Hello and welcome.
What does it mean to be a Black woman bringing Black children into the world?
A world that denied their ancestors' rights for decades?
A world that doesn't honor their beautiful and Black bodies?
A world that doesn't recognize or honor their worth?
In today's practice,
You will be guided through deep breathing exercises as you begin to land in a space of hope for your child,
Children,
Or your unborn.
Let's begin.
Opening by finding a position that brings you comfort.
Closing your eyes or,
If you choose to leave them open,
Softening your gaze.
Sending a wave of deep breaths into and throughout your being.
Allowing your breath to drive through the length of your body.
Embracing any points of tension.
Allowing your breath to send you deeper into a state of relaxation in this moment.
Setting down any worries or concerns beside you now.
Allowing them to be released from your being with every exhale for now.
Restoring this time and within this space that you are cultivating for yourself.
Many of us have been taught that we must give our children tough love in order for them to survive in this world.
We must teach them about the injustice that others attach to their bodies.
We must teach them how to react or respond to people who don't value their humanity.
We must teach them about their history and where they come from.
While all of this is true and necessary,
We can teach our children about what it means to be a black child in the world without allowing the world to dictate how we love them or the amount of love we give them.
We can begin to release the narrative of tough love and wrap our children in the deepest love to hold them when they're afraid or when they're upset because no one in this world is going to hold them as closely or love them as fiercely as we do.
Visualizing your child,
Children,
Or your unborn child here.
Bringing them into the space with you.
Choosing to repeat the following words of hope to yourself out loud or simply meditating on them.
To my child,
I hope that the love I give you wraps you in an armor of protection.
Protecting you in a world like the one we live in feels impossible sometimes,
But protecting you is my life's work.
I hope that you hold on to your childhood for as long as you can.
I hope that this world doesn't make you grow up too fast.
I hope that you carry the lessons of life and love and survival that I instill with you on your heart,
But to never let them weigh you down.
Know that all of those lessons that you're gathering from me is one of the ways I know to protect you.
And I hope that you experience love.
A love so big that it makes you feel like you're flying.
Even if it's you who gives that love to yourself.
I hope that you thrive.
I know that you will thrive.
Allowing these words to vibrate throughout your being for a couple of moments.
Taking one last deep breath here.
As you return to the space that you're in,
Returning to your body and returning to yourself.
