DOES ANYONE REMEMBER WHERE THE SETTING IS TO ADJUST HOW YOU ALLOW FRIEND ADD REQUESTS?



OK, I am being attacked by Russian bots and possibly other that are adding me as friends b/c I left my friends setting as "add - no approval necessary" Obviously, my naivete has created a few issues. First they are not my friends and second (and so forth) the one journal is completely in Russian and for all I know could be selling minor brides and the other is basically an advertisement! Yuck!!!! LJ does seem to be aware of the Russian bot invasion, but unless they are found to be legit bots LJ doesn't delete them. As of last week I have two support requests out to LJ asking how I control this setting but so far no response. I have been desperately seeking this setting and in all my computer literacy and degrees have yet to find it :(...could not find it in FAQ/HELP. Perhaps in my panic to get to the the setting I have gone blind. So please, anyone know? Any and all help appreciated

Thanks,

Ess

It's a big day around the country for Star Trek fans and my money is on the fact that they will be very pleased!

There was a preview showing last night which I took my mom to see for Mother's Day as she is a big fan as well. Every year she actually puts up a special fiber optic Star Trek tree covered in years of collector ST ornaments for the winter holiday. Seven-of-nine being the tree topper, of course :). However, after this movie I am thinking that the young Kirk as played in this current flick may be bumping Seven.

The movie was well done. So well done in fact it is a GREAT movie. It is neither overdone nor underdone in plot or characters. It was all spot on and a lot of fun and adventure as well. If you haven't seen it and are at all interested in sci-fi or not, a ST fan or not, then there is only one thing to do...GO and enjoy some great film-making and a new era of Star Trek greatness!

I am seriously concerned about Egypt's actions to slaughter 300K pigs this year (and when Avian flu came around they killed many many thousands of birds - its horrible!) Please, why is no country stepping in and saying anything about the mass slaughter of pigs in Egypt and putting a stop to it? Why is no one speaking up and instead letting it all pass as a silently sanctioned act of mass murder?

These are intelligent living creatures that we put to sacrifice for our human consumption. Now we are just plain out killing them b/c of potential danger?!?!? There is no evidence that any of this pigs being put to death even carry the virus. It is an abuse of human power and a gross over reaction. Furthermore, it is the human being that is the primary cause of this situation with the flu virus coming about in the first place. This insane and unwarranted brutality against these pigs is an abomination against all living creatures. Most definitely another sad and shameful day to be a human.

Honestly, I am not a PETA lunatic - don't even belong to the group. Eat all the meat you want, just do so with awareness and sincere gratitude for the life that was given for you to have such nourishment. Teach your children that meat comes from living creatures and teach them to be thankful for what was given for them to be able to eat such food. It is not enough to bestow kindness only from human to human. Humans must bestow kindness, humility and compassion toward ALL living creatures, plants and animals alike!

with me lately? Good question, real good question! And one I don't intend to answer...sometimes I play it close to the vest as they say. Just seems a little less confusing that way. Sometimes well meaning peeps just clutter us up with all their chit/chat. They surround you and support you how they want to know you and in a way that supports them rather than surrounding and supporting you for who we really are and who we are really capable of being. An interesting little twist on the dynamics of peeps. That's why cats and other pets, actually all animals are really cool - they just *IS*. I try to remember this with my very young and curious 3 year old tortie named Cayenne. Wooowee, she's a bad ass. Half the time I look at her I see her riding a Harley, leather pants, white tee (cigarettes sleeved) and one danglin outta her mouth. I thought about getting her a younger friend but I am afraid there would be gang related issues upon myself and my very sweet Tigger, a 17 year old domestic long hair. We'll see...perhaps a dog would be a more suitable match for my peppery little rebel Cayenne.

