Justikeandthetribe

Leading With Love and Compassion

This blog is for the individual that desires more of themselves + the people in their lives.

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Safety is Love

July 15, 2024 by Ikeranda Smith in Inner child healing, life, life coaching, personal development, personal growth

Love, for me, has always been deeply intertwined with the concept of safety. Many people don’t realize that the discomfort they often feel is rooted more in a lack of safety than in the actual events occurring around them. Before I could seek safety from others, I had to learn to cultivate it within myself.

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July 15, 2024 /Ikeranda Smith
self love, healing, self development
Inner child healing, life, life coaching, personal development, personal growth

Embracing Growth and Togetherness

July 08, 2024 by Ikeranda Smith in Black Women, LGBTQIA, marriage, queer, self-discovery

My wife and I are approaching a beautiful milestone: our marriage anniversary. With six children between us, we've journeyed through countless challenges and celebrated many triumphs.

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July 08, 2024 /Ikeranda Smith
marriage, queer black love, lqbtqia, love
Black Women, LGBTQIA, marriage, queer, self-discovery

Family Ties and Lessons Learned Along the Way

July 01, 2024 by Ikeranda Smith in black fathers, fatherhood, love, relationships

The journey of being in community with my parents has been nothing short of, let’s just say, interesting. For most of my life, I've rarely had both of them present at the same time, and now is no different. When my father came back into my life during COVID, it felt like a turning point.

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July 01, 2024 /Ikeranda Smith
fathers, daughters, love, divorce, healing
black fathers, fatherhood, love, relationships
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Rediscovering The Woman I Always Knew

June 26, 2024 by Ikeranda Smith in Black Women, generational healing, life coaching, personal development, personal growth

Lately, I haven't felt like myself. A recent conversation with my astrologer changed that. She lovingly asked me, "Do you feel like you show up as yourself?" I had to admit that while I might feel authentic on date nights, most of the time—whether I'm seeing clients or just going about my day—I feel like I'm wearing a uniform.

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June 26, 2024 /Ikeranda Smith
love, astrology, healing, black woman
Black Women, generational healing, life coaching, personal development, personal growth

Falling in Love with Myself

June 18, 2024 by Ikeranda Smith in black, Black Women, love, personal development, personal growth

As a Black woman, the complexities of our experiences are both profound and deeply nuanced. We are often the pillars of our families and communities, socialized and indoctrinated to be caregivers, nurturers, and the steadfast shoulders upon which others lean

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June 18, 2024 /Ikeranda Smith
love, selflove, self worth, self reflection
black, Black Women, love, personal development, personal growth

Embracing Joy and Rest

June 12, 2024 by Ikeranda Smith in black, Black Women, love, mental health, purpose, personal growth, self-discovery

Rest and joy have become my guiding lights, my ministry. I discovered their transformative power during one of the darkest periods of my life, right after my first marriage ended. With my kids' father gone, I faced the daunting task of starting over. In that turbulent season, it was reading and seeking joy that sustained me. I vividly recall the relentless pursuit of happiness, finding reasons to smile even when it felt impossible.

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June 12, 2024 /Ikeranda Smith
rest, joy, love, healing, black women
black, Black Women, love, mental health, purpose, personal growth, self-discovery

Celebrating Pride

June 05, 2024 by Ikeranda Smith in LGBTQIA, love, loveislove, mental health, queer

As we celebrate Pride Month, I want to take a moment to share a bit about my journey as a Queer Black woman navigating the intersections of life. For many of us in the LGBTQIA+ community, our experiences are diverse. Some navigate the world freely, while others live their lives more anonymously. Yet, a shared experience for many of us is the need to come out multiple times, even after our initial coming out.

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June 05, 2024 /Ikeranda Smith
Love, gratitude, lgbtqia, pride month 2024, queer, queer black love
LGBTQIA, love, loveislove, mental health, queer

Raising My Son Beyond Stereotypes

May 21, 2024 by Ikeranda Smith in children, mothers, sons, black boys, raising secure kids

Watching my son mature has been a deeply moving experience, not just because he is my son, but because he has blossomed in his own unique time. As a Black queer woman, I approach parenting with a heightened awareness of the historical weight carried by Black boys.

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May 21, 2024 /Ikeranda Smith
boys, black boys, love, mothersandsons
children, mothers, sons, black boys, raising secure kids

The Ironic Day For Mother's

May 14, 2024 by Ikeranda Smith in Black Women, relationships, mothers, black mothers, love

I'm a bit late in penning this post, but honesty is always the best policy, right? Mother's Day took on a different hue for me this year. While my children and wife never fail to shower me with love, it's also a time for reflection, a dive into the complexities of my role as a mother, influenced not only by my personal experiences but also by the intricate threads of matrilineal lineage.

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May 14, 2024 /Ikeranda Smith
love, mothers, healing, parents
Black Women, relationships, mothers, black mothers, love

Celebrating The Next Chapter ...Fifty!

