How to: mental upgrades

Today’s routine: Wake up and walk to a bay side coffee shop for breakfast and to work on photography stuff.. After that I will head around town picking up various items that make my life more complete, mostly car parts. Later in the afternoon I will head to the YMCA to pump the guns and then shower before I go and work with kids at an after school programme. What will happen tonight I never know. Last night I dropped in at the Seattle fire collective to watch humans play with fire and to meet the folk that put on these events. It’s a movement and I love to celebrate with these types of people. The connects that can be made are out of this world alien level shit sometimes.

At other times I go to events don’t connect with anyone. Where are you from is something I avidly try and avoid asking and yet find myself in the same conversation more than I am willing to admit. On occasion vast stretches of time are spent in a mindset that can’t come up with conversation other than the standard questions that everyone has heard a million times before. Where are you from? What do you do? What part of town do you live? Would you mind shooting me in the head right now?

It was less than a month ago that I got reawakened to the communication path I desire to be on. I remember the night that the awakening happened. I back at my old college town bar scene talking with anyone that wanted to talk. Then the remarkable happened. One of the conversations turned into something meaningful. I can’t say exactly how anything comes to from not having meaning to have meaning but somehow a stranger and I saw eye to eye. The conversation was simple. We talked about our lives and the experiences that had brought us to the present moment and then gradually we built into something truly inspirational with the catchphrase of “I just make myself into a person with a cando attitude” climaxing out short talk. I felt like I had learned something and it felt good.

I do not believe that the man I was talking with was trying to improve my life; instead felt the stimulation caused by something that means something and so, like the good human he is, plugged himself in and talked away. At that moment I did not know how much my life had been changed. All I know was that I felt good and that I wanted to go out and spread the good vibes, and so I did. It’s easy to talk with anyone when you feel light and happy. The conversation flows from a free place inside and what feels like anything is possible. It would be hard to sum up what I had learned from this man with logic or a catchphrase. It was subtle click and it changed the game.

“Lift up your hearts, my brothers, high, higher! And do not forget your legs either. Lift us your legs, too, you good dancers; and better yet, stand on your heads.” -Thus Spake Zarathustra, Friedrich Nietzsche

One of the main function of the brain is adaptability. What amazes me is just how much can change with nothing more than information. While it seems that we continue to learn from all situations, life is not a constant climb upwards. There are times when we sink and must go backwards before we can go forwards once again. My questions are; What are the things that change our perspective and change the way we react to the world? Can we design a life to safeguard against pitfalls and thus cling to the power we have acquired? No one can say when or where the next upgrade will come from. It’s like a hunt where you go into the unknown in order to retrieve the treasure. In my experience there are great monsters found in the unknown that can wreck your day. Strategic planning and responsibility are key on the journey to finding wisdom. The game is necessarily dangerous but I wouldn’t have it any other way. 

5 reasons to learn lucid dreaming today!

Do you do yoga? Meditate? Read books and strive to eat a balanced diet? Well then why the fuck are you not lucid dreaming? In my opinion it’s just as important as all of the mentioned above and here is why. 

1. To create any fantasy you can imagine.Imagination is like a muscle. The more you use it the better it gets. Now let’s imagine all the things that we have yet to imagine. Hard to imagine huh? Well before we get too meta maybe we should look at the things that we can think about. There are a lot of things to be thought. A lot of universes to be created. All of which can be done in the lucid dream. It’s like having your own Oculus rift only waaay the fuck better. Have you ever wanted to fly? Hang out with dinosaurs? Bang it out with 50 of the hottest creatures anyone has ever seen? Sit in solitude on the dark side of the moon? All of this can be done by exercising the lucid dreaming muscle and its not as hard as you might think.

2. To travel to different dimensions.

Ok now is the time to get meta. There is more to the lucid dream than just the imagination. Just imagine, there are parts of your brain that you have yet to unlock. Flying through space is easy enough but ripping the space/time fabric apart and sendin it hard into the space between space; talk about a trip. Actually you can’t really talk about it. I mean, people try all the time but one of the common things that people express about these states of being is that it’s so hard to describe. It must be lived. The fact that humans are capable of mystical experience is baffling. To know that you have some of the most profound experiences of your life through a practice is some of the greatest part of being human. 

3. To talk to sides of yourself that you didn’t know where there.

A necessary requirement to lucid dreaming is that the dreamer becomes aware. Something in the mind exclaims “What presents itself before me is but a dream!”. By becoming aware of yourself you are able to become the unattached observer and thus gain great control over all aspects of life. In Robert Waggoner’s book “Lucid Dreaming: Gateway to the Inner Self” he refers to a state of consciousness within the dream in which the dreamer becomes aware of a separate consciousness with the dream. “I have come to think of it as a true self; an awareness hidden by layers of misguided core beliefs developed in childhood. What questions would you ask if you possessed such profound lucid wisdom?”

