5 Favorite and Most Influencial BOOKS in My Life

Next chapter of my lists I want to share. This one is harder, man have I read a lot of great books. I have been taken to endless wonders, to the edge of possibility and further, to the ends of wonder, to all emotional states, to peace and enlightenment, all through books I have read. I have read all my books on printed paper, as in paperback, hardcover or beaten up, falling apart hand me downs.

I love books, my favorite medium for communication. I love books, my most sacred of texts I cherish as I do anything in my life.

Here we go....

1. Dreamspeaker by Anne Cameron, 1978 Clark Irwin and Co. - There are few words that can do this story justice. It is a masterpiece in literature. It made me laugh, cry and scream in anger. I have faced my two headed monster (abandonment if you need to know) and I do everyday. This is the best of the best. God I love this book. 

2. Fifth Sacred Thing by Starhawrk, New York, Bantam, 1993 - There is no greater epic love story, story of peace, painful adventure and magical tale. I can not express the power and importance of this piece of literature. It visualizes and actualizes peaceful and sustainable community and social concepts that have never been put together before in such a powerful and honest story. If you are someone that believes in building community, peaceful resistance, love, sex, openness, magic, relationships and healing imposible wounds, then take this novel for a ride. Beware it will change you.....

3. Siddhartha by Herman Hesse,   There is a point in this story of a young man from India who sets out to find his truth, where he meets Buddha. Siddhartha recognizes Buddha as enlightened and in perfect peace. Siddhartha is invited bu Buddha to fallow him. Siddhartha refuses realizing that he can not find peace and truth in anothers teachings, only in his own path... "I, also, would like to look and smile, sit and walk like that, so free, so worthy, so restrained, so candid, so childlike and mysterious. A man only looks and walks like that when he has conquered his Self. I also will conquer my Self...No other teachings will attract me, since this man's teachings have not done so."   This is just one page of a book with such profound teachings....

4. Grandfather - Tom Brown Jr.,    Tom Brown Jr. has written many books. He has shared a great deal about his journeys and skills and teachings. He often relates stories about Grandfather, A.K.A. Stalking Wolf, his Apache teacher and mentor. In the book Grandfather, Tom shares the most intimate stories of Stalking Wolf. There is debate weather Grandfather ever existed, I could not care less, the stories and passion in this book is breath taking and beautiful.

5. Tao Te Ching - Lao Tsu - Written over 300 years ago, rumor has it that it was written kinda as a joke and kinda as a riddle, this book of poetry is hysterical, poignant, light and challenging. Hotly debated, playful and witty, this is the ULTIMATE bathroom reader.

Honorable mentions, Jitterbug Perfume - Tom Robbins, By The River Piedra I Sat and Wept - Paolo Coelho, Tao of Physics, and soooooo many more.....

5 Favorite and Most Influencial Authors in My Life

I am going to do a few Top 5 lists over the next few weeks. I want to start by offering one of my favorite topics of conversation, Favorite and Most Influential Authors. This will be followed by Favorite and Most influential books.

1. W. Somerset Maugham - With classics like Razors Edge, Of Human Bondage and my favorite The Moon and Six Pence. this prolific story teller, play write, essayist and all around ballsy creator has shown me that I can tell stories and that there is no path to perfection. Just start writing. Somerset was a Doctor and gave it all up to write. He was poor, troubled and questioned his choice of being a writer all the time, but in the end he became one of England's greatest story teller.I savor everything he has written.

2. Starhawk What can I say. This lady has risked everything to say it like it is. The Fifth Sacred Thing is as good as it gets. Her many novels on peaceful social change and revolution have influenced how I go about change in this world. She has spent many nights in jail with many others to bring to light the pains and travesties that are afflicting our world. I declare her the bravest person in the world.

3. Anne Cameron If you have not discovered the world of Anne Cameron then you have missed out. She recounts stories of the Northwest Coast First Nations mythology and culture. Her novel Dreamspeaker is by far the greatest book I have ever read. Her poetry is inspiring, her short stories informative and her style is easy to read and so powerful. I love this lady and I have never met her.

4. Herman Hesse  Siddhartha, Steppenwolf, Damian, WOW, I mean WOW. Diverse, in depth, challenging, explorative, fantastic. I will read everything this man has written some day.

5. Tom Robins  - Brilliantly inventive and informative. Tom is a researcher and avid crazy maker. He spins a web so diverse that no one on this planet can guess where you will end up when yous tart his novels. He is not afraid to piss people off, risk being black listed or in trouble. For the creative heart with a desire for the unexpected this is the master of enlightened shenanigans.

