Have you ever invited someone to a gathering or an event of some sort and their response was “I’ll be there in Spirit!”
I’ll be in there in.. Spirit?
What the hell does that mean.
Yes, we are in fact spiritual beings but unless you plan to teleport half of yourself to my next event, I don’t exactly see how that’s possible. If your spirit lies in your physical body then how you can be there in spirit if you can’t be there.. Physically.
Unless you’re dead. Then by all means, be there “in spirit.”
Or unless you’re having an out of body experience on your latest hallucinogenic journey. They by all means, stop by! There’s plenty of food and wine to go around!
You’ll be there in Spirit?
No, you won’t. You’re either there or you’re not. And I doubt you can be in spirit at two places at once when you’re preoccupied at work or your monthly tupperware party. Won’t the other tasks at hand require your “spirit” to be present if they are be fulfilled? Or at least fulfilled decently?
You don’t want to stand up your spirit now do you? God, they’d be so pissed.
“Where the hell did she go? My body is a useless drone without her!”
I’ll be there in.. Spirit?
The RSVP says “Yes” or “No,” so please, there’s no need to elaborate on how you plan to be or not be there. I’m asking if you’re capable of wearing your human costume to my event, not if you’re planning to attend as Casper.
Whatever happened to the good old fashioned “I’m terribly sorry that I cannot attend but I am wishing you well!”
I love creative people. Because creative people make good shoes. Creative people build great cities. Creative people roll good joints. Creative people think colorfully, not plainly. Creative people philosophize and write down their ideas. Creative people make great music, music that makes you rock steady. Creative people build the world. They work through flaws and errors. Creative people question their reality. Creative people TRY AGAIN. Creative people live a life of fascination and appreciation for things of great effort, intricacy and passion. Creative people seek to fix the world, repair beyond nails and hammers, even when the world appears to be… Forever Broken.
You know those people. The ones that tell you they “can’t.” The ones that tell you “I’m not good at ________.” The ones that have gotten so use to saying it, they sound almost robotic expressing the sentiment. “Ah, you know, that’s not my thing, Really,” they may utter. But really, you know they’re full of shit. They most likely haven’t tried or perhaps never cared to (try hard enough). And maybe, just maybe, they’ve been convinced to believe this unfortunate lie that some people are just “born with it” like they’re born with blue eyes or a big cock, when in reality, skills can be refined and shit, even breast size can be altered. “It’s not in my genes” just isn’t good enough anymore.
I too have spent a lot of time lying to myself. I have also had instances where I uttered such absurdities: “I’m not creative. I can’t draw. Who do you think I am? Pablo Picasso?” Just like you, I was in denial. I couldn’t quite grasp the potential we were given by being born a HUMAN in the first place.
I was sure that my creativity could not go further than rolling a great joint (and they were always great even after they disintegrate!) or designing a simple webpage on Homestead.com (Do you remember those?) But slowly things began to change in some surprising ways.
Upon entering Ms. Lowe’s classroom, I learned that I was a photographer. Upon entering Ms. Valleti’s classroom, I learned that I was a painter, and a good painter! Upon entering Mrs. Jones’ classroom, I felt less crazy when I realized how insane the world was. In math class I would draw scribbles on my page and at night I would return to my lair to cry over my math textbook (math makes me emotional) and try to figure out the fucking problems. And as I slowly figured out one after another, something happened: I got better. And then, I felt better. Because I proved to myself that I CAN. In high school I failed Chemistry with a 64. I was both pissed and offended. “How could this woman fail me by 1 point?” I declared! I had to go to summer school and it was honestly the best thing that ever happened. My teacher was this sweet old man. He was calm, intelligent and always wore a smile. I sat in the front row of class every day and I finished that class with a 95. I no longer thought that I couldn’t. I’ll admit I had some help. My teacher’s belief and enthusiasm in me made me believe in MYSELF.
People tell me they’re not creative but if you found yourself stranded in the woods with an empty stomach and no roof to cover your pretty head, you would soon realize how easy it is to get creative. It is said that “necessity is the mother of invention,” so it’s no wonder the things we find when we take a careful look at the world we’ve constructed. But beyond necessity lies a desire. A desire to make things better, a desire for efficiency, originality, a desire for variety. Ford already created the vehicle. We’ve just made it better, and Better. Excitement comes from advancement. Why else does that promotion mean so much? The money is nice but we know there’s more to it.
Creativity is a beautiful thing that lies embedded in each of us. It is part of our evolutionary makeup and is an aspect of the human psyche that with our help can only continue to develop and expand. Whether or not we chose to realize it, we are all in fact very creative beings. Our survival depends on it. It is the only reason we’ve gotten this far. No matter how mad the world may be, here you are, reading this text. We’ve Made It.
