Transorganic Calculations of Faith

Sacred Journies

EschaNihil — Sat, 30 May 2009 19:49:30 GMT

Hello All, Glad to be with you. As usual, I've just been seeking, exploring, working my "day job," and creating some art along the way. I pray that your adventures have been likewise enlightening and fruitful, my friends! I've been making more time again for music, meditation, writing, fun, family, and friendships. It appears that these things and more contribute greatly to my sense of happiness and well-being. Also, I'm bringing a new piano into my home! I've been hurting for a real instrument to play for quite some time now(!!) Yet, my work is settling into stride, and still there are "miles to go before I sleep." ;) We are on a sacred jourey--a "trial trip in the flesh--" I know that much. As per usual, I just thought I would try to lay out a few written lines to express my recent wanderings, wonderings, and musings...... Every man and woman's path takes courage, integrity, truth-hunger, and conviction. At least, this is what I'd like to believe. There is no quest more important than living in harmony with the loving will of the Infinite God. My mind, body, and spirit strive, by sincere faith and free-will choice, to grasp and to understand His eternal truth, beauty, and goodness. The very search for a Higher Self and true values is in themselves capacity enlarging! "By their fruits, you shall know them." -Jesus Christ. Slowly, but with faith alone, it appears that we human beings--relative, imperfect, and finite--are awakening to the fact that we are the planetary children of God. What is God you might ask me? God is Love. IT IS THAT SIMPLE. I believe we are IN REALITY progressing closer and closer to this perfect truth of our divine origin by way of connecting with greater and greater spheres of Love. Even if we fail, stutter, or fall down along the way; it's all essential to our progressive experience of growth. A sincere thirst for the truth will be quenched by the eternal Water of Life, the free-flowing spirit, and its myriad streamings of the soul. I know there is an everlasting spirit which I call God, and it indwells all men, for God is Spirit too! I pray to be guided by the Almighty and Infinite Spirit of Love. "Cosmic Love is relentless and absolutely indifferent -- it teaches you its lessons whether you like/dislike them or not," John Lilly affirmed. Will I rise to meet the challenges the universe has set me with love, courage, and sincere faith? Or will I simply give into my animal nature, procrastinate until the last minute, and only do whatever seems easiest in order to survive? There are choices, and we can grow and learn from our trials and errors, by the grace of God. We must acknowledge this divine gift of Sonship, embrace all of humankind as our brothers in the spiritual sense, and invest our talents wisely in the duties of kingdom life, loving service, and fellowship in the name of the Living God. "Freely have you received, freely give." "The living Jesus is the only hope of a possible unification of Christianity. The true church--the Jesus brotherhood--is invisible, spiritual, and is characterized by unity, not necessarily by uniformity. Uniformity is the earmark of the physical world of mechanistic nature. Spiritual unity is the fruit of faith union with the living Jesus. The visible church should refuse longer to handicap the progress of the invisible and spiritual brotherhood of the kingdom of God. And this brotherhood is destined to become a living organism in contrast to an institutionalized social organization. It may well utilize such social organizations, but it must not be supplanted by them. The call to the adventure of building a new and transformed human society by means of the spiritual rebirth of Jesus' brotherhood of the kingdom should thrill all who believe in him as men have not been stirred since the days when they walked about on earth as his companions in the flesh." -The Urantia Book The Truth liberates; it shall set you free. I pray that the the loving will of God eternally guides you into glory and peace. Jesus is a living and loving spirit and He appears with many names and faces as you progress through this whole universe scheme. O how the Spirit moves you, loves you. The Kingdom is wide-open, my friends! But still it holds true, "The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few." I read a prayer from another Brother online that moved me this morning: "may the Father's escort be ever welcome in our minds and hearts . . . may I grow in depth and perspective to identify ever increasingly with the mystery monitor's vision of me . . . may I relinquish my childish habits and remain childlike in my awe and worship of the divine ; may today's practice of mercy, justice and love be one step closer to our inspired ideals, may our minds migrate one service closer to being of and in the brotherhood of Man, may our spirits soar above it all and glean a cosmic perspective to soothe our souls. May you all be well my brothers and sisters as you experience your unique and individual ascension scheme, tailor-made by you and God, now and in eternity!" -Cosmic_Citizen LET'S TALK, EMAIL, OR DO SOMETHING TOGETHER SOON! Please keep in touch, my friends. And as always, I wish you well in your Earthly labors................... In friendship and fellowship under That which knew us before we knew our Selves, ~Justin

Flying Pig Flu: a Weapon or an Accident of Nature?

EschaNihil — Wed, 20 May 2009 03:17:04 GMT

A little bit of both, of course. The most horrid tales are probably paranoia, and the purely unintentional explanations are ignorance. Something is happening here. A test run? We know the symptom, but what's the true cause? If you are a child of the Spirit, you will experience an intense journey of awakening from the delusion of death. The Spirit transcends every atrocity. The prophet cries, and tries to shake the listener awake: "ABRE LOS OJOS!" Open your eyes, there is a truth which we can behold -- beyond death and dictators and deadly weaponized germs. The flying pig simply flew. ------------------------------------- REJOICE & BE WELL!! :-) -------------------------------------

Love Provides

EschaNihil — Fri, 08 May 2009 07:24:53 GMT

I had an episode recently where I found myself very disappointed and on the brink of "losing faith." I was protesting to the universe for evidence of the miraculous. A 'Calling All Angels' sorta thing. However, I did end up re-framing and recovering from the situation as a test of my faith, which in fact grew stronger for the self-imposition. What most people don't understand is that the real mircales are discovered in the very mundane fact of things. BTW, I took the attached picture of a particularly striking sunset in Arizona. There was a golden light that hung in the air that evening. Have you ever asked yourself, "Why is there anything happening at all?" I knew angels were designed more as guardians more than companions. We have a lot to learn, eh? And there is good reason that things are only gradually revealed to us. Otherwise, we'd be incapable of learning/progressing. There's no harm in asking for your true heart's desire, but being attached to certain outcomes can be painful. I believe my heart is in the right place now. I'm still charting the waters of the inner-space, trying to get out of my own way, if ya know what I mean? There seem to be three primary domains that I am investigating: MATTER, MIND, and SPIRIT. Or facts, meanings, and true values. Ah, the persuit of patience...I pray everyday to be a more patient person. These domains are not separate, in fact, they are very much intermingled and inter-related. It's the connections that I look for. Life is a series of RELATIONSHIPS. I am still a philosophic spirit, at least I try to be. I hunger for the truth, beauty, and harmony of life. The Urantia Book has been a tremendous help in the co-ordination of the three domains. I am deeply convinced that we are meant to learn, understand, and make decisions in our lives. On a side note, I've also discovered that drugs are primarily a mindal phenomena. A mental experience which has its place. A little wine, in moderation, never hurt anyone, and in fact, it can be quite stimulating in the right circumstances. However, There is very little spirit in LSD-25, even if one has an intense mental experience of "seeing God," it is more likely they have discovered or warped themselves into some recess of their own mind. I had some recent experiences with another hallucinogen, I believe I explained this to some of you in private conversations, and I had some very convincing mental experiences that I made the mistake of believing was a genuine spiritual happening. The practice was not completely bereft of deep meditation and sincere worship, but the feedback from my own mind was veiled by my very own thoughts and associations -- or disassociations, what have you. Luckily, I realized what was going on, and I have found a saner path to walk. I have come to see the mind more like an INTERFACE and less like some distinct unit of individual character. At best, the mind can genuinely connect matter with true spiritual values. So much of human existence is the discovery of erroneous concept-frames that are gradually replaced by slightly-less erroneous concept-frames. Growth is dependent on change. Progress requires replacing old habits with a better way of doing things. Endless repetition and mindless habits are not healthy. Be honest with yourself. Above the oracle at Delphi, there were two sayings: "KNOW THYSELF" & "NOTHING TO EXCESS." But despite all outward appearances or prophecies of doom and gloom, I seem to be getting along rather well these days. The ever-impending quest of self-realization marches onward and inward. Life is a just day's work, and I am trying to use that fact to bring myself more into the present and appreciate the abundance of mundane miracles in everyday life. There is a satisfying sublimity to it all. I know that I am still improving and that I can help out a little bit more in this world. I know that the mind is sovereign and that free-will choosing is perhaps our greatest gift. I know that we are a part of the universe, and that the universe reponds in ways that are not conditioned by our expectations. I know that love provides the energy to overcome resistance and to directionize spiritual patterns in the ever-impressive organization of life, the universe, and everything. O Infinity, you are absolutely alive and moving. Loving. Living. Being. Doing. Do, be, do, be, do..................... ~Justin

