Is it Fantasy, Imagination or the Naked City?

Well, it happened. I may be one of the least repressed people that you have ever met. I grew up being comfortable seeing my parents nude, my kids grew up seeing me nude. When they closed their bedroom door, I started wearing a house coat. Nudity is the way we came into this world. It is something that feels too good. Today, it was too much!

It was 9:30 in the morning. I pedaled over to my local drug store to get some vital purchase, and what did I see? Down the aisle comes a woman dressed in a fishnet. The holes were about a ½ inch. I think that the Fantasy Fest criterion is naked nipples. Well, her nipples were there, naked and proud. There are times and places where I would have celebrated this demonstration of personal power. Not at 9:30 in the morning! Not at my local drug store!

Yech! I saw, I retreated. I saw, and something got stuck in my craw. This is a family place; it is the local drug store. There is a party zone, just down the street. We are not in the party zone. So, I spoke up…

“You are dressed inappropriately for this location. That is for the party zone. This is a place for families.”

I don’t know if I scored one with her, I did with me.

Since, my mind has been running wild with ideas. How do we keep nudity inside the party zone?

They say that they, the alleged “they,” are writing tickets. I haven’t seen anyone writing tickets. How would that go?

Officer: “I see your private parts. I am writing you a citation for indecent exposure.”

Exhibitionist: “Where do I put it?”

insert tasteful image of a naked person at fantasy fest

Image unavailable. 

So, mind spinning, I came up with a possible solution.

We, the citizens and residents of Key West can take some responsibly toward making Key West a fantastic place to live and raise a family. If we choose to keep our residential areas free of gratuitous nudity, we can become proactive.

Idea one: have those fence / guardrail things at each entrance and exit to the party zone, they have them on Duval street anyway; Parade time; closed off streets; we could put those barriers across the access streets.

Have an officer/ concerned citizen at each exit point prepared to warn partygoers that they are leaving the party zone, and either thank them for coming, or warn them that their attire, or lack of, is unacceptable outside the party zone.

Idea one, part two: have downtown businesses design and create a bag, like what we would do with garbage bags in a rain storm, a hole for the head and for each limb. These would be made out of biodegradable paper because they will wind up on the streets.

The person at the exit points would then inform the party goer that they, the concerned citizen, are authorized to write a ticket for indecent exposure as a citizen’s arrest. In lieu of writing the ticket, the party-goer could wear the above-mentioned bag until they are dressed more acceptably. The bags would cost $5.

Now, why would anyone want to buy a paper bag to wear? Because it will be one of the most exclusive souvenirs of Fantasy Fest. Not only will the businesses put incredible illustrations on the bags, there would be a check-off list of the body parts bared, and there would be slogans like:

Wait until you see what’s inside!

Come to the Party Zone and see!

As a courtesy, the inns and hotels within walking distance of the party zone could have stacks of these bags, and distribute them to their guests.

Let’s be proactive and take back our Halloween Celebration!

Tobogganing

Tuesday, drifting along, passing the markers as we allow; these markers, each one, delineates how our choices are reflected in the illusion of life and perceived reality.

Have we any influence on the passages taken by spirit? Does each assumed decision change the course of our life stream? Is there eve a way of knowing, within this paradigm? Does it matter?

What are you thinking about?

I sit here, foot still broken, residing in someone else’s home, and I wonder if I could have made a different decision that would have had a different outcome.

In the infinity of time space, there are an infinite number of me’s, making an infinite number of choices, living an infinite number of lives. Why am I here now, doing these things? Is this a problem?

I guess that the real question is if this is a problem, certainly not, no problems.

It’s like riding downhill on a toboggan. It’s better if you lean into the curves and prepare for the jumps. It’s great to ride as far as possible, and roll off when it stops, and it’s great to go soaring through the air over a jump and lie in a heap in the snow. Whatever, it is the ride that counts.

We are here for the ride.

We are here to share the ride with whomever shows on this sun filled hillside this time.

Enjoy the ride for it will snow again, and you will have another opportunity to look at the freshly fallen snow, and pick the way you will aim your toboggan.

What if Life Had Sub-Titles

I have been watching more foreign movies on Netflix recently. Last night, as I lay there, I realized that I understood some of, most of what they were saying. I could get the gist of the film by watching the action, and catching some of the dialogue. I would glance at the sub-titles and fill in what I didn’t catch. At the beginning of the film, I would keep a keen eye on the sub-titles, to familiarize myself with the language again, and by the end, I could understand most.

At the point in the film, where I had transitioned from reading most to understanding most, I thought, “What if life had sub-titles?”

