Thursday, September 30, 2004

A Stroke of Inspiration

Inspiration comes in a flash.

Or does it?

Earthquakes, tornadoes, lighting strikes, hurricanes, volcano eruptions, floods, and other natural disasters, are all preceded by some kind of natural warning, sometimes giving us enough time to prepare for the ordeal ahead, and to escape to safety. At some level, there are always signs of things to come. Signs as minute as a held breath -- a moment of silence before the storm.

We may not consider inspiration a disaster, but a rare valuable gift from who knows where. And yet, it too acts to throw us out of the ordinary moment of being, with a measure of violence.

Inspiration is dangerous.

Listen for its approach, smell it, taste it, feel the draft, see the change in the light.

Be prepared.

Wednesday, September 29, 2004

Incantation

If you repeat things enough times, they somehow take root in reality. Proof of such is gossip, rumor, word of mouth, buzz, infamy, urban legend… story.

These are things that reside in the common consciousness -- the plane of common imagination -- shared images of our human race.

Unicorns and manticores, gryphons and dragons, mermaids and alien beings from the stars.

They are all somehow real.

Maybe that's the secret of being -- bestow a label or a name by putting something into words, repeat in earnest, and witness your creation take on a life of its own.

Tuesday, September 28, 2004

Smart as a Whip

Being smart as a whip includes knowing when not to crack it.

Monday, September 27, 2004

Belief and Folly

Is it folly to believe in something that is intangible? After all, some of the greatest intangibles are Love, Hope, and Wonder.

Another is Deity.

The choice to be a fool is yours.

Sunday, September 26, 2004

The Desert and the Ocean

The desert and the ocean are realms of desolation on the surface.

The desert is a place of bones, where the innards are turned out, to desiccate into dust.

The ocean is a place of skin, rich outer membranes hiding thick juicy insides, laden with the soup of being.

Inside out and outside in. These are worlds of things that implode or explode, and the only catalyst that determines the direction of eco-movement is the balance of water.

Both worlds are deceptive, dangerous. Both, seething with hidden life.

The only veil that stands between perception of what is underneath the desolate surface is your courage.

Dare to breach the surface and sink.

Saturday, September 25, 2004

The Fourth Dimension

The fourth dimension is movement.

It generates space-time. It is the rate of progression.

The fourth dimension is the fourth ray of the compass rose, North, South, East, West.

Which one?

That is up to you to discover.

Friday, September 24, 2004

Concentration

Having trouble concentrating and being easily distracted is a symptom of so many things -- issues, problems, distractions, wrong starts, aimlessness, indecision, worry, fear, insecurity, pain.

Take the time to figure out which one (or more) applies to you.

Only then can you begin to work on a real solution.

Wednesday, September 22, 2004

Wizard

There are so many definitions.

The first one presents an image right out of a fairytale -- an old wise man in a long robe and pointy hat, wielding a wand with magical powers. Or, maybe a younger Harry Potter version.

Maybe the term "wizard" conjures the notion of someone who is particularly good at something -- technology, science, computers, math, etc.

Or maybe yet, you think of stage magic shows or parlor tricks -- smoke and mirrors.

Maybe you think of the occult.

Or racial prejudice.

Or maybe you are reminded of those wacky installation programs that load your software applications.

Halloween?

How about this definition, instead…

A wizard is one who has control of time -- personal and universal. A wizard plans each second of existence, knows all the variables, and therefore can anticipate events.

Does that sound like you?

Tuesday, September 21, 2004

Balm of Silence

Silence is a state of mind.

It is a necessary resting point between each living moment.

Take the next moment to pause your complicated life and enjoy the brief sensation of relief.

Do this whenever you feel the need for peace.

Heal yourself with moments of silence.

Monday, September 20, 2004

Changing the World

Do you feel powerless to change the world?

After all, you an I are but a tiny cell in a huge cosmic body, an insignificant speck in a universe that stretches outward beyond all human scale. What can you or I do to affect the universe?

And yet…

All it takes is for one cell to become malignant with cancer, and the whole body is brought down and dies.

All it takes is for one cell to exhibit a beneficial mutation, and the whole body benefits and is eventually transformed into a new, better equipped species.

Such are the two extremes illustrating the power of the individual.


