Some folk cross their fingers and focus on happy thoughts. Some whisper a prayer. Others try to smoke or drink away anxiety and apprehension. Radio talk show host Dr Kingsley 'Ragashanti' Stewart beats his tambourine and chants a chorus. How about you? How do you keep positive and optimistic in these trying times? What is your strategy for dealing with the malevolent envy of persons who, as Maya Angelou puts it, 'see your glory but don't know your story'? Don't be fooled, those persons are plentiful and their boss, the devil, is very active.

How do we effectively ward off evil or turn back negativity? How do we deflect what we Jamaicans call 'bad-mind' and jealousy? My late Aunty Becca, who raised me, was very obsessed with the whole idea of 'turning back guzzum' or 'cutting destruction', and she had certain practices that were integral to that pre-occupation.

Aunty was a fish vendor. Her place of business was the corner of West Road and Third Street in Trench Town, on the piazza outside the shop owned by a nice Chinese gentleman, who I only knew as 'Fargo'.

Safety ritual

Everyday before she put her fish cart in position on the sidewalk, Aunty would cut a lime or two and squeeze the juice all over the pavement. Then she would sprinkle some water around the spot. While she did this she would reverently repeat a verse from the bible and hum a hymn. After that, she would sweep up her spot and get ready to start business with the confidence that impending iniquity has been averted.

It's a cultural thing. Many people in this country, even the educated upper classes, practise various traditional rituals intended to turn back calamity. Yeah man, for example, very few, if any, new building projects ever commence without a fowl or goat being killed and libation - white rum - poured to appease the spirits.

Well, sometimes these practices are not enough. Sometimes they may even be too much. Look here nuh, I was feeling really down yesterday. I was angry and depressed because one person, motivated either by misplaced self-righteous importance or plain old bad-mind, was trying to create bad vibes for my brothers and myself with insidious insinuations. Well, my very dear friend, Marie Francis, changed my mood with one little email message. No, it wasn't one of those mushy inspirational poems that end by insisting that you forward it to everyone in your address book or die an awful death.

Marie sent me a song, a stirring rendition of the hymn I Surrender All, beautifully performed by Benji Myaz. The song is a track from Benji's album Time Together.

Trust me, it brought tears to my eyes. Listening to it was a blessing and an inspiration. Benji's interpretation of the song is rich and hauntingly evocative and it lifted my spirits. More importantly though, the song reminded me of the surest way to confront negativity - leave it to the Almighty.

I listened to the song then whispered the Lord's Prayer and surrendered all the anxiety and anger. I released the tension and apprehension and I suddenly felt lighter, brighter and no longer worried 'bout the fighter.

Trust me, it makes a big difference. If you don't believe in God, I can't help you. But, if you believe, act on your belief and allow the power to work. When the devil try and draw you out, just let go, and let God!

Let me here your thoughts at box-mi-back@hotmail.com.