I sold my soul to the devil

There it was, she recognized that sinking feeling. It felt so excruciating, like a knot was lodged deep in her neck. Splashing some cold water on her face, she quickly dried up and put on her top of the range lip gloss, making sure to take a shot of Hennessy as she made for the lounge.

"Mimi, pull yourself together!", she scorned at the teenager. “Okay, how about a fake smile?” she asked, as she started readjusting Miranda's dress to make it look shorter than it already was.

The kid tried and failed.

Miranda’s was panicking and trying her level best to hide it. She could feel her hair stand under the synthetic weave Glo had borrowed her for the night. Her lips instantly felt parched like she had gone for days without water, she tried licking them, at least she hoped it would help with the fake smile she was about to wear.

Miranda could tell she was out of her depth here. However, it was going to pay off, she figured. Since it was only going to be one night it, was not going to be that bad. Besides, who on campus wouldn’t take such an offer? A small sacrifice and then she could pay off that tuition and get that new iPhone everyone’s raving about. With that pot belly he had on him surely, he couldn’t last more than 10 minutes now, could he? The sudden tug on her arm by Gloria jolted her from her wandering thoughts.

“Act like you have been here before Mimi”, Gloria tried reassuring the rookie as she took her to Rimo’s car. She smiled as she left her with the guys as she headed to her room to sleep. Her pillow felt heavier than usually tonight. Tossing and turning, the mental gymnastics she put herself through that fateful night were endless.

Gloria couldn’t sleep that night, 12 years later she had recruited a gullible and naïve 19-year-old into the oldest profession known to mankind. The guilt was unbearable as she recalled how this was the exact same way she was duped into it. She had promised herself that she was going to stop after finishing college. It was college, then her little brother’s tuition, then her sick father, then her lavish lifestyle – the rabbit hole became deeper and the latest excuse to justify her staying always seemed more convincing than the last. Now a veteran of the trade, here she was grooming the next generation of night walkers…

She had already sold her soul ages ago, her innocence was gone and no amount of rebranding, church services and prayer crusades were going to change that. Miranda without caring too much for the consequences of her actions, was in the process of signing hers over as well. An action she would live to regret.

Hypotheticals versus reality.

A hypothetical shows the flawed nature of our essence as human beings. Would you betray your brother if it meant securing financial freedom?

If you were in Miranda’s shoes, I reckon you would have found a different way of getting money. I’m sure you wouldn’t take that route now, would you?

Hell no.

It easier for us to say we would never do an immoral act if faced with a choice and I truly believe people when they say they would never. That’s the issue I have with hypothetical questions, there’s no urgency and no real threat of consequences.

At the first attempt, the answer to the question is almost unanimous. Our minds cannot fathom the possibility of coming across as an immoral human being. We would rather save face and follow the crowd than having people think of us as shameless individuals When presented with a hypothetical it becomes a matter of making the ‘right choice’ and never about being honest with who we are.

Have you ever felt like you've made a deal with the devil?

Disclaimer: I have been getting complaints of using scary images and metaphors.

I don’t like giving disclaimers but for this one, I will make an exception for all my Christians out there! I use these elements to create shock value and clickbait. I aim to grab your attention then convey my message. I haven’t met the devil and no, no one is selling souls here.

Today we explore the concept of, "The devil's bargain". A temptation to sacrifice something important for short-term gain. Blessers, money rituals (kuromba), fraud etc.

“For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, but lose his soul?” -Mark 8:36”

Holy Bible – King James Version

The “soul” is our life force. It is the representation of a part of our beings that makes us superior to all the other animals in the universe. A source of reverence and the place where our conscience resides. In that same vein, my understanding of the term selling your soul to the devil is giving your purity away, giving in to abominable acts and deeds for financial gain or otherwise.

Keep in mind that when one is selling their soul to the devil it is a value loaded exchange, they are giving up their whole being, the ethos of who they are, their morality, hope value and principles up to get their deepest desires which they ”feel” only the devil can get them.

It is hard for a rich man to enter into heaven…

There are consequences and prices to pay for reaching a certain degree of affluence. Trade-offs have to be made. A lot of us dream of becoming rich and having all the money in the world but in truth, very few have the gall required to achieve that. The world is a very cruel place, and the business world reflects everything that’s wrong with the world.

You say you want it, but are you willing to do what it takes to get it?

Hypothetically, you’re always ready but are you really ready to do it? Even if you are, look at yourself and ask if any of it will be worth the sleepless nights attached to it?

There are lot of foul practices that are rampant in our society, but people turn a blind eye to. For those that are acquainted to the entertainment and showbiz industry there is the “casting couch”. This is the practice in which young women and men(mostly women) have to sleep with the producers, managers and those at the top of the game in order to be presented with opportunities in the limelight so that they can shine.

The ”casting couch” is a voluntary act -no one is forced to participate- but it is a well-known procedure that will make it easier for soon to be ‘A-listers’. This is selling your soul as you give up your morals and values (provided you had them in the first place) for a shot at fame. Another example of selling your soul is those who partake in wealth rituals as a means of getting rich (kuromba). The casting couch and wealth rituals all have one thing in common is that at the height of it all there’s regret for the individuals as they wish they could’ve done things better in order to reach where they are presently.

This is all around us. The helpless women who resort to prostitution, young boys who turn into bloodthirsty hardened gangsters. People throwing away their essence for survival, for clout and financial gain. It’s sad but it’s the reality and the more we look at it the better we step out of our close mindedness and see the world for what it truly is – an evil place.

Even though I might have chosen the most extreme examples to highlight the instances in which one is selling their soul, people usually do it. When you see yourself doing or partaking in something so shady and unnatural to the point that it offsets your moral compass and all the good personality traits so with the aim of getting to a life of wealth and splendour – at that moment you have sold your soul to the devil.

 The Crossroads

In American folklore, there is a tale about one of the best ever Blues musician to ever grace the genre, whom many believe to have made a deal with the devil to become so good -Robert Johnson. Rumour has it, on a lonely night he went to the crossroads and sold his soul, the devil tuned his guitar strings, and he played like no other artist had ever played at the time, only to die two years later. You can read more of him by clicking here. The short-lived nature of his success helps fuel those rumours.

The crossroads are symbolic in that they represent the defining moment one “sells” their soul to the devil. Just as Robert Johnson found himself at the crossroads at midnight waiting, you can also find yourself in a precarious situation where you have to make a critical, potential life changing decision. When you are in that situation you are at the crossroads, you either make the deal or go home.

When you are about to do something that contradicts all you believe in for financial gain, you must pause and reflect on your actions. Is what I'm about to undertake really worth compromising all of my values? Is it truly worth losing everything that I have for money or this specific opportunity? The problem with selling your soul is that once you do, there is no turning back.

As I mentioned earlier, some of us are yet to experience this, some are caught in the middle of this and have to make this decision whilst others have already passed that stage. If you are at the crossroads, it’s not too late you can walk back home, it is not worth it.

If you have not experienced it yet, believe me that day is coming.

I see the crossroads as a rite of passage. Some people fortunately, are only ever going to be tested once. Even Jesus got tempted before his ministry. You can be prompted by those above you to make an action that goes against everything you stand for and scar your conscience for life. Many people at the top, got there using dodgy means and wish they could have done it in a different way. The nightmares plague them, and they know no peace.

As we venture through life and adulthood, we come across a lot of evils we never knew or instances we never thought we would find ourselves in. Your life is worth so much more don’t sacrifice who you are for riches. Stay woke.

There is always a better alternative.