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.

What's Going On?

HUGE THANKS to people who, besides sticking to the facts, are as clear and honest as they can be when a person is confused or doubtful (or just doesn't quite have a firm grasp). One of the worst things that can happen to someone's psychological health is being dodged and/or gaslit. I really appreciate those of you who actively keep that from happening.

The Sacrificial Lamb

Maybe being chosen isn’t always such a great thing. We might be so desperate to feel special that we fail to ask where they intend to take us. Is it to honor us or to sacrifice us? Or is it both, so you can’t quite tell?

It is nothing new and will keep happening, over and over, for as long as it is allowed, wherever and however it is. People with valuable qualities get sacrificed for the benefit of somebody or something else. It’s not a compliment to be called useful when all you’ll be is used up. What good is for you to be appraised for all that’s worthy in you if it’s only to take it away?

You can spot these monsters sooner rather than later. Before it is too late for you. Before there is no coming back from it. They may look like regular people at first or, worse, like virtuous people. But make no mistake, they will not show you compassion.

In fact, they could come to you with very convincing arguments about why you must agree and why not doing so makes you a horrible person - a selfish person who cannot think of others. All the while, being the ones who cannot pause to think of you and what is best for you, despite you being innocent and owing them nothing. That doesn’t matter to them. What matters is what you can do for them - and whether or not you comply.

There is something in or about you that they lack and cannot achieve on their own. They could even resent you for it, viewing it as ‘unfair’ and as though, because of that, you are obligated to ‘share’ it, because it would be so good for everyone else to have. And you might be blind to what that is, you do not recognize it in yourself and instead take it for granted, but it is desperately sought after for some reason. And it could be almost anything.

Alternatively, maybe it is not unique or exclusive to you, though they may tell you so, and you just happen to be someone that they are fine with leaving nothing of so they go to you for as much of it as they can get.

And what a scary situation to be in, when those around you are willing and ready to put you through the worst, as if it is the right thing to do. Yet, it is so wrong.

Halloween Month

October is here!
It’s Halloween time.
You can expect an emphasis on terror-related content.

Within Temptation's Light Can Only Shine In The Darkness

This has been out for a while now, but don’t think for a second that I took it for granted! I was just waiting for the weather to be just right so that I could more fully immerse myself in it. And now it is.

As usual, Within Temptation doesn’t disappoint when it comes to soulful art. I still find myself at a loss for words to describe what it does to my spirit and how much it requires it. I don’t always realize how deprived it is until, suddenly, I get to indulge in this kind of energy.

I love everything about this music video. All that it captures. The numerous scenarios, the wandering around and through them, the painful and heavy loneliness carried within and shown on the outside, the bitter, the sweet, and the bittersweet moments. While the lyrics may be simple, short and to the point, pictures speak a thousand words. And so, you wonder what each line could be hiding or pointing toward. The many ways they could be interpreted.

It is hauntingly beautiful yet also crudely real. Sometimes we lose others and sometimes we are lost. Or the other way around (they lose us and they are lost). However, when bonds are undeniable, the connection and more can remain.

Definitely more profoundly meaningful than you’d assume at first glance…

It Wasn't an Easy Task

A formal apology if you found me depleted, frustrated, irritable, heartbroken, with trust issues, and in extreme survival mode. Add to that fretting and panicking about my mother’s life-or-death situation while loathing my relatives' lack of support. The odds were definitely NOT in your favor. It was mission impossible to ace it. And if you “passed” anyway, that’s already superhuman. 👍🏻

Optional or Obligatory Group Work

Some people prefer to work alone and some people prefer to work in groups. There are pros and cons to both, but sometimes we don’t have a choice.

Working in groups, there are countless ways in which things could go wrong or just not run smoothly. Working alone, well, if you’re diligent, you can get it done, but it may be lacking. Who doesn’t have one or more outlandish stories about that time when they worked in a group? Insufferable in the moment, laughable in hindsight. And who doesn't have an instance when they worked alone, only to then look at a group's work with wonder and admiration while falling short? Or just wished their time had been shared to be more memorable.

In the event of having to work in a group, you don’t always get to choose who you’re working with. In fact, you rarely do. People are included or they include themselves. And unless there’s an irrefutable reason to kick them out, you’ll have to put up with it. Don’t get it wrong, many can be wonderful. Or just worth the trouble. But quite frankly, some can be a complete waste of space.

Frustration and disappointment can be expected. Someone might be too lazy, another might be too incompetent, another too irresponsible, and another as if cursed with the worst luck. Then, if any work gets done, it is because of the few hard and smart workers who pulled through regardless.