4. To practice and improve real life skills.

Why do we dream? What practical reason could there be for inventing landscapes in the mind? Could the ones who dream have an evolutionary advantage over those who do not? Who can say? There are many theories from the Freudian of subconscious sexual impulses manifesting themselves in imagery, to totally random firings of the brain, or that the dream help with memory formation. Some say that the dream is practice for life. The brain is able to problem solve and thus able to use what it learns and apply it to the real world. Dream training grounds…

5. To give greater meaning to life.

In my opinion the reason for life is meaning. It’s what drives all action and compels moral ideals that are greater than any individual can hope to be. Through dreams we can achieve something greater than ourselves and exist in a world beyond. There are different rules in the dream. Different rules to test our notions of what is real. Some rules are the same however and by testing against these boundaries can we gain a deeper sense of reality and thus have greater meaning. 

There is so much that I have not touch about the dream. Just think; reuniting with the deceased, conquering your fears in a safe(?) envornment, processing complex emotions that allow for the next jump in consciousness. This is really the tool for massive self improvement and has to potential to bring expounding benefit to the core of life so that we may sit back and watch the abundance spread like fire throughout the soul. So if I am able to purswade anyone of anything let it be this: right before you fall asleep tonight tell yourself “tonight I will lucid dream”.

Out of fire

It was shortly after the first acid trip that life began to spin violently out of control. I can not pin down the exact moment when the spin began but it happened sometime on the Fourth of July when Jayson, the girl and I took acid in the city of Lahina. If I told you we tore shit up it would mean little. 
The Son and I woke up on the beech with the intent to hustle and everything was going our way. Hitch hiking from Paia to Lahina may have taken more time if we drove. The time it takes to start a car and get out of a parking lot would have been a greater amount of time than the time we spent with our thumbs out on the side of the road. After we got to Lahina we made friends with homegirl and spent our day at that 5 star hotel on the beach. We bring up the idea of homegirl taking acid with us and soon after we are sucking paper under the banyan tree. 
Heavy dose of reality, a whirlwind of faces, insights, conversation, and street theatre staring the three amigos. Power trippin hard was I. Nothing was beyond my grasp. It was at the end of the night that we stumbled into old aunties Fourth of July party. After our hostess filled our plates with stale chips and cold ribs I found myself berated by a cackle of drunken aunties. The conquering attitude of which I walked into the party with was taken from me as I said farewell. It was in the last section of our walk did I make a move to kiss homegirl only to find my balls swiftly smashed, figuratively. The deep rooted jolt to my personal security began to express itself and sour the night. Homegirl left. Jayson and I were agitated with each other but in that strange way we had become brothers. We fought and made up and fought only to find that our mental fortitude had been utterly sapped by the events of the night. In the morning I left Jayson asleep under the bush that we passed out beneath. 

 
A feeble attempt at rebuilding took place over the next week. A seemingly impactful experience with a warrior guru and a trip into the junk food sections of the super market. The downward spiral had begun and a blind eye I had turned. 
A night that I had nothing to do Jayson had no trouble convincing me to head to Lahina for round two. Again we sat under the banyan tree keeping the handshake under our tongues. This time was different. This time was strange and I was unprepared for a disturbed reality. I watched helplessly as my friend grew in stature to take the lead. Knowing the rules of engagement I followed the brave fool throughout the town knowing that for this man there were no limits and that jail was a real possibility, however he had something that I did not, he had strength. It was a wild blur of a night climaxing as we borrowed a canoe and attempted to take on the ocean only to tip ten feet from shore. 
Back at my jeep, all of our stuff wet, Jayson’s phone unable to turn on, as the sun was rising we finally had rest. Tired as we were it was here that we made our fatal mistake. We left Jayson’s backpack leaning on the outside of the car. All of his possessions were in that pack. When we awoke it was gone. He was destroyed. 

