Christmas Month

December is here!
It’s Christmas (/holidays) time.
You can expect an emphasis on altruism-related content.

Winter Once More

Winter arrives once more...
Do you know what that means?
It means, at last, we can sit back.
Let out a long sigh.
Spend time with our close ones (and oneself).

Actually, Just Live While You Can

What does living while you can mean? Usually, we interpret this as being fully in the moment at all times, yielding to every whim, recklessly taking every opportunity or risk. However, it doesn’t have to be this reductive (and dangerously regrettable).

It can be more about tending to what’s important. And that differs from person to person. What brings you peace and what brings you joy? Are you caring for your needs and for your wants, in such a way that you can accomplish fulfillment? Do you give enough attention to what you value most and to what deserves it?

There’s a popular saying that can be applied to this. Essentially, they say something along the lines that the only two people that you should try to impress and make proud are the 8-year-old you, who looks forward, and the 80-year-old you, who looks backward. How well are you doing at that? Are you pleasing the version who’s filled with wonder and the version who’s overflowing with revelations?

Your life is more than just your present; it is also your past and your future, and all that interconnects. This means that being thoughtful and considerate is part of what constitutes living without regrets. This can be paralyzing sometimes, trapping in needless fears and worries, and that’s something to watch out for, but shouldn’t be entirely dismissed.

There is peace, joy, and fulfillment in bothering to take into account what must be. The problem arises when you neglect your present for it.

Furthermore, others may get a say in how it goes, but you do as well. If you’re completely handing over the script of your life to somebody else, or to traditions, trends, or predictions, are you really living your life? Certainly, you can learn from them and implement what sits right with you (or what is imperative), but you lose the plot when it wholly dictates what you do and don’t do.

And what about your growth? Isn’t it amazing that you get to come to this place to explore, experience, experiment, express, and expand? You literally start with a set of talents and capabilities and can, from there, decide what sort of knowledge you will be collecting and what sort of skills you will be developing, reaching higher and higher levels throughout your entire lifetime. Overlooking this and getting stuck, stagnating at the bottom, does seem like a waste.

Ultimately, you could live so fully that it makes a positive and constructive difference, not only on you, but on those around you - or even coming after. And that’s something that, at least to some, makes life worth striving for.

Reclaim your life. Live it responsibly, but live it.

Billie Eilish's Birds of A Feather

Uff, I'm really not yet sure what was behind it. Yet, undeniably, there was a ring to the song, making it now a favorite to go back to over and over again. However, what most caught my attention, initially, was the location. It looks like such a liminal space!

I am personally fond of how it is as if from another time. With the construction, the furniture, the colors, and even the camera. It sort of transports me to when I was growing up and somehow ending up in such places while the grownups were doing their grownup things. Yet, interestingly, in this case, it is empty of other humans (at least in flesh), which is also particularly satisfying, given my innate aversion to crowds and noise. It is difficult to explain, but that’s indeed a dimension that I can sincerely appreciate. Oddly so. Not to be forever stuck within it, but to have at some point experienced.

And of course, it got me with the themes of death, too. As much as I welcome such topics with the ambiance that exacerbates them, it was refreshing to have them in a more casual manner - making it less of a taboo to bring up.

I don’t know what it is intending to portray, exactly, but it is definitely an intriguing and fascinating concept. While words essentially speak of willingly joining in, imagery speaks of an invisible force that can pull and carry someone around and across the room(s).

You could catch me humming and singing along to Birds of a Feather as it trended without realizing the depth of it, though! (Do love it even more now, however...)

Sticking Together, It’s Complicated…

When creating, the systematic processing side is compelled to make everything neatly organized, but the storytelling processing side is like, “No, actually…” And throws that stiffling made-up order out the window for LORE.

It is tempting to have all the parts fit together perfectly, following the same approach, sharing similar traits, and so on, but that doesn’t say a lot. That ends up being… lifeless.

So, although it can be irritating, frustrating, or just boggling when things don’t follow a script, break and/or fall out of their spot, become something other than they could have been, it is what makes it wonderfully organic rather than merely mechanical. And it is what tells a tale.

