Today is World Mental Health Day; the clocks are going back this weekend, which means shorter days, and even less sunlight! The short days and grey weather can have an adverse effect on the mental health of people of colour, because the pigment in our skin (known as MELANIN) needs the UV rays of the sun to function properly. When we don’t get enough sunlight we can lack energy, feel lethargic, unmotivated, and suffer from a form of depression known as SAD (Seasonal Affective Disorder), which is caused by a lack of natural sunlight.
We NEED the sun!
Symptoms of SAD can include:
A persistent low mood
Loss of interest or pleasure in normal everyday activities
Irritability
Feelings of despair, guilt and worthlessness
Feeling lethargic (lacking in energy) and sleepy during the day
Going to bed much earlier than normal yet finding it hard to get up in the morning
Comfort eating and gaining weight
The main treatments offered by the NHS are:
Getting as much natural sunlight as possible, exercising regularly and managing your stress levels
Light Therapy – where a special lamp called a light box is used to simulate exposure to sunlight
talking therapies, such cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) or counselling
antidepressant medication such as Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRIs)
Colour Therapy Can Help!
Many of us are mis-diagnosed and prescribed SSRIs (antidepressants), when what we really need is a good dose of sun! I healed myself from SAD using COLOUR THERAPY, which isn’t even mentioned on the NHS website!
In the winter of 2009 I intuitively painted some bright, colourful paintings, and after putting them up around the house, I noticed I wasn’t getting my usual symptoms of wanting to stay in bed with the covers over my head, and not wanting to look outside at the grey sky and buildings, and generally feeling ‘under the weather’. The symptoms vanished! You can download my Art and save them to your phone or print them and put them up so you can benefit from the Colour Therapy in them too!
Come Top Up Your Melanin in the Gambia!
I’m now setting up a Retreat Home in the Gambia where I’ll be spending my winters, and you can join me there for The Self Love Retreat, an affordable holiday where you can enjoy Self nurturing workshops, cultural day trips, and a Pamper Day at the luxurious Coco Ocean Hotel and Spa!
This holiday will give you the opportunity to top up your melanin to see you through the rest of the winter, and to reconnect with your Motherland. I’ll be teaching Colour Therapy as one of the workshops, and you’ll return home with something you’ve created that you can refer to whenever you need a pick-me-up, click on the flyer above ☝🏾for details!
Heal Yourself in More Ways than One as You Read…
Order your LIMITED EDITION signed paperback of my Self-help novel Journey of a Sister, which features 9 of my paintings in colour, so you can curl up in bed and benefit from the Colour Therapy in them while you read! Pay just £14.99 which includes FREE shipping worldwide! Click here to pay using PayPal
Click on the flyer above to read Year One FREE! If you’re in the UK and you’re free this Sunday, join me for my last event before I return to the Gambia!
“Learning to re-connect with and nurture our inner child is one of the best gifts we can give ourselves in adulthood” ~ Cezanne
Join me in the Gambia for 7 days of nurturing your Inner Child!
‘All children are artists, the problem is how to remain one when we grow up’ ~ Pablo Picasso
We were all naturally creative as children, but somewhere between childhood and adulthood some of us ‘lose it’.
Is your inner child crying out to be heard?
I was a blocked writer and artist for over 15 years; on this Retreat, I’ll take you through the same processes I went through to unblock, based on the book I credit with helping me to unblock, ‘The Artist’s Way’ by Julia Cameron. The workshops are playful, nurturing, and designed to coax your inner child from out of the dark recesses of your mind, so that you can reconnect with your natural creativity. You will return home with something you created, and the tools to keep your creative juices flowing!
All materials will be provided, and I will always be on hand to guide you through this process.
I will also be teaching the benefits of Colour Therapy more indepth (I do an introductory workshop on The Self Love Retreat). I healed myself from Seasonal Affective Disorder (a form of depression caused by lack of natural sunlight) with the colours in my paintings. You will return home with something you’ve created using colours that will help you on your own Self-healing journey!
Leading up to the Retreat, I’ll give you two easy exercises that will help prepare you; your Morning Pages, and your weekly ‘Artist’s Dates‘. These will help you begin the process of nurturing your inner child! They are based on the book that helped me to unblock, ‘The Artist’s Way’ by Julia Cameron.
The ‘Nurture Your Inner Child‘ Retreat will held at my newly built 6 bed Retreat Home in Gunjur, which is 10 mins walk to the beach.
The total cost of the ‘Nurture Your Inner Child’ Retreat is only £599 per person (based on two sharing) which includes:
Airport transfers
Accommodation
Breakfast & Dinner
5 Self nurturing workshops
All materials, including paints/brushes
Artist’s Date to feed your inner child IMAGES!
(N.B. Flights must be booked separately). There are only 8 PLACES (max) available to ensure you receive individual attention, book early to avoid disappointment!
