Regardless of how Outside-the-Box thinkers you may think you are, there is always a bigger box. The boxes are nested, and some are perforated.

I am amazed today how I can still find new and significant meaning in popular cultural icons. For example, there is tons of wisdom readily available in almost every episode of the early Star Trek series. Now I am not going to go into explaining examples in any one episode with this article, but instead would like to approach it from the vector of how we can block such wisdom from ever entering our psyche. If we chose to merely see such things as mindless entertainment, or goofy retro fun or even something too old to be cool, then we may be missing out on the underlying intent and intelligence, or even historical significance that went into the story.

I recall in my early twenties how I avoided indulging myself in things from my past as there were too many emotional wounds or memories associated with them.  I have friends who have told me (and I have told them as well) that when I share a piece of music or a video clip of a movie or a TV show, how I have often heard something like “sorry, but that’s not where I’m at right now”. On first look at this statement one may assume that the person (or me) is going through some upward mobility in their spiritual/intellectual life and the freshness and newness they are encountering at the moment is too enjoyable to want to turn backwards. However, on further thought, there also may be some emotional lens that is filtering out the information as it is too painful to view in the current state of mind. As an example, I had a girlfriend in college who of all things hated Star Trek. The reason being was that her father insisted on staying home to watch the latest episode when he should have been at the hospital watching her being born. In this case, I can understand the resistance to ever wanting to see the show again.

In my experience, I recall specific events or states of mind in my life when I was hearing a particular piece of music or was watching a movie and having strong emotions about things not going quite right in my life. A good example of this is when you hear you and your girlfriend’s or boyfriend’s favorite song after you had a painful breakup. Other situations may be your state of mind after losing a loved one to a disease, or losing a cherished job after working there for years. These are things that did not happen by choice, and pop culture was always running in the background of your local universe.

So to get on with my point, and still using Star Trek as an example, as I educated myself more on things of this world, like social justice, causes and effects of wars, religion, spirituality, etc., I began to notice that there were many common threads written into the scripts of these shows relating to my newly acquired knowledge. And after doing some research on Gene Roddenberry, the creator of Star Trek, I found that he was also an avid explorer in many areas of thought, and used those learned ideas in his writings and TV shows. Some would even say he had a special interest in esoteric knowledge, and may have had inside information on government black projects. As another example, I have always been a big fan of the music of the band YES. Their lyrics, written and sung by Jon Anderson, have always provided seeds for challenging conversation and speculation as to their meaning. Their music struck a chord with me growing up, so much that I created a lot of positive and negative memories around it. It wasn’t until I shelved it for awhile then later picking it up again with new curiosity and a fresh mind that I began to really find some new meaning behind the lyrics. Much of the time it was purely my personal interpretations, and not always the intended one by the artist.

This is just a small example of the magic of self-discovery and expanding our world view. As we make those inner discoveries and grow outward into the bigger picture, we disconnect those feeling channels, and create new neural pathways to those things that are familiar to us. It’s like we remove the constraints of past pain and memories and forge new experiences with the art, making it new again!

As mentioned before in a previous post, Manifestation is Action: Nutcracker Story, my daughter is one of the passionate lovers of the ballet who once again had an opportunity to participate in the pomp and splendor of being on the big stage. Only this year with PNB’s Nutcracker 2009 she auditioned for a part in the show and was surprised when she got the part that she least wanted.

Since NC2008 after the completion of the final show, my daughter reminded us several times during the year that she did not want to be Artillery. Not because the part lacked charm or beauty, but mainly because she did not like the loud boom of the cannon. This has pretty much bothered her since the first time she saw the ballet and was a prominent memory in her child mind. In fact when listening to a CD of the NC music, she can pinpoint exactly where the cannon fires in the live show. So naturally she was very surprised when she found out that she would be wielding the cannon on stage and firing it for 22 shows of the 2009 season.

I read or heard somewhere that the Universe does not know the word “No”. Essentially when you focus your thoughts on what you do not want, you get exactly that… more of what you do not want! That explains exactly what my daughter experienced when getting the part that she expressed to us all year long that she did not want.

