Virtual Event: Join Me & My Dad “Dr. John” on January 26th at 3 PM ET for the Amherstburg Freedom Museum’s Presentation on “The Leeke Family’s Legacy of Freedom Seekers from Hagerstown to Amherstburg”
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What Matters?
On Monday, I joined many people in remembering Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s life and work. It was a quiet day of reflection on Dr. King’s wisdom: “Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter.”
WHAT MATTERS TO YOU THIS WINTER SEASON?
The question of what matters this winter season has wrapped itself around my spirit, heart, mind, and body ALL DAY.
My answers are coming as divine downloads about being an ancestral vessel for expression and blessing.
WHAT ARE YOUR ANSWERS TELLING YOU?
Sacred Travel: My 2023 & 2025 Trips to Salvador da Bahia, Brasil
In 2023 and 2025, I traveled to Salvador da Bahia, Brasil with the amazing support and guidance of tourism innovator Ronnell Perry, founder of AfroBuenaventura Transformative Travel.
Ronnell’s Ancestral Spirits travel experience fed and grounded my spirit, heart, mind, and body with what I needed during both trips.
During my 2023 travel experience, I celebrated my 58th birthday and the kicked off the beginning of my second Saturn Return.
I also fulfilled a lifelong dream of honoring my loving + wise + well ancestors during the 100th anniversary of the Festival de Iemanjá (Yemanya Festival).
While I was there, I made a deep connection to the Candomble Oxishas and was inspired to create poetry, drawings, and a wire sculpture collection that honored Iemanja, Oxun, Iansa, Xango, Ewa, Oxossi, and Ogum.
In 2025, I returned to Salvador da Bahia to celebrate my 60th birthday and honor the ancestral ascension of my mother Theresa during the 102nd anniversary of the Festival de Iemanjá.
My soul sistalove Tonya Butler-Truesdale also participated in the Ancestral Spirits experience.
Last year, I took a deeper dive into the Afro-Brazilian art, cuisine, culture, fashion, and spirituality.
Extending my stay several days to explore various neighborhoods and museums helped me make a commitment to learn and master Brazilian Portuguese over the next five years, identify and respond to art fellowships, begin the journey of developing my second novel about an African American woman in Salvador da Bahia, seek out Afro-Brazilian experiences and friendships in my local community, and plan future trips to Brasil.
Ronnell and AfroBuenaventura Transformative Travel continue to be an integral part of my Brazilian journey.
He was recently featured in an Ebony article about Salvador da Bahia by Rondel Holder. READ IT HERE.
THANK YOU, SOUL BROTHALOVE RONNELL, FOR ALL YOU ARE AND DO!!!!!
Photo Credit: Ronnell Perry
WISDOM: January Wisdom from My Womanline Ancestors on My Mom Theresa’s Side
This winter, I have been spending time deepening my connection to and cultivating my relationships with “womanline” ancestors on my mother Theresa’s side. They remind me to take care of myself. Their wisdom is guiding me as I navigate several experiences that I am choosing to label “THE UNKNOWN.” They are a wellness lifeline. Check out their wisdom below.
ARE YOU CONNECTED TO YOUR ANCESTORS?
WHAT TYPE OF WISDOM HAVE YOU RECEIVED FROM YOUR ANCESTORS?
6 ANCESTRAL WISDOM MESSAGES
1) We Share A Powerful Connection with Creator and Ancestors That Creates Divine WE-NESS
2) Ancestors Are Our Anchors in the Ocean of Unknown Waiting for Us to Ask Them for Support
3) Our Seeds of Creativity Are Planted in Fertile Ground Loved, Watered, Nurtured, Protected, and Harvested by Our Ancestors
4) Investing Our Love, Learn About, and Cultivate Relationships and Communicate with Our Ancestors
5) We Are Our Ancestors’ Legacy and Vessels of Expression and Blessing for Carrying On
6) We Are Never Alone Because We Belong to Our Ancestors Who Watch Over and Witness Us at All Times
SPOKEN WORD MUSIC
Click the video below and listen to my spoken word music entitled “Ancestral Medicine” that is featured on my debut album, Thriving Mindfully As Theresa’s Daughter that was produced by Garnet Jay, founder of Footprint Productions, in 2025. Click the button below to buy and download the album. It is available on Bandcamp, Apple Music, YouTube Music, and all streaming platforms except Amazon and Spotify.