The hard and smart workers will tell you that they’d much rather you stay out of the way if you will only complicate matters and instead simply let them handle it. However, ideally, everyone would be able to carry their own weight or at least add their own spice. Yet, what is most unbearable is having somebody meddling, causing distractions and delays, only to not really contribute anything of substance to make up for it. These workers might even be charitable and personally select and include somebody who’s falling behind and cannot do much, and gladly help them out, but will not welcome somebody who, while capable, does no more than get in the way.

You can call it rude and "not being very nice". But the reality of it is that work is work, not play. If playing is what you all are doing, then you may have a valid argument for being more laid back about it and fooling around. Nevertheless, when people are invested (especially intensely so) in making progress and seeing results, indifference (particularly the sort that sabotages) can be detestable.

Ironically, it is usually those least willing to put in the work that are most drawn to group work, so that others will pick up their slack or just for the heck of messing with everyone and everything. So beware of that and take the measures you must.

Groups form as work to tend to arises. See when you can opt in to lend a hand. And opt out when your hands are full.

Stans

Regardless of how much (or how little) I had going on, I couldn’t just ignore this. I was immediately drawn by the concept of Stan and “Stans”. Automatically, I wondered, “What could Shady Films possibly be up to this time?” And still, with part of me angry at everything and at nothing, I went for it. Hoping I wouldn’t regret it. And I didn’t.

Stans is a documentary in the form of a film, lasting around 1 hour and 45 minutes. It was initially released for theaters but, soon after, began streaming on Paramount+, in the year 2025, during the summer, on August. It features clips from Eminem’s history as well as direct testimony from him and his many supporters (including devout “Stans”).

If you’re one of the “Stans”, this is for and about you, and you should watch it. And if you like Eminem despite or even because of his problematic nature, you should watch it. Also, if you just enjoy raw, profound, masterfully crafted, and infinitely meaningful storytelling, particularly regarding the character arc of a musician in the industry, you should watch it. I recommend it to you. 

  SPOILER ALERT!   Keep reading at your own risk. There are spoilers ahead... 

Dirty Pop: The Boy Band Scam

You can guess what got me into it! NSYNC. But also, although it is not everything I do, watching crime documentaries can be intriguing and fascinating, leaving you with your eyes more open to the atrocities that occur around us, unbelievable as they might seem, as though it’s just another Friday. And this recapitulation did not disappoint. 

Dirty Pop: The Boy Band Scam is a documentary in the form of a TV mini-series composed of 3 episodes, each lasting between 40-45 minutes. It was released on Netflix, in the year 2024, during the summer, on July. It features clips from artists involved in the events as well as direct testimony from some of them and many others.

If you’re into seeing more of the messed-up things that messed-up people do, particularly in the music industry, or if you’re just a fan of any of these bands and would like to learn more about what they went through, I recommend it to you.

  SPOILER ALERT!   Keep reading at your own risk. There are spoilers ahead... 

Unspoken Contracts

Some things are obvious and explicit, and some things are not. You could always, in good faith, ask for clarification and specifics. Yet, there’s no denying that it can leave you embarrassed or, worse, as if they’re all in a secret that you’re not.

Some things are assumed to be common sense. Or basic enough that it doesn’t have to be explained. It came with their upbringing and the upbringing of others. Somehow, though, you missed it. You skipped that class. As if you were absent one day and, the next one, you’re humiliatingly left behind. But it needs not to be this distressing. It’s just something that happens when you’re a little unusual and/or have somehow detoured. Or just didn’t walk the same path as others did.

Yes, they might be appalled. And yes, they might lose their patience. And yes, they could reprimand you for it. Not everyone can be calm and logical all the time. And failing to uphold your end of a deal, whether or not it was made evident (and repeatedly reminded of), can be unsettling to those on the other end. They might not immediately attribute it to ignorance. They might instead wonder if you’re careless or even vile. And that's a concerning possibility.

If you mean well and it was no more than ignorance (or forgetfulness), then you should be upfront about that. Then also demonstrate through corrected behavior that you now take it into account. That is, if you can agree with it being fair and reasonable, and subject yourself to it. You could also argue against such demands if they don’t sit well. Although that could go a number of ways.

Nevertheless, communication goes a long way and matters of importance should be communicated at least once so that they're brought into awareness. This isn’t to say that you are owed extensive tutoring by simply not knowing better. If you are indeed falling behind in much, you should find ways to catch up that don’t disproportionately burden others or compensate them appropriately if you do. Because, after all, it’s on you to fill those blanks - for they are your blanks.

