The Sky Is Always BLU
Total Page：16
File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb
G O B L U ! The Sky is Always BLU S P E C I A L VOLUME 1, ISSUE 2 WINTER 2011 P O I N T S O F INTEREST: The Chakras Voices of BLU: Welcome Family! Queen Sage Says… By O’Shea” Myles our new additions including the “Yes! Active links!!” We recipro- “Queen Sage Says…”, Spirituali- cate. This means to email us or Feeling “Blue” A Welcome to the second issue of ty, and Health/Wellness sec- view web pages directly, press the Black Lesbian Mental “The Sky is Always tions. Also, with a little help CTRL-key plus use your cursor to Health Crisis BLU” (SAB) newsletter! Since we last spoke, there have been from technology, the SAB News- click on the link provided Baby Steps to creating some enhancements made to and...PRESTO CHANGE-O!...you healthy finances our quarterly publication. Now, are where you want to be. don't fret! Your favorites are BLU + YOU Check-in with Timika still here, including the “nitty- PLEASE don’t forget that SAB is Jackson; author of gritty” on community happen- “Voices Within” “for us, by us, with us, and about ings and events, but we’ve got us” so make sure to review the some additions that we think end of each segment to see where you may enjoy. Our pages now you can submit your contribu- embody more of the essence tions. For instance, this current that makes BLU. What is that issue was made possible from essence? Its you! Our hope is to contributions from the following provide you with the same BLU Retreat community mem- pillars of information, re- bers: Angie Maldonado, Eko Ca- sources, and experiences that nillas, Keisean Raines, Lelani are cultivated during the BLU McKenzie, O’Shea” Myles, Saun- retreat. So without further dra Tignor, Queen Hollins, Yolan- INSIDE THIS ISSUE: adieu, start flipping these pag- da Whittington, Jeannette Bron- es and enjoying the contribu- son, and Lisa Powell. tions of our BLU community. letter is now free via the BLU BLU Ticker 2 webpage and includes an active For more information regarding the “The WHAT’S NEW link feature. “Active links?!” Sky is Always BLU” newsletter, email: Start by checking out some of you enthusiastically exclaim. [email protected]. Spirituality 2 Queen Sage Says...: Queen Sages Wanted K.I.T 2 By Saundra Tignor women who love other women. QUEEN SAGE-to-SAGE It`s wonder- In this inaugural edition the As we mature, it becomes more Health/Wellness: Feeling words of others will be used to 3 ful to be alive and more important to exercise, “Blue” and to be present a perspective of matura- I know you have heard this be- included as a tion. So if you consider yourself fore, but it is time to move it or voice of the to be a Queen Sage, let us hear loose it. Take a walk daily, no- Health/Wellness con‟t. 4 “Queen Sage your voice of mentorship, guid- tice your neighborhood, the area says…” in the ance, and support for inclusion surrounding your area of wor- launching of in future editions. ship, church, temple or mosque. the BLU Send your submission to: Plant a garden or cultivate the Entertainment & News 5 Newsletter. [email protected]. one that`s present. Enjoy the In keeping I am looking forward to hearing efforts of your neighbors. Learn with African Cosmology, Queen from you. a new language or skill so that Social Justice & Resources 6 Sages are defined as those wom- your mind stays active and you en who are sixty and older, are Peace, Saundra feel accomplished. of African heritage, and are P A G E 2 K.I.T W/ BLU MARCH 2011 “Hey BLU! I am currently living in California with my Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat son and a budding writing career.“ 1 2 3 4 5 -Keisean Raines BLU Retreat c/o of 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 2009, 2010 13 14 7 MONTHS LEFT 18 19 to the Annual –9th BLU RETREAT 2011 “My writing is my voice and I want to be heard.” 20 21 22 Oct.23 7th24 25 26 Keep in touch with the BLU Retreat community by sending an www.blacklesbiansunited.org email to: [email protected]. 