My Spiritual Life Coach Turned Out to Be Anything But...

So, here's how the relationship began:

Hi Tim, 

I checked your site and see they have made design improvements, not to my exact specifications, but it does look far more like a site for a spiritual life coach now. 

I really appreciate your kindness the day we spoke. It was lovely of you to offer to do a bit of complimentary counseling. 

The thing is, I'm not a novice at this. I've been studying mindfulness for over 15 years.

I've read several of Abraham Hicks books based on the Laws of Attraction. I've read Wayne Dyer, TD Jakes, "The 4 Agreements" by Don Miguel Ruiz, "The Alchemist" by Paulo Coelho . I'm currently reading "The Power of the Subconscious Mind", and a host of others. I believe that we have the power to make our lives what we envision. I fall off at times, but I do meditate. I normally use The Gayatri Mantra while holding crystals that represent the 7 chakras. I understand, although I don't always practice, the power of thankfulness. I feel close, but always lose connection, like I just need to fine tune my alignment with the Universe. 

I write a Blog , where I partner with PR agencies to review films, interview actors, directors, producers, cover Philly events as press, have access to film festivals, I even have Blog contributors who write for me. I LOVE it, but in almost 6 years, I have not been able to make it what I do. I want this more than anything, it's exhausting working a full-time job and trying to keep things not only going, but improving with this side business. 

I suffer from an ailment where if I try to do too much for long periods of time, like the last couple of months, my adrenaline system goes off the charts and starts wreaking havoc with my immune system and creates painful lactic acid in my joints. 

I don't like my job, you were nice, but mostly we deal with disgruntled, complaining people who are livid about billing issues, disappointed with the service etc...and our salaries are just above minimum wage. It's a really negative space. And an exhausting commute from my home. Which is the positive in my life, my sister and I just recently moved in together to save money and we found the perfect place, so close to Center City which is where I've wanted to be for a long time. I spend a lot of time in the city because of my blog and it's nice to finally get this part of my life right. 

Abraham Hicks says you can't get to a good place from a bad place, that you have to stop paddling upstream and let the Universe take you downstream. I want this. I don't want to be in a bad place, but I always HATE these types of jobs, I need more flexibility in my day. I am not aligned with my true self working in a 9-5 environment, it saps my energy, health and positive outlook on life. I want to figure a way out of this horrible rat race. I don't know if there's anything you can suggest to get me over this hump. Perhaps it's just not possible, I'm severely in debt and can't afford not to work, don't have a husband or boyfriend... Anyway, since you offered, I thought I'd reach out and take you up on your kind offer.

Best regards,
Le Anne

His response:

I just got back from vacation yesterday and am just catching up. I'm honored that you think I could be of assistance to you. Let me know when you will be available, Sat. would be good for me, since I'm off. Give me a call and let me know when we can get together, either I'll come to you or we can talk on the phone. But remember one thing , you have to be 100% committed to removing what it is , that is standing in your way. And we're going to be talking about The Power of Belief! And how important it is ! Ok? And I can introduce you to some other things as well! In the mean time I'll be putting together some content so we can change it to the way I need it to be, ok? Hope to hear from you soon! 

Sincerely, 
Tim

So how did this positive exchange turn into something kinda ugly?

We had 2 sessions where we just started to get to know one another, he analyzed me via numerology, talked a bit about my patterns, gave me a new suggestion for meditation, which I followed, but when I asked about pointers for keeping my mind from both meditating and thinking, he said go back to the mantra and breath.  I said, I don't stop doing either of those things during meditation,  I breath in and out, say the mantra and still think other thoughts at the same time.  He said that's impossible you can't think two things at the same time. And when I tried to explain again he accused me of not wanting to do it or being stubborn.  I found that was his way over and over, there could be no discussion on anything, I couldn't interject or question, just take in his pearls.

Ironically, at the end of the second phone call he abruptly said that this can't be a one way street and that I needed to compensate him.  Because we had already discussed early on that I couldn't pay him, I asked him what he had in mind.  He eventually said I should be able to offer him some monetary compensation on a sliding scale.  Normally this would seem normal for a business arrangement, but he'd offered some sessions for free.  And he didn't seem to want to be paid going forward, he wanted compensation for our two telephone conversations. I was non-committal on the phone, so later that evening he texted me.

