So much in this world, people seem to feel this need to "choose a side".  Politics, a person is either left or right, orange or purple.  This is so limiting, because their are never just two perspectives on an issue, there are an infinite number of factors between which the issue is comprised of.  By looking at "one" or "the other", important information is getting lost. 

For example, lets look at the topic of racism.  Most see it as racist or not racist.  What about the person who is against racism against their own race, but racist towards a different race whom they believe to be racist?  Is that not perpetuating the theme of racism?  Where do people who condemn a culture initially not for the color of skin, but for a political or religious belief, inadvertantly condemning an entire race?  Or the people afraid of an entire populace based on the decisions of their leaders?  If a person really explores belief structure, a vast majority of people could be considered racist, because race goes beyond the color of a person's skin.  On might ask, is xenophobia a type of racism?  If a person falls into this category, it is a scary thing to face, but once it is transcended, the need to judge an entire populace falls away and instead of "the other" they become another person on this earth, struggling to survive and thrive amidst great oppression. 

Who is responsible for war?  Are you going to blame the soldier or the leader?  Are you going to condemn an entire populace over the actions of their leadership.  Are the women and children responsible for the acts of their husbands or governers?  Condemning a country for the acts of the powerful is like condemning your next door neighbor's child for the actions of his parents. 

All of the shades and tones of an issue make it hard to take a stance - and is it really so necessary to be so rigid in one's beliefs that their is no room whatsoever for new knowledge? 

The fruit of this matter is the key notion is to really consider all perspectives before coming to a hard conclusion.  To keep a sense of fluidity even in the rigid, so as to not inadvertantly alianate an entire populace of people based on some really vocal idiots.

It seems like the most corrupt people tend to be the ones in charge.  If I believed everything leaders of organizations, countries, religious groups, etc. perpetuated, I would probably never go shopping, visit another country, go to a funeral or wedding, recite a mantra, fly on an airplane, buy gas, go to a big city or watch a hollywood movie.  Fortunately, there are people like you living and working amidst these establishments in these nations, enjoying yourselves, spreading positive messages and painting a brighter picture as a result of your own experiences, because of your uniqueness and individuality, not because of the polarized beliefs of the publicized representatives.

The crisis in Iran has been extremely thought provoking.  It seems to be showing that the will of the people is extremely contrary to the will of the leadership - and it is making the whole world overflow with a sense of compassion, whereas before there was fear.  To me it looks like Iranians want a more enlightened existence, with a freedom of speech, right to vote and know it matters, to speak and know they are being heard.  The protesters have exhibited an immense amount of courage throughout all of this and it is really inspiring that we, the people of the west are listening with open hearts.  It is not the people who fear change and want conflict, quite the contrary,  they seem to want peace with great passion.  It is the leadership, who unfortunately seems to be speaking not for the people, but for their own self-interests.

I see this as an amazing message from citizens of Iran and it gives me hope that maybe, even if it is slow and arduous, that maybe we are coming closer to world peace. 

The younger generations and educated populaces of the world all seem to be saying, "lets leave the past behind and move towards a brighter future". 

Maybe we all have to do what we can to teach the older generations, set in their ways, stuck in old wars, inner wars, rigid beliefs - that at the core, beyond all the pain and anger, sorrow and resentment, a light shines and that light just wants love and acceptance, peace and good will.

No religion, nor political interest should preach war above peace, hatred above love, fear above acceptance.  All should seek to rise above these teachings in light and teach the false prophets, war mongerers and doubting thomas's that there is room for every color of the rainbow, every way of life, every art form, every idea that comes from a place of light.

It starts from within - all of it, war, hatred, rigid beliefs.  Every movement to transcend that also begins there.  Change that and and individual can change the world. 

The crossroads are rough roads to stand before when you have seen the light and dark of all possible outcomes.  When the totality of your path has left you to question every person in your life, every choice of past, present and future.  When that which has previously been known brings pain and the unknown brings hesitation. 

Alone in a foreign place with old roads leading to new roads... and vice versa.  Volunteerism and drives through nature bring the only satisfaction as the clock ticks at a turtle's pace. 

Initiating change from nothing, visions of light, of beauty of magic stepped on and toyed with by cruel hearts as a birthday becomes a funeral for one of the worst years to date. 

Wake up,because the more we stay asleep, the more we keep others from their own awakenings.  Every utterance of ignorance insults an entire population of people.  A person criticizes me, they criticize all the others who struggle with something similar, I judge another, I judge everyone resembling a particular trait. 

Certainly, we all face our shadows, but some have never experienced love and acceptance and the condemnation of one upsets the equilibrium of the whole. 