So after having this explained to her she is now focusing on the part she does want in the 2010 season of Nutcracker. I’ll let you know when she gets it in Nutcracker Story III, where dreams come true.

For those who follow Quantum Mechanics, theoretically, all matter is made from the same stuff, Light. And you probably also have read that the mere act of observing an event, affects its outcome. I am summarizing severely here, I admit, but I have come up with an experiment that may lend some support to the concepts of observation, intent and applied energy in the Quantum Field. I haven’t fully run this experiment myself, as I am concerned the results may be tainted because I tend to rush things. However, some noodling with this has produced very positive results. You may find it is also a good learning tool.

Synopsis:
Play your computer solitaire game 10 times under 3 defined circumstances, or attitudes.

Setup:
1. If you have Windows, open the game Solitaire.
2. Open the game Options
3. Select the following options:
   Draw 3
   Scoring = Vegas
   Cumulative check box = checked (for adding or subtracting the score each time)

So here is the way that YOU prepare to for this experiment. There are 3 Attitudes that you need to adopt a few minutes before you start the 10 game set.

Attitude 1: Win Win WIN! Be forceful. Get pumped up! Exhibit an aggressive “I will win” attitude. Use phrases like “You are my biatch!” as your playing. Show it who is boss!

Attitude 2: Indifference. Have no attitude at all. Play without regards to outcome. Have no desire or resistance.

Attitude 3: Selfless. 5 minutes before playing, visualize the best result. See in your mind completing the game where all cards are gone, and you get the top score. When playing, make statements like, “this is for the love of all people”. Or have a giving attitude and make statements of a giving nature, like “I will love giving this money to people in need”.

Play 10 games each with each attitude and track results for each game. I recommend taking a long break between sessions to clear the attitude field.

What was your final cumulative score? Did you win more than lose, or vice versa? Is the final score a Positive or Negative number?

Please let me know your outcomes.

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Almost everyday I hear the words “this [object or product] changed my life”, or “this [product] will change your life”, or some variation on this theme. So much do I hear this that I decided I needed to deconstruct this ubiquitous statement and analyze it from a different angle. Perhaps more specificity is required so that this statement can hold some real meaning rather than just being a hook to sell infomercial products.

I recently watched an infomercial for a product that promised dramatic enhancement of a certain male feature, the results of which would “change your life”. In other instances, I hear of books, wealth building systems, spiritual or mental practices or certain life events that will “change your life”. Honestly, from a very core objective viewpoint, anything or everything can change your life, or at least the course of your life, temporarily or permanently, and many times in a year, month or even the same week. The atoms in your body are recycling and rebuilding your organs regularly and you can’t even feel it. Perhaps it is possible that a life can change 10 times in an hour. But is it “LIFE” that is changing, or the circumstance or event, or just the perspective you give to it? Here are some questions you can ask.

What has changed exactly?

After you come down from the “high” or “low” of the life changing shift or event, take a moment to analyze it. Was it your “LIFE” that changed, or was it how you are thinking about life? Did you actually lose 50 pounds, and in doing so, did you also remove the triggers that gave you the pounds in the first place?

Was the change negative?

Did a major event like an accident or death in the family cause a shift in your routine, emotional or physical state? Did you lose a lot of money gambling in the real estate market? Did that life changing beauty surgery cause you harm and damage your organs? Was the life change “risk” foreseen? Or a complete surprise?

Was the change positive?

Did you win big when you played the lottery, and if so, did your life really change? Or was it just your circumstance for the moment? Do you know how to manage money better now that you have it? Are you happier, or just high on the winning rush? Have you overcome a major hurdle in your health or mental well-being? And if so, have your routines and patterns changed as a result?

Did the change stick?

