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BEX



Last Updated: 12/28/2009

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Gender: Female
Status: In a Relationship
Age: 24
Sign: Aquarius

City: Houlton
State: Maine
Country: US
Signup Date: 11/4/2004

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September 29, 2009 - Tuesday 

Category: Art and Photography



A solo exhibition by fine arts illustrator Rebecca Hickman. An exhibit of mythological imagery, religious symbolism, and human spirituality. The ink illustrations displayed in this show were created with an intent to provoke thought and deep contemplation on the equality of world religions, world philosophy and symbolism, and the sanctity of human connection.

Rebecca Hickman is a Fine Arts graduate from the University of Maine. She is pursuing a career in the Mental Health field while obtaining her Master's Degree in Rehabilitation Counseling. She is a firm believer in equality and the power of divine connection.

Rebecca has been illustrating for seven years. She prefers ink on bristol. She draws her inspirations from mythological tales, religious dogma, spiritual practices, and the ancient art of the Hindus, Egyptians, Norse, Celts, and other Indo-Europeans.

The Exhibition will be hosted by the Blue Moon Gallery located in Visions of Houlton. Visions is a local gallery which exhibits and sells local Maine artisan's art and merchandise. Visions is host to sculptures, painters, illustrators, photographers, textile artists, and fine arts jewelry makers.

Food and drink will be provided. The artist talk is scheduled for the opening night of the reception Oct 30th at 6pm.

A Lecture and Open discussion with Rebecca is scheduled on Nov. 14th at 1pm. This lecture will be located at Visions.

May 1, 2009 - Friday 

Current mood:  sleepy
Category: Religion and Philosophy
-Selected and edited passages from the Bhagavad Gita which is from India during the 5th century B.C. Gender has been removed, specific names of deities and individuals have been removed, and the situational circumstances have been removed. It is now simply transcribed as a teaching from a divine source to a student of worship. If you would like to read the original in its entirety it is available online and there are many different translated copies available in most bookstores. These passages speak to the heart of my spiritual- faith/practices/path/growth. Feedback would be appreciated. Please enjoy.

The Blessed Said:


I permeate all the universe
In my unmanifest form.
All beings exist within me,
Yet I am so inconceivably

Vast, so beyond existence,
That though they are brought forth
And sustained by my limitless power,
I am not confined within them.

Just as the all-moving wind,
Wherever it goes, always
Remains in the vastness of space,
All beings remain within me.

They are gathered back into my womb at the end.

And as a new cycle begins
I send them forth once again,
Pouring from my abundance
The myriad forms of life.

These actions do not bind me, my friend
I stand apart from them all,
Indifferent to their outcome,
Unattached, serene.

Under my guidance, Nature
Brings forth all beings, all things
Animate or inanimate,
And sets the whole universe in motion.

The truly wise, my friend,
Who dive deep into themselves,
Fearless, one-pointed, know me
As the inexhaustible source.

I am an unending hymn to endless love.

Others, on the path of knowledge,
Know me as the many, the One;
Behind the faces of a million
Gods, they can see my face.

I am the Father of the universe
And its mother, essence and goal
Of al knowledge, the refiner, the sacred
I am the only object.

I am the beginning and the end,
Origin and dissolution,
Refuge, home, true lover
Womb and imperishable seed.

I am the heat of the sun,
I hold back the rain and release it;
I am death, and the deathless,
And all that is or is not.

My dearest-one, my friend, all those who worship
Other Gods, with deep faith,
Are really worshipping me,
Even if they don’t know it.

Any offering- a leaf,
A flower or fruit, a cup
Of water- I will accept it
If given with a loving heart.

Whatever you do, my sweet-one,
Do it as an offering to me-
Whatever you say or eat
Or pray or enjoy or suffer.

I am the same to all beings;
I favor none and reject none.
But those who worship me live
Within me and I live in them.

Even the heartless criminal,
If they loves me with all their heart,
Will certainly grow into sainthood
As he moves toward me on this path.

Quickly that man becomes pure,
His heart finds eternal peace,
My dearest-love, No one who truly loves me
Will ever be lost.

All those who love and trust me,
Even the lowest of the low
Will attain the ultimate goal,
Turn to me and find freedom.

Concentrate your mind on me,
Fill your heart with my presence,
Love me as I love you,
And you will attain me at last.

Listen further, My-love,
To these words that delight your heart;
This is my utmost teaching,
Which I tell you for your greatest good.

I am the source
From which Gods and sages emerge.
All human beings descend
From my own depths, mind-born.

Those who can understand
The glory of my manifestations
Is forever united with me
By my unwavering love.

I am the source of all things
And all things emerge from me.

Acting with deep compassion
From within my own being, I dispel
All ignorance-born darkness
With wisdom’s resplendent light.

My friend,
I am the supreme freedom,
The supreme abode, the eternal person,
The primordial energy, all pervading, birthless

Cause and origin, God or Gods,
Goddess of Goddesses, Spirit of Spirits.

I am the self, my dearest.
Seated in the heart of all beings;
I am the beginning and the life span
Of beings, and their end as well.

I am
Of the heavenly lights, the sun;
Chief of the winds;
Among stars, I am the moon;

I am the hymns;
The consciousness of all beings;
Highest of mountains;
Of waters, I am the ocean.

