“The Yoruba term olujumerin means the “owner of four eyes.” It refers to someone who can peer into the spiritual dimension. In a world imprisoned by materialism, it’s hard to see with spiritual eyes. But that’s the task before us. Nigerian writer Ben Okri says: “most people are born blind; few ever learn to see.”

The reflection above also appeared in my 2008 Sacred Journey Fine Art Calendar along with this very image of the young girl with penetrating eyes. I wasn’t planning to write about this topic or this photo, or this girl today….but such is the power this child possesses. I feel “commanded” to write about her, even though I planned to write about something else.

This photo was taken around 2005/2006. I was in Ile Ife, Nigeria to undergo spiritual initiation to the orisas Sango, Yemoja, Ogun and Obatala. We were driving around the ancient city when the little girl dashed by the car. I told the driver to stop immediately. We followed the young girl and I ask her family for permission to photograph.

The photo session lasted a few minutes – but the memory and the image will speak to the world forever. This image reminds me of the power of Spirit, the ancestors, and the orisas. It’s also a reminder that we must make the world of Spirit our home.

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“Turn the ringer off your phone. Don’t answer the doorbell. Tell your loved ones that you cannot be disturbed. If you get distracted or allow yourself to drift, you will never make it to your destination.” – Walter Mosley, “This Year You Write Your Novel.”

I’ve always loved the advice author Walter Mosley gives to aspiring writers in his book, “This Year You Write Your Novel.” I’ve never read the entire book, but I love what he says in the first chapter about dedication.

What does Mosley’s advice have to do with you or me? Everything! I believe part of each day should be dedicated to something that is sacred to you – something that’s connected to your purpose. In order for this to happen, you have to make sure that YOU are on your own agenda. You have to constantly remind yourself what YOU are about, and then you need to ensure that part of each day is dedicated to doing YOU!

Unfortunately, that’s not how many of us live. Too often, we allow ourselves to be tossed about by the demands of society or family and we forget to pay allegiance to the inner voice. That’s why when Stephanie, my wife, asked me about painting the house, I promptly said: “not today. I’ll do it on Saturday.”

See….I take the journey to the film seriously. I’ll paint the house – BUT not during hours when I’m supposed to be working on the film. I have a schedule and I stick to it. (Emergencies, of course, are an exception).

I believe we all should have a sacred routine. Learn to say NO. Learn to honor your sacred space. Make sure that that YOUR vision is part of your daily ritual. (Your family will just have to deal with it).

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The comment from Mackala Fall, our FB French translator, caught me off guard. I was telling him how it seems very likely that we’ll get funding for our film this year, and I’ll be traveling to L.A. in August to meet a potential investor.

Mackala simply said: “Don’t make haste. Even if we are funded next year or the year after our vision will come true.” His remark made me think about “Asiko Olorun” (God’s Time). In society that rewards us for “getting things done,” setting goals and achieving them, it’s very difficult for most of us to consider that are other ways of organizing our lives and reaching our goals.

We tend to forget that there’s an “appointed time” – a sacred time when things are meant to unfold. This doesn’t mean that we don’t take steps to advance toward our visions – it means that we learn to approach our aspirations with patience and the understanding that there is a greater force at work – and what will be, will be when the right conditions come together.

I can tell you without hesitation that if I received funding for this film two years ago, Across The King’s River would not have been nearly as good as it can be now. Why? Because some of the kindred souls that are working on the project now were not around at the time; Plus, there were other things I needed to learn. I also had to leave some people behind. Yes, sometimes you need to “cut folks loose” too.

Know that there is an appointed time- you’ll know it when it arrives. The path will be made clear. So many things will begin to make sense! Your spirit will talk to you. You’ll feel it in your bones!

James Weeks

Producer, Across The King’s River

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African Researcher Discussing Vodun/Voodoo

“Respect for nature, a comprehensive worldview that has a solution for everything, the answer of the ancestors to the philosophical questions people ask: “Where are we? Who are we? Where do we come from?” That's how one African describes Vodun/Voodoo in the link I've attached above – a philosophy that has been demonized and ridiculed in racist films and books for decades.

