely to us.
Aseda, one of the late Ifa priests of Nigeria
I share the story to bring you inspiration. The human spirit always needs one more compelling reason to believe again and to love again. One more reason might be all YOU need to turn your life around for once and for all.
No one can claim miracles don’t happen. They happen all the time. Remember this truth in your moment of darkness, when it feels that the forces of life have risen up against you.
A miracle could be right around the corner. Your miracle! But you might never discover it if you give up too soon, or if you allow fear, laziness or the clouds of negativity to block your dreams (and your blessings).
This is no time to quit. This is no time for excuses. It’s time for faith and it’s time to get back in the fight.
Myles is a fighter!
May we all learn something from him…
Letitia wrote me on FB the other day. “Myles just looked up at me in the middle of nursing and gave me the biggest, most sincere smile ever. And my heart just melted.”
Letitia and Myles
James Weeks
Producer, Across The King’s River
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by James Weeks | Nov 3, 2015 | Blog
If there’s no peace in within, you’ll drift off course…
And you might end up pursuing the wrong things, or the wrong people, or the wrong dreams!
So important to get back on course! So important to find that center of peace within. So important to understand that there’s no need for outside validation.
I’ve been thinking about inner peace a lot lately…
And that’s because I decided to step away from folks who are not healthy for me.
It wasn’t an overnight decision, and I can’t say it was an easy decision.
But it was the right decision, and I’m happy.
As you examine your life and those in your circle, ask yourself.
1. Do you feel energized after interacting with them?
2. Do you feel empowered after interacting with them?
3. Do you feel inspired after interacting with them?
4. Do you feel respected while interacting with them?
If the answers to most of these questions are NO, or if you notice a pattern of feelilng drained or depressed after interacting with certain people, it might be time to step away.
Your Spirit will thank you for it! You’ll be happy for it!
James Weeks
Producer, Across The King’s River
www.acrossthekingsriver.com
by James Weeks | Jul 12, 2015 | Blog
“We all know when we are not following our calling,” says the late Zulu healer P.H. Mntshali.
P.H. Mtshali
“We are unhappy,” he says. “It’s as simple as that. We are restless. We do not like the people we work with. We do not like our work.”
“We must move on. This work, these people. It is not their fault. We are in the wrong place. It’s so important to take responsibility for our own healing.”
I love P.H. Mntshali; he was an amazing man!
Mntshali was one of several African healers featured in the book, “Called to Heal: African Shamanic Healers.”
Great book! Love it!
But back to what Mntshali is saying.
Are you in the wrong place? If so, what are you going to do about it?
If you’re in the wrong place I totally get it. I was in the wrong place at my last job in Corporate America.
I ended up leaving that job to work on my calling as a filmmaker and spiritual counselor.
Though my path is not easy, I’ve learned that things have a way of working out for you once you listen to your heart and the guidance from your ancestors.
Sure, it’s tough sometimes, but somehow, my ancestors provide for me month after month; I am here to tell you that your ancestors can provide for you too.
But you’ve got to develop the courage to step out on faith…
And you must have patience and discipline and a strong work ethic.
The support from the unseen world can be amazing at times!
Here’s how Mntshali describes the magic…
“As for financial security, it all depends on how you obey orders. If you obey exactly as the ancestors direct, your practice, your life, will not fail,” he says.
“The ancestors will provide. At first you may worry. How will you pay your bills? The children’s school fees? Then you become so caught up in your calling, your true work, your love for it grows.”
“Soon you are only serving and not worrying so much about the bills. When you need it most, money or goods arrive. Your calling is God’s work. God does not call us then leave us to drown in hardship,” says Mntshali.
The day you stop doubting the guidance of your ancestors is the day your life will start to improve dramatically.
I’ve got to run, but I would love to hear what you think, so feel free to leave a comment.
Also, if you’ve enjoyed reading this article, then sign up for my inspirational newsletters at the link below.
Blessings
James Weeks
Producer, Across The King’s River