(no segue)

So for now, I am a turtle retreated to her shell. What do you think turtles do in their shells? Most people answer, hiding, hell maybe they play with themselves. (lol) Well maybe they do...but that really wouldn't be any of our business anyway - unless they came out of their shell....ahhh..never rmind the scatter.  Anyway, perhaps, it isn't so much hiding but rather marinating in a flood of new experiences, thoughts, ideas, and keeping one eye here and now and the other on the next steps ahead, resting, rejuvenating, rearranging... Although I am not so sure what good it'll do seeing that the world is scheduled to end come Wednesday/Thursday http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,418582,00.html (as pointed out by mad scientist shadrone ).  Especially in light of this world ending potentiality, I surely hope everyone finds lots of yummy kisses and has hot whorey ravaging sex tonight!

Hmm, this might urn out pretty good and may be just the ticket I need outta this place and back home in the stardust (after the hot sex, of course!).  In the mean time I shall return my attention back to a wonderful little vampire novella.

Enjoy! 
Ess.

Never heard it put quite this way and it resonates and strikes me at a very real basic level... its like "of course, how obvious!", but then there is this hrmmm factor to it.  Other thoughts/ruminations?

My day greeted me with a warm smile elicited from an awesome text message.  Then got to hang out in the kitchen for a bit and prepare some watermelon slices with strawbberry garnish for a brunch party.  Then went trail running with a great gal pal  So many happy people out biking, walking dogs, running along the trail.  We ended the run with a yoga stretch and a meditation at this incredible herb and flower garden tucked away in the middle of downtown.  (Like who knew such a gift existed hidden n the middle of everything).  It is a wonderful day and so cool to be around and appreciating all the different kinds of life out there; the bees, and the butterflies, fruits and veggies,and flowers and people that make up the buzz of this earth.  It [earth] really is an incredible organism.

Here's wishin' everybody a most fantastical and wonderful sunshiny kind of day!  And that ya'll get out and live your day in total appreciation and enjoyment of all that is going for you.

Love and Light,
Ess

When nothing is sure, everything is possible.

-- Margaret Drabble (1939-) English Novelist

This is what happened to me after trying to install Debian Etch. I have done plenty of Linux installs in a variety of flavors and never really have installs go to horribly wrong. Meaning unless I tried some funky setup in expert install mode my installs are usually successful. After this particular install this is what happened. The system was rebooted and got to the where it gives PCI Device listing and then tells you...

Verifying DMI Pool Date.......
Boot from CD: *cursor blocks here*

Since this wasn't even getting to the GRUB bootloader, I wasn't really even able to assess that this was a bad install. However I was playing with partitioning scheme that used LVM and thought maybe I messed up the partitioning or that something was mucked up hardware wise. Always good to do the basic check are all cables plugged in securely, powered, hardware in good physical working order, etc. Must be out of practice b/c I didn't even think to check hard drive jumper settings. (anyone know if HD jumper settings detected/viewable in bios?)

Interestingly enough what pointed me to this was a very lucky late night search on the web that lead me to http://linux.derkeiler.com/Mailing-Lists/Debian/2003-07/0892.html.
It pointed to the possibility that the boot failure was due to a HD jumper setting. Sure enough when I took a look at my hard drive jumper settings it was jumpered as Dual (Master) and yet it is the only hard drive.

Obviously, it needs to be jumpered as single or cable select. Check your hard drive manual for jumper settings. A lot of times these can be found on the manufacturer's web site for the make and model of your hard drive. However, sometimes the factory sticker on the top of the drive gives a jumper map. This can be a bit of a hassle if your hard drive is screwed in and the sticker is not viewable.

That  is "Pink Slip" dress and is made with Crayola crayons.  That is right, CRAYONS!  Currently it is owned by and on display in the Hotel Preston (Nashville, TN).  It is one of many playfully crayon sculpted pieces that are the unique creation of a really delightful, mindful, down-to-earth friendly young artist, Herb Williams.  I had the pleasure of meeting him at an artist reception for his show, Standing on the Shoulders of Giants, at a local art gallery.  There I witnessed twenty-five or so pieces of his original work, as well as a viewed a portfolio of his works that are now sold or in private collections. The show contained mostly pieces from his crayon sculpture collection, but there were also a few of his mixed media portraits.  More of his portrait-type work can be seen within his the color of luck collection.  All of his work is really something and seems imbued with the catchiness created by a person's joy, love and wonderment for what they do.


