SURVIVAH

FROM MY HEART TO YOURS

The Inspiration for writing this particular piece, came from so many sources. I have a heart for all people, but "Superwomen" and those who desire to move mountains are close to my heart.

Lately I've been doing quite a bit of reading about many of the great women who because of their actions, changed the course of history and helped to birth many of the freedoms that we some times take for granted. Anyway, I will share about the beautiful things that I've found, in a later piece!

There are things in this life that you will never understand, even if you tried to, and there are things that you will see and hear that you will not be able to identify and label, but be not dismayed, as you will GET every morsel of wisdom and knowledge meant for you, if you are willing to receive it. Pay attention. YMC

Morning Has Broken
As I stood my tallest and faced the biggest storm in my life, I looked around and saw life's dew, giving away to diamond dust. In this case it wasn't a matter of perception, because the sky was decorated with clear diamonds that became crushed by my own hands as I reached for the stars. As I was removing my cape, I noticed that it was torn in 7 places, I removed it slowly and began to mend the holes, with my special "thread of mercy". I hung it up, and opened my wings, so that they could breathe, rest and dry, as I've been gliding through some storms today. (get that somebody!)



The Still of the Night

I'm sitting at my computer and as always my home is quiet. I just turned off the evening news and turned on a CD that I made that included songs by Yolanda Adams, Beethoven, Diane Reeves, Fred Hammond, Craig David, Juanita Bynum, Will Downing, India.Arie, Raul Midion & Robin Thicke. This is a tranquil but mysterious moment, as I really need to be sleeping, but somethings pulling on my soul...I'm retreating tonight, as all that I've used, desires to be MINISTERED TO, SO THAT I CAN BE REPLENISHED.



I decided to go and sit on my favorite couch - right there on the left, to elevate my feet and lay my head back. As I began to exhale, tears began to roll back into my locks and I said "Oh Father"! I feel like I've been going and going non stop for months and this is the first time I've taken a minute. Last week was full of lessons, thank yous, major decisions, interesting news, so on and so forth. I can't say that its been easy, but one thing that was impressed upon me, is how important what you do while you're here is. So I began to write and this is what was on my heart...



an excerpt from


Shacklespear

Could it be that too many centuries have gone past where

we've been laid to rest and forgotten

because life was moving fast

and there was too much busy nothing to do

and all chaos is waiting still, for the arrival of today

hiding and disguising your present from you

Our songs...those sweet songs are no longer sung

because they choose not to fathom our melodies

when days are sweet and full

and the soul of the aromas that would fill the Domestic Kingdoms

with rich goodness, creating a hunger and thirst within their reasons to

LIVE

If we were taller than Tuesdays then they'd chisel our names in the black top,

beyond the back where they shrine the have nots

leading to the big houses where, those that pay to be remembered gather

Sometimes I think that they too would remember me, but now, it only seems that the present's value is the key...

It's been a long road, and the shackles, crowns and spears lay here, some buried by fear of colored discovery

Some make moral deals with the adversary

willfully, because they believe in the will of their own strategies

Average beings aspiring to obtain meaning

only to find their shine, beyond the lines in due time

then our next generations ask, is freedom davyine or

truly mine

like wine, its aged and caged

then recycled and relayed past the concious...

Yahminah McIntosh Copyright 2009

The Heart of a Queen

We rise early in the morning, to see our children off, take care of our family's, run our businesses, cook, clean, work, mentor, nurture, build, etc...We are destined by nature to COMFORT CREATION and assist in all of its pulchritude. We are those that stand behind, next to, in front of and beside GREAT PEOPLE. We are the pillars of communities, teachers, scholars, advisors, soldiers, writers, educators, presidents, ministers, entrepreneurs, poets, storytellers, etc... We were built to succeed, endure, conquer, live, stand and carry the weight of our own visions. We are healers, strengthened by the wisdom of our own experiences. We are strategists, masters, leaders, intercessors, warriors, nurturers. We are those that paint pictures of beautiful countries for the blind to see...






Wo'Man

The strength of a woman is true and proven; It can not be touched, duplicated or denied. We were all created with specific, distinctive and marvelous attributes. We are very different, as no two roses grow exactly the same. We possess spiritual pieces that strengthen our drives. We were created equal, and are commissioned to uplift the world and destined for greatness. We are a mighty breed, like the aged wines consumed by the disciples at the last supper. We have exclusive rights to the Throne of God, and have been called Queen by the Matured Kings. We are Lifted...
Fine Wine
You'll always find a queen circling her throne after a storm, she wastes no time on damage done, but instead uses her time wisely to prepare for the the rage of the storms to come. She has imperfect balance, but a willingness to achieve a healthy equilibrium for survival. She respects mother nature, but is aroused by her own opinions. She has a pure and Innocent sense of reality, and is humored by the enemy's ability to make a fool of himself. She is the most confident and sees, feels and hears praise, even when rocks are thrown, and bitter lies are spoken. She is a Queen...They will be the ones sharpening their swords, polishing their shoes and bronzing their shackles for good luck. They are crowned and validated by their own sense of moral.


