there's only one rule in life:

do you what you were born to do

trouble is, what exactly is that?

it gets trickier, because the task changes at different stages in life ...

so one needs to keep adjusting

but born to do, what is that?

no-one can tell you, but it just feels right, natural, the thing that taps into all your skills, life experience, wisdom and learning

everything prepared you for this moment

you were born for it

love and light

words are by their very nature, inexact

combine them into sentences and they become even more so

so language is fraught with ambiguity

when someone tries to communicate, they -

1. use the words they think will deliver the effect they are after.  of course, skill comes into play here.

and when the reader reads -

2. they try to reconstruct what is being said from the words in front of them.  of course, the person needs to bring their own context (their experiences) and also some savvy to "read" the message correctly.

so, we can think of communication as a 2 stage process:

the sending of the message, and the receiving of the message

and there can be problems at both ends

just a few cases to consider:

a) did Salman Rushdie "intend" the effect that he got (ie the writer was bad, and so were the readers)

b) was DH Lawrence totally "misread" by his contemporary audience? (ie they just didn't get it)

c) was James Joyce just a language fool? (ie he was communicating garbage, so that's why no-one can make sense of his books)

excuse the gratuitous indulgence into the realms of literary theory, but I'm sure Shakespeare (whoever the heck he was, and thank you dryad :-) would wholeheartedly nod his head at this blog posting.  I'm sure he would.  If he could still nod that is ...

love and light

"I forgive all as I go"

on the daily walk of life

I encounter many things

many faces, many words, many intents

I accept all that comes my way

these are my teachers, my lessons for today

I know all things happen for a reason

even though I do not understand them now

but I am humble enough to learn

to sit patiently, watch patiently

no ill is directed towards me

and I direct no ill towards others

as I walk, step by step

"I forgive all as I go"

love and light

to create is in our nature

it is almost impossible to fight

newnss, novelty, expressing ourselves in words, clothing, haircuts, nail varnish and choice of car

we are individuals with a Special Identity

each different and noble

to express and create is the highest calling

and we all have the means

if you can speak, you Create

if you can type, you Create

if you can walk, you create a little piece of individual spirit everywhere you go

we are Creative Beings

love and light

who isn't a migrant?

go back to your family tree, and you all moved here from somewhere

it may be your father, your grandfather, your great-great grandmother, or so on ...

but you all moved here ...

from wherever

migrants, the lot of us

it's just that some of us have been here longer than others, and we think we own the place

well newsflash, we are just stewards for the next generation of peoples ...

descendents of ours, and descendents of newer migrants

be kind to one another

love and light

Beethoven was a once off

too often that's used as a cliche, but in this case, it's the real deal

here's why:

1. Beethoven had no direct predecessor (musically) and no direct heir to his style.  In fact, they tried imitating him for 100 years after his death, unsucessfully.  Then they started modern music (but he saw that coming too)

2. Beethoven made music movies.  He was the director, the choreographer of the notes.  His music works tell stories, a drama of life, a journey from start to end.  These are things to be experienced, not just listened to.

3. Beethoven is the first artist as madman.  Sure, they had rebels like Caravaggio, and recluses like Montaigne, but no-one carried off the madness like Ludwig. 

if you don't know Beethoven's music very well, I can tell you deeply, honestly that it is one of the Big Life-Changing Experiences.  It gives you new ears, new emotions, new madness.

and for that, I thank Beethoven the Dude

love and light

bits of you scattered all over the web?

photos here, 3 email accounts there, bookmarks, a blog you started 3 years ago ...

sort of feel fractured and disjointed with all these data silos, that don't interconnect?

well, me too.

tha's why gaia works so well for me -

it offers an integrated solution ...

for PERSONAL EXPRESSION

one place to do it all.

Let's see some of the salient features:

1) photos: yep, got em

2) email: make contact with the most interesting people on the planet!  it's a breeze.

3) blogging: gaia has one of the most elegant blogging solutions I've come across.  and trust me, I've tried a few.

4) bookmarking: an underused, little known feature, but I love it!  the tag cloud is sweet.

5) audio: nope.  I've tried asking about it, but didn't get an answer.  Wouldn't it be cool to have a play button next to your profile, so you could greet your visitors?  or record a daily message?

6) uptime: a little scratchy.  things can get sluggish at times, and the site can go down for what seems to be hours at a time.  doesn't meet the 5 9's standard.