Slippery Slope

EschaNihil — Tue, 05 May 2009 07:02:03 GMT

Permit me to share short story from my life............ When I was in 4th grade, we took a field trip to Natural Bridges tide pools in Santa Cruz, CA. I ventured very close to a steep cliff. Suddenly a wave crashed against the cliff and sprayed up to mist me, while also moistening a patch of algae and seaweed where my foot was planted. I remember that algae suddenly became slippery like a soapy bathtub, and I completely lost my footing and fell off the cliffside. By some miracle of survival reaction, I flipped around and caught myself by my fingertips on the edge of the cliff. I was crying out for help and I was losing my grip rather quickly. I would have fallen 30 feet down into ocean rocks and turbulent waves, when a man (who happened to be photographing the tide pools for a local news article) quickly rushed over and pulled me up just in time. I narrowly escaped the situation with just a few minor scrapes and bruises. I was literally saved from quite a bit of trouble by my fellow man that day. Yet the specter always lurks. Physical death. Nature can strike by accident, catastrophe, old age, or whatnot, and wipe out this body for good. There comes a time when something breaks down in the physical energy body, and we're not so lucky to have any earthly companions nearby who can remedy the situation in our favor. But the question persists: are there subsequent adventures in consciousness? You thought you could slip away so easily? A central theme in my walk of faith is a kind of assurance that literally prepares one for the cosmic eventuality of leaving behind that body. Yes, the Earth body is temporary and destructable. However, the spirit body is eternal and indestructable. That's one of the main differences between matter and spirit. Earth time is limited time -- the finite realm. Life on the other hand...is infinite! Cosmic mind recognizes, connects, harmonizes, and utilizes the experiences of living to demonstrate these crucial material, mental, and spiritual truths! Inevitably, amazingly, FAITHFULLY, we exhange one form for another. And another. And so on...until we attain a perfect and eternal spirit state. You have such a great potential! Truly, there is a great joy in surrendering control and TRUSTING your destiny in God's hands. You must be willing to believe in order to perceive. You must approach the very threshold of your consciousness and take a leap with all your faith -- faith beyond reason even -- to behold the transcendent truth of the Infinite and Eternal God. LOOK OUT. With one foot planted in the spiritual kingdom, and a splash of true insight, you just might slip off your cliffs of uncertainty into the oceans of Eternity.

Kindling

EschaNihil — Thu, 23 Apr 2009 03:10:13 GMT

I've procured a portable e-book reader from Amazon.com (The Kindle 2) and I've sure become a voracious READER again. What a joy to connect to other minds through the written word...I've read a couple good pieces by Tom Robbins, Hemingway, Melville, The Urantia Book, The Tao de Ching, The Art of War, Gulliver's Travels and all the other book I have enjoyed or that I am only now learning to enjoy very much. There is good food in books. Also, you can email/USB upload any document from your computer to your Kindle and back again. How nice! There is a certain clarity in the written word, you know? When I put something down on paper, it becomes so much more...REAL! Things are progressing well these days. I feel relatively in touch with happiness. Life is just a day's work. Practice makes perpetual. "The methods work if you do..." I am a wandering fool-poet-philosopher-bard-healer-performance artist undergoing some kind of spiritual experience with Jesus Christ at the helm. Meanings and values take you further than the facts alone. We are given, almost as the gifts of sincere Love and faith, access to the invisible realm of divine values that nourish the soul: joy, patience, forgiveness, compassion, harmony, wisdom, peace, etc...... I suppose I'm continuing the great chain of writers who are trapped in their libraries. I have a degree in creative writing & modern lit and I am working quality assurance for an AT&T call center. Reach out and touch someone. Life could be far worse, yet somehow it seems to be getting better. Go figure. This whole experience is full of blessings and surprises. The change always starts from within, right? Go pick up a book. Get inspired! Words can change your world. ~Justin

- Friday Night Epiphanies -

EschaNihil — Sat, 18 Apr 2009 04:04:20 GMT

Rhema (ρημα) Greek ; an utterance (indiv., collect. or spec.); by implication a matter or 'topic' (esp. of narration, command or dispute). From the primary verb Rheo (ρηω) to flow or run , as water; and the suffix ma(μα) , a finite dispensation or portion (eg. "charis", grace ; but "charisma", a portion of grace, (spiritual) gift, etc. This evening, in a reverie of faith and flowing language, these word-symbols poured forth: RHEMA, RHYTHM, RHYME. Is there a relationship here? Does it matter? What is our theme here? Rhema: the divine and ever-evolving word intutively delivered to the perceptions by our indwelling and guiding spirits. We are forever grasping at the yarrow stalks of the Infinite Spirit. Our assumptions rest upon these marvelous intuitions, imaginings. WE are synergistic. When we de-center and pay attention to the rhema of the spirit, we are motivated into some new perpetual motion working within the fetters time and space. We are free from selfishness. We are simply free. The word has always been FREE. It's so great to understand the ETERNALITY OF THE LOGOS and the TEMPORALITY OF THE RHEMA. A little bit of grace, just at the right moment, can inspire the miraculous. When you believe in an underlying oneness, fiction and non-fiction become a lot more blurred. I feel that I have learned more from novel than text-books. Rhema speaks through all the objects of a faithful one's experience. And who's to say that THE MIND IS A UNIT?? I believe THE MIND IS A RELATIONSHIP, a synergistic relationship between the rhema and the word designed for uplifting we thinking beings... Couldn't the rhema be projected by any book, any word, experience, or any thing? When you allow the will of God to dictate your ACTION, all things attest to the eternal truth. It is man who must adjust himself, his own mind, to the LOGOS...the LOGOS doesn't change. Couldn't a negative image or word impart the rhema as well? And then something shifts for the positive, and off we go!! The levels are endless, the growth unending, the ETERNAL is also a word for the INFINITE. Way beyond the finite...this word has a beginning but no end. This is how we can change the world with words. The universe is a growing and dynamic experiment of the eternal spirits. The word is alive and moving and reacting to itself. The universe responds, personally, relentlessly, eternally. A lot of words for ONE LOVE. Yet, I'm still dwelling on fundamental relationship of rhema to rhythm, music, dance, and rhyme -- and HARMONY as the language of HEAVEN. There is a great flow of beauty and goodness through the cosmos. The beautiful word IS the true word. The vital spark. A different music. A cosmic jitterbug. The free-jazz flow of far-flung nebulae. We live in an elegant and sacred cosmos. The LIVING truth is larger than all of us. We don't have to learn so much a way of speaking, as we need to learn a way of listening. Our tongues can bring a lot more trouble into the world than our ears. May you find an ear to hear...just listen, my friends. Listen. *************************************************

