"I'm So Glad We've had this Time Together..."

I am having problems at work. Not because I'm not following the job description to the letter. Nope. My boss admits that I consistently exceed expectations. No, the problem that I am having at work is my appearance. Or shall I say what his perceived view of my appearance should be.

When I began this job 5 years ago, I was not righteous. I came into KOS approximately 2 years (rounded out) ago. Before KOS, I wore makeup, weaves (in various colors and textures) and whatever the hell I wanted. Those days are gone. I now display 3/4th, cover my head and wear no makeup. I don't see what the problem is. I am still the same vain person I was before and my vanity will not allow me to leave the rest unless I look good. I am not dressing like a Mormon. I still consider myself extraordinarily professional. I stopped wearing pants 4 years ago. But since the reason for that change affected nothing else, my boss was cool. Like he had another option.

Today I have on a dress that I have had and worn for at least 3 years. The difference between the way I wear it now and the way I wore it then, is I have removed the belt and the corresponding loops. It's not a sloppy look. The belt showcased the girls a little too much for my comfort. Even when I wore the belt I didn't pull it tight. That's it. But he has a problem with that and said as much. He says the biggest problem that he has is with my head wrap. Its the only thing he can point to for complaining purposes that won't get him in trouble with the law. I wear my head tastefully wrapped. Not saying that I never don the big wraps, but I save those for the weekend. This man's argument is weak!!! He is just being argumentative.

There are 3 other people working here besides myself. One male and two females. The male has no problems whatsoever with how I do. Not that I've ever asked him. But we get along the way we always have. Lately we have been getting along better. Go figure. There is a chick who whispers in the boss' ear about the way I am. But she bitches about everything I do and has done that since I started working here. AND she is a Christian. One of them Christians who always has all her paraphernalia surrounding her. Like her Bible, her highlighter, her books and her WWJD bracelets. Always hollering, "Thank you Jesus" for any reason. Yeesh! I could complain about her, like she does about me, that her stuff makes me nervous. But then I'd be falling to her level of foolishness and I'm not about to do that.

The lone person here who has bothered to ask me what is going on with me is an older woman. She didn't ask right away, she felt me out first. She asked questions I could respect. Questions that weren't accusatory, but sincere questions because she wanted to understand me. Her questions have been answered. And answered right where she is so that she can understand it and pass it on to folks who feel most comfortable going around, rather than to the source. I know that's how my coworkers roll.

It's time to leave here. I see the writing on the wall. I just wish the economy wasn't so shitty. Or I'd have been out on the 1st thing smoking. I know Gods never face this problem. There appearance usually doesn't change. But does any one have any experience with this level of bullshit? I'd like to consider it....


Peace

Serenity's Guide to Style...

I know I said I was done with this topic, but clearly it is still weighing on my mind. Every Earth does ¾ differently. That is strictly between that Earth and her God. And since this is a self styled Nation and we all got our own thing going on, I have decided to share what my “3/4” is. I’m certain my God will add on.

First I want to define what it means to me and why I observe it. (1) I am Earth; therefore, I imitate the planet. As the planet is covered ¾ with water, so I shall cover my planet (body) ¾ with clothing. (2) Modesty. (3) ¾ is a display of how I divide my Understanding by this Culture. Meaning how I display this Culture is based on my Understanding. Onto my personal rules…..

There are rules that I have that I have always had. I keep the goodies covered. Though some of the goodies aggressively show themselves no matter what I do so I give them their space.
Nothing tight. Tight is in the eye of the beholder. This eye says that if the clothes make you feel like a sausage then they are too tight. I call that sausage-ism. If you constantly have to pull up or down anything guess what? Too tight. But if you can comfortable exist in your clothing all day long, then that’s peace.

This is completely a Serenity thing… I don’t wear pants for the most part. I don’t think I have the body for pants, and I don’t like how men looked at me when I had them on. When I do wear them it’s because I’m working out or outside, so I’m a leave this one alone.

No skirts above the knee. There are plenty of reasons why this is a Serenity Rule. First of all…. I don’t like my knees. Secondly, its not age appropriate for me. I’m looking 40 in the nose! And thirdly, if a skirt is at or above you knees, when you sit or bend down it will really hike up and give the people a show.

Most of my skirts are long with varying levels of “form-fittedness”. But again nothing that makes me uncomfortable or ashamed. If I should wear a skirt that is closer to the knee, but will accommodate me bending or sitting, then I will wear a sleeve length that comes to at least mid upper arm and a headwrap.

I consider tall boots as a leg covering and add it to my calculation.

I have no problem with sleeveless tops. But I will wear a long skirt with them and a headwrap.

I know that we are not required to wear headwraps as long as everything else is covered ¾. But I have gotten comfortable with the wrap and will probably have one on for the next minute. And frankly, I don’t see me coming out of it unless my hair starts to complain. When my locs get a little longer, I may allow them to creep out of the wrap.

I will admit to wearing a lot more closer-to-the-knee-skirts in the winter. That’s because the sleeves go down to the wrist and there are always tall boots.

