Lady Gaga & Tim Burton's The Dead Dance

Of course, I was pulled in immediately upon seeing that creepy doll with a sun headdress. But also… WHAT!?! It’s Lady Gaga and Tim Burton! They’re like, PEAK all things monstrous. And with Halloween coming up, it is such a Trick & Treat to pull!

If you know me, you know that I love spooky art that can be enjoyed around this time of the year and can’t ever seem to get enough. I might be (for a while) too stressed, overwhelmed, and/or exhausted to enjoy it as much as I otherwise would, but I would love it nonetheless. And this one not only checked the spooky box!

The fact that they captured *gestures* all of this, in particular, does mean more than I can explain. But let’s just say: Going forward, it is beyond nice to forever have art you love, from artists you love, on a topic that is familiar to you, in a setting that is also familiar to you, and to have it do this sort of restorative and conclusive magic, too. That… is a piece that shouldn’t be missing.

I didn’t think much of it at first, but then the realizations started coming. Y’all, Halloween isn’t only typical European lore and North American store-bought decorations anymore. It is also This Island they filmed on. Why? Because freakin’ LADY GAGA AND TIM BURTON said so! Practically. And as someone who always adored Halloween but happened to live on an island that didn’t quite celebrate it or fit the aesthetic, yet still had its own spooky stuff going on, I literally cannot put into words how much this means. You’ll have to ponder it.

That’s not to say I don’t also appreciate other cultures and historical captures, you can bet I do and look forward to them, but this take is definitely an important and required addition to the ever-growing catalog of what gets associated with Halloween and all things spooky.

Besides hitting this milestone, I noticed a few details here and there that were peculiar. However, I can’t quite tell if they were subtly intentional, consciously or not, or merely attributable. Whatever the case, got The Dead Dance in there! 

The Witch Hunt

Of course you’d be afraid of someone with abilities beyond your capabilities. More so when they don’t even try to make themselves look harmless or get a kick out of showing glimpses of how harmful they can ultimately be. You would believe it is merely self-defense to utterly destroy them. Completely merited. 

That’s the logic when people are targeted and treated as “witches” that mobs should hunt and burn down. Rampant abuse of power is undeniable, and it is reasonable to be skeptical of somebody with a great amount of power. But if you go at it indiscriminately, you might be stripping and killing somebody who would have used that power for good, even for your own particular benefit.

Those few who, by fate or through arduous effort, make it to a point where they are at an advantage, sure elicit various sorts of intense feelings from others. Resentment, envy, worry, fear, hatred, and hostility could erupt and consume them until there is no longer a lucid thought to keep them from doing something horrible and potentially irreversible. Their views and opinions? Distorted and twisted to turn them into the monsters they claim to be fighting.

If you attack the powerful solely for being powerful, you will be losing the most formidable allies you could have. You will be left with those who are as weak as you are or who pretend to be, acting as sheep in wolf’s clothing. And ironically, that might be your automatic karma for it.

There is a false sense of security that people get from relying on what is established. What, through propaganda and other means of manipulation, have won them over. The authorities that they look up to to keep them safe are instead keeping them blind and distracted from what is truly going on and how much danger they are in - and from what exactly. 

These are people who, rather than reaching conclusions through evidence gathering and weighing, reach them through reassurance and reinforcement. Basically, the more you repeat something to them, the more they believe it. No matter how false. These are also people who, the more the crowd believes something, the more they believe it. They might be intelligent, but their intelligence is not wisely used. However, even the best fall down sometimes. You must catch yourself if you find yourself caving into the pressure.

If, alternatively, you find yourself in the role of a witch in the middle of a witch hunt, do not despair. The same power you are being persecuted for could be the power that sets you free. And you are not alone, either. You might just be yet to find your coven. Then you can be indestructible. And hopefully, that will be for the best.

...1.8%?

