History of Dreadlocks

Locked hair has been been a symbol of a highly spiritual person who is trying to come closer to God(s).
The biblical Sampson wore his hair in dreadlocks, and his unsurpassed strength was lost when Delilah cut off his seven locks of hair.
Dreadlock's roots are commonly traced back to Hinduism and the God Shiva, but stops there. Meanwhile, most people recognize that dreadlocks have their origin in Africa , but nobody seems to know where, how or why! As with everything else, the true origins of dreadlocks can be found in Kemet ( Africa ).

Originally, dreadlocks were the mark of spiritual status. Priests of diverse Deities were required, at least for a specific period of time, to have dreadlocks. Priests of diverse Deities were required, at least for a specific period of time, to have dreadlocks. For example, priests of Deities that are involved in the healing of the body and with procreation, such as Wsr, Heru, Theouris and Sekhmet, are required to have dreadlocks. There is a period of seven to thirteen years that a priest of these Deities must let their hair grow freely and devote themselves completely to the Deity. During this time, the priest has a role of responsibility towards the God and the temple. After that time period, if they want to cut their hair, a ceremony is done and they can remove their locks if they choose. Interestingly, for other Deities, like Aishat, one must shave every hair on their body when serving that God or Goddess. It depends on which God and temple is being served.

Hair is a notion of purity. Hairs are huge emitters and receptors. When one is in an area, such as a temple, where the flow of energy must be tightly controlled, hair becomes either very helpful or very disturbant, depending on the energetic needs. Even when a hair falls off of the body, it does not lose its qualities, and it can become a big disturbance to the flow of energy.

Dreadlocks in spirituality has a very high value. During precolonial Africa, healers and priests in many parts of the continent carried dreadlocks, and every religion that has come has adopted the idea of either having dreadlocks or shaving all hair on the body. In the Bible, it states that those who don't shave, drink alcohol or eat meat are the closest to God; Jesus himself is shown with long hair! In Islam, shaving is seen as a value of cleanliness.

Dreadlocks carry a very heavy spiritual meaning that is virtually unknown in today's modern society. Now worn as a fashion statement, a political message, or as a rebellion, many people, young and old alike, have no idea what dreadlocks mean spiritually, and they do not know the position they are putting themselves in by having locked hair. Dreadlocks carry the notion of devotion and sacrifice to the Deities, according to the spiritual rules.
Dreadlocks carry a very heavy spiritual burden. It is only people that have consciously decided to take a vow of purity and to follow all of the seventy-seven commandments and apply them to all aspects of their lives that should wear dreadlocks. People of any race or gender can wear them, because spiritually we are the same, but the one who has dreadlocks must understand the spiritual meaning behind them if they do not want to face negative consequences.

Consequences for wearing dreadlocks? But most people in the modern societies have no clue, other than their own personal imaginations and definitions, what having dreadlocks means! According to the Kemetic initiation, the oldest and most authentic spiritual system mankind has ever known, one must devote themselves to purity and follow the seventy-seven commandments at all times. This is a heavy responsibility! The seventy-seven commandments are spiritual laws given to humanity from the Gods so that we can create the world that we want to see and come close to their world. They include not getting angry, not gossiping, and not hurting another being, human or non-human. How many of those in the modern societies who have locked hair do not eat meat? How many people with locks do not talk about people behind their backs, gossip, and have hot tempers? How many dreads out there can honestly say that they follow the seventy-seven commandments? Very few!


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