The great seers,
The sacred tree,
Divine sages,
The highest celestial musicians,

The wish-granter,
The energy of love,
The cosmic serpent,
The power of death,

I am time,
The spirit of animals,
The wind,
The flower-lush spring.

I am the beginning and the end,
And the middle as well,
Knowledge of the self;
I am the speech.

I am imperishable time;
The creating force,
Whose face is everywhere;
And the death that devours all things.

The source of all things to come;
Genderless, I am,
Determination and victory,
The courage and the sublime.

I am the silence of secret things,
And I am the wisdom of the wise.
Whatever in this world is excellent,
And glows with intelligence or beauty.

I am the divine seed,
Within all beings, my friend;
Nothing, inanimate or animate,
Could exist for a moment without me.

I support the whole universe with a single fragment or myself.

The Student Said:

I see you everywhere
Without end, middle, or beginning.
Your body the whole universe,
You and your stupendous form.

You dazzle my vision, blazing
In the measureless, massive, sun flame
Splendor of your radiant form.
You are all things.

You are the deathless, the utmost
Goal of all knowledge, the world’s base,
The guardian of the eternal
Law, the primordial person.

I see you beginningless, endless,
Infinite in power, with a billion
Arms, the sun and moon
Your eyes, the flames of your mouth,

Lighting the whole universe with splendor,
You alone fill all space.
You are both being and nonbeing,
And what is beyond them both.

The storm gods, the gods of light,
Of sky, dawn, and wind, the angels,
the saints, the demigods, and demons,
All gaze at you in amazement.

The primal energy, the primordial person,
The ultimate place of the universe,
The knower and the known,
The presence that fills all things.

You are wind, death, fire, the moon,
The essence of life,
the great ancestor of all things,
You are- all things.

Therefore, most sincerely, I beg your pardon,
As a father forgives his son, as a mother forgives her daughter,
A friend forgives their friend,
A lover forgives their beloved: forgive me.

The Blessed Said:

I forgive and I love with very great love,
You will live within me, forever.
You are my instrument, my child, my love,
The all present, the eternal.

Never was there a time
When I did not exist, or you,
Or these kings of the earth,
Nor will there come a time we cease to be.

Just as, in this body, the self
Passes through childhood, youth,
And old age, so after death
It passes to another body.

Physical sensations- cold,
And heat, pleasure and pain-
Are transient: they come and go;
So bear them patiently, my dearest.

Nonbeing can never be;
Being can never not be.
Birthless, primordial, the self does not
Die when the body dies.

These bodies come to an end;
But that vast embodied self
Is ageless, fathemless, eternal
Its called the unchanging.

The sharpest sword will not pierce it;
The hottest flame will not singe it;
Water will not make it damp;
Wing will not cause it wither.

It cannot be pierced or singed,
Dampened or withered; its vast,
Perfect and all pervading,
Calm, immovable, timeless.

Before birth, beings are unmanifest
Between birth and death, manifest;
At death, unmanifest again.
My darling, you are eternal.

Some perceive it directly
In all its awesomeness; others
Speak of it with wonder; others
Hear of it and never know it.

This self who dwells in the body is inviolable, forever.

As unnecessary as a well is
To a village on the banks of a river,
So unnecessary are all scriptures
To someone who has seen the truth.

When your understanding has passed
Beyond the thickest of delusions,
There is nothing you need to learn
From even the most sacred scripture.

When a person fives up all desires
That emerge from the mind, and rests
Contented in the self by the self,
They are called a person of firm wisdom.

If a person dwells on sense-objects.
Attachment to them arises;
From attachment, desire flares up;
From desire, anger is born.

But the person who is self-controlled,
Who meets the objects of the sense
With neither craving nor aversion,
Will attain serenity at last.

With no concentration, no peace,
When the mind constantly runs
After the wondering senses,
It drives away wisdom,

Like the wind blowing a ship off course.

In the night of all beings, the wise
Sees only the radiance of the self;
But the sense-world where all beings wake,
For them is as dark as night.

But utter peace is a divine state
Absorbed in it, everywhere, always;
Even at the moment of death,
They vanish into divine bliss.

No one, not even for an instant, can exist without acting.

By loving you will nourish the divine
And the divine will nourish you in return;
By nourishing one another
You assure the well-being of all.

Even the wise act
In accordance with their inner nature.
All beings follow their nature.
What good can repression do?

But as a fire is obscured by smoke,
As a mirror is covered by dust,
As a fetus is wrapped in its membrane,
So wisdom is obscured by desire and anger.

Listen further, my dear-friend,
Many times I have been born,
And many times you have, also,
All these lives I remember
You recall only this one.

Whoever knows, profoundly,
My divine presence on earth
Is not reborn when they leave
The body, but comes to me.

Released from greed, fear, anger,
Absorbed in me and made pure
By the practice of wisdom, many
Have attained my own state of being.

However people try to reach me,
I return their love with my love;
Whatever path they may travel,
It lead to me in the end.

Your actions cannot defile me.
Those who can see inaction
In the midst of action, and action
In the midst of inaction, is wise.

I am the offering, I am the offered,
Poured out by me;
I am attained by all those
Who see me in every action.

See all beings in yourself, and yourself in me.

My sweet-one, when one is wholehearted,
Purified, mastering body
And mind, their self
Becomes the self of al beings.

The wise regard all beings
As equal: a learned priest,
A cow, an elephant, a neighbor,
Or a homeless person.