Give it time, y'all. The vision is not yet materialized. There are fixes, changes, adjustments, enhancements, and extensions coming. Along with much more that's in my hands, in God's, and in the Universe's. Stick around if you'd rather not miss it! But also remember that you're free to come and go as you please. It's only a few of us, artsy nerds, who make this ordeal our entire lives. 

If you're a hardcore artist (that is, you take artistry seriously), you're welcome to get your fit here, but also elsewhere. (Just, please, always be selective about your sources and discerning with your information so you don't get brain rot!)

Scorpio's Season

♏ SCORPIO

As we enter the season of Scorpio, it is believed that the universe will be affecting us with energies that will cause us to dive deep and embrace transformation. We will be more in tune with our inner power, and abilities to mend and uncover truths will be enhanced. If you are receptive to them, you might be imbued with intensity and resilience. If you are resistant to them, you might be conflicted with secrecy and obsession. If you are completely blocked out, you might not notice them at all. And if you don't pay enough attention, you might miss opportunities for profound personal growth.

Motivational Quote: "Your depth is your power; embrace it fully."

For context and more of relevance, please read about The Zodiac.

The Scapegoat

If it happens once, it is likely to happen again. Ever been blamed for something that you didn’t do or that was not your fault? Or have fingers pointed at you, with accusations, so they wouldn't be pointed at them, with the-fact-of-the-matter? And you just took it because you couldn’t be sure or somehow felt responsible, regardless? Well, trying to be the bigger person or turning the other cheek are, actually, terrible advice to stick with.

That works in some instances, when there are more important issues at hand than dealing with somebody else’s immaturity and you shouldn’t even be bothered with it. But making it a habit isn’t as noble as it’s made to sound. You basically become an enabler of others’ lack of accountability and more.

People will search for who will take it and dump it on them. Usually, this is someone who doesn’t quite fit in. So that they can assume to have the back up of the rest (a majority) when making you the 'problem', but also because the sense of belonging is already frail and causing issues surrounding dignity (from which the sense of worthiness to exist as you are arises). More of an ideal target if they’ve already shown to not stand their ground and speak up, fighting back.

It can catch you off-guard, and the person doing the blaming might be doing so from a position of abuse of power (they are "above" you in some way or have something they believe that they can use against you), which makes it even more difficult for you to defend yourself and state your case. However, more often than not, the anxiety provoked is just that - a state that they provoked (that benefits them). And if you can push through it, you can shatter the illusion and call them out for what they are: somebody aiming to dodge the repercussions of their actions (or inactions) by sending them your way so that they can escape unscathed and with minimal effort.

When they shift the blame and you shift it back to where it belongs, the focus is now on them - and they might scramble to "prove" how NOT guilty they are. Then fail to do so. More attempts to shift the blame will likely occur, but they’ll be less and less effective. Soon, they’ll be exposed not only as irresponsible, but also as liars.

It is only in rare cases where everybody in proximity will be obstinate and continue to insist that who has been made the scapegoat is indeed to blame. Much of the time, it is merely a spontaneous reaction from an individual prone to peer pressure and/or ruled by ignorance and confusion rather than a calculated scheme from a malicious or even vile collective. If the latter, though, may God and The Divine Forces above be with you, along with all the Righteous Fury that you can muster from within.

October Libra

If you were born in October, under the sign of Libra, congratulations!
It is a peculiar juxtaposition, astonishing to pause and look at more closely, with Libra being the emblem of Balance and October the emblem of Darkness.