27 28 29 30 31 Please include the following: a recent picture your name year(s) you attended BLU retreat an update about you Spirituality: Chakra Spiritual Wellness By Queen Holllins better understand and manage alleviated, physical problems I would like to share our emotions. When energy cen- corresponding to the dam- some information ters are imbalanced, we may ex- aged Chakras can manifest. that changed my life. perience fatigue, depression, sad- For instance, a consistently They are called, the ness, anger, ill-health, and other- angry person may have prob- CHAKRAS. Chakras related symptoms. lems within the are something that I CARE, CLEANSING, AND HEART believe we all have, MEDITATION CHAKRA and as a result may but many of us may A healthy chakra should be spin- be unaware of them have challeng- ning clockwise and be 6” in diam- es to emotions until later in life. eter. It is important that Chakras Please read on for related to love. are similar in size. This promotes If the problem Location of Charkas more information balanced energy. Chakras are persists, the and I hope you find it similar to muscles and if over- useful. Here we grow! individual worked can tire. They can also could develop What are CHAKRAS? have all sorts of problems which heart prob- Chakras are energy centers in the can include chakras that are: lems. Chakra cleansing and body that correspond with endo- closed, spinning in the opposite meditation may help to better crine glands. When these energy direction, torn, bent, damaged, care for the Chakras. centers are balanced, we func- distorted, and/or discolored. tion in harmony and operate at These dysfunctions can be caused For more on Chakras, see “Chakra Information and our highest potential. We may by traumatic experiences or kinds Resources” on page 6. It should also be better able to understand of personality problems that need be noted that the location of what is going on inside our bod- to be resolved. If problems caus- Chakras and related information ies. This awareness may help us ing Chakras dysfunction are not may vary according to cosmolo- gy. THE SKY IS ALWAYS BLU VOLUME 1, ISSUE 2 P A G E 3 Health/Wellness: Feeling “BLUE”- A Black Lesbian Mental Health Crisis By Yolanda Whittington children than were white or may be high among lesbians. Exhibiting self-injurious behavior As a mental health professional, I Latina lesbians First, one’s initial entre into their (e.g. cutting) newly lesbian community is often am usually reluctant to write Black and Latina lesbians are Has a history of psychiatric ill- about or discuss mental health as at increased risk for suicide the lesbian or gay bar where alco- ness or psychiatric hospitaliza- a conversational topic during my attempts and childhood sexu- hol is typically served and con- tions scheduled days off. Why? It’s al abuse sumed and used for social interac- tion. One other possible reason Is deliberately waving a weapon probably because I am inundated FACTORS OF SUICIDE or what appears to be a weapon daily with mental health and I find for alcohol abuse and illicit sub- In addition to sexual stance dependency is its use as an at law enforcement (i.e. suicide myself seeking a reprieve and res- by cop) pite for my own mental health and trauma, there are several contrib- ineffective coping mechanism that wellness. However, the tragic uting risk factors associated with is usually wrought with negative STEPS TO TAKE consequences like addiction, high- losses of life associated with sui- suicide attempts and/or rates If you are experiencing risk behavior, cidal deaths among our lesbian, among Black lesbians. The first suicidal thoughts or idea- and in ex- gay, bisexual, and transgender factor is depression. As Black tions or know of someone treme cases, youth coupled with the screen women, we experience a conver- “Suicide is who is suicidal and you or death. Non- adaptation of the play “For Col- gence of social and physical fac- someone you know is in drinking al- ored Girls Who Have Considered tors such as racial discrimination, preventable. It immediate danger, please ternatives to Suicide When the Rainbow is En- gender oppression, sexual and call 911. If you or someone the bar scene uf” has prompted me to engage in physical abuse, poverty, and high begins with you you know is threatening to may occur in community dialogue about our prevalence rates of chronic health commit suicide, call the pre-existing mental health. problems and debilitating illness- Psychiatric Emergency lesbian net- and me…” es. Team (PET). If in Los SUICIDE AMONGST US works where The second factor is Angeles County, contact typically one is usually introduced For those of us who may not be homophobia within the larger the Psychiatric Mobile Response into the social network by another aware, the incidences of suicide community, but specifically within Team (PMRT) at 1-800-854-7771. member or new lesbians may con- attempts and rates among Black the African-American culture as If you or someone you know is nect with lesbian organizations lesbians is an unknown phenome- manifested in the espousing reli- having thoughts but do not have a like BLU, for example. non in the literary reviews on sui- gious dogma and plan, call the Suicide Hotline at 1- cide statistics among excommunica- WARNING SIGNS 800-273-TALK or 1-800-273- lesbians and lesbians of tion from our Suicide is preventable.