CUENTA CONMIGO

EschaNihil — Tue, 14 Apr 2009 04:01:43 GMT

Check out this lovely portrait of Jesus that I purchased in Mexico for 133 pesos, or roughly $10 bucks. If you weren't aware, I consider Jesus Christ my spiritual Master, Teacher, and Guide these days. I've also started collecting divinely-inspired art. This image, which I often call "Cosmic Jesus," measures 36" x 24" and looks quite beautiful on my office wall, I think. It sparkles. Literally. The image has accents of gold and silver glitter that shine in the daylight and add a real texture and depth (and even a kind of endearing tackiness...) to the piece. For me, this image portrays Jesus Christ as a living and loving spirit, the Shepherd and Lord of our Universe. Many illustrations of Christ dwell on the cross, the crucifixion, and the cruel treatment that Jesus experienced in the flesh. While the death of the human Jesus carries many important meanings, we should not lose sight of this triumphant, living, spiritual, creative, and COSMIC JESUS who eternally works to demonstrate the creative, personal, and merciful will of God. I personally believe Christ surrendered his earthly body on the cross to prove a point: chiefly, that THERE IS NO DEATH FOR KINGDOM-BELIVERS, and that the path of worship and forgiveness leads to a creative and eternal destiny of loving service. God gathers all living and loving spirits to Him. Faith, a belief in the presence of God in our lives, leads to an experience of the universe as a domain capable of sustaining and uplifting self-aware spirits and God-conscious creatures. When I look at this painting, it shouts, "Look up, see the greater universe!" Jesus is watching over us, here and now, and we can depend on Him to guide us into glory -- for we are the children of God. We have an eternal place and purpose in this divine universe. We have a fragment of God dwelling within our minds even now. Just look within. If you sincerely seek, then you shall find the Truth. And if you're willing to accept the truth, then the truth will set you free. May you discover many blessings on your path, ~Justin

Traumlicht (Dreamlight)

EschaNihil — Mon, 04 Aug 2008 05:24:44 GMT

(dedicated to Andreas Herrmann) Some day you will see this whole thing as a dream and then as a dream that never was -- a universal dreamingness. So are you the dreamer or the dream? Dreams are sophisticated bio-feedback: spirit-thought transmissions riding in on electrochemical symphonies of the dreaming universe. But what if you were integral to the Infinite? would you need to work so hard to be that body? -- that particular, limited, separate self. Can you go beyond the dream? What's wrong with experiencing the unlimited? Dreaming the unlimited dream. First, I saw God everywhere -- and gradually God disappeared into nothing -- then I found God inside myself -- and then he slipped away again -- back into the world, but never all the way back. I still find God in the nonsense whispers of the handicapped child with his broken toy guitar in the lines back from Mexico, and the high-pitched buzzing near the bank teller machine, and the dusty manure pile and the rake, the burnt toast, and even the snake, a God of the little things, a god in-between -- returned to everything. God beyond me, beyond my world, beyond the dream, beyond any THING. So are you God or just the dream of God? Are YOU either way? What if you could never stop existing? What if you never started existing? What if you woke up with nothing? Would you call this a dream? A memory is just a thing -- A dream of this being. ~ Listen to the song, "Dreamlight" by Andreas Herrmann: http://www.icompositions.com/music/song.php?sid=79338 Listen to "Lux Aeterna" (Eternal Light) by Andreas Herrmann and Justin Karpel: http://www.icompositions.com/music/song.php?sid=83770

It's a Girl!

EschaNihil — Fri, 01 Aug 2008 08:38:59 GMT

Well, Jai and I just adopted...a new kitten! Her name is Duende. She was born on May 21st, 2008. (more kitty pictures in my photo album...) Animals are so much fun!! ^_^ ~Justin

Living Faith

EschaNihil — Fri, 11 Jul 2008 18:20:09 GMT

I pray with genuine faith for the extension of our Father's spiritual kingdom in the minds of men. I pray that the divine purpose be achieved. I am but one faithful believer, a sincere seeker of truth, and a happy Son of the Most High God AM I. But Lord, I pray you speak your truth to the spirit inside all of us; refresh this planet with the life-waters of your Holy Spirit. Let us see with new eyes what has always been there. Let us attain what so many souls have attained before us. O little ones, guardians of destiny, mighty angels, men and women of all walks of life: To the least of you, He shall reveal the way, and you shall understand that it is THE ONLY WAY. Reality is not plural. The truth does not change. Will you stand face-to-face with the eternal truth of your being, the truth inside your very being? Will you lay claim to your glorious place inside the Christ's spiritual kingdom as Sons and Daughters of the Almighty God of Love? All personalities exist by virtue of God's will alone. The divine spirit of God within each of us ever struggles to make contact with the mind of man. As soon as we discern the in-born presence God, we have begun to strive for a true mastery of ourselves. I pray that you surrender to THE DIVINE AFFECTION. Let go of restlessly searching the external world and look inside yourself for a change. Recall Jesus saying, "The Kingdom of heaven is within." Let go and let God assume your life into the realms of everlasting love. As the perfect patterns of the Eternal Spirit are revealed in your consciousness, so too is the truth, beauty, and goodness of your mind, soul, and personality most vividly experienced as joy and a deep inner-knowing. DIVINE WISDOM arrives only through intelligent worship and dynamic prayer. You are now learning to trust in this DIVINE LOVE. Attainment in the kingdom of God is simply the unstinted bestowal or ever-increasing degrees of love. To the degree that you radiate love, so are you too loved. To the degree you forgive, so are you too forgiven. Let go of your resistance to this truth. Allow your soul to grow and function in new dimensions and spiritual domains as a part of God's universe--in this life and in every successive stage of your spiritual reality. Those brave souls who act upon these high callings of the Spirit within are walking the steps of the kingdom-believer. You cannot enter part-way into the kingdom. One must enter the spiritual kingdom with their whole life or not at all. The old life is exchanged for a path into everlasting life. Those men and women that consecrate their faith in the kingdom of God are literally reborn in the Spirit. The soul is regarded and eternalized through God's will alone. Old things are already becoming new. The journey into spiritual matters transforms your remaining days into progressively divine experiences. Our faith is consecrated, tested, challenged, strengthened, and reassured all along the way--often by the worst adversities in our lives. Yet, in the highest light of meaning, all difficulties (the so-called "problems" of life) are merely the appearance of cosmic opportunities to learn, to refine ourselves, to grow, to become something more--something greater than we were before. When faced with trials and tribulations in life, rejoice and be exceedingly glad, my brethren! With God, the positive can be discerned inside the negative. With God, our troubles can be reversed. With God, our very misfortunes can become our most profound lessons and teachers in this life. The universe is full of divine tension. Often, we must undergo a temporary struggle before we can resolve the perfection of the divine affection. Lord, I pray you have mercy upon us and deliver our souls into new dimensions of the spiritual kingdom in our lives beyond the flesh--all the way through to the Paradise abode of the Universal Source and Center of ALL. Let us celebrate the highest achievement of our life and Your love as one united fact in this supreme creation. All those who have vouched faith in the Paradise Son, Jesus Christ, have found the door to the Paradise Father; they have discovered the adventure of spiritual ascension and self-actualization, they have decided to claim their birthright as joint heirs with Christ in the Father's eternal kingdom of LIFE, they most-certainly know and love God. So how can you tell if you're on the right track? BE PATIENT. HAVE FAITH. TRUST YOURSELF. When you genuinely glimpse the eternal truth of divine reality called GOD, you will most likely yearn to explore this glorious place and potential in the unlimited kingdom of the spirit with every fiber of your being. Your life will become more light, joyful, and satisfying than ever before. You will begin to experience the majestic presence of God in all things that you do in accord with the divine will. Your appreciation of truth, spirit, beauty, serenity, love, brotherhood, purpose, true goodness, and fulfillment will continuously expand as you pursue the Infinite One. All manner of things will begin to turn around for you. Old burdens become effortless and easy to manage. Your daily life will be infused with a new sense of meaning and profound value. Oftentimes, you will be struck with feelings of a deep peace "which surpasses all understanding" and a satisfying sense of true progress in life. Such divine blessings attend all those on this spiritual path. With God, you can and will attain profound states of grace. Never forget, the eternal circuit of the Universal Father contains EVERYTHING. His broadcast of love is INFINITE. There is nothing more perfect in this finite, human experience than consecrating your will to the faith belief in the supreme experience of knowing God. Will you accept the ultimate and boundless adventure of experience, progression, and growth of mind, soul, and personality? Will you let your spirit shine through every facet of your divinely-ordained life? Every moment of every day, there is an opportunity, there is a choice, there is a will that His loving will be done. We call this devotion to spiritual growth, loving service, and divine attainment: LIVING FAITH. ~Justin