Below is our text conversation:

T: Hey I was thinking about what you said about what I would want in payment. What would you like to give me, pray tell? Whatever you think it's worth to you, give to me what you think would be a good payment, OK? Whatever it is it's OK with me - 10:53

T: What if I would have said I would like a sexual favor? Would you? - 10:59

LL: Actually, I thought perhaps you wanted me to promote your services on social media, or a link on my site to your new website.  I remember when we first spoke, and you offered some counseling, I said but your aim is to charge for your services and I can't afford to pay.  And you said, the first client you get thru the site will be charged, but that you'd be willing to help free of charge. - 12:08

I continued without response from him


LL: If we had had several sessions and you said, I think you handle it from here, otherwise at this point I'll have to start charging, that would be different, but that was only our second  discussion. I know you're putting it in the context of giving & receiving on a cosmic level and maybe you're only asking for $10, but it has changed the dynamic from you being someone reaching out to someone you felt a spiritual connection with, to a business proposal.  And I don't even want to discuss the other insinuation, I hope that was an attempt at humor that failed over text - 12:12

T: If was just funny to see if you were going to over cooperate or not, but from now on I need some kind of payment, to see if you're going to follow higher spirituals laws. 11:20am

LL: That was a test! Well, that is rather funny then. Nonetheless it looks like I'm between a rock and a hard place, I'm in deep debt making slightly above minimum wage. If I don't move out of this period of shortage, I can't afford to pay anyone anything else. Was hoping you'd be of assistance to help me break thru my block move me into prosperity. But looks like that won't be the case.  Appreciate your time. Best wishes with your new business. 11:37am

I don't want to repeat word for word the next part because it has to do with work details, but basically he asks if I can build him a website myself.  I say not from scratch and even Wordpress would be a big commitment.

T: I'm impressed with your integrity and your honesty, but I'm sure that with your caldron of creativity and your sensitivity to another person's deeper self you could come up with something that you could give me materially in return as payment. Start sorting it out. This could be another psychological habit way of yours to give up. So let me ask you one more thing, if you thought you couldn't give me anything in return, why did you ask me what I wanted? 12:53pm

LL: Whey you said there has to be some give and take in our relationship, I said what do you need? because I knew I couldn't give you money, so I was wondering if you had something else G rated in mind.  All I have is a lot of followers on social media and visitors to my site. - 1:58pm

T: No I have nothing in mind, the ball is in your court, it's up to you to come up with an idea. All I can tell you is back in the old days Gurus had their disciples clean house for him do chores and cook him dinner in payment. - 2:00pm

LL: If I saw a big difference in my life and I could attribute it to our work together I'd planned to give you an endorsement and promote you. The only reason why I'm saying goodbye at this point is because you changed the rules on what I thought was a charitable act. However, I understand you're trying to get your business off the ground, I just don't think it's going to work any longer, under this dynamic of I owe you. - 2:04pm

T: What rules, there are no rules. I never said for how long a time for anything. It's just what you thought again, in your mind what you thought it should be. You need to learn that there are no free lunches! That what you give life, you get back. Why are you thinking you don't have to pay back, what kind of cooperation is that? It's a one way street for me, I just give and you take, very unhealthy. Maybe you are too selfish to have a relationship - 2:17pm

LL: And maybe you're too belligerent to be a Guru or Life Coach.  I'm sure you have a lot to do today, thanks a lot for your time and energy. Wishing you peace and light. - 2:23pm

T: No. I'm just too honest for you, the one who wants valuable knowledge for free, then get some books, but no you might have to pay for them! You know what they say, you can't take the heat, get out of the kitchen and I see you're running. So just go take your ball and go home. You only get nothing for nothing.  I used to make only about $1500 a month and I used to pay my guru $100 a week every session for one hour. 1 hundred dollars because it was that important. -2:39pm

LL: If you had just let things happen organically, I would have helped you edit your website, without you having to tell me I owe you something.  Anyone this obsessed with what they have to get to feel validated is no Guru.  Of course it says something about me that I attracted this type of person to help me.  Or perhaps I had something to teach you. - 5:14pm

