The Comfort In Being Sad

It would seem odd to think that the negative aspects and or situations that life can sometimes bring to one's doorstep could be anything to boast about or to adore, however, as you read this, I would ask that you take such things to heart.

As a musician, this is a topic that comes up rather often. I listen to music, and write my own songs, and I ponder upon such thoughts.

Should we view the negative aspects of life as something to be avoided? Or are such times of sadness and despair needed?

I guess the real question is, why do we as humans find it to be so attractive? Sadness that is. We can all identify with it, yes, but is that why when we hear a terribly depressing song that it resonates with our soul in the measure that it does, sending chills through our body, or bringing about tears? Have you ever analyzed such feelings?

I personally have had my times of terrible sadness, and, as fate would have it, recently have come along something that has stolen away my ability to be truly sad ever again it would seem. Yet, even I, in all of my bliss, identify with such works of art in the very same measure as I did back in the day, when my feelings were the same as those that are being expressed. I find it to be attractive. There is this sort of, esoteric epicness, and from my perspective, a great deal of potential hope hidden behind it all, as though, one day something will come along and release that spring, and all of that positive energy will burst forth.

However, that is not my main point of this article. The point of this article is to point out to you that indeed, sad times come, and sad times go, but I want for you to focus on something.

Whenever you get knocked down by life, or brought to that point wherein you honestly feel as though you simply cannot take even one more step, I want you to realize that no matter if you feel "good enough" or whatever may be the case, that those times of despair, are there for one reason and one reason alone; and that is so that you can show yourself just how amazing you are.

The reason that such songs, movies, whatever form of art, touch us in the way that they do, is because honestly, on a subconscious level, we DO find it attractive. I know that sounds rather masochistic. I mean, pain is not something that one should seek after or desire. But you know what? It is something that is to be embraced. Have you ever noticed that any song of hope that you've ever heard has within it portions which speak of the writer's feelings of hopelessness? It has to be that way, and the reality is, that nobody ever succeeded at anything without first failing.

Someone somewhere once said, "I have not failed 1,000 times, I have discovered 1,000 ways that will not work".

The truth is, that this concept, permeates throughout the universe. Something new cannot be created without the old first being destroyed.

Any hardship that life throws at you will not get better by your complaining, in fact, the only thing that complaining is good for, is for you to tell yourself how unhappy you are with your less than gleeful situation, so that you can get it off of your chest, and move on...but that's not what we do most of the time now is it? We sit, and we weep, and we sit, and we weep, and before long, we have no idea what it is that we're actually sad about, we just enjoy the comfort that sadness brings.

One cannot be truly happy nor satisfied until they have been made to be truly unhappy and dissatisfied. It simply does not work that way. In fact, if you went and got as comfortable as you could possibly get, laying on your couch and watching television, your body would make you uncomfortable before it let you lie there for too long. You would die if you never moved from that position of comfort.

Have you ever noticed that pain or discomfort has never actually killed anyone. I'm talking of minor discomforts, or earth shattering emotional trauma even. These things are essentially harmless when it comes to life and death, and yet, in America, I find that we are nearly all so consumed with our own ideas of comfort and security, that we neglect the fact that when such things are threatened or taken away, that it is just like our body's refusing to let us stay comfortable in one position for too long.

Now, to me, this post feels scattered and not well written. My wrists hurt, this chair is not very comfortable, and I don't seem to be getting out what I intended to write in the first place, but, still within me is the desire to point such things out to you, and so, rather than deleting all of what I've written, I'm going to continue to type, and when I finish I will post it, because honestly, what I have to offer to this world does not depend upon my perception of it, nor of my comfort in doing it. The only thing that matters in the end, is that I can say that I at least tried. I had it all worked out in my head how I would write this, and tell you many great things about this subject, and now, I can't even seem to get anything of it out, but it doesn't matter, because I know that someone out there will read this, and it will be exactly what they needed to hear.

One cannot live by simply being self-serving all of the days of their life. I would encourage you to read through some of the other posts on this site, and search your soul, find out who you truly are, and realize that there IS something that you have to offer to this world, and see the infinite value of that, and then, stop complaining and procrastinating, and just go do it. What have you got to lose? You've got the world to gain....

