€ 16,00
Interview with Tyson Brown, writer of the appealing book Abba Keddus, Rastafari and the return to our sacred origins. In this book one and ones can read about ancient mysteries and prophecies concerning Abba Keddus, which are deeply buried within our sub consciousness. It is the Rasta who dug up this prophecies in the dark womb of his/her sub consciousness and thus claiming that Ras Tafari Haile Selassie I is the fulfillment of those prophecies.
Roland: who is Tyson Brown. Can you please tell us something about yourself?
Tyson: I currently live in Toronto, Canada and are a descendant of the Underground Railroad (African-American slaves who escaped to Canada in the 1850’s). My studies and travels around the world have provided the inspiration of this book. I have lived in Africa, Europe and the Caribbean and based on what I have seeing, I know that Rastafari is the ancient future.
Roland: You have been writing already a book focusing on the history of Ethiopia.( the politics of change , Ethiopia and the reform movement from 1900 to 1935) What’s that book about?
Tyson: In 2000, I completed my Masters degree at the University of London, School of Oriental and African Studies. My thesis entitled the Politics of Change, looked at how Haile Selassie and others, built Addis Abeba, a new government and introduced a whole new concept of the nation-state to Ethiopia. It focused on how foreigners had a large impact on this process and how they were present in the royal court of the Ethiopian monarchy.
Roland: What was your main drive and motive to write this new exiting book?
Tyson: The main drive for writing ABBA KEDDUS, was trying to find the link between the modern revelation of Rastafari and the ancient traditions of the Tewado faith. Although they are essentially the same thing, there needed to be a common thread that linked this archaic African institution with the classic traits of Rastafari as it emerged in the 20 century. I found the monastic tradition and the bahetawi to be that missing link.
Roland: Being initiated in shamanism myself it was unbelievable for me that no writer of books on Rastafari recognized the shamanic origin of the very first rastaprophets in the land of Jamaica. Nearly every author points to biblical prophecies as the starting point of the rasta movement. But for me it was very clear that those first bredren got their visions like shamans all around the globe got their visions. In your book shamanism plays an important role. What is shamanism and why do you think every author till this day ignored its importance towards the revelation of Rastafari?
Tyson: Many people do not know exactly what a shaman is and what role they have played throughout history. There is a great book called Becoming Rasta by a Rasta professor from the University of North Carolina who studied the Rasta elders in Jamaica and asked how and why they became Rastafari. The most common answers was an inner vision, a dream or some kind of personal revelation that made them look at the world differently and begin to pursue knowledge of Ethiopia and its monarchy. This is the classic introduction to shamanic transformation. Shamanism is at the root of all religions, all of the prophets were shamans, Christ, Muhammad, Buddha, Solomon and many others were shamans. I would define shamanism as a practical methodology that leads to self-transformation. It is well-established and well-recognized system of rituals, practices and training that changes the mind and body of those who partake in shamanic initiation. This path opens the doors of higher consciousness and brings forth the divine, higher Self. I think it has been overlooked because it associated with ‘superstition and sorcery’, when in reality, shamanism is the foundation of civilization, knowledge and all religious experience. There is plenty of research to support this fact.
Roland: Ethiopian bible includes the book of Henoch, while the western bible got rid of this important book. Why is this book so important to understand shamanism and the Ethiopian Tewado Church?
Tyson: There is a reason the Western Bible removed the Book of Enoch from its scriptures. This mystical tale is a clear example of shamanic transformation, ascension and the incarnation of the divine Self. The power structures that control institutionalized religion do not want individuals to know that they can understand the sacred through their own personal practices and do not need the Vatican or some preacher telling them about it. Each one of us should set out on our path and use the shamanic message to elevate to the higher spheres. In the Ethiopian Tewado Tradition, the Book of Enoch provides the insight and lays down the path for those ascetics (monks, bahetawi) to escape the flesh and become angels like Enoch. It is very important to the Tewado faith as Enoch was an Ethiopian and the Book of Enoch was written in Geez.
Roland: What does Tewado mean? It sounds a lot like the Arabic word Tahweed.