WITNESS: The Power and Presence of Witnessing
Yesterday, I wrote a post on my Substack page about WITNESS. If you’re on Substack, check me out and subscribe here.
For me, WITNESS means being present, acknowledging, honoring, and making meaning and memories. I decided to repost it here.
WHAT DOES WITNESS MEAN TO YOU?
SUBSTACK POST
After reading Marilyn Fontaine’s Substack’s post about Katrice Horsley’s Substack post, I was reminded of the presence and power of one of my winter season words – WITNESS.
WITNESS reminds me to choose my birthright of mindfulness and notice what I am experiencing and needing each day.
WITNESS reminds me to slow down and notice what’s happening in my body (nervous system), spirit, heart (emotions), and mind (thoughts) when I move around, create, and share my creativity.
WITNESS reminds me to pay attention to what I give my attention to (what I see, read, watch, and take in).
WITNESS reminds me to notice my actions, behavior, choices, and words and their impact on myself and others.
WITNESS reminds me to notice the people around me, communities I move in and out of, and their impact on me.
WITNESS reminds me to notice what’s working and not working in my life and the gaps that may exist or need to be filled.
WITNESS reminds me to honor and trust my intuition.
WITNESS reminds me how grateful and blessed I am to be alive, connected to DIVINE ONENESS and my loving + wise + well ancestors, and able to tap into love, grace, gratitude, and my sacred senses.
WITNESS reminds me how beautiful and freeing it is to be right where I am in my life at this moment.
WITNESS reminds me how lovely it is to share my thoughts, writing, art, videos, photos, podcast, news, and other things with you and check out what you are sharing just because it feels good to share.
I give thanks for the presence and power of WITNESS and witnessing.
Something Powerful Happened Last Night: Reflections on Unity & Presence Book Club Reading of My Debut Novel, “Love’s Troubadours”
Something powerful happened last night as I sat in community with the members of the Unity and Presence Book Club in Odenton, Maryland.
As we discussed my debut novel, Love’s Troubadours – Karma: Book One, I witnessed the powerful impact of what I co-created with Creator and my loving + wise + well ancestors.
I experienced in real-time the beauty and blessing of having the book we co-wrote be examined inside out. It was a joy to listen to everyone’s reflections and insights. It was one of the most soul- affirming and fulfilling experiences I have had as a writer.
It was also inspiring and encouraging as I prepare to celebrate the 20th anniversary of Love’s Troubadours with some new stories in 2027.
Special thanks to the Unity and Presence Book Club for reading my book and inviting me to lead their first discussion for 2026.
Love’s Troubadours is a self-love and yoga-inspired novel about Karma Francois, a thirtysomething, California-born BoHo BAP (Bohemian Black American Princess) with Louisiana roots and urban debutante flair. When the novel begins, Karma’s life has taken a sudden drastic turn. Her relationships and the museum curator career that she struggled to form in New York City have crumbled, leaving no viable options to rebuild. Relocating to Washington, D.C., Karma struggles with denial, depression, and debt. A lack of full-time employment opportunities forces her to craft a gypsy existence as a Jill of Many Trades: yoga teacher, art consultant, and freelance curator. Unable and unwilling to appreciate these jobs as gifts, she wallows in a pool of lost identity—and doesn’t see a way to keep from drowning. When she looks in the mirror, Karma sees a woman whose choices have dishonored her true character. Now, for the first time in her life, Karma must learn to see herself for who she really is.
Stay tuned for upcoming posts about the making of the novel and what’s next.
Happy Winter Solstice!
The Winter Solstice is finally here! That means the winter season has officially begun. For the past 30+ years, I have incorporated the winter season wisdom of Traditional Chinese Medicine into my mindful self-care practices.
In Traditional Chinese Medicine, the winter season is an invitation to be, not do. It is a time to come home to yourself with softness by honoring your spirit, heart, mind, and body with loving kindness, compassion, nonjudgment, patience, and forgiveness.
If you need some inspiration on slowing down and being still this winter, listen to my song “Honour Your Body (Embodiment)” that is featured on my debut spoken word album, Thriving Mindfully As Theresa’s Daughter. Listen to the video below.
Click the button below for more information about and to buy Thriving Mindfully As Theresa’s Daughter that was produced by Garnet Jay, founder of Footprint Productions. The album is available on Bandcamp, Apple Music, YouTube, and other streaming platforms except Amazon and Spotify.
