PROLOGUE

PROLOGUE.

When I started my first blog in 2010 (which is now this book) I named it “ A Dollar and a Dream”. It was meant to document my decision to move from Virginia to Atlanta to pursue my dreams of having a career in the arts. At the time I started this blog I thought I knew everything I needed to know about finding happiness. I really had no clue. I thought life was about status, vanity, materialism, how much money you had, etc. I was subconsciously basing my self-worth/my value off of the men who loved me... and how they loved me. I was lost (like a lot of us still are). Lost like I am still sometimes. I was trying to “find myself”.
The world does this cruel thing sometimes and makes you doubt yourself. Especially if you find yourself on the outside of the in crowd or your views are different from your peers or the masses. Subsequently you end up just trying to “fit in” with whatever is popular at the time (because being an outcast is no fun). I credit my dad for raising me to question things and to not just “follow the crowd”. He taught me it was okay to be different and to have an opinion... to have a voice. He also taught me about God and how important it is to have something to believe in.
I have always felt “different” but the truth is I am the same as everyone else. I am a human being. Flawed yet Godly. Who I am now I am so proud of. I have worked so hard at her. It has taken a lot of growing pains and trips through darkness to finally recognize my light and my power. It took strength, it took listening, it took tears, loss, it took learning and it took discipline. I have always been the girl I dreamed I could be...even when I was the young girl afraid to speak her truth. We are all already who we dream we can be.
I tend to stay quiet in times when I know I should be speaking out. I have always had trouble articulating my thoughts in a way that others can understand logically. This book gives me an outlet...gives my thoughts an outlet. I hope for Collectible Matter to have 2nd editions

and third editions and become my life’s work. The consciousness journey never ends.
To all the light workers, writers, contributors to my journey, thank you. Thank you! I do not believe in coincidences. The knowledge and readings and writings and people and places that have been placed in my life specifically have been my life coaches over the years. Pay attention to who, where and what makes you THINK. From every book on a random coffee table that I picked up to every conversation at a bar with a stranger that changed the direction of my life and helped me evolve spiritually and mentally and emotionally and physically were all manifested. I hope to have the same effect on people when they read this book. I hope you find knowledge that helps you evolve and pay it forward.
Lastly, I am forever grateful to have such a unique and beautiful soul to call my mom. You are my soul mate. Together we will help save the world. You are my favorite light worker. Mommy, your unwavering belief in me and your support gives me all the strength I need in this crazy world. I love you. Thank you for simply understanding me and my crazy, beautiful mind. Thank YOU all for supporting this book. Peace on earth.

–Maryam Zahra 

BOOK AVAILABLE FOR PURCHASE WWW.LULU.COM/SPOTLIGHT/CHESAPEAKEAVENUE

"COLLECTIBLE MATTER" BOOK !

I am so proud to announce that I have finally completed Collectible Matter ... the book ! All of my most memorable blog posts now in the form of a coffee table book. Available at www.lulu.com/spotlight/chesapeakeavenue !! 

MY OPEN LETTER TO HUMANITY

                                               

AN OPEN LETTER TO HUMANITY written by Maryam Ali

My first thought is that we (the planet) need a reset... a rebalance. Prior to 2012 we had been in transition from the Piscean age (an age dominated by power and hierarchy) to the Aquarian age (the age of information). For the next 2000 years we will be in this Aquarian age. We have the choice to either stay and cling to antiquated outdated values or adopt or adapt to the evolving more conscious and balanced ones. Your subconscious mind can sometimes be an overwhelming collection of negative and limited beliefs that you have adhered to, inherited and/or believed to be true. We (the planet) have to begin to remove the prolonged negative programming that has been done in our subconscious in order to restore it with more positive programming based on the truth. Bad habits are not easy to conquer. The only way to break old habits is by developing newer, healthier habits and practicing those new habits long enough in order for them to become habitual. Our natural instinct as humans has unfortunately become manipulated and fear driven. Violence and negativity is being perpetuated everywhere. The images we are fed constantly (fear based), the information we are given (fear based), all fear driven. In the Aquarian age the information once skewed and held from us will become readily available and no longer hidden for power, control, fear tactics or personal agendas. Your reality up until now has only been a perception. You can change your perception at any moment. Focus on growth, change, happiness, peace and prosperity and not on fear.

