MALIDOMA PATRICE SOMÉ
January 30, 1956 - December 9, 2021
Titíulo
Medicine Man
Diviner
Healer
Author
Teacher
Friend
Grandson
Son
Brother
Father
Husband
Elder
Malidoma Patrice Somé
January 30, 1956 - December 9, 2021
Elder Malidoma completed his most recent Initiation on
Thursday, December 9th, 2021 at 2am.
I was with him supporting his body as he quietly left his physical temple. Ever since that night I have been in a very still, and quiet space- somewhere deep within.
As I write this, there is a part of me that would prefer to stay quiet, stay in this cave of solitude, stillness & deep fluidity and not interact with people.
It has now been 1 month and 5 days since I sat with my friend; saw the Ancestors and felt the Otherworld welcome him home. It's strange that I would know this, but I looked at the clock and it was seven minutes later when I walked down the hall to awaken and hug Elder Malidoma's two daughters... and bring them to sit with their Dad one last time. They both were able to spend precious time with him during these last few months.
I cried as I chose the clothing that he would wear home to Dano, Burkina Faso for his traditional funeral rites. Those that were there with me spent a few more holy hours sitting with him...in the indescribable quiet void beyond silence and nothingness ..before we were ready to move forward, say it out loud, and notify the world.
There is a frequency in this deep void of stillness and silence that is comforting. It's an energy that can envelope one so completely that new eyes emerge from, or because of, this alchemical darkness.
These new eyes see the world, life, death and the multi-dimensions of being in a way that I cannot yet put into words.
Yes, there is a part of me that yearns to just stay still, quiet and invisible.
Yet, now deep within me, I feel an energy rising, a "push" to go forward.
Why bother to go forward I ask? The reply that I hear is from Elder Malidoma.
"We go forward we die, we go backwards we die...we might as well go forward."
Elder Malidoma, during his intensives, would often say the quote above; while stressing the importance of living in the full embodiment of our gift- Living full-on and wide open as the truest of our nature with the medicine that we came here to deliver.
Throughout his tlife, Elder Malidoma moved forward as a Warrior and Medicine Man in service to the Ancestors, the Otherworld and all of humanity, even as he faced many unknown territories throughout his many years traveling around the world.
He embraced his purpose and shared his gifts and the medicine that he was here to deliver. He embraced his purpose and shared his gifts and medicine even when it was not "comfortable". He embraced his purpose and shared his gifts and medicine even when it was "inconvenient", or "hard".
He moved forward when he was judged, ridiculed, betrayed, taken advantage of, hurt, beaten, sad and scared. Even when he could see the way people were behaving hatefully toward him "behind his back", he did not give up. He kept moving forward.
He embodied the gift and medicine in the name he was given: "Malidoma".
He became a living example of one who "makes friends with the stranger/enemy" in the hopes that anyone he came into contact with could also experience the ability, fortitude & courage it takes to create the possibility of living in a world without "strangers", without the "other", without the "enemy".
He often spoke of a world where all humans would embrace their "indiginosity"; where all humans would remember that we are all indigenous in our bones and connected in our heart; in a world where we would become unified and embrace one another; to "make friends with the stranger/enemy"...rather than succumb to the goal of...the plan and pressures and mentalities of "the system", the "machine", the "forces of adversity" that win and derive pleasure and power when humans believe they are separated from one another, when humans judge one another and harm one another and repeat the cycles of trauma & abuse- both internally and externally.
Through his life as a living example...through ritual & indigenous spirit technologies, Elder Malidoma offered us all an alternative way to treat one another; the opportunity to remember that which is already within our bones....that which unites us all.
Over the years I have been lucky enough to meet many of you who receive this newsletter. Many of you have been to my home. If I haven't met you I have probably corresponded with you via email on behalf of Elder Malidoma. For those of you who do not yet know me or with whom I have not yet connected, I will share just a bit of my story.
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I have been fortunate to work with Elder Malidoma since 2003.
Over the years, I participated in every program that he offered. Beginning in 2004 I provided a space for him to have his programs, intensives and divinations near Asheville, NC.
The first time I traveled to Dano, Burkina Faso was in 2009. This is when I initially merged with the Kontomblé. In 2009 I also immersed myself in the Dagara Elder Initiation with Elder Malidoma and became a Bokara. In 2012, I completed my initiation as an Elder.
Since 2016, I have had the honor of managing Elder Malidoma's office, organizing and supporting all of his programs, intensives. trainings and have journeyed to "my second home" to support the ritual work in Burkina Faso eight times.
Throughout the years, Elder Malidoma and I installed many Dagara Shrines on the land where I live and invoked the guardianship and protection of these shrines: Tingan, Tenbalu, Gneur, Beru, Wadyé, Kontomblé, Genie, Mountain, Ancestors... and since 2016- this land became his home base for divinations, intensives, trainings, Elder Initiation, ritual work, events, as well as his office space. Elder Malidoma, through his life and work- created a living bridge....between worlds, between strangers, between dimensions, between races, between continents, indigenous technologies and realities.
What an inspiration he will always be.....Living his Medicine.
During these past few months I watched Elder Malidoma deploy an attack unlike any other- against the forces of adversity -and he softened into what he called his "new dispensation".
He confirmed for me, not only the importance of living each now-moment of my life as a sacred ritual but to access, align with, and activate - the Otherworldly energies and frequencies that are always available within us and around us.
He reminded me that the solutions to any issues and problems in this world will most effectively be deployed through subspace and our partnership with the Otherworld and Ancestors.
We each already have access to these indigenous technologies and energies through our birthright and the indigenosity and ancestral wisdom of the origin within.
Elder Malidoma reminded me to not only be "aware" of the divine blueprint within me....not only to "know" things....but to spend each now-moment as a conscious bridge creating a sacred space that allows what people call the "Otherworld" and "this world" to merge and create as "one".
Because this is already the case.
And so.....I will move forward.
I choose to move forward now.
I listen closely to my intuition, heed the guidance that I receive and I take action to best serve all my relations.
In each now-moment, I listen to the wisdom that resides deep within my bones & with the support of the Ancestors and Otherworld....I offer to the world what I have incarnated to deliver.
I invite you to move forward too.
Let us move forward together.
Evolution.
As stated in December's newsletter, Elder Malidoma's two daughters do not wish to be contacted directly- although emails are welcome at the office email address and will be shared with them.
Cards for the family can be mailed to Ancestral Events, 45 Wells Valley Drive, Leicester, NC 28748
In lieu of flowers, his daughters are open to receiving monetary support to assist with the expenses to transport their Dad, Elder Malidoma to his Homeland ~ Mother Africa - via airlift-- where he will be honored as the Elder that he is- in his village.
Donations will also support his two daughters in paying all the medical expenses and other expenses that have been created during this time.
Per Elder Malidoma's wishes, Elder Robert Walker and I will be sure that Elder Malidoma returns homed to Dano, that the expenses are paid, and his two daughters are taken care of. Thank you so very much for your support with all of this.
"friends and family" using the email
Thank you for any prayers, rituals and ceremonies that you feel inclined to offer for Elder Malidoma & his family at this time.
with love,
Elder Theresa Sykes Brittany
