A Woman’s Touch

I’ve always heard from the various avenues of life

that women carry a strong will, while with men it’s intellect. I really don’t know how true this is. It’s very clear that women seem to harness great determination because of their innate ability to channel their emotions toward achieving a task. But how far off is their intellect when we understand intelligence to be more about consciousness and awareness, and not necessarily IQ? After visiting another portion of Dr. Wade Noble’s work, and complementing this with a study group discussion, intelligence definitely carries new meaning.

However, what I really want to draw your attention to is the role of women and their very significant impact on society both physically and spiritually. I start off this series with a look at Hatshepsut.

One of the greatest rulers of antiquity, Hatshepsut was of southern Egyptian ancestry, a region mixed with indigenous Sudanese Africans. Her grandmother, Nefertari-Aahmes, was Ethiopian and carried a rich dark skin complexion. Something that today has become a symbol of inner spiritual strengthen and awareness[i]. Hatshepsut clearly exudes this strength and pays homage to her ancestry as seen in her rise to power and rulership within the Egyptian dynasty of the day.

If you think Y&R has drama or any other soap opera for that matter, think again! Her (half) brothers[ii], Thotmes II and Thotmes III, rivalled against her for the throne. And with the latter successfully staging a trick to sway the people to his side, Hatshepsut was forced into a compromise resulting in marriage to Thotmes III. But this was only the beginning of a bitterly fought power struggle, one filled with craftiness and strategy.

When we next find Hatshepsut in historical records, “… by skilful intrigues she not only restores herself as co-ruler but finally thrusts him [Thotmes III] into the background as a mere husband, who is inferior to her prime minister, Nehusi, which name in Egyptian means “full-blooded Negro[iii]”.”[iv]

Then came the attacks from the priests of Amen, who claimed she was not of pure lineage, because her father was not of pure Theban stock; therefore she was not worthy of the throne. But she brilliantly out manoeuvred her adversaries once again. In the realm of politics, gaining the favour of the people results in gaining influence and power. This is exactly what Hatshepsut set out to do, and in those days there was no better way than through the construction of great temples, pyramids and other breath taking monuments. To the populace this would be evidence enough of a ruler’s great power and authority.

And so she began building, starting with her great temple. It stood on elevated ground hence overshadowing her opponents. She then ordered two obelisks, taller than any others throughout the land. Hewn from blocks of rose granite, it took two massive rafts each manned by 900 men, to transport the obelisks down the river Nile. They were gifts for none other than her detractors, the priests of Amen, and to be erected in their Temple of Amen-Ra. But here’s the catch, she very astutely ordered the obelisk to be taller than the temple they were to sit in. She knew the roof of the temple would have to be removed. Accordingly, Hatshepsut had the heads of the obelisks encased in electrum, a metal alloy of silver and gold. The result: these obelisks shone with the brilliancy of a twin star, and could be seen across Egypt as a symbol of Hatshepsut’s power and rulership.

But it didn’t end there. When gender prejudice reared its ugly head once again, she boldly announced that she was really a man – stuck a false beard to her chin, and adorned herself in male garments. (It doesn’t get any better than this.) It was a strategy that crushed all further opposition and was sealed by changing her name from the original Hatshepsitu to the now commonly known Hatshepsut, which is the male version of the name. She asserted she was immaculately conceived of a virgin birth and that the great god Amen himself had appeared to her mother “in a flood of light and perfume.” (This translates to: challenge me and you die.)

Hatshepsut ruled for 33 years and in all this time she stayed true to her inner calling, refusing to be overcome by fear and doubt. What one person perceives as a dead end or an impossibility, this women took as motivation. This is how you will face adversity. Ask yourself this question: where did Hatshepsut’s astuteness, wisdom and strategy come from? And then go to the same Source of truth and guidance and continue to persevere along your life journey.

There is no doubt of the large impact Hatshepsut had on society both physically with her mega structures, and spiritually as she transcending gender walls. Her spirit of triumph is a spirit that resides in you, only if you allow it. By remembering our African queen and Pharaoh Hatshepsut, she remains immortalized. Although her tomb was discovered in the Valley of the Kings, where only the lordly males were buried (the queens had their own burial place), she lives on beyond the walls she teared down.

The boundaries that others will try to erected before you can only exist if you allow them. In reality, no boundary can stand without your permission, whether its origins are from society or from with your being. Spend some time and dwell on this, and on the manifestation we today call woman.

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[i] See previous blog on Black Psychosis for a connection between our spiritual and physical awareness and melanin

[ii] In African culture there is no term half brother or half sister. All are brothers and sisters.

[iii] The term ‘Negro’ is no longer used and is seen as unacceptable in reference to indigenous African people. However, at the time of the translation of the word ‘Nehusi’ it was in use.

[iv] Taken from The World’s Great Men of Color, Vol. 1, by J.A. Rogers