Emerging from the darkness, newly born, shivering, thrust into the beaming light of a new reality

Cleaned up, bundled and placed into loving arms, we surrender

Vulnerable, needing, wanting, we cry out for comfort

Fed, absorbing, digesting, learning, we grow

Gaining strength, learned behavior, testing and being tested, we grow to understand

From the darkness of inherited ignorance, from the darkness and fear of the unknown

In the darkness the attacks ensue, in the darkness the poisonous darts find their mark

The sting of wounds cruelly inflicted and the anguish of self-inflicted wounds, we fight to recover

In the darkness we can lose ourselves, yet in the darkness self can be discovered

Emerging into the light, bruised but not broken

Still standing, illuminated in wisdom, stronger for having fought a good fight

No trumpets will blow in victory, no fan fare will greet you

No trophy will be awarded, no applause will be heard

Just you, in the light, naked, revealed, yet shielded in truth

Standing naked, there will be some who will point and mock you

While still standing, alone amongst many who have been in the dark places too

You see each other and know the truth and silently nod in understanding...in the light...we have been reborn

One morning you'll wake and go through the normal functions that begin your day, unaware of an unavoidable event that may alter your life or perspective. The sudden death of a friend, family member or acquaintance, a hurricane, a flood, a fire, an earthquake or maybe an accident or diagnosis you've been waiting for will be the turning point in your life.

Ready or not, some uncontrollable circumstance may be in a direct trajectory headed for you, which will force you to digest and live with the circumstances. We know this is just called "LIFE."

Maybe a positive event such as a promotion, sudden financial windfall or resolution to a prolonged life challenge will be the turning point and add a new lens to your life's view.

Depending on how we view and process any sudden or unexpected event that directly impacts our lives, it will have to be seen as either an "End or a Beginning."

When faced with a potentially terminal illness, the choice becomes, preparation for the end of life or the beginning of a phase to extract as much as possible from the remainder of your life.

The loss of a job or the demise of a successful career may be an end to a lifestyle or may be the beginning of a new direction.

However these circumstances are viewed, we are ultimately left to deal with the matter alone at some point. All of the encouragement, well wishes, condolences or whatever the outward response might be will eventually fade and will be replaced with an inevitable and needed, solitary reckoning.

When we are left to ourselves, at the end of "OURSELVES", and all else is put on the shelf, the process dealing with our "Stuff" begins…

Today, I am at the end of myself (a good thing), forced to reposition myself! Where are you today?

What do you need to remove in order to reveal your true self?

When I was in college, there was a game that we played (don't recall the name) that would require an unsuspecting person to be part of a seductive, psychological experiment. The person or subject would be asked to wear a blindfold while seated in a dark room with romantic or soothing music is quietly played. The controllers of the game would sit closely to the subject and get them to be very relaxed, and create a scenario. The person blindfolded was to imagine that they had been away from their "significant other" for a long period of time. Assuming that this person had been intimate with their "mate," the questions would begin with, "what would be the first thing you would remove from your body if this person walked into your bedroom.

The questions were asked in a very suggestive manner with the ultimate goal of getting the subject to strip off one article of clothing at a time, until naked.

This may seem very simple on the surface, but depending on your state of mind and level of inhibition, you may immerse yourself so deeply in the scenario, that you forget the people around you and the obvious answer to the first question. You would remove your blindfold first in order to truly "see" your "significant other."

We go through our daily functions, thinking that we are aware of our surroundings and in control of our reality. But I would ask myself, what blinders am I walking around with? What events throughout my life have added layers to the lenses of my understanding or perception? What have you covered your heart with? What hides your true personality or hinders your ability to interact with others in a deeper sense?

Has the pain of experiencing racism or the perpetuation of ignorance caused you to have a skewed vision of the world around you?

There are a multitude of experiences that shape who we are. They pile up and become layers that we carry around for the rest of our lives.

Then one day a life changing event takes place. You are forced to confront your true character or demons. You may even struggle to find yourself because somewhere under all those "layers", you lost yourself.

At one time or another, we all need to become strippers, so to speak. Remove the layers and bare our naked selves to ourselves and or others. I mean of course, cleaning house and going back to that simpler, childlike or unpolluted place in our existence.

Then we can see more clearly, feel more deeply and truly be present and in touch with our reality.

Maybe then, more of us would be less likely to get seduced by all of the stimuli around us that crowds our minds or drowns out common sense and the power we are endowed with to make better life decisions...to be at peace!

What would you take off first?

The Genius' that created myspace really understand human nature and business. This has either been a great place for meeting new friends, lovers or marketing. For some, it has also been a nightmare. The multitudes that use this forum increase the possibilities of crossing paths with people you'd rather not meet in this virtual community, let alone up close and personal in the "real" world.

Now for the point of this conversation...

Artists have to constantly navigate the thin line of developing fan relationships, to sell their music or products and excessive online socializing. Not an easy feat! Human nature compels us to do business or buy from people we feel some connection with. The music business has changed so drastically in the past decade, that artists must find creative ways to better, market themselves in hopes of surviving the business aspect of being an artist.

The bottom line is, we need the support of our "friends", fans and associates by purchasing our music, art, services, etc. The music industry cleverly dictates what people buy, when they shove the same musical, "cookie-cutter" styles and formats down everybody's throats. People should drive the industry by being open to new styles of music and supporting those artists who dare to be original.

We can only expand our horizons by being open to. We also motivate artists to keep being creative by rewarding their efforts. Let's fight the "dumbing-down" of our society and world. Myspace has revealed a wealth of up and coming artists and fans who want fresh and interesting music.