Furthermore, you might want to get rid of stifling scripts. Perhaps you are not really expected to act in specific ways, but to learn to be yourself. Easier said than done, but still better than constantly putting up an act because it is what you believe will please others. That leaves no room for genuine connection (or spiritual growth). Show up, see how you do, and adjust from there while staying true to yourself. You might clash with some and mesh with others. But you'll be making progress if that's what you're truly in for. And that’s how it goes.

Libra's Season

♎ LIBRA

As we enter the season of Libra, it is believed that the universe will be affecting us with energies that will cause us to seek balance and foster relationships. We will be more in tune with harmony, and abilities to negotiate and connect will be enhanced. If you are receptive to them, you might be imbued with grace and diplomacy. If you are resistant to them, you might be conflicted with indecision and superficiality. 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 to strengthen meaningful ties.

Motivational Quote: "Balance is not something you find; it is something you create."

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

Information Processing & More…

You can be a student for life! There’s this myth that, once you become an adult, you stop learning. Something that, to be honest, used to frighten me. However, turns out that it is not the truth. You only stop learning once you stubbornly believe that you already have all the answers and cannot be bothered to question anything anymore. You may have more responsibilities, more that’s taking up your time and energy, or even your focus, so you can no longer devote yourself to being a full-time student, but, unless you’re physically impaired, it is more a matter of psychology. Are you welcoming knowledge, lessons, and wisdom?

Attitudes for Fluent Learning

Your attitude determines plenty, if not all! You can be resistant and in refusal, which would make you nearly impossible to work with or just insufferable in a classroom. Or you can be eager to discover more of what’s out there, filling up the gaps and revising the patches in your worldview. The formula for Fluent Learning is essentially having Curiosity (interest and excitement), Receptivity (perception and flexibility), and Discernment (judgment and structurization). All of this is fundamental so that you can be led to truthfulness rather than misled to falsehood. All while staying engaged enough to follow through the ups and downs and the maze that comes with learning and, especially, deeper and greater learning.

Uncertain & Unproven Ideas or Claims

Many people miss out on going further, making discoveries, having realizations, and reaching extraordinary levels of consciousness because they firmly stick with what is tried and true. And that is totally okay if that’s how you prefer to go about it (we need overly reliable people like that). However, if you like to push boundaries, go into the unknown, wonder about the what-ifs, and philosophize about existence, not only in the concrete but also in the abstract, that is valid too and should not be dismissed. Nevertheless, it is recommendable to make it a habit to frame and state what hasn’t yet been sufficiently proven for certain as Possibilities (or, if more applicable, as Fiction) instead of as facts. This will keep your credibility intact and potentially make you someone intriguing and entertaining to listen to, whether or not you will later come back with proof and certainty to share the facts as facts.  

Information Processing

Let’s say that, for whatever reason, you’ve been under a rock and have missed all the news. Or worse, you’re barely coming out of some nasty brainwashing. That doesn’t necessarily mean that you have nothing of value to contribute to the conversation. You can still process information. Whatever you’ve been chewing on has been exercising your mind and you can continue to exercise your mind by chewing some more. Yet, this time, on more correct and accurate information. 

And perhaps you do have a rich knowledge base, but it is outside of what is being discussed and considered as relevant. There are likely parallels that you can draw out of that to further illustrate an issue! Anecdotes that enhance the experience and even the understanding could also come into play every now and then.

But you don’t have to teach, either. You can simply be a student. If you know what you don’t know, you can seek out those who do know what you do not know. Be attentive, take notes, and make your teachers proud (or at least have respect and gratitude for them).

Arguments and debates are not banned; they are intellectual sparring that can yield innumerable benefits. But they do have a place and time - which can be tricky to figure out (so much to consider). Formulating arguments and participating in debates, alone, can be a sophisticated art to master. But if you wish to get that far, preparation helps and practice makes perfect.

Ignorance & Confusion V.S. Awareness & Comprehension

How well do you know what you’re talking about, though? If you’re aiming to master a subject, any sign of ignorance on your part should be taken as an invitation to move toward awareness, and any sign of confusion as an invitation to move toward comprehension. Rather than doing that, we often shy away and create a comfort zone, as if an impenetrable barrier, that keeps us from growing and evolving. Sometimes you are aware of little but comprehend it much. Sometimes you are aware of much but comprehend it little. The goal is to be aware of and comprehend much. Alternatively, failure is being stagnant within ignorance and confusion.