Others who almost made the list: Tom Brown Jr., Paolo Coelho, Ray Bradburry, Shakespeare, SO many others......

Falling behind

I work with teenagers. I have for years in many capacities. I have worked with "at risk youth", rich private school teenagers and incarcerated teenagers. I have worked with them all over this country. I have read many articles, books and research papers on their habits, trends and emotional/psychological states. Here is what I see....

Our education system is failing our kids. I know this is not a big revelation but why are we not doing anything about it? Most teenagers I have met have NO self love. In fact they do not even know the term Self Love. They have seriously destructive self talk, no self respect and who lot of feeling stupid. They are keenly aware of mathematical principles but most can not even find their Kidneys on their own bodies. Teenagers have no idea about affirmations. I mean one of the most basic and important tools in mental health, positive affirmations, is not even in their spectrum of knowledge. There is no concept of self actualisation, will power, honor, or much outside of university.

University is just as bad. It prepares students for what, a world where hard studying and memorisation is desired... Nope!!! In the changing world, creativity, adaptability and experience are the key selling points to any prospected employer.

What use is educating people for the future if we do not even give them the tools to be proud, happy, strong, loving, self loving individuals. Our education system is an industrial system preparing kids for a non industrial world. It is like giving people all the hammers and nails and wood to build a house but never showing them how to build it, and then calling them stupid for not know how to build.

My suggestion is to start with affirmations. Positive self talk is one of the most important foundational components in a healthy mind. Detentions should be given out for calling oneself stupid or saying "I can't". In the detention you write on the board 100 times, I am perfect and lovable, I am perfect and lovable, I am perfect and lovable......

Invitation to come along.....

I am going to the edge of the universe and I am going to keep going. I am going to not stop pushing, learning, growing, healing, loving and hoping. I am going to be challenged and beaten and broken  and bruised but I am going to keep going.

Who would like to join me. WE are going to see a great deal of brilliance and have a our breath taken away. We are also going to be confronted by demons, ogres, monsters and evil, but mostly we will be spooked by our own shadows and limitations.

This is not a life of comfort or convenience, it is one of self discovery and healing. Who is willing to look at every corner of themselves, every inner closet, every twinge of pain and discomfort, everything you might be hiding. I can not carry you, I have enough in my own baggage. I do not want you to carry me. We can jsut be there on the path to discovery together. We can share what we see and learn. We can remind each other why we are on the path when we are tired and bruised. We can sing, laugh, cry and dance in company.

Who wants to go to the ends of all possibility with me and then go further?

Abundance is sustainable

Abundance is sustainable. Abundance is abundant. Abundance is.

If you ever felt the heavy choice of a life of minimalism and integrity or a life of abundance but destructiveness, then find peace int he fact that you can have abundance and it can be sustainable.

Abundance is not something that is for the individual. If one has abundance and others in the community lack in any way then there is truly no abundance. That is greed not abundance. Abundance is when everyone in a community prospers. When everyone has the opportunity to celebrate in the abundance.

Work on building abundance in your community. It is a noble goal and a fun project and it will certainly draw abundance into your life.

Purpose is not easy

I am learning that the closer I get to my dreams, the harder it is.
I am learning that the more I allogn with my true purpose the tougher the road gets.
I have climbed a steep cliff and risked much to get here
I have no safety net
I have no fall back
I am all in
My dreams are attainable
So is my failure of them
If you are not ready to face your darkest fears
Then you are not alive
You are not living your truth

Witch Doctor House Call (Healing Self of Cancer and not Everyone)

I was on my way into work today when I heard on the radio that this dude had cured his cancer by drinking Dandelion tea. The researches n charge of a study where trying to "Figure out how to make this treatment effective for everyone and not just one person".

I laughed my ass off. One treatement for everyone.... Seriously, who is teaching this shit to these people. There is never and never will be one treatment for everyone. How about celebrating the one dude who found what he needed and made it work. ALSO, I am 110% sure that it was not only the dandellion. I am sure there was some life changes, some emotional changes, some spiritual changes. Cancer is not a one stop shop. There are a multitude of reasons that one would have cnacer and it takes a shift in every place posible.

You wanna cure cancer? Start by living your dream, being playful, loving life, loving yourself, finding honor, finding spirituality that works for you, finding art, community, expression, song, dance, smells, food anything that you love, explore it an you might just find what you need.