I have been pondering that since. It could be so easy, if when we are sarcastic, a little sign flashed on our fore-head, “Joke-Joke-Joke.” People might still be slightly offended, since there always is a truth underlying sarcasm, and still, they might laugh with the perpetrator, or orator.

When arguing with your significant other, wouldn’t it be nice to have this tool to let them know that whatever hurtful words come out of your mouth that the dialogue really is “I love you very much. I am very hurt and confused. I cannot express myself with love because I never learned how. I just want to be heard.” I know this might have saved several relationships that I have experienced.

Or, when speaking to your boss, instead of saying “Take this job and shove it;” your thoughts are translated as, “I enjoy working here; I have some problems with some of the policies and communications.”

Perhaps, that will be the glory of telepathy. The words that escape our mouths will be translated directly into the other’s mind as the loving expressions that sing from our hearts. 

A Winter of Depression

   The journey of being Barbara is the goal; it is the process. This time my assignment is to experience diversity. I chose a stocky body that would ground me a little in the maelstrom that would assail me as I journeyed through life.

Then I chose to be Cesarean born, so that I would have to seek out and create my own boundaries and link myself to the dirt for my own grounding. The challenges have been so much fun and so educational.

I remember it was just after my 27^th birthday; I had read Gail Sheehy’s book, “Passages” and connected with the passage she described for that age. I was no longer young; I was married with a young son; I was becoming depressed.

What is it they now say depression is, repressed anger? I guess that I was angry; I was left at home alone with a baby who cried. I thought that it was my fault; I thought that I should know how to fix the situation. He was my first child. I was learning how to be a mother. He volunteered to be the angel who would guide me. It took a while.  

The angel who was my husband would come home from a hard day of work and I would almost throw the baby at him, so that I could do something, anything else.

Why else was I angry? Those feelings are lost in the mists of time, safely locked in the memory of a mind full of life.

I decided that if I was going to be depressed, that I would “BE” depressed. I figured that it would last about 3 months, like in the book; depression at the passage. I moped around, I cried, I anguished how tough my life was. I told my friends that I was depressed. I did this for about three months. I wallowed in depression, I relished each tear. I felt the anger and fear.

Suddenly, as the daffodils poked their heads out of the ground, and the lilacs budded on the bushes, I opened my mind to the love and beauty around me and released the idea of being depressed. I had survived the winter of depression. I took this opportunity to live in joy again.

Peace on the Porch

I like to go out on the porch for my first cup of coffee. I sit there listening to the birds and watching the orange pink splash of sunrise crawl across the sky. It is a wonderful way to start the day.

There is a drawback in this wonderful summer season.

Yes, the air is crisp and cool. I could open the windows and doors and allow the fresh air of early morning to sweeten my home.

Yes, the song birds are singing their sweet melodies as they serenade the world into a new day.

And yes, the panorama of the sky and trees entertain my eyes and heart.

If I listen carefully, I will notice a soft buzzing. Sometimes it is around my head, sometimes I cannot hear it. Sitting, being in the presence of Eos, I slowly become aware of a spot on my foot, or arm. It is a slight awareness. I move my foot and notice a small buzzing thing flit away. It flies erratically, coming near my head or my other leg. I know what it is, this blood sucking monster courting my feet. I wave my hand, not in welcome, more like “go away.”

Yes, it is mosquito season. The daily rains have lain in the assorted containers around Old Town long enough for another bloom. Peace on the porch is not happening today. Today it is mosquitos at dawn. Call mosquito control, they already got me twice.

Thank you

*

Look Here

While meditating, I came up with 2 ideas for today’s writing, “Exploring my space” and “Hey, Look at Me.”

The two can combine nicely. When I am in my space the only one who can pay attention to me is me. The only one whose attention I can attract and who will fulfill that need is me. It is my own attention that I seek. It is me who shares my space, for IAM the one.

Perhaps, instead of exploring my space, I simply explore space; the material space and the mental or perceived space that IAM.

Come. Look at me. IAM all, IAM everything, IAM fulfilling your every dream, your every fantasy. It is simply that you don’t know it yet. You are afraid to let go and allow the wonders of being to cascade into your present reality.

Stop. Pause for a moment. My space is filled with the things, ideas, concepts  and loves that I have placed there. These things are carefully placed to attract my attention, and to comfort me.

I have come full circle. I am complete.

Thank you,

*

Me in Motion

Me in Motion

Emotions – Energy in motion, or me in motion; I am moving through life surfing a wave of time and space, staying just behind the curl.

