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A Sankofa Soul Care Meditation: Ancestral Lessons from Maintenance Mode, A Spring Blessing - Mental Health Awareness Month Edition
- Andrea Angie (GA)
- 6 days ago
- 4 min read
Updated: 4 days ago
In this season of blooming, we are often encouraged to chase visible growth + outward flourishing. But as any gardener knows, true growth is not just about what we plant or how high we reach—it’s also about how we tend, prune, and maintain what is already growing, as we embrace the concept of Sankofa (SAHN-koh-fah)—a term and practice from Ghana that means “go back and fetch it.”
With open hands + contemplative hearts, we practice Sankofa—we reach back to gather the calming pace rhythms of tending + pausing, bringing it forward as a blessing for our present lives. In this season of Mental Health Awareness Month, we notice, nurture, and embody the significance of maintenance mode.
A Holy Haiku - Maintenance Mode
Growth without a pause
Invites weeds to choke the roots
Tend, prune, rest, renew
Amen + Asé
This haiku invites us to reclaim the sacredness of maintenance—to pause, assess, and tend to our growth with intention, so that what we cultivate is truly life-giving.
This is the heart of Sankofa: returning to the gift of mindful tending—remembering that healthy growth is sustained not just by new beginnings, but by honoring the pauses, the pruning, and the maintenance that keep our inner gardens healthy + sustainable.
In my May 2017 blog entry, Season of Bloom: Pause for a Different Kind of Growth, I shared how growth involves more than expansion; it encompasses the wisdom of restraint, rest, and mindful maintenance. We are invited to pause—not as a sign of stagnation, but as a transition into a sacred checkpoint.
Just as a virus can grow unchecked + cause harm, unchecked growth in our lives—whether in commitments, ambitions, or even spiritual practices—can spread beyond our capacity to tend. Maintenance mode is not a lack of progress, but a different kind of growth: the kind that protects what is precious, uproots what no longer serves, and allows space for healing.
“The pause is not a punishment; it is a practice. It is a way to honor the unseen work beneath the surface, to make room for new roots and deeper flourishing.”(from “Season of Bloom: Pause for a Different Kind of Growth”)
Reflection for Your Journey
SOULjourner,
In the garden and our souls, maintenance means regular check-ins, honest assessments, and gentle pruning. It means recognizing when growth has become tangled or invasive, and having audacious curiosity + the courage to redirect your energy, pull back, and restore unforced rhythms.
As you reflect on your maintenance mode:
Where in your life do you sense the need for a maintenance checkpoint—a pause to assess, prune, or tend to what is growing?
How can you honor the “maintenance mode” as a sacred part of your personal and collective spiritual growth?
Let these prompts be an invitation to view maintenance not as a setback or interruption in life, but as a devotion to nurture the garden of your life.
A Blessing:
May you honor the pauses that protect your roots,
May you tend your growth with wisdom and care,
May you find peace in pruning and joy in maintenance,
And may your soul flourish in every season—
Rhythmic, rooted, and renewed.
Read from May 2017: Season of Bloom: Pause for a Different Kind of Growth
For May's Mental Health Awareness Month, affirm: "Through empathy, I/we return to our belovedness + reclaim in the spirit of Sankofa, to go back and get it, by the enablement of the Holy Spirit”
A Special Free Gift for You
To deepen your journey into sensory awareness + sensing pleasure, I invite you to download my complimentary PDF guide, Savoring Sensuality with Soul.
This pastoral guide explores the importance of presence, surrender, and gratitude in experiencing life's replete pleasures more fully. It offers pastoral care on how to engage your senses and celebrate your neurology.
Download Your Free PDF Here:
As you explore this resource, remember that your unique journey is a celebration of soulful living. May you find daring shalom + sensual pleasure in every moment.
With soul,
Pastor Angie
SOULjourner, go Deeper on my Autism+ page for more resources.
A Gift Set SOULution
Featuring the botanical-themed Charcuterie Gift Box
Elevate your next collective care gathering with the Melanated Musings Charcuterie Board Gift Box Set.
In the heart of your home or gathering, add flair wherever you dare with a fusion of art, Black culture, and whimsical elegance.
Add a pop to any tabletop for your hors d'oeuvres + desserts.
Let the captivating charm bring a touch of soul to your next soirée (bridal shower, hostess gift, team party, bachelorette party, birthday party, anniversary celebration, or just to feel lavished), as they remind you that sometimes, the most beautiful stories begin with a simple, heartfelt gesture.
What’s Included: Free Gift Wrapping
1 x Choose board shape: Round Charcuterie Board with Groove - 13.5” x 13.5” or Rectangular Charcuterie Board with Groove - 12" x 9"
1 x Choose Board Design: Noir + Leaves or Mocha + Leaves
1 x Tamarind Oh! Sauce, 10.5 oz. Ingredients: Guava, Water, Tamarind Puree, Ginger Juice, Brown Sugar, Vanilla Extract, Organic Lemon Juice, Organic Lime Juice. A phenomenal sweet and tangy sauce for veggies, meat, and YES—desserts. Use it on your charcuterie boards to replace jams + jellies.
Or you can BUILD YOUR OWN GIFT SET >>
Until next time,
Gift from your soul.
✧
Deepen Your Soul Care Journey
Beloved SOULjourner, as you continue to nurture your gift-giving practice, discover sustainable gifts designed to embody intentional gift-giving + connection.
Soulful gifting for social change in the soul care boutique. Be inspired to amplify your ARTvocacy through peace + play vibes.
Disclaimer: This blog post is for informational purposes only as I share my pastoral care, my journey, and bring to you valuable research. It is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. If you are experiencing any medical concerns or symptoms, please seek the guidance of a qualified healthcare professional.
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