I can be cold and even crewel at times but for a true friend I will sacrifice body and mind. Buying lunch was nothing. I invited him along as I did daily errands to keep him company as he went through his darkest moments. “Now everything must be take” I remember him saying. We traveled across the island to an old job to pickup a moped I had left in their possession. As I exchanged pleasantries with my ex coworkers Jayson invaded the lunchroom. Behind their backs I saw him go through backpacks and empty wallets. I excused myself and addressed Jay about the theft in private. “Put it back or walk from here” I told him. He walked. I was left to deal with my coworkers. At this time most of them still won’t talk to me, some of them want to fight me, and never did I get the moped back. 
The word broken is when one should be angry but due to fatigue or even hopelessness the anger is not present. 
I slept in the back seat of my jeep that night. The next morning was tour guide training and the team was meeting up to hike the legendary Haleakala creator. Seeing the team I forgot all about the nights before. We split into two groups. The boss’ group started from the top to hike down the mountain while my group started from the bottom to hike up the mountain. The idea was to meet in the middle so that we could exchange car keys and meet back up at the end, but we never saw the other group. Near the end of our hike I decided to sprint ahead with the keys so that I could hitch down the mountain to the car and bring the car to the top to pick up my friends. I did all of this before they finished their hike. Once we had all joined forces in the car we then needed to decide what to do about boss. I convinced my friends that because we had no idea if the boss was even on the mountain that we should go to the nearest bar and wait for him to call us over a beer. No one said no and I had the keys so we went. Half way to the bar we get a call from the boss. I whip a shitty and drag race to pick him up. It still took about 20 minutes. Pulling into the parking lot I can see he is mad. As I get closer I can see that he is beyond mad. My mind takes control and I go cold and rational. 
Boss- Where the fuck have you shits been, and why are you driving?! (Pointing at me)

Me- I’m sorry boss, we didn’t know where you were. 

Boss- You are so fucking stupid I can’t even believe and you know what, YOUR FIRED!

Me- In that case you owe me 140 dollars. 

Boss- I don’t owe you shit, get out of the front seat. 

I slip into the back seat as he gets I front. 

Me- Technically and legally you do. 

Boss- Don’t fuck with me, I will kill you. 

Me- You don’t have the balls. 

Boss- Get out of the car!

Me- No

He gets out and attempts to open my door while I hold down the lock. He runs to the other side of the car, grabs my backpack and whips it into the street. I still do t get out. He starts the car and drives over my back pack and as we are about to leave the parking I open the door to leave. As I get out of the car I front kick his tail light (my one slip from sagacity).

Boss- have a nice ride asshole.

  
I am left in the parking lot on top of a mountain with nothing but my backpack. 
Flash forward to a dream of a boy working on a great Roman war ship. The boy and a crew of men are commissioned to draw in a statue of the general which has been placed on the bow of the boat. The men pull the rope as one while the boy pulls whimsically. The boat is getting closer to shore and the statue is in danger of breaking on the rocks. Moments before the statue is smashed the boy gives a great pull in a show of strength that outdoes all other men and statue is safe. One of the men in the crew takes the boy aside and with a club smashes the boys skull in. 
Flash forward, I walk somberly down the mountain. With my thumb I asked passing cars for a ride down the mountain. It was not long before a man pulled to the side and I got in. We exchange the basics and soon I relate the story of the enraged boss who left me on top of the mountain. It was here, through the man who drove me down the mountain that I learnt to climb once again and the downward spiral was stopped. 
The man who drove me down the mountain turned out to be a master in Kung Fu and even offered classes (much to expensive for me) on self defense. Kung Fu, he explained, is about avoiding negative energy. Not only negative energy in the form of a fist flying at your face but also other sorts of negative energy such as a vengeful ex girlfriend or whatever. It’s all about redirection and reflection which is less tiring what with not having to take on everything that comes your way. There are times when you will be cornered he said, and these are the times when we do what we were born to do. These are the times to kill he explained. 
I left his car and returned to my jeep. I decided then that it was time to start a different kind of life on the other side of the island in Lahina. It was in Lahina that I met Fred. 

The road to Hana

 
This is a picture from the road to Hana on the island of Maui in Hawaii. The road to Hana is not for the faint of stomach. It bends up and down the east side of Haleakala mountain and visitors will need to slow down, speed up, dodge oncoming cars, and drive next to cliffs of which a fall is certain death of which there have been many. Despite this hundreds of people drive the road everyday. Most of these people rent a car and drive strait through, maybe they listen to a audio tour if they’re astute. There is a better way than what the tourists think and I will tell you exactly the best way it can be done. 

On Friday morning you will need to create a group of two girls and one guy from the people of Paia. This shouldn’t be too hard or take too long as the people of Paia are extremely friendly and half of them are willing to drop all responsibilities on a dime if it means going for a worthy adventure. After you have made your group you will want to start to hitch hike down the Hana highway. This is far superior than driving because you will meet amazing people hitching and, who the fuck has the balls to hitch?

After a few hours you should reach Hana. This is where you will spend the night so it’s time to get comfortable. Go for a walk, talk with locals. Redsand beech is around the corner but good luck finding it without a guide.  Redsand is rather spooky to be honest as if it’s a valley of the gods and mortals do not belong. Probably a good spot to camp. 

