January 4, 2007
OPRAH'S EYES
The experience I had over the last 6 days, has Changed the trajectory of my life.
I love it when she says that.
But this is not about Oprah,
but what Oprah does,
or rather the energy her deeds create.
It was a transformative experience to simply be in that energy.
I spoke to her once a day or so,
and I literally mean spoke,
as in one word and sometimes just a wave.
I didn't really CONNECT with OPRAH until the very last moment of my time in Johannesburg.
By that time the transformation had already been complete.
That moment was like watching the sun going down. Simply the natural progression of things, yet some how, every time you see it, it feels like a rare moment.
Beautiful to Behold, especially from the perfect point of view.
That brief moment with Oprah was like watching the sun set in paradise.
What I learned from Oprah in South Africa didn't come from her lips, but rather, her presence.
By being close enough to observe her,
and ESPECIALLY! talk to her friends,
I learned so much,
about myself,
the world,
and my place in the world.
It was an initiation.
Oprah's friends are the highest and most excellent of world leaders in all areas.
The arts, humanities,
business and politics.
Executives
in entertainment,
film,
television
and
music.
Philanthropists, spiritual workers, philosophers, teachers, inventors, billionaires, authors, LEGENDS, ICONS and FUTURE legends and icons.
The words that didn't come from Oprah, came from them.
It was magic,
a miracle,
how I heard everything that I
needed to hear at this time in life from those people.
I not only met, but was received like a queen from the Goddesses,
CISCELY TYSON, (the fact that she even knew
who I was meant so much, the conversations we had, now, that is a whole
other essay!)
Her spirit was 45 years
younger than her body, that was a lesson in and of
itself.
Susan Taylor (well she received me as a princess, but that's only
because she knows my mom so well, she's the Queen in this family of
course)
Patti LaBelle, (LOVE HER!)
Anna Deavere Smith (actor/playwright/professor/author)
Gayle King,
Marianne Williamson (she's awesome!)
Dr. Robin (one conversation by the
pool brought me so much understanding),
Caren Yanis (a true angel)
Sonya Anderson (an inspiration)
Amy Gross (editor-in-cheif of O magazine)
Oprah's make up artist Reggie
(yes, I called him a goddess.. LOL!)
EVEN TinaTurner,
AND EVEN! the first African woman recipient of the Noble peace prize.
WANGARI MAATHAI!
WANGARI MATTHAI!!!!!!!!!!!
I met many WONDERFUL Kings, Scholars and Gentleman.
Sydney Portier is the most beautiful Pisces man,
ANGELIC actually.
Those of you who love astrology know
what I'm talking about. It will take a whole other
essay to explain his beauty to you,
but for now,
for short,
that's how I'll describe him.
If only he were 45 years younger.
Then there's Steadman Graham, who I found out played street ball at
20th street gym with my father when I was a child.
Stedman and his friend Carl Redding,
stood 2 pillars, (6-6 PLUS!) Making me laugh with
stories about my father and seeing me as a child
courtside on the weekends.
Stedman said something I needed to hear to free me from a situation
I've been seeking closure to for YEARS!
But the magic was that I didn't ask, it was
that God was working through him on my behalf and he said PRECISELY
what I needed to hear.
Wintley Phipps (a new hero for me), a classical
Gospel singer/philosopher/wise man/motivational
speaker, Prayed with Chris Tucker and me.
That prayer healed me,
it was the only time I cried while I was there in South Africa.
(and trust me on this.... if you saw the film of the girls at the School
Opening, you would understand why that is saying A LOT!)
Speaking of 45 years younger, Chris Tucker is both an INCREDIBLE
gentleman AND an incredible man. (THAT is yet Another essay!)
I look foreword to calling him friend for many years to come.
On New Years Eve I sat between Berry DeVorzon (google him if you don't
know that name!)
and Babyface.
Even Quincy Jones and Henry Louis Gates were there.
AND EVEN NELSON MANDELA SHOWED UP AT THE SCHOOL OPENING ON THE LAST DAY.
I WAS LIKE WOAH!!!!!
The best I can describe this experience is to say
that, the time I spent in South Africa with Oprah was
a PHENOMENALLY transformative,
EXTREMELY profound
EDUCATION and HEALING.
I choose those words with GREAT
care and intention.
Oprah Winfrey is NO JOKE! I LITERALLY
I said LITERALLY
SAW a light around her.
I was inspired while watching her move
among people, Grounded, strong and AUTHENTIC!
As a matter of fact, I was taken back by her REALNESS.
(Not that I expected superficiality or anything, but I use the word
REALNESS in the way that we of the hip-hop generation use it.
She's SO real,
for-real,
I thought to myself, THAT is what you call grace under pressure.
but I digress…)
SO, imagine how powerful a person Oprah must be to change someone's LIFE
by simply having been in her space,
and I don't speak just for myself.
I heard over and over again from
EVERY SINGLE PERSON I SPOKE WITH,
at the parties, meals, at the airport
and even ON the airplane,
that they were PROFOUNDLY moved.
Moved by both Oprah
AND
by Oprah Winfrey's
Leadership Academy for Girls, class of 2012 and 2013.
They will heal the world with their minds, just the way Oprah does.
Over a 3-day period I wrote a song for "Oprah's Girls."
I played it for them and asked what they thought it should be called.
They named it BEAUTIFUL FLOWER.
(I call it BEAUTIFUL, BRILLIANT, POWERFUL, RESILLIANT ....... because
that's what they are… but maybe that title's too long. LOL!)
After ALLLLLL the festivities,
a LIVELY and ACTIVE 5 days and 6 nights of safari, A big dinner in the
bush,
a New Years Eve celebration like None Other (YET ANOTHER ESSAY!)
and countless breakfasts and dinner conversations with
the most inspiring group of people I have EVER met.
It was refreshing to have a simple quiet moment with the girls.
So the morning of my flight home,
after everything was over,
I went to the school and played some songs
for them, including "Beautiful Flower"
After I sang "Beautiful Flower",
Oprah walked across the room to me and said with tears in her eyes,
"That was REALLY Beautiful,
REALLY beautiful."
We hugged,
and with a million things I wanted to do and say in that moment,
Out of respect for her time and space,
I said "Thank you"
and she said,
"I gotta go do CNN,
but REALLY,
that was BEAUTIFUL."
AND THAT! was the moment of connection I had prayed for before I even
boarded the plane to South Africa.
Now THAT was being touched by an Angel.
Of course, I still have lots of questions I'd like to
ask her, but her REAL Angel Network, her circle of
friends and employees, have answered many of those questions.
NOT BY "WHAT" they said about her,
But rather,
for WHAT, "WHO" THEY ARE, said about her.
It was the energy, meaning the sum total of
those peoples life force, that taught me about Oprah Winfrey's Power,
and
MY OWN.
Its the law of attraction.
Those people were there to show me that which I am.
In South Africa I saw what a true earth mother and world servant looks like.
I saw what ONE person is capable of.
I saw what I am Capable of.
I saw that ALL things are possible.
I saw the future,
I saw MY future.
Oprah showed me ALL of that,
without saying a word.
I saw it in Oprah's vision,
I saw it
In Oprah's Eyes.