Although I've known for many years that the twisted portrayal of voodoo in Hollywood and the media has nothing to do with the truth of the religion and how it is practiced in Africa and the diaspora, I was still touched by what Gabin Djmasse (the researcher) had to say.

Here are my favorite quotes:

* Nature must be respected; you must not violate the laws of nature.

* In our culture, one must never deliberately choose evil. If you choose evil be sure that it will turn against you because you are not respecting the principles of nature.

* In the education, initiation and practice of Vodun, we teach the importance of respecting nature.

* When we say respect for nature, it includes human beings.

* You must not think evil thoughts.

In the book “Flash of the Spirit,” historian Robert Farris Thompson describes Hatian Vodun as “one of the richest and and most misunderstood religions of the planet. A vibrant sophisticated synthesis of the traditional religions of Dahomey, Yorubaland, and Kongo with an infusion of Roman Catholicism.” Thompson's book also pays tribute to the sacred art of Vodun and other African-inspired spiritual traditions.

Although my upcoming film does not take us into Vodun territory, we make reference to this ancient tradition from time to time. We will attempt to set the record straight once and for all. Hollywood and the media will not have the last word – the ancestors will!

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We return to theme of Vision because we firmly believe it's our obligation. Who's we? The elders. The ancestors. The orisas that empower, protect and inspire us.

Why do we return constantly to the theme of Vision? Because we believe that all who embark on the quest for vision ultimately discover that they are not only better off, but happier. Not only happier, but stronger. Not only stronger but more creative. Not only more creative but more resourceful. Not only more resourceful but more courageous. Not only more courageous but more alive. Not only more alive but more aware.

Aware of what? The source of your own power!

But the source of your own power is only one of the many gifts you discover all the way. You also discover kindred souls that help you to realize that the journey is not only about what you become and the lessons you learn. It's also about humility. Allowing yourself to be an instrument for a force greater than yourself.

The reconnection and reawakening of kindred spirits is a treasure like no other. All who experience it can never fully be the same again.

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“Ore me atata” means my dear friend – or my important friend. That’s how my close friend and brother, Ifasola, greets me when he calls. He’s pictured with his eyes closed in this photo. I’ve known him for more than 13 years. He was one of my first Yoruba language instructors. I would meet him at his house for private lessons. To my delight, sometimes the lessons came along with meals: obe eja ati isu (fish stew in a spicy tomato sauce and thick slices of yams).

Ifasola is important to me not just because of our friendship – but because he serves as a translator for Aseda, the elder in the trailer. (Both Ifasola and Aseda are in the trailer). When Aseda consults Ifa and has important messages to relay to me, Ifasola delivers the messages. Though I’ve learned to speak Yoruba over the years, I don’t speak the Ife dialect – the dialect that is native to Aseda. (Yoruba has more than 20 dialects and just because you’re Yoruba doesn’t mean you can understand all of them).

I think of Ifasola and all of the elders as part of the “King’s River” crew. This film doesn’t stand a chance without their full support. On a spiritual level, with the help of the orisas, they ensure things go smoothly and help open doors for us. Before we return to Africa to begin major production on this film, they will do a spiritual evaluation of the entire film crew to ensure they’re up to the task and that the mission is successful. They will also eliminate anyone they don’t feel is right for the project.

My friendship with Ifasola is a powerful one but it hasn’t been an easy one. I’ve had to learn to trust the guidance of Aseda and the orisas. This means following through with “ebos” (spiritual rituals/sacrifices) from time to time to protect my family and/or others that I love when circumstances demand it My friendship with Ifasola has also taught me that no culture has a monopoly on wisdom. Yes, we have a a lot to learn from the ancient world – but the ancient world has a lot to learn from us as well. May we all be good students.