Yes, I’m mad about the possibility that the deity who nurtured the outlaws at the verge of extinction out of the danger of it will lose her magical powers and turn into cement.

Yes, it was unexpected that one of the catalysts was chosen and promoted by his pupils rather than by the ‘officials’ as it usually goes.

Yes, it is incredible that some of the most impactful factors have a low profile or are even anonymous while the rest rose to fame and stardom.

And don’t get me started about entities that are but aren’t there…

However, if you ponder it, all of this unravels more about the nature of all. It’s gonna be tricky and challenging to narrate, not gonna lie, and you may not be happy about each and every step and turn this takes, but ohhh… the intrigue, the fascination, the slap in the face that this is more grand, more profound, and waaay more complex than you could initially comprehend.

You are not in control. You are only the creative writer. And ironically, that makes you a reader too.

(May not even have to go out of your way and ‘do it for the plot’. It gets crazy on its own.)

Shakira's Anniversary

Oh. My. God. It’s been DECADES. And this song has aged like fine wine! Shakira, questioning social and societal norms since forever. And for that and more, love her!

You know what else I’m grateful for these days? Being able to remember stuff. This is taking me back to when I was a kid, singing my lungs out, jumping around to this song, while attempting to keep up with the lyrics and checking how much I managed to do so. (If I recall correctly, I couldn't get a hold of the CD, so it was a cassette I had to patiently rewind or fast-forward to get to the parts I was into and/or play the whole thing without skipping. If anything, I'll take that as a testament to being a true fan!)

It is taking me back to my grandmother’s house - specifically to the living room she had, where she kept antiques and artworks she cherished (we play-pretended it was haunted), and the big family dinners, with relatives and their +1s coming from different countries for it, were held. I’d indulge in music and more there any day of the year, enjoying the space and the atmosphere. And I’m so thankful to be able to relive this, even if only in little bits.

It’s no news that many Latin Americans fell in love with and remember Shakira for her earlier work. I mean, damn, talk about artsy. But fret not, we love her later stuff, too! That woman is a genius, whenever and wherever she goes… 🤭

How's The World's Culture Progressing This Year, 2025?

This year has been unhinged and deranged. And not even in an edgy way. Regressively so. All the way back into denial and delusion. For the comfort and convenience of people who cannot be bothered to be more cultured.

This isn’t my first time writing about cultural progress, so you can check for more of my views and opinions on my previous World’s Cultural Progress articles.

My Personal Stance
Still, again, it remains the same! As it has been from the very beginning, I stand for what is truthful, effective, and fair. I don’t yet have all the answers, but I do my best to consider and weigh different views and opinions to grasp the reality of the matter and find solutions to issues. Generally, I see that people are either ignorant, confused, misguided, malicious, pushing an agenda, or a combination of two or more of those. And I try to have patience, but it can run out.

Cultural Progress in 2025
Now, as it turns out, not only do we have to worry about regular folks and established reporters spreading misinformation and disinformation while lacking reason and/or compassion, but also about the rapidly increasing amount of bots and paid actors, along with the mess of AI, taking over platforms and playing the algorithms - that can turn the tide in one or another direction. The times when you could come online to have honest and enriching debates with others have been coming to an end and are approaching that end. You’ll have to find your group of people who genuinely care about learning and dig through the vast amount of trash, with skepticism and discernment turned up, in order to retrieve anything you can of value, so that you can then discuss it.

Points
Overall, it looks to me as though a lot of people don’t want to think anymore and are not even trying to hide it. As if progressives were frying their brains, with either valid arguments or plain nonsense, and it’s bouncing back with all the force. However, we’re also generally living in a more stressful, overwhelming, and exhausting period that barely allows any deep or thorough thinking. The ability to be level-headed is a luxury nowadays.

• “Your way didn’t work, so we do it my way!”
There’s no pausing to see where, exactly, things took a turn for the worse or went too far. It’s a no-nuance jump-to-conclusion. "You got these movements wrong? That means they were all COMPLETELY WRONG." And now we have people casually considering that, ~actually~, maybe slavery, rape, etc., are all fine. Yes, it is getting THAT bad.