And, my friend,
Fulfillment in the self,
Whose mind has become pure freedom,
Attains an imperishable joy.

The person who is able
To overcome, here on earth
The turmoil of desire and anger-
That person is truly happy.

Those who find peace and joy
And radiance within themselves-
That person becomes one with the divine
And vanishes into divine bliss.

The wise, my love,
Who have cut off all separation,
Who delights in the welfare of all beings,
Vanishes into divine bliss.

Those who control their minds
And have cut off desire and anger
Realizes the self, they know
That divine bliss is nearer than near.

When desire, fear, and anger have left them,
That person is forever free.
My friend,
Knowing me as the enjoyer of all worship
The dearest friend of all beings,
That person gains perfect peace.

When their mind becomes clear and peaceful,
They enter absolute joy;
Their passions are calmed forever,
They are utterly absorbed in the divine.

They see themselves in all beings and all beings in themselves.

The person who sees me in everything
And everything within me
Will not be lost to me, as no one is,
Nor will I ever be lost to them.

Those who are rooted in oneness
Realize that I am
In every being; wherever
They go, they remain in me, as always.

When they see all beings as equal
In suffering or in joy
Because they are like themselves,
That person has grown perfect in the holy practice of life.

Earth, air, fire, and water,
Mind, and understanding,
And the self: these are the aspects
Of my physical nature.

I am the primal seed within all beings.
All states of being
Proceed from me:
They are in me, as I am in them.

My dear-love,
I am unmanifest,
Permanent and supreme.
The unborn, the changeless, the undying.

I know all being who have passed,
And all who live now, my friend,
And all who are yet to be;
But I am beyond al knowing.

But when a person is released
From dualities, they can act
Purely, without attachment,
And can love me with all their heart.

Those who know me, and the nature
Of beings, of deities, and of love,
Are always with me in spirit,
Even at the hour of their death.

Freedom is union with the deathless;
The self is the essence of all things;
Its creative power, called action,
Causes the whole world to be.

About beings, know that they die;
About deities, know the supreme
Person; and know that true love
Is I myself, here, in this your body.

I will teach you about the state
Called the eternal, the absolute,
Which those who strive toward me enter
Desireless, freed from attachments.

In reaching me, the great souls
Attain the supreme perfection
And no longer are reborn in this fleeting
World of sorrow and pain.

When day comes, all things emerge
From the depths of umanifest nature;
When night comes, all things dissolve
Into the unmanifest again.

These multitudes od beings, in an endless,
Beginningless cycle, helplessly
Dissolve when divine night comes
And emerge once more at the divine’s dawn.

But beyond this unmanifest nature
Is another unmanifest state.
A primal existence that is not
Destroyed when all things dissolve.

This is the eternal unmanifest and is called the ultimate goal.

This supreme person, my dearest-love,
Who contains all beings and extends
To the limits of all that is,
Can be reached by wholehearted devotion.

My love,
In life, in the self, in dying, and in love
You reach the supreme,
The primordial place.

There is a supreme reality,
Which transcends both being and nonbeing

Its hands and its feet are everywhere;
Everywhere its eyes, heads, mouths,
Everywhere its ears; it dwells
In all worlds, containing all things.

My friend,
Though it lacks senses itself,
It shines through the working of the senses;
Unattached, all-sustaining.

Outside yet within all beings,
Motionless, always moving,
Subtle beyond comprehension,
Far yet nearer than near,

Indivisible, though it seems
Divided in separate bodies,
It is what sustains all things,
What devours them, what creates them.

It is the light of lights,
Beyond all darkness; it is knowledge,
The object and goal of all knowledge;
It is seated in the hearts of all beings.

This, in brief, is the field,
Knowledge, and the object of knowledge;
A devotee who understands this
Is ready for my state of being.

This supreme reality is called the witness,
The sustainer, the enjoyer, the great energy,
And also the highest self,
The supreme person in this body.

See the self in the self.

When you see the myriad beings
Emanate from the one
And have their source in the one,
That man gains absolute freedom.

My darling-child,
This supreme self is beginningless,
Deathless, and unconfined;
Although it inhabits bodies.

My friend,
Those whose inner eye sees
How people are set free
Arrive as the highest state, love.

Nature, for me, is a womb;
In nature I plant my seed, my egg,
And from this seed of mine bursts forth
The origin of all beings.

Whatever life-forms, my sweet,
Develop in any womb,
Nature is their primal womb
And I am their life-giving source.

Bound to the mortal body is the deathless embodied self.

Those who are firmly rooted, grounded,
Who are equally self-contained in
pleasure and happiness, who are content
who joyfully love me will attain happiness.
For I am the foundation
Of that birthless, imperishable freedom,
The basis of eternal life,
And limitless, perfect joy.

My love,
With yourself alone,
Search for that primal person
From whom the whole universe flows.

One fragment of me becomes an eternal soul in the world.

When the divine, supreme reality, takes on a body
Or leaves it, it carries these senses
Just as the wind carries fragrances
From the places where it has been.

See with the inner eye, see within the self.

The brilliance of the moon, of fire,
The brilliance that flames from the sun
To illumine the entire world-
This brilliance in truth is mine.

My loving-child,
I support all beings by my life-giving energy;
Becoming the nectar-filled moonlight,
I am the vital fire.

