[Faith.Hope.Love]'s diary

136257  Link to this entry 
Written about Sunday 2014-04-06
Written: (3887 days ago)

<img:http://www.elfpack.com/stuff/aj/14637/LifeIsTooShort2014.jpg>

#Poetry #Forgive #Love #Live

"Forgive, Love, Live"


Grudges, guilt, and regret
Tax the heart causing debt,
Building interest over time,
Spirit damage thus sublime.
Let go of grudges and forgive.
Be filled with Love, be free to live.
Truth and virtue for self seek.
Words of kindness freely speak.
Take not for granted, today you've got,
But come tomorrow it may or may not.


Written by Artsieladie, aka Sharon Donnelly ©2014-04-05 23:34:00 (EST)

Thanks, Rich Patt, for being an inspiration! <3

https://www.facebook.com/Artsieladie/posts/10202996593611247?stream_ref=10

136256  Link to this entry 
Written about Friday 2014-04-04
Written: (3890 days ago)

<img:https://scontent-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-frc3/t1.0-9/10171003_10201727766620724_804161815_n.jpg>

Thanks for this share, Rich.. :) <3

"Build your castle on the truth, the solid rock,
And the waves of lies shall never dock."
~ Quotes-By-Artsieladie


https://www.facebook.com/Artsieladie/posts/10202984410106667?stream_ref=10

136254  Link to this entry 
Written about Thursday 2014-04-03
Written: (3890 days ago)

<img:http://www.elfpack.com/stuff/aj/14637/WouldYouLikeYou2014-04-03.jpg>

#Poetry #Love

"Hello, There's Someone For You To Meet"


In your busy schedule of tasks to be done,
There should also be added yet, another one,
And the task that needs your undivided attention,
Is one of priority that's in need of a mention.

Set up an appointment, there's someone to greet,
Someone very important for you to meet.
Put all your distractions completely aside,
Your full concentration must be applied.

Before you meet, leave your ego behind,
Your honesty's required and keep in mind,
To have an open heart and to also be kind,
Because there is REAL you're about to find.

Say hello and smile to the person you're greeting,
They're more important than you'll ever be meeting.
To have an open discussion, don't be afraid,
If you're open and honest, you won't be betrayed.

Should the person you meet be pleasant and kind,
Be warm of heart and honest with an open mind,
Be sure to acknowledge, don't overlook,
You'll need to write this in your life's book.

But should there be present, traits uncovered,
Traits unpleasant, you've discovered,
Do also acknowledge, do also confess,
For this is a lesson for you to address.

Because the person you've just met,
Is you, yourself, but don't regret.
We all need to meet ourselves without rejection,
To be honest and true with our self reflection.

When meeting yourself, what pleases you,
Continue onward, the same pursue.
But in those areas you see need some work,
Don't be quick to think you're just a jerk,
Because in all of us there are ways to improve,
But first we must get into the groove
Of self improvement, a work in progress,
Continually forward, an ongoing process.

So make appointments on a regular basis,
To meet with yourself, be your own oasis.
You'll like your meetings, you will embrace,
With a happy heart and a smile on your face.
Your happy inside will surface and show
Attractive to others in a radiant glow.
When someone you Love, you, yourself are,
You'll shine as brightly as the brightest star.


~ Artsieladie, aka Sharon Donnelly ©2014-04-03 05:30:00 (EST)

Thanks to Ramanjit for this share AND which hence, inspired this poem. <3

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10202980129719660&set=a.1306487217716.2046630.1096613748&type=1&amp;stream_ref=10


136253  Link to this entry 
Written about Thursday 2014-04-03
Written: (3890 days ago)

<img:http://www.elfpack.com/stuff/aj/14637/NoTimeToHate2014-04-03.jpg>

"It's Time To Love"


When we hate, we darken our heart,
Snuff out the Light in our truest part.
When we with hate, our hearts, consume,
For Love and Light, there'll be no room.
If there's time to hate, then for Love there's time,
The fore is wasted, the latter sublime.
Hate begets hate, Love begets Love,
The choice is ours what our hearts are made of. <3

Naomi, your heart with Love, it shines
Because your soul on Love, it dines.
Humble of spirit, modest, reserved,
With pleasure I say what's rightly deserved. <3

When another soul their own beauty see not,
Those who do, must give them a booster, a shot,
So they may feel, so they may know,
Their beauty shines, brightly aglow.


