Beautiful October

calendula-officinalis

I decided to come back to blogging on this month of October because, not only is it my birthday month, but it is also the month of change and new beginnings.  This month embodies many things.  It’s the month that Mother Nature chose to let us know that winter is upon us, the leaves continue to change, the weather begins to get a little cooler and the holiday season goes into full throttle mode.  It’s also a time when  most of us begin to reflect on the changes that we may want to make in our own lives.  As I look at the social climate of today, the one thing that I wish everyone would embody more of is Love.

Love is a powerful entity…THE most powerful in my opinion.  Love is what this world needs more of, and with so much devastation going on in the world right now, empathetic hearts and souls are needed in multitude.  We have to cease hating ourselves, our lives, our choices, and our environment.  Ceasing in projecting that hate onto others is needed as well.  Hate, like fear, is a powerful thing; but nothing and I mean nothing is more powerful than Love.  If you believe that God is Love, then you should understand just how powerful and merciful Love is.  The more we stray away from God, the more we stray away from Love.  I hear people say all the time, ‘I’m not into religion’ and I can understand that.  However, we must remember that God and religion are not the same, so never confuse the two.  Therefore, don’t hesitate to get in (or back in) touch with your spiritual selves and become more Loving today than you were yesterday.  When you Love yourself, you Love others…and you begin to show Love toward others.  Giving someone a smile, a polite compliment, a nice gesture or any act of kindness doesn’t cost a thing, but you will be surprised how it can make such a difference.  We use the word Love all the time, but how many of us consistently  live in Love, think in Love and act in Love?  I can honestly say that I am not one who does it consistently and for that I am ashamed, but I do it more than I use to.  I often smile at strangers (an unusual thing when living in New York),  assist a multi-tasking mother with her stroller and I think the best act of Love I am beginning to show on a daily basis is patience.  That is challenging to do when living in this fast pace society, but having patience is a beautiful thing.  I wish that I could exercise patience in other facets of my life, because if I did maybe I wouldn’t feel as unaccomplished as I sometimes do.  But I do understand the importance of patience and how it can be life changing.

I challenge all of you to become more conscious on your thoughts, words and actions.  Put Love in your heart and watch it manifest in your life!

Published in: on October 2, 2017 at 4:44 pm  Leave a Comment  

Guess Who’s Back?!

It’s been a long time coming, but I’m back and better than ever!  I’ve taken a necessary hiatus from this blog, but due to the current social climate I’ve decided to relaunch this blog.  Starting in October, I will go back to writing articles based on that Third Eye Point of View.  I have so much to say and so much to share.  So stay tuned and go tell your friends about it because things around here are about to go galactic!

Published in: on September 3, 2017 at 8:04 am  Comments (2)  

The Winter Storms of 2014

I know you guys haven’t heard from me lately, but I live in New York and this storm has me buried.  However, I am alive, well and have plenty in store for you in the upcoming weeks.  With so much that’s been going on in the world, we have lots to discuss.  So until then, have a great weekend, stay warm and stay inside:-)

Published in: on February 7, 2014 at 10:02 am  Leave a Comment  

What Should I Eat?

 I ask this question because with so many foods now containing GMO’s (Genetically Modified Organisms), I may have to go on a peppermint diet.  With GMO’s actually being put in animal feed, crop seeds being genetically altered, and no labels to warn us, we could be eating foods containing GMO’s and not even know it. 

I personally don’t like anything going into my body, not knowing exactly how it could affect me.  I am by no means a health fanatic; I eat red meat, drink alcohol and I love bread and real butter, but I try to consume it all in moderation because I know too much of any of it, isn’t good for me.  But what about almonds, spinach, apples and other various foods that are supposed to be good for me?  Due to genetically altering seeds, even if I decide to grow my own fruits and vegetables, I need to be careful to not order my seeds from a company who invests in, and/or is for, genetically modified foods.

In various animals that were tested, studies have shown that foods containing GMO’s have caused birth defects as well as severe hormonal changes.  Severe hormonal changes?!  I don’t want to say the wrong thing, but I would hate to go on a “health diet” only to end up with facial hair and a penis.  But the biggest problem is that these foods could literally be the beginning of the end for the human race.  Many studies have shown that foods containing GMO’s have led to infertility and other reproductive problems among other things.For example:

·         A 2009 Brazilian study found that female rats fed GM soy for 15 months showed significant changes in their uterus and reproductive cycle, compared to rats fed organic soy or those raised without soy. The glyphosate in the soybeans is believed to be the cause of the problem as it throws off the delicate hormonal balance that governs the whole reproductive cycle.

·         In a 2009 French study , scientists discovered that glyphosate can kill the cells in the outer layer of the human placenta (the trophoblast membrane), which in turn can kill the placenta. Only 1/500th the amount needed to kill weeds was able to kill the cells. The amount is so small, according to the study authors, the “residual levels to be expected, especially in food and feed derived from [Roundup] formulation-treated crops” could be enough to “cause cell damage and even [cell] death.”

