Articles
Untitled 003
The pavement shimmered like midnight mines of diamond in the moonlight...
nearby walls painted by can, sprawled on wall, the words: NO WAR.
Posted by Justin | Comments (0)
Untitled 002
I feel like my mind is a blank canvas
and here I stand with a brush
I don't even know where to start
I just sort of watch the paint dripping off the brush onto the floor
and then I take a nap
Posted by Justin | Comments (0)
Untitled 001
blank canvas painted white
white canvas painted black
black painted canvas write
what canvas painted can't
Posted by Justin | Comments (0)
Beauty in Struggle
People are born beautiful everyday. The real beauty in the world is in human struggle. A flower blooms time and time again, but a human has a choice to bloom or wilt. Once a human blooms, you will see beauty in suffering.
A car that is restored from the ground up holds more virtue than one just bought off ebay already done for you. The catapiller struggles to free itself not knowing if it will make it out or not... It has no idea if it will survive. Once it overcomes this it becomes free, never to be the same again floating in the warmth dazzling with colours. Free at last.
Take time everyday to look inside at yourself and realize the struggle you deal with is a beautiful journey to self discovery and strength.
Posted by Justin | Comments (0)
Seven Year OId Tao
First, I would like to thank Mindtrance for inviting me into the forum. He and I were reunited within the past month and we’ve been exchanging various ideas for the site and other projects as well. Undoubtedly, we had met before; somewhere, in some other time.
The 7yr old Taoist
Alan was eating dinner like he had every night with his mom and dad and sister. And after dinner he felt sick, as if he ate something bad. He began to vomit and when his parent couldn’t figure out what exactly was wrong, they took him to the emergency room.
Like a shaman who would ingest a ceremonial vat of ayuahuasca or psilocybin mushrooms, he would have a vision afterwards but, he was only 7.
After finally seeing a physician in the suburban medical center, he was diagnosed with food poisoning. His sister was fine so no extra suspicion was cast on the family. He endured the usual embarrassments of Western medicine, particularly the rectal thermometer. It seemed strange that they would take his blood for something he ate, but again, he was only 7 and went along with the protocol. He was discharged with a cool bracelet he’d wear to school the next day highlighting the excitement he just experienced. He was also given a hospital-blue, kidney-shaped vomit trough, just in case, ya know. And the family left, just past 1 AM.
In the car, Alan’s sister fell fast asleep. He felt new, light. His father drove the LeCar towards their small township and his mother sat in the passenger seat adjusting the check book. She was smoking a cigarette but it was in the ashtray.
Without looking his mom said, “You let us know if you’re gonna be sick sweetheart, OK?”
“Sure Ma.”
“How ya feeling?”
“Pretty good. I just figured out the way to not throw up anymore.”
“What?” she twisted her black ink pen shut and threw it deep into her oversized purse.
“Well, there’s a way to everything, you just have to figure it out and do it.”
His father rarely said anything and this instance wasn’t different. He did throw a look at his wife that had “what the hell is he talking about” written all over it.
“It’s like Donkey Kong. There’s a way to get the high score, I just don’t know it. So I can’t do it. I bet there’s a way to everything. “
“Honey, when we get home I want you to drink some water, OK?”
Alan agreed and they drove home. Nothing more was said of the tiny revelation until 23 years later when he was visiting his parents and recalled this event while reading Chronicles of Tao. He asked his parents and they remembered it well.
“You were like, seven years year old. How could you remember that?” asked his Mom. But he only laughed a bit and drank a mouthful of water.
Posted by lostyank | Comments (0)
haiku 001
the rising sun smiles
waking frost from winter's heart
as the wind sings softly
Posted by Justin
noname_27
Herald of fire
Injured in the speaking
He no longer has faith
Life in chaos
Ardent conquest
Many guile faces
Constructed of loose terror
Smiled at
Thrown to the stones
And wincing from the fall
Errant shadows
Groaning curiously
Erect in the naked display
of a Star God's pro-creation.
His eunuch children conspire
Beneath him.
Posted by rtav
Bus
Bus ride
Pretty girls
Old stoic man
Wealth strands
Loose strings
Child enthrallment
The black window
I see myself
Dying to save them
Posted by rtav
the human celebration
a fleshy affair of love torn wondrous gazers
clambering for the vision of day
while wrapped in the musty garb of night.
but without night the drugs of reason
care nothing for the plight of flesh,
without night the dreams forspoken
are wasted on wispy cotton monarchs
and the vaulted, insatiable overseer of sky.
how can we be reminded of pleasure?
how can life remain the warrior of death?
far from us, this flesh, the energy of night
cries out like a flailing beast.
forgive us, for you are the true king,
our liege lord for whatever purpose lingering.
and in our senselessness we bend knee,
only to see you raise your hand like
jesus
and avenge the frailty of light in our hearts.
repaired for the vision of time,
replaced and pardoned to once more seek eternal,
and placidly drink, swallow, and swoon
to the only true window of life,
and await the only true embrace of sorrow.
it is the unguarded gifter,
it is the faceless god.