I dwell deep in the hearts
Of all beings; I am the source
Yet, I am beyond the physical body,
I am the highest self, the eternal within.

I am higher than the eternal,
And I love you with all hearts of nature
I have taught you this doctrine;
Listen, learn it, and love,
And that is all there is to do.

Every person’s faith conforms
With their inborn nature, my darling-friend,
Faith is a person’s core;
Whatever their faith is, they are.

The divine dwells deep in the heart of all beings.

I am speaking for your own welfare since you are precious to me.

If you focus your mind on me
And love me with all your heart, through loving life and the world,
You will surely come to me,
This I promise, because I love you.

My love, my child, my soul,
Take refuge in me.
Do not fear: I will free you
From the evils of birth and death.

Those who share my primal love
With those who accept it
Will have acted with great love
Towards me and will come to me, beyond doubt.

Have you truly heard me, my dearest-love?
Has my teaching entered your heart?
Have my words now driven away
Your fear? Your confusion?

The Student Said:

My god, my goddess, my spirit, my holy, my blessed love,
I see the truth now,
By your immeasurable kindness.
I have no more doubts; I will act
According to your love.

The Blessed Said:

And I yours.







Currently listening:
A Good Day
By Priscilla Ahn
Release date: 2008-06-10
March 17, 2009 - Tuesday 

Current mood:  peaceful
Category: Music
"Details in the Fabric" by Jason Mraz

Calm down, deep breaths

And get yourself dressed instead

Of running around and pulling on your threads and breaking yourself up

If it's a broken part - replace it

if it's a broken arm the brace it

if it's a broken heart then face it..


And hold your own

Know your name

And go your own way

Hold your own

Know your name

And go your own way

And everything will be fine


Hang on

Help is on the way

And stay strong

I'm doing everything


Hold your own

Know your name

And go your own way

Hold your own

Know your name

And go your own way

And everything, everything will be fine

Everything


All the details in the fabric,

All the things that make you panic

All your thoughts resort so statically

All the things that make you blow

And no reason go on and scream

If you're shocked it's just the fault of faulty manufacturing


Everything will be fine

Everything in no time at all

Everything...


Hold your own

Know your name

And go your own way

Hold your own

Know your name

And go your own way

All the details in the fabric

All the things that make you panic

All your thoughts resort so statically

All the details in the fabric

All the things that make you panic

Is it mother natures sowing machine ?

All the things that make you blow

And no reason go on and scream

If you're shocked it's just the fault of faulty manufacturing.


Everything will be fine

Everything in no time at all

Hearts will hold










Currently listening:
We Sing, We Dance, We Steal Things
By Jason Mraz
Release date: 2008-05-13
March 13, 2009 - Friday 

Current mood:  peaceful
Category: Writing and Poetry



We are Divine,
We are God,
We are the Buddha,
We are the transcendent light of the World,
We are the Universe,
We are the Divine Energy that meditates within us all,
We are the peace of stillness and comfort,
We are the Love of warmth and happiness.

With each smile,
We radiate our luminous Energy.

With each laugh and cry of joy,
We sing God’s song.

And in your comfort,
And in your stillness,
Go deep within the darkness of your mind and heart,
When you find the light of Divinity begin to glow,
Breathe,
Smile,
And Allow.

Know you are never separate from God.
You are always Home.

Know you are never separate from the Universe,
You are forever.

With every breath taken,
With every tear that falls,
We bless and honor the union of body and soul.

When we shed our skin,
When our flesh falls away,
When only our souls remain,
God will be there,
All will be with you,
The Buddha consciousness,
The Universe,
The Light which was and ever will be,
We are the Light,
We are now,
We are.

Photobucket


Currently listening:
We Sing, We Dance, We Steal Things
By Jason Mraz
Release date: 2008-05-13
January 31, 2009 - Saturday 

Category: Quiz/Survey
25 random things
1. I have arachanphobia. "Unless they are large and cooing like in eight legged freaks" -mary
2. I'm horrible at math
3. I love dogs
4. I hate goth and hip hop clubs
5. I'm a very slow reader
6. I love Cephlobods. Particulary Octopi and Nautali
7. My middle name is Saori
8. I like silver but not gold
9. I HATE 'System of a Down' with a fiery passion! His voice sends me into raving mad fits
10. I would rather be drinking soda than alcohol
11. Pot Heads annoy me
12. I like to name inanimate objects men's names such as steve, billy, or timmy
13. I have a half sister named Danielle
14. I almost went to college for photography or anthropolgy/archeology
15. I like to cook
16. The spiral is my favorite symbol
17. I'm very spiritual but not religious. I think religion sets up boundaries spirituality breaks down.
18. I like celtic music and some opera
19. I really don't like winter and want to move away from the cold
20. I love to go for walks at night
21. I have a fear of things being thrown in my face or falling on my face. So i walk on ice like a penguin
22. I don't like to eat hard ice cream. I like to make milk shakes or warm it up and whip it
23. I LOVE werewolves and shapeshifter!!!
24. My favorite statue is "The Winged Victory of Samothrace" and My favorite painting "Expectation" by Klimt
25. I love green. Purple is pretty awesome too...
January 21, 2009 - Wednesday 

Current mood:  artistic
Category: Art and Photography

People get tattooed...