T: If you wanna play you gotta pay girl okay just bug off! - 5:16pm

LL: Nice karma you're creating. Good bye - 5:22pm

T: I'm not going to be treated the way you were treating me and telling me what I should be doing and pushing back ad fighting me. I'm not going to be treated that way, so you have a nice life and learn how to cooperate and learn what the meaning of cooperation is. - 5:24

T: If you know so much, why the hell are you coming to someone for help, you know everything and you don't think you should pay for services rendered for some odd reason  ridiculous you think that I would owe you to have sessions with you until you felt it was the way you wanted it to be, until you could afford to pay me, well, maybe you'll learn to say what your intentions are instead of what you were playing at, a mind game and trying to control the whole situation - 5:29

T: In other words you are a pain in the ass and I no longer want to have sessions with you with the attitude you have even if you paid me - 5:29pm

T: I don't need to be validated. I need to be paid, just like anybody else. You want something for nothing, that's all you're going to get nothing it's hard for me to believe I ran into one person who thinks like you do that I'm here at your beck and call for free and I will do what you tell me you think I should do. That is just wonderful. What are you a charity case or a parasite, you don't even know what a Guru is and I never claimed I was a Guru in the first place, that's how whacked out you are.  And I didn't need your help with my website - 5:51pm

He's a raving lunatic.  I get it, he wanted payment, but right from the start I made myself clear several times, in the beginning of our dealings with each other, that I was only taking him up on his offer if he truly was offering it non-gratis.    He already told me that he has never charged for being a Life Coach, that he tended to council a lot of people on the stuff he'd learned over the years and that people keep telling him to make a business of it, so he decided to start one and the website was his first step in making it a business.  So it's not like I'm the first person he met with pro-bono.  And besides that, what type of higher thinking person, gets this caught up in a couple of dollars. It's like me paying him was the only way he could prove to himself that he could be a real life coach. 

I did learn two lessons:
1) Our first meeting was supposed to be at his home, but my intuition told me not to go, so I opted for a phone meeting instead. Now I have more faith in my intuition.

2) My money issues seem small and inconsequential compared to this guy's desperation.  It's not that it would be impossible for me to pay him, but since he turned the tables on me, I decided I just wanted out.  You see I tried twice to nicely extricate myself from the relationship.  It's not like I ever begged him at any point to counsel me for free. 

BEWARE!

Air Strikes, Ebola, Down & Missing Planes, Double Hurricanes and other Natural Disasters

Messages via Meditation

It's impossible to miss the fact that the news of the world is more dire in the last couple of months than the usual reporting of bad things happening.  I've been turning on The Today Show each morning asking, is this the end time?  Is Revelations upon us?

In 2007 I was really sick, I was suffering from an autoimmune that was partially diagnosed as Lupus, but they were still making a determination.  Eventually, I sought out an Alternative Medicine Physician who told me emphatically to start practicing meditation.  I resisted for a long time, wanting to be actively curing my illness, not sitting in the dark with my eyes closed.  However, eventually I gave in through a method that's both meditation and yoga called Kundalini.  Truthfully, I did a number of other things to help heal, but I have to say, I attribute the bulk of my wellness to making a commitment and really giving in to Kundalini yoga.

Over the years since recovering, I stopped taking yoga classes of any type and sporadically attempted to meditate, but without any consistency.  Life got busy and I felt fine.  However, over the last couple of months, I really started breaking down again. My stress level was high and some symptoms started returning. I love being the editor of Tinsel & Tine, but it's difficult to do everything I need and want for it and work a full-time job - which isn't where I want to be, which pays very little, and comes with a long commute everyday. Then there's other things that I won't go into.  On top of which, we have all this scary stuff going on in the news!