~ Artsieladie ©2014-04-03 01:32:00 (EST)

https://www.facebook.com/Artsieladie/posts/10202979630467179?stream_ref=10

136252  Link to this entry 
Written about Wednesday 2014-04-02
Written: (3891 days ago)

"Unraveling Corruption"


Another member of the Elftown elite
Has come clean, it is sooo sweet!
The lies are unraveling more and more,
Helping truth to swing wide open the door.

There's a certain good feeling one does feel
When learning more about those who try to steal
One's integrity, one's earned good name,
So the haters can rightfully then bear the shame
Of their devious plots to their devious scheme,
To keep in place the same reigning regime
Continually comprised of loyal subjects,
All those not, made banished rejects,
For any hints of wrong they may bring to light,
The elitist regime must silence what's right.

Even the King who should reign supreme,
Is blinded from the intended scheme.
He's been made nothing more than a figurehead,
Who must comply with demands or live with dread,
That all will abandon their duties and tasks,
If he doesn't do as the elitist head asks.
The kingdom that once was a happy place,
Has now become the elitists' disgrace.

Another loyal subject has awakened, deflected,
Has chosen the truth and the lies rejected.
But as one by one, the loyals become the wiser
To the truth, guilt then becomes their top advisor.
Eventually the tangled web of woven lies,
Shall be all exposed, uncovering the disguise,
So cunningly orchestrated, masterfully planned,
But truth trumps lies and the truth shall stand,
Proud and tall, triumphant and right
And those who are covering, hiding the light,
Will then be revealed, their lies and deceit.
Their own grand scheme shall be met with defeat.

Maybe one day when the elites are removed,
And what is right is empowered, widely approved,
Will the kingdom return to its once grand state,
Instead of meeting its current doomed fate.
When power hungry zealots are running the show,
All others are expendable who don't, with the flow,
Go along with, and serve their insatiable need,
Like servants others are expected to loyally feed
The zealots' wishes, their egos stroked,
And all those opposing, their virtue revoked,
Their integrity robbed, their character assaulted,
All because the zealots were not exalted.

When the power is placed in the hands of a few,
Corruption is eminent to rise and ensue,
For then the only desires, the only needs met,
Are those of the few, the rest to forget.
It is then The People must stand and unite
To restore the power in the hands that are right.
But until the day The People as one, united stand,
The zealots will reign and stay in command.


Written by Artsieladie, aka Sharon Donnelly ©2014-04-02 22:20:00 (EST)

https://www.facebook.com/Artsieladie/posts/10202978931769712?stream_ref=10


136250  Link to this entry 
Written about Wednesday 2014-04-02
Written: (3891 days ago)

"Surrender"


"Surrender"

Our eyes meet, our lips touch,
Our arms surround, each other clutch.
As touching progresses to places forbidden,
Passion is stirred, desire unhidden.
Little by little we each explore,
Wandering and roaming more and more.
In our adventure of Love we discover anew,
What triggers more heat to boil our brew.
A brew that's made from pure emotion,
Distilled by Love, a potent potion.
As we dwell and linger in the zones of pleasure,
We're composing Love's music measure by measure.
His pleasure is mine I seek to fulfill
My pleasure is his, the root of his will.
Our hearts beat with rhythm and rhyme,
Two beating as one, keeping the time.

Ever increasing, growing more intense,
Are the swells of passion now immense.
Our flames of desire out of control,
Are wildly leaping from soul to soul.
As they mingle and mix, unite into one,
The pinnacle of passion has now begun.
As ecstasy erupts, all energy's depleted,
Two hearts now fused, Surrender completed.