So enough of the whining and the bullshit. Enough of the neglected guitar lessons and that book you’ve been “meaning” to finish. Enough contemplating about architecture school or those hip hop dance classes. I’m tired of hearing you weren’t born an artist- Nobody was.
Being single can be a dreaded fate. Beyond your friends and family, you have a certain kind of love that isn’t being fulfilled. Sure, your Chihuahua is cute and he’s always there as soon as you walk into your apartment after a long day’s work but you’d really prefer to spend your time with someone who won’t piss on your freshly polished hardwood floors. What you want is consistency. Want you want is reciprocity. What you want is someone to share your dinner with. What you want is someone to share a joint with. Someone to make love to. To scream your name. You want the mushy shit on Valentine’s day. You want the couple Facebook photos. You want it all!
Understanding the Reality of Romance
Romance is sold to us everywhere. We were raised on Disney movies in youth and in adulthood are exposed to the latest celebrity hookups. Almost every woman has a dream of finding a prince. And every man wants a woman to call his dream girl. We don’t just date, we online date. Some of us speed date. Some of us long distance online date. We wish to be fulfilled emotionally and physically. We need it biologically. What’s unfortunate however is that while we’re told about all the wonderful things love can offer, we are not shown the reality of what work love truly takes.
Your friends who are already coupled tell you that it’s not as easy as it may seem. Meaning that beyond all the wonderful things relationships are often known for, there is another side to the reality. They admit that relationships can be great, depending on how much work you’re willing to put into it. Relationships take a mutual understanding and shared effort. There are some shitty arguments loaded with guilt. Some days you’re not sure who was right or who was wrong, you just want it to be over and back to normal. There are days you don’t know why you do it anymore. And there are days you know exactly why you stay. You’re in love. And love comes with the realization that even relationships have some high and low tides. They take effort and most importantly, a willingness to understand where the other person is coming from. It means understanding the other’s humanness.
“But I just can’t stand being Alone!”
First of all, sister/brother, let’s get this shit straight. You are never really alone. The world is full of people. I’m sure you must have some family or some friends, and I’m sure if you don’t there are coworkers and meetup groups you CAN go to. Don’t take for granted the people that are already in your life. How would you feel if they did? If you’re feeling isolated, stop torturing yourself. Nobody said you have to spend your Friday nights on Facebook. There is a whole world waiting for YOU. So please don’t let yourself fall into this mentality. And stop it with the Elliot Smiths songs already. Life is not that awful!
The Rude Awakening
Some people in relationships have a rude awakening. This rude awakening usually happens when they realize they’ve completely lost themselves. It often happens because we get so swept off our feet. It’s usually because we want to make sure we are “giving it our all!” And hey, there’s nothing wrong with wanting to be present and available to your lover. That’s normal. But what we don’t realize is how necessary it is to still function as your own human being. We forget that our partner was interested in us because of how we functioned… Alone! We must take the time to acknowledge how necessary it is to actually claim our independence.
Why it’s Important to Enjoy Solitude
When we have the time to be alone we are blessed. We are given the opportunity to relax and reflect. We are given time to do as we please and what we please. Feel like going to the gym? Great. Need to paint your toe nails? By all means. Been meaning to get working on your memoir? Honey, don’t hold back!
The thing is that when you’re alone, you get to spend quality time with Yourself. You are your best friend and you should tend to this relationship. Despite being social beings, the person you must know that you can rely on is yourself. Are you financially independent? Do you have your health? Are you happy with your career? Are there things in life you haven’t done yet? Even those who are in relationships need alone time to reflect and recuperate.
Don’t Seek Completion
The mistake many of us make is looking for our partners to complete us. This makes it easy to not only lose ourselves but to put an immense amount of pressure on our lovers. Romance is different for everyone. Not everyone wants or can handle that sort of an expectation. Some may be happy to complete you, others may feel overwhelmed and flee. You have to understand what the other person is looking for and what they’re capable of handling. When you become intimate with someone, it’s easy to share many aspects of your life. But remember that your problems are still your own to resolve. And that it’s your responsibility to do so. In this sense, it’s better to seek someone who will be complimentary to you in a relationship. Someone who can serve as a form of support and encouragement and be a mirror, rather than someone who serves as your safety net.
Let’s Change Our Perspective
Being single can be a wonderful fate. Along with your friends and family, you receive so much love and for the love you don’t receive, you are sure to fulfill the desire elsewhere. Your Chihuahua is cute and he’s always there as soon as you walk into your apartment after a long day’s work. Even if he is sure to piss on your freshly polished hardwood floors you’re easy to forgive it, and know that soon you’ll be cozy on the couch together watching a movie. You have consistency in the life you’ve developed for yourself. While you want love that is romantically reciprocal, you know you ought to wait for the person that is truly compatible to fulfill it. You don’t mind having dinner alone, sometimes you invite a friend over. You don’t mind smoking alone either, sometimes the roof and the stars offer the best company. You may not have someone to make love to, but you make love to yourself, Regularly. On Valentine’s Day you go out with a friend, or stay in if you feel you can’t handle it. You don’t have couple photos on Facebook but you know how much they’ll mean when you do. You are content with yourself and love yourself. You’re open to waiting for love and make yourself emotionally available when you do meet someone who strikes your interest. You have it all because you’re living your life rather than waiting for someone to complete it.