-as a form of artistic expression


-as a form of religious and/or spiritual expression


-as a form of social identity


-as a form of idealistic expression


-as a form of heritage and/or family identity


-as a form of emotional or memorable event


-as a form of social status


-as an act of boredom


-as an act of defiance


-as an act of freedom


-as an act of acceptance


-as a right of passage


-as an act of love


-as an act of hate


-for the adiction


-for the love of tattoos


-To adorn the temple of flesh which, in this life time, houses our eternal spirits.


Tattooing has been around since ancient times, since before the dawn of civilization. The ancients have marked there bodies as the young modern generation marks there bodies. Not everyone tattoos their bodies for the same reasons the ancients did but the expression upon the body still remains. This ancient art form is far from dead.



I personally ink my body as a form of artistic expression, spiritual expression, family/heritage identity, cultural identity, and to adorn the temple of flesh which, in this life time, houses my eternal spirit.


Why do you get inked? Why don't you get inked?  
 
 

Currently listening:
Dreaming Through the Noise
By Vienna Teng
Release date: 2006-07-25
December 28, 2008 - Sunday 

Current mood:  sad
Category: Movies, TV, Celebrities

Long Live

Eartha Kitt

and

Bettie Page!

 

December 26, 2008 - Friday 

Current mood:  contemplative
Category: Religion and Philosophy

Reminder: these are my personal views. And I in no way expect them to be true for anyone other than me. If there is truth in any of this for you then yay you! If there isn't then that is perfectly fine. Also the Word God for me =  The Universe, The Great Spirit, The Buddha, The Tao, The Engery.. all the same. I use the word God because its easier for most people to understand what "power" or "divine power" I'm trying to talk about.

My religious and spiritual views have always transformed, changed, and grown. I'm actually sure its quite common these days for most individual views on faith to shift back and forth and mold over time. With knowledge at our finger tips we are able to access any and every tradition, myth, ritual, and dogma we wish to reach and discover.

I know I'm not an athiest. And honestly my heart goes out to anyone who classifies themselves as one. I have researched Christianity, Catholicism, Islam, Judaism, Buddhism, Hinduiam, Satanism, Shamanism, Toasim, Wicca, Asatru, Druidism, and most forms or Neo-Paganism. I have found my way in all of them. What suits me and what doesn't. I find truth in all of them, co-existance, formiliarity, and relation. I have come to a personal conclusion that all religions are one religion. All Gods, Goddesses, Spirits, Saints, and Energies spring from the same source. Kwan Yin, Goddess of Peace and Love is the same as The Virgin Mary- The saintly mother of Peace and Love. Buddha, God/Enity of Peace, happiness, and enlightenment is the same as Freyr, Ancient Nordic/Asatru  God of peace, love, and joy. Gaia and Uranus, Greek Goddesses and God of the Earth and Sky are the same as Mother Earth and Father sky of the Native American Shamanism .. etc...

I of course know that this is a contemporary view of religion and faith in general. I also know in no way will this idea of all religions being one religion fit everyone's faith. I do personally think to preach a religious view as the "right" or "only" way is absolutely atrocious. Who is anyone to say what they believe is the right way? How can you be absolutly sure? We are all individuals thrown into a melting pot. Faith is a large aspect of individuality. Live and let live. If you want to educate yourself then do so. If you want to educate others in your faith then do so. But please don't preach that your faith is THE faith. Let people make their own choices as to what fits.

"God has no religion." -Ghandi.

What fits me?

There are certain aspects of Buddhism, Taoism, Wicca, Neo-Paganism, and Shamanism that fit me personally as an individual.

I believe in the big bang theory. I believe in evolution. I personally can't understand how any individual can't believe in Evolution. Especially with the carbon dated skulls, full skeletans, fossils, Dinosaurs mapping the evolutionary proccess. But I do understand that most aspects of science and evolution do not fit into most religious views and I respect that.

I also beleive what most of the ancient pagan cultures belived. They believed in what they knew as fact, what they could see happening around them. The sun rises and sets each day. The sun brings warmth and furtile fruits and harvests. The sun is a life giver. The moon cycles from nothing to full over and over again. This cycle relates to the female cycle which comes and goes over and over again. The moon also governs the motion and sway of the tides and water in the human body. Emotional fluctuations/Physical fluctuations. The earth dies and becomes reborn every spring and summer to die again in the fall and winter. Life and death process. Life, death, rebirth. As the earth lives and dies each year, the moon waxes and wans each month, while the sun rises and sets each day. Its quite easy to see why the ancint pagan cultures worshipped the natural rhythms of the earth as well as the life/death/rebirth process.

The sun rises and sets. The moon waxes and wans. The Earth cycles through seasons of life and death. Those are things considered to be factual and common place.

It's easy to see where gender plays a role in these beliefs. The masculine sun who rises in the sky to shower the fertle earth with life giving water and warmth to produce life. And of course the cycling moon. Gods and Goddesses.

Man and Woman. The Man fertilizes the Woman.

A man can embody the feminine aspect of life and lay with another man. As a woman can embody the masculine aspect of life and lay with another woman. To say homosexuality is unnatural is rediculous to me. There is no such thing as unnatural. Homosexuality has been around as long as there has been documentation. It can even be seen in non human animals.

Gender does exist in faith but it is also needless. Man, Woman, Asexual, Hermaphidite.... If "God" created all life, existance for that matter, then "God" must have aspects of both gender or simply neither. I do not believe "God" is a man, nor do I believe "God" is a woman. I believe it is neither and both.

