Reggie Smith 770's Blog

Anyone who has experienced death in a personal way has probably come to this one conclusion...we are all spiritual beings having a human experience.  I had always thought this to be the case, but it became most evident when I looked at the remains of my father in his casket.  I had known the spirit that had inhabited his body, and it was clear that the energy that was my father no longer "lived" in the body that lay before me.

Death is the most extreme example of  how our humanity is an energetic reality.  Pain seems to cause the kind of suffering that is causing many of my friends to arrive at this same conclusion.  Many of my peers are experiencing health challenges.  As a result, they are looking for healing solutions.  Because many of them know about the diseases (HIV/HEP-C) that I have lived with for so long, and the holistic practices I have incorporated in my lifestyle, they come to me for answers and suggestions.

When I was blessed with the opportunity to recover from active drug and alcohol addiction back in 1985, I realized that anything is possible with faith and desire.  Pain and suffering were certainly the motivation for my desire and willingness to have faith.  Shame and hopelessness plagued my mind and spirit, and I had to learn how to heal both  mind and spirit if my human body was going to ever thrive again.

The same process of healing the mind and spirit can be used to treat the physical maladies.  “Sickness” seems to be the logical result of the addictive behaviors that many of us have consciously and unconsciously bought into.  Whether it is sugar, salt, nicotine or stress, the manifestations have ranged from ADHD to diabetes, cancer to any number of immune disorders.

I think that having become a living host for the HIV retrovirus has been a wonderful opportunity to gain the kind of experience that can serve myself, my family, and my community!  I know that sounds radical, but if all of us who have been "chosen" to have this learning experience uses it as a blessing, we will then be living in the spirit, and that is where we need to be in order to heal the humans we are being.

So when they ask me how I have attained my freedom from the chains of addiction to all of those things that were killing my body, I always have to begin with my surrender to a higher power.  It is evident from my experience, and the experiences of millions, that healing the spirit is the most effective way to heal the body. 

I know it may seem counterintuitive to the uninitiated, but faith, by definition, is believing in things unseen.  As Daddy Rich said in the movie “Carwash” – “you gotta believe in something…why not believe in me”.  Seriously though, try finding a way to tap into the spirit within if you want to heal the body.

Yes, we will discuss actual healing solutions in this blog, like the benefits of drinking lots of water, or the need to be less acidic.  When we do share these thoughts and ideas it will be as much a reminder for me as it is possibly helpful for you.  No matter what we talk about as it pertains to healing, I have to always remember that it begins in the spiritual realm.  After all, we are truly spiritual beings having a human experience.

I would love for you to look at "RISE" - The Multimedia Magazine focusing on Wellness, Awareness, and Recovery! Please subscribe, post to FaceBook, and give us your feed back at participate@RISE4war.com!!

                                            WWW.RISE4WAR.COM

Greetings and salutations!  My name is Reggie Smith and I am the editor-in-chief of “RISE” – THE MULTIMEDIA MAGAZINE.

We believe that now is the time for us to raise our consciousness about our responsibility for our own wellness.  There is very little, if anything, preventing us from heightening our awareness about how we can recover from the multitude of maladies that are plaguing minority communities.

One thing we can do to better participate in our own survival is to create an atmosphere that is more conducive to healing.  That is why we have created “RISE” – The Multimedia Magazine, so we can focus on spiritual, mental and physical wellness, self and community awareness, and recovery from the addictive behaviors that are at the core of many of our health issues.

“RISE” multimedia magazine will be delivered in an interactive format, which includes audio, and video interviews, featured articles, and reported information concerning local individuals and organizations in the wellness arena.

There will be a calendar of events and resources available for those interested in spiritual, mental and physical wellness. 

The content is being written and produced by various contributors and edited primarily by accredited, experienced persons with the direct support of healthcare providers from the National Minority Clinical Research Association (NMCRA). 

The news and education in the magazine WILL be produced on a monthly basis, and distributed in various multimedia formats (delivered by email, video on phone, Twitter, Facebook, video on web, video in waiting room)

As an added attraction for our growing database of opt-in magazine recipients, we will include music, discounts and FREE giveaways provided by our advertisers and underwriters.

So thank you for your time and trust!  We know we will all benefit by your decision to check out – and possibly contribute – to “RISE” THE MULTIMEDIA MAGAZINE!  

When we were navigating the myriad of emotions we felt about living with HIV back in the 1980's, I never envisioned something like what I had the great blessing to observe and enjoy recently at Georgia State University.

My friend, Dr. Larry Bryant, a professor at Georgia State University, has created an accredited course on HIV Awareness (HIV 101) that is very well thought out and it is having a wonderful effect on the 60+ students enrolled this semester.  Imagine, an actual accredited course on HIV, with a text book and everything!! 

I was blessed to have the opportunity to share my experiences as a person living with AIDS for the past 25 years.  The bredth of the knowledge exhibited by the students was refreshing!  Thanks to Dr. Larry Bryant for inviting me to speak and listen.  Thanks go to him for having the vision and perserverance needed to make it haopen.  I pray that every college and university follow his lead and institute a cousre just like it.  Among these students is the person who will discover the cure for HIV.

Finally!!!! Consciousness!!!

Listening to public radio today, I heard a really inspiring interview on "Hardknock Radio" w/ Davy D.  He was speaking with "Stic Man" from Dead Prez about his latest musical poetry that is focused towards so many of the things that I have been espousing all these years. 

He spoke about really taking care of one's spiritual, mental and physical being, being conscious about all things involved!  Wow!!!  He promoting health and wellness through hip hop culture.  I have GOT to get with this soldier, and I have GOT to support his message.  The RBG Fit Club (rbgfitclub.com) is a place to visit, or SticRBG.com is the place to keep up with this motivational young brother.

(download)

Click here to download:

i-want-to-thank-you-uomyJwuhHDHriktydrjk.zip (716 KB)

        I am so very happy and grateful for my spiritual, mental and physical wellness.

There is a reason why we are still here on the planet.  Some of us are more aware of the tenuous nature of life as a result of the life threatening experiences we have had.  those experiences have made us more acutely aware of how important it is to be grateful, and the importance of actually living in thankful contemplation.  I choose to show my thanks by working actively to create an atmosphere that is more conducive to healing.

Music has always had a healing effect on me.  As a DJ, I always try to listen to the lyrics and mix music together to create a tapestry of a musical spiritual mosaic that can energetically lift those who are moved by my interpretation of the work of others.  Like this tune by Alicia Myers "I Want To Thank You", which has always been a favorite of mine because it is a great song that bridges spirituality and movement!  I have not been spinning for a while, but mixes are always going around in my head.  Once a DJ...

In my book, "Surrender To Heal" - 7 Ways to Rise Above The Battlefield of Life (available on this homepage) I used the titles of songs as the chapter titles so as to conjur up the energy that I thought was appropriate to help the reader to receive the information as best as possible.  Everyone has expressed that they remembered something special about their own life that rang true when they read the book, and many talked about what they were doing when the particular songs were being played. 

As the editor for RISE - THE MULTIMEDIA MAGAZINE, as well as here on this blog, I am going to use some of those same methods for communicating information and ideas.  I hoe you enjoy the information and can appreciate the atmosphere we are working to create, and use it to participate in your own survival.  Either way...I want to thank you!