After a brief gallery introduction to the artist and milling about, I had the opportunity to speak with Herb Williams alone for a short time.  I asked him about his thoughts and connections on a few of his pieces on display and in his portfolio. He is incredibly bright, warm and a wonderfully engaging conversationalist, and is very connected to his artistic motivation and the results of that motivation. It really seems (to me) his artistic motivation is his way of living on purpose.  He pays respects to a broad spectrum of lighter inspirations, wonderment, playfulness, the ordinary, and the extraordinary, darker curiosities and inclinations of humankind.  This is found throughout his work in layers of subtly (Homage to Beuys - to understand this you need to know a little bit about the artist Joseph Beuys ) as well as more direct cues of a written word (Artist Wheel of Fortune).  Despite this broad spectrum, really every piece has depth well beyond surficial treatment of the subject matter at hand.  Meaning some of his work conveys a concept which appears simple enough (Homage to Holzer).  However, it isn't long before you sink into the proverbial rabbit holes of deeper questioning of the artist's intent and purpose, and your own interpretation and daily experience and/or struggle with the concept you are witnessing through the artistic work.   Most of all it seems Herb Williams is following a passion all his own.  This clearly shows in the elaborate weave of subject matter that he covers and his choices of artistic media.  The combination is the difference and the authenticity found within the intelligence of this artist and his creations. It is quite imaginable that future generations of artists and art lovers will one day be standing on the shoulders of Herb Williams. 

Here are more of Herb Williams' works that  I found particularly pleasing...

Homage to Hirst
64 Crayon - Front View and 64 Crayon Box - Back View
Commissioned Works:  Pink Slip, Silverware II, Blue Tick Hound, Falling Color, The Blues
Crayon Sculpture: Silverware, Red Head, Purple Heart, Color Blind
William Edmondson   -  This is a mixed media portrait.

At the gallery, I did get to hear Williams speak on the William Edmondson portrait where he voiced an incredible amount of respect and admiration for this great artist.  Edmondson was a brilliant limestone sculptor in the late 19th - mid 20th c.  Williams elaborated that this was his rendition of Rodin's "The Thinker" reinterpreted to a vision of W. Edmondson surveying and participating in the mindful rigor of sculpting limestone.  In addition to portraits, there are other non-crayon works that I also enjoyed taking a look at.  Again, I didn't see any like this at this particular showing, but these are also likable and found at the Rymer Gallery in Nashville, TN
 

Admittedly I am not a regular art show attendee.  My initial draw to this show was all about following my extreme like for crayons and color.  I couldn't wait to see these sculptures in all their pretty new shapes and good old fashion Crayola colors!  What crayon lover ever forgets all the yummy Crayola colors like cornflower, copper, maize, goldenrod, forest green, indian red (which has since been renamed to chestnut b/c it was not considered politically correct.).  Oh, *happy sigh*, how I just love all these yummy colors! 


There are many good times that I remember in connection with crayons. I remember what it felt to color within the lines to please adults, or older sisters, and friends who were foreboding about coloring "correctly" in their precious new coloring books, versus coloring outside the lines with a sense of recklessness and "letting loose" to answer those early calls of release, wildness, and rebellious nature, versus coloring my imagination to paper that had no lines.  I remember getting different shades/depths from the same color by increasing or decreasing pressure on the crayon.  Of course I remember how disappointing it felt to break the first crayon in a new box, but also discovered the incredible rejuvenating power of the crayon sharpener.  I remember chewing on them once or twice and discovering that there is no difference in tastes between the colors and that these weren't going to be  a good addition to my diet.  And then there is a favorite fond memory of my childhood friend Joelle and I recycling unusable crayons by melting them together (w/mom supervision) into molds to make circular multi-color crayons.  This last activity inevitably included spilling hot melted wax on my handmade light plaid yellow jumper with the Raggedy Ann patch...a sad day for that favorite outfit of 7 year old.  It is very fair to say that Crayola crayons were my first real hands on experience with color play and artistic adventure. It is this type of interactive experience that indelibly mold and influence young minds. Coloring remains a joy of mine, and names of colors are fun, too.  Its no mystery why I feel an immediate happy connection with Herb Williams' 21st century crayon sculpture creations.