Written by Artsieladie, aka Sharon Donnelly ©2014-04-21 19:07:00 (EST)


A culmination of ecstasy has begun.
Ecstasy is reached, the pinnacle divine
Surrender is eminent
As the Lovers on fire their flames intermingle
As our rivers of desire, flames leaping and wild,
Meet and combine
in an inferno
their banks overflowing,
Wildly rushing
As we approach, nearing ecstasy so immense.
Surrender is nearing the pinnacle sweetly,
As we give to each other all completely.

Written by Artsieladie, aka Sharon Donnelly ©2014-04-02 02:32:00 (EST)

Our eyes meet, our lips touch,
Our arms surround, each we clutch.
Our kisses deepen arousing feeling,
Our senses lost with passion stealing
Our inhibition, our reasoning power
devour.
Our power of reason, we're in position
our inhibition,
Baring
in a sea of potion,
One so potent we're neutralized,
As Love consumes us, we're hypnotized.
As touching progresses to places forbidden,
Passion is stirred, desire unhidden.
Little by little we each explore,
Wandering and roaming more and more.
In our adventure we discover each spot
That triggers more fire making us hot.
As we dwell and linger in pleasure zones,
The music of Love we sing with our moans.
The beat kept, the rhythm and rhyme,
Is of our hearts beating, keeping the time.
Ever increasing is this scene, intense,
As we approach ecstasy so immense.
Surrender is nearing the pinnacle sweetly,
As we give to each other all completely.




Our eyes meet, our lips touch,
Our arms surround, each we clutch.
As our kissing progresses deeper and deeper,
We begin the Surrender
igniting desire,
Our passion is stirred erupting the fire.
Releasing the lava to freely flow
Our Flames of Love thus ignited,
Becoming the Fire of Love
The Fire of Love, our flames unite
to places forbidden,
Passion is stirred, desire unhidden.
Little by little we each explore,
Wandering and roaming more and more
To places unknown, till now obscure,
.
In our adventure of Love we discover each spot
That triggers more fire making us hot.
As we dwell and linger in pleasure zones,
The music of Love we sing with our moans.
The beat kept, the rhythm and rhyme,
Is of our hearts beating, keeping the time.
Ever increasing is this scene, intense,
As we approach ecstasy so immense.
Surrender is nearing the pinnacle sweetly,
As we give to each other all completely.

To Love we Surrender

Written by Artsieladie, aka Sharon Donnelly ©2014-04-02 02:32:00 (EST)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------

"Surrender"

Our eyes meet, our lips touch,
Our arms surround, each we clutch.
As kissing progresses to places forbidden,
Passion is stirred, desire unhidden.
Little by little we each explore,
Wandering and roaming more and more.
In our adventure we discover each spot
That triggers more fire making us hot.
As we dwell and linger in pleasure zones,
The music of Love we sing with our moans.
The beat kept, the rhythm and rhyme,
Is of our hearts beating, keeping the time.
Ever increasing is this scene, intense,
As we approach ecstasy so immense.
Surrender is nearing the pinnacle sweetly,
As we give to each other all completely.

Written by Artsieladie, aka Sharon Donnelly ©2014-04-02 02:32:00 (EST)
136247  Link to this entry 
Written about Tuesday 2014-04-01
Written: (3893 days ago)

<img:https://scontent-b-lga.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-prn2/t1.0-9/10155022_10202323512742674_703271416_n.jpg>

First, Steven, love your thought provoking posts. :)

As I grew older, I desired less and less seeking the acceptance and approval of others, that it wasn't important whether I fit in or not. But
what is the most important is working at being the best of who "I" am. Those who are doing the same will recognise and appreciate this
as I will/do in them.

