Imani: The key to a Happy New Year



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The last day of Kwanzaa, otherwise known as Imani, coincides with New Year’s Day.  After the holidays subside, and before the new year unfolds, Imani provides a much-needed space for profound reflection.

According to the Official Kwanzaa Website, Imani is both a Day of Assessment and a Day of Meditation. The Akan people of West Africa have historically set aside a day like this as part of their first-fruits harvest celebrations.  An atmosphere of quiet and calm humility assists Imani participants to engage in “reassessment

and recommitment on a personal and family level.”  This often includes the remembrance and honoring of ancestors.

Three questions are highlighted as part of this process:  Who am I?  Am I really who I say I am?  Am I all I ought to be?  The following Odu Ifa meditation can greatly assist with this inquiry:  Let us not engage the

world hurriedly.  Let us not grasp at the rope of wealth impatiently.  That which should be treated with mature judgment, Let us not deal with in a state of anger.  When we arrive at a cool place, Let us rest fully; Let us give continuous attention to the future; and let us give deep consideration to the consequences of things.  And this because of our (eventual) passing.

This is the wisdom of the ages.  Akin to Buddhist mindfulness, it stresses the importance of living life in slower motion and really paying attention.  That which keeps us from being all who we really are then becomes more evident.  Awareness then has a chance of taking precedence over distraction.

Imani.

Faith.

What better way to welcome the new year?

Resources

http://www.officialkwanzaawebsite.org/meditation.shtmll

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kwanzaa