July 28, 2022

It’s been a little over four years since I moved from the U.S. to West Africa, and ever since December 2018, Magic & Melanin has conducted 8 homegoing experiences to the Motherland. This is a huge milestone in MM’s trajectory, which is why we wanted to commemorate our growth through publishing the 3rd issue of Magic & Melanin magazine, appropriately titled, “The 8th Trip.”

The number 8 holds much significance to me as an astronumerologist. My beloved grandmother, who my family affectionately calls Mamima, is one of the main reasons why I decided to leave NYC with my family in June 2018. She was 86 years old at the time — she had been blind for several years, and I could tell she would benefit from being surrounded by my two children, Nova & Rémy, and me. We all mutually benefited from being around each other’s energy, and, being pregnant with Rémy at the time, I was seeking the care, comfort, and nurturing energy of my grandmother, as well as of the Motherland. Making this decision turned out to be the best choice I could’ve made, because two years later, after a wonderful, yet at times tumultuous journey in Togo, my grandmother transitioned at the age of 88 years old.

Dossé’s grandparents Michelle & Rémy

In numerology, the number “8” symbolizes infinity, and wealth. Infinite wealth. It represents reincarnation, rebirth, soulful merging, awakening, spiritual alignment, and regeneration. After Mamima’s transition, I felt a physical void, but I also felt spiritually strengthened. I could feel her energy within and around me, be it through the wind blowing through the trees, reminding me of the element of Air that represents Mamima’s Gemini nature, or the children running outside her two schools, Le Nid, and La Fontaine, reminding me of Mamima’s eternally youthful, and profoundly generous spirit.

As I grieved and mourned my grandma, I turned my attention to creativity and the arts. I released my debut EP of mantras and meditations, Dream with Dossé-Via, as a dedication to Mamima’s constant encouragement that we pray, express gratitude, and affirm ourselves while we’re alive. And I also poured more of my attention toward organizing and leading MM Experiences, because the influence of my own homegoing journey was undeniable, and I felt even more passionate about sharing this magical portal with others — even if at times, not all aspects of one’s homegoing are magical. Sometimes they’re lonely, scary, or destabilizing. But despite the hiccups, re-routes, and “WTF?” moments, returning home is a powerful blessing.

That brings us to our most recent MM Experience, which took place with a group of 12 travelers from the diaspora, from May 31 - June 12, 2022. The 8th trip began on the day of the Gemini New Moon, as a dedication to not only my grandma Mamima’s spirit, but also to my Gemini paternal grandfather, Rudolphe Trenou. All of my grandparents’ spirits led me home, and what was so special about this 8th trip is that it felt deeply ancestral — even more so than previous ones. It felt like all 12 of our participants’ ancestors also conspired to ensure that all of us were united on the continent at this precise time, in this precise space.

This 8th trip truly felt like we were a soul family, and that we had known each other in past lives. The connection between us was more than camaraderie, it was richly familiar and filled with laughter, tears, moments of confusion, silence, vivid debriefs and debates, respectful exchanges, and heightened sensitivity. Not to mention that one time we all combined our manifestation abilities to get our bus unstuck from the mud, in the pouring rain, on the way to the beach. Hehe — you had to be there. This was the trip that confirmed to me that I’m truly living out my mission, and that I’m not doing it alone. It’s divinely orchestrated. And, like the number 8, it is infinite.

While MM is now on a well-deserved sabbatical from organizing MM trips, especially as I prepare for the launch of my debut book, Signs & Skymates, I feel confident that the energy from the past 8 MM trips will continue to inspire, and motivate, and transform both our alumni and future participants and scholars.

On a more personal note, I’m grateful that this 8th trip was an experience I was able to share with my star seeds, Nova and Rémy, who have patiently and lovingly supported the Magic & Melanin Experience since Rémy was in my womb! They’ve understood that MM is like another one of their siblings — one that I equally pour my energy and love into. I’m deeply grateful that during this period of rest and restoration, Nova & Rémy get to benefit from even more of their mother’s presence, with them, in the Motherland. It’s what Mamima would’ve wanted, in addition to all the joy and spiritual growth we’ve helped spark in our past MM participants. I can hear her voice and envision her smiling as she witnessed the 8th MM Trip, and our subsequent period of pause: “Bravo, ma chérie,” she’d say. “Keep praying. Keep expressing gratitude. It’s so important. I’m proud of you, Dossé-Via.”

And on that note, I’m ending this letter with my own expressions of gratitude, affirmations, and prayer.

Thank you to my MM Team and associates: Carly, Thomas, Innocents, Bénédicte, Joachim, Conrad, Jason, and Gilbert. Be blessed. I’m infinitely grateful.

To all 12 MM travelers from our Spring ’22 cohort: Alexuis, Shelon, Kerri, Chelcee, Courtney, Jazimar, Clay, Akua, Andrea, Mia, Shamoiya, and Aáron: be blessed. Thank you for coming home.

Thank you to our readers, our homegoing fund donors, and overall mission-supporters, for seeing us, empowering us, and believing in us. Enjoy this immersive digital experience through issue 3 of MM Mag, especially with these special images from our MM Photoshoot, captured by Ivorian artist and photographer, Keren Lasme.

Here’s to your own homegoing (or return) in the Motherland sometime this decade.

With gratitude,
Dossé-Via
Creator of Magic & Melanin