I of course considered going back to meditation, but I kept saying I don't have time, I go to bed too late, can't get up in the morning... No time before bed, too sleepy, work all day, blog at night etc.. etc.. etc..  But I also kept getting messages through random people and stuff I happened to read online, things that had nothing to do with spirituality, yet would somehow come back to meditation.  2 weeks ago, I happened to meet a Life Coach through my job, during the course of handling his account, we got to talking and he offered to meet with me free of charge for a consultation.  We spoke about a lot of personal matters, that I don't feel comfortable writing about, but his biggest push was, you guessed it ... MEDITATION!  So I couldn't fight it anymore, and once I made up my mind to commit, I've been able to wake up a half hour earlier to do it, following his instructions (so far).

Alright this is a long build up to the reason why I was compelled to write this post this morning, during my meditation today, I got a strong message that said I and the collective "we", should not be distracted by the disasters and wars happening in the world right now (easier said than done, I know), BECAUSE where there's this much negativity, there's that much more light.  That this is a time for obtaining ones heart's desire, that the Universe is really open, but because of the Ying/Yang - balancing thing that seems to be a universal law, it also creates havoc.  The "devil" wants us to miss this opening, this time of being able to align more easily with light and joy.  If we can shut out the noise and fear happening now and instead concentrate, each of us, on our inner spirit, AMAZING things could be in store!

Am I a prophetess? - certainly not.  Do I have other things I need to be working on for Tinsel & Tine, instead of taking time to write this? Yes. Am I worried that this sounds too airy fairy, crunchy granola?  Yes. Could it just be wishful thinking? Denial?...  All I can say is, it was just there, first a fleeting thought after yesterday's meditation, and really strong today.  Nor do I consider it an earth shattering, original thought. All I know is, I felt compelled to write it down, so I have.

The other thing that keeps coming up recently, is a book I read a couple of years ago, which now I seem to be better able to see its merit:

 The Four Agreements: A Practical Guide to Personal Freedom,― Miguel Ruiz

1. Be impeccable with your word - 
Follow through with what you say or promise otherwise keep your mouth shut.

2. Don’t take anything personally - 
99% of the time people are not trying to dis you, even when you feel you're being ignored or under appreciated. They're  just doing their own thing and will get back to you or seek you out when they need to, but it's not personal.

3. Don’t make assumptions - 
More or less a continuation of #2. Don't try and figure out what people are thinking. Be as clear in your communication as possible and then let it go.

4. Always do your best - 
I love the part in the book that says your best differs depending on the day and the subject matter and your frame of mind, but if you can say I did the best I could as each moment  comes, you've done enough.

Irish Moss

Herb Irish Moss Properties and Benefits

I was walking in my neighborhood putting up signs for a Porch Sale we're having and began hacking again.  I've been experiencing an off and on, but persistent cough in my chest for weeks now.

Upon it subsiding and my final clearing of the throat, I questioned, is this serious?  Should I be more concerned?  A fleeting thought, as a sign out front advertising a jewelry sale in a small, neighborhood store caught my eye.

I walked in to discover they also sell smoothies, and decided that sounded like a good idea for lunch.  Perusing the choices of ingredients, my eyes fell upon something I've never heard of before - Irish Moss.  I asked the girl behind the counter, what is it and what is it good for? She pointed to a sign on the wall that listed the benefits of Irish Moss.  One of the main ones being, yes you guessed it - PERSISTENT COUGHS! 

Not only that, but the store turned out to have a bulletin board with a perfect spot for my last porch sale flyer.

God is always at work!

Angels & Demons

 
They're hiding in the darkness until the time is right 
preying on the vulnerable when they've lost the will to fight
You won't know of their presence they're silent while they work
camouflaged by ignorance, in anonymity they lurk
Oblivious of their intentions
their prey must quickly cope, to prevent cruel victimization they seek, angelic hope
The enemy of the demon shines bright, with no disguise
oozing warmth and tenderness with serenity in her eye. 
The battle between good and evil is raging in my mind 
The angels aid salvation 
The demons want your mind....