It's not that I don't care about what others think. I do because it's important to know how we project ourselves to others around us so we
may see ourselves from a perspective other than just from our own. But... I also consider the sources. If the projection of myself is viewed
and spoken of by another who I know is giving me an honest objective, I value this and take it into serious account when I do self reflection
and evaluation. However, if it's coming from a person who I know is only trying to bring me down to make themselves falsely look better to
themselves, then I dismiss its validity. <3


https://www.facebook.com/Artsieladie/posts/10202966398336384?stream_ref=10


136246  Link to this entry 
Written about Tuesday 2014-04-01
Written: (3893 days ago)

"Regret Not"


Every time I lose someone close and dear,
I am reminded with each and every tear,
That in Life there is no guarantee
Tomorrow will come for you or for me,
And so we must appreciate now and today
Be kind, make a point to take the time to say,
What is in our hearts, the Love we do feel,
Should time another chance take from us, steal.
Regret is a burden of ourselves we can spare,
If we'd take a little time to show how much we care.
So remember to, before the setting sun,
Mend all your fences, Love, make the task done,
So if and when tomorrow should or not arrive,
Love will always live and regret will not thrive.


By Artsieladie, aka Sharon Donnelly ©2014-03-31 18:32:00 (EST)

My dear friend, Martina Nerge, RIP I Love you! <3

https://www.facebook.com/Artsieladie/posts/10202965707119104?stream_ref=10


136245  Link to this entry 
Written about Tuesday 2014-04-01
Written: (3893 days ago)

“We can't learn from mistakes we make IF we don't acknowledge making them. The lesson is learned in the acknowledgment of and accountability for them.”

“We can't expect forgiveness until first we sincerely admit our wrong.”

“We can't expect a person to concede when that person knows the truth which we are covering up.”

“We can't expect a person to make correct conclusions when we are withholding information from them.”

“Giving is the joy of living.”

~ Quotes-By-Artsieladie

136244  Link to this entry 
Written about Monday 2014-03-31
Written: (3893 days ago)

<img:https://fbcdn-sphotos-b-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash3/t1.0-9/1010686_539507852764312_190888431_n.jpg>

136243  Link to this entry 
Written about Monday 2014-03-31
Written: (3893 days ago)

"I Love YOU"


Just in case you're not quite sure of how I feel;
Just in case time, from my lips and heart should steal,
Another chance to let you know,
Another chance to tell you so,
I Love YOU with all my heart and soul surreal.

If tomorrow comes and we have another day,
If tomorrow comes we'll have yet another stay,
But if not I want your heart to know.
You mean the world to me, so much so.
I Love YOU with all I can and more than I can say.

In my heart many smiles you've brought to me,
In many ways your Light has shone that I may see,
When down I've been, I, you lifted,
Inspired me with how I'm gifted.
I Love YOU beyond the sky and deeper than the sea.

So just in case you're not quite sure of how I feel;
Just in case time, another chance should steal,
From me to say what's in my heart,
Please know this from my deepest part.
I Love YOU with my heart and soul, with a kiss I seal.


Written by Artsieladie, aka Sharon Donnelly ©2014-03-31 02:47:00 (EST)

For Ramanjit from, as he affectionately likes to call me, HeArtsie. <3

"If Tomorrow Never Comes"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fY07-DCQ4EI

https://www.facebook.com/Artsieladie/posts/10202968243702517?stream_ref=10


136242  Link to this entry 
Written about Sunday 2014-03-30
Written: (3894 days ago)

"Who I Am"


Of who I am, I am proud;
Not from ego to enshroud,
But because I try to be
The best I can be of me,
Not because of or for you
And I know this to be true
In my heart and in my soul,
In the place that makes me whole. 

"Work In Progress"

Sometimes I succeed, sometimes I fail,
But I understand what does prevail.
I'm a 'work in progress' as long as I Live,
To this concept I continually give,
Ever growing, ever evolving,
Ever improving, ever resolving,
With each new day,
Come what may
I am given, I am blessed,
I am livin' as my best.
I am grateful for...
The joy, the pain,
The sunshine, the rain,
I understand for...
I am me as a result,
By choice and by default,
Because of others, their Love and caring,
Because of others' judgment bearing,
Because of lessons Life has taught,
Because of life, what it's brought.
Some good, some bad
Some joyful, some sad.
I am not the worst. I am not the best.
I'm not perfect nor finessed.
I am not awesome, but I am unique.
I am not afraid of my mind to speak.
I seek truth and by choice
I'm not afraid to use my voice.
My conscience is my guide,
It keeps me free from guilt inside.
I care deeply what others think,
But of deceit I do not drink.

