{republished} Juneteenth 2022 sermon.
a Jubilee message from three years ago, still relevant to the times. Happy Juneteenth from one of your favorite Texas Hoodoos!
Happy Juneteenth 2025!
i wanted to repost my Juneteenth 2022 sermon because why not?? many never got to read it the first time, and it’s still just as potent and in alignment with current energies!
also, enjoy the annual refresh of my Juneteenth playlists:
Lone $tar $tate of Mind | blues to rap to pop and everything in between, juju from the lone star state.
TEXA$ TRILL U KNO DA DEAL | don’t eva fix ya lips to diss Texas rap.
trill snake moan | one of the things that Texas rap is known for is harmonious sing-rapping. we never stray too far from our blues roots. here's a mix of some of my rhythm & rap faves!
See That My Grave’s Kept Clean | OG Texas, prior to 1980. blues, gospel, funk, rock’n’roll
originally published on my Moonstone Wholistic website on june 22, 2022.
This sermon was part of a group Juneteenth liberation ritual service, which included offerings made on behalf of those who signed up. The spirits involved wanted me to share the messages from the service with the community.
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I hope everyone had a relaxing and joyous Juneteenth! The service went beautifully, and the offerings were accepted (I celebrated with spirits from two different cemeteries). My original intention was to do a voice recording of this service, but my mouth didn’t want to open. My hands got the familiar tingle of medicine wanting to come out of them. So, we write.
Juneteenth has been a tradition in the Black American community for over 150 years. Though many people in the South were still enslaved after June 19, 1865, Juneteenth has been an important Black Texan holiday for generations. In 2022, with June 19th now being a federal holiday, it is important that we never forget the true meaning of Juneteenth. For this service, a few spirits had messages.
HIGH JOHN DE KONKER
popular for good reason (like a true solar deity lol), High John puts on for all the oracles and prophets. an incredibly serious but playful spirit, he knew freedom was coming generations prior to it coming. carrying that knowledge is heavy and John knew to laugh in the faces of our oppressors. for one, “praise will confuse the enemy!” for two, tricksta vibes. how much of a priority is joy to you and your chosen community?
REDDISH EGRET
representing good fortune, strength, focus, vitality/longevity, and FREEDOM. rare, the reddish egret calls the gulf coast home and was present during the first Juneteenth. just like tradition calls for, the red face & neck of the reddish egret can be seen as a representation of all of the blood that has been spilled from Black bodies. egrets are technically herons, connecting to the ancient Bennu bird of Kmt. a solar spirit of rebirth, the Bennu was even a deity. reddish egret reminds us to take flight when it comes to our liberation goals. the flight of the egret is considered to be slow, but powerful. is that not reminiscent of the journey to the emancipation proclamation. it’s easy to look at historical events with hindsight. wow, how incredible a fight our ancestors put up. but think about the seasons, months, weeks, days, minutes that went into enslavement. think of how agonizing time was while planning and executing escape. each millisecond the difference between life & death, freedom & bondage. slow, but powerful. there is a haunting frustration that comes with doing the decolonization and liberation work that we still have left to do. but in this slowness, where are we actually bending time? Texas is known as a slow-paced land. we even $crewed our music and created a potent elixir that’ll have you leanin’ fasho. this is the Texas juju that is evident even in the wildlife. slow, but powerful. the spirit of Juneteenth is made up of other powerful, resilient, joyous, guiding spirits. the first Juneteenth was an initiation. what do with we do with this Hoodoo deity? this is a spirit that endlessly gives, ripe with opportunity. reborn each year — a feral, relentless baby once more. a spirit that cannot be co-opted by whiteness. reddish egret invites us to swoop strongly through the sky and get a bird’s eye view of the path ahead. are there dangers that can be perceived ahead of time? how can we finesse more on our liberation journey?
(SOUTHERN) MAGNOLIA
there are common “meanings” for the majestic magnolia tree and flower, but personal experience is a bit different. magnolia, like other trees, is a secret keeper. but not just any secrets, the secrets of the Mother. the betrayals/deceptions, anger, shame, guilt, embarrassment, and resentment. the alchemizing fragrance of sweet devotion emanates from the cream-colored blossoms, telling you to give your weary spirit a rest. you have fought so hard for so long, you must remember to celebrate the victories on the road to your freedom. magnolia wants you to be devoted to the liberation of your lineage and community. whisper your fears to magnolia and watch your spirit be renewed. a song is coming to me…“swing low, sweet chariot. coming for to carry me home.” mmm the delicious sound of abolition.
PECAN
native to the southern US & Mexico, pecan trees are symbols of protection and wealth (especially through union), amongst other things. when asked why they wanted to be part of this Juneteenth service, pecan responded with, “I am here to ensure the continuation of future generations with the abundance of resources that I carry with me. under my branches and leaves is where the oppressed, like children, can find shade and perform longevity & protection rituals. Juneteenth is a marker in liberation history, letting us know how far we’ve come and how far we have yet to go. be wise like a true elder, but curious and courageous like a child. freedom is your birthright. go ahead and take it.”
listen up good to this, though. growing up, my paternal grandmother always kept crystal bowls of whole, shelled pecans. positive she still has them around here somewhere! these bowls kept the money and other resources flowing in the house/family and protected (via the shell). do what you will with this information.
I hope you all are in a space to receive and integrate these messages. I pray that the spirit of Juneteenth remains with us throughout the year as motivation to mutually care for one another. Liberation doesn’t happen in a vacuum. It doesn’t happen with passiveness. It demands united valor. Who is your community, and what levels of closeness are they to you? What do you value? Name your fears, needs, and desires. Scream from the depths of your soul, release the haints of your bondage. Onward.
i just wanna say… I’ve been playing the lone star state of mind playlist all day…a VIBE! as a fellow Texas native, it has been the perfect soundtrack to my 2025 Juneteenth! thank you for reposting the sermon as well✨happy Juneteenth to you!