Poem by Jason Lee - posted to 2013 poetry contest on CosmoFunnel.com 

TINSEL & TINE'S THROW BACK REVIEWS -

RON HOWARD'S ANGELS & DEMONS 

BASED ON THE DAN BROWN NOVEL

http://www.tinseltine.com/2009/05/angels-and-demons.html

Back to School

Yale University

What's the Secret to Getting In: Admission

Thali Too, Oaxaca Kitchen & Thali Tasting Tour - Part 1 of 3

 

Life in Camelot: The Kennedy Years

 

 The Rittenhouse Hotel Interview - Lee Daniels & Cuba Gooding, Jr: LEE DANIELS' THE BUTLER

Book Review: The Gospel of Inclusion by Bishop Carlton Pearson

I'm horrible about giving up something for Lent and sticking with it. So in recent years, I decided during Lent to read a book with a religious theme, someone's experience of God or something spiritual and mystical. This seemed a more positive way of participating without torturing myself with giving up bread, alcohol or cake.

This year I choose "The Gospel of Inclusion" because I heard tell of Bishop Pearson's fascinating journey on the NPR radio program "This American Life". Bishop Pearson's transformation, loss, struggle and ultimate gain is a compelling story.

The problem with this book is it preaches to the already converted. As Bishop Pearson found out first hand when he lost practically his whole congregation, you cannot persuade "Christians" away from a dogmatic, rules & regulation, judgmental, bigoted, fire and brimstone mentality. This type of church-goer needs this way of thinking, otherwise they feel lost in the vastness of this world.

So everything he imparts in the book is to those who already have a more open, inclusive, spiritual way of looking at God, religion and faith. I didn't really come away with any new revelations.The book does touch on what was lost of the real message of Jesus and his teachings, due to the formation of "religion". So much of what we are taught has been influenced by the politics and power struggles which took place starting year 1.

I believe Jesus came to remind us of our own power and divinity, but this message was deliberately obliterated, and manically stamped out to keep control on societies. It was good to hear Bishop Pearson speak on this in similar terms.

I recommend the book, but be prepared for some redundancy.

Gabriel's Inferno/Gabriel's Rapture Quick Review

Here's my latest Audible.com mini book review on Sylvain Reynard's Gabriel's Inferno and Gabriel's Rapture:

"How to Stretch a Short Story Into Two Novels"

What could have made this a 4 or 5-star listening experience for you? 

 

It's obvious Reynard tried way too hard to recapture the lightening in a bottle that is "50 Shades of Grey":

Like Christian, Gabriel is extraordinarily rich and a troubled soul. Orphaned as a child and raised by the perfect adoptive parents. Including a sister who is the only one not intimidated by him. He even has an unstable ex-girlfriend wanting him back.

Like Anna, Julia is a 23 year-old, innocent student, studying literature. And just as stupidly clueless. She even has a very similar relationship with her father.

It's a drawn out romance with minimal plot, centered around dialog & sex between the two protagonists; but believe it or not, the dialog is not as good as 50 Shades, which was not exactly pros. And the sex doesn't even come close!

What was most disappointing about Sylvain Reynard’s story?

 

The one thing the story had going for it was the many references to the middle ages poet Dante Alighieri and his muse Beatrice. The climax of the book would be the perfect opportunity to bring their "alter egos" full circle. Instead Gabriel leaves clues for Julia to let her know why he's disappeared, by quoting another middle ages couple. This wouldn't be so bad except Julia doesn't pick up on any of the literary references, even though she's supposed to be getting a Harvard Doctorate on this stuff!

Then once all is revealed she doesn't even feel stupid or apologize for being so obtuse.

What didn’t you like about John Morgan’s performance?

 

Narrator John Morgan had the perfect voice for Gabriel, but because there is so much dialog, it would have been better if Julia had been read by a woman. Morgan sounded like a strange drag queen and never seemed to have the right inflection for Julia's emotions.

Any additional comments?

 

These characters were not delightful or interesting enough for two books. If she had combined "Gabriel's Inferno" and" Gabrriel's Rapture" into one book, it would have been passable in terms of plot and romance.

But trying to stretch such a simple story into two books, made each novel feel weighted, full of exposition and never ending.

I know you're probably wondering why I read the second book if I was so dissatisfied with the first one. I was curious to see if things would pick up. More importantly, Gabriel and Julia's physical relationship, was supposed to heat up in "Gabriel's Rature", which it did, but again, not worth a second book. 