The Kingdom Within

EschaNihil — Thu, 03 Jul 2008 19:16:31 GMT

At the beginning of the journey, I wasn't consciously seeking this experience, knowledge, or mysterious quest into spiritual matters. However, life circumstances and daily events kept drawing me back into the same questions and contemplations about my purpose, my consciousness, my identity, my reality--the very nature of my existence in this time and place. For many years, I have studied and participated in beautiful ceremonies and different world religions. The religions of the East held a lot of appeal and true lessons in deity and divinity. TRUTH is everywhere. But at this stage in the game, I can't ignore the weight of my heart's testimony to a real and transformative religious experience of monumental growth and self-realization. There has been one religion that has penetrated deeper than all the others I have come across and I have been undergoing the actual religious "conversion" experience that is taught as being descended from a man named Jesus of Nazareth. The New Testament of the King James Bible and a modern revelatory writing called the Urantia Book (http://www.urantia.org - published 1955) have been the primary source texts through which I have discovered and begun my practice of the gospel of the spiritual kingdom espoused by Jesus Christ. Books can take you part of the way, they are like sign posts to the spirit, but only your heart and soul can testify to the real and personal experience of knowing God and entering the spiritual kingdom. Of course, such experiences are usually attended by profound episodes of uncertainty, fear, doubt, anxiety, confusion, etc. My experience was typical for the most part, I imagine. In life there is often struggle before there can be resolution. I am quite certain there are many more intense tests and "growing pains" to endure before I can claim to comfortably reside in all the burdens and blessings of my humanity. LIFE is the journey of eternal progress, purpose, and growth. If you don't grow, you die. It truly is as simple as that. We have graduated from a purely animal-origin creature into an intellectual and spiritual kingdom fraught with many difficult challenges for the sole (soul) purpose of conscious growth and attainment of spiritual purpose. These are the conditions upon which the seeds of genuine FAITH are revealed. As this process unfolds, so does a joyful sense of surrender to the incomprehensible and immense nature of GOD and SPIRIT. The truth leads, and I'm more than grateful to try and follow it--to discover a place and purpose in the enormous kingdom of reality. The Universal Brotherhood revealed by Jesus implies a very real and harmonious relationship among all men, spirits, angels, and diverse creatures in God's great creation. Whether you accept it or not, this planet was created with an intelligent, spiritual purpose. We are all working toward the goal of enlightenment, peace, and prosperity for ALL MANKIND. For an entire universe. For an entire universe of universes. Locate yourself in the gigantic network of LIFE. Seek and ye shall find the source of who and what you are; the answer awaits your finding if you SINCERELY look for it. The faith of Jesus places emphasis on an evolving personal and planetary-scale revelation with one goal being to preserve and promote the value concepts of divine love and spirit within yourself, your relationships, your family, or an entire world. It is your duty to discover these things for yourself. Life is a day's work--do it well. There are many children in the divine family of God and each of them is loved with the same perfect and all-embracing love. God is truly and completely equal and fair in all cases. God respects no man or being above any other. Faith involves an act of SINCERE SEEKING and TRUST (sometimes called the "leap of faith"). When you personally experience a communion with God, you will actually begin to truly know the Universal Father--the one-and-only First Great Source and Center of reality. Once I discovered the primacy of the loving Father, all he asked for was a free-will acknowledgment and allegiance to abide by His loving and merciful will as it is revealed on the paths of universal love, infinite creativity, and eternal truth. Nothing wrong with that. And nothing is more sublimely satisfying than attaining the fruits of divinity: an increasing capacity to love and appreciate a universe attended by this supreme spiritual relationship between God and his universe children. One might even feel a sense of being "born again" in the Spirit as a faith Son of the Most High God. And this new-born faith, if fostered with sincere worship and hunger for the eternal truth, shall grow into a mature faith of ever-expanding levels of truth, beauty, goodness, and divine love. Earth is a classroom for grasping the existence of this eternal truth and committing yourself to following it. FAITHFULLY FOLLOW THE TRUTH INTO LIFE. This cosmic progression promises an endless (eternal) universe of loving achievement and self-expression. What could be greater? We begin as mortal creatures of these finite and incomplete universes, and from there we can actually attain a maturation of mind capable of grasping a God of such eternal value and import. Always will the finite grasp for the infinite, the temporal toward the eternal. God is there if you look for Him. All you need to find Him is a open mind and an sincere heart. A holy milestone is reached when the mortal finally and fully decides to make the prayer of Faith--to consecrate and whole-heartedly offer their own will to the doing of the Father's loving will. This sincere vow constitutes an IMMEDIATE entrance into the kingdom of Heaven and opens the way for personal survival through the ministries of spirit, mind, and matter in the glorious scheme of ascending Sonship with the Father of ALL. There is but one reliable KEY TO THE KINGDOM, and that is FAITH. "The kingdom of Heaven is within." This was the watchword of Jesus. Have you discovered the inner domain of superconsciousness that represents your immediate and sacred connection to the infinite and eternal God? I have. I have drank deep from the life-waters of the Spirit and have been nourished upon the fruits of sincere pursuits of this dynamic religious life. This experience has inspired faith like no theology, organized religion, book, or person ever could; it becomes an experience of spiritual truth beyond words. Soon you are being and seeing things as they relate in the Spirit. There is CONFIRMATION in the spirit. Enlarged concepts of truth, beauty, goodness, joy, creativity, serenity, purpose and fulfillment (among many other fruits of divinity) are yours for the striving. You will find your way if you trust in God. Many features of the spiritual process will be quiet and profoundly mysterious--the kind of peace which "surpasses all understanding." BE PATIENT as this faith transforms your experience of reality all around you. The actions of your days become like living prayers--a satisfying process of worship directed toward this glorious experience of God and a commitment to follow the TRUTH wherever it leads. There is no greater achievement than discovering, saving, and savoring the products of your faith. Through LIVING FAITH, I have contacted my soul child. The soul is an evolving being which grows as I grow in this Spirit relationship--and which forecasts eternal survival and consciousness beyond the confines of the temporal-physical body. The material animal has FAITHFULLY participated in the birth of a new vehicle for the continuation of self-awareness. How grateful are we upon the discovery of an evolving and immortal spirit inside of us that seeks to experience nothing less than the divine and perfect love of God and take us along on the journey? This soul infant is the spiritual being that I have come to see as the seed of my true and enduring SELF. The seeds of the soul are watered with faith and nourished by love. Eventually I will shed this animal form, and this soul entity will be liberated to survive in the great circuits of LIGHT AND LIFE--to grow, to carry my unique personality and experiences forward with it into the mysterious and majestic realms of ETERNAL LIFE IN THE SPIRIT. If it be His will, I AM ~Justin

LOVE is equal in all directions.