"Pluses And Minuses"

In ways that count I am rich.
In ways that don't I am poor.
In ways that matter I am blessed.
In ways that don't I don't explore.
I am passionate, I am creative,
I am resourceful and innovative.
I'm not the smartest but I'm no fool,
Life experiences, my learning tool.
I am caring, I am kind,
But to others' tricks, I'm not blind.
I have weaknesses, I have strengths,
I have shortcomings, I have lengths.
I am compassionate and forgiving,
To others giving is my living
With joy in heart without discern
With no expectations in return.
In my heart Love is grown,
Hate unwelcome, kept unknown.
I have value. I have virtue
And principles I adhere to.
I give my word and it I keep.
For others woes I will weep.
Because of pain I have been through,
Sparing others the same I try to do.
Because of pain I have been through,
I feel the pain when others do.
Lifting others, giving credit
Always stands at open edit.
Others' choices are their own,
For myself I need not clone.
When others wronged or myself are
I will defend with truth I'll spar.
When transgressors have overstepped
For myself and others, I don't accept.
On data and facts my theories I base,
Are subject to change as I build my case,
Dependent upon info provided and hidden
Discovered from places kept forbidden.
Vengeance within I expatriate,
Use forgiveness to emancipate
Both myself and others for
So on grudges to close the door.
When I am wrong I will amend
But proof is needed before stipend.
Others' pluses inspire me
To make myself better be.
Others' minuses inspire me
To make myself better be.
Of myself money has no hold,
Nor does silver, nor does gold,
For the best in life, buy it can't,
Trade my soul, I won't, I shan't.
Jealousy and envy I harbour not.
For wasted energy there is no slot.

"Summary"

I am the summary of all the souls,
Who enrich my life with many knols,
With pluses, minuses, and in between,
Some profound, some barely seen.
Of myself I have respect,
For myself I self reflect.
Expectations are highly set
Of myself I don't forget.
But of others I set them low,
Disappointments to little know.
In myself I do believe.
Of myself I can perceive
With certainty fully knowing
My Light is brightly glowing.
I Love myself and so Love others,
We're all One, sisters and brothers.
With my own company I can keep,
Without regret or despair to reap.
Because I know who and what I am,
Through constant effort to void a sham.
I hone my real and rebuke the fake
All for and to me much better make.
Through each new day and so tomorrow,
My choice I've made, this choice I follow.
But the choice is yours to decide,
Who you'll be or are inside.

"Self Worth Requires Work"

Working on self, effort's required
Wanting by self must be desired.
There are no short cuts, no easy way,
If you try to, with self you'll pay.
But overall what you earn you keep,
Self worth and value, yours to reap.

First, remove your ego, set it aside,
To clearly see YOU, yourself, inside.
Be honest as yourself you assess,
You can only succeed by truthfulness.
You cannot rob, nor can you steal,
From others' banks of their appeal,
For if you try to undermine
What they've built, what makes them shine,
You, yourself, will then digress,
Impede your own work in progress.

"Better Me, Better You, Better World, Overdue"

Over ourselves we each have dominion.
This is factual with no opinion.
But we have no say over others, their choices,
Only ourselves can we speak for, have voices.
If we focus on ourselves, each one of us,
We'll be too busy to cause others a fuss.
When on ourselves we strive to each better be,
We'll live in a world much better for you and for me.

By Artsieladie, aka Sharon Donnelly ©2014-03-30 18:07:00 (EST)
136241  Link to this entry 
Written about Sunday 2014-03-30
Written: (3894 days ago)

Sharing from my friend Adam...

A husband and wife are trying to set up a new password for their computer.

The husband puts, "Mypenis"

...and the wife falls on the ground laughing because on the screen it says, "Error. Not long enough."