The time I spent at this show was perfect.  One of the best things was actually getting to talk with the artist and also listening to his responses to questions asked by other attendees. It really helped me fill in some gaps and brought a next level of appreciation to some of his pieces.  With or without crayons, I ended up finding out that I truly enjoy the lot of Williams' work to date.  Finally, one last interesting tie in here is that since early 1900's the Crayola factory has had a part in the history of my hometown area. Every third grader got to go to the Crayola factory. (Although somehow I missed this field trip.)  The factory is about 10 miles or so from the art gallery.  Of course when I was talking with Herb Williams I asked if he was planning on touring the factory while he was in town.  He responded with a gleeful, "we do that tomorrow!".  Undoubtedly he picked up some crayons for himself. Mostly, I really hope Mr. Williams enjoyed the tour.

 

--lyrics by Steve Forbert

You traveled so far the wind in your face
your thinking you found the one special place
where all of your dreams will walk out in line
and follow the course you made in your mind

It isn't gonna be that way, it isn't gonna be that way

I came on my own and felt much like you
(?) I thought I was King and you were to do 
but everything burned and fell from my hand
I had to turn back or build a new plan

It isn't gonna be that way, it isn't gonna be that way
no it isn't gonna be that way.  It isn't gonna be that way.

If I were a god, I'd give you a clue
this minute would crack and I could go through
and walk out in time where no one has been
I'd come back to you and tell  what I'd seen

Oh but It isn't gonna be that way, it isn't gonna be that way

You'll just have to live and see what you find
and take it from there and follow the signs
Yeah you think you can live and dream your own fate
you think you can wish and walk through the gate

It isn't gonna be that way, it isn't gonna be that way.
and yeah no it isn't gonna be that way, it isn't gonna be that way.


(?): uncertainty on some words in line

Normally a morning coffee drinker, my latest attempts at avoiding my roommates in the morning has relegated me to nuking water in my kitchenette for morning tea. Yes, I could use the coffee bag singles but under these conditions my buds only tolerate the "good to kick ass" cup of coffee. I've certainly devoted enough time to coffee drinking to warrant my snubbing of the singles under certain conditions. However, coffee bag coffee is considered kick ass and drunk with glee around the morning campfire of any backpacking trip I have taken.

I used to be die hard coffee drinker until last year. I went on this little "give it up" spree.  Essentially I gave up alcohol, sugar (even fruit sugar), cigarettes, tv, sex, and coffee - each for at least 40 days in a row.  It was a building on process for some of them.  Meaning, I quit one thing for forty days, then quit another for forty days and kept adding on. So by the time I got to 200 d. I had given up alcohol for 200 d., cigarettes for 160 d., sugar for 120 d., coffee for 80 d., sex for 40 d.,  etc.  It was all part of and also a result of my on-going Hatha and Kundalini yoga studies/training. No one asked me to do it, it wasn't required and it didn't elevate my yogini status or anything silly like that. 

