In Igbo voices, you would be taken back hundreds to thousands of years to an era of great creative freedom. A time when singing a song (ikwe ukwe) is "reinforcing an agreement" and when the law (Iwu) is 'agony".  Get ready to journey to the world of the Igbo predecessors when lawyers probably functioned as "doctors of agony"

 http://www.amazon.com/dp/0615781225

Reviews;

1. Prof. Francois Ugochukwu, Igbo specialist ; "interesting book".

2. Chief Oscar Ogugua Mokeme. The Ugorji of AborjiOba. Ozo Dimani of Oba-Idemili.  Founder Museum of African Culture; " highly recommended for every Igbo family".

The Hill as Protection.

The Hill provides us with some insight into how the Ancient Igbos interacted and interpreted their environment.

Ugwu, the Igbo word for Hill is derived from the verb 'gwu'.

'Gwu'  captures the digging motion, by a farm implement, that results in the creation of a mound. The purpose of a mound is to protect a seed from the elements, and from seed eaters such as birds. So we can translate 'gwu' as creating(or building) a protection.

This makes a Hill(Ugwu)-the creation of a protection. Or, simply, protection.

A mound is to a seed what a hill was to humans- protection.  In early times, people often settled on hills because it provided protection from flood, fierce winds and storms, other elements, as well as invading armies.

Because a hill is huge compared to a mound made by man, it would seem that it was created by a god or God.

So the hill, not only helped humans flourish, it helped protect and nurture early beliefs of the existence of God.

So when the Psalmist says, 'I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help(Psalm 121); you could say ' I got you!'.

Without water our lives will not be possible.

So how best can we describe the phenomenon of water?

Mmiri the Igbo word for water is derived from the verbs 'mi' and 'ri'.

'Mi' is 'deep' and 'ri' is to 'reach out' or 'leak'. This makes mmiri-'deep reaching'.

Next time you take a drink of water or you are in a cruise ship note how 'deep reaching' it truly is.

(N.B. In Genesis 1 vs 2(King James Version); deep and water was used interchangeably.)

Breath yourself into Wellness; and soar like a balloon!

One fascinating aspect of ancient languages is the attempt to translate observations in our physical universe into words.

In the Ancient Igbo language, words were used synergistically to capture phenomenon in our physical universe.

'Ngugu;, the word for lungs is derived from the verb 'gugu' which is to heal or console. These Ancients correctly recognized the power of the lungs to heal or console.

When we slow our breathing to about 3-6 cycles a minute for about 10 minutes we began to feel a sense of wellness or euphoria; much like an inflated balloon.

This can be done through Coherent Breathing.

See.

1. Streeter CC, Gerbarg PL, Saper MD, Ciraulo DA, and Brown RP. Effects of yoga on the autonomic nervous system, gamma- aminobutyric-acid, and allostasis in epilepsy, depression, and Post-traumatic Stress Disorder. Medical Hypotheses. 2012. May;78(5):571-9.http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22365651

2.Brown RP, Gerbarg PL, Muskin PR. How to Use Herbs, Nutrients and Yoga in Mental Health Care. 2009. New York, Norton. http://books.wwnorton.com/books/detail.aspx?ID=23122

3. Brown RP and Gerbarg PL. The Healing Power of the Breath. Simple Techniques to Reduce Stress and Anxiety, Enhance Concentration, and Balance Your Emotions. 2012. Boston, MA, Shambhala Publications, Inc.http://www.shambhala.com/html/catalog/items/isbn/978-1-59030-902-5.cfm¬¬