7) design: a big plus.  Looks great, highly functional, everything cross-linked on the site.  The connections between things are heaps easy to find.

so basically I can create the Digital Me and meet the Digital You.  And be well connected (just like the guy in the photo).

love and light friends

Soul: hey, check this out.  this person seems to be sleepwalking through life.  Can you believe it?  seriously, how many reruns of csi or simpsons can you take?  and I don't even like baseball!  man, this guy needs a serious wake-up call.  I'll send him some DREAMS or visions, things from the soul ...

Spirit: I've just been on the phone with Soul.  He says this guy (or girl) needs a wake-up call, something to snap him out of it.  I'll try some magical mandelas, or poweful music, any sort of ART that moves the spirit.  That should wake them up ...

Mind: oh, Spirit just sent me an sms.  apparently, this person is sleepwalking through life, they don't have a clue!  stuck in a boring job, hasn't done a new thing in years.  He needs some new IDEAS; maybe he should read this book, or visit that website ...

Body: my Mind is thinking strange things lately.  Where are these wierd ideas coming from?  I feel the urge to do something, to change.   I need to ACT,  right now.

So, the wakeup call goes from Soul to Spirit to Mind to Body.  A chain of communication.

others sleep ...

but do you hear it?

love and light

1.  I'm Asian (but only genetically, if that makes ANY sense ...)

2.   I own 3 pianos (honest !)

3.  I lasted 3 weeks in my first job (yep, I got fired)

4. I ate a worm once (bullies made me, don't ask me what it tasted like, I don't remember)

5.  I love Crocs!  (the sandals that is ...)

6.  My favourite book isn't actually really a book.  Well it is, but it's a book of sheet music (the well tempered by bach)

this blog was written because I got tagged by B.B. and FenixRizing

In turn, I have to pass the pain along, and so I nominate (in no particular order other than my own) -

shea-bird, sol, alan, morningstar and that's it!  everyone else has been tagged!

love and light

does meditation make you more creative?

interesting question

when I meditate, I flop into a big red sofa ...

lean my head back (so there is no tension in the neck) and rest the palms of my hands near my knees ...

I am totally loose, just flopped out like jelly, no muscles active

then I start saying the mantra over and over in my mind

(everyone needs to find their own individual mantra; what works for them, the mantra must 'fit' the size of you head, it is a resonance pattern)

within half a minute, I feel a tightening near the front of my skull (the frontal lobes) ...

like there is a rush of blood there ...

and then things go serene ...

I stay there for maybe 7-10 minutes ...

and when I get up, my mind is supercharged, ready to go

definitely a creative hit for me, ideas come drifting in, connections are made, words form easily, a gently pulsing flow of information

love and light

putting things off doesn't work, does it?

so what's the answer, to stop piling up all these things you're never going to do?

1. state clearly what you want to do (goal)

2. figure out the basic things you need to do (plan and program)

3. run through the plan in your head a few times to make sure it works (memory)

4. when the time comes, the program will execute automatically from your mind (action)

so if you do it NOW (work out the plan and program) the rest takes care of itself.

love and light

I love books

only one problem ...

information wants to be free

and with the internet these days ...

information MUST be free

if you have something important to say (the truth, insights) ...

why would you want to lock it up in a book?

my advice for any artistic person (writer, musician, painter):

put your stuff online

build an audience

a loyal base of 1000 FANS ...

then move on from there.

but GIVE FIRST

love and light

quickest way to someone's heart?

want to know what someone's REALLY thinking about?

check out their ipod

this is the music they load up, and take everywhere they go

this is stuff they PROGRAM their minds with

these are the EMOTIONS they identify with

all up, a person's music collection says Everything about Them.

the songs, the lyrics, the bands, the rthythms, the genres, the melodies, the ambience, the rock ...

all these are an INDEX to a person's soul

what they resonate most deeply with, what they BELIEVE IN

it just isn't a tune, it's your ISoul!

love and light

you've all met the Pushy Christian ...

all they want to talk about is the Bible and Converting You

not much fun dealing with such people

they've got a one-track mind, and they're always right (in their own minds) ...

but what about their opponents, their supposed opposites?

meet the Pushy Atheist ...

all he want to talk about is Science and CNN

he's rational, logical, smart, good-looking, and know what?

he's also right, all the time

can't argue with him either.

and I thought they were supposed to be different.

love and light

so why does South Park work?

into its 12th season (the first one aired just the other night) it still draws the laughs, and has a cult following.

