Opening the Heal Thyself Center in New York 18 years ago, Queen Afua discovered first hand that African women are holding 400 years of pain, abuse, secrets, rape, incest, anger and resentment in our wombs. "A lot of what was coming to me in terms of consultation were women with womb problems, whether it be infertility, tumors, cysts, PMS, clotting and mood swings," she says.

In response, the Sacred Woman Training was born "to develop the woman on different aspects beyond nutrition (natural foods, juices, fasting) by introducing them to affirmations, meditations and rituals rooted in Khamitic (Ancient Egyptian) temple teachings". Before opening the Smai Tawi Heal Thyself/Know Thyself Center, Queen Afua, herself had followed the path less traveled-of ancestral healing and transformed her own life. Sick and tired of being sick and tired, she went on a healing retreat.

"At the age of eighteen I was filled with dis-ease. I was suffering from chronic asthma, hay fever, and arthritis," she explains. On this retreat, she discovered the connection between what one eats and one's state of health. For three days she fasted on citrus fruits and healed herself returning home renewed, which inspired her to study holistic health as well as embracing African culture and spirituality.

Her first book, Heal Thyself for Health and Longevity, which charts her own transformation sold over 100,000 copies, forever influencing the way African-Americans practice holistic health. In becoming an awakened African woman, she began to soul search into what was our form of medicine and healing.

In becoming an awakened African woman, she began to soul search into what was our form of medicine and healing. She learnt that in the past, African Priestesses and Priests used the knowledge of natural remedies, such as aroma therapy, herbology, reflexology and hydrotherapy, to heal. On a trip to Khamit (Egypt), she saw the spiritual significance of a woman's womb in the form of the Neter (Goddess) Nut. This led to her to recognizing the womb as the female sacred center. In her latest book, Sacred Woman: A Guide to Healing the Feminine Body, Mind and Spirit, Queen Afua writes "Arit is the original khamitic word for 'spiritual energy center' or 'gateway'. The aritu (plural) are also referred to as the charkas. The womb arit corresponds to the second chakra representing the aspects of procreation, inspiration and family."

Therefore, if the womb has been damaged in any way, a woman's level of creativity and inspiration, stability, success in relationships and fertility levels is potentially impaired.
The (sacred) womb is the first gate to the Nine Gateways - spiritual rites of passage - encountered in the Sacred Woman training. In the process of healing ourselves we have to first complete the 21-day Sacred Womb training, before having the option of exploring what lies beyond the gateways of: Sacred word, Sacred Food; Sacred Movement; Sacred Space, Sacred Beauty; Sacred Healing; Sacred Relationship; Sacred Unions and Sacred Lotus Initiation.

Statistically our wombs tell a story. Queen Afua's own research into the gynecological concerns that affects us discovered that 'African (American) women are more likely to have a hysterectomy, are hospitalized longer and are at higher risk for complications and death than European women'.

The reasons why women of African ancestry (up to 50 percent of us) are more susceptible to fibroid, which causes very heavy periods leading to iron-deficiency, anemia, backache, urine frequency, lower abdominal discomfort and pain during intercourse are unknown.

Queen Afua's theory is that fibroids are not just physical pains but also emotional pains. "Women usually suffer from fibroids around the age of 35 years and it is the same for prostate cancer in African men. A man is a reflection of the woman's state. They are our mirror image. We are sharing the same emotional baggage and toxic foods. We are still suffering from 'seasoning' of 400 years of slavery. We are still eating Soul Food that's Slave Food!" she asserts. Melanin also plays a contributing factor to our ill health. Queen Afua continues: "The stronger your melanin, the more you will hold emotions and chemical toxins. When its time to let go other races with less melanin can release these things more easily, but our melanin holds on to all that."

She learnt that in the past, African Priestesses and Priests used the knowledge of natural remedies; such as aroma therapy, herbology, reflexology and hydrotherapy, to heal.

On a trip to Khamit (Egypt), she saw the spiritual significance of a woman's womb in the form of the Neter (God/Goddess) Nut. This led to her to recognizing the womb as the female sacred center.

In her latest book, Sacred Woman: A Guide to Healing the Feminine Body, Mind and Spirit, Queen Afua writes "Arit is the original khamitic word for 'spiritual energy center' or 'gateway'. The Aritu (plural) are also referred to as the chakras. The Womb Arit corresponds to the second chakra representing the aspects of procreation, inspiration and family."

Therefore, if the womb has been damaged in any way, a woman's level of creativity and inspiration, stability, success in relationships and fertility levels is potentially impaired.

The (sacred) womb is the first gate to the Nine Gateways (spiritual rites of passage)- encountered in the Sacred Woman training. In the process of healing ourselves we have to first complete the 21-day Sacred Womb training, before having the option of exploring what lies beyond the gateways of: Sacred word, Sacred Food; Sacred Movement; Sacred Space, Sacred Beauty; Sacred Healing; Sacred Relationship; Sacred Unions and Sacred Lotus Initiation.

Statistically our wombs tell a story. Queen Afua's own research into the gynecological concerns that affects us discovered that "African-American women are more likely to have a hysterectomy, are hospitalized longer and are at higher risk for complications and death than European women".

The reasons why women of African ancestry (up to 50 percent of us) are more susceptible to fibroid, which causes very heavy periods leading to iron-deficiency, anemia, backache, urine frequency, lower abdominal discomfort and pain during intercourse are unknown.

Queen Afua's theory is that fibroids are not just physical pains but also emotional pains. "Women usually suffer from fibroids around the age of 35 years and it is the same for prostate cancer in African men. A man is a reflection of the woman's state. They are our mirror image. We are sharing the same emotional baggage and toxic foods. We are still suffering from 'seasoning' of 400 years of slavery. We are still eating Soul Food that's Slave Food!" she asserts. Melanin also plays a contributing factor to our ill health. Queen Afua continues: "The stronger your melanin, the more you will hold emotions and chemical toxins. When its time to let go other races with less melanin can release these things more easily, but our melanin holds on to all that."

In Sacred Woman, she shares with us 25 rejuvenation techniques. We can wash our wombs through dancing (25 healing postures); the teas we drink; the power of earth (clay and mud); by meditating with various spiritual guardians; by 'journaling' in our womb scroll meditations; and by using food as medicine. Women who have had a hysterectomy can still benefit. "Our ancestors believed that life is eternal," she elaborates. "Although you may have left your physical body, you continue to ascend in spirit. If the womb as been removed, you still have a spiritual womb that you can pray from and still feel the force of your creative energy flowing."

Faced with the real and frightening threat of losing our wombs through unnecessary operations, when a change in diet and lifestyle can alleviate most of the problems, African women need to immediately raise our womb consciousness and flush out some of our pain and anguishes. Sacred Woman works for all women regardless of their religious persuasion "because it is a way of life". For women who find it difficult to convert to a vegan lifestyle, she advises you to "start from what's in your hand. You may take time to make the transformation for it's a life process. If you are willing to take charge of your life then I give you a road map. You will take time to unfold in that road map".

Tragically, we lost possession of an important part of our cultural heritage; but for those of us who seek to heal ourselves by returning to our ancient ways, Sacred Woman is the gateway.

"Sacred Woman was our beginning. Living as a Sacred Woman is our destiny. Let's begin!"