Download the >> Booking Form <<, complete it and return to me by email asap
Secure your place with a £100 deposit and flexible monthly payments thereafter
If you have any queries, fill in the Contact Form:
*Full payment must be made a month prior to travel*
This is a mixed holiday (men and women), you can also join me on The Self Love Retreator the“Let’s Build a Village” Retreat (if you like the idea of living in the Motherland in a village commUNITY)
When I returned from my first trip to the Gambia in March, I did a Presentation to encourage my people to buy land together to build a commUNITY village; this was based upon a premonition I’d had in 2015, that in 5 years time (2020) my people would be fleeing England and America; I thought “they’re going to need somewhere to run to!”
The opportunity arose for me to facilitate The Self Love Retreat in the Gambia between December 2017 and March 2018. In between Retreats, I came across some beautiful land right by the sea, which fulfilled my vision of having a Retreat Home overlooking the sea, and a commUNITY Village. Here’s part of my talk:
Unfortunately, the day after my Presentation I was told that the land I had my heart set on can only be purchased on a 99 year lease! This is okay for the Retreat Home I plan to build, but for the Village, we need something we can pass down to future generations.
So I returned to the Gambia in May, and after a 3 day fast (no food just water), the perfect piece of land came to me 200 x 200 metres, just outside the government-owned TDA (Tourist Development Area), within walking distance of the sea and a newly built 6-bed Retreat Home which I was able to rent! This is a huge step towards my work to help us heal from the psychological effects of slavery and colonialism!
“You cannot heal in the same place that made you sick”
I wanted to create a safe space for us to heal, away from western ideologies. Read on to learn why…
During the process of “breaking them in”, our enslaved ancestors were subjected to intense physical and psychological trauma, and we, their descendants, have been carrying this trauma in our our genetic coding, passed down from one generation to the next. To fully comprehend the dysfunction within our community today, we need to get to the ROOT CAUSE of our issues, that is, we need to look at the CAUSE, not the effect, and the cause is buried deep in our subconscious minds.
In my Presentation, I explained that while the government has no problem with people drinking and smoking themselves to death (not to mention the amount of people addicted to white sugar, and the diseases it causes), they have BANNED medicinal plants that grow out of the ground, which are crucial to our healing.
I was in the Gambia when The Black Panther came out, and couldn’t wait to see it when I got back. The parts that got my interest the most, were when they gave T’Challa and Killmonger plant medicines and buried them in order for them to visit their ancestors. The burying was symbolic of them going deep into their subconscious.
And in the film ‘Get Out’, the ‘sunken place’ is his subconscious mind.
Last year, I had reached a point in my Self-healing journey were I didn’t know what else to do to heal myself. I asked my ancestors ‘What now?’
Not long after, I met a woman who facilitated my first experience with cannabis oil; after we fried some plantain in it, I slipped into a ‘trance’ state for around 8-10 hours, during which time I was receiving a spiritual download, which seemed to be affecting my past, present and future. From my personal studies, I discovered that time isn’t linear, it’s all happening at the same time.
On another occasion, I took ‘magic’ mushrooms, which took me on a deep inner journey through my ancestry. They showed me how the trauma my ancestors had suffered altered their DNA structure. The message I got from the ‘trip’ was ‘DNA REPAIR’.
When WE heal, we’re not only healing ourselves, we’re healing our ancestors, and future generations.
Our ancestral mothers are on hand to help us with this process; some of the methods are unconventional; most of these plant medicines have been made illegal, but I walk in the footsteps of my ancestors who have gone before me, who have paved the way for the work I’m called to do now. These are plants Mother Nature has provided for our healing. Are you truly ready to heal?
My own Self-healing journey has been like peeling away onion layers; every time I unpeeled one layer (e.g. religion) there was something else underneath I had to deal with. The Positive Affirmations worked for some things, but not others. For instance, they worked really well to help me build confidence and self esteem, which helped me to unblock as a writer and artist, but there were other blocks that I just couldn’t seem to shift. I asked my Higher Self to reveal what I needed, which is when I came to the realization that some of the blocks were buried so deep in my subconscious, I couldn’t get to them on a conscious level; I had to go into an altered state of consciousness to reach them.
Meditation helped to quiet my mind and control my negative thinking patterns, which also helped me heal from depression. I focused on thinking positively and keeping myself in a ‘positive state of bliss’. Yet none of these things seemed to get to the ROOT CAUSE of my issues.
If we don’t heal from the trauma of our past, it will keep coming back to haunt our present and future.
“As I heal myself, I heal others”
If you have suffered childhood trauma, abuse, ancestral trauma, and know that you have been psychologically affected, this is for you. My work is about helping us heal so that we can move on to form better relationships with our Self, our partner, to rebuild our family structures, and our commUNITY.
I wrote this poem the morning after watching the film ‘Sankofa’, and I dedicated it to all who are still suffering the psychological effects of the enslavement of our ancestors, handed down to us genetically through our DNA:
If you’d like to come to the Gambia with your partner, join me on The Self Love Retreat 8-15 February 2019!
You can also join me on The Self Love Retreat 8-15 November or3-10 December or the Let’s Build a Village Retreat20-29November or 17-24 December.