I'm gonna go and play a song for the woman of my dreams. She's in the other room right now strumming away. She won't play for me, I'm not sure why, but it will all come out in the wash I suppose. The song that I'm going to play for her is one that she told me was her favorite out of all of the songs that I've written. It was written from a very dark place, full of doubt and despair. It was about her. You see, for quite some time I was in terrible pain, and she was the cause of it, and she knew what she was doing, but, from that period of darkness, I got this song, and not only is it her favorite, it's mine as well. Some of the best work that I've ever created in my opinion.

I think the thing I wanted to say in this post, was this....

"It seems to be at the moments of the least amount of hope, and of the most crushing despair, when we as human beings are pressed down on all sides, that out from within us proceeds the greatest and most awe inspiring works of art that the world has ever seen, powerful enough to inspire whole generations to search within themselves and find that same brilliant light. It is in our darkest hour that true human emotion is set free, and all is cleansed in that moment, and we see what we truly are..."   - Ethan Womack

Distortions - The Black Hole Of Reality

This term "distortion" is something that is quite familiar to me. As a musician, distorting my sound is crucial if I am to obtain the overall feeling and ambiance that I am looking for. A distortion pedal is not something that is foreign to me, as a matter of fact, it is almost always necessary to some degree, however there is a difference in my use of the term in this post, because unlike the distortion which my foot pedal produces, the distortions that I wish to speak of cannot so easily be turned off by the click of a button.

I have always known of the concept behind this term, but, it was not until I came across an online copy of "The Law Of One" which is a book that contains the written records of the channelings of "Ra" as the book refers to it. In this book, (If you are curious, I would suggest looking it up on Google) this "Ra" character speaks to those conducting this interview, and the context is that of some being from either another planet, or an entirely different plane of existence. This "Ra" is quite familiar with our existence, and from where I stand, finds us to be quite primitive, using this term "distortion" quite a bit to define most of our understanding of "God" (and life in general), even going so far as to classify our view of god and the use of the term and even our concept at it's core, as being a distortion. It never quite goes into what exactly is distorted about any thing, but rather, this "Ra" simply uses this term as the only true way to describe us to ourselves, as those who are conducting the interview are attempting to gain knowledge of things that they probably shouldn't know in the first place. It is quite an interesting read if I do say so myself, but... moving along.

Now, I want you who have been keeping up with the posts thus far, to realize the pattern that seems to reverberate throughout "the all". The title of the blog is "The Meaning Of Life" and the posts have all been about various subjects, containing explanations for various metaphysical jargon and whatnot. If you are unsure of what I'm talking about, or you have not seen the connection between all of these posts, even the Voices On The Wind post, (The one with my guitar-work...and distortions... ha!) then please, go back and re-read them if I've caught your attention with this post, as I'm sure that you will become completely lost in your attempt to "decode the mystery", but I'll attempt to write this post in such a way that any such journeys through my blog are unnecessary.

The pattern that I speak of, is that, in nearly all of my posts, I somehow wind up referring back to the reality that reality is not always as it seems, but a new thought has entered into my "mental class on life" that I have with myself constantly (that's what life's about btw) and that is that things are not always as they appear, but that doesn't mean that they aren't either.

I read a post today on Guru Singh's blog that caused me to realize just the term that I have been looking for to use in my day to day explanations of reality to people. I am familiar with the use of the term in more than just the context of musical equipment (as stated) as well as my use of it, but I have rarely implemented it into my day to day conversation, and that is what I am attempting to do.

For the general idea or essence of what I'm getting at by the term, if my defining of it seems unclear due to all of my many words that seem to twist and linger around leading one in circles, then, if you will notice, "Guru Singh" is linked to the post that I've just finished reading, and even if you understand my ramblings, I would highly recommend you giving it a thorough read through, as he explains such a concept much more clearly and to the point than I am...but, I do what I do for a reason.

