Jah Rastafari!

Last week I met Jeremiah and Empress Mel at a park down the road from the hotel. Empress Mel was

 celebrating her Earthday (Birthday) and Jeremiah was just relaxing. We talked a long while about Rastafarilivity and about the prejudices against them by the larger Jamaican community. Rastafarilivity is both a way of life (eating healthy food, keeping hair natural/in dredlocks, black pride, positive speech...) and a religion. It is based on Judeo-Christian beliefs and they believe that the Ethiopian Emperor Haile Selassie I was the second coming of the messiah and it's also a black power movement where they believe Africa is their true home and hope to return. Here's a website with some more Rasta info. Jeremiah and Empress Mel invited me to their Sabbath celebration  in the community of Middleton in the beautiful Blue Mountains.
So here we go:








When the main road ended we had to walk down a dirt path and then climbed up the steep steps laid into the side of the hill. By the time we got to the top we were drenched in sweat.

Here is the view of the Blue Mountains from the hike up.

Reaching the top. Along the way we passed houses, coffee trees and the breeze would blow by the smell of banana trees.

When we got there we were asked to wrap our heads and cover our shoulders and asked not to enter if we were menstruating.

Shrine to Haile Selassie I

Jeremiah and 3 young boys reading from the bible in front of the flame and the drums that are used during the drumming and chanting afterwards.

It turned out that Sharon and Empress Mel had a mutual friend. Sharon isn't normally rocking purple sequined hats; it was to cover her head while inside.

Empress Mel invited us back and if anyone is interested in knowing more about the Rastafarian movement and Rasta culture/religon this is a great place to visit. They love to share what they believe in and whether you believe in their movement or not it is a really interesting part of the culture and a peaceful and beautiful place to visit.