I was cruising through my town, population of 40,000, and perhaps my need for speed is a little extreme, but regardless, when one is crossing the street that is frequented by machines that weigh a ton and can easily crush you under its weight, I’d assume people would be a little more diligent.
As I’m cruising, this man almost steps in my way, until he reminds himself to look, or perhaps listen, at the last minute. I was alert and aware. I was ready to smoothly avoid any potential collision. But he didn’t seem nearly as prepared. He quickly stopped himself and brought his feet back to the sidewalk.
I don’t understand how people do not take caution when they cross the street. God knows if you were taking a day trip in the savanna, you’d keep a very keen eye as to what creatures may be lurking. Your eyes rolling from left to right, with your ears tuned. People seem to have allowed themselves to become lulled by this society. No need to hunt for our own food, even the news of the world is spoon fed to us, regardless of the lies and bias it’s often laced with. It’s no wonder that at times we can’t seem to do things for ourselves; We’ve grown comfortable in a world that has made it so easy for us.
I could be compassionate.
I could be understanding.
We should all strive to be those things.
But this is not about forgiveness, understanding, or the benefit of the doubt. This is about survival. When it comes to our survival it’s unlikely someone will always be looking out for your best interest. Even a mother eagle pushes its child out of the nest when it feels it’s ready to fly. How quickly it tries to make sense of the wings attached to its body will determine how likely it will survive its first jolt. I consider this a scenario of survival of the fittest. And I don’t think that’s cruel, it’s just realistic. We must look out for ourselves because what may be in your best interest isn’t what another may consider their priority, or even their obligation. Awareness can save you: It can provide insight into your external or internal temperature. But lack of awareness can cost you your sanity, or in certain circumstances, like the one explained above, it can cost you your life. Desensitization can lead to your extinction. Don’t let your intuition or your senses wither.
It was 2007 when I was riding the subway and an interesting advertisement had caught my eye. Too afraid to venture through Manhattan on my own accord, I had sought after friends to join me on the journey. But despite begging, nobody could “find” the time and there I was, left to make the decision of where my feet would lead me. Terrified of how quickly I’d get lost in a city I was still getting used to, I got on the wormhole underground to venture uptown to enter the land of the expansive minds.
The Whitney Museum was featuring an exhibit called “The Summer of Love,” (2007) and being the committed tree-hugger that I am, I knew I had to make an appearance.
I stood in front of the most magnificent piece of art I had ever seen. I traveled through the entire exhibit and there was a plethora of stuff that was “interesting” but this piece caused my walk to a halt. This piece was THE exhibit. The rest of the rooms could have been empty and I still would have paid to get in. I had made sure after drooling a while to be sure to jot down the artist’s name before I left because I would have to cut myself later if I had forgotten who, WHO it was that was responsible for such enormous beauty. I was having a perceptual orgasm. And I had to make sure I could have yet another with the help of Google later.
It was Abdul Mati Klarwein’s “Grain of Sand,” one of Klarwein’s most well-known and recognized pieces. The piece is a mesh of human reality, consisting of four different panels placed together. The composition together measured 6 ½ feet tall and wide. It’s a collection of many images, many making references to pop culture. To name them all is not only inconceivable, but no fun.
“For a long time I had wanted to paint a picture that you could hang up on a wall any which way, a rotating universe with no ups or downs. I projected it as a sort of painted musical comedy movie with a Sanskrit swinging cast of thousands, starring Marilyn Monroe, Anita Ekberg, Ray Charles, Pablo Picasso, Brigitte Bardot, Roland Kirk, Cannonball Adderley, Ahmed Abdul Malik, Wonder Woman, Delacroix’s girl in the cemetery, Litri and his bullshit fighters, Florence of Arabia, Socrates, Dali, Rama, Vishnu, Ganesh, the Zork and a Milky Way of playmates. It was 1962 and I had a special crush on Marilyn.” -Abdul Mati Klarwein
Grain of Sand: (Click the image to expand)
Named after German Renaissance painter Matthais Grunewald, Mati was raised by two very creative parents, his father, an architect and his mother, an opera singer. Born in Germany, he and his family had fled to Palestine when he was only two years old to escape Nazi persecution. Mati dropped out of school at the age of 15 and immediately entered an art college in Jerusalem where he began his career as a painter.