• “I miss the good old days…”
When, though? People are looking at the supposedly preferable past as if it were some ideal epoch where none of their current problems existed, and neither any other kinds of issues that they’re now fortunately free of. New generations, too, are romanticizing the past while overlooking everything that many fought and worked hard to leave behind for the better.

• “WHITE MEN, YEAH!!”
Nothing says “I lack worth and I’m insecure about it” like insisting on somehow having more worth than others on the mere basis of having been born white and male (I can’t even call them ‘men’ at this psychological development level). If anything, the unfounded belief that you’re superior solely because of that will lead you to not put in the effort to be truly competent because, according to this logic, you magically are. “But the statistics!” Look, it is not that simple. It really is not.

And again. That’s all for now. I may still sporadically engage and elaborate on various topics, but expect the continuation of this post next year. Please stay lucid and keep improving!

Thank You, Thank You, Thank You…

Whoa, it’s been really… something. But despite and after almost unbearably turbulent months, I have much to be thankful for! In fact, it blows my mind how blessed I am. And more and more it looks like I’m where I’m meant to be. With more answered prayers than I can count!

I’m particularly astonished by how God, The Universe, Inexplicable Forces at Play, whatever and however you’d call them, have been on my side - with more grace than I could ask for. And believe me, I’ll try my best not to fall from this grace.

I’m deeply and greatly thankful for…
• The appreciation, regardless of being found in my mess, and the help, realizing my potential.
• Being joined despite the opposition I face, given the risks and sacrifices that it entails.
• Patience had with my limits (can’t do everything) and lack thereof (might do a lot).
• Being granted space to be human, and grow, mature, and evolve through it.
• Understanding and tolerance when I cannot or fail to be at my 100%, my best self.
• Allowing me to learn from you and letting me teach you, too.
• Much of the mediation, the diffusion, the relief, and more that's done before I could tend to it.
• Harsh, but necessary truths (often with fantastic timing and delivery).
• Outstanding levels of attentiveness and devotion to important projects.
• Energy, inspiration, motivation… quite overlooked but essential to go against and beat the odds.
• Dreamers, dreaming big, INSANELY SO, and it being okay, encouraged even.
• Those still here, but also those gone, that I couldn’t have gotten this far without.

I know I’ve kept people waiting, and I am sincerely sorry about that (what is predictable these days?). However, I am also immensurably thankful that you did. And if you are sticking around for more of where all this will take us and what it will bring us? Grateful beyond words!

Thank you, for real.
And Happy Thanksgiving!

"Get a Real Job!"

For some reason, for some people, it is never enough unless you lose your shine. You’d assume that income would make a job qualify as real, but not even that. Not even when it does give you financial security (and freedom).

Some just want you to be miserable. They are not about keeping you afloat. These are often resentful beings who cannot stand to see you enjoy yourself at a job you love or moving toward it. They will try to bring you down with them. Worse if they have a nice position but are still so insecure that they're compelled to sabotage you and your efforts.

They could start tearing you down with the topic of money. Does it pay as well or more than theirs? And if it does, is it guaranteed to keep bringing as much or more in the future? However, it is the case that you don’t really have to prove anything to them. Perhaps you’re not quite there yet or you’re fine with what you make, so that’s irrelevant and besides the point. 

Yet, even if you check those boxes, they’ll keep probing. They could go for how ‘decent’ and ‘respectable’ it is. They could go for whether or not it is challenging and requires advanced skills. They could go for how much of a difference it makes in your community or in society at large. Feigning concern for your well-being, or merely bragging about their own, they might make it about how much life/work balance it allows. May even accuse you of having little or no humanity if you are intensely devoted to it. Their arguments could go from sensible-seeming to bafflingly absurd as their insistence goes on. Instead of support and solutions, you get discouragement disguised as nobility and good intentions.

But while almost no job can be all joy and perfection, and most have stressful or tedious parts, do you truly have to settle for one that eternally makes you dead inside? You must be smart and wise about your finances, of course, as this is real life and it is messed up enough as it is, but you don’t ought to restrict yourself to whatever this or that person considers a “real job”.

