For most people dreads mean you are a dirty hippie and for some people they consider dreads to be nothing more then a "hair style". Before I started this journey I admit I thought the same (well about it being a hairstyle). Here I am a month into dreading my hair, I knew this was going to be a journey as most people call it but I thought it was just going to be about my hair changing into dreads; well that is part of it but there is WAY more to it. As I started to dread I was filled withexcitementand was a bit impatient to start. I started with the no poo method and didn't brush my hair for a few months, as my hair started to section off I assisted it by twisting and ripping. During the process I started to mourn the death of my natural free -loose hair. I never thought that was going to happen. Part of me mourns for myself and part of me mourns for my family that I know are going to have a difficult time understanding why I decided to do this. I know in my heart this is what I need to do however. Letting go of what people think; because honestly I donot think to highly of some people's choices in hair care products esp. ones that test on animals. I have learned that patience and loosing control is a huge part of the dread journey as I try to control these nappy little brats that seem to have a mind of their own; I focus on letting go. I cannot control dreads; they are going to manifest into something I cannot form on my own but my energy each day is put into them and I begin to grow this sort of bond with them. The mourning then turns into a re-birth. I start to let go of the fear of being judged and instead I feel a sort of peace within myself.

This past year has been very difficult for me, I have suffered from chronic pain and have lost a huge part of myself only gaining what appears to be "more of myself" in the physical aspect of gaining weight. I have had to give up lots of physical activities that I have enjoyed my entire life and have replaced them with visits to doctors and specialists. I spenda lotof my time researching. I have grown to love nature even more then I have in my life if that is even possible. Living in the area that I live in has connected me with the earth in a way I never could have imagined. I feel like I am in a different world and at times I swear I am. The weather and climate in the town I live in is different due to the number of trees and natural plants. I am surrounded by trees that have been here long before the buildings the Shakers made. These trees have been around during the time of the Native Americans, a tribe even lived in these parts of the forest. The energy and feeling of life is very surreal here.

When we go into town it is like stepping intocivilization. It is daunting to say the least. I see generations of people who have a lack of respect for our planet, plants and native creatures. People are just consumers of products and things, always wanting more "things"! I am surrounded by a world of humans that are disconnected. They are consumed by their own lives; rude, on cell phonestextingand not making eye contact. Buying, buying, and more buying of crap. Slaves by the corporations around them. Products are filled with cancer causing chemicals, tested on animals and are in plastic bottles ready to pollute theenvironment.

A change within myself and my thinking began long before the dreads came to mind. I stopped buying into these corporate company's lies and started making my own products. I have since seen a huge change in my skin and the way I feel. It all started with cleaning products, then skin care products such as shampoo, facial wash anddeodorant. I recently have been called to change myfeminineproducts. I have realized that these out of all things a woman uses is the most harmful to herself and theenvironment. Tampons and pads have chemical additives and then after being used they end up in land fills and in sewers. This is terrible. Most people don't even give it a second thought. However, once your trash is out of your house you rarely think about it...right?. You may have gotten rid of your trash from your house but it is still in your home. "Home" meaning our planet Earth. Earth is our home.

You maybe thinking what does all this have to do with having dreads? Well, I feel like I am a different person. Different from other people and different from the person I once was. I am born again threw my dreads. They will bring me places with in my soul and I will and have already met very interesting deep people. Someone said in their youtube video quote " Dreads keep small minded people away". I believe this to be true. This is my testimony, and this is just the intro to a novel much bigger.

Peace

For all the feathers

Owl Lady