Tyson: The Tewado of the Ethiopian Church and the Tahweed of Islam are the exact same thing. Islam and Ethiopia are deeply connected (something they don’t want you know). The word means ‘to be made one’ but also describes the transcendent unity of creation, all things come from a divine source and all things return to this divine source, The Tewado-Tahweed is the true reality and the goal of all mystics and shamans is to engage this sacred dimension, drawn down its powers and unite their minds and bodies with this transcendent wholeness and totality that makes up the cosmos and earth. This philosophy forms the foundation all religious thought in both Ethiopian Christianity and Islam.
Roland: In your book you make mention of the Higher Self. What is this Higher Self? Is there a link between this Self and the higher I?
Tyson: The fact that Rastafari uses the concept of the I and I, only re-enforces the idea of this movement being an expression of the higher Self. When Rasta’s say I and I, they are referring to their own selves and the God-Self that exists within them. This is a classic description of human nature for it reflects an ancient idea that is very real. We all have our own personalities and drive of the ego, but we also have a higher self, the core of being and the deepest part of our selves that is eternal, ever-living, primordial and directly linked to the Tewado. The Self is a portion of the transcendent, eternal unity of creation that exits within all of us and it is the goal of mysticism, shamanism and initiation to find this higher self. Throughout history, the higher self is often depicted as an old, wise man and I discuss in the book that the King of Ethiopia is the throne of the higher Self. The God within you and I, the God of humanity who has been around since the beginning and will be around forever.
Roland: What is the link between this higher Self and the manifestation of Emperor Haile Selassie I?
Tyson: Since the goal of initiation and spiritual growth is to transform ourselves and become the divine, higher Self, then Haile Selassie must have accomplished this task. People often ask why Rasta’s think Selassie is God, why do we think the whole universe is Selassie, but I think the question and the answer need to change. By becoming the higher Self through his own training, discipline and personal relationship with the Tawedo, Haile Selassie become the personification and full embodiment of the divine within all of us. He became the incarnation of an angelic presence which itself equals the presence of God within humanity. The goal of monastic life is to become like the angels and even the kings of Ethiopia, had to be on a path of enlightenment and use monastic training to develop their spirituality. It would appear that the throne for the incarnation of the higher Self is the throne of Ethiopia and when the Self arrives, the world witnesses the arrival of God on earth as a very human experience. This is the revelation of Rastafari.
Roland: Shamanism and Monastic ascetism as practised by bahetawimonks in Ethiopia, what is the link between those mystics and the rasta way of life?
Tyson: Shamanism unites all religions and monastic/ascetic/monk life of the bahetawi is a shamanic path. The whole purpose is focus the mind inwards and begin an internal dialogue that transforms us. By overcoming the desires of the flesh and ego, we plunge into the sub-consciousness where the higher Self exists. One must begin to explore their own minds and use their imagination to find the Tewado. This requires meditation, self-reflection, inner dialogue, recreating a sense of history and destiny, gaining firsthand knowledge of creation and a healthy diet. Rastafari has always stressed the importance of holding a meditation and looking within to find Jah. The use of cannabis plays a big role in helping induce this shamanic, inner vision and transformation of the Self. Shamanism is a path and Rastafari is the end result. Just like the bahetawi who represent an angelic presence, the elders of Rastafari embody the manifestation of the higher Self and are living reflections of our primordial totality, also known as the Tewado.
Roland: Both of us are real Midnite fans. Vaughn Benjamin mentions a lot about blackness, darkness, but now in a strong positive sense. In your book you also present this blackness as the melanin based darkness of the womb. The womb of the black Goddess like Astar or Kali.
What is the spiritual meaning of this womb?