Mati has previously been called “pre-psychedelic era” because of the fact that it was not modern western culture that had influenced his work, but instead, it was his extensive travels from youth that gave him his perspective. While Mati did not deny that he had used psychedelics later in his life, even Timothy Leary, who was friends with Mati, had been quoted saying that Mati’s imagination and style had already been incredibly well developed and that “Mati didn’t need psychedelics.”
Originally known as Mati Klarwein, he adopted the Muslim name “Abdul,” as a peaceful gesture in light of the Israeli/Palestine conflict. Because Mati lived in many places as a child, he grew up with many different cultural influences, which are all very apparent in his artwork, as well as in his intricate landscapes. Painter Laurance Caruana explains that “the art of Mati Klarwein manifests, above all, a movement towards transcendence.”
“I grew up in three different cultures: the Jewish, Islamic and the Christian. These circumstances and my family’s stern resistance against being part of any kind of orthodoxy has made me the outsider I am today… That is also why I took the name Abdul.”
Commonly referred to as “the unknown famous artist,” Mati’s work has been featured as album art for many famous musicians. Artists such as, Miles Davis, Eric Dolphy, The Chamber Brothers, Santana, Buddy Miles, Howard Wales & Jerry Garcia, Earth, Wind, & Fire, The Last Poets, The Mooney Suzuki, amongst others, have had the privilege of having Mati’s work serve as the visual introduction to their musical compositions.
Annunciation by Mati Klarwein – 1961 (Abraxas, Carlos Santana)
BACK AT THE EXHIBIT, my feet remained still, for I refused to move. I was ready to pitch a tent in front of this marvelous display of colorful images because walking away was a concept that my mind was not yet able to grasp at the time. My eyes had wanted to sift through it all, the way a good mother meticulously prepares the flour for her famous apple crumb cake. It was something to be done patiently. It was a puzzle piece of wonder, created for the sake of careful examination. And while my feet remained gorilla-glued to the linoleum floor, despite other excited eyes trying to steal a glance, my head turned to discover this large cube-like contraption, only a few feet away, begging to be explored. Somehow, my curiosity had encouraged my stubborn feet back into movement and I began to gravitate from the space I was so certain I would never leave, towards the radiating, colorful structure.
Feeling like I had stepped into a miniature holy temple, I stood in the luminous Aleph Sanctuary structure and with a single gasp, my breath was stolen away, Never To Return Again…
After Mati moved to New York, he created the Aleph Sanctuary, which was a structure that measured 3m X 3m X 3m, approximately 10 feet, and featured 78 paintings in the interior, making it a spiritual experience for anyone who walked in, for paintings literally surrounded you. This structure was originally built between 1963 and 1970 and was later rebuilt and replicated in the year 1992, using Plexiglas reproductions of the paintings which were then illuminated by fluorescent bulbs.
One could look at Mati’s work and constantly find new details to plunge into. His fascination with art and his dedication to his precise work exemplifies the type of person Mati was. He had a worldly perspective and he once explained that, “I am only half German and only half Jewish with an Arab soul and a African heart.” Through visually drowning in his work, through reading interviews, and through skimming through his “Improved Paintings” Collection, one can easily gather that he was a man with a humorous and humble heart and that life to him was a blessing, and his art, a playground in which to play in.
Mati remains a man of great inspiration and spiritual and creative vision. He has inspired and affected many individuals, musicians, painters, artists, and DREAMERS. (Even Alex Grey is known to be very fond of Mati.) To some Klarwein remains a man with no name at all. For his visions matter more than the letters and words that create his name. And although he has left us, his soul continues to thrive, captured within the fine brushstrokes of his intricate work.
“I wish the world so peaceful that the headlines of its leading daily paper could read: DOG EATS NAPKIN IN SLOW MOTION.”
What is it about a celebrity death that shakes us?
Actors, musicians, and famous people of the public eye are essentially people who have overcome a great many obstacles to achieve their success. Of course there are certain celebrities whose fame came more easily, either through their family or their fortune, or through something explicit, like the occasional sex tape (But hey, even that takes “work” and some good marketing). These however are not the people we are addressing here today.
What I speak of are people whose fame came through their dreams, their talent, their discipline, their desire to contribute to society and their ability to manifest their vision.
Why do we bow down to these celebrities? Why does their existence, and therefore their death, hold such an influence over us? Why is it when they do something awful or unlawful that we find ourselves shocked, or even offended?
These people of fame have found a way to lift themselves up. We consider them the ultimate “rule to the exception.” They are by no means “the majority,” they are the very fine and refined select few. They have striven and in their focused stride have achieved an enormous measure of success, in which both status and power are the offspring. They struggled against adversity, and pushed on despite countless failures or limitations. To them, failure was never the end; it was merely a learning experience. They are famous because in most cases, they have cultivated their garden.
