Search Results

I’m taking a ten-week online course about awakening to consciousness . One of the teachers in the course made some statements in a video about money and happiness that irritated me to the bone. The teacher said, in effect, that the pursuit of happiness and money in our culture is the cause of many of the problems we are experiencing today. He also said our pursuit of happiness and money doesn’t work, and that we are undergoing a “paradigm shift in consciousness,” presumably to something better. He went on to indicate that the pursuit of happiness is not one of our primary drives. He said it is something that our culture has conditioned us to do. I thought my earbuds had malfunctioned when I heard this. Because these statements are broad, they open the door to misinterpretation. I may have misunderstood what this fellow was saying, but the statements moved me to bring up a few points. This teacher may be talking about the way we seek money and happiness, and there is a certain truth to this. But I also picked up from the discourse a bias against the acquisition of wealth and our traditional pursuits of pleasure. It’s easy to get lost in the wilderness when we are breaking new ground. While we can always do better, we have to use discretion in the ways that we effect change in ourselves and the world around us. Positive change is gradual. We don’t want to drive off a cliff and explode in a ball of flames. We want to be careful not to “throw the baby away with the bath water.” We all need pleasure. We all need love. We all need happiness and, dare I say it, joy. We need them as much as food, shelter and clothing. And there is nothing wrong with having all of these things, not just marginally, but amply, in any pursuit, including awakening to consciousness. I’m sure, at least in myself, that the search for happiness is my primary drive. The big “shift” came when my experiences as a young man taught me to look for happiness within myself first . If I am happy and fulfilled within myself, then I will have something worthwhile to share with others. It may be that I can’t grasp and hold onto happiness, but I can surely point myself in the direction of experiencing more feelings of joy, peace, and love which, in my book, are foundational to well-being . This teacher also makes a point that money does not provide security, peace of mind, or happiness. While it is true that money alone cannot provide these things, I am certain that a solid financial base contributes substantially to our individual and collective health and well-being. Not having enough money is a distraction. If I have to constantly worry about where my next meal is coming from, or the roof over my head, or having enough clothing to wear, there will be little or no time left for achieving anything besides survival goals. And the sad truth is that most people in this world today are financially vulnerable to the point of distraction. With the added burdens of the pandemic, our survival needs are more than a distraction. We are faced with the threat of severe illness and death every day. Life was hard enough before the pandemic hit. It’s nearly impossible for many of us now. However, if we take the pandemic out of the picture, and, at the risk of sounding unsympathetic, our economic problems don’t stem from our democratic government, our culture, or any other external factors. As Shakespeare’s Cassius said, “The fault, dear Brutus, is not in our stars, but in ourselves.” We have the freedom to choose what we do with our lives. If our opportunities for economic advancement are limited, we have the power to change those conditions. We all have resistances in our bodies and minds to the realization of personal happiness. With the application of intelligent free will, we can overcome these barriers. Having enough money is a blessing. It is a resource that enables us to feed and protect our families, to have a semblance of peace of mind, to achieve higher goals, and to help others. I’ve managed my life so that I am free to pursue higher evolutionary goals . I am not a slave to anybody or anything. I am relatively free. I’m certainly not free in the sense that the Buddha was free. But I’m free enough to operate in the way that I want to operate. If I screw up, it’s on me. I’ve seen too many broke and unhappy “spiritual seekers.” They use their quest as a haven from their failures in life. It’s an easy trap to fall into. It’s a cop-out. Whether or not we are actively pursuing an awakening to consciousness, there is nothing wrong with striving for happiness. Happiness is a choice and an attitude. It doesn’t fall down from the sky into our lap. It’s a constant learning process. It can be extremely tricky. It can be very simple. It requires discretion. It can be a struggle. There is only one obstacle that can prevent you from realizing your vision of happiness. That obstacle is you. If we are on any consciously intentional path to awakening, there is nothing wrong with striving to attain financial security. We only have to know how to use money for our own betterment, and the betterment of mankind. There is nothing to hold us back from achieving our goals besides the worn out saying that goes: “You can’t have your cake and eat it.” I believe we can. #security #happiness #consciousness #Joy #wellbeing #selfrealization #spirituality #fulfillment #innerpeace #money #spiritualpath #truth #consciousawakening #selfimprovement #selfdiscovery #awakening

