Book to debut in Ocala

Jaiya John [Photo courtesy jaiyajohn.com]

Jaiya John, a globally recognized author, poet, professor, freedom worker and speaker will return to Ocala for the debut of his new book, “Wildflowers Praying at Midnight.” A complementary community conversation and book signing will take place at the Mary Sue Rich Community Center at Reed Place from 6 to 8 p.m. Dec. 23.

According to his website, John was born an orphan on ancient Indigenous Anasazi and Pueblo lands in New Mexico. He is the founder of Soul Water Rising, a rehumanizing mission to eradicate oppression. He is the author of numerous books. He produces a podcast and is the founder of The Gathering, a global initiative and tour reviving traditional gathering and storytelling practices to fertilize social healing and liberation. He is a former professor of social psychology at Howard University and holds doctorate and master’s degrees in social psychology from the University of California, Santa Cruz, where he was a National Science Foundation Fellow. As an undergraduate, he attended Lewis & Clark College in Portland, Oregon, and lived in Kathmandu, Nepal, where he studied Tibetan holistic medicine.

“Wildflowers Praying at Midnight” is a collection of poetic verses rich in stories, prayers, devotions, affirmations, incantations, soul summoning and mystic dreaming, the press release noted.

“The worldwide waves of oppressive violence and social upheaval the last two years in particular moved me to respond by channeling the collective energy into the medicine I know best: poetry,” John said in the release.

“Wildflowers” is available Dec. 16, but most people won’t be able to have it in their hands until late December or early January, unless they had preordered. Ocala event attendees can be the first to have a signed copy, according to the release.

Ocala is always a special and sacred homecoming for John, whose family resides locally, the release stated.

“My people are for me the very land and sky and water and sun of Ocala. They are my soulful wealth and joy. To launch this new book in Ocala before anywhere else in the world is a great honor for me. A divine gift and blessing,” he said in the release.

Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., Eta Tau Omega Chapter and the Sankofa Public Library, which is inside the community center, are sponsors of the event.

To learn more about the event, call (352) 208-8666.

For information about John, go to jaiyajohn.com