I’m sending a container to the Gambia in mid September to furnish our new Retreat Home for the first Retreats taking place in November and December.
To help with set-up costs of the Retreat Home, plus offering subsidized places on the Retreats, Make your contribution here.
If you’d like to come on any of the Retreats, or would like to be considered for a subsidized place, send me a message:
In my Presentation, I also showed some photos of the dome-shaped round homes we’re thinking of building in the village, and Galactic Clyde (a builder and carpenter who studies sacred geometry) explained the spiritual benefits of living in such homes instead of square ones:
As the land is smaller on this second plot of land, there are now only 7 plots available for £6,000 each (25 x 25 metres). All who are interested in being part of this village project MUST attend one of the Let’s Build a Village Retreats in November or December. You’ll have the opportunity to see the land, meet potential neighbours, and plan how our village will be laid out.
If this village isn’t right for you, I hope it inspires you to set up your own village, or to work with other groups who are also building villages.
It takes a VILLAGE to raise a child, let’s do this for ourselves, our ancestors, and future generations!
You can also keep up-to-date with my activities via my Instagramand Facebook pages.
Watch this Youtube video on The Introduction of Psychedilics if it resonates with you, join me on my Ayahuasca Retreat in January 13-25! (For more information send me a message).
There’s a saying: “Whatever the mind can conceive, it can achieve.”
If you can think up an idea, you also have the capacity to achieve it. I’m in the process of re-creating my life how I choose it to be, and there’s nothing stopping you from doing the same – other than the seeds that are planted in your subconscious mind.
Now there’s another level to this: your subconscious mind makes sure that you function exactly according to your programming. It makes sure that everything you SAY and DO is consistent with your ‘master program’. What IS your master program? Remember I said that you were programmed between the ages of 0-7? Anything that goes into your subconscious mind during this imprint period becomes the program you run on for the rest of your life – unless you change it, and changing it isn’t that easy; it’s like un-installing all the programs from a computer, then re-installing new ones. Well I wish it was as simple as that! This isn’t stuff I’m just regurgitating from a book, it’s information I had to learn in order to re-program my own mind, because I kept sabotaging my success. For instance, when I was 19 I met this beautiful soul. We were the same age and he was the perfect boyfriend. I’d never had anyone show me such unconditional love, I couldn’t do anything wrong in his eyes. He was the physical MANifestation of God’s Love for me. When we were both 21, he proposed. But as soon as I got the engagement ring on my finger, I started to sabotage the relationship. I cheated on him and we broke up. I ended up having my children with men who didn’t truly love me, while he’s been married over 20 years. I even had another chance at true love as a single mother with two young suns, but my subconscious programming wouldn’t allow me to believe I was worthy or deserving of such love. On another occasion, in 2009 I received a lump sum of over £20,000, and within 3 months, I’d spent it all and was worse off than before I received the money! How could this be possible? My subconscious programming wouldn’t allow me to hold on to the money – I was programmed to be poor, a failure, and to not accept anything good that came my way, because I wasn’t worthy or deserving of it.
Your subconscious programming is the key to your SUCCESS or FAILURE. If you’ve been programmed for success from an early age, great! But if you’ve been programmed for failure, you must change your subconscious programming. This is where ‘The Secret‘ and other Law of Attraction material failed many of us, because they didn’t go into our subconscious programming.
To get to the ROOT CAUSE of your issues, you have to dig deep into your subconscious mind. No-one can re-program your mind for you. Well, there are NLP practitioners and hypnotists, but personally, I’m a bit dubious about subjecting my subconscious mind to someone else’s suggestions. So I’ve accumulated hundreds of Positive Affirmations relating to health, relationships, business, family, finances etc which I can share with you to help you re-program your subconscious mind.
Now I’ll let you into a little secret of my own, which I shared in the book ‘How to Get the Ring On Your Finger’, and which I also take people through on my Retreats: When you’ve developed your list of Positive Affirmations (which I can help you with), record them onto your smartphone using the voice recorder. You can play some meditation music in the background if you like, to help relax your mind. Play them to yourself when you’re in a relaxed state, like when you’re about to go to sleep, or waking up. Be sure to turn off any distractions before you start. If you’re using your phone, put it on flight mode to avoid any interruptions. I’ll get you started with a few affirmations from my own collection, repeat them to your Self slowly, deliberately, and repeatedly:
“I am whole, perfect, strong, powerful, loving, harmonious and happy”
“I am in perfect health; mind, spirit and body”
“I am mentally, emotionally, spiritually, physically and financially FREE!”
“I am the master of all my thoughts and feelings”
“All my thoughts are rooted in love”
“I am consciously uprooting negative thoughts and replacing them with positive thoughts”
“I am planting Seeds of Love in the Garden of my mind”
“I am operating on the highest frequency, which is love”
“I am re-programming my subconscious mind for GOOD”
Hmmmm….how do you feel now?