I downloaded this image randomly because I had no idea what to write about. Let’s see if we can have some fun with wordplay. Airplanes have always interested me. They still do, as long as I don’t have to ride in coach. I used to make model planes as a kid. I only made the plastic variety, because the technique for making paper and balsa wood models always eluded me. They made it look so easy. And the finished product looked beautiful. Expert model plane makers painted them in custom colors. I never met anyone who could make one. You must possess a god-given talent to do it. You have be an artist, in the model plane sense. Chalk it up to an early encounter with limitations. about limitations, they didn’t bother me as a kid. Like most kids, I just went on to the next thing. No big deal. Later in life, limitations became a big deal. It hurt to bump up against them. It hurt to see my dreams go down in flames. I had to learn to accept my limitations. Accepting limitations is a wise thing to do, but it’s definitely not fun. That’s why god gave us imaginations. Q: Without imagination, where would I be? A: I’d be Stuck in a cramped, bad news, and boring world. (There is only one event that can make the news worse these days: Nuclear War). If I imagine ten things and can only make one of them happen, I’m better off. If I imagine a better world for me, automatically the world around me changes for the better. Okay, back to jet propulsion….My mind won’t let go of this imagination thing. No one, except myself, can stop me from having a jet-propelled imagination. People can laugh at me, including my wife, but I don’t care. I’ve pretty much lived in an imaginary world up to this advanced stage of life. I’m still here. I will not try to fix it if it ain’t broke. As you can imagine, living eighty percent of your life in an imaginary world has it’s advantages. It also has it’s disadvantages. And so on. If I don’t do a better job of sticking to the topic, I’ll have to change the title of this post to “The Benefits of Using Your Imagination,” or something self-helpy like that. Jet propelled. Hmmm….Who am I? Well, certainly not jet propelled. That narrows it down a bit. I can list all of the things I do and who I am in relationship to others, but I don’t want to bore you. So, who am I? Really? I’ve learned that I’m essentially consciousness experiencing itself. I understand the concept, but the experience, the reality of it on a consistent basis, stubbornly refuses to ground itself in me. Another one of those limitations? Not really. I’m infinite and limited simultaneously. I believe it, even though it isn’t my everyday experience. I know people who experience it daily. It’s amazing that I even know them. There aren’t many people walking around who can honestly make this claim. Not that I’m special or anything. I’m just crazy enough to hang around with this tribe. Okay, so I’ve successfully (for the most part) avoided the subject of “jet propelled.” I’m still going to leave the title as such, because most people will not be interested in the other stuff I’ve talked about. If you’ve gotten this far, thanks for reading.  May all (or most) of your dreams come true. #optimism #happiness #consciousness #modelmaking #creativity #humor #creativewriting #imagination #airplanes

To say there is a lot going on these days is an understatement. To say most of it is very troubling will not shock anyone. To ask, “What can I do about it?” is a worthwhile question. Can I trust politicians in this country, Republican or Democrat, to protect me? No. Can I change the world through the political process? I don’t think so. What can I do, then? Here are a few ideas. I can become a better person. I can take precautions to keep myself coronavirus free and not infect others. I can reduce the time I listen to the constant drumbeat of bad news. I can use the extra time to pause and reflect upon something sublime for a change. I can look at life from a different perspective. I can ask myself these questions: What if consciousness became curious and created this world, including you and me, simply to have the pleasure of experiencing itself? What if consciousness had already created millions of worlds and dimensions before it created this one for the same simple purpose? In other words, what if we owed our existence to the natural tendency of consciousness to expand and play? If this is true, then why do I take myself so seriously? If consciousness wants to have pleasure and play through me, then why is there so much destruction and suffering in the world? Do we bring most of the suffering and destruction upon ourselves? What if we found a way to make life less of a struggle? What if we opened ourselves to the love and joy that must exist somewhere within us? What do you think would happen? #depression #happiness #Pandemic #calmcalmness #creativity #Joy #creativeinspiration #meditation #fulfillment #perspective #anxiety #peace #flow #love #innerpeace #existence #heart #simplicity

