There is a profound, silent language written upon the bodies of our ancestors, a script of resilience and spiritual fortification that many of us have forgotten how to read. As we navigate the complexities of modern life, many Black women and elders feel a persistent, dull ache, a sense of being untethered from the roots that once nourished our lineage.
This disconnection is not accidental; it is the result of generations of displaced wisdom. However, the path back to ourselves often begins with understanding the sacred rituals that were designed to protect us. Today, I want to sit with you and explore a practice deeply rooted in Yoruba cosmology: Gbere, or the art of incision and rubbing.
In our journey through the Fematin958 Intl programme, we often speak of the transition from the shadows of the unknown into the light of self-actualisation. To understand Gbere is to engage with the very essence of our three core phases: The Remembering, The Unveiling, and The Reclaiming.
The Remembering: More Than Just Skin Deep
When we talk about The Remembering, we are not simply recalling facts from a history book. We are waking up the cellular memory within us. Gbere is a traditional Yoruba medical and spiritual practice involving small, shallow incisions made on the skin. Once these incisions are made, medicinal powders (Oogun) or sacred creams are rubbed directly into the openings.
This is a sophisticated delivery system. Our ancestors understood that the skin is the largest organ of the body and a direct gateway to the bloodstream and the spirit. In the Western world, we might compare this to a transdermal patch or an injection, but Gbere carries a spiritual weight that modern medicine often overlooks. It was used for various reasons:
- Protection: To shield an individual from negative energies or spiritual interference.
- Healing: To introduce specific herbs that could combat physical ailments.
- Fortification: To provide strength and courage to those facing significant life transitions.
For the modern Black woman, the “cuts” we carry are often invisible. They are the scars of intergenerational trauma and the weight of expectations that do not belong to us. By remembering practices like Gbere, we acknowledge that our ancestors had systems of care that addressed both the physical and the metaphysical.
We begin to ask: what are we “rubbing” into our lives today? Are we feeding our spirits with medicine, or are we allowing the toxins of cultural disconnection to seep in?
The Unveiling: Breaking the Silence of Trauma
As we move into The Unveiling, we must confront the reality of generational trauma. Many of us grew up in households where the practices of our grandparents were dismissed as “superstition” or “primitive.”
This dismissal is a form of colonial scarring. When we unveil the truth about Gbere, we see it for what it truly is: a sacred technology of the diaspora.
Generational trauma often manifests as a lack of ancestral connection. You might feel a sense of “homelessness” in your own spirit, or a recurring pattern of anxiety that doesn’t seem to have a starting point in your own life.
These are the echoes of our ancestors’ unhealed wounds. In the practice of Gbere, the physical incision was a controlled, intentional act of healing. It was a way of saying, “We will open this space so that the medicine can enter.”
In our healing work, we must be willing to make our own “incisions.” This means opening up the hidden parts of our history, even when it feels uncomfortable. We must look at the patterns of our mothers and grandmothers, not to judge them, but to rub the “medicine” of understanding and forgiveness into those lineage lines.
The Unveiling is about stripping away the shame associated with our traditional ways and recognising the brilliance of Yoruba cosmology.
The Reclaiming: Stepping Into Your Power
Finally, we arrive at The Reclaiming. This is where the wisdom of Gbere transforms from a historical concept into a living practice of empowerment. Reclaiming your power means deciding what is allowed to enter your “bloodstream”—spiritually, emotionally, and mentally.
When an elder or a practitioner performed Gbere, there was a specific intention set. The ritual was never mindless. Similarly, as you step into your role as a seeker or a leader in your community, you must be intentional about your spiritual hygiene. Reclaiming our heritage involves:
- Reconnecting with the Divine Feminine: Acknowledging the nurturing yet fierce protection that our ancestral mothers provided through these rituals.
- Sacred Rituals: Incorporating small acts of mindfulness and ancestral veneration into our daily lives to maintain our spiritual “immunity.”
- Storytelling: Sharing the significance of our traditions so they are never lost again.
Gbere reminds us that we are permeable. We are constantly interacting with the world around us. To reclaim our power is to ensure that we are fortified, just as our ancestors were before they faced the unknown. It is about turning our vulnerabilities into entry points for grace and strength.
Healing the Cultural Disconnect
The modern world often feels like a sterile place, stripped of the magic and mystery that makes life vibrant. For the spiritually-curious individual, the absence of these traditions creates a void. We see this void filled with stress, burnout, and a sense of purposelessness.
By revisiting the practice of Gbere, we bridge the gap between the ancient and the contemporary. We don’t necessarily all need to receive physical incisions to heal, but we do need to adopt the philosophy behind them. We need to be brave enough to open up, and wise enough to know what medicine we require.
Our ancestors were masters of the earth and the spirit. They knew which barks, roots, and leaves held the vibrations of health. They knew that the body and the soul are not separate entities.
When we embrace this holistic view, we begin to heal the cultural disconnection that has kept us playing small. We start to walk with the posture of those who know they are backed by a thousand generations.
A Sacred Invitation
My dear sisters and elders, the journey of healing is rarely a straight line. It is a spiral, moving deeper and deeper into the heart of who we are. Whether you are struggling with the weight of your lineage or simply seeking a clearer connection to your purpose, know that the tools for your transformation already exist within your DNA.
Gbere is a testament to the fact that we have always known how to protect ourselves. We have always known how to heal. The “medicine” is waiting for you to create the space for it to enter. It is time to stop running from the shadows and start inviting the light of ancestral wisdom to settle into your bones.
You do not have to carry the burden of the past alone. The sanctuary we have built at Fematin958 Intl is here to guide you through your own Remembering, Unveiling, and Reclaiming. Together, we can turn the scars of the past into the sacred markings of a future filled with grace, clarity, and power.
Your lineage is not a source of shame; it is your greatest superpower. It is the soil from which your highest self will grow. Let us begin the work of rubbing the medicine of truth into the places that hurt, so that you may stand tall as the divine being you were always meant to be.
Book a 15-minute free Call with me
Learn to recognise and transform the negative patterns that may be holding you back and use them for your good. It is time to align your spirit and reclaim your peace. https://gloriaogunbadejo.com/15-minutes-call/
