Breaking the Cycles of Pain: Soul Secrets (Paperback) (ISBN-13: 9781956001570)

Queen Shamala Bessie Davis Smith has lived in Los Angeles since the 60's, migrating from North Carolina. She earned a Bachelor' s degree in Psychology from the University of Southern California, a Masters in Psychology from California State University, Los Angeles, a Doctorate of Theology from Christ is the Answer Unity in Florida and is completing a PhD in AfRaKan Spiritual Science from the University of Creative Life Initiation System (UCLIS) in Los Angeles. Queen Shamala is executive director of this learning center.

Reverend Shamala is also an ordained minister, a metaphysical practitioner, a spiritual counselor and an anger management facilitator, an ancestral seer, an Ifa aborisha (studies nature and life in the tradition of the Yoruba people of West Africa), and a heartful writer. In 2017, Queen Shamala published her first book, Blackbutterfly Soul Songs, which deals with the author's soul transformation in poetry. Her second book, Breaking the Cycles of Pain: Soul Secrets is Volume I of a memoir trilogy. The next book, Journey Let Us Cheer the Weary Traveler and The Books of Love Healing the Secrets complete the trilogy. These creative nonfiction memoirs are autobiographical looks at Queen Shamala's healing from early childhood abuse, systemic racism, male-domination and its resultant low-self esteem, anger and defiance.

Queen Shamala is the mother of two daughters, Yealang Smith, an acclaimed chef in Hollywood, Renetta Roberson, a registered nurse and two grandchildren-Malik and Malika. Touching the lives of many young people, Queen Shamala worked as a secondary school counselor for over thirty years with the Los Angeles Unified School District. Queen Shamala travels her artful life path with her husband Kaliph. In her Artful Lifestyle Studio in Gardena, California, the ancestrally-led artist facilitates healing Light sessions, distance healing, guided meditations, ancestral initiations, painting classes, rites of passages and autobiographical writing sessions.