Is the car running away from something? Is it running towards something? Or is it just some dumb kid with a lead foot accelerating off of a dirt shoulder? If you picked option three, you get an all expenses paid free night at a Comfort Inn in Sawdust, Idaho. Here’s a more detailed description of what happened. The cop who gave the kid a speeding ticket has left the scene. The kid is angry. He’s also trying to impress his sixteen-year-old girlfriend sitting next to him in the bucket seat of a restored 1971 Pontiac GTO . The kid is basically a nobody (despite his ability to restore vintage cars) who is trying to prove he’s a somebody. It doesn’t help that he’s preternaturally short and stubby for a seventeen-year-old. It does help that he’s been blessed with freakish good looks. And, he’s never had a bad case of acne. His girlfriend, Luisa, is an average-looking teenager who started wearing braces later in life than most of her peers. Fortunately for Luisa, a company called Invisalign has invented a unique clear plastic brace that doesn’t look as bad as metal braces. These braces aren’t even called braces. They are called “clear aligners.” Isn’t that clever? (Please note: I had never heard of Invisalign before I wrote this post. I was vaguely aware that something like clear braces exist, so I Googled “Clear Braces.” Invisalign came up. For all I know, the claims the company makes are pure poppycock). To be perfectly honest, Luisa’s good fortune regarding her braces is completely beside the point. The big question is, as I’m sure you are wondering by now, why does Luisa hang around with the kid? There is no cut and dried answer, as is the case with many things in life. It may be that she is a good listener. The kid does most of the talking in the relationship, and, as far as Louisa can determine, she is the only person around who takes an interest in what the kid has to say. Another factor is that nobody besides the kid is beating a path to Luisa’s door. So, a bird in the hand applies. There are other subtler reasons to account for the kid’s presence in Luisa’s life. We don’t have time to get into all of them. Mainly, and to her surprise, Louisa has admitted to herself that she likes the kid. A little. Upon further examination, she has realized it’s impossible not to form a connection with someone you spend regular time with, unless that person turns out to be a serial killer. I’ve been remiss in mentioning the kid’s name. It is Elmore. The name is another cross the kid has to bear. His father was an avid fan of the writer, Elmore Leonard . Hence the  first name. Shit happens. Elmore likes to impress anyone who will listen with his knowledge of fast cars. He likes to put adults on the spot by asking them questions like, “Do you know what the letters GTO stand for?” Occasionally, an elder will know the answer, but most of them say, Grand Touring…Uhh. Elmore stands there smugly and says,  “It stands for Gran Turismo Olomongato.” A pregnant pause normally follows. Elmore proceeds to explain that Gran Turismo Olomongato is an Italian phrase denoting a race car that is officially sanctioned for grand tour racing competition. Upon hearing this, Elmore’s audiences generally find an excuse to peel off in another direction, leaving Elmore to ponder why such a phenomenon happens with maddening regularity. He then consoles himself with the thought that most people beyond the age of twenty-one have become passionless souls obsessed with boring careers. I’ll have to end here, because I know that people don’t like to read long blogs. I started writing this by randomly downloading the picture at the top. I recommend it as a fun exercise if you have no clue what to write about. If I had something socially redeemable to write about, I would. If you are looking for a theme to this blog, try this: To Stay Sane in the Midst of a Worldwide Pandemic, Sometimes It Helps to Write About Nonsense . This is probably a good practice any old time. Questions abound as to what will happen to Elmore and Luisa. How will they grow as characters? Will they fall in love? Who besides these two will enter the story? What is the central conflict. And who is the antagonist? If you have any interest, let me know and I’ll continue the saga. And, if you have any story ideas, don’t be shy to suggest them. #youngadult #mentalhealth #Pandemic #humor #characters #funinpandemic #reflections #vintagecars #meaning #flashfiction #teenagers #fun #racing #fiction #shortfiction #GTO #racecars #profiles #nonsense