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“The constant soldier is never unready, even once/ This was the teaching of Ifa for Igbin, the snail, the courteous one./ Who was going to engage Ekun, the leopard in a sudden fight./ They said that Ekun was always ready for battle, and that Igbin should not engage him. One whom we cannot engage in battle, we leave to the Lord of Heaven” -Owonrin Otura, Sacred Verse of Ifa

This passage from our sacred texts sums up how I feel – or what I've become after being on the journey of this film for so long – a warrior who has become conditioned by time and adversity to stop at nothing. A warrior that has been conditioned by the elders in Africa to zero in on a target – and to remain focused until we hit that target. No matter what obstacles appear along the way – no matter how many times the warrior might be abandoned – or “left for dead.”

There is no vision without fire – the fire of adversity – the fire of doubt, the fire of loss – yet I believe the fire of our vision makes us better people – stronger and more resourceful. All who dare to fulfill the dream they've been entrusted with must befriend fire – and warriorship. What fire are you willing to confront? When?

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There's not a single reason why you should not be following your dreams – the mission that you feel you came to earth to fulfill. Every excuse you offer is just that – an excuse. But all excuses are invalid. There is only one right answer – you will do what your soul instructs you to do.

That's how I interpret the Yoruba proverb that inspires me so much it became the title of the film. The proverb says: “A command from a king cannot be refused/ The King has sent the command/ The river is deep/ A command from a King cannot be refused.”

In traditional Yoruba culture, kings are considered sacred. But I interpret the king as a metaphor for the soul – the higher force that has sent all of us on a mission. “The river is deep” implies that there's a potential for danger; we could even die in the process. But the proverb ends by reminding us that there is no choice but to follow through with the command.

To me this proverb hints at a higher way of living our lives – a more courageous way of being in a world that has lost touch with its soul. I've come to believe that many of us have become so used to living without vision that we think it's normal – we have become so used to living without dedication to anything and unfortunately we think that's normal too.

A closer walk with your vision – a closer walk to who you are. That's what I hope this film will deliver to you.

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“I stay open to all things. In a state of total availability. Everything impregnates me an the music passes through me like a Santeria trance. I fight not to be swallowed by the imperatives and prefabricated limits of society.” – Omar Sosa, visionary jazz composer.

I’ve always loved this quote by Omar Sosa. I had an opportunity to meet him more than 7 years ago before I even had the idea to make a documentary film. I had no idea that I would one day ask him to be the composer for the film and that he would say yes.

This experience has taught me so much about the leadership of the Spirit and heart. I believe both Spirit and heart travels far ahead of our logical minds. I might not have known that my meeting with Omar was significant and would lead somewhere – but my Spirit knew.

Although we are all conditioned to “think everything through” and to have a “plan of action” for everything, I’ve believe we can accomplish so much if we simple allow ourselves to be used by the Universe – trusting the heart, the spirit and the subtle voices of the ancestors.

Once I asked Omar Sosa how he’s able to hear the spiritual dimension so clearly amidst the clatter of daily noise. “It’s simple,” he said. “I listen.”

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The image has been haunting me for days. The image of cancer eating away at Gene – my next door neighbor. An elderly man, a big, strapping man who until recently, seemed to be in good health. In my mind's eye, I still see him bustling about in the backyard, whistling and calling out to me from time to time from over the wooden fence. And I'll never forget all the times he tried to flirt with Stephanie, my wife. (I thought it was cute)

But that wasn't the man we found two days ago. Claudette, Gene's wife, called Stephanie and I to help lift him off the floor and back into bed. He groaned in agony; both feet were swollen. He was still dressed in pajamas and was barely able to recognize us.

As I looked at Gene I couldn't help but think of the elders in Nigeria – Aseda and Agbonbon – two master Ifa diviners that you'll meet in the film. I thought about them and I thought about all the ebos, the sacrifices they've done over the years to protect me and family from health problems and other disasters. At times it was hard for me to fully appreciate all their work because it can be expensive. (Although I would thank them, inside I would also grumble).

Gene's sudden deterioration was yet another reminder about how fragile this existence is – and how nothing must be taken for granted. Not this minute – not the next. His bout with cancer also inspires me to learn more about my elders and their lifelong commitment to Ifa and the healing arts. I am filled with gratitude. Where the elders and the orisas lead, I will follow.

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