The Great Disguise (In Sight)

  The Great Disguise was born in the summer of 2016. I wrote it at a legendary club, home, thinktank in Memphis, The Dizzy Bird (RIP). Ralph had this beat, and I kept asking him to play it again while jotting these lyrics in my notes app. At the time, I was on this kick about how Abrahamic religions exclude women as prophets in religious text. It felt like a personal attack and a reason more women should ask more questions and seek more positions of leadership in organized spiritual spaces. It still does. I believe we’ve grown a lot since 2016 but we have so much more to learn as a society. After reading the essay I wrote along with the song “The Great Disguise” much of what I felt then still rings true today. Check it out and let’s keep the conversation going at home or online.

  I never grew up with an official religion. My Dad’s family is very Christian and my parents left the church when I was 2. My mother is somewhat of a spiritual anthropologist. She studies culture and dives into religious practices as student and teacher. My mother’s relationship with spirituality vs. my father’s family made me question both sides. The times our unit of four prayed together, the greeting to the creator was “Mother, Father”. I recognized early on that this was unique. When we’d pray with my Dad’s family, it was always “Father God”.  It was odd to me that we switched the script in front of family. I felt like we should be more inclusive when praying because my unit was not the only one that questioned if Christianity was the only conduit to deep connection with the Almighty. However, if you grew up in a religious family, it’s disrespectful (not only to God but to the elders) to challenge the family’s chosen (but not really) faith.

 It really stuck out to me that we left off ‘Mother’. It also deepened my appreciation for my parents’ foresight to include Her in prayer. Although in 2016  we know that gender is not as polar as it is performed, it’s still very important that women see examples of ourselves as divine prophets and leaders. Holy texts shape psyche and culture. The lack of feminine exaltation is not only ill informed but it shapes society’s ideas on woman’s place and value. It’s the reason women have to fight for our bodies, minds and souls (AKA sexuality, civil rights and emotions). The guidelines for a respectable woman worthy of love are made by men because according to the Torah, Bible and Qu’Ran, God (the creator of all that is) is a Him. Is it a  trifle to mention that all living things are born from Woman and all human beings that now or ever walked the Earth came from and start as Woman?  All parts are a reflection of the whole. Women have not been cursed as bringers of life. We are blessed. We are to be praised. We are to be thanked. We are to be exalted.

      The Divine Mother asks that we rise. She asks that we acknowledge Her and seek Her council. We must sing to Her, we must pray to Her. We must paint Her and tell our daughters and sons about Her gentle and aggressive love. We must tell our husbands to acknowledge and respect Her. We must tell our mothers and fathers. For we are Her and Her’s.  The goal is not elimination but balance. We need said balance in spiritual, political and historical spaces. This is the key to shifting the narrative and creating normalcy around women in leadership and decision making roles. This is the key to men (and women) having more respect for our bodies and minds There is no better time than now, before Mama Earth shakes us off for being disrespectful.