Go beyond the mundane mutterings of mind I tell myself Into a broader perspective Into a deeper reservoir of peace and love within Dive Explore I tell myself It’s there It is really there Deep within I’m told there is no end to the depths Yet, here I am Standing on the shore Barely scratching the surface Despite all of my sanctimonious efforts I’m okay with it I tell myself Better to taste the drop Than to taste nothing at all #peacewithin #happiness #expansion #exploring #Joy #transformation #underwatercaves #personalgrowth #meditation #fulfillment #perspective #hope #diving #peace #love #contentment #gratitude #life #stressrelief #existence #Being #anxietyrelief

Here’s the jumpy title song from Jackson Brown’s album “I’m Alive” (1993). The song is about Brown’s breakup with his longtime girlfriend, Daryl Hannah. Photo by Adityah Vyas on  Unsplash.com #jacksonbrown #strumming #hobbies #song #poprock #breakups #albums #lyrics #emergent #relationships #girlfriend #love #folkguitar #canyondrive #guitar #heart #singing #tunes #sologuitar #canyons

In troubling times, it helps to get out of our heads. Try this flight into fantasy on for size . Rush hour traffic Reading bumper stickers Bumper to bumper What if Suddenly Time jogs out of joint No traffic Traffic-less No highway A tunnel Swings into view Sea shell music A pulsing oval Misty edges The silver sedan rolls and rocks Sideways Front ways Like a Disney ride Nothing solid Out of body The sedan morphs Into something else Sleek A magnificent steed The tunnel pulsing faster Strobe lighting Compressed Into atoms Super nova Lost in a sea of light Memories stir like fall leaves in the wind The broken bridges from here to there Streaming through the eye of a needle In multi-colored rainbows Standing on an orange crate Selling apples, pears, almonds and honey To strangers who do not even know they are hungry Bright sunlight becomes The dead of night a millisecond later The traveler astride the platinum saddle of the time machine Racing through the vortex of centuries #portals #daydreams #relativity #timetravel #ScienceFiction #otherworlds #timewarp #timecorridor #space #innerspace #flashfiction #imagination #reveries #poems #adventure

The next step isn’t always clear. What an understatement. Motivated people always know where they are going, the voice in my head tells me. Nope. Wrong. Turns out we all must live with uncertainty. Talking to others more than I have in the past has served to underline this truth of daily existence. Uncertainty is a driver. The question is: How do I keep it from driving me nuts? Best way to beat it, I’ve found, is to stay connected to my family (thank God it’s functional) and to surround myself with people striving for the same goals. A community of like-minded people. I’m being deliberately vague here. Everyone has his or her unique tribe. Most days I have a certain set of goals to accomplish. Some small. Some not so small. I always leave at least a little time to make it up as I go along. Some days are broad canvases waiting to be painted with…whatever. Other days are jam packed with things to do. Most of my days are consumed with a combination of survival needs and creative projects crying for attention. Twenty years ago, I made the transition from the binding ties of a corporate job to the freedom of planning my days according to what I wanted to do. Most people dream of this freedom, but I’ve learned that it comes with a price. Freedom is worthless without a purpose . Without purpose, my mind wanders into bad neighborhoods. Worry. Anxiety. Depression. You know what I’m talking about. I’ve discovered that my purpose changes as I change. I am like a sea captain adjusting my course as my inner landscape changes. My course also changes depending upon the feedback I get in response to my actions. If I can’t get over an obstacle, I get around it. If I can’t do either, I find something else to do. When it becomes painfully obvious that I’ve hit a dead end, it’s time to move on. Life is full of challenges. At this point, I believe the central point of human existence is to set positive challenges. I don’t look for trouble. I try not to create unnecessary problems. Life is already hard enough, thank you very much. Creating positive challenges helps to relieve my anxiety. They also take my mind off of the uncertainty. I listen to my heart. I accept my needs and limitations. I move forward from where I am. Still, the future remains stubbornly uncertain. All I am given is today. Let me make the most of it. I wish the same for you. #community #conclusions #worry #depression #findyourtribe #followyourbliss #security #happiness #intention #creativity #uncertainty #wisdom #everyday #anxiety #peace #groundofbeing #manifesting #Being #heart #followyourheart