So all this "giving things up" sounds a little crazy to most, and perhaps asking yourself - why the hell would you do that? Why? B/c I was totally and utterly sick of myself and it was really time to let go and shake up my routine and gain some new perspective.  Honestly, after the first 5 days or so the hard part isn't giving the stuff up. Actually the bigger challenge seems to be [for me] rediscovering yourself and (re)learning how to use/direct your energy in healthy positive ways rather than turning it on to other attachments and addictive patterns (e.g., shopping, talking/telling everyone what you are doing, etc,).  Its really pretty amazing to watch your mind warp itself over the fact that it is no longer being occupied by the things you always "use" to do. Sometimes its funny, and other times it is just damn frightening to watch your mind/ feel yourself  in this way.  Either way, taking on the observer role to your thoughts, emotions, words and actions under new conditions gives you pretty good lessons on yourself.  Among other things, you begin to internalize that  so much of this stuff you engage in on a habitual basis has little of anything to do with who you are and has even less to do with what one is capable of achieving but they are false binds, ties and leads that lock you into narrow mind sets.  You realize a lot of it is just ridiculous and many times unhealthy attachment. It was a really great experiencing life without all this stuff.

So did any of it stick? Yes a lot of it has. Of course after I declared and end to my first "give it up" spree I ran  right back to it all between Xmas and the New Year and a little into February. Although the lag into February had to do with pretty awful family holiday brawl. It was ugly and took me a while to get my bearings - never seen/been apart of anything like it - never will be again. In fact seeing that my family generally isn't doing anything to address their issues and illnesses I am probably finding other things to do for the holidays this year. (Please, oh, please Great Gig in the sky help me find a perfect place to call home of my own well before Winter days).  Anyway, the better news is that it wasn't long after returning to these things that I discovered I truly was no longer a smoker, and never will be again. After many attempts - 10 years of attempts to quit for good this time was different - vibrationally different - it was a solid, "Done with it!"

My view on sugar has completely changed. There is so much unnecessary sugar in everything these days and many times I now taste when even the tiniest amount of sugar is added to something I am eating/drinking. I discovered that (much like cigarettes) alcohol as a vice was not helping me run any faster or farther away from accumulated my stress, fears and terrors. As I like to say, there isn't a brewery anywhere in the world nor all the breweries combined together that could ever make enough beer for me to drink myself out of the head spaces that I had been running from since I was 9 or 10.

Today, I face things a lot more and really do try to deal with things the best I can as they come up. Best of all this stuff isn't using me anymore. It is me making a choice about when, where and why I am using it. I don't drink to make me feel good, b/c now I know that I am generally good and that makes me feel good. Yes I will still enjoy a beer or cocktail on occasion but its with pleasure and appreciation. Yes folks after a bazillion dollars and endless droning hours of therapy years earlier, never really getting anywhere, I accomplished all this in just over a year and all without the hoopla of therapy, 12 steppin and whining about it. Please note, that I think my prior therapy was valuable to some extent and was useful in its time and place back then.  But none of it has ever resonated and worked form me like this past year of yoga, meditation and related diet/detox cleansing activities. I have my theories about why this system is so effective [for me] (...quick and partial idea here is that the body and mind embed memories in many layers of body, both its psychic and physical structure.  You must therefore work to free embedded patterns from the  physical, chemical, psychic and auric body layers (e.g., free them from emotional charge/chemicals of negative thouhts/memories, hurtful habits, false stories/lies we tell ourselves and keep us in hold us back, etc.). Yoga poses, kriyas, twists, bends, chants meditations, yogic diet, etc. really help work through all these layers as a whole system and like nothing else I have ever seen...anyway the rest/more is for another post - or feel free to ask).   Yes, there were hard days in all of this - very hard, and still there are days that feel unbearable, but in all this you find a key ability to observe your mind and find a way to best support yourself through it - somedays this works better than others but...there seems to be more resilience.  Perhaps because it is blatantly clear that  everything is SO temporary - all of it and without exception...the good, bad, the beautiful, the ugly. Yes, still have plenty more work to do but basically I am really good, things are cool and wow what a feeling!!!

So where is all this going, what does the subject line have to do with it anyway?  Kinda silly, but the Yogi Tea brand I like to drink applies the Chinese fortune cookie formula to tea bags. However it uses the sayings and teachings of one of the world's greatest Kundalini masters.  This was the very message attached to this morning's cup of tea.