A reawakening on this planet starts with individuals being at one (peace) with themselves. The reawakening on this planet has to start with each individual taking personal journeys back toward their true inner being. Know that you can only truly control yourself. As bad as I want to save the world, I know in order to do that I must save myself, first. “There can be no peace, until we find peace within.” I am energy. You are energy. Everything is energy. This book you’re reading, the thoughts you’re having while reading this book, your feelings, your emotions, your physical body are all energy... are all manifestations of energy vibrating at different rates of frequencies/vibrations. We all have a contribution we are offering this planet (conscious of it or not...acting on it or not). Are you sending out positive vibrations?

My second thought: We need a reset... a rebalance...my black community, our black community, our communities, our world, our planet. According to Wikipedia, the definition of value is “the regard that something is held to deserve; the importance, worth, or usefulness of something.” Our personal values tend to co-exist with cultural values and social norms. At some point in history “they” (“they” as in those who are and have been in power; Rothschild Dynasty, The New world order, the slave society, etc), for their own personal agendas placed a nominal value on specific beings/things that were also too created equal: in this specific case the black man and the black livelihood. To this day, a very low nominal value is placed on the lives of a black individual. Black men, black individuals, minorities, people of color, like all things, came from the creator. We were all born of the same energy. What happens to an individual when his identity is lost? They began to act like who they are told to be, who they are told they are ... told by the very oppressors who robbed them of their identity in the first place... for their own personal gain. I read, “People who do not know their identity will fight to assume and keep the false identity forced upon them. And to remember that when we look in the mirror.” There is a very powerful and collective group of humans that have and continue to control this planet with money and power by instilling fear. “They” love and value their money/power > __________. Fill in the bank. They value money/power over the very existence of the planet on which they exist. So what is a black life to them? What is the value of any life to them for that matter, besides their own, if it gets in the way of their money, power or control? The black dollar holds a much higher nominal value to them then the actual life of that very individual. In there own game, in the matrix of money and mathematics is where we can begin to gain balance (in this aspect) and gain an even playing field on thee oppressor’s home turf (money). And of course this is only possible after acquiring the knowledge and consciousness needed so that the re programming of your subconscious can occur.

My third thought: We (as a one), the human race, in order for this reset to occur must unlearn certain false truths, certain negative programming that has been instilled in us, taught to us, potentially carried across generation through DNA. In this new Aquarian age I pray we can do away with the bullshit we have been taught. We are all connected. We all play intricate parts in the grand scheme of the universe. You, my friend reading, are not separate...you are an integral part of it all. Your presence is not in vain. The same water that flows in the ocean runs through your bloodstream. The oxygen that we breathe in is from a mutual relationship we have with the trees outside your house. We both need each other to live. The same vitamins and minerals that make up nature are those your bones are built from. Your own personal piece of the puzzle of where you fit, your purpose, is yours to decide... and you do fit in somewhere...wherever you want. Whether you make the decision to be part of the growth of this planet or decide not to choose a path at all, you’re determining the universes future. Don’t walk around without any intention. I have been wondering a lot lately how my presence would work for change.

All I know is that I can no longer sit silently and hope for things to change...hope for peace... it will only help the planet remain stagnant. Each one of us can be a catalyst. If you are reading this, you are a catalyst, be a source of light. You are already a light worker now you must begin light working. Accept the knowledge is already within you. Keeping your vibe positive will help keep your tribe positive☺Help to re instill and teach what the true meaning of life is: that we are all connected and life is infinite.

In conclusion: We have been taught and fed false truths for centuries. We have to be aware that a lot of concepts we are taught are just that... concepts...not definitive truth. We have universal laws/laws of nature (the law of vibration, the law of attraction, the law of cause and effect, the law of resonance, the law of polarity, the law of growth, and the law of abundance) that are unwavering principles that govern every aspect of the universe in which everything exist. Then we have man made laws/concepts; which are based on dogmatic beliefs, differs based on location, or complied due to fear. Time, for example, is a man made concept and construct. Yes, time...your beloved time. So much of your life revolves around “time”. Does the concept of time benefit us or hurt us? Of course, I can see its benefits (especially on a day to day “in the matrix” level) but my point here is that “time” itself is a false truth that is forced upon the world (like a lot of other false truths) as ultimate truth. Time is a man made construct, do not present it or teach it as universal law. Teach the truth. Share the truth. Everything is matter. Everything is vibrating. Everything in the universe is constantly moving and changing. Change is the only constant in this universe. We are infinite. Continuous. The mandala. As we wake up its difficult to just accept life “how it is” “business as usual.” And believe me I know transformation isn’t painless. Your entire world changes when your consciousness expands. You might “lose” friends who are no longer vibrating on the same frequencies, things that were once of value to you may hold no value to you anymore, certain relationships may change, you will have to go through your dark in order to see your light. In the programmed society we live in, these transformations are almost deemed “crazy” because the truth is that a majority of souls on the planet are sleep and are not light working, so anything out of their ordinary is ridiculed... we are waking them up though, aren’t we? You and I? Ignorance is bliss, it is comfortable and more importantly, safe to some. Consciousness, however, is scary and does not move backwards. Accept change, it’s the only constant. Stay positive and keep your vibes high, nothing can match the vibration of love. I leave you with this: “As with everything in life, you have been given the free will to choose which life path you will follow. It is our sincere hope that whichever choices you make will lead you one step closer to experiencing a life full of love, joy, fulfillment, profound inner peace and limitless prosperity physically, financially, emotionally and spiritually."

