October 8th: Hands That Remember🤲🏽✨

When I hear the phrase 'of blessed memory,' it doesn't just feel like a formal saying; it resonates deeply within my spirit, echoing the stories carried by my own hands. For me, it's a living truth, a recognition that the wisdom and strength of those who came before me are not just past events, but active forces shaping my present. It's about remembering their contributions, their struggles, and their triumphs, and understanding that their legacy continues to bless my path. I often think about how our hands are truly vessels of this ancestral wisdom. The text I read really hit home when it described hands carrying 'the stories of those who worked the soil, stirred the pot, healed the body and called forth blessing.' It makes me see my own daily tasks in a new light. When I'm cooking, crafting, or even just tending to my home, I feel a connection to a long line of makers and caregivers. It’s as if their spirit guides my movements, transforming ordinary chores into sacred rituals. This understanding has profoundly changed how I approach my everyday life. It’s not just about doing; it’s about *channeling life*, as the insightful text beautifully puts it. My ancestors, in their profound wisdom, understood that acts like cooking, crafting, planting, or washing were, in essence, 'to pray with the body.' This perspective elevates mundane tasks, imbuing them with purpose and remembrance. It reminds me that even in my 'daily labor, there is ritual, there is rhythm, there is remembrance.' To truly honor 'of blessed memory,' I've started incorporating a simple yet powerful practice. Following a prompt I found, before I begin any significant task, I take a moment. I rub my hands together slowly, feeling their warmth and the life force within them. I whisper gratitude for all they carry – not just my own experiences, but the countless generations of hands that labored, created, and loved. Then, I declare, 'Àse flows through me. My hands hold power, memory and meaning. Everything I touch is blessed, because I move with divine purpose.' This affirmation, deeply rooted in the idea that 'Àse ni Qwo – Power lives in the hands,' sets an intention for my work. It's a way of reclaiming my work as sacred, acknowledging that every gesture is a 'quiet conversation between you and the Divine.' This feeling of being connected, of channeling the strength and blessings of my ancestors, brings incredible comfort and a sense of profound purpose. It transforms my efforts into an offering, a continuation of their legacy, ensuring that their memory remains not just blessed, but alive and vibrant within me. It’s about embodying their spirit and allowing it to guide every action, making sure that 'heaven and earth agree with my doing,' as it says in the original message.