When it comes to Libra, balance is not merely about moderation. Balance implies and entails so much more. It is about putting two or more things together, seeing how they compare, how they contrast, and even how they click with each other. Measure, proportion, symmetry (or asymmetry), and many more details are taken into account and weighed. Because of this, Libra is often associated with beauty and also with fairness. It is a mistake, however, to assume that this automatically denotes shallowness (and vanity). In the baser levels, perhaps, but in their greatest splendor, quite the contrary, Libra’s energies lead further and wrap around wholly so it doesn’t miss a thing. Within October, depending on your environment and upbringing, darkness reigns, by the cycles of nature and/or by tradition. This brings the focus into more of the unseen and even the denied. Shadows play a role. The taboo is acknowledged, hinted at, and teased with. Succumbing to the forces of this territory isn’t in this sign’s plans (though it may inch closer and closer as it nears Scorpio’s dates), but appraising instinctually is. Masks come into awareness and every crack in them begins to become noticeable, revealing a disguise. Monsters could be more humane than humans and humans more monstrous than monsters. Might as well face your demons, then either banish or turn them into allies.

Prominent themes include:
- Detecting injustice and hypocrisy.
- Equity rather than equality.
- Crude yet tasteful humor.

Are you an October Libra? And have you met any other October Libra? Maybe, even if quite different on the surface, you share a few things in common, besides your birthday!

For context and more of relevance, please read about The Zodiac.

The Black Sheep

If you're a black sheep, there’s just something off about you and that’s just how it is. You may try to deny it, cover it up, ignore it, but it’ll still keep you from being like the rest.

This isn’t something necessarily bad. In nature, there is diversity and also anomalies, and that’s fine. They come with their own set of attributes to make them worthwhile, whether they're obvious or not, and whether we acknowledge them or not. However, the different and the unfamiliar isn’t always met with such understanding and acceptance. 

If you are a black sheep, and especially if without any other black sheep in sight, your fears of persecution and ostracization may be founded. Unfortunately. 

People are quick to notice or sense when somebody is not like them. And whether they are fully aware of it or not, they then act accordingly. With suspicion, defensiveness, hostility, or worse. They may try to change you or downright banish you.

It makes sense, though. If things are running a certain way, and that’s how they’re comfortable, perceiving anything that deviates as a threat is quite rational. What we’d then have to look for is whether they will be humane enough to make adjustments and adapt so that you will be included or go down the more convenient and 'efficient' route to instead get rid of you or of what makes you you - forcing you to lie to those around you and maybe even to yourself in order to be kept around, if you'll even be kept around at all. 

When you are the unusual, it can be confusing. You may battle with thoughts and feelings about inadequacy, struggling to justify your existence and all the trouble it seems to cause everybody else. But you can look at it this way: by merely being, you’re pushing others to mentally and emotionally expand, which is part of what will bring them growth and evolution.

As long as you still watch for the things within you that do require examination, pruning, and polishing, so that you, too, can grow and evolve, standing out shouldn’t be deemed such a problem.

What Are You Showing Up As?

Hey, kids, play-pretend is fun! Not only is it fun, though, it is also practice for your imagination, your reasoning, your empathy, and even your motor skills. When you choose to get into somebody else’s shoes, see from their point of view, and take and handle everything as they would, you gain points and level up in consciousness and awareness. May even unlock a few talents while you’re at it. As if by the art of magic! 

Venturing into the unknown, and possibly the forbidden, can be spooky indeed. Therefore, it makes sense that it can become taboo, if not also terribly warned against and opposed. But shadows are merely shadows. And blindspots are merely blindspots as well. So, if you’re a curious one, armed with courage and cadence, chances are you will be fine. Potentially thrilled by such ‘mischief’. 

You should, nonetheless, be cautious. That’s no lie. If there’s a path you’d rather not take, a door you’d rather not open, a stranger you’d rather not trust, a monster you’d rather not face… do not ignore that. And even when it is tempting… pause and ponder. You might not be prepared enough for that or, regardless, it would stray and/or delay you from what is more suitable to you (and your cosmic growth). Magnificent tricks and treats await you, across and at the end of the scary maze of twists and turns, but you ought to stay alive and remain free to go for them! 

Now, let’s take a closer look at one creature. 

Why not start with the most essential kind?   A GHOST  . Perhaps you or others will show up as one to the party, wander around the neighborhood, or join in the jokes and pranks. For better or for worse.