This is just the beginning of your journey to Self-actualization; my Self-help novel ‘Journey of a Sister‘ will help you continue the journey, order your paperback:
If you’re outside the UK, or to order ‘How to Get the Ring On Your Finger’ as well, visit >> LULU << (ships worldwide)
The Law of Nature states that you reap what you sow; you can’t plant an apple seed and expect to reap oranges! If you want more LOVE, plant Seeds of Love; if you want better health, plant seeds of health, if you want better relationships, plant health seeds; if you want more MONEY, plant money seeds, so I’m giving you the opportunity to plant a money seed into fertile soil – make a contribution to The Self Love Retreat Fund, which will enable me to offer subsidized places to two women on each Retreat.
Lastly, listen to “I AM What I WILL to Be!” where I’ve compiled a list of Positive Affirmations into one uplifting poem!
Continue ‘the journey’ with me, and if you’ve enjoyed reading these ARTicles, share them with your friends from Part One
P.S. I’m available to share this series as a Presentation (15-20 minutes) To book me, use the Contact Form below. I’m also available for interviews, or to host a Book Signing & Discussion Event at your book club, singles group, women’s group, church, or any commUNITY event, just send me a message:
My first Self Love Retreat ended last Saturday, and I’m now thinking about how I can make it even better! Firstly, the three ladies who joined me commented that it went far too quickly; I personally arrived two weeks ahead of the Retreat in order to unwind and de-stress, and while I had intended for us to have plenty of time to do that, we were trying to cram so much into the week!
We started off with a Pamper Day at the Kairaba Hotel in Kotu, where we had a full body massage, facial, manicure and pedicure.
I purposefully kept the numbers for the first Retreat small because The Healthy Ways Guest House (where we were staying with Mama Naasira and Dr Joe Bledsoe) only holds up to 6 people. Their Spicy Tasty Vegan Cuisine meals played a big part in the healing aspect of the Retreat.
The aim of The Self Love Retreat is to nurture your Self from the INSIDE, OUT. The Pamper Day was for our outer self, while the Self-nurturing workshops were for our inner Self. The first workshop was entitled “Who Am I?” which questioned whether we are the things we do, what we have, or what we project to the outside world. By the end of the workshop, we had developed personalized Positive Affirmations to help re-define ourselves, and speak it into being. In Part Two, ‘Who I AM!’ (the following day), we recorded the affirmations to music. This is now a tool we can use to play just before we go to sleep, to help re-program our subconscious mind. (It’s our subconscious programming that we’re running on most of the time, not our conscious thoughts).
“The Loving Me workshop gave me a lot of food for thought for reflection” ~ Deanne
I’ve been working with Positive Affirmations for about 15 years, which has brought me from having a ‘Self Love Deficit’ with very low self-esteem, lacking self-confidence, and being a blocked writer and artist for over 20 years, to writing and performing poetry, writing books, painting, and now organizing the The Self Love Retreat. I’m simply sharing some of the techniques that have helped me raised my levels of confidence and Self-esteem, helped me unblock as a writer and artist, and to push myself out of my comfort zone to achieve more. The day before the Retreat has due to start I was writing my journal and the first thing I wrote was “Who am I to organize The Self Love Retreat? What do I know about Self Love?” This was my critical voice talking, and my old programming of not being ‘good enough’ was trying to creep back in! I had to silence it with Positive Affirmations about Who I Am. In the past, I would have succumbed to those voices, and crawled back into the dark cavity in the corner of my mind. But no, I’m here to make a difference, and in doing so, help others to transform their own lives too!
In another workshop, I shared some research conducted by Dr Masaru Emoto, about the effect our thoughts and words have on water, and because we are made up of 70% water, how pow-HER-full our words really are:
We then stuck “I LOVE YOU” onto a glass of water, and focused our thoughts and intentions into the water, before drinking it – try it! We also looked into a mirror and said “I LOVE YOU” to ourselves. This can feel awkward at first, but the more you do it, the easier it will feel.
We also wrote Love Letters (or poems) to our Self based on the Affirmations we developed, and used them to make our Self a card, which we can now refer back to whenever we need a pick-me-up:
When you fill your Self with Love, you can then give of your overflow, and radiate the love you feel for your Self – you will then attract that love back to your Self!
Self Love 30 Day Challenge!
Do these daily rituals to develop Self Love, and see what happens:
Close your eyes and go deep within (or look in the mirror) and say repeatedly “I love You!”
Pour water in a cup, and say “I love you” into the water before drinking it
If you did the 30 Day Challenge, email me your results: cezanne@journeyofasister.com
Aside from the 5 Self-nurturing workshops, we also enjoyed some Gambian nightlife, and went clubbing two of the nights! I’m not a clubbing person, but I loved the vibe and the Afrobeats!
I had these dresses made especially for the Colour Therapy workshop, which was also meant to incorporate dance, but we ran out of time! I explained how different colours affect the mood and emotions, and how wearing colourful clothes can make you (and others) FEEL. Try it! Incorporating more colour in your life especially during the dark, winter months will help lift your mood and emotions. (For more information on how I healed myself from Seasonal Affective Disorder using Colour Therapy, visit my Artpage).