BE F.R.E.E. AT 61
HAPPY NEW MOON IN SAGITTARIUS!
It’s also the second day of my 61st year.
Jasmin tea and my lovely Amy Sherald-inspired journal have been keeping me company as I allow myself to reflect fully and freely without censorship.
What’s coming to mind are my intentions to be a divine vessel of “kreative grooviness” at the soulful, sparkling, and sensational age of 61.
One of my kreative grooviness intentions is to be F.R.E.E. — FUCKING + REAL + EXTRA + EXPANSIVE — in how I express what I am called to give birth to as a divine vessel with J.E.G.G. — JOY + EASE + GRACE + GRATITUDE.
I invite you to listen to my song “New Moon” and experience what I mean by being a F.R.E.E divine vessel of kreative grooviness with J.E.G.G. Click on the video below to hear it.
“New Moon” is a part of my debut spoken word album entitled Thriving Mindfully As Theresa’s Daughter that was produced by Garnet Jay, founder of Footprint Productions (released November 20).
Let me know if you have any intentions you are embracing this season in the comment section.
You can buy and download my new album for yourself or as a gift on Bandcamp.
It is also available on Apple Music, YouTube Music, and other streaming platforms except Amazon and Spotify.
Last Day of My 60th Year
Today marks the last day of my 60th year.
What a year it’s been of actively witnessing, wrestling with, and welcoming my self-vulnerability in my spirit, heart, mind, body, practices of grace + forgiveness + gratitude, curiosity, creativity, book writing and publishing, birthing process of debut spoken word album, relationships, abundance + finances, business, career, grief and healing journey, yoga + meditation path, tennis + fitness growth, Brazilian Portuguese language learning, travel adventures, and “chakra castle” home.
It’s definitely been a FULL YEAR filled with the privilege of getting to be ME each moment of each day.
That’s why I am slowing down to reflect about, give thanks for, and celebrate who I have become and who Spirit and the loving + wise + well ancestors are guiding me to be at the
soulfully surrendered,
self-lovingly soft,
sparkling,
sensual,
stylish,
strategically secure,
seasoned,
and strong 61.
Give Yourself the Gift of Self-Vulnerability This Holiday Season!
Hey there!
What gifts are you giving yourself this holiday season?
I am giving myself the gift of several self-vulnerability dates where I carve out time to meditate, reflect, journal, write poetry, and create art (drawings and collages) about the ups, downs, and in-betweens of this year.
This morning, I reflected on my 61st birthday which is fast approaching (December 18th). My reflections took me back to my first trip to Negril, Jamaica with my Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority Soror Karla Ray Thompson in December 1992. That trip was really special because I turned 28 on the beach and surrendered to my first Saturn Return (astrology lovers like myself can appreciate this experience).
That trip offered me sacred and safe space to embrace and express self-vulnerability. That experience of telling myself the TRUTH about what I felt, thought, believed, and what was and was not happening in my world was MESSY, SCARY, MAGICAL, OVERWHELMING, and LIBERATING all at the same time. It helped me speak to my heart, listen to myself without judgment, and come home to myself. It marked the beginning of a major shift in how I showed up in my life, relationships, and career. It also laid the foundation for my Thriving Mindfully heart-centered approach to being, living, and serving humanity with my gifts.
Click on the video and listen to the “Thriving Mindfully Theme,” one of the nine spoken word poems on my newly released debut album entitled Thriving Mindfully As Theresa’s Daughter.
Click the button below to get more information about my album. Buy and download it from Bandcamp, YouTube Music, Apple Music, and other streaming platforms except Amazon and Spotify.
It’s been 33 years since that trip and my heart remains filled with deep gratitude for the gift of self-vulnerability that I continue to give myself and my Thriving Mindfully approach to being, living, and serving humanity with my gifts.
Do you want to learn how to give yourself the gift of self-vulnerability?
Need my coaching support?
GO HERE to sign up to join me for Thriving Mindfully Sundays on December 14th and January 4th from 3:00 p.m. EST to 4:00 p.m. EST via Zoom
I look forward to seeing you at one or both of the Thriving Mindfully Sunday sessions.
Enjoy your holiday season!
Blessings,
Ananda Kiamsha Madelyn Leeke
P.S. SELF-VULNERABILITY TIPS
Ananda Leeke 