Posted by rtav | Comments (0)
Just For Today
just for today
forgive but don't forget
learn from the past
don't hold a grudge
just for today
let go of fear
it gives you regret
are you in control of your life
or does life control you?
just for today
smile, you're alive
the sun is shining
even above the clouds
just change your perspective
just for today
doing something nice
it's the best reward there is
karma will take care of the rest
if you don't who will?
just for today
be honest with yourself
take time to balance your energy
don't spread yourself too thin
and don't forget to have "me" time.
just for today
love who you are
see how you got here
see where you want to go
make it happen
just for today
feel the love of a friend
love someone else for no reason
love isn't about what you get
it's about what you give
just for today
live like it's your last
and if you wake up again tomorrow
live for the next
just for today
follow what's in your heart
it will never fail you
balance it out with your mind
and make the choices that are best
just for today
live forever.
Posted by Justin
Prisoners of Fear
words can act like a prison
holding you where you are
everytime you see the light
they pull you right back down
the fear we create in ourselves
can make or break our lives
the words others say that spark those fears
are like sharpened kitchen knives
"you will never find anyone better than me"
I've heard a million times
"I've changed this time for real"
I've heard a million more
How long will it take for people to realize their crimes
holding someone back because you are scared
you don't follow your heart and then you have regret
you end up sad and hollow, you lost your only bet
you thought it best for the kids, but what you don't see
is that they really want you to be happy
but they aren't old enough to disagree
some people prefer misery
horses will run back into a burning barn because they feel safe
firemen find little kids burned to death under beds and in closets. lots of pets hiding in the corner...
all of them could have easily escaped but chose to stay and stop living life out of fear.
the last part, credit R.Love
Posted by Justin
Logan
You share the same name as Wolverine
a strong, quick tempered, ladies man.
I don't think that description could be any more true.
You have some gifts as well but there are things you must remember.
Your big brother needs help and attention to help him grow.
It's not that people like him better or love him more,
he just needs it to grow in the way he needs.
It's just different and right now you don't understand why.
Don't let what other people say and do change what you truely feel
in your heart as the right thing to do. You are an amazing young man when challenged and you put your mind to it. Stubborn as you are, you can overcome the things that hold you back from being who you
really are.
Everyone around you is a teacher and a pupil at the same time, try to remember that as you walk the path of life and teach others around you and learn as you go. Noone is above or below you, we are all equals in life, just maybe on different paths that others don't understand or view as wrong or different. Stay strong and take care of your family, they will need you in hard times to be focused and strong. Thank you for teaching me patience I didn't know I had.
Posted by Justin
Aidan
You have many gifts to share with the world
I know right now some people don't understand you,
and you don't understand your gifts...
In time all will become clear
and the paths that lay before you
will spell out the word destiny
in the rocky side of the mountain
I look at your familiar eyes
knowing that we share a simliar mission
and are binded by connected fate.
You will be nurtured and taught to grow
so that you may nurture and teach others.
The oldest souls have picked you to help
lead this world with open eyes,
Using your heart and mind as one entity
to shape the way people see love and each other.
You have much of that to give.
I hear your thoughts little man
and you will be great someday,
show your little brother the way
he will need you to be his guide.
Thank you for teaching me about love
I had never experienced before.
Posted by Justin
Sherry had a little...
the trap is set
wolf lays quiet
among the sheep
he changed his appearance
to attract one lamb
he drew her away from the flock
she once loved
he slyly turned her against the flock
and made her think it was fine
without her even realizing it
the shepherd tried to warn the her
because he could see through his plan
but no matter how hard he tried
the wolf still prevailed
the worst is yet to come
Posted by Justin
Reconnected
back against the earth
I become one with the mother
I breathe with the wind
my hair blows with the grass
I walk with the leaves
and cry with the lake
the sunshine is my smile
taking in the eternal life
a swan smiles, sailing by
Posted by Justin
The Light Leading Me
my eyelids drift slowly shut
connecting through the cosmos
we meet in that silence
exchanging dreams
through a solitare kiss
when I see you everything becomes clear
the muddy water instantly purified
my past, present and future
all shown to me in that breathe
exactly what I've always known
you close your eyes
listening for the voice
that's always guiding you home
exchanging those words
breathing life into your lungs
as I sigh at your beauty
our love surrounds us
like moths to a flame
telling stories of our lives
then and to come
whispering with tiny voices
exactly what we've always known.
Posted by Justin | Comments (0)
how long
how long had I been gone?
how long had I been someplace else
drifting like a plank, washing ashore
covered and uncovered time and time again
buried in sands to heavy to shift
how long had I been gone..
how long had I let myself dream
without really seeing through the clouds
how long have I been outside myself
looking inside through broken windows
how long had I been me.
Posted by Justin | Comments (0)
The Self
They tried so hard to teach us
The things that are not true
The lessons that we learned so well
The sundry things we do.
Survival of the fittest
Will cost you lots of friends
Don't rock the boat that floats you
Just smile and make amends
Don't be honest with your feelings
For folks will take offense
Be tactful - not dishonest
Walk that lonely picket fence.
Just be nice my mother taught me
No matter what the cost
A good example for the neighbors
Never mind the painful loss.
