I first learned about RasTafarI in 1991 when I was 15, and saw that it was I Trod. The only resources I had about RasTafarI at that time was music, the bible, and I once borrowed a small book about RasTafarI people from the library (sent from a different city through inter-library loan). I came to Toronto, Canada at the end of August, 1995 and sought out RasTafarI people so I could learn more. I started growing my locks at the end of September, 1995. I don't know the exact date, but based on my recent experience, and the Mystic Trod I have experienced these past 21 years, it was probably September 21, 1995.
On Tuesday, September 20, 2016, technically Wednesday, September 21, around 1 AM, I lay down in my bed, and after about 5 minutes, I get Irits from Selassie I showing I that I Nazarite Vow was over and I had to cut I locks. I was surprised to get a Vibe like that, if somebody asked I just a moment before if I would ever cut I locks, I would have told them no, and that I would have I locks for the rest of I Life. I have never felt any different these past 21 years, I have never once considered cutting I locks. No matter what the circumstances, cutting I locks was never an option.
But I knew the Irits was True, it was the Irits I learned to recognize and follow in I Trod, and Irits that have always proved to be True and Right. So I thought about the ramifications of cutting my locks and ending the vow, something that has been such a significant part of I Life, and wondered how I Idrens and Sistrens would react when they saw I. I told Iself that I would wait until Saturday, so that after I cut I locks, I could go to a hair dresser to get a proper cut, and it gave I a few days to see if I Irits would change.
In the morning (Wednesday, September 21), I felt no different, I vow was over and I had to cut I locks. And while I was at work during the day, the Irits was showing I that I can't wait until Saturday but had to cut I locks that day. After work, there were parent/teacher interviews at I childrens' school. I went there and I wife (she is not a Rasta) was waiting in line to get some food for the children and herself, they had a BBQ at the school. I went up to her and said, "My Nazarite vow is ending today.", she paused for a couple of seconds looking stunned, and said, "You mean you're cutting your locks?", I said "Yes", she said "Shut up, No way", I said again, "Yes", she said, "No way". She was just as surprised as I was, she also thought I would never cut I locks.
My plan was to wait until nighttime, after the children were asleep, then cut I locks; but while at the school, the Irits was showing I that I can't wait. My wife was going to take my two older boys to music class, and I was going to take my youngest boy home and give him a bath. So I plan was to give him a bath, and then cut I locks. When I got home, the Irits showed I that I can't wait until after, I have to first cut I locks before doing anything else, then I could give I son a bath. So I went to the mirror, held up the scissors to I first lock and told Iself that there is no turning back after that cut, then I cut I locks and beard. At the time, I didn't know why I had to do it right away, but afterwards I realized that it was because I had to do it before sundown. That night, I went to a fire pit in a ravine near I home with a friend and built a fire and chanted Isis and burnt I locks.
When I calculated the number of years I had I locks, I noticed it was 21 years, possibly exactly 21 years to the day, which is 3 sets of 7 years. And I thought about how, in addition to the 7 day Israelite Sabbath, there is a 7 year Sabbath. I was curious how the Israelite year Sabbath lined up with those 21 years. So I did some research and found that I started growing I locks at the very beginning of a 7 year cycle (September, 1995), went through 3 seven year cycles, then cut I locks at the beginning of the next 7 year cycle (September, 2016). In addition to a 7 year cycle, the Israelites had a 49 year cycle, which is 7 cycles of 7 years. When I looked into the dates, I had I locks in the final three 7 year cycles of a 49 year cycle and cut I locks at the beginning of the next 49 year cycle.
The Hebrew new year is the beginning of the seventh month and it shifts from year to year because it is based on a lunar calendar. This year, it is October 2, 2016. Since this is the beginning of a new 49 year cycle, the 10th day of the new year (October 12) is the Jubilee. Since the Ethiopian new year is close to the Hebrew new year, I thought it was derived from the Hebrew calendar but it was not. The Hebrew calendar is derived from the Babylonian calendar, while the Ethiopian calendar is derived from the Coptic calendar, which is derived from the ancient Egyptian calendar but has a different new year. Both calendars are likely to be originally derived from the same source at some point in history, that eventually lead to the Egyptian and Babylonian versions.
I and I, RasTafarI people, deal more with the Ethiopian calendar then the Hebrew, and the Ethiopian new year is September 11, so the Jubilee would be September 21, which the day I cut I locks. In addition to that, the Hebrew Jubilee happens to be 21 days after the Ethiopian Jubilee this year. The last time those dates lined up like that (at the beginning of a 7 year cycle) was over 6500 years ago. So I took the Nazarite vow for 21 years, it ended on the Ethiopian Jubilee September 21, 2016, which is 21 days before the Hebrew Jubilee this year.
I Praise Haile Selassie I still, I will never leave RasTafarI. I don't think I will grow I locks again, unless Selassie I calls on I to do it. It was a natural transition so I have had no regrets, but it took some time to get used to the change.
Blessed Love and Strength to Ones and Ones.
IverLiving Haile Selassie I RasTafarI King of Kings Lord of Lords Conquering Lion of Judah
|
|