And, when I close my eyes I can move my energy in motion anywhere, and any time. The time machine is real; the worm hole exists just behind my eyelids.

The joy of being on the crest of that wave, seeing existence unfurl in front of me comes in the awareness that IAM. 

Thank you

*

Greetings Independent on the Day

                           Dependence and Independence 

   

Independence Day – seems ironic. Who in this world is truly independent? We all depend on the web of life for the air that we breathe, the food that we eat and the shelter that protects us. To think that we can be truly independent denies the reality of IAM.

Those who created this country declared independence to gain separation from an oppressive foreign government. Isn't it ironic that within our borders we have created much stress to our citizens with oppressive corporations? Instead of a foreign government dictating the taxes and levies on our daily bread, we have corporations doing the same thing.

           Would these early people of the southern part of North America have rebelled against England had they realized that the only change would be the label? Or, did they know that this would be the case, and simply wanted to own the label?

I believe this country was created with humanistic ideals. When did we let go of that for the pursuit of the dollar? Or does the Boston Tea Party illustrate that it was about money all along? No foreign taxes = more money for me – me - me!

                                                                                      

Mother's Day 2013

   Mother’s Day

To be here in my cave on Mother’s Day’

With my boys so distant,

In my heart there is no distance.

Hugs are difficult to accomplish.

Hugs are such a sweet support.

I crave Hugs, and yet.

 

I guess

I could go to the street

With a “free Hugs” sign

Or go to a place of worship

And receive my hugs there.

I could choose to live in community

With like minded people

And receive there.

 

Where would I find one

here in Key West?

They are found,

filled with family and friends, 

A compound. They exist here. 

I could chase after so many and receive hugs.

The hug, the embrace

The connection of body and spirit,

We are created in embrace.

The embrace of mother,

As the womb embraces us

In the nectar of amniotic fluid

And love.

Progression

Progression - the natural flow from inception / conception to completion or death. Is it imagined? There is no progression; there is only a series of nows that by observation seem to show progression

         And, in fact, is it progress? Is not each now fulfilled? Is not each now complete within itself? And yet we perceive progression.

         The story of the ego requires progression. Attachment has a beginning and an end. Attachment needs progression. When unattached we embrace the now and transcend the essence of progress… the non-essence… the illusion of progress.

         So why are there plans? Are they merely dreams? Is the ego projecting dreams into the vastness of now and making choices that seem to fulfill or direct these dreams into d=reality.

         The Law of Attraction – egoic dreams – acted upon and creating a now through dreaming and acting. 

9/11/2012 Eleven Years Ago

          The anniversary of the twin towers event: this event was probably the biggest event to change the attitude here to one of fear.

          This attitude has led us to where we are now, teetering on the edge of the shift. This shift seems to be polarizing humanity; those still controlled by fear and those who recognize and accept the one. Patience must be incorporated into the attendance; as we stand together as one, observing those in fear.

          Temptation to fall into that attitude is thrust upon those standing by from every angle. The governments, especially, will lose control if the people act united, no longer needing the regulations of a government, simply acting for the benefit of the one.

          They say another thousand years, that is certain. The fear mongers will destabilize all that are on the verge of the one. The whole manipulation of those in control is to return the proletariat to a place of subservience. They do that by stripping them of their individuality through the homogenization of nutrition devoid food, leading to obesity and malnutrition; and thought devoid entertainment through television and endless hours on the internet.  

          Those of the one choose to nourish body, mind and spirit with holistic consumption.   

   Thank you for being _ thank you for creating _ thank you for directing.

          We shall arise and become. 

      

The 100th Monkey

The story of the 100th monkey has inspired me.
This story was written in 1981, and is still relevant today.
 It is shared freely and without copyright infringement. Enjoy!
http://www.wowzone.com/100th.htm

The Writer and the Hologram

The Writer and the Hologram

          As I lay on the table with many needles sticking into my back and leg, my mind wandered. I went many places, I reviewed some of what I had heard, learned and perceived in the past week.

          I was exposed to a theory / practice of Burt Goldman’s called “Quantum Healing”. Theory being, as the physicists are postulating these days, since our universe in infinite, beyond the bubble of our universe, there exist an infinite number of other universes. That being the case, there are an infinite number of possibilities for the choices that “I” make in life and somewhere out there, there is another version of me that has lived the same life as I up to a specific choice, and she made the other choice and went in a different direction. Since that choice, our lives have not been the same.