            The mind is energy. Regulate it. 
                                        (--Yogi Bhajan)

Bang! POW!  And just like that -  there they were - after a week or so of being in some odd space - the very words I needed to hear coming to me from beyond the grave of a dead Yogi.  Albeit he is forever a true master of the mind, body, spirit, and the Kundalini and his teachings timeless and boundless.  A seemingly simple reminder that is  chock full of precious truth and better yet direct instruction.  Ok, so it skips the exact "how-to" but it is a reminder when we forget and start stumbling all over ourselves. The how-to by the way is the yogic practice, breath, postures, chants, mediation - start small, find what works for you.   Also, this little gem is simply stating the base essence of yogic technology and of being. Again, it is with the experience of yoga practice that you begin to truly know what this is saying - it is fascinating  - yet even now my understanding of this is so small compared to how hugely powerful and big the concept really is.  Listen and do what is being conveyed here and it sets one on the road to endless, breathtaking, possibilities and beyond anything I could do justice writing about at this stage as there are many many more paces on this road for me...and no doubt an exquisite adventure it will be... :).  So far it seems that there is an overall steady undercurrent of calm and peacefulness.  So far this seems to be true no matter the obstacles or turbulent conditions I have had to face and pass through... so far anyway.  Yoga, especially the Kundalini tradition [for me] has really been an unexpected tap root into some much needed sanity.  Honestly, I would have never believed/expected it when I first started.

So ok,  this is totally not how I saw this entry going...cookie crumbs :(.  All might be well, but I kinda sometimes really seem to suck at this live journal stuff, and really want to be a better writer/journaler! 

Today, yes today, I went to see the Dalai Lama! No kidding, I really went to see him.   So, yes, the University in the town where I grew up brought him in for a week long lecture series on the three volume series of _Tsong-kha-pa’s The Great Treatise on the Stages of the Path to Enlightenment: The Lamrim Chenmo_ . Sunday, some one came up with a free ticket for today and who could refuse that?  I certainly couldn't, wouldn't and didn't refuse such a great ticket!


(Needed to block the names of the original ticket holder.  Sorry all in all it is not such a great photo - perhaps I'll scan it in next time...)


Today's talks centered on the content of  volume 3 in the series. It included the description of the tool of meditation, developing deep insight and the idea of emptiness in the tradition of Tibetan Buddhism.   Really incredible to hear him approach the information in  a matter of fact way but with the appropriate amount of insight and explanation that belies the realization of enlightenment.  Intent, dedication and commitment to such a path opens doors and enlightened movement that is available to anyone and everyone equally - be ye a master (the Dalai Lama), a practicing monk or any everyday people like you and I.  Of course he was full of good humor and incredible wit. Truly, what an honor to be in the presence of both his company and words.



Above is His Holiness the Dalai Lama.  He is in the center on the fancy chair (of course).  If you look to the big screen on the left you can kinda see a better view of him (albeit not real clear b/c of phone camera quality). There are also monks on the stage floor to both his left and right.  As far as I know, these are the monks that travel, study and practice with him.

While I would have liked to attend the whole series, it didn't happen that way.  Basically I could not have gone on better day for me.  As there have definitely been some questions I am mulling over lately about my own meditation practice, along with some other developments as a result of my meditation practice.

More later...just wanted to get this initial thought down in the personal history books. Big day, with a truly inspirational man, his holiness the Dalia Lama.

