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Spirituality and religion in Miller's collection - Coggle Diagram
Spirituality and religion in Miller's collection
Places
Armagiddeon : symbolic place of apocalypse
Zion : idealised city of God, mythological identity of Africa
Babylon : symbolises the Western world and especially their history of having enslaved black people
Ethiopy : seen as their original land, its ancient flag is used as a symbol for the Rastafari religion
People
Halle Selassie : the "Messiah" in 'Groundation' "The emperor that landed here / in 1966"
Jah = their God
rastafarian singers : Bob Marley, Luciano, Junior Gong, Delroy Morgan etc in poem xvi 'in which every song is singing Zion'
Principles
reappropriation of the language through dreadtalk : English seen as an instrument of Western oppression
phonetics closely aligned to meaning, oppression replaced by downpression for example
I&I and I-words in general : presence of divine energy within everyone, celebration of fellowship
upfullness : a feeling that arises from the heart, that links back to the feeling of community
Livity : concept of natural living (vegetarianism, power of herbs, importance of respecting nature)
Ceremonies
a heartbless
"So begin this thing / with an Abu aye! Abu aye! Abu aye! / a heartbless" in 'Groundation'
litteraly = to bless someone with your heart
a sermon
'in which the rastaman gives a sermon' : poem that draws together every poems before
a prayer
'A Prayer for the Unflummoxed Beaver'
a benediction
last poem of the collection 'in which the rastaman gives a benediction'
"ises" = praises
Music
Music used to "chant down" Babylon
Bob Marley : popularised the cause, representing the Rastafaris on a worldwide scale
music as a way to experience this spirituality : "his thin / and trembling hands raised [...] Zion not so far, mi boss" in poem xxiv 'in which the cartographer attends Reggae Sunfest
Main objective
restore black people to their African selves and divine consciousness : reclaim their identity after colonisation