It's Easier Then You Think

Are you living the life of your dreams? No! Well let me tell you something, it is easier then you think. Transformation is a scary thing. You are living a life right now. It is the life you have always lived. It might pay the bills and keep you entertained but is it really what you want from this life? If you have ever wanted to change and transform your life then this is the time. Why not? You can do it. You might loose some friends, a job or even a loved one. The world might try to convince you that you are crazy or wrong or needing help. You have much to loose but so much more to gain.

The truth is that you have one life. Only one. You can choose to live or you can choose to die. If you choose to live you will be in your heart, experiencing love in the fullest. You will be challenging yourself and building a community that you love. You will be tired but fulfilled.

If you choose life you will not be alone. You will be serounded by others that choose life. Life choosers attract life choosers and let me tell you they are some fun loving people. You wanna have fun on this planet and honor yourself, then choose life.

If you choose to do the"right" thing, play by the social rules you where forced to accept growing up. If you put your job before your heart, if you live in your head and make decisions up there then you are missing out. It is a party out here. A party where the drug of choice is Love. The drink of choice is healthy and builds strength. The entertainment of choice is community. In the world of lovers and life choosers there are many surprises, a whole lot of brilliance and a great many adventures and challenges.

It is easy to make the change. Just practice honoring yourself. You are a god/goddess. You deserve to be living the life of your dreams. IN FACT, you are meant to be living the life of your dreams.

Birthing Day!!!

It has been a tradition of mine to honor the mother of the birthday girl or boy. A birthday is an incredible time when mother and child separate and transition from sharing one body to living in separate bodies. It is a great transformation, one that requires honor to the both mother and child.

My mother died when I was 17. I could not have asked for a better mother. She was not perfect, she was perfect for me. I have had troubles celebrating my birthday since then. I never put my finger on why my birthday was such an emotional event. The week leading up I would grow more and more anxious and often find myself in tears. I thought it was the time of year or it was part of my process. Last night I realized it was that I could not celebrate this wonderful day with the one person that I really want to. My mother is around in spirit, I am very sure of that. I just wish she was here in person so I can give her a hug on our special day together.

For all those people who have lost their mothers, on your birthday be kind to yourself, I know its tough. All those who know someone who has lost their mother, be extra kind to them on their birthdays, it is not an easy thing. For all those who have a mother around, honor them on your birthday!

Witch Doctor House Call (Imagination is the Best Medicine)

I swear there is nothing greater and more powerful then the imagination. If you do not feel excited about your life, engaged in you life or a sense of connectiveness with this world then I would encourage you to start flexing and working out your imagination.

You are the most powerful person in your universe. You can imagine anything!!! And there is nothing more powerful then a well imagined life. Try it, live in a world where you can imagine anything and see how it changes your physical reality. It is truly amazing. This not something that will change over night but it will change EVERYTHING!

If I can suggest one thing to believe in, one thing to have faith in, one thing to follow or worship, I would suggest your imagination.

Risky Sharring!!!

Ferocious! That is how I would describe the universe in one word. It loves ferociously, it lives ferociously, it moves ferociously, it is ferocious.  Oddly enough it is not in humanities nature to deal with the ferociousness of the universe. We are very fragile in so many ways. Not the perfect creature to handle the universe in its raw essence.

There is no shame in the fact that we are not equipped to handle the raw, pure truth of the universe. That is what makes humans so artistic, creative and fun to be around.  Humans deal with their feelings of fragility by making the world easier to live in. They make it  easier on their psyche, easier on their soles, their bodies, their minds. They explain and justify everything and set out to understand everything, as if they could. Some explain God, some explain Love, some explain emotions, some nature, solar systems, black holes, frogs, rose thorns, the human body. The reality is that there are no for sure explanations, there are just more questions.

Being human is not an easy thing. Not for the rich, the poor, the happy or the sad. Being human is a lot of work, physically, emotionally, spiritually. Being human, experiencing the awesomeness of this life, is a privilege that comes with clauses and sub clauses. We have to have oxygen, food, water, movement and more. There are no ways around what we need to survive. Being human is a life of servitude. We serve the universe so we can stay alive. 