why?

because beneath the surface of crudeness and childishness (which is where some people take the show at face value) is a thinking and questioning mind

nothing is too sacred to be made fun of

not religion (think scientology), celebrity culture (the paris hilton episode), or the corporate machine (wal-mart comes to town).

it even questions itself (the south park movie is a giant pun on itself)

the final message of south park?

skepticism

love and light

how many peeple trust you?

it's a measure of your standing and reputation in the world.

those with a lot of trust can move freely betwen jobs, crash over at a friends house, and borrow money easily.

it's a smooth ride

and those who are distrusted (whether rightly or wrongly) have trouble even walking into a supermarket.

trust is like a little honor tally, built up around our words and actions

you earn that trust slowly ...

and lose it as quickly as a burning newspaper

honor that trust

love and light

anyone ever tried sleeping sitting up?

and I don't mean on a plane ...

I mean, maybe falling asleep watching tv ...

or at your computer after a long day ...

it's happened to me lately ...

I'm in my big red comfy sofa, doing meditation ....

and bang, I fall asleep ...

wake up 2 hours later ...

quite refreshed

so what's the verdict?

sleep normal or sleep in a chair?

love and light

so where did we come from?

just a walking ape? (scientific darwinism)

or a creation of god? (classical blblical)

genetic manipulation by aliens? (sitchin / nephalim)

maybe refugees from the Lyrian Star System? (ancient Atlantis with a touch of Lemuria)

or just plain old spirits having a human experience? (reincarnation / buddhism)

everyone has their own cosmology.

in fact, there are 6 billion people on this planet, and there are a corresponding 6 billion different cosmologies.

everyone takes a System and puts a Spin on it, an Individual Lens to see the world

we all have a story to tell ourselves, about how things happened, why (or why not) we are here

different manifold cosmologies, but I see basically two distinct categories:

1) PEACEFUL, LOVING, HARMONIOUS, WELCOMING, ORDERED, CONDUCIVE, CREATIVE

which I will call the Optimistic Cosmology

and the other cosmology which is

2) negative, random, harsh, hurtful, unwelcoming, dictatorial, destructive

which, for obvious reasons, I see as a Pessimistic Cosmology

either way, your ATTITUDE towards things will determine many of the experiences you will have in this lifetime.

The Choice is Always YOURS.

love and light

these are based on my experiences here at zaadz / gaia

you put in, you get out: a classic cliche, but directly relevant.  5 hours counts for more than 5 min

everyone has their niche: even the most obscure interest can find an outlet online.  show off your expertise

females outnumber males: don't know the exact ratio, but it's good news for some


numbers don't count: a big friend list usually means one thing ... a big ego. 

quality counts: every one is a budding writer, musician, or poet.  not many have the guts to do the hard craft.  If you polish your work, people will notice.

don't talk yourself up: I know, it's easy to do (who's stopping you?) but when you get found out, you'll lose a lot of trust.  And trust is all you have in the online world


reach out: find someone interesting?  don't be afraid to shoot them over a friend invite.  worst thing is they'll ignore you, but if you're sincere, most likely you'll make a new friend.

build your profile: this is your first point of contact.  find an image that expresses who you are and what you stand for.  explain yourself, give people something to read and think about

log in daily: check your mail, answer questions, stay on the ball.  be an active member

love and light to all

we live in a media saturated world

in fact, it's almost unavoidable ...

the sounds of radio, the blare of television, discarded newspapers ...

billboards, people wearing t-shirts with highly charged messages ...

this could be a propaganda war ...

just like you don't eat every piece of food you come into vicinity with ...

treat your mind with the same respect ...

is this media I am eating fresh, wholesome, unrefined, no-additives?

or is it fast-food media, media designed to make a profit, to keep you hungry?

your consciousness is a sacred space

keep it that way

love and light

I had a pretty rotten childhood

Even with hindsight and perspective, I can still say that

My family was poor (parents were Chinese immigrants who both worked constantly) and luxuries were non-existent.

It was the basic of basics; food, a few clothes each year, school, rooming with my brother

School was rough, the bullying constant.  Not only was I "different" but my race marked me out.  This targeting was both physical and verbal (ultimately psychological)

I was smart, a quick learner, so stood out.

The grades got me through, the library became a refuge; fantasy novels and comics became the ultimate escape.

Words became my friends, and I learned to direct and flow them.