"Ancient Father I hear your laughter, Ancient Father I taste your tears. Ancient Mother I hear you calling, Ancient Mother I hear your song."

The Universe, Life, Matter... is comprised of mutliple elements. Four elements dominate. Earth, Air, Fire, Water. Without these elements there could be no human life, no earth, No universe.

"Earth my body, Water my blood, Air my breath, and Fire my spirit."

The Earth brings us shelter, food, and material gifts such as metal, stone, wood, and soil. The Water brings us life, nourishment, and health. The Air brings us breath, scent, energy, and sound. The Fire brings us warmth, growth, light, defence, and creation. Its quite simple to see why Pagan cultures not only worshipped and honored the Earth and Celestial heavens but also the simple elements which surrounded them.

In Neo-Paganism there is a fifth sacred element which crowns the Pentagram as the fifth point. This fifth element is Spirit. All these elements, all this life came together, the big bang theory, for a reason. "Method to the madness." Spirit. A divine purpose, a divine creation, a divine will. This Spirit of divine creation is believed to reside in all living and non living things. All things in creation. Much as the other four elements reside in all things. Five elements. Earth, Air, Fire, Water, and Spirit. The five points on the Most reviered Pagan symbol, The Pentagram or Pentacle.

Energy! All things in life, in the universe are made of Energy! Cells are made of atoms. Atoms, which are the building blocks or nature, are made of mostly nothing. Empty space. Electrons, Protons, and Neutrons. They are made up of energy. So all things, humans, trees, computers, buildings, cats/dogs, etc... are made of of energy. The universe is energy as well. All running on the same code. Picture the matrix if you will, cheesy as hell... i know. But this energy feeds off other energy. Feeding off of other's vibrations. People laughing and happy. Gives off a great vibe. People pissed and hostile gives off a negative vibration. Ever walk into a room where people are upset. It's uncomfortable. These are just examples of how we as human beings are able to physically and emotionally read energy vibrations. Manifest positive thinking and you will manifest possitive energy your way. Manifest negative thinking and you will manifest negative energy. I could go indepth but this is a simple blog rant. And these examples are weak but you hopefully get the idea!?

"The Kingdom of God is Within."- Jesus

This Energy resides in all things as the elements reside in all things. This Divine Spark, this energy, connects us all. Everything. The universe, The earth, the plants, the animals, the cultures, the religions, the people, and all the Creations of humanity- art, music, architecture, and even war.  If you consider this energy Holy, this creation process, this connection... then all things are holy as all things are natural. Love/Hate. Night/Day. Peace/War. Creation/Distruction. Life/Death. Good/Evil. Balance. I'm not saying evil, murder, death, and war are good things. I'm simply personally identifying them as natural and necessary for universal/divine balance.

If "God" is truly THE all powerful creator/creatrix of all things and is in fact all things then how can anything ever happen to defy, anger, or disappoint "God"? "Sins!?" I personally think sins are impossible. You can't have love without hate. You can't have Peace without War. You can't have sex without perversion. You can't have life without death. I personally believe "Sins" are a human creation to scare people into a certain mind frame of thinking, to conform people into a certain way of life that at the time of their creation was considered fashionable or moral.

So what did the ancients worship?

The Universe, The Sun, The Moon, The Earth, The Cycles (Seasons, Moon, and Life/Death/Rebirth), Man and Woman, Creation, The Elements, an Unseen Divine Energy, Spirit, or Fifth element which is most commonly referred to now as "God," and our Divine connection to all things.

So what do I believe?

I believe what the ancients believe. I believe in all these things. Because I can see them. I can feel, taste, smell them... Dogma, myths, stories in books about poeple who came and went all over the world at different times I can't truelt grasp onto. Especially when these "holy, traditional" stories have been rewritten and passed down from specific cultures and differ so radically. The only pure non factual aspect of my believes is the existence of the Unseen Divine Energy that connects us all, what I reffer to as "God." This is where my personal spirituality turns to faith. I only have faith in this aspect of my path. Because there is only faith to go on. I have my own idea of what "God" looks like, what "God" is made of, does, says, creates.. etc... But these are my ideas, my beliefs, mine...

I would encourage anyone seeking truth or their path in faith to explore all paths in life. Not just a few. Reach out and see whats out there. See what works for you. Maybe one specific faith, maybe multiple!?  I would personally consider the laws and rules in organzed religion and sugest to stray from organizaed religion. I believe there should be no rules when it comes to individual faith or spirituality.

Wouldn't it be fascinating if every human painted what they thought "God" looked like? What an interesting quilt that would make!

What do you believe? What would you paint?