I hope this book finds those on the same journey as I or those looking to bring about consciousness on this planet. Peace on earth, friends.

Love always,

Maryam- Zahra Amira Ali 

A natal chart or birth chart is a map of the sky including the positions of the planets for the time that you were born.

BY JESSE WILLIAMS

Peace peace. Thank you, Debra. Thank you, BET. Thank you Nate Parker, Harry and Debbie Allen for participating in that .

Before we get into it, I just want to say I brought my parents out tonight. I just want to thank them for being here, for teaching me to focus on comprehension over career, and that they make sure I learn what the schools were afraid to teach us. And also thank my amazing wife for changing my life.

Now, this award – this is not for me. This is for the real organizers all over the country – the activists, the civil rights attorneys, the struggling parents, the families, the teachers, the students that are realizing that a system built to divide and impoverish and destroy us cannot stand if we do.

It’s kind of basic mathematics – the more we learn about who we are and how we got here, the more we will mobilize.

Now, this is also in particular for the black women in particular who have spent their lifetimes dedicated to nurturing everyone before themselves. We can and will do better for you.

Now, what we’ve been doing is looking at the data and we know that police somehow manage to deescalate, disarm and not kill white people everyday. So what’s going to happen is we are going to have equal rights and justice in our own country or we will restructure their function and ours.

Now… I got more y’all – yesterday would have been young Tamir Rice’s 14th birthday so I don’t want to hear anymore about how far we’ve come when paid public servants can pull a drive-by on 12 year old playing alone in the park in broad daylight, killing him on television and then going home to make a sandwich. Tell Rekia Boyd how it’s so much better than it is to live in 2012 than it is to live in 1612 or 1712. Tell that toEric Garner. Tell that to Sandra Bland. Tell that to Dorian Hunt.

Now the thing is, though, all of us in here getting money – that alone isn’t gonna stop this. Alright, now dedicating our lives, dedicating our lives to getting money just to give it right back for someone’s brand on our body when we spent centuries praying with brands on our bodies, and now we pray to get paid for brands on our bodies.

There has been no war that we have not fought and died on the front lines of. There has been no job we haven’t done. There is no tax they haven’t leveed against us – and we’ve paid all of them. But freedom is somehow always conditional here. “You’re free,” they keep telling us. But she would have been alive if she hadn’t acted so… free.

Now, freedom is always coming in the hereafter, but you know what, though, the hereafter is a hustle. We want it now.

And let’s get a couple things straight, just a little sidenote – the burden of the brutalized is not to comfort the bystander.That’s not our job, alright – stop with all that. If you have a critique for the resistance, for our resistance, then you better have an established record of critique of our oppression. If you have no interest, if you have no interest in equal rights for black people then do not make suggestions to those who do. Sit down.

We’ve been floating this country on credit for centuries, yo, and we’re done watching and waiting while this invention called whiteness uses and abuses us, burying black people out of sight and out of mind while extracting our culture, our dollars, our entertainment like oil – black gold, ghettoizing and demeaning our creations then stealing them, gentrifying our genius and then trying us on like costumes before discarding our bodies like rinds of strange fruit. The thing is though… the thing is that just because we’re magic doesn’t mean we’re not real.

Thank you.

Night after night after night. The fluorescent light. The loud music. The energy of the place. Its so dark in here... its easy to escape. Yet he is trapped there ... he feels trapped here. His own life line. Love doesn't live here, only lust. In this lifestyle there is no room to trust. Everything can be bought. Nothing isn't for sale. His paradise is really his hell. Save him.