Livity is the Rastafarian concept of righteous, everliving living. Its essence is the realization that an energy or life-force, conferred by Almighty Jah (God), exists within, and flows through, all people and all living things. This energy is the presence of Jah living within us, and is often expressed in Rastafarian vocabulary as “I and I”, where the first “I” refers to the Almighty, the second “I” for oneself. A primary goal in Rastafarian meditation is maintaining awareness of I and I.

A primary goal in a Rastafarian’s life is to expand his or her Livity.^[1] In Rastafarian philosophy, Livity can be enhanced by intense prayer and meditation (often enhanced by sacramental cannabis use), adherence to an Ital diet, and perhaps most importantly, loving behavior toward others. Livity has a strong focus on living a natural lifestyle which includes the consumption of natural foods and growth of natural hair.^[2] This expression of love for others is done in recognition of a central love energy within all people, a concept often referred to as “One Love”. One Love was coined by Marcus Garvey to refer to the Unity and Love of black people by black people^[3]

Reference

1. Miller, Timothy (1995). America’s Alternative Religions. SUNY Series in Religious Studies. SUNY Press. ISBN0-7914-2398-0  474 pages.
2. Erskine, Noel Leo (2005). From Garvey to Marley, Rastafari Theology. Florida, USA: University Press of Florida. ISBN0813028078.
3. Roskind, Robert; Roskind, Julia (2001). Rasta Heart: A Journey Into One Love. One Love Press. ISBN1-56522-074-9  320 pages.Adapted from: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Livity_(spiritual_concept)

Untold Stories – Rastafari Livity

THE LIVITY OF RASTAFARI

If a man is walking down the street with a bible in hand, you wouldn’t say: here goes a Christian. If a Japanese man passed by you, neither would you say: good morning Budda. And if an Arab looking man with a full face of beard approaches, you wouldn’t say here comes Mohammed. So why it is that every dread-lock sporting person is deemed as Rastafari. Do we truly understand, or as the rasta would say overstand what it truly means to be Ras Tafari. With modernization, has come the revision of Jah Laws for the convenience of man; with a mixture of fashion and fakes intermingled among 12 tribes. With Bobo and Nyabingi, who is truly reflective of the authentic livity of Rastafari?