Once you have purchased and used that product, successfully built your muscle mass using the exercise program, practiced that breathing technique or taken that male enhancement supplement, have you experienced a permanent shift in your situation? I’m talking about something that stays around for a year, or two, or ten? Can you with all honesty say that it has changed your life, or did it just temporarily change your viewpoint? Perhaps it was your feelings that changed? Did the burst of confidence actually produce satisfactory results that you enjoy each and every day? Did it actually make you better for it? What do you tell others about this life changing event or product?

We need a better phrase.

I feel we need a more accurate statement to describe this so-called life changing result to better distinguish what is happenstance, the expected results of using a product, or an event or occurrence that has forced the change upon us. Changing your life needs to be reserved specifically for the conscious effort we make to change the course of one’s life, as in a true paradigm shift in thinking and acting. All else is artificial and a misuse of a powerful meme. So here are my suggestions:

Some suggestions for more accurate phrases.

• Physical improvements (i.e. bodybuilding): “It will change your body” or “It will change your ego”
• Mental improvement exercises: “It will change your thinking”
• Product satisfaction: “It will change your habits”
• Wealth building systems: “It will change your cash flow” (sometimes negative)
• New philosophy, religion or practice: “It will shift your paradigm”
• Joining a club or group: “It will change your identity”
• Getting a facelift or cosmetic enhancement: “It will change your self-image”
• Attending a motivational seminar: “It will change your emotional state”
• Watching a touching movie: “It will change your feelings”

If I honestly look for life changing events in my life, I cannot think of too many where I could not replace the phrase with one of the suggestions above. I succinctly recall a piece of music that shifted the course of my musical pursuits and interests when I was in my late teens, and it was permanent. However, I do not call it “life-changing” as I still did most everything the same from day to day. I also recall times when changes in my thinking made dramatic perception shifts that yielded satisfying results. On occasion, those results bordered on life changing, but still do not qualify in my opinion. The life changing events that stand out for me was when I faced big choices that sent me down different paths and expanded my world view. This often was due to a process or a long term effort and not a sudden change as a result of an event or trauma. Life changing is not always exciting as the spinners would have you believe.

Conclusion

I ask that you take moment and notice when and how you are using or hearing the “change your life” phrase and analyze if makes sense to use it in the context where you encounter/exercise it. Think critically about how life changes actually occur, and if you are willing to pursue the real thing yourself. Try and think of it as a process of mini-changes that may result in the ultimate life change that propels you to your ultimate bliss.

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According to My Religion, there is but one sin that trumps all others; the 8^th deadly sin.

 

It reads as such:

 

To raise your child(ren) with the fallacy of limitation, and to systematically diminish or destroy their creative tendencies or urges, either consciously or unconsciously, for the illusion of safety and security.

 

In other words to plant in them the fear of lack or not having. In Western countries, this seems like a mute point as many children seem to have an overabundance of toys and gadgets at their disposal, no matter the economic status. However, what I am referring to is not the material sense of the term “lack”. I am defining lack more as the limitation that you cannot achieve whatever you dream. Dreams matter, especially to kids. To them all things are possible, unless we kill those dreams early in their tender lives, with our language, our actions or our example. I have an aunt that used to tell her children to not dream too big or you will wind up disappointed. Guess what happened to my dear cousin’s dreams?

 

We are born to create and be creative. To diminish that is to diminish our true purpose in this mortal existence.

 

My opinions are pretty strong on this, but I would like to share some examples of what I consider to be abuses to a child’s creativity. Your opinions may vary, and you may strongly disagree with me, but I encourage debate or comments on this subject.

 