          There being a infinite number of choices that I can make in a lifetime, and an infinite number of moments on the fractal scale of space and time, there can only be an infinite number of “me’s”, or “you’s”. (mees and yous)

          OK, now, since this is a holographic universe, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Holographic_principle and each is a part of the whole, I can “imagine” that I am one of these other mees, and inhabit that body, and be that person, reviewing her skills and talents.

          Say, for example that I choose to become a famous writer. In meditation I assume the entity of Barbara, the famous writer, and investigate her process of getting the words and ideas down on paper. Returning to this time and space, I have had the experience of being that person, and can start to bring those skills into my life and reality here and now. OK, Follow that?

          Now, as I was lying on this acupuncture table, I was musing about this theory, and musing about our holographic universe. If each is a part of all, then I need not go beyond this city, this world to have that same experience.

          Since I am a part of all famous writers, I need only find that part of me, the holographic universe, that is the famous writer, and experience the skills of all. Returning to the energy within my skin, I can then use those skills that are so near and already a part of me, that is a part of all.

And so it is, thank you.

Accept

Accept

The world spins like the hands on a clock, always tuning. Days turn into months; months turn into years; years turn into centuries, and so on. The lives of those on this planet play out in a similar manner, as we go round and round, through the stages of being, passing landmarks and opportunities.

If you don’t learn a lesson on the first time it passes, you will have another chance, just wait. The next opportunity is just a moment away. We can carry repeating opportunities with us in our memories. If you keep the lesson present, then the choices to learn continue to repeat in a moment to moment basis. We each know and recognize those lessons, the ones that we believe – if I change this, I will be happier.

Is the lesson instead, to learn to accept that certain choices are who you are, and accept that the lesson is learned, and yet – continue the behaviour? Perhaps that is why these choices grate on us so repeatedly; the lesson is not to change, but to accept. And is that lesson any easier?

Good question. Do I choose to pursue those questions now? Do I choose to pursue change vs acceptance now? Would that be an easier exploration? Yes. Maybe the choice is to accept that change is innate, that change is constant and that acceptance allows the changes to occur naturally, as our days turn into months. We cannot force the hands of the clock to move any faster, we cannot move the sun across the sky any faster. Why would we want to? We cannot change ourselves any faster either. We must take each step along the path to get to our destination. 

Some for a Lifetime

Some for a Lifetime; or many lifetimes. 

We allow people into our lives for a reason, season of lifetimes.

And so it is. As I enjoy the presence of these energies within my life and allow them to “be” while with me and I “am” while with them, the shadows fall away, and inside that safe space, we can play as children, sprites, and free spirits.

Being is the essential, being “what” is of little importance. Being of light we are. Lightness lifts us up above the mundane, and dances in the spirit.

Meeting friends that you recognize from this and many lives, that secure feeling, knowing that the other is, as I am. The love that we have built through the eons goes nowhere. It always was and always well be. Part of the universal love, we each are dealt our hand for each encounter. And many cards pass through our hands, and many cards pass through our hands again.

These well worn loves, these repeat loves, recognizing these comfortable patterns, that ease of communication is so restful

Sigh – Scratch - what more to say? Some end their writing if they have to think about it. I have chosen to write to a time or a quota, to achieve some kind of practice and create a discipline; allowing the words to fall on to the paper as they pass through my mind. Like I was once told about my words, that they land on my tongue without passing through my mind, my conscious filters that choked off any unpleasing statements, not functioning as I would fr from friend to friend, testing with words if they were worthy, instead of accepting and lovine as they are in peace. 

Anticipation

Anticipation

And yet, I anticipate – anticipation of events that I desire; anticipation of a week end with celebration.

These items are within my power. I can achieve events which I desire, I can achieve a celebration. I can celebrate each moment that passes each and every day, not needing to await the week end.

I can celebrate the achievement of desired objects and events, especially when the desired events are joy and celebration. It is a self fulfilling expectation, when we anticipate celebration of an event, and we celebrate the anticipation, then we can live in constant celebration and joy. Anticipate to me heralds joyful waiting. I anticipate, and continue…

It is like stepping off a cliff, anticipation. As you step you expect to land somewhere, safely, and trust this will be a place of preference and joy; like the tarot card, the Fool; like me in so many of my actions.

The joyful fulfillment of these steps has given me great faith in being who I choose to be, and allowing the creator to guide my steps.

anticipation (plural anticipations)

1. The act of anticipating, taking up, placing, or considering something beforehand, or before the proper time in natural order.
2. The eagerness associated with waiting for something to occur.

For this I am truly Thankful

Thanksgiving         

As I give thanks to the creator, who has co-created life, I reflect and I pause.

