Black harpists have carved out a profound and unique space within the world of meditation and sound healing. While the harp is often associated with European classical music, its roots and its contemporary application by Black artists bridge ancient African traditions with modern wellness, making their contribution culturally and spiritually significant.

Pioneers of Spiritual Jazz and Healing

The shift toward using the harp specifically for deep meditation and spiritual transcendence was pioneered by figures like Alice Coltrane and Dorothy Ashby.

Alice Coltrane: Perhaps the most influential figure in this space, she integrated Eastern philosophy and Vedic chanting with the harp. Her music wasn’t just “background” for meditation; it was designed to be a meditative journey in itself, focusing on the concept of Turiyatita (a state of pure consciousness).

Dorothy Ashby: She broke barriers by bringing the harp into jazz and soul, proving the instrument’s versatility in creating “groove-based” meditation that resonates with the rhythms of Black life.

Modern Sound Healing and Wellness
Today, a new generation of Black harpists is explicitly focusing on the wellness industry. Their work is significant because it provides:

Representation in Wellness: In a meditation industry that can often feel exclusionary, Black harpists create spaces where Black practitioners feel seen and heard.

Somatic Resonance: The physics of the harp—where the player leans the instrument against their body—creates a physical vibration that many find deeply grounding for somatic healing and nervous system regulation.

The presence of Black harpists in meditation is significant because it challenges the “ethereal” stereotype of the harp, grounding it instead in rhythm, soul, and a deep-seated history of survival and peace.

On Inner Harmony and Resonance

• I am tuned to the frequency of my own peace.

• Like a harp, I allow my experiences to vibrate through me without breaking me.

• I honor the tension in my life, knowing it is necessary to create a beautiful song.

• My spirit resonates with the wisdom of those who came before me.

A Meditative Practice

“The harp is an instrument that you lean into. It rests against your shoulder and vibrates against your chest. When you speak these affirmations, imagine that same resonance—feel the words vibrating in your own body rather than just thinking them.”

<p>The post Afro Harpists: Pioneers in Spiritual Jazz and Healing (w/affirmations) first appeared on Survivor Affirmations.</p>

In times of uncertainty, it is easy to feel pulled in a dozen directions by the noise of the world. This post is a gentle reminder that while you cannot always control the storm, you can choose where to drop your anchor.

Grounding Affirmation

“In the midst of chaos and crisis, I give myself permission to let go of the noise. I choose to protect my peace and focus my energy on what is truly meaningful to me. My values are my compass, and they will lead me through.”

Why Prioritizing Meaning Matters Right Now

When everything feels like an emergency, our “urgent” brain takes over, often leaving us depleted. Returning to what is meaningful helps you:

• Conserve Emotional Energy: You stop trying to solve things that aren’t yours to carry.

• Maintain Clarity: Focusing on your core values (like family, health, or creative purpose) acts as a filter for decision-making.

• Build Resilience: We can endure almost any “how” if we have a “why.” Meaning provides that “why.”

How to Shift Your Focus Today

1. Identify the “Vital Few”: Ask yourself, “If I could only protect three things today, what would they be?”

2. Mute the Excess: Give yourself a scheduled break from news cycles or high-stress social feeds.

3. Honor Tiny Rituals: If connection is meaningful to you, a five-minute phone call to a loved one is more grounding than an hour of scrolling.

Remember: Choosing what matters isn’t selfish; it is an act of survival and a way to ensure you have the strength to show up for the world later.

Affirmations for Prioritizing Meaning in Chaos

• I am the architect of my attention; I choose to build my focus around what is truly meaningful.

• Even when the world is loud, my inner peace remains my highest priority.

• I release the weight of things I cannot change to make room for the people and purposes I love.

• My values are my North Star; they guide me clearly through the fog of any crisis.

• I am not required to carry the world’s weight; I am only required to show up for what matters most.

• I honor my boundaries by saying “no” to the noise and “yes” to my soul’s essential needs.

• I find strength in my “why,” choosing growth and connection over fear and distraction.

• My worth is not defined by the chaos around me, but by the love and intention I pour into my day.

• In moments of overwhelm, I return to the present and focus only on the next meaningful step.

• I trust my heart to recognize what is essential and my hands to let go of the rest.

<p>The post Finding Your Anchor: How to Prioritize What Matters in Times of Chaos first appeared on Survivor Affirmations.</p>

Black culture is truly a wonderful vibe. Being Black is a beautiful blessing I wouldn’t trade for anything in the world!

Dear God, thank You for the gift of Blackness. 🙏🏾#BlackCulture #BlackPeople #BlackLife #BlackJoy #BlackLove pic.twitter.com/cmpDtnL9Iy

— Black, Beautiful, & Blessed (@MelanatedTalk) January 13, 2026

For no reason.

Because Black culture is so beautiful.

Aesthetics.

Resilience,

Creativity,

and community that have built the world rather than tearing it down.

Spiritual traditions

Healing vibes.