1. You let your child indiscriminately watch TV, or play video games. Reduce access to these activities for the greater good. Have them make their own games and create their own movies and TV shows.
2. You do not have a creative life of your own, so you do not try to understand or know how to support their dreams. Enroll them in a music class, or other creative activity, but also enroll yourself.
3. You allow kids to eat only what they want, and not facilitate healthy lifestyle.Creativity needs fuel. Can a dancer or athlete perform at peak eating only fats, carbs and sugars? This is tough, but please make the effort. You will notice a dramatic change in behavior and energy levels.
4. You criticize your child for their unrealistic or crazy ideas. You really need to encourage their weird ideas, no matter how strange they are to you. Listen to their fantastic stories and admire their artistic creations. They may save the world some day!
5. You habitually avoid communication with your child because you are tired at the end of your day and want time to yourself. We all need personal space to stay sane, but there is no excuse great enough to make you avoid your children. At least make a miniscule effort at first to connect. They have a lot to say and want you to acknowledge them.
6. You medicate your children because they do not behave like a “normal” child. When “meds” are indiscriminately administered, I consider this a crime against humanity and in some cases ignorant child abuse, even if acceptable to society. If you trust only “authorities” to give you the answers for everything, then you are not in control of your own mind. How can you be a proper authority for your children when you accept solutions without question, and without researching alternative options? You absolutely owe it to your child, his/her spirit and overall happiness to exhaust all options, no matter how crazy some may sound. Start with changing their diet.
7. Lastly, you are killing your kid’s spirit when you overcommit them to activities that they may have not chosen for themselves. It has been my experience that a child has strong urges to take on a certain activity becasue of a genuine desire, or in some case a life calling that manifests early in life. This is your opportunity to let your child tell you what they want, and it is up to you to facilitate this as much as possible. For you to make the decision as to what actvities your child should participate in is making them live YOUR life dreams for them and not their own. They will go along with it for awhile because they love and worship you, but eventually they will rebel, and I mean rebel hard, and you will be rendered powerless in their minds.

My daughter LOVES ballet. It seems from the first moment she watched a video of a ballet she was driven to become a ballerina. At age 3 we enrolled her into a local dance school that specializes in ballet. We also took her to one or two Ballet performances every year since then. Her first was the Nutcracker followed by Midsummer Night’s dream. Even at 3 and 4 years old, she was very attentive to every detail of the performance. The spectacle, the beauty of the sets, and strangely, the quality of the dancing! Yes, she has often critiqued some dancers saying that they did not dance “pretty enough”.

At age 6, we moved our daughter from the local dance school to where the action is, the Pacific Northwest Ballet (PNB) School. The school resides next to the performance hall where she has seen the grand performances of the past.

Since those early days, and upon seeing her first performance of The Nutcracker, my daughter has always told us that she will be in it someday. Her goal is to be Clara and later the Prima Ballerina. This summer she tried out for a part in the ballet. Due to her size, enthusiasm and skill, she was chosen for her first part in the Nutcracker this season. She will be playing the part of “Little Girl”. At the time this was announced we were on a family trip in Arizona, but on returning, her best friend’s mom gave us the news. I waited until the next morning to tell her and she responded with a big “Yaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay!!!” Even with this response, I felt she was still containing herself. I know I responded equally if not more dramatically after I heard the news.

My wife and I are not stage parents by any means, except that we facilitate and participate in our daughter’s dreams as best we can. We allow her to participate in the manifestation of her own dreams, and facilitate bringing them into reality. Before the audition, we told her to do her best, and if she does not get in this time, she will eventually with hard work and persistence. My daughter accepted those terms and agreed that it was OK if she did not make it in this time, after all there were 95 students auditioning from her grade level. Though we were told that the competition was fierce, and that some parents were demonstrating an “out for blood” attitude for their precious ballerinas. I believe what wins out ultimately is intention with Grace. Disappointment is not the only motivation factor to encourage improvement as some gurus may tell you. It is love for the craft that drives more than anything else. You choose the experience you want to have, then when you have it, you choose another. Kids appear to be natural at this. THey do not put too much thought into it. Yes they get disappointed, but they don’t stop, unless of course you train them to do so.

I was recently reading stories from a social news site and I came across an article someone posted on Logic and Reason. After reading through arguments the author presented, it became obvious that he himself had a slanted view on these concepts. In other words, he was targeting the information towards his perception of how the so-called Left thinks about current political issues. I find so many contradictions in how people can interpret logic and reason towards “everyone else” yet seem to ignore the gaps in their own definition if they look at their own beliefs and why they believe in them. For example, I have noticed that the “right” tends to look at the “left” as being emotional and without reason. And yet the “left” looks at the most of the “right” as being without logic because most are religious and faith is not logical. In my observations if appears that we are bending these definitions towards our “feeling” whether we admit it or not. It’s as if any one ideology can OWN logic or reason. By this argument somehow logic and reason exist above Reality, and Reality is dependant on these two concepts to exist at all.