I only have what I am now. This is all that there is. There is the story of Everyman, the story of being, that is history. Those who don’t learn from history are bound to repeat it.

So it is in my life. I have been through a series of opportunities to learn from my history. Have I learned? Some things. Am I repeating my history? Some times.

Like the spiral of live, aging brings us closer to the center, the years whiz by, we are offered these obstacles again, we are presented with another opportunity to learn from our own life story.

History – Life story, one for society, one for me. And, history is an accumulation of life stories. How many billion life stories have there been? Certainly, with all the opportunities to learn, the consciousness of life must be rising to a higher plane. Someone must have learned from life story, or history, and chosen not to repeat it.

I am thankful that I live in a society where it is not always necessary for each to learn all. We can come together in community, and share our knowing. Perhaps, one of the greatest lessons can be to recognize whose story resonates most closely with the story of the self – my life story, and use that resonating life story as a mirror, peering deep within, under the hidden lessons, to see which stumbling blocks lie within in that story; and how the one overcame those stumbling blocks, turning them into stepping stones, creating a path that can lead the way for others.

We each are on separate paths. I am grateful that from time to time I discover a path created by another, which eases my passing from one lesson to another.

Thank you,

*

Pretend

Pretending is like: "Fake it until you make it.” I prefer pretend, It is a much more playful concept.

In pretending the imagination is turned on and tuned in, you are invited to let your mind reach to the depth of creativity, and then encouraged to bring this into your reality, and play with in until it is honed to a sharp edge, becoming a skill and a practice. So, we can begin to practice pretending. What do you think that you would like to pretend today?

I will pretend several things, yet, I know that these things that I pretend are already a reality in my life. I must seek within to find a concept that I would like to pretend. However, I can put that aside for now, since I know that will come to me in a flash, as I have lit the spark of creation, and the father energy will give me what I want to pretend.

I feel so protected, as I can pretend anything. I can look back and think of what I have already pretended, and then realized.

My pretend friend is one entity who has been with me as long as I can remember; she was the “bad” one. I gave her a name that I choose to change. I will allow her to become a friend, not only of my childhood, but also of my whole life, so her new name is Barbara Holly. I am pleased. Are you Barbara? She can be my nom de plume. I can pretend to be her…

Ceremony

Ritual, routine or ceremony? These concepts seem to reflect almost the same process, a series of words and actions repeated to achieve a particular result, like and experiment in Chemistry; follow these steps and you will replicate these results.

The most mundane of these processes is the routine – like the bed time routine: pee, wash your face, brush your teeth, take your night time nutrients, choose a book and off to bed. Practiced enough times, this routine initiates a mental and physical situation which makes falling to sleep easier. Think of all the routines we have in life. Most are life affirming, and yet many are life denying, like self destructive routines around drugs and alcohol.

Ritual is a routine around a spiritual or other concept, like a routine or ritual at the beginning of a meeting: opening the guide books, saying the proscribed words for the beginning of the process, standing or sitting at specific stages of the process. Ritual, like routine, has set patterns, often established by some outside guide or source.

Ceremony is routine or ritual involving Joy, a celebration, a coming together in the presence of like minded individuals to share with joy some transition or situation.

What if each changed the labels of routines and rituals and would call them Ceremonies? What if we inserted joy and celebration into the act of going to bed, or having that first cup of coffee in the morning? Might we then enhance every part of every day with celebration?

Ceremony – Celebrate with joy, with like minded people; live life as a celebration of your being.

Thank you

110905 Labor Day

110905        Labor Day

          Strange, when I think of Labor Day, I think more of the births of my sons, and the days that I spent in Labor. Gratefully, the details of those days are hidden by the joy experienced upon holding those sons, seeing the light in their eyes and smelling their breaths. That kind of labor needs to be celebrated.

          Celebration is where the heart becomes alive with joy. I celebrate each day, be it Labor Day or Thanksgiving, I give thanks.

          Holidays = Holy days; days to celebrate the holy in life, or wholly alive; being in touch with who you are, what your life means to you and where you are going. So maybe in could be Whollydays = holidays? Maybe not?

          Anyway, today is not a holiday in relation to any established religion; and yet, that is not so either. Since labor is a part of the whole, the old chop wood, carry water idea. In this society chopping wood in not necessarily required to heat your home, since there are others to do that aspect of labor for society. Each must arise, alert to the new day, and do their personal labor, be in beg in the streets, write a passage, make a deal or sit and enjoy a cup of coffee.

          Labor is not always laborious. It can also be joyful, and today I look to the joy that I have found in doing my labor, and I thank the creator for delivering me two such wonderful sons.