people responded in kind, letting me know they enjoyed my work, so I often felt my voice was a gift I had to use for good.  After touring Europe for eight years and living in a tiny room located in a tiny Swiss town for two more, I found myself fulfilling my Divine purpose. Within those twenty years of performing, I not only had produced a compact disc--"Feelin' Good!"--I had married a young Muslim husband, too! I was forty-five, fulfilled and content.

Islam originally entered my life through a group of musicians I worked with. They spoke some Arabic, followed the food regulations, and read the Koran--which I have read some of, though not all. The musicians, all men, always treated me well.

I also had two female Islamic friends. One was fanatical about the practices, while the other, in my opinion, had a healthy relationship with Islam. She fed her children the "right" foods, prayed daily, and kept a clean Muslim home where people took their shoes off at the door.

After touring Europe for ten years, I had met and married a Muslim man from Gambia while touring Europe as a jazz singer. I lived with him for three years; we were married for five, and are still friendly. In fact, we love each other very much.

My Muslim husband changed my mind about men because he is gentle, non-assuming, private, humble, and clean. He works hard both at his job and at home. Other than my father, my Muslim husband is also the only man I ever lived with who cleaned the floors every week, among other things. He truly amazed me! Being married to this man, after having three husbands steeped in Western thought, felt much more pleasant.

During this time, I also studied the Keys of Enoch. I cannot say I understand that book, but I learned about Merkaba Circle and other-dimensional travel.  I'd been familiar with astral travel, since I was young, but the concept of the Merkaba came up later in a few New Age books I was reading.

As always, though, life offers many turns in the road we travel. After moving back to the States, where the exchange between artist and audience is not quite the same, I grew tired of entertaining people for a living, and searched for another means of expressing my inner self. I joined a group of artists in my community and helped found the African World Artists Collective of South Florida. I learned website design and made sites for the organization and some of its members, after which  clients appeared who paid me to make their sites. A new business bloomed into being!

Eventually, with the money from my business, I opened an art gallery where we hold book signings, art receptions, and spiritual events. My partner, Omian, is a visionary who reads and teaches Tarot. We both aim to enhance the lives of people visiting the gallery, and so far we've been very successful.

Recently, as I surfed the web, I came across Spirit Web, which had links to all the books and names I am familiar with, including the Ascended Masters. I later found Global Goddess while searching for Goddesses. In all of my searching, I've found and truly believe that I am only a beacon for others to see the way; that I am responsible for my own light; that the brighter I shine from within, the more I encourage others to shine, which is my true purpose. I've discovered I am a work in progress, an energy storehouse, a keeper of the Light--a Lightworker.

"I've found and truly believe that I am only a beacon for others to see the way; that I am responsible for my own light; that the brighter I shine from within, the more I encourage others to shine, which is my true purpose."