I consider ¾ as the starting point and not the entire goal. For example as I write this, I have an ankle length full skirt, a turtleneck, tall boats, a jacket and a headwrap. Only my face and hands are exposed. I’m probably closer to 7/8 than ¾. And that’s okay with me.

This is a pet peeve of mine…. Undergarments should not be seen from the outside of your clothes. If you are dark and wear a white bra (and vice versa), folks can see that through a lot of tops. STOP THAT! They make bras in various colors. And if you can’t find one that won’t show through you clothes, then wear a camisole. That is what they are there for. And never underestimate the value of a slip. I know this is me getting old. I used to couldn’t stand or understand slips. But everybody does not need to know what the shape of my leg looks like.

No chemicals in the hair. I had already given up the perms, but as I get older, the desire to color my hair is becoming stronger. Coloring, for the most part, is chemicals. Henna seems like a good option because it’s natural, but it doesn’t come in the shade I want (Jet Black) and stylists don’t really know how to apply it correctly. Non-Nation folks be like, “Why even bother? You wear a headwrap!” But that is that simple thinking that folks do. I don’t do this for others. I take care of myself for me! When I look in the mirror I NEED to be satisfied with what I see.

The last thing I’m a discuss is the saddest and most missed…. No Makeup. **sniff** I’m a leave this alone. I still ain’t strong enough to talk about giving up this one. It’s still tender…..


This is a question I have….. Why is it there are no rules for the Gods? Why I gotta see their drawers when they not my God? Why do they wear these intensely baggy clothing looking like they playing dress up in their Father’s clothes? Or these intensely tight pants that squeeze the jewels and allow no air up and through? How are you going to build a Nation if your swimmers are defective?

I am not advocating restrictive rules and dogma. One of the things I love about this Nation is the way we are each allowed to manifest the lessons for ourselves. I’m just one Earth sharing how she doeseth her thang.



Peace

Earthly Limitations

The previous blog got me thinking. Then a thread in a forum I frequent has kept it close to the forefront of my mind…. ¾th’s Hmmmmm….?

As an Earth, I adhere to the 3/4 restriction. (Dividing my understanding with my Culture) I choose to cover 3/4th’s of my body when I’m outside the house and/or in front of people I wouldn't ordinarily undress in front of. I do it because as an Earth I represent the planet, I display my chosen culture and for modesty. I'm fine enough to need not put my goodies on display. Ok. No big deal. But further research into other cultures that have a female clothing restrictions (Rastafarian, Islamic, Jewish, etc.) have me re-considering my own display.

Right now, I keep my head covered (I have found that I really like this aspect), wear (for the most part) only skirts/dresses outdoors, no make up (I‘m still not over this part yet), no perms but locs. I previously stated that I have no problem with this. I actually like it. I know I could wear my hair out, but right now I’m feeling my scarves/wraps/hats/whatever. We’ll see what happens with that in the future. But these Muslim women have taken hijab to a higher level.

Google ‘hijab’. There are so many proud fashion conscious Muslimahs out there putting up pics that have me actually wanting some of that. There head coverings are different from the way Earths usually cover their heads. I tried to google the restrictions of hijab and from my understanding they must cover all but their faces, hands and feet. Nothing tight or form fitting. Ladies rocking the purdah style can only show their eyes. I’m not so interested, nor is it necessary to be so restrictive in the purdah style, but some of that hijab is really really nice.

I wear my skirts/dresses passed the knee, sometimes to the ground, sometimes not. I don’t wear tight clothes on general principle. But, apparently, I wear my garments tighter than the muslimahs. And I don’t cover my neck. Not planning too either. So, clearly, there are some differences between how we do it. And there should be since we aren’t, to my knowledge, fashioned after them.

Another thing is the Earth babies? When should they begin to observe 3/4ths? Always? After the onset of their menses? After they have made a personal decision to add on with our Nation? And what about wigs? Jewish ladies sometimes wear wigs in lieu of a head covering.

So these are some of my thoughts on a Friday after-evening. How do y’all see it?


Peace

The Public Face of our Nation

I have said this before on numerous occasions, usually to people who are not listening or who quickly dismiss what I have said. The path is not easy for a woman in this nation. Why? Because we are the public face of this nation.

When you see a God walking down the street, how do you know that he is a true and living God? You wait for him to say it. Oh you may infer it by his actions or the skull hat with the tassle but how do you know? He has to tell you. But when you see an Earth... If she is displaying 3/4th, then you know without speaking to her that she is Earth (If you know what an Earth is). Why? Because she has her head covered in a non-Muslim way, most of her body is covered, and she is not wearing makeup.

I appreciate the sentiment that this woman has put out there. She is not part of our Nation. She is a Muslimah that wears a hijab. But she has the same issues that I have found with the 3/4ths. The looks, the comments, the questions, the preconceived ideas. And I'm not saying that I have a problem with it. I have come to really appreciate it's intricacies. I'm just saying, it's nice not to be alone.


Peace