Sources Matter

Open-mindedness, hearing from different sides, is encouraged, yes. Regardless, without restraint, it can be awfully counterproductive. If a source has demonstrated, over and over again, that it is not trustworthy, is your investment in it justified? There’s a chance it’ll spit one or two truths, here and there, but this might be so infrequent, or so mixed up in misinformation and disinformation, that it is actually disingenuous to your learning to keep dwelling in it. Manipulation, propaganda, gaslighting, and more are all too common and you might not be as immune to them as you’d like to believe. Continuous exposure, without effective counteraction, will eventually cause cracks to slip into and have you convinced of something that’s not. So, be selective about who you consider and for how long. 

The world, the universe, and everything in it is so vast and complex. It can be overwhelming to try to wrap your head around it all. But remember that you can give yourself time, take it in bits, go step by step, and eventually catch up enough that you are not so behind in it. 

This, Too, Shall Pass

I don’t mean to put anyone on the spot with sensitive topics, but I oughta emphasize that:

If you’ve ‘let yourself go’, whether because you ran out of reasons to fight or because you’re going through a rough patch that has you putting yourself last, it takes only one year (out of many more still left to live), given the required resources and having an effective system in place for it, to significantly turn things around. To tend to and recover from various injuries and illnesses that have accumulated. But also, though not that it really matters to anyone who can see past trivial superficialities, drop the extra weight, revitalize your skin & hair, and such...

You know what isn’t so easy to get, however? A soul. And the kind of character that takes decades and countless factors to come into play and forge.

Don’t let remediable issues blind you from what’s unmeasurably rare and valuable. Just take care of them. ✌🏻

Building & Fostering Community

A community doesn’t have to be a cult. It also doesn’t have to be composed of meanies that would be constantly measuring you and would ostracize you over trivial stuff. Furthermore, community isn’t necessarily something vapid that only the weak would seek. There is strength in numbers, cultivation of potential, and so much more.

Maybe you’re used to being a little (if not quite) odd and the mere idea of being part of a community scares you. Maybe your past experiences didn’t serve you or did you dirty. Or maybe you’re just so solitary that you assume any community would be too taxing for you.

The thing is that there are countless ways in which a community can be built and fostered. They don’t have to be stiff and strict. They don’t have to follow ridiculous rules and comply with absurd norms. They don’t even have to be actively participated in. You can find and, if not, make your own kind. And as long as people are safe and happy there, it counts and prevails as such.

There are a few qualities essential to communities. Everything else is optional and can be tweaked. However, be careful of what you change or remove - what may seem arbitrary may in fact be fundamental to one or more aspects of it. Put shortly, they are:

• Sharing, exchanging, and cooperation.

• Similar interests and/or aspirations.

• Sense of belonging and security.

• Specially fulfilling events and activities.

• Survivability against potential and future threats.

Now, you’d have to ponder what these fully imply and how they would apply to the kind of community that you can bring about.

For example, many communities thrive on firm hierarchies and defined roles. And this would fall under what it means to have a sense of belonging and security. Treating everyone “the same” sounds good in theory but doesn’t quite work in practice when it doesn’t consider what people are contributing, what their preferences are, and if they have limitations that should be accommodated. It is nuanced work if you hope to get it right. And there may be plenty of trial and error.

As another example, it might seem as though competition should be banned, but competition fits under what’s sharing, exchanging, and cooperating. If it doesn’t get so malicious and harmful that it destroys relationships, it’s merely a means to encourage development and improvement among those competing. They’d have to be mature enough about it, though. Or have someone around with conflict resolution skills to smooth things out and help them through any tensions.

It is simple, yet complicated. And it depends. Different challenges come with different types of communities. If they’re large or small. Diverse or uniform. Going against the odds or going with the flow. And if you’re serious about it, it is a full-time job to figure out what’s best for it and implement it.

Not Too Early, Not Too Late, Newcomers

I said I would be a better Host this year, but what was in store for me went beyond anything I could have predicted (and I’m still trying to get it together). However, whether you catch me in my most receptive, flexible, and accommodating self or not, you can be 100% sure that, if you’re the kind of person I make content for, I’ll be happy to have you around!

What kind of person is that? You may ask. Well, I can be quite polarizing rather than palatable to most. However, that’s how I prefer it because it is rooted in specific values and principles that I’m firm about. They keep me on track with my mission ('Unbridling & Sustaining Artistic Abilities') and ultimately filter in and out who I’m rolling with. So, in other words, if you don’t have a problem with what I am and stand for (openly or not), chances are I don’t with you either (I do take feedback and make revisions, I simply do not tolerate sabotage). Then, we might click together in mutually beneficial ways.