PS - Why was Gabriel's ex-lover named Paulina and Julia's other suitor "the Angel F'er" named Paul?

Bigger than Chruch and I Still Got to Sing

This year on Christmas Eve me and three of my siblings ventured out to Longwood Gardens instead of attending church services, and I have to say, the vastness of the outdoors, the artistic splendor of the displays, the quiet reflection of the snow, and the exhilaration of the cold, made the whole experience very holy and very festive!

I'm so glad we decided to change things up.  At times we even separated and ventured down a path or two alone allowing for some tranquility and then through the magic of cell phones, would meet back up.  My favorite part of attending church on Christmas Eve is singing. My mediocre voice miraculously becomes pleasing when singing hymns and carols.  And such was the case at Longwood Gardens where we were invited into the Conservatory to sing along with their historic organ and organist.

Best of all, I got some really good nighttime shots on my camera.

Here's a link to the complete album on facebook

Response to Girl With Anxiety

I'm a member of SITS ( a group of 40,000 women bloggers dedicated to supporting one another by leaving comments & learning about blogging). Each week SITS hosts Saturday Sharefest, which allows you to post a link to your favorite blog post from the week, and in turn, you are supposed to read the blog of the person who posted before you and be sure to leave a comment.

It seems like a good way to get traffic to your blog and maybe pick up some new readers (I normally submit a post from Tinsel & Tine).  But it hasn't been very effective for me. I do follow the rules and read someone's blog post from the site and make a comment, even if it's not the last person who posted before me. But I often find my blog still devoid of comments at the end of my Saturday:(

Anyway, the blog I read today is called Singing Through The Rain and she wrote a post called "The Secret Life of a Girl With Anxiety. 

I admired her courage in writing the post and found myself responding with more that just the perfunctory "Stopping by from SITS - Nice blog". Here's my comment:

A very moving and brave post. I'm glad you were able to write it. Anxiety is so very difficult to deal with. I've suffered from panic attacks too and in the beginning truly believed I was having a stroke or heart attack. The mind/body/spirit connection is an actuality that many people scoff at as new age crap, but in actuality, if one's mind and spirit are in turmoil, the body reacts in debilitating ways.

I admire those who suffer with anxiety but are still able to get married and have children. I feel like my problems with anxiety have in some ways prevented me from having a relationship that could lead to marriage. I try to alleviate my stress and fears through meditation, acupuncture, exercise, and a magnesium complex I get from Whole Foods called Calm, but there are times I feel I should be taking something stronger.

I am thankful my anxiety is not just general and across the board or all the time or has an unknown cause. Mine has always been centered around lifestyle - desperately seeking a certain lifestyle. It really kicked in at age 38 when I realized my life was no where near being where I thought I'd be at that age, with no knowledge, ability or plan of how to catch up to my age and live out my dreams.

I'm constantly working on acceptance and trying to enjoy the present (see blog post from July), but it's very hard.

Visiting from SITS

Quick Review: The Night Circus -"Wonderfully Weird"

 

 

Audible.com allows us to rate the books after we've listened to them, so figured I may as well post my review to Book of Hours too:

 

The Night Circus by  Erin Morgenstern

 

 

Audible: Would you listen to The Night Circus again? Why?

Me: I don't normally listen to books twice. However, I did so love the odd rhythm of this novel, that if I were to revisit books, I would put "The Night Circus" on my re-listen list.

Audible: What was one of the most memorable moments of "The Night Circus"?

 

Me: All the scenes involving Celia and Prospero (her father) are engrossing. Their love/hate relationship holds many facets. The reader is always aware the stakes of  "the game" are much higher than either Celia or Marco are aware and it's made doubly wicked by the fact that Perspero is so willing to possibly sacrifice his only daughter.

Audible: Rate narrator Jim Dale's performance

Me: A+

Audible:Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

Me: No. It's engrossing, but does not have a traditional narrative, you tend to want to enjoy it in smaller sessions.

Audible: Any additional comments?

Me: This book may as well have been written as a screenplay first. It's so easy to imagine it as a film. The colorful characters and the black and white set. I can't wait to see all the clever CGI they'll use to create the magical illusions of Le Cirque des Reves. And also the spectacle of red scarfs and roses against a backdrop of en noir et blanc.