Most cringe at the concept of servitude. We want to be free!!! Bull shit. We are not free.  You wanna be free? Find something in this universe that is free. Everything has limits. Everything has a part. Everything is doing what it does. Everything is in servitude. We, humans, are indebted to this planet, this ecosystem, this solar system, this universe. We are made from the same things it is made from. We are made from particles that have always existed. We are not separate, nor free from this universe. We are part of the universe. We are part of everything.  If you think you are free or that you can be free then you are in serious denial.We are not free from the universe, nor is the universe free from us.

If you were to accept that you where not free, that you had to serve this universe, then you get to be a lot more free then you think.  You do not have to serve your religion, your parents, your neighbors, your government. You only have to serve the universe. Your religion, your parents, your neighbors, even you government make up parts of this universe. The truth is you get to choose who/what/when/where you serve.  You get to decide how you are to serve this universe.

There are as many ways to serve this universe as there are stars in the sky. I truly believe that you have made a contract with this universe. You are already aware of how you need to serve. Might be music, might be construction. It might be a life of healing yourself or others around you. You might have to garden, teach, talk, sit in silence, cook, build, destroy, read about, look into,  dance, laugh, cry, swim, burn, douse, open, finish, start something, anything. I have no clue as to what you are to be doing. I know what I am to be doing, and it changes all the time. Right now I am to write my thoughts.

Choosing Love???

This is an open letter to any fool who thinks they can control, plan or choose love. I hereby declare you an idiot. You are wasting your time and all of our time. You are nothing more then a funny example of human arrogance.

Love is not a choice, nor something we can understand or control. We love who and what we love. There is nothing more to it. There is no button inside that turns our love on and off. There is no way to plan for love. All I know how to do is to accept that I am a slave to love and live my life while honoring who and what I love as unconditionally as possible.

Now, unconditional love is not an easy thing to do. It is a life long struggle, goal and lesson plan. It is truly why I think I am here on this plain, to learn how to love unconditionally. To me loving without expectation and need for reciprocation is the best way to live. There is so much power in loving freely. An endless mystery of brilliance and wonder lives int he freedom of loving without expectations.

My love is free. Free to love what and who it wants. Free from reciprocation and want. I just plainly love. It is in the simplicity of love that the magic lives.

Witch Doctor House Call (Plant People)

Another addition of WDHC, which is all about healing and tips that I learned from my travels that I wish to pass one.

One of the most effective and inexpensive medicines I know is Herbal Medicine. I am talking about plants. We all know some of the more popular ones like Echinacea, Mint, Ginger, but their are millions of herbal remedies on this planet. There are so many remedies that it would be impossible to decided upon one set treatment for one ailment. Every plant has AT LEAST 10 magic tricks up its sleeve.

Here is what I suggest. Learn about 10 herbs intimately. Read about them, plant them in your garden, make teas with them, do everything you can to get to know them. Then when you have a base of 10 herbs of your choice, this is how I suggest you blend them. Get a bowl, preferably a nice one that you really like. Sit in front of the bowl and stare at it, picture the person you are blending for. Have the 10 herbs close at hand. Pick up on of the herbs, and feel if it is the right herb for the mixture for that person. Blend them and put them in a jar. Put hot water over the herbs and allow the mixture to steep. Pour off a cup as often as needed and refill the jar with hot water. Do this for 3-5 days.

You see if you are looking at the Herbal Medicine in terms of "Medical" significance in our western minds then you are missing a major part of the power of the plant world. Big pharmaceuticals have been trying for many years, with billions of dollars in research, to isolate and extract the healing principals of the plant world. So far they have extracted and synthesized less then 1% of the medicine found in plants. LESS THEN 1%. All their technology, research, money and experience in labs there is nothing that will replace listening to the plants, smelling the plants, growing the plants, learning the language of the plant.

The plant people are alive, they are vibrant and brilliant and will share with you their healing if you listen. I know it sounds weird but I swear it is true.

Manly Sex Talk (What turns me on)

I love beautiful women. I love the way they look, the way they smell, the way the move, the way they sound. I truly love women. I also love men, but that is another post for another day. I realize now that I am not completely turned on by the outer women.

For me to get really turned on, reallys sexually interested, really hard, I have to be facinated by the inner world of the women. I need to be surprised by their depths, their passions, their willingness to search their inner selves and be able to talk about it. I am mostly turned on by the women who love to learn about themselves. This is not a self involved thing so much as it is a desire to learn about ones own inner self so one can relate to others better.

Self confidence, more so self peace is hot. Self knowledge coupled with sharp eyes, a lively smile, a prance in your step, a flow in your movement, and a great blend of essential oils or a natural smell drives me nuts.