EschaNihil — Sat, 24 May 2008 08:08:24 GMT

Each child of God is unique. INFINITE UNITY. INFINITE DIVERSITY. God is the UNCHANGING TRUTH in a sea of CHANGE. The possibilities are endless--ETERNAL. THE ETERNAL INFINITE. THE INFINITE ETERNAL.

a prayer

EschaNihil — Wed, 16 Apr 2008 05:53:34 GMT

PRAISE BE IN THE NAME OF GOD! Praise be to whichever name you should choose in worship: JHWH, Jesus, Krishna, Allah, Most High, Jah, Beingness, Buddha-nature, Olodumare, Gaia, Goddess, Tao, Love, Creator, Lord, Upholder of the Universes, Father of ALL, For what name could ever hope to contain the divine ONE, the great and unnamable source of ALL? For He is ONE and ALL! She is the great mystery of ALL-IN-ALL. And It is good, true, and beautiful. I lay down my life before God and Christ Michael of Nebadon (Jesus Christ), that the divine purpose be achieved! I seek with sincere faith the Truth of Our Fathers in Heaven and if it be His will, I AM! I am nothing without the water and bread of LIFE. ALL PRAISE JESUS CHRIST, OUR LORD! His Spirit shall nourish us forever! The Master is the one who leads and I am but a follower, a seeker. But the divine Hosts have come for all of us-- this great ministry of the Holy Spirit to show us the TRUTH and His Way, for it is the ONLY WAY: the Tao of Christ, the path of Love and Life eternal. Christ Michael (Jesus Christ) is God of ALL men on this world-- in our local universe he is functionally equal to our Father in Paradise. His deity status is sovereign! All hail His seventh bestowal upon the races of Urantia! His way is the way for ALL-- for none approach the Father save through the Son and all who have seen the Son have seen the Father of truth, beauty, goodness, and life everlasting. Praise the glory and the way for this world will see REDEMPTION in our lifetime-- in our eternal life with Him, our Father who is in Havona, praise be! Thank you Lord and thank you Father! And if you are sick brother, I too am sick... For we are in this LIFE together, never separate, and may we find health and vitality in the divine Spirit of Love and the brotherhood and the goodness that is this shared existence, here and now, the only LIFE we have, great gift of our Creator. I just give praise and thanks for all these animal experiences of sickness because it's all part of the game-- the divine and sublime adventure-- climbing from the lowest to the highest. Never let sickness make you doubt LIFE eternal! IT's really just an IT and I know that I can LET IT GO-- just let go and let GOD. We are grateful for your healing, Lord. LIFE is Supreme-- the Spirit and soul are eternally well. Light and shadow-- Love binds them all. Faith transcends suffering, if not always the pains of life. The pains of growing. Let them be comforted and healed, Lord! O divine and beautiful One, let us cast out sickness from our minds and give loving approval to our bodies, imperfect as they may be in this moment they are but a proving ground-- and we honor that temple, in this hour, as it could be our last in the flesh. But we shall not be afraid to leave this world, to leave this body behind; it is hard, but it is our destiny. These are hard truths to bear up, but it is the TRUTH of ages. We have to face the hardest challenges and continue on still--the spirit never gives up, never ceases. But fear not, we must learn to fear not, and let the lie of the animal be still at last! And glorious indeed will our resurrections be! The Father has laid witness to our souls as Faith Sons of God-- nothing is more certain, if we are. And may this part of your life be long and satisfying! But know that true satisfaction is located only in His Love and only on His terms: "BE YOU PERFECT AS I AM PERFECT" For all is good as God is good And all is Love as God is Love and God is Life, and LIFE is His purpose, "I AM that I AM" So, listen up, and listen-in, "The kingdom of heaven is within." The cosmic circuit of the Father contains all of us and His broadcast of love is Infinite. There is nothing more perfect in finite experience than consecrating the relationship with the Spirit and translating your experience to the Supreme experience of God Almighty! And in every moment of every day, there is an opportunity, there is a choice, there is a will that His loving will be done On Earth as it is in Havona: PEACE BE and LOVE TO ALL! AMEN.

I Agape You: On Choosing LOVE

EschaNihil — Mon, 17 Mar 2008 06:03:19 GMT

"Knowledge is possessed only by sharing; it is safeguarded by wisdom and socialized by love." --The Urantia Book (P557:12, 48:7.28) I am a messenger, but I am not the only messenger. These words and thoughts come from myself and are also inspired by my teachers, my teachers' teachers, and so on. I believe that if you sincerely hunger for the truth of who and what you are at the very core of your being, you will discover a purpose and a path for living authentically and with integrity. This is the path of true fullfillment and an all-encompassing love like none other. The socialization and salvation of love is mighty! As always, we must be persistent, take responsibility for owning our experience by living in the here and now. That means learning and practicing love, compassion, kindness toward all beings and situations. When you are 100% loving, there is really no room for negativity, i.e. problems. The more and more I look at this fact, the more true it seems. And it's not just some theory--we are fully capable of choosing LOVE in all cases. And in hindsight, love has ALWAYS been the BEST SOLUTION to ALL QUESTIONS. Whenever I disapprove of things and resist situations in my life, it has only increased the worries and doubts and negativity that I feel. This addage is true: WHAT YOU RESIST PERSISTS. When I choose to really love and accept all things, most so-called problems vanish. Do you know the difference between "pain" and "suffering?" In the final equation, these so-called problems were always opportunities to grow and love even more. Cosmic consciousness will always relay this fact to you. The universe with all its lovely paradoxes is unfolding perfectly. Believe it or not, we are growing souls and eternal spirits; we can be liberated by spiritualizing our thinking. However, we have played the game of covering ourselves up with illusions of separateness, delusions of death, control, denial, and insecurity. The methods and practices that really seem to work and cut away these illusions, in my opinion, are the ones which allow us to get back in touch with the core of how we THINK and REACT to circumstances in the world. Mindfulness. Essentially, a good method allows us to identify and root out negative thinking while constantly practicing increasing amounts of love. Until we reach UNCONDITIONAL LOVE, pure and simple positive living. Allow love to dominate your thinking. Experience divine love and bliss. Could it be that simple? The answer is YES. If you look at your thinking, you will see that all life is a decision to be negative or positive. To love or not to love. It's amazing how negative we truly are if we honestly look at who we are. It takes courage and true grit to say "I'm going to look at myself and get to the bottom of this no matter what!" Keep asking yourself "What am I?" until you know. End this confusion once and for all and look into your very beingness and nothingness. Discover what you really are! There's no happiness greater than knowing that one truth which is yours alone. What is lasting fulfillment and happiness worth to you? Is it worth dropping every notion that you are a victim and taking full responsibility for your experience. As long as you take any pleasure in your problems, you're stuck with them. Sometimes it's hard and we just want to give up. What is freedom? What is growth? What is love? Will you rise to the task of following the truth wherever it leads? So you either decide to be bigger than your problems -- to face them and deal with them ALL THE WAY -- or you're just wasting your time and you want to play the soap opera for eternity. What do you decide? Look inside! The pathways to the spirit of love and ultimate freedom lie exclusively within. Namaste, ~Justin

Let's Play Casino Royale!