I’ve accumulated plenty to browse through already, but I’m still working on making sense and putting in order all that I must for things to flow with (at least comparable) stability and ease. Yet, please keep in mind that, regardless of how much I cover, it is still on you to seek out content from other (ideally reliable) sources to continue to develop yourself the best you can. And I’ll just regularly put out my part in contribution.

Furthermore, there are times when I am paying close attention to current events and times when I am not. If you really must bring something to my attention (and I seem to be missing it), allow yourself to be extra ‘obnoxious’ about it, leaving comments or sending direct messages. I may be busy (or zoned out), but not indifferent. I'll be gathering concerns and tackling them over time.

PS: I also pretty much function in a “if the hat fits, wear it” manner. Don’t take for yourself any hostility or intervention that isn’t merited. If it doesn’t apply to you, then it doesn’t. But if it does, in the same or a lesser degree, then it is an opportunity for self-reflection. And even so, it may or may not have been directed at you or anyone in particular (just addressing common or related issues). ✌🏻

Being a Decent Human Being

“It costs nothing to be nice.” Actually, sometimes it does. Maybe a little and maybe a lot. But it might be worth it anyway. Nice or kind.

We may have ventured into a world, or an area of it, where being a decent human being is not rewarded or even encouraged. Where most would boast about their lack of concern and consideration for others, as if it is some sort of grand achievement that separates them from the “sheep”. But this is quite an oversimplified and skewed view of it.

You can be nice (and kind) to others without betraying yourself. You can accomplish great things without being a lousy or terrible person. You can be in disagreement and lose the approval of others and STILL be a decent human being. So no, it is not about losing your independence and your individuality. It is simply about, at the very least, behaving in a justifiable manner. 

You can put yourself first. But does that mean you should be stepping over others on your way or even be going out of your way to punch and kick them? Unprompted? You can push yourself further. But does that mean you are allowed to steal, exploit, or even abuse others? Including those with fewer resources than you and more at a disadvantage? You can give yourself a break. But does that mean it is okay to completely ignore and dismiss it when others are in danger and require help? Regardless of whether or not they were there for you or rely on you?

In some form, you ought to work concern and consideration for others into the equation. It doesn’t even have to be a 50/50 balance. But make it so that you are not just a leech or a cancer to the world and those in it. 

Give when you can and don’t take what’s not yours to receive. If you earned something, or will reciprocate that something, or you’d honor it in a significant manner, or it was simply in overflowing abundance… Then there might be no issue with claiming it. But if you go around pretending to be someone you’re not, making promises you don’t intend to keep, assuming you’re entitled to more than you truly are, and leaving people worse than you found them… You’ve failed at justifying your existence.

Should you off yourself? Get away from everyone? Sit in a corner? And never come back? Not really. But if you cannot be bothered to properly maintain and correct your behavior, do not expect to belong in circles where people do.

Back To School Month

September is here!
It’s Back To School time.
You can expect an emphasis on education-related content.

Autumn Once More

Autumn arrives once more...
Do you know what that means?
It means we go further.
Look more closely, reach depper.
And maybe face what's been avoided.

A Day At The Beach

♪ Y aunque parezcas despistado, con ese caminar pausado,
conozco la razón que hace doler tu corazón… ♪

I was finally able to take time for myself, away from the screen. I accidentally got sunburnt, but at least I got there. So I could make this compilation of my surroundings at the beach. Surprisingly, I did end up moving quite close to it and, for that, I rejoice!

PS: The song coming to mind for this occasion, though I can personally relate as well, reminds me of all the devoted healers out there, putting in the work to mend the wounds of the innocent and/or the unfairly treated. 😌

When You're Being Watched

Nothing like being watched to bring back your inhibitions. Suddenly, things you forgot or weren’t even aware you were insecure about are making you self-conscious. It makes you nervous, cripplingly so, and embarrassed, to further your detriment.

A lot of the time, however, we are being too harsh on ourselves, too nitpicky. Maybe because we know that others will be so. But even if they are, should it matter that much? Isn’t that a THEM issue rather than a YOU issue? And if that’s the case, maybe you could use more self-acceptance, coming to terms with the things you don’t like so much about yourself or even learn to appreciate them if they can be.

