Afrikan Wisdom is a collection of 30 spiritual essays written by an eclectic group of inspirational Black thought leaders and teachers who reflect on the unique experience of being Black in the world today.
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Dr. Valerie Mason-John ~ Afrikan Wisdom
Join Valerie Mason-John for an event on her book, Afrikan Wisdom — spiritual, political, and interdisciplinary anthology of wisdom stories from Black liberation leaders and teachers.
Afrikan Wisdom represents an intersectional, cross-pollinated exploration of Black life–past, present, and future. Award-winning author and editor Valerie Mason-John (Vimalasara)’s collection of 34 essays–written by an eclectic and inspirational group of Black thought leaders and teachers–reflects on the unique and multilayered experience of being Black in the world today.
This anthology instills in readers the knowledge, awareness, validation, and spiritual tools necessary to nurture both individual and collective liberation. It is both an inspiration and a motivation for Black readers, as well as anyone else interested in reading about emerging spiritual voices. Topics include:
• African and Afro-Diasporan cultures, histories, spiritualities, art, music, and literature
• Black radical traditions of liberation and consciousness
• Anticolonialism and antislavery
• Buddhist philosophy
• Social and environmental justice
• The prison industrial complex and mass incarceration
• (Kemetic) yoga, healing, and mindfulness
• Intersections with Indigenous cultures
• Addiction and recovery
• Transgenerational trauma
Dr. Valerie (Vimalasara) Mason-John, M.A. (hon.doc) is a public speaker and master trainer in the field of conflict transformation, leadership and mindfulness. They are also the author of ten books and the Co-Founder of Eight Step Recovery, an alternative to the 12-step program for addiction.
Valerie (Vimalasara) Mason-John is an award-winning author and editor of ten books, including Eight Step Recovery: Using The Buddha’s Teachings to Overcome Addiction, and Detox Your Heart: Meditations for Emotional Trauma. This year their book I Am Still Your Negro: An Homage to James Baldwin was shortlisted for both the Dorothy Livesay and Gerald Lampert Awards.
Vimalasara is an accredited Life Coach and Addictions Coach. They are also one of the founding facilitators of Dr Gabor Mate’s Compassionate Inquiry CI course. They are trained in both CI and Internal Family Systems IFS, and work as a Mindfulness Coach to help liberate people from the prison of their minds. They are ordained into the Triratna Community, and have been practising Buddhism for over 30 years.
Vimalasara co-edited the award winning book Eight Step Recovery: Using The Buddha’s Teachings To Overcome Addiction. There are Eight Step Recovery meetings on several continents, and this free program has become part of many other recovery modalities. They are also the Co-Founder of the accredited program Mindfulness Based Addiction Recovery MBAR, a cousin of Mindfulness Based Relapse Prevention. There are MBAR facilitators in several countries.