Spirituality | God | Fiction | Drabble | Not So Random
I felt her approach before I saw her.
An ache crept under both shoulder blades. It forced me to squeeze them together, the tendons grating.
A moment later, as if I had an ancestral reflex, I turned my head sharply to the right, and my eyes widened.
Instinctively, I knew she was the head of my family.
“Oh my God!” My words escaped.
She turned and looked at me for one — two — three — four long seconds.
Air refused to leave or enter my body during this time, even as my heart pounded hard against my chest.
Her gaze felt ambrosial. It made me exhale and rub my tongue against the roof of my mouth. In my mind, I tasted something fresh, vibrant, and bursting with citrusy flavors.
Then she spoke. Her voice was like the answer to hundreds of whispered prayers of devotion.
“My son, you mean, oh my Goddess.”
© Scarlet Ibis James, 2024: All Rights Reserved.
God, Yes!
In my stories, I honor polytheistic Gods.
Essay | Writing | Writers On Writing | Writing On Substack |
Last year, I became enthralled by Shante Nixon’s stories about decolonization. The stories landed on me gently and burrowed into my sweet, dark skin. Today, a sprout bloomed, and “Oh God, Xolotl!”
The word ‘God’ is often capitalized to refer to the monotheistic deity worshipped in religions such as Christianity, Islam, and Judaism.
Why not the Gods of my heritage, I wonder.
This capitalization signifies reverence and distinguishes the supreme being from other gods. However, this practice raises an interesting question: Why should capitalization be reserved for specific deities while gods from other rich and diverse pantheons are not given the same grammatical respect?
For me, this ends here and now, God-willing.
Consider the Gods of African, Indian, and Mexican pantheons. Each embodies unique aspects of existence and has been worshipped by millions throughout history.
These deities, such as Xolotl from the Aztec pantheon or Ogun from the Yoruba and Haitian Vodun traditions, hold profound cultural significance. They shape their followers’ spiritual and moral landscapes, guiding their beliefs and actions just as any monotheistic God would.
I will honor the diversity of human spirituality and the multitude of ways people connect with the divine.
My choice to capitalize ‘God’ or ‘Gods’ reflects my attempt to broaden the cultural narratives and equitably share the power dynamics.
Shall we look beyond our religious frameworks and appreciate our shared global spiritual heritage and humanity's vast, intricate richness?
Let us stop delegitimizing all things non-eurocentric.
© Scarlet Ibis James, 2024: All Rights Reserved.