136240  Link to this entry 
Written about Sunday 2014-03-30
Written: (3894 days ago)

<img:https://scontent-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-prn1/t1.0-9/1013543_10152071144927057_850712445_n.jpg>
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10152071144927057&set=a.10152071145102057.1073741826.159112562056&amp;type=1&theater

"An ounce of consideration will avoid a ton of resentment!" ~ #ArtsieladieQuotes

136239  Link to this entry 
Written about Sunday 2014-03-30
Written: (3894 days ago)

<img:https://scontent-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-frc1/t1.0-9/10013976_1407744329492261_620749541_n.jpg>

"Because there's nothing more beautiful than the way the ocean refuses to
stop kissing the shoreline, no matter how many times it's sent away."
~ Sarah Kay

"The whispers of wisdom that do abound.
If we silence our thoughts we'll hear the sound." ~ #ArtsieladieQuotes <3

..And yet, with those we profess to Love,
A wave or two, maybe three...
Is all we think they're worthy of. <3

136238  Link to this entry 
Written about Sunday 2014-03-30
Written: (3894 days ago)

<img:https://scontent-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash3/t1.0-9/1948110_770626762949911_1646810822_n.jpg>
https://www.facebook.com/TantricSpiritualy/photos/a.219256101420316.67550.219253011420625/770626762949911/?type=1&theater

It is not surprising that we keep looking for love, because we are all born of love. We come out of love. All of us are nothing but vibrations of love.
We are sustained by love, and in the end we merge back into love…. This world is nothing but a school of love; our relationships with our husband
or wife, with our children and parents, with our friends and relatives are the university in which we are meant to learn what love and devotion truly
are.

Yet the love we experience through other people is just a shadow of the love of the inner Self There is a sublime place inside us where love dwells….
The love that pulses in the cave of the heart does not depend on anything outside. It does not expect anything. It is completely independent.

Muktanada


"Love is within all of us. Some have found this Love within; some are still searching. When one finds and then knows Love within themselves,
and so Loves themselves, one will then radiate Love to others AND recognise it when they see it in others." ~ <3 Quotes-By-Artsieladie

136237  Link to this entry 
Written about Sunday 2014-03-30
Written: (3894 days ago)

<img:https://fbcdn-sphotos-g-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-prn2/t1.0-9/10003978_770370546308866_778667534_n.jpg>
https://www.facebook.com/TantricSpiritualy/photos/a.219256101420316.67550.219253011420625/770370546308866/?type=1&theater
Morpheus: The Matrix is a system,

Neo. That system is our enemy. But when you're inside, you look around, what do you see? Businessmen, teachers, lawyers, carpenters.
The very minds of the people we are trying to save. But until we do, these people are still a part of that system and that makes them our
enemy. You have to understand, most of these people are not ready to be unplugged. And many of them are so inured, so hopelessly de-
pendent on the system, that they will fight to protect it.

Matrix
— with Carla Tadeia.


Posted comment by - Brian Kelly...
Interview With Jim Morrison:
Lizzie James: I think fans of The Doors see you as a savior, the leader who'll set them all free. How do you feel about that? It's kind of a heavy burden, isn't it?

Jim: It's absurd. How can I set free anyone who dosen't have the guts to stand up alone and declare his own freedom? I think it's a lie--people claim they want
        to be free--everybody insists that freedom is what they want the most, the most sacred and precious thing a man can possess. But that's bullshit! People
        are terrified to be set free-they hold on to their chains. They fight anyone who tries to break those chains. It's their security....How can they expect me or
        anyone to set them free if they don't really want to be free?

Lizzie: Why do you think people fear freedom?

Jim: I think people resist freedom because they're afraid of the unknown. But it's ironic ... That unknown was once very well known. It's where our souls belong
       ... The only solution is to confront them -- confront yourself -- with the greatest fear imaginable. Expose yourself to yourself to your deepest fear. After that,
       fear has no power, and fear of freedom shrinks and vanishes. You are free.

Lizzie: What do mean when you say "freedom"?

Jim: There are different kinds of freedom -- there's a lot of misunderstanding ... The most important kind of freedom is to be what you really are. You trade in your
        reality for a role. You trade in your senses for an act. You give up your ability to feel and in exchange, put on a mask. There can't be any large-scale revolution
        until there's a personal revolution, on an individual level. It's got to happen inside first.