If you haven't already, read part 1 below first. For whatever reason the Internet joke in part 1 got me thinking and all of sudden my heart filled with a passion and drive to speak up and offer another point of view ... please note the tone is more matter of fact and driving but not angry...its more of shock and disbelief at what is going on in our country and this world today and wondering how/what I can do  ...I am still not sure but I keep with small actions; listen, ask hard questions, stay on my toes, keep learning how to analyze things for myself, vote, keep reading and educating myself, help a neighbor, and keep my eyes open for other opportunities. Not that I have to tell anyone but for the curious...I am registered Independent, usually agree with both democratic and independent ideas however have also agreed with some republican ideas as well. Therefore I have been known vote for the best person to do the job regardless of party affiliation and I do vote in all elections that I am able to as an independent. Yes, I did vote in the last presidential election and NO, I certainly did not vote for this clown Bush. Personally, I'd rather see the bottom rung clown from Barnum & Bailey's circus in office over this amorphous blob of a vapid self-righteous, self-serving dummy...err puppet....err mean person (sorry, my bad I still get confused about what exacty he is).   I believe we actually have no idea how debilitating, defeating and insidious his actions and those of his followers/supporters/puppeteers have been to the American people. BUT, have no fear they are about to be exposed as they exit the offices, and we are all about to find out the devastating price we are going to pay for many years down the road for what can only be called a gross oversight of an apathetic American democracy. The problem isn't the parties in charge the problem is the people who are/aren't participating in putting people in these positions that truly represent what American people want and need and an American public that has no way for quickly firing these people from these positions when they stop representing our best interests and stop doing their job as CIVIL SERVANTS.  As they are not there to serve themselves they are there to uphold an office that SERVES the PUBLIC. 

Now remember this is a story - just as probable as the earlier versions of this story.  Yes, some of its complexity has been reduced to keep things brief - and to let the reader run off with his/her own imagination.  Any resemblence it bears to present or future outcomes is purely coincidental.  I am not part of a secret society, I do not belong to the FBI, CIA nor am I psychic or a prophet. nor a in any other government or education position.  This is just a story from a a woman looking and listening plainly and simply upon the world. A woman who when she travels and returns to her homeland of America gets a tear of appreciation in her eye and does bend down and kiss the ground. Well, without further delay... The Ant and the Grasshopper - Version 3, Current Reality?

NOTE: This is a supplement to the entry above (Part 2: The Ant and the Grasshopper....).  I am not posting this b/c I agree with what is written here...again it was what inspired me to write Part 2.  So this was one of those  "jokes" going around the Internet right now.... (note that I did not author any of the following and I really don't know who did...but this is what showed up in my mail box this morning....)

This one is a little different.. Two Different Versions! Two Different Morals!



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Having trouble understanding some of the major problems and wrongs currently (and continually) happening and snowballing at an astonishing speed on this Big Blue Marble of ours? Here let me help Pink further the message and clarify things a bit more...

by Hafiz

We have not come here to take prisoners,
But to surrender ever more deeply
To freedom and joy.

We have not come into this exquisite world
To hold ourselves hostage from love.

Run my dear,
From anything
That may not strenghten
Your precious budding wings.

Run like hell my dear,
From anyone likely
To put a sharp knife
Into the sacred, tender vision
Of your beautiful heart.

We have a duty to befriend
Those aspects of obedience
That stand outside of our house
And shout to our reason
"O please, O please,
Come out and play."

For we have not come here to take prisoners
Or to confine our wondrous spirits,

But to experience ever and ever more deeply
Our divine courage, freedom, and
Light!

Been thinking about it, and I am switching back to friends-only journal view of my posts. I don't really know if it matters much, but... that's what I feel like doing for now. So, if you have a Live Journal (LJ) account great, let's do the whole friends thing. If you don't have a LJ account, get one...its free and there is absolutely no obligation for you to journal if you get an account ;)... LJ accounts can be created via https://www.livejournal.com/create.bml

To be added to my friends list - respond to this post under the "leave a comment" link below, or email me via user_info page.