Confidence, not arrogance, can go a long way in immunizing you to unkind stares. Remembering that you’re the whole package and, unless there’s something seriously wrong about you, to be truly concerned about, you’re not some sort of freak of nature that’s failing so badly at being within what’s normal or, if actually odd or outstanding, failing at what can be considered worthwhile. Therefore, any cruel judgments are unmerited.

Nevertheless, we may want to put our best forth. If not for those who love us, then at least to not give the satisfaction to those who hate us of seeing us at our worst. If that’s the case, preparation and improvements could be due.

We could also benefit from tuning out. If you can trust that you will operate according to your standards, being attuned to what others might be perceiving and interpreting would be needless and counterproductive, holding you back from flowing smoothly.

Furthermore, have solid arguments in your defense. For any incoming attacks aimed at any vulnerability, or what might look like such, so you can’t be hit and thrown off. You don’t necessarily have to debate it, you don’t have to explain yourself either, but you should definitely have them for yourself so that you can remain unbothered.

Another trick is to return the humiliation. However, that’s not a very ‘zen’ thing to do. It is effective, though. If anyone’s giving you nasty stares over something of yours, give them some back over something of theirs.

Ideally, you’d have enough privacy to not have your guard up all the time, but when you’re being watched, at least this much can make it manageable.

Message In a Bottle

What if you wanted or needed to sneak in an extra message? Something that’d get the attention from only a few. Normally, it’s what we do when we whisper, gesture, or make expressions towards those who can see and hear us, leaving out the rest from the little secret.

It’s nothing new. Is it kind of rude? Yes, when you’re not in it. But then again, there are way worse things in life. And when it comes to art, multiple messages, some less obvious than others, are to be expected. The question is then: Are you paying close attention?

If you’re invested enough to be able to tell when something is off or might have an added meaning, you’re already past the door and into the circle of people who ‘get it’. Are you welcome there or not, however? That still depends. 

Let’s say you’re making art and you’d like to add hidden messages for a minority. A specific target audience, your most invested participants, and such. There are a few ways to go about it. And you can choose the ones that suit your style and/or fit the level of discretion that you’re aiming for.

- Put it in something you don’t regularly do. An extra piece that isn’t quite like the others.

- Put it in your regular pieces, but subtly highlight it by consistently adding a mark that signals that it should be read further into.

- “Casually” add background music with lyrics that speak for you.

- “Casually” add background signs that point towards or literally say it.

- Have a separate collection or via through which your work, though it may seem normal, always carries hidden messages.

Then it is a matter of giving them the time to recognize these quirks, along with your particular patterns. You can think of more ways, of course, there are plenty, but these are some of the least messy, yet still “hidden in plain sight”, sort. And you can continue to go about your day job as if you haven’t been doing anything extra and sneaky.

Later on, whether you will admit to any of this more explicitly, it is for you to decide. You shouldn’t be messing with people’s heads and hearts, causing psychological harm or worse. But if it’s all just been without ill intent or even for valid reasons, and you’ve kept yourself in check (beware of using symbols or “symbols” that should be respected and/or avoided, etc.), you can have a clear conscience.

Virgo's Season

♍ VIRGO

As we enter the season of Virgo, it is believed that the universe will be affecting us with energies that will cause us to examine our lives and focus on improvement. We will be more in tune with our analytical minds, and abilities to solve and perfect will be enhanced. If you are receptive to them, you might be imbued with clarity and precision. If you are resistant to them, you might be conflicted with overthinking and self-criticism. 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 to refine your goals.

Motivational Quote: "Small steps make the biggest difference."

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

The Glow Up

You are beautiful when you glow. When you don’t too, but this is a different kind.

The term glow up is often casually used to refer to surface levels of improvements, making your appearance more appealing, typically based on the current or surrounding beauty standards. And while that’s fine, there can also be a lot more to it. You could be glowing from the inside out.

When this is the case, it’s not only a physical beauty, but a spiritual one as well. You feel good inside, you’re centered and balanced, and you are at peace and ease. And that comes through. May even be somewhat contagious, helping induce a similar state in others when they’re in proximity. Call it pleasant vibes or aura.  

It is thorough work, though. Suppressing, denying and ignoring won’t do. If there is something bothering you, it must be addressed. Exposed and acknowledged. Maybe you can’t fix everything fully, but at least enough to outshine any foul moods and states that these issues may be causing in you.

You must tend to your body, yes, but also to your mind, to your heart, and to your spirit. Tend to the physiological but also to the psychological. And that might be your biggest flex - to be so thoroughly taken care of that there is nothing to envy in others or resent them for. You are feeling great about yourself and what else is there to worry about when you’re in optimal shape?