December 25, 2008 - Thursday 

Current mood:  cheerful
Category: Quiz/Survey
McDonalds or Burger King?: BK!
Fast Food or Home Cooked?:- Home Cooked
Turkey or Ham?: Ham but I also love turkey :-)
Do you like to cook?: Yes! But the kitchen i have now is too small :-(
Italian or Chinese?: Italian!
Chocolate or Vanilla?: Chocolate
Ice Cream or Candy?: Candy
Pepsi or Coke?: Coke
Soda or Juice?: Either
Vampires or Werewolves?: Werewolves! I fucking love those things!!
Ninjas or Pirates?: Pirates
Ghosts or Demons?: Demons
Interested in Men or Women?: Usually Men
Tall or Short?: Not too tall.
Skinny or Average?: Average
Are you tall or short?: tall
Are you skinny or average?: average.
Cat or Dog?: Dog! But I like cats aswell.
Black or White?: Black
Night or Day?: Night
Nothing or Something?: Something?
Religious or Spiritual?: Spiritual
God or the Universe?: The Universe
One God or Many?: Both. I think all gods/goddesses are one god/goddess.
Do you believe God or the Universe has a gender?: No gender or both. I don't believe God or the universe or w/e you want to call it has once specific gender!
Pro-Choice or Pro-Life?: Pro-Choice. Your body, your choice! Someone elses religious beliefs shouldn't play into anothers body or choices in life.
Anti-War or Pro-Peace?: Pro-Peace
Do you support the Troops?: yes
Do you support the war?: no!
Republican or Democrat?: Democrat!
Do you think gay marrage should be illegal?: No! People should be able to marry who they love. Gay marrage has nothing to do with you unless you're gay and looking to get married!
Sex or Sleep?: depends. if I'm exhausted sleep!
Favorite Sexual position?: I can't say... my dad's on myspace haha and that would just be awkward...
Drugs or Alcohol?: Alcohol
Rum or Vodka?: AHH!! Both!
Tequilla or Whiskey?: Whiskey!
Pot or Cigarettes?: Pot?
Do you smoke? If no, do you like to be around smokers? If yes what do you smoke?: No. And I don't like to be around it but allot of my friends smoke.
Do you drink? If so, what?: Yes. Rum and Coke or Screw drivers.
Pop or Rock?: Rock
Rock or Metal?: Rock
Metal or Punk?: Metal
Friends or Family?: Both!
Do you have Brothers or Sisters?: both
Tattoos or Piercings?: Tattoos!
Do you have any Piercings?: yes. Two in each ear. I used to have my belly button, nipples, and lip done. I'm thinking of getting my lip re-done... hmmm??
Do you have any Tattoos?: yes! 10! There shall be more!
Long hair or short hair?: Long!
Whats your dream job?: Corrections Counselor, Art Therapist, or Illustration Professor.
Where's your dream home located?: The UK
Did you graduate High School?: Yes
Did you go to college?: Yes
Did you graduate college?: Yes! But its taking forever to get my piece of paper!
GPA?: 3.5
Gold or Silver?: Silver! I really don't like gold at all!
Digital Art or Traditional Art?: Traditional!
Pen or Pencil?: Pen!!!
Blog or Journal?: Journal
Books or movies?: Movies!
Star Wars or Star Trek?: Star Wars! But I love both! I'm a dork that way!
Lord of the Rings or Harry Potter?: LOTR
Horror or Comedy?: Both!! But Horror wins!
Romace or Action?: Action!
Top Ten Movies?: Anchorman, Predator, Aliens, Dog Soldiers, The Monster Squad, Wall-E, Star Wars 4/5/6, Blades of Glory, 13th warrior, and Army of darkness??? I love movies!
Top Ten Bands?: Godsmack, Linkin Park, A Perfect Circle, Cold, Rob Zombie, Three Days Grace, Deftones, Seether, Ankla, and Snake River Conspiracy???
Glasses or Contacts?: Contacts
Car or Truck?: Car
Christmas or Halloween?: Halloween!!!
City or Small town?: Small town near a big city!
Mountains or Ocean?: Both! But I love the Ocean.
River or Lake?: River
Rain or Snow?: Rain!
Swimming or Hiking?: Ahh! both!
Have you ever gone skinny dipping?: yes haha
Have you ever been caught?: yes!
Football or Baseball?: Football
North or South?: North?
East or West?: East?
Boston or Chicago?: Boston
Europe or Asia?: Europe!
Pacific or Atlantic?: Atlantic!
What is your favorite color(s)?: Green and Black. Then Blue and Purple. People think I look good in red though...?
Do you like to sing?: yes
Do you sing in the shower?: yes haha who doesn't? Honestly!
Do you play an instrument? If so what?: Nope. Used to play spanish guitar but sold it :-(
Musician or Artist?: Artist
Do you draw or paint?: Both but mainly draw!
Do you have a job?: yes
What do you do?: DSP/CRMA for adults with developmental disabilities and Mental illness.
What's your middle name?: Saori
How old are you?: 23
What's your sign?: Aquarius
Do you know both of your parents?: Yes
Where did your parents meet?: Japan. in the military
Are they still together?: yes! :-)
Do you have any brothers or sisters?: Howard and Danni
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
December 6, 2008 - Saturday 

Current mood:  bored
Category: Quiz/Survey

The Ultimate MySpace Survey

** General Questions

-What Is Your Full Name?: BEX
-How Old Are You?: 23
-When Is Your Birthday?: 02/15/85
-Where Were You Born?: Virginia
-What Color are Your Eyes?: Dark Blue
-What Color Is Your Hair?: Dark Brown
-How Tall are You?: 5' 9"
-What Is Your Favorite Personal Physical Feature?: My Hands
-How Many Siblings Do You Have?: 2, Dani and Howard

*** Music

-What Is Your Favorite Kind Of Music?: Rock/Metal
-What Is Your Least Favorite Kind Of Music?: Country
-Who Is Your Favorite Artist/Band?: Linkin Park, Godsmack, Cold, Ankla, Perfect Circle, Deftones, Rob Zombie....
-Do You Wish You Had Some Sort Of Music Talent?: sure
-Do You Play An Instrument?: haha my ass?
-Do You Like To Sing?: yes! haha
-Do You Like To Sing In The Shower?: Hellz yeah!