We didn’t spend enough time on the beach, but we enjoyed early-morning yoga:
I also organized a Day Trip to Kunta Kinte Island, which took us about 3 hours to get to, including two river crossings! We were taken to the original place Kunta Kinte lived (not where they take tourists). On the long journey there, we had to take a ferry and a small boat. Someone had sent me a photo of a boat owned by a sister named Aminatta, encouraging us to use her (in the yellow skirt), but when we got to the island and I found her, the boat was out of action because it needed repairs to the value of around £150:
I told her I would help raise the money and get it to her as quickly as possible, you can send her a gift towards her boat repair using my Gofundme (put ‘BOAT’ as a reference) and I’ll make sure she gets it ( we’ve raised £45 so far).
“I had an amazing time on The Self Love Retreat – I recommend to everyone! I feel enlightened, refreshed, healthier and positive. I’ve learned many techniques to benefit me going forward. Met so many great people who I intend to keep in contact with. We made so many memories, I really wanted to stay longer! So glad I went and Cezanne is the hostess with the mostest, so inspirational, love her! I will defo do another retreat with you. I loved Gambia too, will go back”
Based on the feedback I received, I’ve decided to extend The Self Love Retreat in November to 10Days so you can relax and unwind for the first 3 days before the workshops start! The cost for the The Self Love Retreat is just £899 (Flights must be booked separately). If you can only come for 7 days, the price of accommodation will be deducted.
We will be staying at Ocean Villa Heights, a lovely hotel in Bufurt with swimming pool, internet, restaurant, and spa facilities, and it’s just a few minutes walk to the beach! To book, go HERE (or send me an email to cezanne@journeyofasister.com pay by bank transfer)
Support a Sista!
I set up a Gofundmecampaign in order to be able to offer subsidized places on the Retreat, if you’re unable to attend yourself, but would like to help your sisters on their Self-healing journey, please make a contribution to the Fund!
If you would like to be considered for a place, 1) make a donation to the fund, 2) email me: cezanne@journeyofasister.com explaining why you need it.
More Retreat dates will be added when destinations have been chosen (I’m also looking at Grenada, Jamaica, or Dominica)
Singles & Couples Welcome!
Whether you’re single, or would like to come with your partner, The Self Love Retreatis for YOU! The techniques will help you in your own personal development, which will no doubt impact your relationship. If you have any questions, or would like to book, email me: cezanne@journeyofasister.com
Easy Payment Plans for November Retreats
I’d like to make it as easy as possible for you to join me, so I’m offering monthly payment plan options for the Retreats in November 2018 < click on the link to find out more. If you’re coming from the UK, you don’t need a visa, just book your flight, and pay for your Retreat!
Nurture Your Inner Child Retreat 16-23 Nov
I’ve also organized the Nurture Your Inner Child Retreat in November, where I will take you through the same processes I went through to unblock as a writer and artist, all materials will be provided! If you’re interested in joining me on any of these Retreats, email me: cezanne@journeyofasister.com
To keep up-to-date with me daily acivities, and for more pics and videos follow me on instagram!
I’m now in the Gambia preparing for the women who will be joining me on The Self Love Retreat, a week of nurturing yourself from the inside, out!
There are still two places left for the Retreat dates 17-23 December, and a few places available on 3-9 January (date changed), 17-23 February and 3-9 March, join us if you can!
Getting to the Gambia is easy:
Flights are cheap!
You don’t need a visa if you’re travelling from the UK (we would love you to join us from anywhere else in the world!)
So far, I’ve not seen much difference in the culture between Gambia compared to Ghana, and I’ve yet to connect with many of the ex-pats who live here (people who have moved here from the UK and USA).
Last night I attended Gambia Fashion Weekend, and met up with Shakina from the UK who now lives here, and another sister Anna, who I also know from the UK. I also met a brother named Adam who is on holiday from Manchester, and I bumped into another brother who happens to live not far from me in Croydon!
Me and Shakina at Gambia Fashion Weekend last night
Apparently there are lots of opportunities to build, grow and develop in the Gambia, and I’ll be checking it all out and sharing the info with you! Shakina has moved here from London and now runs her business in Gambia! She uses the same Adinkra symbol for her business as I’ve used in ‘Journey of a Sister‘, the symbol for ‘Transformation!’
I gave myself a 5 year ‘get out plan’ (to move from the UK), and I have 3 years left, so providing I like it here I’ll be laying some roots! My ultimate goal is to build a VILLAGE with homes, schools, farmland where we can grow our own produce, businesses (making things that we can send back to the UK and USA to sell), and which is totally self-sufficient e.g. our own solar power and water supply. I see that in a few years time, my people will have to flee the USA and UK, and they’re going to need somewhere to go!