Loosed!

*To every woman who has ever walked away and hidden at the end of her day, without any one to check on her

*To those sistahs on lock down who didn't do it, and those women incarcerated who sincerely didn't mean to do it

*To every woman who feels alone, and that no one cares about you

*To all women who have been lied on, cheated on, talked about, mistreated, used, scorned, cursed, hurt, dissed because of your size, lied to, mislead, lost a child or loved one, survived illness, lost good friends over money, been molested, been raped, been mentally, psychologically, emotionally and physically abused.

*To those mothers who desire to be better, but don't know how

*To those women that believe that THIS IS IT and that the best will never come to them

*To those women who have given up on themselves and God

*To the women who live in places where no one cares about whether they live or die

*To those women who are afraid to be and ashamed of who you are, because of who you love

*To women who can't hold their heads up or excel because they are anchored by their own baggage

*To all of the daughters that lives have been affected by their broken relationships with their mothers

*To the sisters who can't heal or feel

*To the women who choose to mend their brokenness with promiscuity

*To the black sheep and out casts, who think they will never fit or be accepted

*To the women who have tasted the bitterness of continuous disappointment

*To every woman, across the land that is afraid to love and be loved

I send a Promise to you...

SURVIVAH

To all women who have survived, the bite of fate's nemesis and endured the most difficult storms simultaneously in this life. I proffer my "herstory" as a manifestation of my commitment to UPLIFT AND ELEVATE YOU. I applaud you for deciding to live another day. This is my ODE TO YOU. I care, I understand and I know your stories even though I've never heard them. I intercede for all of you, even though I don't know your name or your location, but I KNOW YOU STILL, FOR WE ARE JOINED AT THE SPIRITUAL HIP. I send prayers and love in the currents of the breeze, that flow from the hills where our help rests.

My Dearest PHAMLI,

One thing that I continue to hear in my soul, is LET THE HEALING BEGIN! The way that we as women were built is Amazing. I like to call us Awesome Wonders, because of how we manage our lives. Although we are imperfect, we are still here. I give honor to the brothers as we can't forget that God made them too; however, I am talking about my sisters. I am grateful that you took the time to read this piece. I ask that you send it to a woman or women who might need encouragement or a pick me up, as we are all in this life together.

If you never hear sweet words, and if no one ever tells you how much you are appreciated or that you are important. I want you to know that:

YOU MATTER, YOU ARE IMPORTANT AND ON YOUR BEST DAY YOUR STARS SHINE BRIGHT FOR ALL TO SEE, YOUR WOUNDS CAN HEAL, YOU CAN FORGIVE, YOU DESERVE TO BE LOVED, YOU ARE BLESSED AND HIGHLY FAVORED NO MATTER WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE OR HOW YOU FEEL, THINGS WILL WORK OUT IN YOUR FAVOR IF YOU BELIEVE AND HAVE FAITH, KEEP YOUR HEAD UP AND STAY POSITIVE.

an excerpt from "SURVIVAH"

...They gathered on the foot printed beaches of Deborah's Cove, all carrying their scarves given to them by the guest of honor. Many were weeping and shedding tears, of joy and some silent, but moving swiftly still in place.

There stood 70 angels singing joyfully mesmerizing the attendees with their gifts of worship, their praise, seemed fit for battle and their garments long and touched with a hint of burgundy. The tides were low, though there were rumors of the waring of the seasons on this day.

The clear sky showed the heart of creation forming yet again on this new day, no rain and a perfect breeze. The aroma of Hyacinth and beautiful wines filled the air, and as everyone was instructed to stand, in walked the one that they all had known. She needed no introduction for this day was destined to come, she smiled and reached out both of her hands to touch them all with love. As she moved forward she bid them farewell with a nod of approval and blew her last kiss in the wind. This is a piece of her story...