May 06, 2024 by Ikeranda Smith in love, personal growth, purpose, self-discovery, wellness

As I reflect on my journey through my thirties and eagerly anticipate the dawn of my forties, I can't help but marvel at how life has surpassed my expectations. In those earlier years, I had a clear vision of the woman, wife, and mother I aspired to be.

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May 06, 2024 /Ikeranda Smith
love, womanhood, Aging, Black Women, Love, Self love
love, personal growth, purpose, self-discovery, wellness

Negotiating Love: Unpacking Our Baggage

April 30, 2024 by Ikeranda Smith in black mothers, love, marriage, relationships, self-discovery

Parental wounds, huh? They're like these deep grooves carved into our souls, especially when you've felt their sting firsthand. My wife and I are no strangers to this. We've spent countless hours unpacking the baggage from our relationships with our folks, especially our moms.

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April 30, 2024 /Ikeranda Smith
love, relationships, marriage, parents
black mothers, love, marriage, relationships, self-discovery

Journeying Together Without Role Models

April 22, 2024 by Ikeranda Smith in Black Women, LGBTQIA, love, personal development, relationships

Navigating marriage, pursuing my passion, and aiding others in their journeys has been a profound commitment. My wife and I embarked on this path without the guidance of role models, dedicating ourselves wholeheartedly to personal growth.

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April 22, 2024 /Ikeranda Smith
love, marriage, life lessons
Black Women, LGBTQIA, love, personal development, relationships

Spring and its expansive wisdom

April 16, 2024 by Ikeranda Smith

Spring, with its association to the wood element, is a profound season that delves deep into the realm of our emotions. Our emotions serve as a guide, pointing us towards the imbalances and subtle messages within our bodies. In our fast-paced lives, it's easy to become ensnared by external distractions, often drowning out the quiet whispers of wisdom that the Universe, or Source, attempts to impart.

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April 16, 2024 /Ikeranda Smith

Complex Terrain of Collective Grief

April 08, 2024 by Ikeranda Smith

Recently, I've found myself grappling with an overwhelming sense of grief. This isn't the conventional grief associated with loss in its most immediate form but rather a multifaceted sorrow stemming from various facets of life. Let me share some reflections from my journey through this intricate landscape with you.

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April 08, 2024 /Ikeranda Smith

Love Reimagined: My Parents' Journey to Rediscovering Friendship in Later Years

April 02, 2024 by Ikeranda Smith

Love is a lesson we continue to learn and grow with as we mature. This truth has been evident in my own life, but it has recently taken on a deeper meaning as I've witnessed my parents' journey. At the ages of 76 and 75, my mom and dad have chosen to embark on a new chapter in their relationship, redefining their connection and entering into a renewed kinship.

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April 02, 2024 /Ikeranda Smith

Embracing Change and Seeking Transparency

March 28, 2024 by Ikeranda Smith

As I embrace the process of aging, I wish I could say I'm doing so gracefully. However, my body often tells a different story. The experience of aging as a Black woman is complex and unique. The generations before us—Baby Boomers and the Silent Generation—didn't leave us a roadmap. Generation X seems too cool to openly discuss these changes, while some Millennials appear to be in a state of denial.

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March 28, 2024 /Ikeranda Smith

Navigating Motherhood as a Black Queer Woman: A Reflection

March 28, 2024 by Ikeranda Smith

As a Black woman raised by a single mother, my journey through motherhood has been both challenging and transformative. To be candid, while I deeply love my children, I often find myself struggling with the act of parenting. I eagerly anticipate the day I become an empty nester.

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March 28, 2024 /Ikeranda Smith

Embracing Wholeness: A Call to Women

March 11, 2024 by Ikeranda Smith in black mothers, Black Women, generational healing, love

Recently, I've found myself drawn to reflect on the journey of women and the essence with which we navigate life. This introspection takes me back to a poignant moment when my daughter embarked on her first menstrual cycle. It was a time when I felt compelled to gather the women in my life, forming a circle of community to guide her into this significant phase of womanhood.

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March 11, 2024 /Ikeranda Smith
black woman, black mothers, women
black mothers, Black Women, generational healing, love

Healing from a Legacy of Anger

March 04, 2024 by Ikeranda Smith in generational healing, love, mindset, self-discovery, relationships, spirituality, wellness

As a Black woman raised by a single mother, navigating the complexities of my family history has been an integral part of my journey. Growing up, I witnessed firsthand the destructive power of anger woven into the fabric of our family lineage. My father's abusive behavior towards my mother left scars not only on her body but also on my psyche.

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March 04, 2024 /Ikeranda Smith
love, anger, trauma
generational healing, love, mindset, self-discovery, relationships, spirituality, wellness

Worthy of Love: A Journey Rekindled

February 26, 2024 by Ikeranda Smith in marriage, love, queer

Before my wife and I reunited and embarked on this journey toward marriage, I held onto a profound belief in my inherent worthiness of love. It wasn't just a hope or a fleeting desire; it was a conviction that resonated deep within my soul. Despite finding contentment in my solitude, there was a quiet anticipation building within me, like the calm before a gentle storm, signaling that love was on its way.

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February 26, 2024 /Ikeranda Smith
black love, love, marriage
marriage, love, queer
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