EschaNihil — Tue, 19 Feb 2008 21:35:13 GMT

A combination Game of Games. PLAYERS must exclusively wager their own HARD-EARNED CASH, unless they are able to secure a low-interest loan from "The Banker" before Round ONE or during the one-hour "free" Intermission. All money must be openly declared and held by The Banker and players can only leave the game from that point by winning, going bankrupt, charitable exploitation, sinister altruism, or committing financial suicide (by launching their game avatar out a window and crushing their skulls on Virtual Wall Street--accuracy and landing either add or subtract from your point subtotals in the appropriate post-game analysis hosted by "The Psychologist"). So you're ready to roll the dice, spin the wheel, mark down your X's and O's, match pairs, check your mate, and move around the various game worlds on each turn? Make wagers! Make Money! Laugh. Cry. Beg. Slave. (OPTIONAL): You may three times choose to strategically employ the various bags of colored powders (included in each casino starter set). These mysteriously influence your opponent's judging faculties, or possibly increase their dexterity and skill if you aren't careful--either way, neither player should operate heavy machinery for a good part of the day thereafter. Or, substitute your free will power for the powders one time per game to make a "Creative challenge"--a quick game unspecified by the rulebook which must be pre-approved by a "Referee." The Banker, Referees, The Red Queen, The Psychologist, and ALL players must submit to extensive drug screens and blood tests before entering game play. (OPTIONAL): "Debtor's Prison" expansion set not included. A typical round consists of each player making a wager which is first confirmed by The Banker, possibly challenged by The Psychologist, and completely accepted or rejected by the Unrevealed Consumator of Gameplay Destiny (this decision may not be challenged or overturned by sub-absolute game entities). Following accepted wagers, you face-off, mano a mano, against your declared opponent and arch-nemesis in 1-3 mini-rounds of the following games: 1. TIC-TAC-TOE 2. CHESS* 3. DOMINOES* 4. TRIVIAL PURSUIT* 5. WHEEL OF FORTUNE* 6. BLACKJACK 7. BOGGLE* 8. MEMORY *Rule variations and restrictions may apply to the augmented mini-versions of these games for the purpose of quickening vainglorious victory impulses, leveling third-world economies, and corrupting traditional strategic overtures of haughty pride. A rules-only version of the game may be played in exclusive Referee tournaments. Only one entry per household. Thank you. Referees always prevail on the final decision for allocating funds in the case of a tie-game or extenuating circumstances through an elaborate panel scoring mechanism. You may substitute games before starting play as long as all players agree to the new substitutions and are prepared for observational astronomy with star maps and fresh binoculars. A list of "Common Alternate Games (and People that Play Them)" can be found on PAGE 101 of the standard rulebook (7th edition). Tic-Tac-Toe concluding in a "Cat's Game" results in both players retrieving their wagers and throwing a d6 to determine one of the remaining games from the "Random Game Chart" included on PAGE 88 of the rulebook and gameplay resumes. Time is reserved for adjudicating new wagers which must, of course and per force, be pre-approved by the appropriate casino authorities before gameplay resumes. The production of a "Marriage Contract" instead of a normal turn constitutes another acceptable reason for suspending gameplay. One hundred "Marriage Contract" forms are included in each standard Casino Royale set (replacements not available at this time). "Marriage Contracts" must follow strict "Marriage Guidelines" (rulebook Appendix C). All game contracts are signed in blood by the interested parties and require a stamped seal of approval by a Referee in order to be validated. "Marriage Counseling" may be ordered by The Psychologist at any time and one round of normal gameplay will be subtracted from this turn in order to facilitate that mandatory game process. Regardless of the outcome, you will be charged a hefty fine for "Marriage Counseling" services which The Banker will allocate to The Psychologist. You may also select a random psychosis to mimic from the DSM IV during the "Supremacy of Charades" bonus round if you decide to throw in your lot for Immunity from "The Psychologist" in the next round. Though there have been many multiplayer variations, we recommend a one-on-one, no-holds-barred, winner-takes-all, master-slave sort of player mentality when approaching the truest sense of Casino Royale. Studies have shown men prefer to play competitive games 5:1 over women in chartreuse scarves. First player to $1,000,000 WINS--a significant tax break.

Scientology: Recent Developments in a Thriving Cult

EschaNihil — Thu, 31 Jan 2008 12:29:30 GMT

1. International Association of Scientologists: Freedom Medal of Valor - WINNER - Tom Cruise (2004) http://gawker.com/5002269/the-cruise-indoctrination-video-scientology-tried-to-suppress 2. FAIR GAME / Supressive Persons (1960's) - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fair_Game_(Scientology) "The homes, property, places and abodes of persons who have been active in attempting to: suppress Scientology or Scientologists are all beyond any protection of Scientology Ethics, unless absolved by later Ethics or an amnesty ... this Policy Letter extends to suppressive non-Scientology wives and husbands and parents, or other family members or hostile groups or even close friends. ENEMY — SP Order. Fair game. May be deprived of property or injured by any means by any Scientologist without any discipline of the Scientologist. May be tricked, sued or lied to or destroyed." -L. Ron Hubbard (1965-67) 3. KSW - Keep Scientology Working (1980) - http://suppressiveperson.org/spdl/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=460&Itemid=30 4. The Sea ORG (1968 - present): http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sea_Org From the official Church of Scientology International website: "The Sea Organization derives its name from its beginnings in 1967 when Mr. Hubbard, having retired from his position as Executive Director International, set to sea with a handful of veteran Scientologists to continue his research into the upper levels of spiritual awareness and ability. "The first Sea Org members, who were all Clears and OTs, formulated a one-billion-year pledge to symbolize their commitment to the religion as immortal spiritual beings. It is signed by all members today." http://www.whatisscientology.org/html/Part06/Chp26/

Cyberspace Knights of Spamalot

EschaNihil — Thu, 31 Jan 2008 00:50:05 GMT

With his horse, I saw them stand there low-voiced, coveting beauty. His wife, Chyavana, a quarter of a mile from the station which was his message. The practices of their order to protect facial expressions, not eccentricities of speech. Prancing and dancing and arm-swinging series of abounds, he has taken care to suppress the acts of preservation and the true reformed, though able and possessed of resources, abstain.