Ghosts are incorporeal beings, made of spirit. Their body may be elsewhere, while their soul lingers. In that sense, they are alive. They exist within planes that connect everything, where time and space are less of an obstacle. Watching, nudging, whispering, maybe appearing. Some might need help communicating, incapable of being fully present. They’ll point and hint as much as they can, but the rest is up to you (or the psychic medium) to decipher. Some are unsettled, craving peace, while some have found peace, and are bringing ease. Having a ghost on your side means standing alone but, SURPRISE, not really.  

Abilities might include, yet are not limited to:

• Invisibility

• Teletransportation

• Signals

• Influence

• Possession

Vulnerabilities might include, yet are not limited to:

• Boundness

• Ambiguity

• Mutedness

“Seeing is believing. Believing is seeing. 

You could detect my activity, but could you prove it? 

Now you see me. Now you don’t.” 

Last but not least, overindulging or not, don’t forget to visit your dentist!

Care for your teeth. You, enchanting/menacing creature!

Taylor Swift's The Fate of Ophelia

This one indeed opened a can of worms for me. So it was hard and difficult to stomach at first. However, after pushing through it, repelled and grossed out by aspects of the story that it is bringing up, I could at last get into how meticulously elaborated it all is and enjoy it. What am I even talking about, if it’s just another music video? Well… 

Let’s start with Ophelia. Who is she and what does she represent? Everything revolves around being saved from her fate. A fate that is far from ideal. So much that it can drive you into madness and cause you to lose your life. Ophelia obeyed, she played by the rules, and it cost her gravely. And essentially, that’s her legacy in this tale, to tell what happens down her path.

Now, this tale is kind of tricky. It is specific in what it notes but it is not explicit in what it means. You can interpret it in different ways. And two of them can be quite opposite. One making it a tale of virtue and happy endings, and another making it a tale of vileness and bittersweet experiences. And that’s interesting, too, because it goes to show how confusing things can be sometimes.

Read it as though the rescuer is a legitimate hero who sincerely cares for the damsel in distress, bringing clarity, and it is something to cherish or even honor. Read it as though the rescuer is an impostor hero, taking advantage of the damsel in distress’ most hopeless moments, and the gratitude is instead an intended result from the deceit that they brought. They’re not the one breaking the spell. They’re the one casting it.

The former seems, to me, more like the stretch because there are more than a couple of signs shown or described that evoke suspicion, as if begging us to take off the rose-colored glasses. 

Whatever the case, though, people are loving the music video. And I do, too. I also particularly like, though I don’t know if it is on purpose, how it is shot in one-take scenes that resemble We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together. And if that’s such for a reason, that would be a clue. And a very sneaky one at that.

There are actually LOTS OF THINGS to notice. In the environment, in the costumes, in the choreography, in the transitions, and so on. I wouldn’t be able to point to all of them even if I tried (I’m probably still missing a bunch). So I do suggest, if you’ve been around for more of TS’ history (or you’d ponder it regardless), to pay close attention to everything that’s going on because there’s a high chance it is a reference.   

I adored the trio dressed in black with hints of yellow (and how the image of them kaleidoscoped through what seemed like a crystal). I adored the group dressed in red with black tones (and how much unabashed sass they had). I adored the crew dressed in blue with the lifebuoys (and how there’s a solo attire and then also four more that stand out). I also adored the more casual pack of pals carefreely going through the hallways. I could go on. The point is that the wardrobe was wardrobing. 

Taylor Swift also emphasises that she really wanted to bring the cast of The Eras Tour together for this production. So it is pretty much doing homage to those times, which is thoughtful and lovely beyond words...

The Life of a Showgirl

It’s out, TS12! Without much delay, Taylor Swift is the gift that keeps on giving. And this time, we get an album for October, primarily colored Orange.

Given the magnitude of The Eras Tour, along with the length of The Tortured Poets Department, I did get to worry about whether or not it was marking a significant end or at least an extensive hiatus. But Taylor Swift is a workaholic extremely passionate about her work. And I respect that! Still, girl, shouldn’t you have been… you know… replenishing your artistic juices, finding divine inspiration, and etcetera instead? GETTING A FAR DUE REST?!