The reason why I believe people mourn celebrities is because we felt these people beat all the odds, and for a while, watching them at the top, watching them on TV, or hearing them on the radio, and seeing them on a grand stage, for a moment we were all fooled into thinking that they were invincible, in some way beyond human. It almost seems as though that the magic of a magazine or a television screen somehow prolongs their existence, if not continues it indefinitely.
If they could overcome all they have, if they could climb as far as they did, how could they not overcome death? If they grew to know such success, how could they fail? Is a pre-mature death not considered the ultimate failure?
Because we feel these people are super-human, we feel they must be exempt from certain human experiences. We find ourselves shocked when we are always forced to learn that of course, these people are just as human as we are.
Could it be that because these people are in the public eye that we assume better of them? That we expect more of them? That because they remain under a lens with the whole world watching, that they should constantly strive to not only do better, but to do well by us?
Is it possible that we feel connected to them through their work? That we feel we know them through the roles they play, the emotions they exhibit, or the songs they create? Is it plausible that we internalize all of this, feeling as if we had actually connected with the artist themselves?
When I first heard about Owen Wilson’s suicide attempt in 2007, I was just as taken aback as everybody else. How could this funny and happy wonderful blonde haired actor want to commit to such a fate? Just like many others, I too was naive in thinking that the roles he played somehow embodied who he was. He is an actor, and a good one. After the initial shock wore off, I was glad to hear the story was getting around. Because I, along with many others, needed to realize that our assumptions of those of fame are both absurd and distorted.
When Michael Jackson died I knew the news would spiral for months. In addition to his personal physician being convicted of involuntary manslaughter, more facts began to surface regarding Jackson’s history of drug abuse. People were disturbed. They had many questions. Their mourning did not end quickly and Jackson continued to get more radio time.
Paul Walker, famous for his roles in Fast & Furious, ironically died in a car crash. It is believed he had once said: “If one day the speed kills me, do not cry because I was smiling.” People were upset and my newsfeed, and I’m sure yours as well, was full of photos, quotes, and comments.
I had the pleasure of meeting Philip Seymour Hoffman once. I was strolling through NYC and I saw him walking alongside his friend. He was dressed in grey sweats and a grey hooded sweatshirt to match. He didn’t look like a celebrity but that face was unmistakable. I ran to him, knowing I had to make contact. As I approached, being completely star struck and so in the moment, I had forgotten his name. I felt like an idiot but I continued regardless. Despite my presence perhaps being a bit abrupt, I ran up to him, grabbing his hand to shake it and to say, “I just wanted to tell you that you’re remarkable.” He said thanks, not sure how to accept the spontaneous compliment. I would also never assume that a man of such talent and status would die of a heroin overdose, but that’s the problem: We assume too much. I didn’t know him. I didn’t know his life or what consisted of his inner dialogue. I only knew the roles he played.
We must remind ourselves that no matter how remarkable, these people are not invincible. We perceive celebrities to be these God-like entities but they’re not. We feel they are superior because of what they’ve achieved and putting them in such high regards sometimes blinds us to the knowledge that celebrities can be just as profound as well as just as flawed as we are. They too will be prone to downfalls and rock bottoms. They too will wither away.
And whether or not you believe that our soul carries on after death, be warned that this flesh will decay. This is a calling to understand your fellow human, rather than judge or assume that one should know, do, or die better. Love who you love. And mourn whoever it is that you must. Realize that we are all perfectly flawed and that nothing, nor no one, lives on forever. We all have an expiration date and we all have our journey.
Who, me? Of course I am. Where else would I be? If I wasn’t part of the moment, you couldn’t be talking to me in this cozy corner of the universe right now.
Okay… but are you IN the moment… in this moment?
Like just about all subjects related to consciousness, there are paradoxes that can make certain concepts confusing. Being “present” is one of them. To most people, “being in the moment” is something that sounds like a pretty damn good idea. They just don’t know how, and it can be a burden for a teacher to explain how to become aware of the state that we are always in. We tend to think of now as the thing we are left with when we reject past and future, as if the present is something comfortably sandwiched between two slices of space-time wonder bread. The problem is that these divisions don’t actually exist in reality. Being “present” simply means that you are aware that Now is the only point in time that past and future can be conceived.
We try to achieve this state because we are told that there is an “awesomely epic non-dual dimension where everything is one, infinite, nothing, and unknowable all at the same time maaaaan!!!” And when this dimension is experienced, we realize that there is no rational basis for unhappiness, since everything is perfect, including the twists and turns of our own human experience.
However, this realization should not make us resent that we understand time in three parts. In fact, it should ultimately help us to embrace the events of the past, and the uncertainties of the future without judgment or labels. This also means not being too judgmental of mental processes that we feel get in the way of perceiving the present moment the way we feel we should. Sometimes we just need to be what I call the “friendly landlord” and just let the mind throw a big house party even when we have the authority to barge in and angrily yell at it for being too noisy.