 

So what does My Religion say about Logic and Reason?

Logic and Reason can only be artifacts of Reality, Creation, or whatever name you put on the Universal Totality. Since Logic and Reason are artifacts and cannot in reality be used to define reality in absolute terms, they can only be used as tools of relativity that we humans can use to help ourselves understand our perceived reality. There is no doubt that great personalities in our human history have fabricated strong arguments for following specific precepts of logic and reason, but by the very nature of the concepts, they cannot be static for long as human consciousness expands. Let’s say it is not Logical to believe in God because the eyes cannot see this entity. However, from a higher perspective, you could say God created logic so that we may evolve to realize that all Creation is proof of God. Reason, however, technically negates any logical argument by saying something like “it is from an emotional perspective that we want to personalize a Creation or a Creator.” So this would in fact negate the argument that it is reasonable to believe in a God that you cannot see, yet want so hard to believe in. I have often seen the simplistic age old argument “It is reasonable to believe in God” or “It is unreasonable NOT to believe in God”. Religionists put their trust in texts as proof, which is not logical or reasonable either since Logic and Reason cannot be blind like faith and trust. Yet these texts do not provide answers in a forthright manner and often religious leaders become self-proclaimed interpreters, which followers accept without question. It is more like hedging your bets that if you are right, Paradise awaits. And if you are wrong, there is nothing to lose. Wanting so hard to believe in anything is emotionally based, and therefore cannot be reasonable. So, as I said before, there is a relative perspective to these two concepts that may never confirm or deny God or Reality as they are a subset of the two.

What of Emotion?

Perhaps it is best to say that the fact that we have these two concepts at all is proof that Reality, the Universe, God, or whatever name you put on it is in fact Real with or without the human experience to validate. Therefore, we also MUST be part of this Reality, Universe, etc. and have a stake in it. Otherwise what is the need to develop and evolve such concepts in the first place? And, what is wrong with perceiving Reality with Emotion? Perhaps Emotion is our one Divine Connection that defies Logic and Reason after all? Or perhaps Emotion is the very boundary to our experiencing true Reality if left untempered by Logic and Reason? I concede that I cannot solve this dilemma at this time, but I’m still working on it.

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I have started a page dedicated to define my personal religion. Click here to read.

My New Religion

Experiment 1: First Check In

It has been about a week now and here are my observations:

It has become easier to let go of things that at one time held a sentimental stranglehold over me. I have been pulling out boxes and separating the contents into two piles. The “I have to keep this for archival purposes” pile and the “what the hell was I thinking” pile. With recycle container at the doorstep, from the passerby perspective you would have seen objects flying from the door to the bin for an hour or so. But I’m not done yet. No, far from it.

My wife has always told me that creating space and eliminating clutter frees the mind of burden and makes space for creativity. She is right. She is always right. I feel that it is true, but the Habit Beast inside drives me to unconsciously make piles on every clean surface. Now as the memory stack is reduced, I see hidden underneath the revelation of where and when the Habit Beast was born. I see the home I grew up in. I see my mother’s clever table scenes. I see my dad’s laundry piles and dresser deposits. I see the safety grotto that I have built with piles of crap to shield myself from the anger of my father, and the misunderstandings of the rest of my family. I would have felt as safe in a small cardboard box with a few amusements to pass the time.

This has been a psychological journey. One of release and priority. To get to where I want, do I have to carve my way through the Crap Forest without a map, or do I float above it and take flight towards the Dreamland. Literally, it has been revealed to my consciousness that to see the road to Dreamland, you have to clear it first, and then start walking on it. I’m still clearing. My feet are itching to walk.