And yet, it is easy to forget that the greatest long-term power exists in the cell that maintains the body in its current state and quietly carries out its innate function. It is neither cancerous, nor wonderfully different.

It simply is.

There are more than two ways of changing the world.

The Definition of Life

We all want different things.

Our desire determines our individuality. And, very possibly, it defines our life.

Can a robot or artificial intelligence (AI) desire, truly? Can a living being cease desiring completely?

Considering that a lowly virus exhibits autonomy and has the ability to reproduce, could it be that the possession of desire is the better definition of sophisticated life?

Think about what you desire.

And live.

Saturday, September 18, 2004

Sage Memory

A sage is a former fool who has become tired of himself.

A foolish sage is one who forgets this.

Remember, or come full circle.

Friday, September 17, 2004

What is Truth?

"What is Truth?" Pontius Pilate asked, and many others asked, and continue to ask throughout history.

The answers came and continue to come, as varied as there are forms of conviction.

Here is one roundabout response.

If repression and frustration can lead to illness, then so does the repression of truth and the frustrated expression of truth. Thus, when truth is not allowed to come out freely, illness sets in.

Truth is simply that what is natural.

Thursday, September 16, 2004

Pleasant Surprises

Not everyone loves surprises, even when they are assumed to be pleasant.

That's because what seems like a good thing for one person is not always a good thing for another.

Surprise someone only with something they truly want. And if you are unsure, then simply don't.

Wednesday, September 15, 2004

Excitement

Seems like one of the most underrated emotional states in our society is excitement.

When you are genuinely excited, people either think you are being silly or overly emotional. Excitement is considered to be a shallow emotional state -- the stuff of rollercoaster rides and summer blockbuster action movies, of ephemeral low-brow entertainment such as "tacky" genre fiction, and Las Vegas strip neon signs.

Common perception has it that nothing serious or profoundly significant is ever achieved as a result of simple childish excitement and exuberance.

And yet, this is such a horrible fallacy.

Far from being an immature response, excitement is what drives the will to achieve. It is what elevates your emotional energy levels to the point which is necessary for creativity, and hence, for action.

Without excitement, no artist would paint, no writer would put down words on the page, no musician would play.

Without excitement, no scientist would pursue a track of thought, no athlete would struggle to compete, no businessman would succeed in their financial field.

Excitement carries us over the threshold of bland mechanical activity into the realm of directed, energized movement with a purpose.

Never underestimate the power of excitement over your life.

Feel it right now!

Tuesday, September 14, 2004

A Mirror: Meditation Puzzle

Who am I? I am you.

Look closely.

Easy Virtue

Virtue is, when you look at it very closely, that which is after all most expedient.

Often we manage to not merely justify our questionable actions but cloak them in a "moral" veneer.

It's seductive and easy to pretend that we are in the right. And it is very easy to come up with a gazillion justifications and excuses and then proceed to do what we wanted to do in the first place.

But, for once, let's not.

The right thing -- here and now -- is the one true alternative.

And self-delusion is only a postponement of responsibility.

Monday, September 13, 2004

Love's Filter

Love filters the truth masterfully through the delicate sieve of its recipient's individuality.

Truth in its raw state is often unsuitable for consumption.

If truth were bitter ground coffee, then love would be the filter through which hot scalding water passes to mix with the concentrated grounds, and the end result is a palatable liquid drink that makes the world go round.

Drink up!

Friday, September 10, 2004

Before Conversation

Before beginning any conversation and throwing around variously-loaded terms...

Be armed with the perfect definition.

Wednesday, September 08, 2004

Getting Caught Up In Relativity

Don't get caught up in relativity.

It is easy to start comparing yourself, your situation, your everything -- to others. All it takes is an aware, thoughtful mind, and down you go into that pit of relativistic despair.

However, our ruminations and cross-comparisons can lead to false insights -- a bottoming spiral of emotional dissatisfaction with ourselves -- simply because the more we seem to know, realize, and compare, the more we forget that there are just as many other things we are not taking into account.

Indeed, all relative comparisons, all relativity, is itself relative.

The only perfect assessment can come from a "perfect" viewpoint outside any and all relative points of the universe.

All you and I can do is periodically remind ourselves of this and try to keep our relativity-based self-criticism under check.