Nyame Biribi Wo Soro: Adinkra symbol of the week No. 4

Last week, Nsoromma reminded us that we are children of the heavens, held in divine guardianship by our ancestors and by forces greater than ourselves. This week, we take that one step further. We learn to reach.

❖  THE SYMBOL  ❖

Nyame Biribi Wo Soro is one of the most beloved phrases in the Akan language. It translates literally as ‘God, there is something in the heavens’ and it is, at its heart, a prayer. The full proverb continues: ‘God, there is something in the heavens, let it reach me.’

This is not a passive hope. It is an active, open-handed reaching toward what you believe is already being held for you. A faith that says: I don’t yet have what I need, but I know it exists, and I trust it is on its way.

The symbol itself is visually beautiful, its form resembles the infinity sign with a star at its centre. Like a prayer made visible. Like hope given a shape.

❖  WHY THIS MATTERS FOR YOU  ❖

Hope is one of the most radical acts available to us. In times of difficulty,and our ancestors knew profound difficulty, the ability to say ‘there is something in the heavens for me’ is not naïve. It is an act of deep spiritual courage.

And here is what moves me most about this symbol in the context of ancestral healing: our ancestors prayed these exact prayers. They reached toward the heavens when the ground beneath them felt impossible. That faith, that hope, that reaching, it's part of our inheritance. We carry it in our blood.

What are you reaching toward right now? What do you believe is being held for you, even if you can't yet see it?

❖  JOURNAL PROMPTS & REFLECTIONS  ❖

Light a candle if you can. Sit with your hands open in your lap, as if receiving. Then explore:

1. What is the ‘something in the heavens’ that you are reaching toward right now? What do you long for?

   
   

2. Where do you struggle to hold hope in your life? What has made it difficult to trust that things can change?

   
   

3. What did your ancestors reach toward when things were hard? What do you know or sense of their faith?

   
   

4. What would it feel like to truly believe that what you need is already being held for you?

You are allowed to want things. You are allowed to ask. The heavens are listening.

❖  IN MY WORK  ❖

Nyame Biribi Wo Soro lives in the ritual space I hold in every circle, every healing session and every retreat. Before we begin, we open with prayer and intention, a reaching toward the ancestors, toward healing, toward what we know is possible even when we can’t yet see it.

The Community Ancestor Circle meets monthly for exactly this: a shared reaching, together. If you’d like to connect with your ancestors in community, I’d love to have you join us.

And if you’d like to carry the energy of hope and divine connection with you, my Adinkra Spirit Stones make a beautiful, grounding talisman for exactly that.

I hope this week's symbol brings you something useful to sit with.

If something has stirred in you as you've read this, I'd love to hear from you, just comment below.

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