Elementary , a modern day adaptation of the Sir Arthur Conan Doyle character Sherlock Holmes, is one of the best TV series I’ve ever seen. In fact, it’s one of the best “any form of entertainment” I’ve ever seen. I know. That’s saying a lot. Here’s why I’m saying it. The series is brilliantly written. Every episode is unique. The substance and plot of each episode is fascinating and vividly portrayed. Throw in a twist ending begging for deduction, and it’s hard not to binge watch. The character of Sherlock Holmes, interpreted in the series by the British actor Jonny Lee Miller, is as unique as the episodes. Miller plays Sherlock as a super-intelligent, quirky misanthrope bristling with energy and childlike curiosity. He is confident to the point of arrogance, while simultaneously vulnerable due to his recovery from heroin addiction. Holmes is written as a passionate man of character badly in need of social skills. As a devoted detective/consultant to the NYPD and formerly Scotland Yard, Holmes has raised his crime solving skills to an art form. Johnny Lee Miller plays the role like no other Sherlock Holmes before him. He is at once a cynical curmudgeon and a euphoric child fearlessly delving into major crimes of all persuasions. His quirky facial expressions, postures, and body movements consistently surprise and entertain. And, Miller delivers his lines in a manner that is equally entertaining. Holmes, in addition to his myriad interests, is a scientist often seen conducting experiments to expand his already encyclopedic knowledge in a single-minded effort to elevate his detective skills. He also does it for the pure joy of discovery. Miller’s energy and driving force animate the endearing characters surrounding him, most notably, a female version of Doctor Watson played by Lucy Liu . Liu is the perfect foil for Holmes. She is a caring, compassionate woman, but she’s no push over. Liu plays a former surgeon who quits the profession due to the death of a patient during a surgical procedure she assisted in. The death is not entirely her fault, but the incident spins Watson off into another career as a Sober Companion where she meets Holmes. Liu plays the role with a simple elegance. She exudes feminine beauty combined with strength and intelligence in every scene. Watson is a high-spirited, emotional, and controlled person all at the same time. She’s apt to surprise, and never dull. Her stylish, understated wardrobe cleverly accents her powerful presence. Miller and Liu, to say the least, are consummate professional actors. They are eminently watchable opposite one another. I’ve developed a tremendous love and admiration for these two characters and actors. I can only use the word mesmerizing to describe the exchanges between them. Slowly, Holmes and Watson transform one another as the series progresses. Watson doesn’t allow the brash Holmes to trample over her, yet she displays a remarkable patience with his idiosyncrasies. It’s a heart opening experience to watch them grow together amidst the multiple seasons of riveting episodes. The main cast of characters is fleshed out by Aidan Quinn appearing as Captain “Tommy” Gregson, the Chief of Precinct 11, where Holmes and Watson assist. Quinn is another consummate professional who plays his role seamlessly. Detective Marcus Bell, played by Jon Michael Hill , completes the ensemble. They, too, have compelling character arcs throughout the series. Elementary spans seven seasons. It never gets old. It’s forever fresh and interesting. I’m watching it again on Hulu. Quality entertainment in a TV series like this one is a rare pearl in a sea of mediocrity. As an aside, I first discovered Jonny Lee Miller in the series Eli Stone . Miller has the lead role as a corporate attorney whose life and career are turned upside down when he starts seeing visions. I found Eli Stone to be a highly enjoyable comedy/drama series. It’s an especially touching and refreshing offering recommended for the heavy times we are living through. #SherlockHolmes #detectives #crimedrama #police #TVshows #deduction #addiction #logic #psychology #drama #LucyLiu #crimedetection #Murder #actors #crime

Are you stuck in the land of sadness? Do you always come back to this all-too-familiar place, no matter what you do to get out? Surprisingly, I’ve found very little in the annals of Psychology relating to prolonged periods of sadness besides labeling these states as some variation of depression. It may be called Clinical Depression, Major Depression, Schizophrenia, Anhedonia, or some other name neatly categorized in the manual of psychological diagnosis. What if the primary cause of, let’s call it, “sadness for no reason,” was emotional “stuckness?” It’s like being stuck in first gear, or being emotionally tone deaf. It’s like feeling only grays and blacks instead of experiencing the full spectrum of human emotion. I like to think of the full spectrum as the colors of a rainbow. What if there was a way to change emotional mono-tonality into a state of emotional multi-tonality? What causes emotional mono-tonality? The most likely answer is fear of being hurt. The little boy or girl inside us needs protection from some form of emotional criticism, non-acceptance, or abuse. The subconscious response is to dampen or completely shut off the emotions. It’s a good strategy for a defenseless little boy or girl. However, it becomes a problem later in life when a