Being in the present is about magnifying our acceptance of the linear dimension along with the unavoidable illusions that come with the journey. Once we consciously confront our feelings towards the past and future, we can allow ourselves to make peace with them, which then creates the space for transcendence.
Regardless of age or circumstance it’s clear that life is not always as simple as we’d like it to be. Every individual will consistently be faced with challenges that will test their emotional threshold and dictate the person they will eventually become, however, breaking away from past thought patterns and behaviors can prove to be incredibly difficult. Society has instilled within us preconceived notions of the types of people we ought to STRIVE! to become, and yet each individual will eventually refine these “norms” and expectations to their own preference. But despite our own adjustments and the development of our own personal dreams, at times our biggest desires still seem totally impossible to achieve.
WHY?
No matter the complaints we may have and the unfortunate circumstances that can make getting to the “ultimate destination” totally unbearable, what stands between our failure and our success is one thing.
(I hope you’re sitting down for this.)
Let’s be honest with ourselves. We are where we are in life because we have allowed ourselves to be EXACTLY here. Right here. If you find that you’re feeling unhappy, unfulfilled, discouraged, and maybe even numb, it is most likely because you continuously CHOOSE to believe that you are unable to reach that higher vibrational level that you seek so desperately. The reality is that we are not “unable,” but rather that WE stand in our OWN way. We see things that are possible “somewhere over there in the distance,” but yet fail to realize that they are possible for US too. We see that in the distance of where we are and where we’d like to be lies a vast amount of space. Perhaps this distance is exactly what frightens us and therefore, paralyzes us. But I promise you that distancing yourself from your DREAMS and assuming that POSSIBILITY exists only for a select few will render you numb and depressed much sooner than actually making the attempt.
Think About It!
We must learn to accept that if we’d like to get anywhere, we will have to produce the action necessary to GET there. Overnight success is rare and this concept is not one worth teasing yourself with.
You Create Your Reality.
We chose to think a certain way; therefore our reality is shaped a certain way.
One thing that we most certainty owe ourselves is some good ol’ TRUTH. What we do owe ourselves is a fair chance. We owe ourselves to look at our situation in an incredibly honest manner if we hope to ever overcome and transcend. We owe it to ourselves to not judge ourselves harshly, but to instead forgive ourselves. After all, “we’re only human,” and we have come to witness our greatest moments because we have come to learn from our greatest mistakes. Be assertive with your goals, discipline yourself, but don’t punish yourself or talk down to yourself either. Focus on MOVING FORWARD.
It’s important to remind yourself of your position. Many people have had some difficult feats to overcome in their lives. Some people are born into poverty, disease, war. Some people are born into a life with no home to shield their cold skin. Remind yourself that you are fortunate to be wherever you may be, that PAIN IS UNIVERSAL and that you are not alone in your suffering. Similarly, remind yourself that there is mass potential within each of us and it is UP TO YOU how you handle the cosmic light that lays embedded within you.
In life, we all have a choice.
I chose to believe that I am deserving, I chose to believe that I have worth. I will not settle for a mediocre existence. I want a life that is peaceful, exciting, and abundant in a plethora of ways.
You don’t have to “reach for the stars.” You don’t have to be anything. You don’t have to “make it to Hollywood!” You can just BE. You can live simply. You can live on a farm. You can work a desk job, a 9-5, you can be a construction worker, you can be a prostitute, you can be whatever it is you’d like to be. Tell you what, even if you’d like: You can be nothing at all. Your standards, your expectations, they are shaped by YOU and YOUrself only. And your ability to meet them is based upon the decisions you do or do not make.
The world is not working against me, I am working against me. The world just is. The ability to steer our way through life lies in our ability to choose, and to not choose is an equal choice as well.
What decision will I make today? Will I contemplate myself and my abilities into a bottomless pit or will I TAKE ACTION towards a more progressive, healthy, fulfilling way of life?
It is I who must learn to be responsible for myself. I chose to be a survivor rather than a victim of circumstance. I chose to THRIVE.
Today, I move forward.
—–
“Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate.
Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure.
It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us.
We ask ourselves, Who am I to be brilliant,
gorgeous, talented, fabulous?
Actually, who are you not to be?
You are a child of God.
Your playing small does not serve the world.
There is nothing enlightened about shrinking
so that other people won’t feel insecure around you.
We are all meant to shine, as children do.
We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us.
It is not just in some of us; it is in everyone.
And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously
give other people permission to do the same.
As we are liberated from our own fear,
our presence automatically liberates others.”