When God gives you a vision, provision will also be made. Meeting Mama Naasira Ageela and Dr Gregory Joe Bledsoe in London last year was part of this Master Plan. I instantly clicked with them, and we kept in contact when they left London and came to the Gambia. They are an African American couple, who are authors of the Amazon Bestseller ‘Spicy Tasty Vegan Cuisine’. We spoke regularly on the phone, and seemed to have lots of similar ideas in terms of how we wanted to help our community to heal. I shared my vision of building a village with them, and they were in accordance with the idea, so we decided to work together. This is our long term plan, but for now, we are working together to help our people to heal. They specialize in the food side of things, while I work with healing the mind. I’m not a psychologist but I studied how the mind works, in order to heal my own mind (I’ll tell you more about this on the Retreat, or read my Self-help novel ‘Journey of a Sister’).
People always say to me “Cezanne, you’re such an inspiration, when you say you’re going to do something, you do it!” But I can tell you, none of this has been easy. But when you set your mind to do something, the universe somehow conspires to help you make it happen. For instance, my goal was to spend every winter ‘somewhere warm’. I mean, why be in cold, grey England when you can jump on a plane and within a few hours, be somewhere warm? Once I set that intention, the ideas came to make it happen. The Self Love Retreat is the result of my thoughts manifested; not only do I get to enjoy being in a warm climate, I’m also helping others at the same time!
One of my mottos is;
“As I heal myself, I heal others”
The other is;
“The Black Woman MUST Heal!”
The Self Love Retreatwas born out of my own need to heal myself. I’m not coming from a standpoint of “You need to be like me”, but more of “We’re all in this together”. The reason why the Black Woman MUST heal, is because she has always been the core of the family, and the family is the core of the commUNITY. If we want our commUNITY to heal, she must heal first. I began to innerstand this while studying our history, and learning how the Black Family was broken down through the process of slavery and colonialism. For the sake of our future generations, something radical must be done, and it starts with the food we eat, what we watch and listen to, how we raise our children, and how we treat each other, starting with our Self. Hence, The Self Love Retreat (and Healing Village)!
HelpUs Offer Subsidized Places on The Self Love Retreat
Just like my vision for The Healing Village, I know that not all the women who need to come on the Retreat will be able to afford it, which is why I set up the GoFundMe Campaign. I set it up on my birthday on November 5th, and so far, no donations have been received (partly because I’ve been so busy preparing to come to the Gambia, that I haven’t been pushing it!). If you would like to support two women to come on each Retreat, please make a donation here. Getting the first contribution is the hard part; most fund organisers advise you make the first donation yourself; it’s human nature that once people see others donating, they will too, so are you a leader or a follower? Let’s see! If you would like to come but need help with finances, sow a money seed! I strongly believe in sowing money seeds; if you want more of something, you have to sow a seed of that kind. Mother Nature teaches us that we cannot sow an apple seed and expect an orange.The Self Love Retreat is fertile soil!
How will the women be chosen?
Send me an email cezanne@journeyofasister.com explaining your circumstances, and how much financial support you need (flight/accommodation £200/workshops £500). Myself and Mama Naasira will choose from the submissions received for the subsidized places. (We aim to raise £3,000 to provide two free places on each Retreat).
Join Us!
Does The Self Love Retreat feel right for you? Join us! There are still two places available in December, and a few places in January, February and March. You can find more information at www.journeyofasister.com/selfloveretreat or send me an email above to secure your place today.
Admittedly, I’ve not been out much since I arrived, apart from yoga on the beach (check Facebook to watch my FB live video!) and the fashion show last night; I didn’t get to take many photos because my battery died, but there will be lots more to report on; in my next blog post I’ll be showing you around the Healthy Ways Guest House and interviewing the Bledsoes, and also sharing more about what we’ll be doing on The Self Love Retreat, in the meantime, visit the page, and if it feels right, do it!
Two of the issues the main character in my novel ‘Journey of a Sister‘ battled with, were to do with Self Love and Self worth.
She believed that because she had two young children, she wasn’t ‘good enough’ for Charles. Do you have the ‘not good enough’ program running in your subconscious mind?
Feelings of being unworthy, not deserving, or not good enough, will make you sabotage your success in relationships, health, business and finances – not necessarily all at once, but one or the other. For instance, you might be a great business woman, but lacking in the area of your relationships. Or you might be good with money, but lacking in the area of your health.
Suzanne, the main character, had to go really deep within her Self to get to the root cause of her issues, in order to heal.
But in today’s society there are so many distractions, we rarely take the time to shut off the outside world to connect with our true, inner Self.
To truly Love yourself, is to know your Self, and you can only truly know your Self when you are connected with your Source!
I have designed The Self Love Retreat to cater to your personal needs, as well as a group. It will help you connect with your Source from within, to help you identify any issues you may have that are preventing your progress in any area, so you can begin the process of Self-healing.
I will be sharing some of the techniques that have helped raise my confidence and self-esteem, eradicate a poor Self-image, unblock my creativity, and connect with my Source, in order to find my Purpose, and for guidance on the necessary steps to fulfill it.
