You gotta get on your zoom. Every morning, get on your zoom.
Updated: Sep 5
I've been holding onto these writings for a while. I believe what I've typed out is important, but it's a collection of random blog ideas and other musings I've written on my phone. I was thinking about making it cohesive, but honestly, I don't feel like it. I've been in Detroit for just over a month. Of course, it takes at least a year to really get to the bones of a city. But every time I visit I get a reality check. The D is more like most US cities, compared to other metropolitan areas I've lived in near. And the energy of this city keeps leading me to the same conclusion: "If we're not going to burn this whole place down and build something new, then what are we even doing?" Most people are barely getting by. Currently, COVID cases and other viral infections are on the rise with very little mitigation. The smoke from Canada still effects the air quality. Again, with no real plan for protection of the people, including the vulnerable. We're all exhausted trying to keep up with cost demands, and the people in power are toying with us, making us fight over perceived scraps. However, I do believe this work will ultimately keep us holistically strong and prepare us for whatever comes next. So I continue. Big thanks to everyone who reads and rereads. I appreciate all the encouragement. I hope my words bring comfort, spark new ideas, or just help you pass the time. So grab your notepad and get a snack, something to sip, or something to smoke. Here we go...
The people that built their heaven on your land are telling you yours is in the sky.
Do you ever get tired of going into stores during major US holidays? And it's not even the crowds that bother me—though I do have a rant about that in the chamber too. It's the aisles and aisles of specific products: stuffed animals, trinkets, decorations, themed candy, and treats. If you've ever worked or taken a "look" at the dumpster in the back (iykyk) of a big-box store, you'd see how much of those brand-new items are quickly discarded after the holiday excitement fades. Every year, companies set their budgets, and shareholders expect profit predictions. Corporations are expected to achieve "exceptional growth," no matter what. If these executives can't convince shareholders of potential bottom-line growth, the investors lose interest. So, every year, these big businesses spend millions on holiday advertisements, promoting products that sellers buy and sell, keeping the companies afloat. I often wonder, and I'm sure others have thought about it too: "What happens when we run out of space?" These unsold items typically end up in landfills, and when those fill up, they're shipped overseas, washing up on the shores of West Africa, Southern Asia, or join whatever creatures reside in the ocean depths. Though I do hope the deep-sea octopuses with thumbs enjoy their new stuffed bears with hearts. But this approach can't be sustainable. How much more can businesses produce only for it to be discarded? And it's not truly being thrown away; it's just hidden away where WE can't see it anymore. And the second question—because it's not just about the discarded items: "How much energy do workers expend to meet these false demands?" Designers, factory workers, transporters, store stockers—over a thousand, maybe even hundreds of thousands of people, expending energy on these disposable items. Countless hours, days, weeks logged, time spent on their feet operating heavy machinery and vehicles. Vacation days and time off, if even available, are denied due to the holiday season. And for what purpose?
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What saddens me is how these corporate methods have seeped into how we treat ourselves and others. In many areas of our lives, we're told or feel like we must keep growing. Growing at work, whether in title or pay. In the gym, striving for a specific size, weightlifting goal, or to be like Mike. Or a recent trip to TJMaxx or one of her cousins, acquiring new decor, renovating the kitchen, redoing the floors to add value. Shit, even within ourselves, picking up the latest self-help bestseller, endlessly scrolling through influential accounts on social media, or buying yet another planner. All under the pretense that we must continue to grow. How much of that time and effort goes into building skills that support our whole selves and our loved ones? Are we spending time on endeavors that not only don't always pay off but could potentially harm us and our world? (And let's be clear, we're on the same page. Yes, growth is necessary. We grow in many ways as we become adults. Our food grows to provide essential nutrients. But what I'm discussing is cancerous growth—an excessive proliferation of cells that are incorrectly coded, wandering and spreading waste.) Sometimes, we pour so much physical, emotional, and mental energy into meeting deadlines and quotas in various areas of our lives, and it's all in vain. Truly and honestly it's spreading ,killing us slowly. These people and entities simply enjoy seeing us busy, whether our output benefits the greater good or not.
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Another retrograde season! First, I must explain planetary retrogrades. Planets, including our own and other celestial bodies, spin and orbit. They do this continuously, in directions and speeds that maintain the harmony of the galaxy. However, there are times when we perceive something different on Earth. If we look to the sky, it appears that certain planets have slowed down or even reversed their rotation. From our view, it seems as though a planet has suddenly reversed and is heading back to where it came from. Over the next few months, planets appear to take a spotlight and settle into prominent star clusters but then retrace its steps. As always, we can tap into this energy. I believe we'll fully take the center stage when the Leo full moon arrives at the beginning of 2024. In the months ahead, we have an opportunity to join the cosmic dance. We can take two steps forward, then one step back—adjusting our path each time, carrying something new we've realized we need, or engaging in the same conversation but with a fresh perspective. Let's consider the constellation we're observing the celestial beings revisit—a star cluster that mirrors our inner selves.
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I often talk about examining ourselves with curiosity. Are you ever nosy? You know, like when you're standing over the shoulder of a mechanic or contractor, trying to see the purpose of a tool and how its about to be used. I believe it's crucial to be inquisitive; it might be one of the initial steps toward satisfaction. Curiosity allows us to marvel at the workings of things without the need for immediate action. It's in that space that we can find appreciation and possibly stillness. When was the last time you felt satisfied and then simply embraced that feeling's energy? Constantly pursuing growth strains any system. All living organisms require rest and introspection. If we look around, many living things spend a significant portion of their lives in a state of rest, only focusing on growth during specific seasons. We're not machines that can remain switched on and expect constant expansion. And honestly, what machine do you know that can run continuously without the fan eventually blowing out?
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I keep pondering these transitions from Cancer to Leo, the Lion. It met its downfall by being curious. Buuuttt, cats have nine lives. And, delving deeper into the etymology, the phrase evolved to "curiosity killed the cat, but satisfaction brought it back." Did you die? Perhaps, but you came back. So, what's the problem? Oh, and upon further investigation, "curiosity killed the cat" might not be the original saying. It could have been "care [worry] killed the cat." Still, even then, I'm skeptical—none of the cats I've encountered seem remotely concerned.