Yet, for all these high points, my main memories are of misery and hunger, of not understanding this process happening to me

But it was this childhood that would forge a future; give me the qualities I still have today:

a lean frame, a hard-assed approach to Truth; a questing for Answers, an imaginative mindset, a verbal facility

Ages 0-10 were like Boot Camp; I wouldn't wish it on anybody, but I'm glad I went through it

love and light

5 years on, we still don't know why we're there

some of the "plausible" reasons that have been sold to us -

1) oil (yep, we were running out, so we spend ALL this money taking over someone's else's oil) ...  ummm ....

2) cracking down on islamic fundamentalists (all muslims are bad, so the more we kill, the faster the problem is solved) .... ummm ...

3) enforcing un mandates (the un is the world's quasi King and Queen, and so all resolutions must be enforced.  Iraq wasn't playing ball)  .... ah haa ....

4) fulfilling christian prophecies for endtimes (Iraq is the ancient Babylon, and is the starting point of the Revelations doomsday clock.  If we want god to come back to this world, we have to trigger the endtimes) ... yeah, that makes sense ....

5) an ancient stargate hidden in iraq (who doesn't want to be a real life Jumper?) .... nodding head ....

6) the military industrial complex needed a new target (the us has found itself in overseas warfare at least once a decade since ww2.  The 2000's needed a pushon) ... yeah! ....

7) bad hair day (someone woke up in a bad mood, and needed to "externalise" for their own self-respect) .... never discount ego ....

8) new world order agenda (indigenous peoples are high on their target list.  The middle east and south america are still strongholds of ancient lore and wisdom.  Ancient peoples with a proud and independent spirit.  Must go) ... good, good ...


as you can see, we've been sold the dummy.  Any way you cut it, it is nothing but nefarious.

but paradoxically, these events have served to AWAKEN people

they have less control now, than at the start of the campaign

the universe works to a GREATER END, even through convoluted means

love and light

this is a new world ...

a world of wonder ...

of possibilities ....

of great imagination, zest, and selfhood

this new Digital Media Space we are all living in, swamped by, immersed up to our eyeballs and earlobes in ...

it is magic ....

the power of instant communications ....

of speaking across the continents ....

typing into someone else's very computer screen ....

sharing our little videos on youtube, getting feedback ....

this is the creative play of angels ...

of seeing new things, of being new individuals ...

our spirits soar on imaginations' wings

love and light

the mystics of the past have spoken of many things

one of the things they return to is ...

ONENESS

Divine Oneness

even someone like Ralph Waldo Emerson speaks of it

the Indian Sages of the East, the zen monks of japan, the shamans of the amazon jungle

all refer back to this same concept ...

ONENESS

Divine Unity

we are little drops of consciousness

seeking our way back to the River, the Ocean of God and Oneness.

love and light

sometimes this path is dark, full of fear

sometimes we don't know who we are, what we are doing

sometimes we wake up, and don't know what to do

sometimes we don't enjoy things, but don't know what else to do

sometimes we eat too much, and feel bad

sometimes we exercise too much, and feel sore, tired

sometimes we think too much, and don't do enough

sometimes we are too active, and neglect the subtle things

sometimes we haven't spoken to our dearest friends, and on purpose

sometimes our family calls, and we are overjoyed

sometimes a holiday can be the best thing that ever happened to you

sometimes, sometimes I write

sometimes

love and light

the secret to a satisfying career?

finding work that fits.

it has 4 parts -

1) skills that fit: it's no good being overqualified for your job.  It gets boring.  Your skills need to be a good fit for the job, to keep it challenging, interesting. 

2) personality that fits: an extrovert might not make the best filing librarian, the shy person maybe shouldn't do bar work every night.  There's an attitude and demeanor for every job.

3) money that fits: all depending on your needs.  Oftentimes the money isn't a choice you have any control over, so you get what you get.  But if you aren't getting paid enough, it can be very dispiriting.  The money needs to fit the value and experience you bring.  For those with simple lives, the choice to go part-time (less hours) presents itself as a money option.

4) lifestyle that fits: some people just aren't morning folks, and early starts aren't for them.  Night owls may be suited to shift work or more flexible working hours.   All depends on what you want to do with your free hours.  Finding work that accomodates your lifestyle can be the final piece in the puzzle.

granted, you aren't going to hit all 4 targets at once, but you can always move towards them.  A working life evolves over the years.

love and light

the journey begins

wanderer, o wanderer

tell us a tale

of where you have been, what you have seen

the things done, the things learnt.