The Self Love Retreat isn’t just about pampering your outer self (although that’s included!) it will help you take ‘Time Out’ to go deep within, and get clear on the steps you should be taking in life, instead of wandering through life aimlessly. It will involve:
Spending time in ‘the Silence’
Mirror Work and Affirmations
Healthy eating
Exercise and relaxation
5 daily workshops: ‘Who I Am’, ‘Loving ME from Within’, ‘Self Healing Through Forgiveness’, Colour Therapy, Sensuality
A day of Pampering (massage, manicure/pedicure, facial)
Self Love was something I had to learn; I grew up in a love-less home, and was led to believe as a child that I was ‘no good’, ‘ugly’, ‘didn’t deserve it’ (anything I wanted), and that anything I did wasn’t ‘good enough’. On top of that, my Christian programming led me to believe that I was born in sin, and that without Christ I was ‘unworthy’, and a ‘poor, wretched sinner’! I grew up believing I didn’t deserve the good things that I actually wanted (especially my relationships), so I kept sabotaging myself when anything good came my way. Now, I’ve learned to love my Self, put my Self first, and accept when good things come to me!
If you have issues with Self Love or Self worth, or just want to spend some time connecting with your Source from within, The Self Love Retreat is right for YOU!
Join me for a Taster Workshop!
If you would like more information about The Self Love Retreat, I’m holding a Taster Workshop on Sunday 30th July at Katakata (vegan restaurant and art space), 132 Brixton Hill, London SW2 1RS, 2-5pm. You’ll be able to ask any questions, and I’ll be giving you tasters of some of the workshops! The cost for the workshop is just £15 which includes:
A delicious vegan meal
Freshly squeezed juice
A personally signed copy of my novel ‘Journey of a Sister’
Tasters in The Self Love Retreat workshops (inc. Colour Therapy)
Networking with others who may be joining us on the Retreat!
Your £15 will be reimbursed towards the cost of the Retreat if you sign up on the day! (£150)
If you are unable to attend the Taster Workshop you can visit this page for more information, and to book your place.
My mentors, Dr Joe Gregory and Naasira Angeela Bledsoe, authors of ‘Spicy Tasty Vegan Cuisine‘ will be our hosts and cooks, plus they have a wealth of experience behind them that they will be sharing with us, especially regarding eating for health, and relationships! Visit their website to watch their welcome video to the Healthy Ways Guest House!
If you like the sound of The Self Love Retreat but are unable to join us in November or December, you can arrange with me to pay monthly installments that are affordable for you, towards a Retreat next year (not always in the Gambia, but somewhere warm!)
The price of The Self Love Retreat is likely to go up after December, so don’t put it off, treat your Self! This Retreat if for WOMEN ONLY, but if you’re a man, and are thinking of treating your special lady, you’re welcome to join us for the Taster Session!
Last October I attended an event where I met Caz Mac, who was in the process of setting up the No Ordinary Woman Chat Show YouTube Channel. She would be interviewing a number of ordinary women doing extraodinary things! I gave her a signed copy of ‘Journey of a Sister‘ to read. Some time later she contacted me really excited, having just finished reading the book, and invited me for an interview! We had a good connection because she identified with a lot of what I’d written about. In this interview I share my inspiration behind writing both books, but it’s mainly focused on the one she read. The video launched on the No Ordinary Woman Chat Show YouTube Channel last week, and is available to watch NOW! (No Ordinary Woman) 🙂
Read ‘Journey of a Sister’ Year One FREE! If you like what you’ve read so far, order your personally signed paperback for just £9.99 with FREE delivery in the UK! (Years 1-13)
(If you live outside the UK, order your paperback from Lulu.com)
Over the past two weeks, I’ve become crystal clear about who I wrote my Self-help books for, and who I want to work with (predominantly).
Are you a Single Black Woman seeking to meet and marry your soulmate?
Are you in a relationship, and would like to know how to sustain it long term?
Do you have Self Love and Self Worth Issues? (be honest with your Self)
As a Black Woman raised in the UK in a Christian home, I received no love from my (single) mother, was indoctrinated into a religion which kept my mind in a fearful box, and received negative affirmations which seeped into my subconscious mind and became the program I ran on as an adult. As a result, I grew up lacking Self Love, had poor Self-Esteem, and struggled with Self-Identity. These in turn affected my relationships with my partners; I turned down two opportunities to marry soulmates, and had my children with two men who either I didn’t truly love, or who didn’t truly love me.
My poverty mindset (received from my religious upbringing and negative affirmations as a child) also affected my ability to generate financial abundance.
Can you relate?
I know many of us share the same story, and it’s my job to work with you to help us heal – together!
I’m starting a series of videos explaining ‘Why The Black Woman MUST Heal!‘ from this week! These will cover our Hair, Skin, Body Image (how we perceive ourselves), Ancestral Lineage, operating in our Feminine Energy (as opposed to our Masculine energy), Sex & Spirituality, Mindset (including mental health), learning about The Power of our Womb and Yoni, Child-raising, and much more!