Unfortunately, though, some of the worst people you’ll meet will be drawn to you when you’re at your best. And if you’re not careful, if you don’t fiercely protect yourself, your energy and your whole being, along with your lifestyle, they could drain and destroy you to the point where you’ll become unrecognizable. These are people who feed off you and/or who just despise that you vibrate so high and have so much of what they lack. Some of them may not even seem like it, they may look like they have it even better than you. But if they operate with malice and disregard for your wellbeing, chances are that they do not.

You may be accused of being “stuck up” because you are confident and secure in yourself, enough to not get too close or invested in what damages you, and likely many others who also cared genuinely about you, so arduously worked towards. Let them and keep your head high.

Retrieving Your Spark

You let yourself go and you wish to get back to yourself? That can be done. It might not be an overnight job, but you’ll get there after taking the required steps.

If, for whatever reason(s), you find yourself somewhere you’d rather not be, grab a pen and a notebook (tangible, to give yourself off-screen and grounding time, and/or virtual, as the convenience of the extra features available can go a long way) and start taking notes. It’ll help you identify, outline, and break apart what is happening and what has to be done to remedy it.

It may be that you’re disconnected from yourself, from what really makes you come alive, what fulfills you and takes you closer to your self-actualization. And it may be that you’ve overlooked the importance of tending to the little, yet essential, self-care tasks that keep you in shape, running smoothly and safely, which eventually hinders all. Maybe you pushed yourself too far, too.

You can take your notes however it is best for you. But one approach to it would be the following:

- Note everything that is currently wrong or off.

- Note what of that is within your reach to fix.

- Note what is messing them up and what could sort them out.

- Note your priorities, which issues you will tackle first and which afterwards.

- Note your timeframe (though remind yourself that you can be flexible) for having them settled.

Depending on how much there is to work on, it could be anything from a week to years. However, don’t let that discourage you. The mere act of getting yourself on track to make progress is already rewarding. Wouldn’t choose to just give up on yourself, would you?

Some of us had it especially tough because we had to undo years and years of harmful treatment and conditioning, breaking cycles and habits, examining beliefs. And we would have to get to know ourselves because we didn’t get a chance to before (or are called to do so more thoroughly). In order to have a shot at becoming and being our own glowing selves. Hence, retrieving your spark might not be so readily on sight and instead get tricky, to say the least. However, once you learn and know how to bring it about, it gets easier to do for other instances in which you later lose it. Then you might, as well, be able to steadily maintain it.

The Glow Down

It is true, it shows on the outside what is going on in the inside. If you’re in circumstances, situations, or relationships that are more stressful than they are relieving, it will be reflected. Not only psychologically, but also physically.

Your skin might dry out, you might get acne, your hair could fall out, or it may thin and gray, you could start putting on weight, inflammation here and there, along with dark circles around your eyes, or even a pale “dead” look. Along all that, you might not even find it in yourself to take as much care of yourself as you otherwise would.

And while many of these consequences are reversible, they can still take a lot to get rid of once they’ve begun. What’s worse, though, is that some can be permanent. You can literally age faster when put under severe stress. And that’s without touching the very real damage that it can cause to your brain.

So you may call it vanity or what you will, but this is part of why hanging and sticking around people and places that strain you isn’t recommendable. You don’t get a badge of honor for enduring detrimental treatment or labor. What you get is your suffering reflected on you.

Sure, we can’t always be chasing absolute bliss, pushing away and shutting out everything and everyone who isn’t that for us. But we can seek to reduce and counter those moments that take a toll on us. Setting clear boundaries and making room for nourishing activities, having no reluctance to ignore and dismiss any guilt-tripping that could come our way about it.

Some people are martyrs and expect you to be too. And some people are abusers and expect you to allow abuse. Neither should have a say on what you do and don’t do with your life. It is the people who yearn to see you doing well, and who even help you move toward this, whose opinions matter.

We don’t always realize when we’re pushing beyond what we can properly handle, probably being caught up in the frenzy of tending to whatever it is that’s consuming us. So when these things start to happen, when you’re glowing down, they can be taken as symptoms to realize that a change is required.

Leeches but Also...

You would (mistakenly) think that, with all these leeches that show up wherever there is abundance or abundance in the making, it is all that is out there. But it is not.

There are also those who come to be a part of it and give their best, who honor and support it within their abilities, to make it even grander. As though devoted to building something greater than themselves alone.

They bring encouragement, guidance, insight, relief, and even protection. BESIDES fulfilling their own roles. And so much MORE.