        You can take away a man's political freedom and you won't hurt him -- unless you take away his freedom to feel. That can destroy him.

Lizzie: But how can anyone else have the power to take away from your freedom to feel?

Jim: Some people surrender their freedom willingly--but others are forced to surrender it. Imprisonment begins with birth. Society, parents; they refuse to allow
        you to keep the freedom you are born with. There are subtle ways to punish a person for daring to feel. You see that everyone around you has destroyed his
        true feeling nature. You imitate what you see.

Lizzie: Are you saying that we are, in effect, brought up to defend and perpetuate a society that deprives people of the freedom to feel?

Jim: Sure ... teachers,religious leaders-even friends, or so-called friends -- take over where the parents leave off. They demand that we feel the only feelings they
        want and expect from us. They demand all the time that we preform feelings for them. We're like actors-turned loose in this world to wander in search of a
        phantom ... endlessly searching for a half-forgotten shadow of our lost reality. When others demand that we become the people they want us to be, they
        force us to destroy the person we really are. It's a subtle kind of murder ... the most loving parents and relatives commit this murder with smiles on their faces.

Lizzie: Do you think it's possible for an individual to free himself from these repressive forces on his own -- all alone?

Jim: That kind of freedom can't be granted. Nobody can win it for you. You have to do it on your own. If you look to somebody else to do it for you -- somebody out-
        side yourself -- you're still depending on others. You're still vulnerable to those repressive,evil outside forces, too.

Lizzie: But isn't it possible for people who want that freedom to unite -- to combine their strength, maybe just to strengthen each other? It must be possible.

Jim: Friends can help each other. A true friend is someone who lets you have total freedom to be yourself-and especially to feel. Or not feel. Whatever you happen
        to be feeling at the moment is fine with them. That's what real love amounts to -- letting a person be what he really is ... Most people love you for who you pre-
        tend to be ... To keep their love, you keep pretending -- preforming. You get to love your pretense ... It's true, we're locked in an image, an act -- and the sad
        thing is, people get so used to their image -- they grow attached to their masks. They love their chains. They forgot all about who they really are. And if you try
        to remind them, they hate you for it -- they feel like you're trying to steal their most precious possession.

Lizzie: It's ironic -- it's sad. Can't they see that what you're trying to show them is the way to freedom?

Jim: Most people have no idea what they're missing. Or society places a supreme value on control -- hiding what you feel. Our culture mocks "primitive cultures" and
        prides itself on supression of natural instincts and impulses.

Lizze: In some of your poetry, you openly admire and praise primitive people -- Indians, for instance. Do you mean that it's not human beings in general but our par-
        ticular society that's flawed and destructive?

Jim: Look at how other cultures live --p eacefully, in harmony with the earth, the forest -- animals. They don't build war machines and invest millions of dollars in at-
        tacking other countries whose political ideals don't happen to agree with their own.

Lizze: We live in a sick society.

Jim: It's true ... and part of the disease is not being aware that we're diseased ... Our society has too much to hold on to,and value -- freedom ends up at the bot-
        tom of the list.

Lizze: But isn't there something an artist con do? If you didn't feel you, as an artist, could accomplish something, how could you go on?

Jim: I offer images -- I conjure memories of freedom that can still be reached -- like The Doors, right? But we can only open the doors -- we can't drag people through.
        I can't free them unless they want to be free -- more than anything else ... Maybe primitive people have less bullshit to let go of, to give up. A person has to be
        willing to give up everything -- not just wealth. All the bullshit he's been taught -- all society brainwashing. You have to let go of all that to get to the other side.
        Most people aren't willing to do that.

136236  Link to this entry 
Written about Sunday 2014-03-30
Written: (3894 days ago)

"Desire"

A lover asked his beloved,
Do you love yourself more than you love me?
Beloved replied, I have died to myself and I live for you.
I've disappeared from myself and my attributes,
I am present only for you.
I've forgotten all my learnings,
but from knowing you I've become a scholar.
I've lost all my strength, but from your power I am able.
I love myself...I love you.
I love you...I love myself.

Rumi

 The logged in version 

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