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“The Divine” is a multicultural 90+ page coloring book for people of all ages (especially the child in all of us) inspired by folklore and spirituality from the Philippines (Diwas), Haiti (Lwas of Vodou) and Brazil (Orixas of Candomble and folklore of the Tupi Tribe). Pre-order YOURS today!
Thirteen divinities from each culture are represented along with the folklore and symbolism associated with each of the divinities. Included throughout the book are inspirational quotes, mindfulness activities and poetry featuring Eniafe Isis of All Her Words. In addition to the 39 divinities, there is a surprise included in the book.
While many of us grew up with the mythologies about Greek and Roman gods, as well as stories like Cinderella, Little Mermaid and Robin Hood, few of us have been exposed to the stories included in “The Divine” — stories that have been passed down from generation to generation through traditional dance, music and oral storytelling. “The Divine” draws the connections between these cultures, beliefs and that which is always sacred, bringing to the forefront the cultures of the diaspora that are rich in wisdom but rarely given the attention they deserve.
From the Americas to Africa to the islands, let’s continue to carry and pass down these truths.
It's taken a village.
I may be the creative behind this project, but I couldn’t have done it without these phenomenal folks. Thank you!
Illustrators: Fermina Caragay Armstrong, Salima Silagon Saway, Andre Hora, Grace Bio, Rahana Dariah, Zachary Present, Stephen Hamilton, Nikila Badua, Wisthon Thime, William Rhodes, Dee Jae Pa’este, Ubi Maya, Mitzi Ulloa, Cece Carpio, Rodney Sanon, Willorna DML, Gabrielle Tesfayetra
Advisors, Mentors, Cultural Bearers and Collaborators for this project include: Alleluia Panis (KulArts), June Arellano (Parangal Dance Company), Salima Silagon Saway, Myrna Pulna, Marlon Martin (Indigenous Peoples Education (IPED) Center), Portsha Jefferson (Rara Tou Limen), Daniel Brevil, Laure Fleurentin (FAL Danse), Jorge Alabe, Paco Gomes, Dandha DaHora, Djenane Saint-Juste (Afoutayi), Tania Santiago (Aguas Dance Company), Urubu Malandro (Capoeira Ijexa), Eniafe Isis (All Her Words) and Jarrel Phillips (AVE).
A big shout out to my crowdfunding guru Desi Danganan (Balay Kreative) for his wisdom and to Jeremiah Ysip (ABC-CBN) for editing my promo video!
To all the families and kids who have been helping me with the marketing materials AND to all my friends who have so generously put up with my numerous requests for advice, I have soooooo much love and gratitude for you.
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Some years ago, when I was teaching a CreativFolkloric workshop for MAS Summer Camp at the Mission Cultural Center for Latino Arts in San Francisco, I was having my students choreograph movements inspired by Yemanja (Brazil), La Sirene (Haiti) and Magwayan (Visayas, Philippines) — all divine feminine spirits of the ocean. Having the kids color illustrations of those divine spirits of the ocean seemed like a good way to inspire them. However, I was unable to find any existing illustrations online that I could use. As a last resort, I set out to create some of my own coloring pages using Adobe Illustrator to adapt images I found online.
And so was born the idea for “The Divine” coloring book — a personal creative journey of many months that has also been a very transformative and healing process for me. Art brings healing. Creating is medicine.
I am just so blessed to have the advice and guidance of many mentors, advisors and teachers, whose heritage and ancestry is from these cultures, who are extremely knowledgeable about the folklore represented in this project, and some of whom actively practice these spiritualities. I am greatly indebted to them for their help in ensuring that each story and culture is honored and represented with the greatest respect and with due mindfulness about cultural appropriation.
A special thank you to all my friends, fam and guides who believed in me even when I didn’t believe in myself. With your help, I hope to continue to breathe life into the project.