September 2012 Full Moon

Will Things Go to Shit If You Live in the Present?

For me, the present being a present, is such a hard concept to grasp. 

Everything good is always in the past or a desperate hope for the future; made ever more desperate with each passing birthday.

The present is most often just things you're trying to get done before going to bed. These things hardly ever feel as if they are preparing the way of a good outcome for the future.

I wanna put my trust in The Universe - too concentrate on truly enjoying or at least being fully engaged, presently in whatever I'm doing - whomever I'm with - where ever I am; and in turn, the Universe will keep providing me with more and more of what I want. So that eventually, the future that I worried about, is my present, and it's still all good.

But this kind of trust requires blocking out anything you've ever felt was a mistake on your part. A mistake made from not being ever vigilant, from not properly preparing for the future, for not worrying enough.  You see people in bad financial straights once they retire; you see lonely people who never found anyone with whom to share their life; you see dreams that never came close to being fulfilled.  All this keeps you from believing in a simple concept like - "Live in the Present".

Earth Abides

I love audiobooks evermore now that I can listen to them on my phone (Android). It seems odd to me now to think of sitting stationery in one place, using all your concentration on only the task at hand; where in contrast, if you listen to a book, you can do chores, walk, work, cook, drive, shop...

Most recently I finished listening to Earth Abides by George R. Stewart.  It's a post-apocalyptic story of sorts written in 1949, but for all accounts you would swear it was written within the last decade or so.  Of course there's no mention of internet or cellphones; but otherwise, I feel Stewart does an uncanny job of depicting an earth populated with only a handful of survivors of a deadly plague.

The main character Ish is a studious young man who considers himself an observer of life. A trait that serves him well in the aftermath of the disaster, helping him to keep his equilibrium, where other survivors lose their minds trying to comprehend and live with the magnitude of loss.

Eventually, Ish takes a wife, father's offspring and gathers together a few people to form a community - "The Tribe". Soon the tribe begins to procreate and eventually those children inner marry.

Throughout we witness the changes in nature due to the lack of population and how it affects Ish and his tribe.  Before long, a great deal of fear and desolation gets replaced by the joy that freedom brings - freedom from government, currency, most diseases get wiped out, there's no need to work, no need to rush around or keep exact time; instead play, relaxation and the enjoyment of each other become the way of life. Of course there's day to day necessities, still, it's an existence without ambition and stress.

And here in lies the crux of the novel. Ish is concerned about the deterioration of society and civilization, but he's the only one who seems to feel a sense of responsibility to maintain and restore it. The other survivors are simple people, perfectly content to scavenge off of what was left behind. And much to Ish's dismay the next generation are not thinkers or doers either. He struggles in vain to teach them to read and write and to learn history, but only one child has the least bit of interest in anything academic.  So we see the world reverting back to an almost primitive society.

Well actually, Ish and the others don't know what's happened all over the globe, they have very little knowledge of who has survived outside of a small section of CA, but the book spans over 50 years after the plague and no one strives to reestablish electricity, running water, transportation, phones, TV, stores, government, schools etc...

Normally when one thinks post-apocalyptic, thoughts go to aliens and/or  nuclear war, where the earth is uninhabitable.  Or even Noah's Arc where everything has to begin again from scratch; but it's interesting to think about a world in which everything remains the same for a long time, but without the excess people to muck it all up.

But then, without the excess people, there's no one to run things. So, although you no longer need to have a fortune to vacation along the Amalfi Coast, who's going to fly you there? Who's going to wait on you?  Whose going to cook your 4 star meal? Can you really enjoy it without posting pictures to facebook and tweeting it to make others envious?... hmmm....

Transylvanian Sunrise

When this book is available as an audiobook, I'm going to read it or rather have it read to me.
 
I found out today that governments in certain countries are threatened by Yoga and Meditation and have gone so far as to ban its practice!

Here's the link to the Project Camelot Interview 

Rocky Horror Art

Transylvania Nipple Productions  Photo credit: Le Anne Lindsay

I recently bought a new camera. My first expensive, more than just point and shoot Nikon.