Life is about finding balance between your own well-being while contributing to the well-being of loved ones. No, that’s wrong. Who am I to tell you what life is about? Purpose is relative. Maybe you just want lots of money, status, and compliments – screw helping others. Life is whatever you make of it. No, wait, it’s actually about eating, sleeping, and mating so our genes can survive – everything else is just extra. NO! It’s not that either. Life is… actually, biologists can’t even define “life” since they’re still debating whether viruses even count as living things since they need a host to reprodu…
Ok, let’s put aside trying to define life from the outside. Look inward for a second. What’s motivating your long term goals right now? Assuming you’re not working at your dream job (though props if you are), what do you hope to do? Many of us (including myself) don’t feel we have the resources yet to live the life we want to live to change society for the better. And by “us,” I mean people in their late teens or 20’s who are aware of a problem, or problems that face our generation and future generations. But how do we go about actually embodying the change we want to see in the world?
Sure, we can ‘like’ quotes by Ghandi or Thomas Jefferson on Facebook. We can also tweet the lyrics of John Lennon or Rage Against The Machine, or email friends links to news stories we feel are important. We can stay up all night debating our political opinions. But spreading awareness can only go so far without real action (aka “slacktivism”). At the end of the day (or in the morning, any time is good), we need to ask ourselves: do we really care about the well being of strangers, or do we just get off to the idea that we’re “someone who cares”?
Making a real impact involves cutting out the false modesty (no time, too lazy, have to tend my rabbits) and admitting that it’s actually possible. “But wait, there’s so much wrong with the world, where do I even begin?” Well which one of these motivates you the most? Here’s a grocery list:
Human rights (hunger, poverty, racism, war crimes)
Discrimination (gender, race, orientation, age, or disabilities)
Animal rights
Immigration
Economy
Education
Housing (the rent is too damn high)
Health (people’s blood pressure is too damn high)
Clean energy/Environment/Climate change (the temperature is too damn high)
Legalization of marijuana (dude, let’s all get too damn high)
If you’re a big idea person though, instead of taking up one specific issue, you may want to try and find a single source for all of the above problems. A lot of people talk in general terms about fighting “the system,” or “the man,” but who is that exactly? “The man” seems to mean different things to different people. Here are some of my personal favorites:
1. Large government. Our personal freedoms are being taken away through surveillance, overregulation, and taxes. There are also too many handouts to those who abuse the system, which hurts the average hardworking American. (Conservative stance)
2. Corporations and banks. They’ve gotten too powerful in the last 100 years. They’re messing up the environment and hurting small businesses and middle class Americans. They do this because they have become too big for the government to regulate. (Liberal stance)
3. Both of the above are true because capital hill and corporate America are in bed together, screwing over the 99%. (Occupy Movement)
4. Government, corporations, banks, the media, and even the entertainment industry are all part of an international conspiracy run by a mysterious group of wealthy families nicknamed “The Illuminati.”
5. Human nature itself – If we had it offered to us, we’d all get corrupted by power too since we’re only human. So we must curb our selfish impulses by losing our ego through various Eastern practices (meditation, yoga), or opening our hearts to Jesus, or expanding our consciousness through hallucinogens, or healing our inner child, or listening to New Age gurus.
6. Reptilians/Satan/Demons. The elites have sold their souls to entities at lower vibrations of consciousness that feed off of the collective fear and anxiety of humanity. Yummy.
You can pick one of those, or combine a few. All that matters is that we’re able to back up our point of view by doing hours of research. Then, pursue it with a skill (music, poetry, painting, design, literature, business skills, investment, people skills, animation, photography, cat juggling etc…).
There is, however, a danger in taking these issues too seriously. If we focus too much on all the problems of the world, we can lose the ability to see the positive aspects of life. If we see ourselves as someone who’s more informed and aware than most people, we run the risk of walking outside and becoming resentful towards the majority, seeing most people as uninformed robots who sell their individuality just to be another cog in the collective idiocracy. The feeling of being “too aware to be happy” is a trap, and often sucks in people who felt alienated to begin with. If you’re already depressed and you decide to listen to Alex Jones… you’re gonna have a bad time.
But on the other extreme is a state of mind addicted to having fun, turned off by any mention that there’s anything wrong with anything. They may even want to do something, but they’re scared of being seen as the one who lowers people’s good vibes with being too… “truthy.” After all, no one wants to be compared to the person with a megaphone in the street screaming
“WAKE UP, WAKE UP, DON’T YOU KNOW THAT THE FEDERAL RESERVE IS A PRIVATE BANK?? YOU’RE ALL SHEEP!! *makes sheep noises*”
Even more common is choosing a life of escapism due to an underlying feeling of helplessness when it comes to big issues.
“Oh, that stuff will take care of itself; we’ve made it this far, right? Come on man, you only live once, so don’t worry about things you can’t change. Just live in the present – don’t worry, be happy!”