Deus ex Machina: Reconciling Reason with Faith

EschaNihil — Sun, 27 Jan 2008 08:45:23 GMT

I will never give up my hunger and reverence for the Truth revealed by the artists of our consciousness. Life is full of delicious mysteries and uncertainties, but it appears to be GROWING and EVOLVING ever truth-ward in its destiny. Ceaselessly do we involve ourselves in challenges to learn, grow, and become greater than we once were. The vast majority of human beings I encounter on this planet have a desire to fulfill a PURPOSE in life. We climb the latter of experience to attain a higher and more actualized version of our true selves. We even risk great danger and defeat in order to fulfill this sense of destiny and purpose. Many purposes arise from a deep awareness of inner-meanings, intuitions, values, morals, and decisions consisting of a mental or spiritual nature. Surely the basic fight for survival in our environment cannot be seen as the only motivation for civilization and culture to exist? Think about it, if we are merely mechanistic and mindless animals searching to meet our basic needs for survival (food, shelter, sex, etc.) as most devout scientists honestly believe, why do we persist in casting our nets far-and-wide to grasp the highest concepts of art, love, compassion, philosophy, truth, beauty, creative self-expression, and all those other values superfluous to our immediate survival? These "non-survival meanings" continue to inspire, teach, and delight man on a level which seems almost completely divorced from any animal instincts and necessity for existence; and yet, it is the very attainment of these non-survival meanings that tend to represent the very center of mankind's quest for happiness, progress, and fulfillment in life. Even that esteemed machine of truth-verification called "Science" is beginning to suffer from a case of too much consciousness in the mechanism. Science has an over-riding bias and an expectation for a purely material explantion for the universe and yet it keeps running into the mind and soul at every turn. Mental and spiritual phenomena are often re-classified as some yet "unknown" or "unexplainable" material mechanism. However, the newest science reports the presence of a "non-material" force called "consciousness" (awareness) which seems to have a clear effect on the outcome of physical systems and yet consciousness APPARENTLY has no clear way to affect material realities with respect to traditional scientific models of understanding. For most secular scientists, all things pertaining to consciousness are either imaginary, illusory, or actually material in function. However, the old adage of "mind over matter" is progressively gathering real proof in the annals of modern science. Quantum physicists are beginning to sound like the mystic sages as a new-wave of science is beginning to confirm a reality which operates more like the metaphysical principles of Lao Tzu, Buddha, Jesus, and other religious or esoteric philosophies than the orthodox science of Aristotle and Newton, et al. There are entire sections in book stores now devoted to this emerging hybrid of spiritual-science: "The Tao of Physics," "Matter Into Feeling: A New Alchemy of Science and Spirit," "The Physics of Consciousness," etc. It seems that mankind is really gravitating toward a theory which can successfully UNIFY reason with the soul in a new and dynamic way. All signs are pointing toward a grand, uncertain, complex, conscious, and diverse universe beyond our wildest dreams! Even though the universe by all estimates is extremely complex and incomprehensible by a single man, I cannot ignore the fact that we are driven by some meaningful force to explore and experience greater levels of understanding. I think both scientists and mystics are approaching the same Truth--just from completely different sides of the equation. Could there, in fact, be one cohesive Reality which unifies the religious (internal/spiritual) and scientific (external/material) truths of life? In recent times, we have witnessed the over-throw of a corrupt and unreasonable ecclesiastical church-state (The Enlightenment era which flourished in the 1600's). The truths of the Age of Reason triumphed over the tyranny and corruption of a hypocritical and religious state. The state wisely became secular in response to the Enlightenment and divorced from any particular religious judgments or decrees. And ever since those times has science progressively attempted to eliminate all notions of any spiritual interaction or hold on the universe--absolutely endeavoring to confirm that all things spiritual are false and that the truth is only a complex mathematic equation of causes and effects in a completely robotic and predetermined universe. When Nietzsche declared that "God is dead," it was a celebration of this secular viewpoint in a new age of purely materialistic science. And that same science has apparently set a prerogative to fulfill Nietzsche's command ever since. However, God has not backed down from this fight. And it appears human beings keep seeking spiritual purpose no matter how meaningless, mechanistic, and chaotic the secular universe presents itself. Faith has been adequately adjusted by Reason; and now it has come time for Reason to be adjusted by Faith. Individuals--even reasoned individuals--did not suddenly lose their capacity for discovering meaning and purpose in connection with God. On the contrary, religious conversion is on the rise. And the scientific discoveries of the last decade are showing a promising future for religion and a hopeful migration from a purely materialist science into a new science which finally includes a role for non-material dimensions of reality interacting and sometimes even consciously organizing the physical functions of the cosmos. Some people have found that scientific reason works exceptionally well when contemplating the material truths of life and that faith is still the only vehicle by which to contact, worship, and become conscious of the spiritual meanings at work in their own mental and physical experience. It seems to me that the phenomenon of a reasonable MIND is actually capable of coordinating material truths and spiritual values simultaneously and in a wholly complimentary way. In fact, I believe this is the very purpose for the existence of MIND: a function of being which organizes and coordinates the truths revealed by faith and reason into a unified and cosmic experience of perfected Truth. We are still growing and our understanding is ages upon ages from being perfected (just looking at the millions of years it has already taken for human understanding to reach this level on our planet). Both sides, religion and science, will inevitably have to sacrifice a partial-truth for the actual truth in the end. And many conflicts will be waged (and have been waged) in order to arrive at a balanced view of this universal Truth. I have a sincere and exuberant FAITH that the ultimate meanings of an evolved science and the ultimate meanings of an evolved religion will one-day converge in a grand wedding of Faith and Reason called THE TRUTH. Hand-in-hand will scientists and religionists only then enjoy a meaningful and logical brotherhood devoted to realizing the vast heights of cosmic consciousness and the destiny of mankind. Until that great era of reconciliation, we must endeavor to discover and contemplate even those partial-truths--material, mental, or spiritual--revealed to the evolving mind of mankind in this grand and purposeful universe adventure. (*picture: The Hourglass Nebula)

Gnosis

EschaNihil — Tue, 11 Dec 2007 11:22:50 GMT

I keep returning to this music, same old music. I think it's the sheer SLOWNESS of it all -- like melting in a Dali painting or just floating in a sensual pool of warm water. The smell of jasmine. Or an echo-chamber. I see an old woman's hand turning over tarot cards, old faded cards with Victorian art scenes on them. And a well-dressed, French magician on a stage, holding an orange, and disappearing in a cloud of smoke that seems to be coming from everywhere and nowhere.

Further Tales From The Resistance...

EschaNihil — Thu, 01 Nov 2007 07:29:11 GMT

3. REVELATION ~~~~*~~~~ HARMONY IS THE SPEECH OF HEAVEN ~~~~*~~~~ MUSIC IS THE LANGUAGE OF THE SPIRIT, first and foremost, as far as I'm concerned. And where the spirit leads, we are inclined to follow -- even into the realms of the unknown! Every moment is new and change is constant. One can plan their artistic efforts, but sometimes a spirit-led journey takes us off on wholly divergent paths, into new realms which require new forms for conveying truth and experience -- maybe it's some blissfully intuitive chord progression, or some improvised ecstasy, or something more... I love hearing about each musician's encounter with inspiration and how you come to terms with developing and expressing your creative energies. We are always exploring some level of our own UNIQUE PROCESS, a destiny of styles and personal strivings, discovered through our own personal history and consciousness, pushing through into self-actualizing revelations of sound and sense. And though we may share similar sources of inspiration, energy, history, and purpose -- we each bring something special, something singular and miraculous, our own SELF, our own SORROWS and JOYS to each and every piece of art we make. FROM OUR COLLECTIVE WISDOM A GREAT MANY THINGS ARE POSSIBLE! We live as co-creators in a shared reality and we express our selves through this grand web of art and music. We connect, and yet we still retain our own voice, our own uniqueness. That's how it should be, I think. We do not reduce to the "lowest common denominator;" we expand and aggregate through wisdom to celebrate the GRAND DIVERSITY OF CREATION. I am convinced that we are growing -- becomming something greater through these streamings of the soul. What a wonderous wonderment!

More Tales of the Resistance...