I can’t nag about that, specifically, because the album did deliver regardless. And she’s just superhuman like that, with insane levels of stamina and multitasking ability. Many disagree, claiming that it’s her worst album ever. But I’ve been around long enough to know that this tends to happen. People hate her music, then her music grows on them. Or the hate just fades away, and then you’re left with the love that there is for it. Furthermore, there is something particular about her melodies and her lyrics that makes them work best as enhancers and amplifiers of experiences, so they come alive marvelously when you actually have the context for them to be enriched. Just like pure romanticization.

The theories on the album are running wild. Many are taking things at face value, some claiming that the work is shallow or even void. And many are going on about how there’s some 5D chess going on that only the genius of Taylor Swift and the most deranged Swifties could grasp. I’m just like… It’s deep, but it’s not THAT DEEP. Then again, you really do have to wonder what, exactly, she’s aiming to address and tend to.

Ultimately, though, and how I see it, Taylor Swift is simply doing more of what she has always done: continuing to add to her enormous library of music for people to relate to, no matter how crazy or oddly specific their situations are. And, through that, there is a, mostly gentle, mending of issues that can go from mundane and trivial to utterly complex and delicate. Dealing with the heart and relationships, yes, but also with life itself. You miss it if you don’t have a degree of sensitivity to allow you to recognize that they exist in the first place.

People are saying that she’s dumbed it down for Travis. I don’t believe that is the case. But I do get how her environment and those around her do play a role in how tapped in she is to different realms and layers of reality. With sports and the like becoming such a great part of her day-to-day, I wouldn’t expect her to be outstandingly mystical. Rather, she’d be more in touch with the physical - and disconnecting from that to drift further into the abstract would take more effort. But I still find her storytelling doing the storytelling I know her for. And the roaming around that she typically does to cover more and more is there.

Besides, the theme is The Life of a Showgirl. Not My Soul Left My Body and I Met With The Source of The Infinite. It is what it is. Compilations and depictions of what the life of a showgirl is or could be pictured as. It’s a magazine containing various accounts that tie back to show business. To be or witness a showgirl. And the fun (and realizations) that come out of that.

I also came across people complaining about how it is so “happy” and so “millennial”. And I’m… you’ve got to be kidding me. A lot of them are indeed kids who apparently missed the memo - and what’s right in front of their eyes, too. But it's also just cluelessness. It is implied in the title (and promo) that she’s looking at matters in hindsight, so why would you expect anything else? And it is tradition for her to base albums off the assigned color that differentiates them from the rest, which, in this case, is orange (A HAPPY COLOR, and it wasn’t even like she was THAT happy on and with every track). So, yeah, more of what I’m used to when it comes to TS. Completely baseless arguments. That don’t even require counterarguments, but I wanna facepalm.

If you are familiar with Taylor Swift’s work, you would know. She considers herself and behaves herself as a healer with her art. It is more about expressing than it is about impressing (though she manages that too with the packaging of the message). And if you just happen to be in dire need of her brand of medicine, then you get it and you get it (unless you’re terribly unaware).

For me, personally, Opalite and The Life of a Showgirl stood out the most. They quickly took effect as songs that, through the dirt and the ordeal, help you look on the bright side, come to terms with what is and was, and move on to new horizons. But I’m betting other songs will later do their magic in incredible ways as well.

I’m fond of how she closed it all up with a conclusive moment. The exchange between Taylor and Sabrina’s characters, candidly sharing about what being a Showgirl is like. That was perfect. It is what we call here “cerrar con un broche de oro” and I absolutely loved it.

Glad the album was released early in the month. I will keep listening to it through it and beyond. And although it is only 12 songs, I DO PRAY this album will get more MVs than the previous one. Come on, there are GEMS in there.