Granted, they might only be misguided, erroneously conditioned, overly pragmatic, and/or trying to nudge you into reaching more life milestones like you’re “supposed” to as you age. And that’s simply how they roll.

But you are the person who has to wake up every day, go through the day, and then end the day with the job that you’re in. Is that something somebody else should decide for you based on their narrow vision and short sight? With a closed mind, too? Selfishness even? If ever, then, hopefully, may it be not for very long.

It is your life. Something that you should begin early on, but are likely not too late to start, is looking for what fulfills you and becoming somebody who can fulfill that role. A job that inspires and motivates you to do your best (and can pay the bills while you’re at it). If not that, at least a job that you’re content with and leaves you with all you require to live a fulfilling life outside of it (with hobbies, projects, and/or being human). 

If options exist for you to choose from, you are immeasurably fortunate. Don't let that go to waste over unjustifiable limits placed upon you.

Maybe there’s something you’d like to prove to yourself, then go ahead. But understand that to grow, mature, and evolve, along with living a full life, being and staying miserable isn’t exactly a requirement. What kind of world are we in, allowing or even promoting, if that is all that is available?

Halsey's Colors (Live)

It is not the first and it will not be the last time I bring up Halsey! So many of her works caught my attention and even helped me through some really messy situations. Particularly during the stage of finding myself and redefining who I am, which I called “Exploring & Experimenting” (prelude to “Unbridling & Sustaining Artistic Abilities”), that happened mostly underground, I could often resonate with what she put out.

Today, to me, ‘Colors’ is not only a brilliant piece that illuminates the art of combining, mixing, and blending colors, but also one that commemorates it. Halsey, herself, from what I can tell, through her artistry, does an exquisite job at being a ‘taste tester’ and describing (or rating) the intricacies of what happens when there is one or more unions or fusions and, similarly, when there is a lack of them.

As usual, though, artworks can be interpreted as they were originated, as they were intended, or as however they fit (within reason). In this case, I’m reinterpreting ‘Colors’ more abstractly, more in essence. And it is beyond anything I could have imagined before!

Plus, the emphasis on Blue? Do you remember what makes blue a particularly peculiar color? Besides blue-daba-dee and 'feeling blue’, which… eh. And besides being a harmonious color or even the color of a political party, which… valid associations. Any clue? Here’s one: “I love the colors in the sky.” *Proceeds to paint them.* 

Sagittarius' Season

♐ SAGITTARIUS

As we enter the season of Sagittarius, it is believed that the universe will be affecting us with energies that will cause us to expand our horizons and embrace adventure. We will be more in tune with freedom, and abilities to explore and learn will be enhanced. If you are receptive to them, you might be imbued with optimism and curiosity. If you are resistant to them, you might be conflicted with recklessness and restlessness. 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 self-discovery.

Motivational Quote: "The journey is the destination."

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

Privacy Please

It is not about being ashamed or guilty of anything, it is not even about lacking self-esteem, it is about respecting the process. You are not meant to perform for others and welcome their input at every step and at every turn. You are entitled to privacy.

Even if somebody is completely non-judgmental and accepts you wholly, and even if they remain silent and still the whole time, you need your moments in absolute privacy. Moments in which you won’t be compelled to be aware of what is happening, in minute detail, through various angles and points of view, so that you can intuit how it is being perceived by another. You shouldn’t have to be burdened with forming an image for somebody else before you’re ready to and unless you’re willing to. That just adds more to take into account and consider. More to juggle and do. That disrupts the process. And exhausts you.

Worse when, instead, THEY ARE overly judgmental and reject many parts of you. In such a case, you’ll barely manage to deconstruct, reconstruct, and construct like you’re supposed to in order to get to the final result. It’ll all suddenly be about them and whether or not they’ll be okay with what you’re doing (or even throw a tantrum over it). And, if they got you invested in their approval, you will be shrinking and twisting yourself, likely breaking while at it, enslaved to their cheers and their boos.

Have some walls up and close some doors. It will only offend two types of people: those who are too immature to understand boundaries and those who are also too selfish to care about them. In both cases, it is not a you problem.