Peace,
Ess

from my normal Monday evening activities...which unfortunately was causing some stress, angst and just generally bumming me out today...  So early today I asked the Universe for some input and ... Late this afternoon as I was unfolding and preparing today's batch of metal paper clips I am interrupted by an incoming call on my cell. --brrring--brring--


Me - Hello - WHATSUP?! (Its a best gal pal of mine)
Pal -  HEEEEYYYYY, we got VIP tix and parking pass for tonight's concert on the river.
Me -  Ooooh ! (me really thinks, ewwwww but ok cool its free and VIP - good for them!). Gee sounds great...and well that's there's some High School nostaligia for ya - have fun -last time we listened to them was a 100 years ago in 10th grade!
Pal - Yeah, and the best part is you my best buddy ever get to come along b/c I can't possibly take all this nostalgia in alone...
Me -  Oh, so we best friends?
Pal -  Since Kindergarten!
Me -  Can't remember that far back - you sure? (haha)
Pal -  And dearest Ess please please come along - it'll be fun fun FUN - or at least we'll have fun !
Me - Ok then BFF ...Then LET'S ROCK on the river tonight!
Pal -  Did I tell you that my husband is bringing his friend for you as a date.
Me - Huh?!  (--sigh--, kaRap, as it is, like this is the last thing I need). Wrangled, lassoed and rounded up by my best friend turned Cowgirl!
Pal - That's right! GiddyUP! Alrighty - gotta go, guess we'll see you at seven.
Me -  wwwwaiiittt...
Pal -  uh, nope... free VIP tix, free beer, free food, private bathrooms, a fine date and good friends...no brainer, yer coming... YIPPPEE!!
Both: (fits of laughter and egging each other on about the whole ordeal)

I commence with the daily paper clip brain stabbings  -- oy vey, side-to-side head shake, slight giggle ... --

I dunno but I am just sticking with the mood for today's post and will keep it to a minimum - just feeling quiet - perhaps sometimes less really is more. Thank you very very very much for this day.

I love questioning my stories and it would seem I got a couple really good ones happening this morning - the onion type, you peel through one layer of it, and another and then you get to the pearl of the onion. Fascinating! I probably don't do this inquiry [The Work] near enough, but then again...everything is as it is and that is no mistake.

So for good reason, Byron Katie (aka Katie) is a strong undercurrent in my thoughts these days. Of course I shall do the sane thing and point my canoe to go with the current and do some of The Work today on some of my juiciest stories.

In the mean time, here are some tidbits of wisdom I pulled up from Katie's vast collection of sweet simplicity ...

+ Everyone and everything is doing its job perfectly -- no mistake.
(Where the BK gem took Essbee : Noting BK's mention of the idea that there are only three kinds of business, mine, yours and the Universe's when you think it should be different, ask yourself who's business you are in? If its not your own business...then troubles a brewin' and time to inquire and start finding and minding my own business.)

+ The world is my perception of it. I see and hear only through the filter of my story.
(Where the BK gem took Essbee: So it would seem a wise idea to stop investing blindly into the storybook of thoughts and question/inquire them, and perhaps there'll be one less filter skewing things beyond what Is and the allowance that makes room for a truer and most capable Self to emerge and guide.)

+ I don't let go of concepts -- I question them. Then they let go of me.
(Where the BK gem took Essbee: the method of inquiry; ask four questions and turn it around.)

What is the stressful thought, the concept that causes you stress?
1. Is it True?
2. Can you absolutely know it's true?
--> can you know more than reality (aka, than what Is)
3. What happens to you, how do you react when you believe that thought?
4. Who would you be right here/right now without the thought?

Finally do the Turn-around(s) on the thought

(more info here --> http://www.thework.com/thework.asp#2)


+ Reality is always kinder than the story we tell [ourselves] about it.
(Where the BK gem took Essbee: Thank heavens there is something bigger than this "me", b/c while I can appreciate this little one, geesh the storybook of thoughts it can so creatively weave into some sort of believable psuedoreality at times are nothing short of madness and entrapments that can be cold, punishing, heart-wrenching and produce some serious bouts of insanity - none of which, in the end, is warranted or necessary.)



Laughter & Lightness,
Ess


YipYipYipee IT'S FRIDAY at last!!! Cheers and beers to that!