Communication Pains

When I point out to someone that their words or actions come across in a way that is different then they intended there is often an intense response of defensive words. Some argue that their intent was the end all of it, no willingness to accept the result/perception of said words or actions could possibly be different then t.   self perception/intent. Others don't seem to comprehend that there is even a difference of intent/result, self perception/outside perception. Both of these situations arise when I'm on the other side, attempting to explain my intent was not the same as the perception they informed me of. I sometimes forget to recognize their perception, some don't understand there is a difference between the two and think I'm arguing with their observation.

I think this is a fundamental element of miscommunication. Along with linguistic concepts, word and phrase associations that differ from person to person. 

"The children who come long after absorb the language as they grow and those unique, linguistically encoded experiences form an unquestioned element of the fabric of their experience of life. They are part of a specific cultural epistemology or way of knowing reality, language literally shapes personal experience of reality."   -Stephen Harrod Buhner The Lost Language of Plants

That moment when you realize Tech N9nes use of Dwam fits it's actual definition...

dwam

/dwɑːm/

noun

1.

a stupor or daydream (esp in the phrase in a dwam)

verb

2.

(intransitive) to faint or fall ill

Word Origin

Old English dwolma confusion

Hempstalk 2016

     Manic Esoteric returned to Hempstalk this year, and while I remember years past at Kelly Point Park having much greater turnouts, the new location had a great view of the Willamette and Hawthorne Bridge, and was much more relaxed then how people had described 2015s event to have been. Marijuana is now legalized in the state of Oregon and the next thing to be actively engaged in, are the choices we make on what products and companies we support with our hard earned cash.  There are a lot of business people from other states looking to turn this industry into yet another profit scheme, and when profits are placed above people, and above purpose, things get bad fast.

     Events like Hempstalk intend to bring the community together, so that we can share experiences, information, music, art, and local companies can show us what they have to offer.   There are two that I found this year that I plan to invest in.  One of these is Mean Green Cream, whom sponsored the "Elechronic Stage."  A representative stopped by with perfect timing to offer me a small sample that instantly eased the ache I'd developed in my back over the previous couple of days. I've made my own THC lotions in the past, but failed at creating a good texture, or a very strong effect.  So I've decided to seek out some at the locations listed at http://meangreencream.com/ and pick myself up some.

     I also found a new favorite energy drink.  Canna Energy uses hemp oil (contains no THC) to provide some much needed nutrients, they use no artificial ingredients, and the sugar content in an entire can is only 10g.  For someone like myself trying to keep my sugar intake down while keeping myself alert when I'm doing hard labor, this really hits the spot. While I'm partial to the Blu-Berry, the Mango was also quite delicious! I sought their website as well and found they sell cases via Amazon.  Click the linked images below to add some to your next order and try them out.

Locke and Key

I recently borrowed the entire series from a friend and finished it in less than a week. The pacing really brought the story to life, and I'm glad I didn't have to wait for the next issue to be released to dive in. I have a bit of a fetish for old school keys, so there was eye candy on every page. There is something about the darkness of pain and tragedy and the driven goodness and family ties that balance it out which make for a deep experience with literary tales. The Sandman remains my favorite series but Locke & Key has earned a place in ink on my comic book leg.

How I'm feeling lately...

en·nui   /änˈwē/
noun

    A feeling of listlessness and dissatisfaction arising from a lack of occupation or excitement.

Why I question everything.

I have a habit of thinking deeply about everyday things which are so easily looked past. Questioning the cause, the manner, the reality. Some perceive my observations as complaints since our current social paradigm rests on judgment and control.  Emerging through the machine of the status quo are rants of frustration and exacerbated reactions to those.  We see these escalations run rampant online all the time.  These days I speak matter of factly, sharing an observation without judgment. I myself have associated someone else's words to my own experience rather then recognize it comes from another persons perspective and I must review the comment in a detached manner, come to my own conclusion, then share my own perspective.  Not react to how the persons comment may have reflected a previous encounter, conversation or experience with others.  I'm often trying to explain where I am coming from and end up misunderstood it seems.  However I digress, communication is a topic for another day.

Today I want to discuss applying philosophy to all areas of life. I approach each though and activity and state of mind with curiosity.  For example; what is a home? Why am I in this one, what is the purpose of cleaning or organizing, or  moving or building? Over time new experiences add to the richness of my observations, creating more dynamics in the answer, adding more complexity to the concept and generating new connections to other thoughts and ideas.  Once upon a time deep in an LSD session I was alleviating myself in the bathroom and noticed my cats litter box and became aware that we are all like our pets living in little boxes within boxes within fences. Peeing in our specified corners, filling our cages with toys.  As a recent nomad I have gained further insight to this concern.  A home should not be a status symbol as the current machine dictates, it shouldn't require indentured servitude to the work force in order to occupy.  A home at it's core truth is a sacred space. A place you create for safety and comfort within which to sleep, commune with family, keeping it clean and in good repair is how one honors this sacred space.  This applies whether your space is created in a cave, a tent, a vehicle, an RV, trailer, apartment, standard house or any variation. What it comes down to is asking yourself. Why are you here, in this moment, in this place? Why have you chosen this home, why have you made it this way, what purpose does it serve in your life.