void of emotions and the program cutting off feelings continues to run causing depression, limited capacity, and self-destructive behavior. I can vividly remember the moment when I shut down my emotions. I was a thirteen-year-old boy standing in an open field outside my Junior High School. As I recall the experience, I’m struck with feelings of uncertainty, insecurity, and something I can only describe as the raw pain of existence rushing in. These feeling were overwhelming. I reacted by flipping a mental switch to turn off the uncomfortable feelings. Maybe I was a Yogi in my past life. Who knows? I just did the deed, oblivious of the effect it was destined to have on my future self. After a morning meditation yesterday, the idea hit me that prolonged, “unreasonable” periods of sadness can be the result of “frozen emotions.” Emotions are supposed to circulate rather than remain fixed. Could my constant effort to control my thoughts and emotions be the cause of the lingering sadness on the sea bed of my emotional psychosphere? “Of course it can”, I told myself. A frozen emotional state is like a river or a lake frozen solid. Nothing moves. No movement leads to stagnation. Picture a pond where the source of fresh water has been blocked. What does it look like eventually? Emotional stagnation leads to sadness and depression. Constantly struggling to “stay positive” can easily lead to the opposite result. Fixing thoughts and emotions on a single desired state of feeling/being is the definition of “freezing.” We can wind up trapped in a state of grays and blacks. The big question is where is the fine line between over-control and adequate control of thoughts and emotions. There is an interesting theory presented by Doctor David Burns in his famous book, “ Feeling Good .” He says, basically, that thoughts determine emotions. I believe there is a fair amount of truth to this idea. In his book, Burns goes on to identify a series of self-defeating thought patterns that lead to sadness, depression, and unproductive behavior. All of this makes sense, and Burns claims to have had a significant success rate with his methods for reversing self-defeating thought patterns. I’ve tried Burns’ method. It can help, especially in the short run, but I find it incomplete. Talking back to misconceptions becomes too mechanical and laborious after a while. And, it really doesn’t get to the root of the problem: the feelings themselves. My personal experience teaches me that over-controlling thoughts and emotions can lead, ironically, to sadness and depression. Why? Because emotions need room to breathe. They need time and space to unwind and, if necessary, to heal. It would be lovely to constantly walk around in a relaxed and released state of being. I’ve been advised to let go of my emotions and allow them to just “arise.” Sounds wonderful. I wish it worked for me. Here’s the paradox. The demands of everyday life don’t provide us with enough time to allow our emotions to unwind, express, and heal. If you don’t have to work; if you aren’t in relationships; if you have no goals, then, by all means, go ahead and feel however the hell you want to. Just don’t be surprised if you find yourself alone and homeless. So what’s the answer? It’s obviously an individual thing. We’ve all heard and read that it’s necessary to carve out alone time to rest and recharge. It can be a long walk in nature. It can be painting a picture. It can be anything that helps you relax and enjoy. For me, it doesn’t stop there. I’m currently using a psycho-spiritual approach to get my stuck emotions moving. With no intention of sounding overly dramatic, it’s also something I do to approach my “existential dilemma.” What I’m about to say is not an attempt to advocate or promote anything. If it resonates, then fine. If not, we can still be friends. My approach begins with regular meditation periods of about thirty minutes in the morning and just before bedtime. During these periods, I let my emotions out of their corral. In open fields, they can romp and kick without doing any damage to myself or any collateral damage to those around me. I do this meditation in conjunction with a tangible energy field that I tap into through my connection to the Trillium Awakening community of teachers and practitioners. I’m able to reach levels of peace, love and joy within myself aided by the Trillium energy transmission. I know. It sounds crazy, but it works for me. One of the benefits of this practice is an activation of my emotional core. What gets stirred up isn’t always pleasant, but it’s movement, and, I believe, steps in the right direction. I’ve also discovered an underlying program that affects my thoughts and emotions. It feels more like it is embedded in my body rather than in my mind. So, it is coming from the bottom up rather than the top down. The program needs to be understood and accepted. I might say “befriended.” Then, hopefully, it will unwind and lose its effect. Or transform into something more conducive to good feelings. My approach may sound totally bonkers to you. No problem. Find your own way. Whatever you do, let’s discover pathways to breathing in and breathing out the full spectrum of human emotions. Let’s experience the rainbow. #depression #activation #mentalhealth #happiness #consciousness #feelings #empathy #personalgrowth #relationships #enthusiasm #peace #love #innerpeace #connection #emotions #sadness