Innovative

Uplifting 

and ever-evolving language

Artistry

Black culture.

<p>The post Black Culture is SO Beautiful first appeared on Survivor Affirmations.</p>

We had a toddler visit us and I forgot what it was like.

I accidently sat on Mickey (the stuffed animal) and she acted like I killed him dead.

I turned the channel because I wasn’t used to her being there so I picked up my remote and turned to my channel and she went off.

We were in the car. No Wifi in some spots. No Youtube videos. Another tantrum. 

Sing her song when she doesn’t want you to sing it. Tantrum.

But those are babies. They just got here. You give them love, snacks, a nap, time alone, or a juice box and they reset. 

We should be embarrassed as a country that words of kindness are a “breaking viral news” moment. Thankfully, women like Lynn Jones are a standard in my culture. Wind beneath our weary wings. 

As it so happens this conversation grabbed me. My bachelors degree is in Organizational Management and Development-it is a degree that helps businesses to see people are every businesses greatest asset. For all the complaints about AI, what Lynn Jones did is what no machine can do without the aid of a human being.

She read the room. She read the person. She was human. She was humane. 

We’ve all seen these “journalists” being intentionally cruel. Who was that that asked the player who just lost his parent or grandparent where he was spending Thanksgiving knowing full well he just lost them? The player immediately zoned out. 

Not only did Coach Liam Coen need that, the country needed that. The calls against “unprofessional” behavior are telling on “professionalism”. You’re telling us that it was never meant to be humane. That it is simply a gatekeeper against human beings and their natural human behavior. Exposed.

And to the women journalists….but for women like Lynn Jones daring to step across lines that never made sense in first place, none of you would be where you are nor wearing what you get to wear.

 If you can only perform your job exactly as you were “trained” and “taught”, you are easily replaceable.

-Tonya GJ Prince

In many spaces, “professionalism” is spoken of as virtue.

Calm.
Controlled.
Polished.
Contained.

But Survivors learn something early:

Sometimes professionalism is not about care.
It is about distance.

It can become a shield people use to avoid:

• sitting with pain
• acknowledging harm
• witnessing truth
• or feeling what has already cost someone dearly to survive

And this lands hardest on the same people again and again:

• Black women, women across the Black diaspora, women from many Asian cultures, and other women whose cultures taught them to carry pain quietly, where emotional restraint is often mistaken for strength and silence is mistaken for maturity 
• neurodivergent people
• Survivors who still have a living nervous system
• Survivors who dare to feel out loud

When we speak plainly.
When our voices carry memory.
When our bodies respond honestly.
When our emotions do not arrive in tidy paragraphs.

We are told:

“Tone it down.”
“Be more professional.”
“Be objective.”
“Be easier to digest.”

But what they often mean is:

Make your humanity smaller so others can stay comfortable.

Even in Survivor spaces.

Especially there.

And that can cut deeper than silence.

Because healing was never meant to require emotional erasure.
Safety was never meant to demand numbness.
Truth was never meant to be filtered through someone else’s tolerance.

So here is your reminder:

Your feelings are not a flaw.
Your nervous system is not an inconvenience.
Your honesty is not unprofessional.

You do not have to sand down your soul to be taken seriously.

You do not have to become quiet to be worthy of care.

You do not have to perform calm to deserve safety.

Some people use “professionalism” to hide from their own unfinished healing.

You are not required to join them there.

You are allowed to be whole.

You are allowed to be seen.

You are allowed to feel — even in rooms that forgot how.

And you are still dignified.
Still wise.
Still credible.
Still sacred.

**And some of these critics have zero empathy of women being punched in the face by men declaring themselves to women, no regard for girls losing to boys or men. So empathy and courage is not their strong muscle. This opens a much needed conversation about how cruel journalists have been to players. Serena, Venus, and others. Empathy and compassion has been lacking for a very long time.

**Speaking of Venus and Serena, they have been telling us the name of the game in sports journalism is to be cruel to athletes since they were children (through their father). Lynn Jones broke that toy and now you see tantrums that outrank toddlers by far.

<p>The post Gratitude to the Humanity of Lynn Jones: When “Professionalism” Is Used as a Shield first appeared on Survivor Affirmations.</p>

The accent.
The neighborhood.
The elders.
The songs.
The faith.
The grit.
The way we survived.

But healing isn’t about waging war on the very ground that held us up when nothing else did.

Survival was not a flaw.
Survival was a blessing.
Survival was wisdom gathered under pressure.

The work now is different:

• We keep what is strong.

• We set down what is harmful.

• We learn new ways without shaming the old ones.

Because while we’re busy rejecting our foundation, there are always others quietly studying it, borrowing from it, profiting from it — and praising themselves for “discovering” what our grandmothers already knew.

You deserve to grow without erasing yourself.

You deserve to rise without apologizing for your roots.

You deserve to heal without rewriting your story as shame.

Your history is not your enemy.
Your history is the soil.