I hope each person sees a little bit of themselves through these stories, and that their symbolism resonates within you. I also hope that you will find these coloring pages not just educational, but also healing and therapeutic.
You are divine, and the divine is you.
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Hey all, I’m Christine Joy Amagan Ferrer (most people know me as ‘Tine’). I am a pinay multidisciplinary creative from San Francisco of Tagalog, Iloko and Visayan known roots. I am a cultural movement youth arts educator and dance artist by day, and a designer and media producer by night. I am inspired by folklore, spirituality and cultural movement storytelling.
I’ve been studying and practicing Haitian, Brazilian and Philippine folkloric dance for a little more than a decade. Over the years, I’ve traveled on a few cultural immersions to Haiti and the Philippines to expand my spiritual and cultural growth. And my connections to all these cultures -- through spirituality, dance, music and song -- have deeply shaped my life, carried me through my struggles, taught me to root myself in joy, brought me healing, connected me to my ancestors, and to the God within and the God without. Each day, I learn more and more. And for that, I am incredibly grateful. “The Divine” coloring book is my offering.
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Most of you know, I have been working very hard for the last few months, prepping for the launch of “The Divine” coloring book, hustling hard on its production. But in the present moment, I have had to pause and reflect on how I, as a Filipina, non-Black American sharing stories that represent heritages that are not my own, can honor, celebrate and uplift Black Power.
To be fully honest and transparent, it has been challenging trying to navigate how to better support Black lives, Black families, Black communities, Black culture, basically Black EVERYTHING, with my work on this platform -- being that I am a practitioner of Haitian and Brazilian folkloric cultural dance forms of the diaspora but NOT Black.
Though I had hoped to launch the project in June, I decided to postpone it. Because I realized that sometimes it’s important for some of us to fall back, so others can step forward.
What matters most is the day-to-day. How we live our lives, treat and teach one another, and hold space for others and ourselves, even when we don't fully understand it all.
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THE DIVINE BLACK ARTISTS AND COLLABORATORS:
Row 1: (Left to Right)
Row 2:
Row 3:
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Jarrel Phillips, Youth Educator, Writer, Visual Storyteller - San Francisco, CA
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Gabrielle Tesfaye, Painter, Animator, Filmmaker - Ubud, Bali
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Rodney Sanon, Illustrator, Cartoonist, Portrait - Brooklyn, NY
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THE DIVINE BLACK ADVISORS AND MENTORS:
Row 1: (Left to Right)
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Urubu Malandro, Capoeira Mestre, Capoeira Ijexa - San Francisco
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Daniel Brevil, Haitian Music and Drum Educator - Newport News, VA
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Tania Santiago, Afro-Brazilian Dance Educator, Artistic Director, Aguas - SF
Row 2:
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Dandha DaHora, Afro-Brazilian Dance Teacher, Lead Vocalist, Sambada - Santa Cruz, CA
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Portsha Jefferson, Haitian Folkloric Dance Educator, Artistic Director, Rara Tou Limen - Oakland, CA
Row 3:
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Paco Gomes, Afro-Brazilian Modern Choreographer, GriotLab - Salvador, Brazil
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Djenane Saint-Juste, Founder/Artistic Director, Afoutayi - Minneapolis, MN
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Laure Fleurentin, Haitian Folkloric Dance Instructor, FAL Danse - Oakland, CA
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I am a member of Parangal Dance Company (Philippine folkloric) and Aguas Dance Company (Afro-Brazilian contemporary). Learn more about me by visiting, eomvmnt.org. Hire me for quality freelance web design and UI development, print and graphic design, marketing and web administration at a reasonable price. Follow me on Instagram @tinejoy. Subscribe to my blog, EclectikSol.com.
“Sting like a bee, fight like a panther and flow like water. Weave your story like a spider, harness the energy of a hummingbird, fly swift like a butterfly and listen through the darkness like a bat so you can see.” - Christine Joy Amagan Ferrer
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