** Movies

-What Is Your Favorite Type Of Movie?: Horror or Comedy
-What Is Your Favorite Movie?: Anchorman, Predator, Aliens, Dog Soldiers, and The Monster Squad!
-Who Is Your Favorite Actress/Actor?: Will Ferrell
-Do You Think Movie Stars Should Make Less Money?: sure...

** Sports

-What Are Your Favorite Sports?: Football
-Who Are Your Favorite Teams?: Steelers!
-Do You Enjoy Going To Live Sporting Events?: Yes
-Do You Play Any High School Sports?: Yes

** The Party Life

-Have You Ever Gotten Drunk Before?: haha yes
-Do You Like To Attend Parties For Fun?: yes
-Do You Do Drugs?: chocolate
-Have You Ever Tried Drugs?: yes
-Have You Ever Drank For Fun?: yes
-What Is The Best Thing About A Party?: ppl
-Do You Have Any Tattoos?: i have ten
-Do You Have Any Piercings?: i had 13. I now have 4
-Do You Want More Tattoos/Piercings? Which ones?: I want many more tattoos!!!

** Religion

-Do You Attend Church/Temple/Moske?: no. I used to attend a Pagan Temple.
-What Religion Are You?: spiritual pagan
-How Committed Are You?: enough
-Are You Saved?: no
-Do You Read The Bible/Torah/Koran Daily?: no
-How Often Do You Pray?: i dont pray

** Cars

-Are You Into Fixing Up Cars/Trucks?: no
-What Kind Of Vehicle(S) Do You Have?: a piece of shit
-What Is Your Dream Machine?: 1970 Plymouth Superbird. Rose Pink with Black flames! Black Dice...

** Shopping

-Do You Like Shopping?: yes, i'm a female
-What Is Your Least Favorite Kind Of Shopping?: wtf i dont know
-How Many Times A Month Do You Go Clothes Shopping?: once?
-What Are Your Favorite Things To Shop For?: i dont know
-How Many Pairs Of Sunglasses Have You Bought?: i own one pair of grey and black aviators
-How Many Sandals Do You Own?: one? maybe...

** Food

-What Is Your Favorite Kind Of Food?: mmm... Italian, Mexican, Chinese, fast food... fuck it! I love all food! haha
-Starbucks or Jamba?: Dunkin!
-What Is Your Favorite Meal?: Celtic Dinner! potatoes, carrots, ham, and cabbage! But really any food makes me happy.. haha
-Do You Like Fish?: Haddock, Cat Fish, and Crab... even though crab isn't technically a fish... its a crustation haha
-Are You A Healthy Eater?: hahahahah NO
-Cookie Dough Or Oreo Ice Cream?: Both!
-Do You Call it Soda Or Pop?: Soda
-What is Your Favorite Soda?: Mountain Dew?
-What is Your Favorite Alcoholic Drink?: Rum and Coke or Screwdriver
-What Is Your Favorite Kind Of Desert?: cheesecake haha i'm such a woman!

** Relationships

-What Does Your Dream Relationship Consist Of?: a man that makes me laugh and feel comfortable...? Has the same perverted dumbass sense of humor i do.
-What Is The Most Important Thing In A Relationship?: trust and communication
-What Is Your Dream Date?: fast food and a rented movie hahah... i'm easy to please... i think...? haha
-Do You Believe in Abstenence Until Marriage?: no
-Does Your Mate Need To Be Taller Than You?: haha no
-How Long Would You Wait To Kiss After Meeting Someone?: a day or so?? wtf i don't know depends
-How Soon Do You Want To Get Married?: Married!? someday but not now!
-How Many Children Do You Want To Have?: 000000
-How Long Would You Walk To Find Your True Love?: wtf!
-Do You Believe in True Love?: yeah
-Have You Ever Been in Love?: no

** Last General Information

-What You Like to Do for Fun?: Dancing, Drinking, Movies
-What Size Shoes Do You Wear?: 9.5
-Do You Like Animals?: YES! Dogs and Cats are my fav... i know itds lame
-Are You A Good Student?: 3.5 average
-What's Your Dream Job?: Rehabilitation Therapist for Incarcerated Individuals or Art Therapist for Incarcerated Individuals.
-What Do You Do For a Living?: DSP/CRMA
-Do You Like Your Job?: yes
-If You Had One Wish, What Would That Wish Be?: to always be happy and to laugh everyday!
-Do You Love Your Family?: yes!
-What Do You Think is the Most Important Thing in Life?: Happiness
-What Do You Think About When You're Alone?: Friends, Family, LIfe... i don't know. depends. I don't like being alone.
-What Do You Dream About?: i usually dont remember
-What Do You Fear the Most?: spiders, math, and sparklers!
-What is Your Most Missed Memory?: Zombie Holocaust 2006-2008 luv ya matt!
-Are You the Trustworthy Type?: Yes
-Do You Like Poetry? If So, Who's Your Favorite Poet?: Yes... "Wild Geese" by Mary Oliver
-What is the Best Way in Which You Express Yourself?: random noises and body expressions haha