In my post Belief vs Reality - Part Two I attempted to define what distortions of perception look like, and I used some examples, like that of the chair, and it is to me, very clear what I am getting at, but it may not be to you, for you are not me, and thus, we do not share the same distortions. When you take a bunch of rhetorical malarkey and overlay reality with it, you get an unclear picture of what you're truly looking at, and for the most part, those who create these "advertisements" know this. You have to realize people, that if you're every going to be able to truly find yourself, you're going to have to accept the fact that there are people in positions of power who got there, not because they were lucky, or special, or given a great opportunity, but because they are two things, both greedy, and intelligent. They did not present you with the mind-shaping "advertisements" (that term is not speaking of commercial advertisement alone, but mass media as a whole, whether it be through television, school curriculum, religion, or any other medium through which one message is presented on several platforms) because they were merely trying to make a dollar off of you, they did what they did the way that they did it so that you would read this, see the reality of what I'm speaking of, understand it, and subsequently reject it as rational thinking. They don't want your money, they want your mind, because if they have your mind, you will not wake up, you will not stand up, and you will not fight, thus, they are free to do whatever they wish without your interference.

You see, the powers that be do not want for you to read this blog. They do not want for you to think this way, and they most certainly do not want for you to understand this concept of "distortions", because if you do, then you become you, rather than that which they have molded you to be. 

I just laughed to myself. How many of you have seen "The Matrix"? That is a movie that was highly popularized because of it's cool effects, the fight scenes, and the seemingly unstoppable power of the main character, but it is the metaphysical concept that is hidden within those three films that is the true beauty. The metaphor of the matrix is the reality of existence. We are all blinded in some way by own perception, and just as it is in the matrix, so it is with us, we are batteries plugged into a machine, giving it all of the power that it will ever need, and as long as it can keep us entertained, there is no war to be fought, which means there is more energy to be used elsewhere...But my question is, just what were these machines in the matrix doing? They had successfully driven humanity underground and had full reign of the earth, but to what end? So that they could have a picnic at the park? It's madness, that people in power don't want the power for the sake of freeing themselves to enjoy life, they want the power simply for the sake of the power, and in that, they possess the greatest distortion of all. They can no longer enjoy life, because their enjoyment comes from the destruction of life. It is, just as synchronicity, a conundrum.

I have gotten a bit off topic it seems, but, this blog is not about one post, it is about the blog as a whole, and this blog is not about this blog at all actually, it is about those who read it, and the message that it speaks to them, and more importantly, what they do with said message.

Now, on the concept of black holes and distortions being the black holes of reality, first one must think of what a black hole is. It is not just something that sucks, nor is it a mass of darkness. It is the remnants of a super-massive star which has essentially imploded, losing none of it's mass, and thus has a gravitational pull that is so strong that not only does it pull the very fabric of the universe towards it's center, but also, which even light itself cannot escape from. Can you imagine, watching light attempting to escape from something? Light moves at a speed of 700 million miles per hour. That's 186,000 miles per second. The gravitational pull of a black hole is so great, that even something moving at that speed, which is near incomprehensible to our human minds, cannot escape from, nor does it stand a chance.

I have in this post compared distortions of reality to a black hole, (<----And i'm not the only one) so the question is, how does one free themselves from such darkness? The truth of the matter is, that if you are looking for the answer, you will never find it, and if you are hoping for a savior, there is none. If you want to be free from thinking the thoughts of others, or thinking the distorted thoughts of your own fallible mortal self, then you must let go of even that desire, and rather, embrace the reality that ultimately, you are who you are because you are, and when you do this, you realize, just like Neo, that you don't believe in any of this fake crap anyway...(enjoy your cookie)

I will admit, it can be painful, and it will be. Neo had to die before he knew himself, and once he did, not even death could stop him. The rules of the matrix no longer applied and he was free to do as he pleased. He had no rival at all, and in the end, he realized that it was inevitable, and even he could not escape the black hole by fighting against it's pull, but rather, he had to enter into the heart of darkness, and shine his own radiant light out of it in order to bring peace to his world.

Have you ever wondered just why light cannot escape from a black hole? Can gravity really be that strong? Well, have you ever wondered why your eyes take in light, but give off none of their own? We cannot change the way things are until we first change ourselves, and in the matrix, Neo had let his enemy do all of the changing to the world that he would ever need, and as the last man standing, he let himself too become a part of the whole, and it just so happened that when he did, he was reunited with himself, and the curse was lifted.