Easier said than done. And in certain situations, not even an option. But if you can claim it, then do without remorse. Stating that you require privacy to focus, regardless of whether it means you’re too inhibited or not, should suffice. You may learn, through inevitability, to concentrate in spite of it, but it is still making it harder and more difficult for you. If they are reasonable and considerate, that argument should be enough. If they are not, how valid is their opinion on the matter?

Are you giving a show or are you only practicing and/or building something? You may choose to make your practice and/or your building a public display, but you shouldn’t be obligated to when that’s not what you’re going for.

If you do have inhibitions keeping you from achieving a greater success, making you too reclusive rather than merely reserved at certain points and in certain areas, that’s something to work on by addressing your fears and vulnerabilities when being exposed. But if you just want some darn privacy, then why should it be a debate at all? 

The Artist's RPG - Batch of Drafts

I haven’t forgotten about it. This is still going! It's practically gonna be my life’s work: The Artist’s RPG.

This year, I didn’t have much time allotted for its design and development, but I kept it in mind as I went through my everyday. And whenever I made observations or had realizations that caused me to go, “OHH! This belongs in The Artist’s RPG!!” I ran to note them down so I wouldn’t forget to add them when the time came.

Next year, I’m allowing myself A LOT more time to work on this. But meanwhile, I wanted to update you all with a few outlines so that you know, without waiting too long, what I’m onto.

For various reasons, I must hold back in showing too much before more official releases, so I’m keeping plenty vague and brief. Left to ponder and interpret. Yet, you can count on extra snippets here and there, over time, on what I continue to figure and sort out for it.

Also, here’s a big THANKS to those who have helped with the manifestation of this astonishing wonder. You know who you are and you know what I mean! I promise I’ll do my best to honor and do justice to your contributions!

Sooner or later, we’ll have an outstandingly memorable game set. One that will also bring and hold everything, within the art realm, in perspective - and then keep adding on to it. In the committed protection and promotion of true artistry. Totally looking forward to this!

Meanwhile, I’ll keep updating you about progress...

NOTE: Names, descriptions, graphics, and more are not yet final. These are still drafts. Prone to various errors and shortcomings.

Too Quiet or Too Loud

Sometimes you just want everyone and everything to shut up. And sometimes the silence is somehow unbearable. Our brains can be picky about what and how much they process, and what goes into our ears can be especially distracting.

You would notice whether you’re the type of person who tends to prefer loudness or who tends to prefer quietness, but we all need or want both at intervals, to some extent. It depends on who we are, how we’re wired, but it also immensely depends on what kind of activity we’re currently partaking in or trying to participate in. Are sounds contributing and cooperating or are they interrupting and jolting you out of what you’re doing? Furthermore, are they precisely the kind of sounds that fit the scenario?

Amazingly, sound, or the absence of it, can play an outstandingly important role in how productive we are and what we manage to produce.  

Is it dialogue, melodies, or noise? Are they jumbled together dissonantly, forcing your brain to attempt to break them apart, or are they harmoniously blending with each other, letting your brain swiftly shift through and take in the various layers? Is it so loud it hurts or is it so quiet you strain, in both cases failing to hear what is happening exactly? What can you simply ignore?

• Dialogue is engaging. If the activity you’re partaking in involves verbal or logical tasks, like writing or math, you might not do well with talking on the side or in the background. Hearing words forming sentences can keep you from doing that yourself, but they are the complement to when you’re on ‘autopilot’, in a ‘trance’, or simply taking care of menial and tedious tasks you already know too well.

• Melodies are energetic. When chosen well, they can join you even when you have to think about hard and difficult matters and issues. They can be soothing, inspiring, empowering, and, indeed, energizing. It can direct you, if not merely give you the bit of stimuli that you would otherwise crave.

• Noise is impactful. They could be no more than disturbing. But in certain cases, they might serve to block out what's worse and allow you to focus. White noise, the fan, water running, and so on. 

• Absolute silence leaves you defenseless. Then it’s only you and what you carry with you. Can you listen to that? If you have a lot going on within that you’re willing to sort out, it would not bother you. You might not even notice it. Up until you’re done - and then yearn to fill it.