Tyson: As Midnite says ‘did not your moment start in blackness’. They often depict Saints or ascetics in front of caves because it is a necessity that you enter into the original darkness or blackness in order to find the Higher Self. Before the creation of stars, our sun, the moon and earth, there was only the blackness of outer space. This is space of our origins and it has been described by the ancients and mystics of the ages as the ‘Black Goddess’. It is not an empty space, dark matter or a void, but rather a transcendental space full of life and intelligence. It is a multi-dimensional space where everything originates. On the shamanic path or within ascetic life of monasteries, entering into a cave for long periods of time (sometimes years) has the capacity of placing an individual into the primordial blackness (the womb) and causing incredible changes to their mind and bodies. Their outer senses are shut down and the inner visions of the mind take over and our sub-consciousness Only by returning to the Black Goddess can we found our true nature in the Tewado. The Self is in essence, the King or partner of the divine female (Queen).
Roland: When I was at a Nyabinghi Gathering this year in Surinam I heard them made mention that King and Queen are crowned at the same time. How come that most scholars on Rastafari ignored and missed the Black Goddess and claimed Rastafarian to be patriarchal only?
Tyson: The role of king and queen is very sacred and it is crucial to remember the relationship between His Majesty and Empress Menen. African queens have always played a prominent role in spiritual and political affairs, serving as symbols for the presence of the sacred feminine and often having more influence and power than kings. People may associate Rastafari as a patriarchal faith but I say that is because of the culture of societies where the movement has grown and evolved (Western nations, colonial states). The Western Bible is very patriarchal and often denies the presence of the queen or the sacred feminine in spirituality, therefore those who found and find Rastafari through the Bible, may take on a male centered view of the scriptures and spirituality. The role of the Black Goddess will ultimately find its prominent place in the theology and spirituality of Rastafari. In the Ethiopian Tewado faith, ‘Miriam’ plays a prominent role and in shamanism, through the divine Black Goddess we expand consciousness and ascend into higher spheres. She is the queen of the Universe and has the ultimate sovereignty over creation.
Roland: Of course people should read it in your book, but in short can you tell us how Haile Selassie I relates to the age old prophecies concerning Abba Keddus?
Tyson: The main theme of my book was that everything repeats itself and that as it was in the beginning, so shall it be in the end. The hypothesis was that some ancient Ethiopian sages (bahetawi) were responsible for starting civilization, introducing agriculture, language and writing, establishing the monastic and monarchial tradition. This occurred long before ancient Egypt and goes back into an era known as First Time or the Qedemawi in Geez. Rastafari is a sign that we are re-entering this era and the ascension of Haile Selassie to the throne is the fulfillment of prophecy regarding the arrival of the First Time reality (the ancient future). The Abba Keddus means the sacred elder and it appears that the sacred wise ones who changed the world in a distant time, are back to repeat this transformation. This figure is also known as the Ancient of Days.
Roland: What struck me most was that you wrote this book before pictures of Abba Keddus appeared at internet. Coincidentally in my own book, One Love, I also wrote about a bahetawi dreadlocked monk before I saw those pictures of Abba Keddus. Somehow we dug up these ancient information in our Self. It was a kind of thrilling to me. How was it like for you to see those pictures after you’ve wrote the major part of your book?
Tyson: Just as I was finishing the book, I came across that image of the bahetawi monk that looks like Haile Selassie. I never believed that His Majesty was killed by the dergue and his disappearance was still a mystery. But when I was in Ethiopia, I heard many times that he was still alive and was living in the hills as a bahetawi. Then, I started to look into the bahetawi tradition and realized it was a serious possibility that His Majesty was still alive and was living as bahetawi monk named Abba Kedddus. That’s why I changed the title of my book to this name because it seemed to re-enforce the prophecy I was writing about in my book about the ancient Ethiopian sages. Ascetic training and monastic life can make people live a very long time and the connection between His Majesty’s 120 birthday, 2012 and other prophecies are very interesting. Only Jah knows but most Rastafari people believe that the Rasta movement will play an important role in the future and the Abba Keddus prophecy fits right into this idea.
There is a lot more to question, but I think people should read the book for themselves. I think with this book you’ve been filling a lot of gaps in the knowledge of origins of Rastafari. But somehow I am convinced that there is lot more to come. Thank you Tyson!
One Love Roland van Reenen
(Roland is the author of One Love, works as a manager for an organic food (Ital) company, a trainer in natural healing, drummer and writer in the Netherlands)
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