...She walked through the streets smiling and speaking words of life to every living thing and she lead the broken to the living waters, welled by the streams of grace.

she showed them all to the place where words that were pregnant with promise were awaiting the birth of their fruit

She helped the crutched, the hateful, the hopeless, the prejudice, the sick, the hurting, the faithless, the oppressed. and the possessed, find restoration
She gave the insecure a reason to love themselves and the outcasts a prodigal son's welcome

She searched the earth and left no rock unturned rendering hugs, and smiles and encouragement to the needy
She flew high and wrote words of wisdom in the sky for all to see
She was feared by the adversary because of her strategy
and praised after every battle on unblocked stages for everyone see her victory
She brought the children to a place where they could feel love
and the addicted, she journeyed them across waters, along side the son
She taught faith through her actions
and showed mercy by the acceptance of her own grace
and at the end of her days

She walked up stairs with a broken wing
limping as she cleared her own tears from the pain that she too carried in her heart
She blotted the blood from her brow that saw many stones
thrown from those who didn't understand her purpose
she wet the pallet of her lip from the last drops of water left in her flask
that she carried with her throughout time

As she was reaching the top of the stairs and approaching her seat at the right hand
she mouthed, I'm tired and ready to be seated
and when she stood at the top, before she placed her wings to rest
she heard the calls of those that needed her still and turned around
and began walking down the steps to show love to the world again
...

UNTIL NEXT TIME

NAMASTE'

Yahminah McIntosh

Hold On

...The things that we sometimes hear and see in our sleep are clear reflections of what are happening in the present, some of which we know and many of which we don't know; However, many of the dreams that we experience during restless nights are mere deflections of the fears that we hold close to our hearts...YMC Fear not, be patient, aspire to overcome, for all that you now intuitively know, is more than you yourself believed that you could understand before this time. Think positive, be lifted, be uplifted and be encouraged, for in this day, you shall be set free by a much needed peace, indeed.

YMC

RestPHULL

I opened my eyes, because for some reason this night seemed longer than the last. I just looked over at my favorite alarm clock. and it said 12:43 A.M., and when I closed my eyes and opened them again, the clock said 12:51 a.m.. Wow, time seemed to have slowed down, not that I was in any rush for the morning to come, because no wet eyes here! I got out of bed and tip toed to my computer, I grabbed my remote and turned on my stereo, hit shuffle and and by the luck of the draw, guess what started playing? Jennifer Hudson singing "I've Changed", An interesting choice for this early morning mini retreat. As always, I began analyzing the moment, and allowed my self to enjoy the thought of the fact that I have changed. It was dark and the light of the moon was bouncing off of my tumbler filled with green tea.

An Open Eye

The next song that began to play had me grooving, but in a different way, Wilson Phillips' song Hold On! This is one of the many songs that are near and dear to my heart. I began to assess my recent experiences as well as my writings, and saw the story that I never thought I'd live to tell, begin to take PHORM!. So I thanked God for another moment and began to write!

I am grateful for this "STILLNESS' tonight, because it's mine. I feel most open right now as I think that I am getting through the most difficult stages of this GROWING THING. When the rest of this day unfolds, I am sure that it will be most exciting and interesting. I'm sure I'll greet my loved ones with a Huge Smile, enjoy their presence and go on with my day. Always make sure that the people you love and that love you know how you feel, because if tomorrow never comes, will they ever know?

Declaration

I must declare that there are just some things that I am finding to be most interesting, like How God is dealing with me, the things that I now see that I never saw, the things that I hear that I never heard, and all that I am becoming, that I never thought I could become. So many cliche's, but they are true. It's like when you have a new born baby and they wake up in the middle of the night, to be held, rocked or to feed on the good sweet breast milk. Anyway, that's just me and my metaphoric analogies!

2nd... Chances

Have you ever wondered what your life would be like if you wouldn't have...? Well I have, and that's a dangerous place to be, because it's not like we are "Benjamin Button" and we live our lives backwards! We must be intentional about going forward into Good Places, and set our affections on the Greater Good. The way that I resolve my thinking in this area is to think of what I can do differently moving forward. Every area of our lives, can stand to be tweaked and that's the beauty of it all. Remember that you always have a chance to MAKE BETTER CHOICES AND DECISIONS. What I have found is that when you take chances on taking the granted opportunities to Do Better, you miss out of A CHANCE OF A LIFE TIME.

Remember, that No matter what you experience, your endurance and resilience is paramount to who you ARE BECOMING.

Blessings to PHAMLI,

This is what was on my heart, early this morning! As always things come to me in pieces, and I'm good with that. I express it, how I see it. I send out prayers and positive vibrations to all who will receive it. Keep your Heads Up, Stay Positive and Keep it Moving. Once you find yourself, never lose yourself. Grab hold to what you know to be beautiful, positive and true and TAKE OWNERSHIP OF IT. I pray for your families, jobs, health and relationships and businesses, that you prosper fully beyond your most wildest dreams. May you experience Good Love and Pure Joy.