Have you figured out what you should be filling the silence with? Did you look into podcasts or audiobooks that could interest you? Made playlists of music with or without lyrics? Set up congenial noises to run constantly? Don’t underestimate the effect that they can have - especially when picked out specifically for this or that purpose.

Lastly, should you soundproof where you are?

Grimes' Artificial Angels

Oh, wow, I adore how this was made. It is such an explosion of what it is like being on the internet, or in front of a computer screen, way too much. And not just lately, but since long ago.

I was trying to keep up with everything that was coming up, trying to figure out how things connected, trying to notice any references, and trying to grasp what it all meant. There’s likely plenty I missed. It is happening FAST. Just like being bombarded with a ton of information, which is exactly how cultural and technological advancements (or regressions) are to me these days.

And I seriously enjoy how artsy it is. Although I can appreciate those too, it gave me a much-needed break from the more widely accepted and adopted styles and techniques I’ve been exposing myself to lately. Bringing me back to the more independent and underground taste and preferences. It is art when you can have more fun with it and are not weighed down by logistics. Originality is served.

That’s not to say there wasn’t thought or feeling put into it. They are clearly there if you pay attention. Along with much talent and skill. But, making art like this, is equivalent to when you can finally take off a piece of uncomfortable clothing after wearing it all day. You can breathe and move around more - while still being artful as you choose to.

Then there’s the whole of it, everything that it is telling and showing.
What is simultaneously behind and ahead of time? This madness.

Everything You Need in Your Space

It’s great if you can operate even under the most dire and atrocious circumstances; that makes you unstoppable. However, deterring yourself like that when you have the option not to is only sabotage. So put some thought and strategy into your surroundings. What is the formula to pushing and maintaining your optimal productivity?

Everybody is different, so what works for some may not work for you. This is why you must see what does and doesn’t suit you, then tailor your space accordingly. And funnily enough, what may be paradise to you could be hell to somebody else. At least if they prolong their stay beyond what they can tolerate.

This brings into focus an important fact: Everybody needs their own space. Even if by nature or by nurture you are the type of person who meddles and intertwines with others as if your life depended on it, clinging desperately to anyone and anything that’d keep you from being by yourself, you require your own space. You may not know it yet, and you may even deny it, but it’s something you must look into and have (even if you don’t need as much time there as others do in theirs).

Your space must consist of what is essential, beneficial, and convenient to you. Too often, people stop and stick with only the essentials. And while that, in certain situations, can be applauded, it is ultimately depriving you of what would lead to reaching your potential.

So, if you can afford to, and depending on what your job is, make sure you have an environment that:

• Gets you in the state that allows you to optimally function. Whether that’s one with high or low stimulation, cluttered or not.

• Has all the tools and materials that you frequently use, nearby, placed where you know they’ll be (or at least where you can figure you’ll find them), and accompanied by what would charge or otherwise enable them.

• Is comfortable for you. If you’re standing, sitting, lying down, or moving around. It’s a disservice to give yourself terrible posture or horrid circulation.

• Is secure for you. And this also means just the sense of it. If you have to worry and stay vigilant for threats or disasters, something’s lacking. And maybe you can’t make it 100% safe and impenetrable, but you could put more into it.

• Reminds you of who you are and what your role is. This can be done implicitly through decoration and adornments (including colors, patterns, and textures), but also explicitly through posters and post-its. Try having mood and vision boards.

• Contains illumination that is just right. Straining to see or overexposing to an unnerving degree is no good. Lights should be in the tone, intensity, angle, and coverage that allows you to do you. If they can be inspiring and indulging too, that is a plus. E.g., neons, outer space, underwater, fairy lights, etc.

• Takes other senses into account, like smell. No scents or scents that are pleasant to you. The latter is catered to in a wide range of aromas via soap and wax items. But you can bring in natural objects like rocks, plants, and fruits. Or just spray something artificial every now and then.

• Allows you to have control over the sounds. So you can leave unwanted noises out and choose what fills up the silence inside.

You may now notice that your space isn’t yet all that it can be, but go at your pace. You can tend to it by bits, improving it little by little. Until it becomes your ideal haven.