Please show your appreciation and support your Myspace artists.

Phases in our lives, temporary and prolonged changes in feelings, economic and periodic climate cycles, can be described as "seasons".

If we pay attention, all seasons are preceded by indications of a change about to occur. Rarely does a season or change in life happen without a sign.

We are living in a profound time these days. Everything seems to be elevated to all time highs, such as, sexual expression, crime, violence, living expenses, religious indoctrination, and indifference, global skirmishes, wars and GAS PRICES!

Paradoxically, enlightenment, awareness, acts of kindness and creativity are also on the rise.  These indicators or "signs", tell us that something major is coming or has to happen.

Change does have to be catastrophic in nature or feared. Change is necessary. Increasing heat or pressure applied to anything makes something happen.

Being conscious, proactive, patient, forgiving, and flexible helps relieve rising pressures in us and others we encounter. Restoring simple social skills that have eroded with time can help us get through life easier.

Simplistic as this may sound, going back to basics can cure enormous problems.

Things can't stay the way they are and not manifest consequences. We can't wait on the world to change. Personal change stimulates changes around us.

As the infamous Rodney King once coined the phrase," Can we all just get along?"

It is also said, (Paraphrasing) "You are either a part of the problem or part of the solution.

Yes, it's been said countless times in different languages, in different cultures. Which brings validity to the shared experiences and consequences of placing "wants" before wisdom?

There is a universal order to all things, regardless of your religious, non-religious or scientific understanding. This order of existence is inescapable in a micro or macro sense. On an individual level, we have our bodies which have no wisdom. Your body only lives for survival, pleasure and continuous gratification, nothing else. Yes, it realizes when it's consumed something harmful, but that is linked to survival mechanisms also. Our minds are ruled by perception and the constant demands of the body. Our minds are navigated by our learned experiences and "will".

The essence or core of our being is the spirit or soul. The spirit (the heart) is the only part that has a "conscious" or understanding of right and wrong. Whenever you are in conflict with your desires (body) and your mind (being dictated to from the body), your spirit, your heart, your conscious is at war to direct your body and keep it in check.

Wishing for something is usually, but not always, motivated by the desires of our flesh. It may be a matter of eating too much, drugs, inappropriate sexual acts, revenge, acting out through aggression or self deception (hoodwinking of the mind) to do anything that your heart or spirit says no to.

Thoughts carry powerful energy and travel. Given the right circumstances,  these thoughts become reality.

We want or desire many things without wisdom prevailing in our decisions. After the fallout or consequences occur, that small voice in us that said no becomes a louder statement of "I told you so" or "I knew I shouldn't have…"

Wishing for something is not only a process carried out in the mind. It requires an action, an assertion that allows that "wished for" act, to take place. The ultimate goal is to grow beyond being controlled by the body and being tricked by perception. It is our "heart", our spirit, our conscious that will never fail us. If you believe in God, it is He that gives guidance to the spirit. If you don't believe that, then your spirit is still the answer to governing the body and mind.

Some of you elevated souls are beyond this dilemma and make perfect decisions throughout life. For the rest of us mere mortals, we struggle, fail, learn and at times succeed.

What are you wishing for?

Madness; The observer or the observed?

Have you ever noticed the primates at the zoo, especially the Chimps or Gorillas?

If you look at their eyes, you see a humanlike intelligence, sensitivity and keen awareness. But are they acting themselves or are they responding to their environment? Probably both. Which brings me to the point.

 As sick and tired of hearing about Britney Spears as most of us are, consider what it would be like to have small armies of photographers, peepers (so-called observers and reporters) watching your every move 24/7? How would your actions or reactions be perceived?

 Imagine every statement you make, regardless of the circumstances and the immediate state of mind you happen to have, being judged and scrutinized relentlessly.

Who is insane here, the idiots who pursue celebrities to spy on every personal aspect of their lives, down to intimate details of their private relationships or those who live under a perpetual microscope?

How must it feel to have people hiding in your shrubs, going through your trash, using high tech gear and powerful lenses to "observe" you. You get the point!

I don't know about you, but I'd probably be called angry or unstable under such conditions as well! In frustration and non-stop assaults on one's life, fighting back or fleeing is as normal of a response as any of us could be expected to have.

The insanity lies in making talented people, celebs or entertainers the total focus of our lives. Our gods if you will. Worshiping their notoriety, fame or infamy and using their lives as a gauge to measure our own self worth.

Stop the madness!!   

As the New Year came in, many of us take stock of our experiences of the past year or years. Common declarations of resolutions are made. Plans for the future are crafted. Regarding "Seasons", they pass and the next appears, usually seamlessly. We never know what day or hour the season changes, for it is not possible to control it by man or calendar. Yet they come and go inevitably and reappear cyclically, slightly or drastically different than the one before it. After one passes through a cycle or a phase, are all of the aspects of it having existed erased? Is it less valid or relevant to the totality of  your existence, or the "fruit" harvested in that season? "Fruit" from the same tree ripens at various stages and varied degrees of sweetness. Yet that tree is "fruitful" and continues to grow and mature with each season. All that is reaped and endured in a season is indelibly etched into the existence of that tree...not the fruit that falls from it or that fruit which is consumed for the sake of our nourishment! Only the seed from the fruit has the potential to yield more fruit beyond the limitations of that one tree.

Let the sweetness of our fruit be savored and the seeds thereof be sowed...