EschaNihil — Wed, 31 Oct 2007 07:02:24 GMT

2. Light and Shadow "Gate gate paragate parasamgate bodhi svaha." --Mantra from The Heart Sutra of Buddhism (*Rough translation of mantra: "Gone, gone, beyond gone, gone beyond the concept of gone, enlightenment, wow!") I BELIEVE EVERY SOUND HAS THE POSSIBILITY OF BEING CALLED "MUSIC." Some of you may have the idea that I disregard or dislike traditional harmonies (diatonic or otherwise), traditional forms, traditional rhythms, etc. etc. Nothing could be further from the truth. I love 5ths and major chords and the key of C and 4/4 timing and soul-wrenching blues and good rock songs and gritty folk songs and world music revelations and classic symphonies and dancing underneath trance techno strobe lights just like everyone else. I enjoy a huge selection of popular music. BUT I also love to INCLUDE those unfamiliar forms too -- to explore rhythmic diversity, extended dynamics, ethnic fusions, which often exceed and TEST THE BOUNDARIES of the traditional patterns of composition. As I have listened to a huge sampling of popular music, I do find myself listening to other-than-pop-music about 75% of the time now. I have become fascinated with non-traditional rhythms and structures, and the way they affect us mentally, emotionally, physically and spiritually too. POLYSTYLISM has always been an aim, interest, and goal of mine -- how two or more styles can present themselves and relate within the framework of a single piece. How one style sheds light, humor, emphasis, contradiction, paradox, and completion upon another style. The crossing of styles and approaches seems to be increasing in both frequency and complexity. Music can be unabashedly CONSONANT and completely harmonically conventional -- totally rich, joyous, conventional, meaningful, simple, and familiar -- but must it always conform to these quaint standards? Personally, I appreciate music which celebrates tradition (or many traditions) and yet moves beyond it into a more contemporary and global vibe. I see this happening online and in a more global sense as information exchange increases and communication gaps shrink. We are becomming more connected and affected by each other from a 'whole-world perspective' than ever before! How exciting. Music will always have the burden (or blessing -- depending on how YOU look at it) of existing within the context of some tradition, some preconceived musical values, some impulse of memory, some rule or notion. All I can say is BE AWARE of this. At times we might like nothing more than to represent that wonderful tradition and capture a certain pre-determined style and sound. But some music is more ORGANIC than that, and requires new forms and new ways to tell the story -- to convey some PURPOSE or EXPERIENCE or INSPIRATION (which literally means "to give breath") to its listener. And then there's always those certain aspects of the creative drive/the imagination which call for a ceaseless synthesis, an endless adventure of cross-pollination. And experimental techniques for the fun of experimentation and exploration. And some voice calls out: CREATE! Create even in the midst of this imperfect perfect present with all its trials and uncertainties. And the spiritual impulses which allow me to experience some kind of continuity between the old and the new -- to represent the echoes of my past and the hopes for my future under the unifying presence of the HERE AND NOW. My own experience of what I call "dissonance" has changed greatly in my own listening history. Music feels more like a polytonal, polyrhythmic painting to me now. Music has become more about energy and intensity -- luminosity and LIGHT! COLOR. And in order for there to be depth, true clarity, high definition, and brilliance, there must be SHADOWS in relation to the light and color too. In order to perceive pleasure, we must have some notion of pain to distinguish it from. I simply want to look at HARMONY and see THE WHOLE SPECTRUM of light and shadows as one big picture of sound and sense. There is some dissonace which is wholly an ecstatic experience of my soul -- an experience that transcends exclusive categories like ugliness or beauty. This has made me wonder to what extent harmony is enculturated -- to what extent we are biased in our judgments of art whenever we go so far as to attach the label of 'beautiful' or 'ugly' to something because of pre-dertermined cultural values and stereotypes. There is a certain 'aesthetic of ugliness,' I think. And a certain kind of ugliness is really very beautiful to me in a certain sense. Decay and disarray can be quite awesome. Sometimes it's the wrinkles and the tears, the subtle abnormalities which really create the essence, style, the PERSONALITY and SUBLIME meanings. I believe there is a time and a place when it becomes reasonable for some art to project the negative, the disfigured, the choatic, the unknown, even the presence of evil -- the shadow side of life. To give a voice to the shadow so that we may once again find peace and harmony, or simply experience a certain shadow state of our being to EXHAUST our darkest emotions and feelings. This can be so cathartic and healing: to allow all the anger, hate, resentment, etc. -- all the typically considered "negative" emotions -- to rise up and be released so that we feel cleansed and free and in control again. What I ultimately strive for is HARMONIC COEXISTENCE. I seek a music which has the freedom to explore all the heavenly harmonies and drastic dissonances that can be found in this big universe of sound -- and utilizes that gargantuan pallette of music history and musical plurality to express advanced meanings of diversity and unique self-expression. A overall continuum which is ALL-INCLUSIVE (although each piece need not include everything by any means!). I think many of the minimalists showed us a good example of this -- with a total return to traditional harmonic structures-- with hyper-simplistic reductions of form that turned all tradition on its head, was ultimately progressive, and yet still exemplified the true beauty of simple diatonic harmonies. John Cage and other postmodernist musicians have said and done much of what I'm expressing here -- broadened music to include greater magnitudes of purpose and potential. Ambient music seems to range from extreme simplicity to complex soundscapes -- and the emphasis becomes more about evoking a certain feel or mood, a certain STATE OF MIND. Music, like many arts and actions in life, is all about inspiring certain states of mind -- another spectrum just rife with potential values. A piano can function like an orchestra and an orchestra like a triangle if you so choose. The number of possible songs, styles, traditions, bringing in everything old and new seems to equal an inexaustible fountain of music to me. The complex stories and states of mind in today's world really REQUIRE extended techniques and harmonies for me to express them genuinely through my music. Bottomline, find your own passionate musical expressions (whether completely traditional, completely esoteric, or your own unique mix in-between) and MAKE THE MUSIC YOU HAVE ALWAYS WANTED TO HEAR. Namaste, ~Justin

Tales from the Resistance

EschaNihil — Fri, 26 Oct 2007 06:42:22 GMT

1. On Difficult Music... I must say, KEEP ON writing that beautiful ugliness, you artists of unfamiliar dissonance! Just be willing to see the wilting lily sink to the bottom of a lake -- weighted down by moonlight. Speak to me. I heard they captured a wild accordion in the valley! Musical notes can catch fire. I tell you, if you are ever cold, JUST SING. Sing away your pain. Like valkyries, THE DEMIGODS OF HARMONY CAST THEIR NETS WIDE. In semiquavers of shimmering star tones -- I wait to break open your microtonal apocalypse. We must work out the rhythms of our DNA, learn to swing and to sway. The evolutionary way. Let us bring ourselves to the feast, and sample from the cornucopias of the spirit. These clusters, shooting stars, giant dippers, scratching out some glissandoed code. Heavenly harmonics help us. The drums of war are never silent. Give the whole world a chance! Maybe this is not necessarily the time for gentle lessons. Speak in the tongue of shades if you must -- build your citadels of sacred harmonies. We are listening and we are expanding. The POSSIBILITIES ARE ENDLESS. We will walk your 26-step scales of enchantment if we must. Even when the coffers of gold turn to rust, there is THIS song -- this random waltz -- that I will teach you one day on the edge of the Milky Way. All the way. We will teach you of the aleatory and chaos of the human spirit. We shall open the roads to another way of being, where every being is allowed to sing, to sing the song of everything. Listen deep into the songs of these celestial artisans. TRUST THE UNIVERSE. You will find your way. Just listen, my friends, listen...

It depends on what you mean by TUVOK

EschaNihil — Thu, 25 Oct 2007 03:29:56 GMT

or was that TUVIX?

Astronomical Odds

EschaNihil — Thu, 27 Sep 2007 02:51:08 GMT

This just in: scientists and astronomers have confirmed that the space forecasts show a 0.5% chance in 2012 of a cataclysmic Earth impact with a comet bearing a strange likeness to Orson Welles' head (it's even possible that Orson Welles will be playing Sigmund Freud at the time). Is the prophetic Mayan calendar pointing to this approaching apocalyse? This could make films like "Deep Impact" and "Armageddon" become visionary, action classics (both released in 1998 oddly enough -- there must have been a millenial impact-paranoia in the air). But I guess we'd all be too dead to remember the movies. You had better say your prayers just in case. Say your prayers and watch a movie -- while you make a movie of yourself doing those acts (on your cellphone even). Yeah, that's it... :P p.s. LOOK OUT FOR THAT CIGAR!

Top 10 BEST NES Games

EschaNihil — Tue, 25 Sep 2007 02:51:05 GMT

This is JUSTIN'S HIGHLY PERSONAL, PURELY OPINIONATED TOP 10 LIST OF THE BEST GAMES FOR THE 8-BIT NES.... #10 DOUBLE DRAGON II: The Revenge #9 MANIAC MANSION #8 CASTLEVANIA 2 #7 MIKE TYSON'S PUNCHOUT #6 MEGA MAN 2 #5 SUPER MARIO BROS. 2 #4 SUPER MARIO BROS. 3 #3 CONTRA #2 METROID #1 THE LEGEND OF ZELDA --- That was fun. What do you think? Did I miss a phenomenal game? What are some of your NES favorites? Just thought I'd share... :)