When I asked myself these questions years ago I realized I had wanted a space within which to create, to build my skills and manifest my art. However my home wasn't serving that purpose.  I also enjoyed playing host so it did successfully allow me to help my friends on hard times. Yet it was costing most of my income to cover mortgage and utilities, leaving me little to make much else happen, and little time to work on my art I acquired the space for in the first place.  Forcing me to look down a dark tunnel of decades of work in exchange for no progress, just spinning in place distracted in the to-do's of adult life in the current era.  Now that I have discarded the structure that wasn't working for me, I have the potential to construct my own sacred space one day, to ensure it coincides with the life I want to create rather then conflict.  I recommend to everyone to take a closer look today at something simple and daily in your life.  It could be your home, your job, your attitude, your pile of hoarded stuff, whatever it is, ask yourself what is it really, why is it in your life, is it's meaning and purpose consistent with your own? I have found that questioning all things leads me to live with a greater sense of awareness, especially awareness of self.

Life as an empath

I strive to understand others. To build a sense of community by taking on roles of service like sheltering, repairing and otherwise aiding people around me. I treat my friends like family. I think how different we all are is why we are all awesome. It's a peaceful zen way to live most of the time. The chaotic spectrum of my point of view are the empathy pains. Others of the Empath persuasion may feel coherence in their heart with me on this one. In an effort to bring joy and light and healing to others we also take on the pains and discomforts and energy drains of the situations we are resolving. I think the story of the rag man stuck with me throughout life because I identified with it. There is no good or bad in this, only seeing it for what it is. Taking the time to recharge my life force, or my batteries you could say, has been very beneficial to the maintenance of this way of life. I have accepted who I am, and I love myself for being that person. This tale has been a reflection of but a fraction of the totality of me. One thing I like to remind myself about community is that how I treat others is in direct relation to how I treat myself. This connection is expressed when I am treating myself well and it's easy to treat others with patience and kindness. In true reality (the one you can't see or measure) you and I are one. We are different iterations of the same base equation, we came out of the same ether of stardust. What I do to you, I do to myself, what you do to me, you do to yourself. When I ponder this I feel good bliss about all the things I've done for others, but a slight darkness hangs over the times where I've had to provide tough love, and decline to take on situations that might render me too weak to maintain my center. I remember that always wanting to help is just who I am. It's okay to make sure I'm taken care of so that I remain able to help my community thrive. Sometimes all we have to spare is a smile and a kind word, but once we have strengthened our own foundations we then will have the ability to support others in times of need.

Time is art

Join me at this @Tugginc screening of Time Is Art: Synchronicity And The Collective Dream!

I am hosting  a special one-time screening of the new film 'Time is Art' on February 10th at AMC Lennox Town Center 24  (777 Kinnear Road 43212)

Film Synopsis:
This inspiring documentary film follows the journey of a writer, compelled to make sense of the mysterious and powerful energy she felt at her aunt’s deathbed. Considering herself a skeptic, a series of strange coincidences leads her on an exploration of synchronicity – the concept that everything is interconnected and that time is not so much a chronology as it is an infinite cycle. Compelling conversations with fellow seekers Toko-Pa Turner, Richard Tarnas, Graham Hancock, Amy Lansky, Daniel Pinchbeck and Rupert Sheldrake as well as artists and activists guide us through the underlying premise of the film: perhaps we can tap into a way of being that is not ruled by a finite sense of time, but rather by the ability to live in harmony with the true creative nature of our existence.

Here is the trailer for the film: http://thesyncmovie.com/videos/documentary-film/

To reserve your $10 tickets, please visit the Tugg Event Page here: https://www.tugg.com/events/82491

Unlike a traditional movie showing, my Tugg screening requires that  more tickets be reserved before the February 3rd in order for the screening to occur. I’m going to need your help if we’re going to make this event happen!

Taking on the challenge of being part of the solution rather than the commentary.

Racism is a learned trait. No one is born racist. However many people are raised to be racist by parents, other relatives, or members of their community. Since it is so widespread it will be wrapped up in almost every social issue, and appear in all kinds of events, communities, and news. The ongoing civil rights situations  we live amongst today are based on a racist money worshiping patriarchy. These sometimes hard to discern networks of privilege and discrimination are indeed barriers to fixing the problem today. Yet don't lose hope. The best way I can see from my perspective to eradicate this problem, is education. Already more and more parents are teaching their kids that we are all people of the earth here to work together. Yet still in young adulthood the separation and polarizing of people based on skin tone (and cultural differences and family wealth) puts subtle racism in place in the minds of the impressionable. Children who have been taught racism may sway their friends to participate in the same. Organizations based on racist principles may recruit the young as well. And the structures set up to keep the current order are not always obvious and difficult to change. Adolescence is the delicate time that we must educate our youth. Show them to look inward and find the truth at the core that we are all one. To see beyond all the propaganda and fear mongering. To be capable of respecting others no matter their differences. We may not be able to convince the elderly racists that their lifelong hate has been a farce, nor can we stop ignorant assholes from spewing their racist rhetoric. Yet we can work to remove the civil rights barriers in place little by little not just by refusing to participate in stereotyping and educating about the harsh truth of the past but also in everyday life by teaching our youth that there is a better way. Give them all the opportunity to experience understanding and empathy, to know they don't have to give up their culture to respect someone else's.  So that as they become tomorrow's leaders they can go even farther and take the next steps after ours finally collapsing the last of the barriers to change and progress.