·         A Canadian epidemiological study, which looked at nearly 4,000 pregnancies in 1,898 couples, women exposed to glyphosate during the three months before getting pregnant had a significantly higher risk of miscarriages, especially for those above 34 years of age. Fathers who were exposed to glyphosate before their wives got pregnant showed an increase in early delivery and spontaneous abortions.

·         A study on male rabbits showed that glyphosate can cause a reduction in sexual activity and sperm concentration, and an increase in dead or abnormal sperm.

·         In 2005, Irina Ermakova with the Russian National Academy of Sciences reported that more than half the babies from mother rats fed GM soy died within three weeks. This was also five times higher than the 10 percent death rate of the non-GMO soy group. The babies in the GM group were also smaller and could not reproduce. When Ermakova fed male rats GM soy, their testicles changed from the normal pink to dark blue.

·         Italian scientists similarly found changes in mice testes (PDF), including damaged young sperm cells. Furthermore, the DNA of embryos from parent mice fed GM soy functioned differently.

So now that I have your attention, you may be asking yourself, how do I know if the food I purchase contain GMO’s?  Well you don’t know because right now legislation is trying to pass a bill as to whether or not foods should be labeled as having GMO’s (go figure).  But until then, the best way to try to not consume hormone contaminated food is to purchase food with the 100% USDA Organic label.  Foods that are 100% organic must meet the following criteria via the USDA to be in the “100 percent organic” category: All ingredients must be certified organic. Any processing aids must be organic. Product labels must state the name of the certifying agent on the information panel. May include USDA organic seal and/or 100 percent organic claim. Must identify organic ingredients (e.g., organic dill) or via asterisk or other mark. Now we all know that the organic foods are more expensive, but either you pay now or pay later.  In this case, I’ll pay the money the up front, because I don’t think that ObamaCare covers surgery for penis removal.

To learn more about GMO’s please visit this website.

 

 

Published in: on September 27, 2013 at 2:25 pm  Comments (4)  

A Self-Righteous, Holier-than-Thou, Self-Loathing Bitch!

I’m talking about someone I know and I want to warn my readers to be aware of, and stay away from other self-righteous, holier-than-thou, self-loathing and know-every-damn-thing bitches.  You know those people who are so good at bullshitting, they can actually explain why the sky is blue?!  Now if you don’t know what to look for, I’ve provided a warning list below.  Look out for these characteristics and if you meet someone with one or more of these characteristics, run like hell!  These are the type of folks I’m speaking of:

  1. Those who have such a tough exterior, but are nothing but insecure mush on the inside.
  2. Those who claim they never cheat, but stay in over-lapping relationships.
  3. Those who can clearly see others mistakes and mishaps, yet have blurred vision when looking at their own.
  4. Those who pretend to walk on water, but know damn well they are falling down a flight of stairs.
  5. Those who stay ‘getting money’, but are always broke when it’s time to go out.
  6. Those who are worried about their ‘image’, yet are not even on the status of a local celebrity.
  7. Those who stay talking shit but are never doing shit.
  8. Those who pretend to be one step ahead of everyone else, but are actually 5 steps behind.
  9. Those who borrow money & never pay it back, yet tell you that you’ve never helped them with anything.
  10. Those who when told about the problems they have listed above, they tell you “too late, I’ve already solved them!”

And if you happen to have one or more of these characteristics, please start some fucking introspection and start watching “Iylana: Fix My Life” because you have some work to do.

Published in: on September 24, 2013 at 3:10 pm  Comments (3)  

And Just When You Thought It Was Over….

So, I know that I’ve been gone for a while, but summer is ending and it’s time to get back to business.  For these past two months, I’ve been brainstorming and trying to figure out how I can make this blog better, livelier and more interactive.  Even though there were so many topics in the news that were to be discussed, for some reason, I was still feeling uninspired.  But it’s always the unexpected occurrences that leads to the most profound inspiration.  With that being said, my creative and inspirational juices are flowing once more. 

Therefore, I would like to let you know that the format of my blog will be changing a little.  I will still continue to discuss subject matter from a third eye observation, because that’s just who I am and what I love to do.  For me, discussing things from a non-traditional point of view is second nature to me, almost like breathing, therefore that aspect of my blog will never change.  However, the format of what I discuss will change, as well as how I discuss it.  Most of my topics are serious, but strangely enough, I find humor in the most serious subject matter.  This is what I will start to inject in some of my discussions.  I just hope that when I do, no offense is taken, because most times, the truth is funnier than fiction. Also, if there are any topics that you guys would like to get my opinion on, let me know.

So please note, that I will be blogging more and bringing interesting stories to the masses, all the while giving my honest, serious, yet funny third-eye point of view. 