It’s now Saturday morning. Your mission is to get to the bamboo forest and Seven Sacred Pools. If your thrifty and invite enough strangers your group will have grown to a party and you can now march up the mountain and into the bamboo forest leading an entourage of able bodied adventurers.  

After your party has reached the surprise at the top and you head back down the mountain set up camp at Seven Sacred Pools campground. When the night time comes some one in your group is going to have a guitar and someone else is going to have alcohol. Use these tools to attract other campers in the area and expand the party. If you are both loud and belligerent others will come.Maybe you will meet a farm boy that lives near and you can have a bonfire on the cliffs. 

Sunday morning comes and it’s time to make your way to Cafe Attitude. Get there early and you can sauna all day. At night the cafe does dinner and a talent show. This is the time to get socially ambitious. There are brilliant and famous people at caffee attitude. I’m talking millionaires, rock stars, and possibly even a model or two. Find them, get to know them, and do whatever it takes to party with them. 

From this point onwards the party is out of control and you will be on an unpredictable adventure of a lifetime. You will be with the coolest people in the world in the coolest place in the world. Everywhere you go there is a waterfall, go skinny dipping. A mountain side, have a picknick. A cow pasture, pick mushrooms or maybe go swimming in a billionaires to pool. 

  

It’s a search for happiness.

“Imagination is the human compacity to look into the all of the possible futures, pick the best future and pull it to meet the present moment.”

It’s a search for happiness and a quest for freedom. To reach reach above the clouds and unfurls ones wings in a desperate display of power and wisdom. With the sun shining on ones back we have the right to be the gods of which we were born as. Leting the universe unfold and the beauty of life touch the deepest and most protected places of our hearts. We are exactly as we were meant to be. 

There are those that creep. Under the rays of the sun do they squirm. Writhing from within the gut calling for a changing of the spine. Through art and deception. Through bliss and ignorance. Do not let down your guard for this lends is not to be looked through. 

Strait up. No one is invincible and there are things in this world that can forever taint the soul.

“One must be an ocian before one can even thing about taking on a polluted stream.”

Keep to the higher path and let no one take you down. They will say you have a high horse but off your horse only weakness can be found. Let yourself be taken. By spirits that are strange. Let’s yourself be carried away by the people that play a different game. Always be aware. Of forces that devoure. For there are people out there. That prey for your weakest hour. Sweetness is a touch that will never turn to rotten. Live a life of love and never be forgotten.

Mad liberation

After meditating in the streets of downtown Phoenix for I found myself doubting the dis-contentedness with society that inspired action in the first place. Rebellion against the routine of a society that has found itself comfortable living with sickness and catastrophe. Is the world so dull that we need public mediators to wake us up? Is it not beautiful already? Thoughtfully; the contradiction is true. Looking around I see a striving population of loving people who enjoy their lives and are involved in a passionate race for the better world. At the same time I can feel the restlessness that rides along with the human condition. We are cursed with the knowledge of all the ways in which we fail to live the lives we know we should.

We build cities for ourselves to be closer together and in these cities we spend our time alone. Is it cunning conditioning to make us more efficient slaves, or is there something waiting for us to pick ourselves out of the fog and meet them in dancing places? Reality is not a forgiving. You are not a special and unique snowflake. Some of us will climb higher than others and its no ones responsibility to climb but your own. I ask myself why I could not be stronger?

I have always been on the side of self overcoming rather than self acceptance and perfection is a strenuous and lofty goal. It has never been easy to live up to my own standard but today I am making great leaps forward. I have uncovered more of the movement that I yearn for. Social freedom and the people that are redefining taboo. I can play a fantastic role in this movement which accepts more people empowering them to a greater degree. This is the movement that will take the world and soon it will be the norm.

On the liberators international a guy addresses an emotionless subway about their ways and asks them to start a dance party with him. Everyone dances. There is another instance of this guy addressing working professionals on the street and challenging them to have a dance party with him in a city park and the people love him for it.

When I was young I loved to read fantasy books like The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe and I especially loved Lord of the rings. During my darker years as a late teenager I yearned to escape into one of these worlds and stayed in a fantasy of hopes and dream. When I finally did look into the world I found it. Its out there I say just go and look. There are people that can bring you into worlds you would not believe. 

Obviously open. Penetratingly vulnerable. Emotionally expressive. These are the values in the world of tomorrow because in the end, it is impossible to have a great life unless it is a meaningful life. And it is very difficult to have a meaningful life without meaningful values. Perhaps, then, with hard work, you might gain that rare tranquility that comes from knowing you’ve had a hand in creating something of intrinsic excellence that makes contribution. Indeed, you you might even gain that deepest of all satisfactions: knowing that your short time here on this earth has been spent well, and that it mattered.