Didn't Sign Up for That (Extortion & Exploitation)

You’ll be baffled by the type of things people would do to you. If you have a pure heart and good intentions toward others, you will often be shocked. And even as someone who’s barely semi-decent with others, you’re in for many (unpleasant) surprises.

We tend to assume, even while trying to be conscious and aware, that others are as considerate, or at least as logical, as we are. So when they hit us with an unexpected twist of events, something that broke the script you had assigned for how something was supposed to go, and even goes outside any other plausible possibilities, you might be left speechless. People can be indifferent, harsh, and cruel beyond anything we’ve already envisioned.

Maybe they’re in a complicated situation, maybe they had a rough day, maybe it’s just what they know so far, but, deep down, they’re still good or wish to be good. Yet, maybe not. At times, people are simply concerned with only themselves. It’s this type of people that make firm boundaries and strict rules a requirement in life. Law enforcement, even. They would not find it in themselves to genuinely be kind to others. They would only perform as such under the pressure of severe punishment or the allure of grand reward.

Someone who wants to take advantage of you isn’t so easily recognized. More likely than not, they have been doing this for much of their lives and have experience with what does and doesn’t work on and around others. So give yourself grace if you can’t immediately tell who’s who.

Nevertheless, you must inform and educate yourself on what constitutes as fair. Refine your understanding of it. Distinguish what you are really obligated to do and what you are due for in a given situation, so that nobody can shame or guilt you into complying with their twisted arrangements. Putting you in a spot where you lose and they win - disproportionately.

It starts with honoring yourself, your needs, your wants, and your limits. Getting it through your whole being that you matter, too. That you were not put in this world to please the worst types of people that exist here. That something doesn’t cease to be right and correct merely because those who are inconvenienced by it would disagree. And that you are (and should be) allowed to be a “nuisance” if it means standing up for yourself.

There may be plenty to factor in and ponder, so arriving at the proper answer(s) within the given circumstances can be difficult, but it is something that cannot be left to people you cannot trust, who do not have your best interests at heart. Ideally, you’d have someone with integrity and expertise to help you, but that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t get involved in the subject and grasp it to an extent as well.

Sometimes it's Yours to Snatch, Sometimes it's Not

Lots of things in this world that people aren't really entitled to but believe they are. Then they wanna force it rather than earn it.

Too Much Blah, Blah, Blah (Too Little Action)

Indeed, actions speak louder than words. And it is as if it is precisely because of this very same fact that such a large number of words are often used in an attempt to compensate and cover up for the lack of actually doing what is supposed to be done.

Having long conversations, expressing your thoughts and feelings, getting deep into topics and thoroughly discussing them, all of that is great. What is not great is making promises you don’t intend to keep or continually putting off and going in circles to examine irrelevant details when you should have already arrived at a proper solution or conclusion. This is maddening to anybody who honors their time and wishes to make progress.

If you cannot shut your mouth when you do not have something productive to say, you’ll soon lose the attention of the kind of people who are responsible and committed. Or, at the very least, lose their respect, whether they tell you or not.

In an era where most crave attention and lack discipline, talking and talking, without necessarily getting anywhere, seems to be the answer. It is becoming more and more commonplace. Not just a matter of being outgoing vs. being reserved. And it can get outrageous with the tactics employed to keep you engaged.

It is very probable that you will encounter and be in proximity to people like this. Maybe it won’t bother you as much or maybe it will. It may seem harmless, be flattering even, but it can ultimately test your patience to no end - especially when you’ve already stated that you’d rather get moving. You might find yourself asking, begging, demanding, or even shouting and crying in desperation while being repeatedly disregarded with lame excuses or more empty promises. It is humiliating. You’d feel foolish and played.

So do you turn into them, too? Please, no. Instead, set the example or simply exist as one of the few who can still be counted on. Attention isn’t so difficult to get that you’d have to turn to future-faking, stalling, or even love-bombing. Have and show substance. Speak when your actions already reflect what you’re saying. And if entertaining and bouncing ideas is all you’d like to do, then present that as such, not as a reality.

Leo's Season

♌ LEO

As we enter the season of Leo, it is believed that the universe will be affecting us with energies that will cause us to embrace creativity and radiate confidence. We will be more in tune with our self-expression, and abilities to lead and inspire will be enhanced. If you are receptive to them, you might be imbued with enthusiasm and charisma. If you are resistant to them, you might be conflicted with pride and a need for validation. 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 to shine and inspire others.

Motivational Quote: "Let your light shine brightly."

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