 

you have been to far-off lands,

talked to people

heard their stories and lived their lives

you have experienced much.

 

the wanderer awakens, he was dreaming

always thinking and dreaming

he doesn't feel at home either here or there

his sandals are bare

 

the call comes like a lighthouse beacon

across the waves, across the seas

it booms in his ears, rocks his world

the wanderer is called

 

this is his sacred mssion

accepted long ago

to go perpetually here and there

his sandals are bare

 

the journey continues

wanderer, o wanderer

 

the place is earth, the time is now

changes are underway

who knows where things are headed?

who knows what marvels await?

 

but the wanderer, o wanderer

he has seen it, lived it

he has been present when planets have changed

blossomed into a golden dawn

 

the light shines now, on earth

showers and showers of fertile light

it awakens new thoughts, new dreams

in everyone.

 

the wanderer is here, he has been called

this his sacred trust, accepted long ago

his sandals are bare from endless walking

the journey to go both here and there.

 

orginal poetry
by wanderer7

love and light

wanderer, o wanderer

tell us a tale
of where you have been, what you have seen

the things done, the things learnt

 

wanderer, o wanderer

staff of knowledge

the wanderer awakens
he has heard the call, like a trumpet
sounding through the clear air
echoing around the heavens

the time is right, the planets
the stars, moons, in alignment
the galaxy has spun itself around
these are rare times for planet earth

he gathers his cloak, his staff
prepares his mind for the coming journey
the magic and spells are left behind
would attract unwanted attention

this is a battle to be won with truth
with words, wisdom, loving knowledge
the tools are simple
the task ahead difficult

shield of truth

o wanderer, wanderer

the cosmic wind swirls and lashes
it whips across his merry eyes
he looks out, for one last time
and says a quick farewell

his memories wiped, cut clean
no longer resonating with that higher truth
he descends into the world of matter
where atoms spin and apples fall

this is the place of tables and chairs
of castles, and knights, and steeds
warriors swinging their wild swords
the clang of death abounds.

tje truth will set you free


original poetry
by wanderer7

love and light

harsh, harsh existence
each continued day a gift
none come here to planet earth
except to challenge and test their souls

o wanderer, wanderer

none come here to planet earth
except to challenge and test their souls

coffee for the journey

wanderer, o wanderer
tell us a tale
a story of things done, places been
where have you trekked over the years?

the wanderer sits quietly
bending those creaky knees
he is old, older than the rocks
his face a canyon cliff, etched deep

he sips his coffee, it still has the buzz
centuries old caffeine works the trick
he is alone, for a while
but has met many, many

he thinks of AJ, a happy soul
they agreed to meet this lifetime,
to share the road for a time
swap stories about who they were

the journey ahead

there are others, other wanderers
but they disperse to do their work
they are independent, noble beings
proud of their craft

all forget who they once were
that makes the challenge even greater
they set out on a knowledge quest
wandering, wandering

they learn who they are, who they were
and of course, who they will be
the world also is, was, and will be
they learn that too.

the wanderer roams to the edge-cliff
and peers over, curious
what lies beyond is the eternal mystery
a puzzle for him to solve

once found, it is shared freely
no one owns an idea
the fire awakens mind to mind
from soul to soul the truth travels

original verse
by wanderer7

love and light

wanderer, o wanderer

from soul to soul the truth travels

elves once roamed the land

this land was once called middle earth
the legends are true
this was a time long ago
when elves and dwarves roamed the land

it was a time before the great waters
you remember them still
all cultures tell of it
when the oceans poured forth

the earth grows, you know
much like an apple
from the inside out
expanding with cosmic energetic inputs

the wanderer was there, he was there

this was a time when magic was known
or better called, spiritual science
if one wants to manipulate matter
one has to go behind matter

prayers misunderstood

we can see it now, atoms, electrons
quarks, protons, even elusive leptons
the tools of physics have yielded much
but there is more, much more

behind the physics, there is energy
behind energy, consciousness
consciousness is the mind, the mind
the mind is what you all have

control of the mind controls consciousness
consciousness directs energy
and energy is the basis of matter
now you see the chain clearly exposed

that is magic, or spiritual science
a lost art now, though remnants remain
in the tomes of sacred geometry, mandalas
the simple power of prayer

the wanderer was there, he was there

understanding empowers you
frees you in every way

original verse
by wanderer7

love and light
to all

once again

understanding empowers you
frees you in every way