Fit in and people like you
agree and smiles abound
always do what is expected
never throw things out of round
Now there's nothing wrong with niceness
it's OK to just fit in
tactful is delightful
being gracious is no sin
but the question that I ponder
of this niceness that I share
are the feelings really truthful
am I honest, do I care?
What good is tactful niceness
that doesn't tell the truth?
politeness doesn't get it
If I'm lying to myself
Being hurtful or rebellious
is not my basic theme
I'm not asking that you lash out
blowing off your vicious steam
If they like you 'cause you're phony
whe're the gain in that?
but truth that rips and shatters
will not bring you what you want
Things extreme that are described here
often seem our only choice
there is more for us to choose from
there is honest, that is nice.
be yourself in all your feelings
see and know and be and do
then express with your uniqueness
what you've seen and felt and been.
this is all you have to odder
for yourself and to mankind
folks can then be free to love you
as you search and as you find
share yourself just as you find it
true to feelings understood
true to self and true to others
free from those who pressure shoulds
teach yourself a new beginning
teach yourself a lesson that is truth
give yourself in all your realness
loving gift for all the world.
-- from There is no Bad Truth by Charles Leviton.
Posted by Justin | Comments (0)
There Is No Bad Truth
"You shall know the truth and the truth shall set you free." Each one of us must find our own spiritual truth, our own value system for the living. Acknowledged or not, we all live by and believe in values, ethics and morals. Know the truth about yourself - there is not greater freedom nor access to the essence of God. - Charles Leviton
Posted by Justin | Comments (0)
spilling out random thoughts...
...like knocking over a jar of skittles my thoughts are a rainbow of flavors all simliar but somehow different. They spill out across the dirty floor among the lint, dust and pieces of dog food knocked from the dish by past visitors.
I find myself questioning not just life, love and liberty but beyond that as well. It's difficult to digest so many fat burgers at one time, yet my veins still remain poly saturated with images and curiosity.
Why do people never trust their intuition is one that I still can't place. We often say "I knew this or that when this or that happened, yet I still did this or that anyways" and if we had just listened and trusted ourselves we would not ever be in those situations longer than needed.
Why is trust such a hard thing for humans? Trusting others, yourself, your loveer... it's hard to see through the fog we've managed to create with our greed and fear. If we all had a knife that could cut that pie forever what would happen? What if we could all see as they see?
I'm not sure either... but what if.
Posted by Justin | Comments (0)
untitled12
City of speaking,
Wisdom and worlds.
Galaxies pining
And biding unfurled.
Beds chaste with luxury
And whimsy to cast.
Breast of the heavens,
Squeezing your milk,
Taken by gallant, garrish
Platoons.
Seeking a festival without
due parade.
Amazing the silence to which
Armageddon is played.
Posted by rtav | Comments (0)
...
"He who makes a beast of himself gets rid of the pain of being a man."
-Dr. Johnson
Posted by rtav | Comments (0)
Slumber vs. Inevitability
Jetsam, sedation, ocean embrace,
Your vast black tundra
Rejects the moon like a villain.
A villain in a spoonful of silence,
Beaming like a drunken idiot,
Doleful in divine embroidery.
The servants whimper,
Their Master has devoured the sun!
Picked his teeth with its final rays,
And spit out the bones of perpetual
Night.
It is here we taste our exile.
The vines of our fruit,
Our effortless fruition,
Stripping salvation from erect nipples,
The obsequiousness of fettered, pious
Breast beasts.
Decry the night!
We cannot feast under the eviscerated heaven
That shifts no balance, endures no wine.
The vineyards are cemeteries,
Coiled and grey, twisting tortured
Into dust and clay.
Resurrect the corpse sun,
Regurgitate its supple rays so the servants
May again clamber and arrive at "wisdom".
Arouse the flowers of the vineyard
on the lips of doting monarchs.
To sedate the ire of Babylonian kings!
Once more!
Posted by rtav | Comments (0)
untitled15
I am hurt for you,
And the desert speaks highly
of reprisal.
Astrologers nightmare,
A sordid affair.
O look! Nibiru?
Heaven child, wild awakening.
Birth and dreams in cannibal
Vision.
Scoured simplicity sought souly
So sadness sings of its sovereignty.
Solemn word bands making oily truths
Slip from reason
And avail of the ego of birds.
Posted by rtav | Comments (0)
eternal indigo
smooth dark edge
piercing small wet skin
burnt eyes, numb dullness
solo perching mountain mist
draining sorrow, harmony left
deep blue sleep
Posted by Justin | Comments (0)
sweet sorrow
a faceless shadow in her own reflection
milk and honey and all things pure fall from her eyes
telling a story from long ago
before there was meaning in small treasures
her hands small bearing the burden that is now held as if once delicate feathers
as the sea becomes still, only a face bearing sorrow remains; staring back
Posted by Justin | Comments (0)
eye kandy
sparking retina
telling faceless lies
watch it fade
absent secret
nameless story
detonated thought
crushing brilliance
simple sorrow
full mind
treasured words
soft beginning
sudden end
Posted by Justin | Comments (0)