According to Wikipedia, there are an estimated 400 million dogs in the world. According to Drake and Lil’ Wayne, they just want to **** every girl in the world. And according to Snoop Dogg, he’s got *itches in the living room gettin’ it on and they ain’t leaving till six in the morning. Perhaps such a rock star lifestyle is appealing to the masses. Unfortunately, there’s a little know fact that when you lay down with dogs, you get up with fleas.

Popular culture and media often portray sex as a casual act that we can commit with whomever, wherever and whenever it feels right. Music often suggests that it’s okay to follow all of our sexual desires, but fails to inform us of the not so obvious consequences of Soul-Ties. We often end up imprisoned by the very act that we thought was an exercise of our freedom.

Be careful who you lay with because you could be connected to the negative emotion of that individual for life. If you’ve ever felt an overwhelming sense of withdrawal, sadness or anger that was simply unjustified, it may be an ungodly Soul-Tie. When you lay down with someone, you can take on their ways. Your soul is meant to be exchanged between your husband or wife, but I guess most rappers can’t seem to find words to rhyme with husband.

Those feelings aren’t always negative feelings. They are just bad connections with someone or people who are not assigned to your life. This is what causes you to stay when you know you should leave. It’s what allows one to settle even when you know they aren’t a good fit. Negative Soul-Ties can lead to bondage and even idolatry.

Ladies, this is for you: Dust settles; people don’t. So do like Common said and “use self control instead of birth control, because $315 dollars ain’t worth your soul.”

Gentlemen, this is for you: Stop expecting sex because you spent a measly $80 on her meal. You may be able to escape an STD or pregnancy, but you can’t dodge an unwanted Soul-Tie. GentleMAN up, please.

The good news is that there is a remedy to disconnect from Soul-Ties. There is always a way out of temptation. This kind comes out only by fasting and prayer. Forgive the person of any wrongs done, renounce any covenants made with that person and get rid of any gifts exchanged.

This may sound like a bunch of mumbo jumbo now, but mumbo jumbo just might save your life. There’s a difference between living the music and enjoying the music. Enjoy the music.

–Love, Peace and Soul.

– Enitan Bereola, II

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Bereola is the go-to style and etiquette impresario, public speaker and entrepreneur. He is also the author of the critically acclaimed BEREOLAESQUE: The Contemporary Gentleman & Etiquette book for the Urban Sophisticate. He is working on his follow-up, Guide to Ladies’ Etiquette from a Gentleman’s Perspective. Find him at www.twitter.com/Bereolaesque and at www.facebook.com/Bereolaesque