I'm having some difficulty feeling comfortable with it; learning all the features and becoming attached to it the way I was to my 12 year-old, first digital, Olympus camera.

However, I have to say this pic I took last Saturday at the screening of The Rocky Horror Picture Show, is a money shot!  I really love the composition, the clarity, the theatrics.  I took it from a balcony above.

Perhaps me and the new Nikon are getting better acquainted than I thought.

Mia Muratori's Cyber Silk Highway

My friend Mia only has 13 days left to raise funds for her Textile Design Company. Check out her KickStarter Campaign below:

I am raising capital for my DESIGN COMPANY.
  
While primarily a painter, I have always used a variety of materials and techniques to make fine art.  Translating iconic, archetypal and universal imagery from my paintings to TEXTILE DESIGN, I have designed rugs and tapestries-art that can be lived with and enjoyed everyday in your home or office- using imagery which spans thousands of years and multiple cultures.
Determined to use the FINEST MATERIALS AND TECHNIQUES in a respectful and responsible manner, I collaborate exclusively with fair trade artisans. The rugs from this particular project are designed by me and knotted by adult artisans in Pakistan.

Communications between myself and my artisan partners in Pakistan have been largely through cyberspace, crossing geographical and cultural boundaries.  These unspoken exchanges have required us to build a mutual trust in understanding what was required to create these rugs-and the final product has exceeded expectations.

I have loved creating these special pieces, but my biggest reward is knowing that together we are building positive livelihoods for all of us.  This is at the heart of what I want my business to be.

Funds contributed now will go to production and marketing of the LIMITED EDITION HEIRLOOM RUG SERIES.

I hope that you will support my project so that I can continue to make products of the HIGHEST QUALITY, MADE with INTEGRITY and infused with UNIVERSAL MEANING.

Please view my Rewards in exchange for your support and  see details of rugs under "Post update" (top of page)  or visit  www.miamuratori.com
Munificent thanks to Kickstarter for this platform, the Sounds of Taraab for music and Roth Johnson for technical support.

CYBER SILK HIGHWAY KICKSTARTER LINK

Ladybugs Don't Care

I found close to a dozen ladybugs going about their business, two were even fornicating, in this barren waste land of an unintentional rock garden.

Why?  Wouldn't a ladybug prefer a real garden with flowers and grass?  I mean this area is just an abandoned parking lot.  I started thinking that if a ladybug can flourish here, maybe I can flourish in a place that isn't really suited to me.

I also thought, although a bit cliche - that beauty truly can be found in unexpected places.

And lastly I thought, these ladybugs do have wings in which to fly away from this barren place, why don't they find a more suitable environment?

Do I have wings to do the same?

I'm a Girl

 

I attended a short film festival called LunaFest (See Tinsel & Tine post)

One of the films was called I'm a Girl by Susan Koenen (Amsterdam)

The film featured a series of interviews with a 13 year-old "girl" Joppe, who was actually born a boy.

Now from time to time, we've seen this, nature seems to get the X & Y chromosome all mixed up, creating a boyish girl or a girlish boy or an androgynous being. Which is an unfortunate cross to bear through life.

However, this young girl, Joppe is different - not only did she seem amazingly well-adjusted, confident and open;  she truly is a girl!  There's just no male energy to be found anywhere.  Yes, she has a penis and she's not developing curves, (can't be given female hormones until she's 16) but she is every sense through and through female - now. I say now because they showed pictures of her as a baby up til about 4 years-old and she did NOT appear to be a feminine baby, she/he was a boy.

This got me to thinking less about science, DNA, psychology  etc... and more about a spiritual explanation. Could it be possible that little boy died in his sleep one night and at the same time, some little girl died too. Only instead of crossing over, that little girl decided to inhabit that boy's body. Perhaps her spirit being stronger than his, was able to reanimate his body. The next morning no one would know the difference until little by little the young boy starts acting and desiring things more female in nature.

Who can say, life is so mysterious...

Versatile Little Symbol

Why does such an innocuous little symbol have so many monikers?

Number Sign

Hashtag

 Pound Sign

&

Tic Tac Toe