You might be particularly fulfilled by devoting to this if you previously endured significantly harmful settings that kept you down. It's as if you finally get to live your life on your own terms and make your world yours.

Thanksgiving Month

November is here!
It’s Thanksgiving time.
You can expect an emphasis on gatherings-related content.

My Chemical Romance: Long Live The Black Parade Tour

Posted by My Chemical Romance on Instagram ➜ 

It hasn’t ended yet! When the tour actually started, unfortunately, although I had been anticipating it, I was not in a state to be able to appreciate it. And if I’m being honest, I’m still not fully there yet. But regardless, it is GRAND. So I already very much can! 

Frank Iero wasn’t exaggerating when he responded to a mean comment online with something along the lines of “My Chemical Romance doesn’t disappoint” and practically a “STFU”. (Sometimes bits like that end up on my feed, okay?!)

So, even with my heart currently shattered, undeniable great art is undeniable. And it IS my favorite band. Melodically, lyrically, thematically, with Gerard Way’s creepiness and Frank Iero’s badassery. Along with all the energy they transmit. It is just my jam. Imagine the unbearable pain if that love were to be taken from me…

The first teaser. The utter shock when this dropped. I could not process it. Back from death. I was freaking out. While simultaneously in awe of the exquisiteness and exuberance of it. A dictator? In what looks like another era? Or perhaps an alternate universe? Is he evil or strict and villainizable because of it? But most importantly… LONG LIVE THE BLACK PARADE!

More cinematic excellence. But what do these random scenes with random characters even mean? I don’t know, but I would bet they’re not so random. It is quite possible that there’s an underlying order to all of it, one to be revealed, or at least hinted at, throughout the tour. These guys are being ARTISTIC.

And what’s with these letters? They really came up with their own alphabet. Making us go the extra mile to figure out what is being written. Such fine gatekeeping. But also hiding in plain sight. It is a solvable puzzle, but a puzzle nonetheless.

Posted by My Chemical Romance on Instagram ➜

What is even happening on stage? Voting? Stabbing? Decaying? The drama and the theatrics are unhinged and deranged, to say the least. Some of it is grotesque. And if you know the band, you’d know that this is nothing new. In fact, they’re still holding back. But I applaud how they are pushing boundaries. Knowing what they’re doing. While the rest of us are still catching up, trying to make sense of what is what, why, and how. And they continue to change and switch things around.

Some have complained that it got too political. And oh boy. Tell me you don’t know My Chemical Romance without telling me you don’t know My Chemical Romance.

Anyhow! All that said, it is sooooo good to hear that they’re still alive!
(This is a reference to a previous concert in Mexico.)

I’ll keep paying attention to the tour and see more of what it’s leading up to!

Writing Like Nobody's Reading

A friend and I used to do a lot of creative writing together. We’d go all in, draw our OCs, and more. I miss those days. We wrote for ourselves. Not even an afterthought of whether or not it’d be well-received by anyone else. Just exploring and examining our psyches through the characters, the dynamics, the plots, and overall, the storytelling. I miss those days. However, I could only allow myself that kind of ‘leisure’ because it was a much-needed healing activity and not merely a want. An Art teacher I respected recommended it to me - and I took his advice. So we both tended to our wounds, voids, and messes through art.

And now here I am, with ever-expanding universes within me. The passage of time is currently annoying me more than ever. I wish I could walk through every meaningful portal there is to walk through. But the reality is that time is running out. Therefore, I ought to be wise and pick the most important ones before I no longer can.

Also, I got the purple-aura person in my life to thank for literally saving my life and letting me have the space, without rushing, to restore myself after, on more levels than ever, having died. I didn’t get my dream of going to the Chavón Art School and then Parsons School of Design fulfilled like I was aspiring to, in order to eventually achieve renowned success. Instead, I ended up on a weirder path and, frankly, I wouldn’t trade it. (Still pissed off at the people and situations that detoured and/or delayed me for no good reason, though, but making the best of what I can/should regardless.)

So, yep, life has a lot of twists and turns. Just happy for what’s coming together at last…

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.