Published in: on September 10, 2013 at 12:56 pm  Leave a Comment  

The Revolution Will Not Be Televised

After George Zimmerman was found not guilty of the murder of Trayvon Martin, a dear friend of mine, said that famous phrase to me.  A phrase penned by the late Gil Scott-Heron.   A phrase  that many have heard growing up, a phrase that faded, but a phrase that has now been brought back to the forefront. In the aftermath of the verdict, a spark of demonstrations and conversations about gun control, race relations and societal obligation have ensued all over the world.  But now that the dialogue has begun, I will not ask anyone how they feel about race relations in America. I will not ask anyone what they think about race relations in America.  I will not ask anyone about gun laws in America.  I will only ask everyone, what will you do to change race relations in America?  What role will you play in the  solution to help stop the killing of innocent children and young Black men in America?  What changes will you make in the way you treat your fellow-man?  These are the questions that I too am trying to answer, because I know that unless I become a part of the  solution, I like many of you, will remain a part of the problem.

Dialogue is needed for action and action is needed for change.  One definition of a Revolution is:  A sudden or momentous change in a situation.  There are many situations in America where changes are needed for the betterment of this country.  And not all revolutions are violent, not all revolutions are peaceful, but all revolutions are needed for momentous change to occur.  As I stated before, I have started to ask myself what part shall I play in the revolution that’s now needed.  Maybe, writing this article is my first step.   But now I ask you, what will be yours?  If you don’t know, figure it out because as the phrase states, The Revolution will not be televised…The Revolution will be live. 

Published in: on July 15, 2013 at 4:53 pm  Comments (2)  

To Thine Own Self be True on this Valentine’s Day

This above all: to thine own self be true,
And it must follow, as the night the day,
  Thou canst not then be false to any man.
    Farewell, my blessing season this in thee!

–William Shakespeare (Hamlet Act 1, Scene 3, 78-81)

In the play Hamlet, the famous line To thine own self be true, is Polonius’ last piece of advice to his son Laertes who is in a hurry to get on the next boat to Paris, where he can finally get away from his father’s long-winded speeches.  If you’ve read the play,  you know that Polonius is speaking of something much more than the New Age self-knowledge which the phrase now suggests. As Polonius sees it, borrowing money, loaning money, carousing with those of dubious character and other immoderate pursuits, will allow one to be false to thy self. In my opinion, by being false, Polonius seems to mean to be disadvantageous or detrimental to your image; by being true, he means to be loyal to your own best interests. Take care of yourself first, he counsels, and that way you’ll be in a position to take care of others. As we all know, there is much wisdom in the father’s warning to his son.

This wisdom is something that we should all begin to strive for and live by.  It makes for better relationships, friendships and above all else, character.  To give falsely or to take falsely, is to live falsely! To live falsely is not only a disservice to yourself, but it is a profound disservice to your spirit.  It’s a disservice to those who care for you, to those who depend on you, to those who confide in you and to those who are in a position to help you (i.e. your clique).  It is a total disservice to your entire reason of being.  We were not created in the false image of our Creator; we were created in the true image of our Creator.

So on this Valentine’s Day, let us start by being true to our own self.  On this special day of Love, the greatest gift we can give or take, is the gift of truth and honesty to self.  It is only then that we will be able to shine truth on others.  And like you, I have plenty of work ahead of me:-)

Published in: on February 14, 2013 at 12:58 pm  Leave a Comment  

This Holiday: Don’t Forget About YOU!

Today I went to a department store and guess what I saw from wall to wall and floor to ceiling?  Christmas decorations!  Thanksgiving isn’t until next week, but we know that department stores like to start decorating early…really early.    With the Holiday season upon us, many times we focus on how to make ourselves available to others.  Where should I go for Thanksgiving?  Should I have it at my house? Who should I put on my Christmas list?  Should I stay home this New Year’s Eve or go out with friends?

These are just some of the questions we ask ourselves this time of year, which is why this is one of the most stressful times of the year.  But in the mist of all the stress, don’t forget to take time out for yourself.  We all know that the Holiday season is about giving, but what it is not about is depleting yourself.  Whether it is money, time or energy, always remember, you can give a little more next year!  Also, if you’re alone this holiday season, please don’t waste your time wallowing in sorrow. I know that not being with family or loved ones during the Holidays can be a bummer, but use that energy to do something positive like taking a trip to a new city or exploring new places in your own city.  Believe me; it’s nothing like having a bottle of champagne all to yourself when ringing in the New Year!

Unlike previous years, I will definitely be taking some time for myself this Holiday season.  It’s winter and I need to hibernate, reflect and get ready for the beautiful transitions that will come once this season is over.  I suggest you do the same.

Published in: on November 15, 2012 at 12:42 pm  Comments (4)  

A Change Gone Come….

As artists, we have the platform to bring awareness to the masses.  It is a position that should be taken seriously by those who deem themselves as artists.  Anything less is unforgivable.

In the aftermath of the Trayvon Martin tragedy, Sinead O’Connor wrote a prolific letter.  I want to Thank Ms. O’Connor for her words of truth and wisdom.   Click here to read.

Published in: on March 29, 2012 at 1:52 pm  Leave a Comment  
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