Night time at sea. No land in sight. The ocean is calm. It speaks to the pale moon in glittering reflections that please the silent orb. A giant freighter laden with shipping containers sails through the reflected light, trudging on its way to ports unknown. All is well until… A violent storm arrives, unexpected and unannounced. The sea is perplexed. The moon remains silent, unemotional, and mysterious. The storm spews banshee winds and battering rain. “How dare you disturb my tranquility,” says the sea to the storm. “You have no governance over me,” says the storm. “No governance? I am your Lord and Master. You obey me. I do not tolerate insolence. Be gone, and do not return, unless I ask you to.” The heavens explode with lightning and raucous thunder. To the sea, the thunder sounds like haughty peals of laughter. “Renegade! You flaunt the laws of nature.” In protest, the sea conjures up twenty foot waves. The furious waves boil, rise, and crash back down to the surface of the sea. Looking on, the full moon remains aloof, wrapped in shrouds of gray mist. A wave jerks the massive freighter upwards at a seventy-degree angle. When the wave rolls on, the ship smashes down as if an Olympic weightlifter had dropped it to the floor, thundering, after a six-hundred-pound overhead lift. “I’m sorry for your troubles,” the sea says to the freighter. It will take me a while to control this storm. Until then, you will have to abandon your cargo if you want to survive.” “My hull is impregnable. This puny storm is no match for my sturdy strength. I will shake off this weather like a dog shakes off water after a bath.” “You will drown if you don’t listen,” the sea answers. “I can’t allow this impudent storm to do as it pleases.” The freighter deigns not to answer. It lumbers along stubbornly, until it is lifted precipitously by another wave, and battered cruelly by howling gusts of wind and driving rain. “Arrogance. Idiocy. Rebelliousness. Will it ever end?” “I am the sea. Ageless. Alive since this planet’s birth. And yet, I must suffer fools, it seems, until the end of time, which may come, alas, much sooner than expected.” Photo By Elias Sch on Pixabay #politics #crisis #parables #history #commentary #conflict #metaphors #drama #reflections #struggle #mythicadventure #environment #allegories #evolution #currentevents

Pencils on their own are dumb creatures. Put them in the hands of children, and they are apt to draw Moms and Dads, third-grade teachers, tulips, and dragons. Pencils in the hands of adults are apt to write brilliant plays or novels. The work of Robert Ludlam and Lee Child comes to mind. In adult hands, pencils are also useful for solving complex mathematical problems. Or sketching landscapes, faces, and naked bodies. Or drawing just about anything, like plans for an invention to wash, dry, and put away a month’s worth of dirty dishes. What if pencils came with the option of connecting to a vast reservoir of primeval energy? In order to make your dreams come true? How does it Work? First, you’ll need a supercharged pencil at a cost of three-million-five-hundred-sixty thousand dollars for the special writing implement. Then, you’ll have to cough up another one-million-seven-hundred-fifty-three thousand dollars for the one-time primeval energy hookup. The primeval energy bubbles and bursts somewhere deep in the bowels of the Earth. The exact location is kept under wraps for the sake of National Security. Visually, I’m told by confidential sources, the energy resembles molten lava amped up on mild steroids. The connection to the energy is wireless. The special pencil allows the user to manifest (bring to life in three dimensions) anything the operator’s heart desires. If you are thinking: where do I get one? please be advised that the item is backordered well into the next century. And you must pass a battery of exhausting psychological tests to have the privilege of placing an order. Due to the long lead times required to process many of the orders, the manufacturer assumes science will develop the technology to extend human life spans and thereby delivery dates. If science fails to adequately extend human life spans, or if a purchaser tires of his or her two-century life, then the buyer will have the right to bequeath the order to a qualified heir. If you lack the patience or funding, then try making your dreams come true the old- fashioned way. Good luck. Now, then. What is your desire? #children #sketching #pencildrawing #couples #inventing #dreams #ScienceFiction #sex #reflections #copulation #lovemaking #imagination #whatif #erotica #manifest #fiction #musings #sexuality #drawing #fantasy