And soil can be enriched, tended, watered — not destroyed.

Affirmations

• I honor the people and places that carried me this far.

• I bless what helped me survive and release what no longer serves me.

• My roots are not a burden — they are strength, memory, and guidance.

• I build forward with gratitude, clarity, and confidence.

<p>The post Artist Jossie Harris Thacker: Building On Where You Come From — Without Going To War With It first appeared on Survivor Affirmations.</p>

Today, I look for quiet, healthy ways to do good.

Photo by Hanna Eberhard

 because my presence in the world carries weight.

I understand that goodness does not require exhaustion.
It does not ask me to abandon myself.
It flows best when I am grounded, nourished, and whole.

I remain open to small acts that matter:
listening without interrupting,
offering help without control,
speaking truth without cruelty,
leaving places and people better than I found them.

I trust my discernment.
I do not rush to fix what is not mine to carry.
I choose actions that align with my values, my capacity, and my health.

When I give, I give with wisdom.
When I rest, I rest without guilt.
Both are forms of service.

I am allowed to do good in ways that are sustainable, humane, and real.
I am learning that consistency matters more than spectacle.
Care, when practiced daily, becomes a quiet force for change.

Today, I move through the world awake—
not hardened, not naïve,
but steady in my intention to contribute goodness where I truly can.

And that is enough.

Someone online found a live map for those who want to support them as they walk to support peace for us all. 

Buddhists do not take what is not given. Kind souls, like the beautiful one in this video, who share and provide offerings are a blessing right now. Spread love generously.

<p>The post An Affirmation for Choosing Active Goodness first appeared on Survivor Affirmations.</p>

<p>The post Inner Pondering| Signs You’re Outgrowing People on Your Spiritual Path | Letting Go with Grace first appeared on Survivor Affirmations.</p>

Stress lowers our vibration and we have to be mindful of what it does to our bodies. Use practices like journaling and meditating to release unwanted stress and release resistance in your life. It’s the key to what is blocking you from your dream life!

(This is cool because I fear that this would give Miss Tonya anxiety. But, I am a huge fan of natural therapy so….maybe not.)

<p>The post Brittany Goodwin| The One Thing Blocking Your Dream Life (And How to Fix It) first appeared on Survivor Affirmations.</p>

<p>The post How to Protect Your Energy Around People first appeared on Survivor Affirmations.</p>

This is a vintage pitcher and wash bowl set. We had this exact set up growing up along with other sets. My mother loved these sets. No one could touch them except to Windex them. LOL. How people used them can be shown in those classic films.

I recently heard a male podcaster proudly say he “doesn’t touch his feet,” as if neglecting parts of his own body was something to brag about.
He is fully able to…
He simply chooses not to.

That moment reminded me of something important:

Your body is not an afterthought.
It is your home. YOUR home.

No one else should decide which parts of you deserve care.

Touch your feet with kindness.
Clean your legs with intention.
Softly scrub your back, your arms, your neck.
Moisturize your skin, thanking it for carrying you through every day that you have lived.

Caring for your skin isn’t about looking perfect.
It’s about whispering to yourself:

“I matter.
My body deserves time.
I am worthy of softness, attention, and care.”

 Body care is not about vanity.
It is about ownership, reclamation, and dignity.

When the skin is not cared for…..

• collagen breaks down faster

• the barrier gets weaker

• hydration escapes

• elasticity decreases

• the skin doesn’t repair well at night

• stress hormones stay elevated

• fine lines deepen

• texture changes

• overall glow dims

It’s not just surface-level.
Lack of care changes the skin’s behavior.

This is why women look visibly older during long periods of stress, grief, overwork, or burnout — our skin reflects how wear and every tear.

⭐ The Beautiful News

 The skin can calm down beautifully with:

• hydration

• gentle cleansing

• soothing oils

• anti-inflammatory rituals

• warm water

• sleep

• less stress

• soft fabrics

• quiet time

• lymphatic massage

• cooling or warm compresses

• consistent care

When you clean your body, you are saying:

• “This body belongs to me.”

• “I deserve to feel good in my own skin.”

• “I am not living in neglect anymore.”

• “I honor myself.”

Articles around good hygiene are disappearing. This is fun for the internet (and billionaires who want more billions) but not good for health. 

• “Personal hygiene: Benefits, types, and routine” — MedicalNewsToday — discusses body hygiene, washing the body, removing bacteria, body odor. Medical News Today

• “Hygiene of the skin: When is clean too clean?” — PMC / NCBI — looks at skin hygiene, washing practices, skin integrity. PMC+1

• “The Importance of Good Hygiene” — HealthyHomeFront — discusses body hygiene, sweat glands, bacteria, irritation. Healthy Homefront –

• “Personal hygiene | healthdirect” — Australian health site — good overview of body hygiene, washing body, preventing infections. Healthdirect

<p>The post 🌿 Reclaiming: Cleaning the Skin Is Caring for the Self first appeared on Survivor Affirmations.</p>