Both points of view contain truth, but they’re also both incomplete without the other. The first is informed, but contaminated with fear, anger, and paranoia. The second has a good attitude, but doesn’t realize their potential for being a part of something larger.
Ideally, we want to practice what we preach in both action and attitude. So keep liking those Ghandi quotes on facebook, debating politics, and emailing articles, knowing that it is possible to be aware of what’s wrong while still being motivated by everything that’s still right.
Sitting on the steps of Union Square in my fringed suede vest with the beaming sun floating above me, I awaited to meet someone who just as proudly wore their own political statement. With his dirty blonde hair, goatee, and green vest with a Korean War era US ARMY patch on one side and a “Truth Now” patch on the other, I finally shook the hands of, and was embraced in the arms of, G. Freeman, also known as NYC independent hip-hop artist “Truth Now.” Activist, musician, and spiritual seeker, this man is both honest and empathetic, controversial and unapologetic, wise and acutely aware of the world and his surroundings.
Raised in the suburbs of New York City, and taking a liking to rap, he says he felt his first “stage high” when performing an original hip-hop piece in his eighth grade history class. With a mother who taught Special Education, he says that “I was raised in a household that valued humanity.” Aside from his own “cross-pollinating experiences” and strangely symbolic dreams, he said that 911 was also crucial for his awakening. He dropped his first album Karma Alarm in 2010 and presently continues to compose and enlighten. One of my favorite compositions is a remix called “Water Back,” it features Raymond Norwood, Azitiz, and the producer; Srikala. The song celebrates the sacredness of water and raises questions about the process of hydraulic fracturing (“Hydro-Fracking”), a form of natural gas extraction, that contaminates the groundwater. Unlike the common and hateful themes associated with today’s popular “gangster rap,” Truth’s rhymes are a lot more genuine and consist of personal awareness, unity, and many controversial political issues. He seeks to bring to light various perspectives on a political, social, and individual level.
As he takes a seat on the step next to me, we begin talking about people, about society. “We don’t talk to each other in this city mostly, but I like to fuck with that,” he says. Not only through music, which he explains is a tool to start conversations, but simply by learning and encouraging oneself to partake in the human community; to interact with others. As he begins to explain that “I like weird people,” because they stand out from “the drones”.., he stops mid sentence:
“Like there. Right there. That beard. I would talk to that guy. Not necessarily about beards but you would know that beard has seen some shit. It’s long enough to tell me that he is probably three times as wise, and maybe three times as bat-shit crazy, but that would still be interesting. Yeah. He’s three times something (more) then everybody else younger than him.”
While it’s common to enjoy meeting people who share one’s particular perspective, Truth likes to challenge himself: “I hope somebody disagrees with me and has a conversation with me about it. It’s really interesting for me to take someone else’s perspective and see what bridge I could build to them, see where our human denominator is.”
I wondered what challenges Truth faced as an underground artist. Recognition comes effortlessly for someone who is plastered all over the media. But how did this work for someone who had to manage within his own local network? He bounced back with the response that it’s actually been a pleasant surprise to see that an independent “cat” can actually do really well for themselves. Although the idea of having a record deal may appear rather appealing, Truth explains that often times, “the artist is completely disrespected and owned.” Often times artists find themselves in debt due to the luxurious life they are encouraged to live. But as one soon learns, “Nothing about that is sustainable. No artist can live like that forever.”
Understanding the common fear many people hold towards liberating their emotions in a creative way, Truth gives a simple explanation of this pivotal human element: Whether or not the art that results is pretty or ugly is irrelevant. He explains that,
“It doesn’t matter because the act itself is beautiful and will inspire other aspects of your life.”
Before our moment of intellectual exchange was about to terminate, I had to ask him one more question: “What do you think the world is missing?” I asked, both curious and eager to hear his response. He looked ahead to contemplate for a moment and said,
“I would say nothing. The world has everything. What I think PEOPLE are missing is remembering. People don’t remember anymore. They think that they were born once and that they’ll die once. Which is..,” he pauses to laugh, “hilarious… If they remember that they’ve been here before, then they’ll remember another perspective. They’ll remember something that worked for them in the past. Something they could access.”
Luckily for me, coming with the same spiritual beliefs, I understood. What Truth was talking about was a different type of ancestry. Not one referring to places on a map. Ancestry, in the sense that, this human life, is not the only form of existence we’ve experienced. That we have died before and were born again: Reincarnation. He goes on to say that by Remembering, “You’ll build a pyramid. You’ll do exactly what you need to do.”
As I watched him leave I noticed two words written in red paint on the back of his vest:
WAKE UP.
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Be sure to check out TRUTH NOW in our Ayahuasca Sessions video, which is a collection of interviews educating the masses about the power of the South American sacred planet medicine:
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