Until Next Time

Yahminah McIntosh

...an excerpt from

HOLDING ON

One day some thing is going to happen in your life that will

tear you up, break you down and make you cry

don't let it hold you down, and waste time chasing your tail,

asking yourself the reason why

Just know that, from this you'll heal and grow

and things will change, and things will go your way

IF YOU JUST HOLD ON FOR 1 MORE DAY, EVERYTHING WILL BE OK.

...

Yahminah McIntosh Copyright 2009

Freedom

Reflection

It is most interesting how time comes to a close, its always the same routine, morning, afternoon, evening and night. We get up, we work, we get home we go to bed. Well in the course of our routines we have to make a conscious effort to make time to pay attention to ourselves, our loved ones and our lives. Reflection is Key in Survival, because nothing can be accomplished and stick, if you never know what's going on in your life.

The Plan

Take a moment to reflect on your life. Put aside everything else that distracts you from thinking clearly and sit down, relax and write down your goals visions and aspirations that you have. Make them all plain and be realistic about each and every one of them.

This is a personal self evaluation that we all must do, as we take an assessment of ourselves. I believe it will help make clear the direction in our lives that we are going. Create your own personal life plan. If you have a significant other, partner or "SO" share your plan with them and seek to have a fruitful discussion. I believe that we should always be open to share our dreams, goals and aspirations with those that are at our sides, because its important to be on one accord. Remember you can conquer nothing divided but on one accord you can change your world ;).

Make your life plan as simple as you want but completely full of what you desire, don't complicate it with your own insecurities. I don't believe in making New Year Resolutions but New Day Resolutions, because you only own the moments and minutes in time where you stand.

LIFE

I believe that we all desire to be happy, be filled with joy and problem free; However, the reality of that is, that life is only what you make it, and because we are imperfect people, we will sometimes sow imperfect actions that get not so desirable results. Take time this week to think about where you want to see yourself in 1 year from today and how you will get there. The idea is to always get better and not to regress.

Potential with hard work births Maturity and Fruit. Maturity Births Wisdom, and coupled together they will both have great results.

Think about what areas you need to improve in?

How will you go about improving these areas?

What are your short term goals for the upcoming year?

What will you be more intentional about?

How will you make time to rest your mind?

What distractions will you eliminate and what things do you need to remove out of your life so that you may function more efficiently?

Think about how you can become a better steward of your finances, the material and effectual possessions that you have?

This piece is short but meaningful, and carries a message to all that every day is precious and even though we may encounter things that may hinder growth in areas that we need to grow in, progress does not ever have to be stopped. I pray for freedom of the mind to all and that you all embrace the opportunity to live your fullest life, no matter what you go through, what you've done and what the journey lies ahead looks like. Remember, it ain't over until its over, and when the Fat lady begins to sing, hope

she's on key because her tunes stop nothing!

My Dearest PHAMLI,

As always I encourage you to take time out for YOU today. I can not impress upon you how important every single moment of your life is. Although this thought can be pressure filled it shouldn't, it should be more of an encouragement for us to GET TO WHERE WE NEED TO BE. Live today as if its your last, because no one is ever promised tomorrow. Sow good seeds today in your life in the people that you love, in the universe and all around you and don't be afraid of being your best in this day. Remember that words have wings, and if you believe it, whatever the it is can happen. As many of us are ambitious, driven and hopeful people beginning to look at yourself and fine tuning YOU, is paramount in achieving the great successes that we DESIRE.

Assess your attitude and way of thinking. Are you on a fast track to upward mobility or are you regressing? Growth is Important in your existence and essential to a good and healthy survival in every area of your life. I pray that you are strong enough to look at your life as a blank and exclusive canvas, where only the most cherished colors can be used. My suggestion is to use them, and choose your colors wisely. I wish you well and loads of Prosperity and Joy! I send a wave of Love and Encouragement to all of you TODAY, AND EVERYDAY THAT YOU ARE GRANTED A CHANCE TO BE HERE.

...Miracles are born in an atmosphere of expectancy...YMC

an excerpt

FREE
...No matter what you do in this day
may it yield, desired blessings for you
and may the sun shine through your smile
for darkened souls to see, helping them to get through
may everything you touch flourish
and may you prosper beyond your wildest dreams
and respect your human nature
appreciate your precious and gifted moments here

and may you have unspeakable joy

at your driest times, and be replenished by life's streams
focus on good things
and may your heart be granted
it's deserved requests
and may you be at peace
and embrace tranquility as you rest
and may you have provision for your every need
and at every MOMENT IN THIS DAY FEEL FREE
...INDEED

Yahminah McIntosh Copyright 2009

UNTIL NEXT TIME

BE WELL

NAMASTE'