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.