Mindfulness occurs in the moment and in each moment of presence we have the ability to make conscious decisions, choose conscious thoughts and alter our very nature in harmony with the collective. 

Accepting the self is crucial, as it is precisely self-judgment and criticism that keep us from being present, it is holding on to a past impression of self.  If one continuously looks at what they were at a different period in their lives instead of realizing the beauty of what they are right now, they perpetuate the same patterns which have held them back.  If you loved something then, do it now.  There is no "I can't", that is imagined. 

Breathe life in.  If you like doing something, do it, if you don't, "do something else". Some love large groups, others hate it. Find the center.  Whatever brings you joy, incorporate that into your day, music, art, playing cards, writing, dancing, etc.  If you have children, bring them into it.  If you feel overwhelmed, take space, it is your choice and indeed your right.

I ask myself this question every day.  I am a person who is creatively abundant, filled with wisdom, alive with uniqueness, in love with learning and envisioning, but utterly at a loss when it comes to earning the energetic currency of cash, which is of the utmost importance if I want to truly bring my work to the world. 

To money, there are so many variables which must be weighed.  Self-worth vs monetary worth and ensuring they are aligned.  Value, how much my work is valued to myself versus how valuable it is to others.  Respect, how much I respect myself and my work and how much it is respected by others, ensuring that those who would be in a position to offer me currency respect and appreciate it, value it and regard me in a manner which is aligned and congruent with my own values.  Honor, ensuring that my work and I are honored with integrity and higher purpose. 

As money is energy, the transactions have to be clean and the channels clear.  Just as the work I do is an investment, so an investor or partner has to be pure of intent, serving the greater good, honorable, with integrity. 

Those I work with must be evolved, the money must be clean, my core values must be honored, all intentions must be pure, past obstacles must be cleared, all must be fresh, honest, genuine, open, etc. 

Essentially I have seen too many shady deals, in the past seen money pessimistically in the form of lack as opposed to abundance, and so my whole picture of what money is is currently being dissolved into something pure, whereas in the past it was murky and dark. 

There is a great deal of trust involoved when getting paid for what you love, thus finding someone who is trustworthy, honest, genuine, etc., is beyond important. 

Relief, sweet relaxation at the realization that I can "just be" without thought, observing the light of the moment , still in the ocean of mind.  

Vera and Gene were friends of the family in whom we visited when I was a child.  They had a gorgeous ranch, secluded with beautiful greenery around it - and art from floor to ceiling within the house.  As a child, I had no idea that every time I went there I was being infused with creative light.  Gene passed away a number of years ago and his wife just yesterday.  I wrote the following letter to my mother when I had an awakening about how they helped shaped who I am.  

I just realized what Vera and Gene represented in my miserable childhood and how they brought more light then anyone else who was around.  I have so much gratitude for their authenticity and refusal to be anything but what they were.  Some of what I remember is their avant garde music and how I notice it has influenced some of my current musical interests.  They were always so kind and generous and tried to include me whereas most just ignored me.  Their sense of artistic style was breathtaking and unique.  

I had no idea they were so important in defining some of the most vital aspects of my being, in giving me something to appreciate in a life which had no meaning when I was a child.  Its like just by being themselves they gave me one of the most precious gifts of my life.  It was the atmosphere of their beautiful home, their joy and life, while so many others were dead and miserable.  Even in death, their memory lives on and they live through the light they brought to others.  They gave me a time capsule which I only got to begin exploring once I started college, that is the gateway to my own creativity, style, musical love and vision.  

I am really glad we had the opportunity to know them.  

Buddhist lesson of the week - desire.  

In a situation like this, where the feelings are not mutual, there is no end to the desire - for every fulfilled desire creates a new desire.  In this case, desire is a quest for the unattainable and it shows the extent of how much of a limiting belief it is.  

To reach out for something as though an object which cannot be grasped at a museum, where a wall exists and the oneness is veiled.  It is an attachment and there is a disconnect between what is desired and what is had.  The lucidity of oneness has been shielded by the duality of "the other".  It is an impossible situation which when held onto leads only to sorrow and frustration.  Presence in the moment is no longer possible because a shift has taken awareness from the ever changing moment and moved into the illusions of past and future.  

Looking into its shiny, reflective surface, endless configurations are possible.  A soothing gray borders its smooth texture.  Its elongated stature paints a picture of anything it sees.  In its ever changing landscape, you see yourself.  

At times the only thing which will get me to move from thought to action is having a thought and writing it down!  The areas of thought and feeling have been my dominion for most of my life, as a creative thinker, conceptual artist, visionary sort.  Yet at times it is really difficult to bridge the gap to take the necessary steps to see a vision unfold.  It seems like action is communication, whether through speech or deed and thought is simply that which needs to be communicated.