All these topics are also raised in my Self-help novel ‘Journey of a Sister’. I would love for you to read it so you can get an idea of where I’m coming from, and whether I’m someone you’d like to work with in your own Self-healing journey. Start by reading Year One FREE! (<<< click on the link)
You can also order your personally signed paperback for just £9.99 with FREE delivery in the UK!
(If you’re outside the UK, order your paperback from Lulu.com)
I’ll be sharing the videos about ‘Why The Black Woman MUST Heal!’ on the Journey of a Sister YouTube Channel so subscribe, or ‘follow’ this blog to get email notifications!
Join me on The Self Love Retreat!
From November, I will be taking 6 women (each month) on The Self Love Retreat, where we will be doing inner and outer work to Self-heal! We will be staying at The Healthy Ways House with Dr Joe and Mama Naasira Bledsoe (pictured below), authors of the Amazon best-seller ‘Spicy Tasty Vegan Cuisine’. Apart from healthy eating and exercise, we will be doing daily workshops that will help increase your confidence and Self-esteem, build a positive Self-image, help you develop your intuition, show you how to use your Feminine Energy to better your relationships, how to make healthy life-giving meals, how to make natural skin care products using ingredients from your kitchen, and more! (with plenty of leisure time!) I’m keeping the groups small and intimate so you can get plenty of 1-2-1 attention. The Bledsoes will also be on hand to offer any advice and support, and will also be doing their own Spicy Tasty Vegan Cuisine workshop!
Who is The Self Love Retreat for?
Women who have issues with Self-identity, Self-Love and Self-worth
Women who would like to learn how to truly love themselves from the inside out
Women who would like to develop a support network with other women to aid them on their Self-healing journey
Women who are open to transformation of the mind.
How much does it cost?
Just £599 for the week (7 days), which includes accommodation, a healthy Spicy Tasty Vegan meal each day, and Self Love workshops, with plenty of time for leisure activities and relaxation! I always like to over-deliver, so you can expect more than you paid for! (N.B. Flights must be booked separately). *This is an introductory price*
I’ve organised a Taster Workshop where you will learn more about what to expect at The Self Love Retreat; the cost for the workshop is just £25 which includes a FREE copy of my Self-help novel, free refreshments, a FREE Self Love Poster, and your money off the cost of the Retreat if you sign up on the day! Go here for details!
There are only 6 spaces on each Retreat, to guarantee you the personal touch! A £100 deposit will secure your place, and you can pay in flexible monthly instalments. If you are unable to attend the Taster Workshop but would like more information, or are interested in joining us on The Self Love Retreat, drop me an email at cezanne@journeyofasister.com, or message me below!
Let’s heal together!
Upcoming Events:
Visit the Events Page for details of events I’m taking part in!
Are you an Amazon Prime member?
Borrow the e-book series of’Journey of a Sister’ from Amazon’s library FREE! (links are on the Books page)
In your service,
Cezanne Taharqa aka Cezanne Poetess
Award-winning Visual & Spoken Word Artist| International Author| Events Host| Workshop Facilitator
If you are a Book Lover, don’t miss my special offer to celebrate International Women’s Month!
If you’ve been thinking about getting my books, now’s the time! For the whole of March (International Women’s Month), you can get both paperbacks for the price of one! (while stocks last)
How to Get the Ring On Your Finger
I wrote this book for all the sisters (and brothers) who are seeking marriage as opposed to long term dating. Over 30 brothers have contributed to this book; it will help you PREPARE to meet your match, suggests ways to meet your soul mate (including my events!) and then guides you through the whole dating process, by introducing the DIY Arranged Marriage, which involves doing the 6 Month Test. It’s not a step-by-step manual, but it will help you learn to be guided by your own intuition, and suggests ways you can help yourself when emotions are clouding your judgement! I have used the tips in this book on numerous occasions to help me avoid making those big relationship mistakes! Watch my performance of my poem “I Need a MAN!” which mentions the 6 Month Test!
‘How to Get the Ring On…’ would normally cost you £7.99, but you can get it FREE when you purchase my Self-help novel ‘Journey of a Sister’ – WHILE STOCKS LAST!
Why do you need my books?
If you are on a journey of Self-discovery, Self-development, and spiritual growth, both books will be of service to you. I wrote Journey of a Sister to share everything I’ve learnt along my own Self-healing journey, including un-indoctrinating myself from religion and embracing spirituality, developing Self Love through I-dentity, learning about the creative power of my mind, and much more! Journey of a Sister is a beautiful Black Love story with plenty of wisdom (which I channeled), that will help you on your own journey of Self-discovery, whether you are a sister or a brother!
I printed 1,000 copies of Journey of a Sister with my artwork in FULL COLOUR so you can benefit from the Colour Therapy in them while you read! (see my Art page for full details). Once these are sold all future books will be printed in black and white! (50% already distributed)
Happy reading! Visit my Events page for details of event’s I’m taking part in!
In your service,
Cezanne Taharqa aka Cezanne Poetess
Award-winning Visual & Spoken Word Artist| International Author| Events Host| Workshop Facilitator
Visit the 