I do apologize, I have been rambling, and have gone from books, to movies, to black holes and back again, but please do not mistake my words for what they seem, and miss the reality of what they are, and if you do not understand, then let this and all of my words be an example of just how distorted one can become by an over abundance of information. One cannot hold within his mind two opposing opinions and expect to still be sane, that is why the term "schizophrenia" was created, because at it's root it means, "split-mind", however, one can find a balance between those two opinions, and take that third option, using the two opposites as a measuring stick.

Synchronicity - The Paintbrush of God

To anyone who has lived for any amount of time, it can most accurately be stated that you indeed know exactly what I'm speaking of, even upon reading the title of this article, the term "Synchronicity" is familiar to you, even if you are unfamiliar (on a conscious level) with the definition of said term.

I could attempt to define it for you, and perhaps you would get it, but, if you just so happen to be familiar with the term, most likely you would agree, that such a concept is not one of which someone can truly be "told" what it is, but rather, it is something that one must "see" for themselves.

syn·chro·nic·i·ty/ˌsiNGkrəˈnisitē/

Noun:

The simultaneous occurrence of events that appear significantly related but have no discernible causal connection.

The image to the right is an example of what I would term as an example of what this "experience" would look like in a metaphorical context. Notice that nearly every line, though it is linear (like time), consists of a mirror image on the opposite side of the page, and yet, at the same time, this figure is split into three parts (like time). 

So what we have here, is an impossible explanation, and were the image not here, surely my words would seem most illogical, (and perhaps they do to you) but if you're going to get that involved in finding mistakes, you're never going to be able to see that duality has it's place in life, as well as the the reality that while things are split into "twos", there is also a third part of nearly all things.

For instance, you have the concept of time, yet it is nearly always referred to in terms of "past" and "future" as the "present" seems to be irrelevant in most discussions. You have two opposing sides, and in the center what do you have? This concept works with most things, but for more literal examples of duality, think of black and white, or dark and light, or yes and no, or male and female, or right and wrong.

Nearly all of those can be dis-proven as being concrete, for there also exists the color grey, no one can see anything in total darkness nor with a flashlight shined in their eyes, sometimes people say maybe, hermaphrodites exist, and right and wrong is just a matter of opinion anyway.

Now, for one to understand the concept of synchronicity, one must accept the reality that such concrete concepts of duality, morality, or even mortality, are not ends in and of themselves, but rather are simple hints which lead one to be capable of understanding something that goes much deeper. That reality is that we are not alone in this life, and that, while "destiny" essentially does not exist, because it is our choices which determine our fate, it is in fact "destiny" that determines everything, and no matter what we do, or who we are, we cannot escape it.

I am happily not a member of the "religious community", but I can say this, synchronicity has haunted me for some time. It is not so much a belief in some deity in my mind, as it is an understanding and inner-knowledge that I am a part of a whole, just as everything else is, and that being said, it is clear to me just how interconnected everything is in this universe.

Astrophysicists have as of late began toying around with the theory of a holographic universe, or, the idea that our existence is not so much as it seems. They are starting to wonder (as they attempt to study black-holes) if our entire universe is nothing more than a mirror image, and that everything that happens here, is not so much happening, as much as it is just a reflection of something that has already happened or is happening outside of our universe, simultaneously....or just on the edge. 

For a tangible example of what they are starting to understand about our universe, go stand between two mirrors and move your arm and attempt to count just how many "you's" move their arm as well. I cannot explain such concepts any further. You either get it, or you don't.

The Paintbrush of God

The experience of synchronicity will make a believer out of anyone that this "reality" that we are experiencing is not as "in-tact" as we would like to think of it, and that there is "something more". That something has been witnesses, experienced, and defined by humanity for longer, it would seem, than our ability to breathe. Some call "it" God, or Jesus, or Allah, etc...

It is so funny to me that when Moses in the bible first spoke with god, he asked of him, "Uhm...hey, what's your name, what do I call you? So I can tell everyone else...they kind of need to know..." this essence of life, creator, this god, this "it", responded by saying, "I am what I am."

A phrase that is used with increasing frequency now a days is "It is what it is", and yet, I find that such a phrase is rarely intended to be a reference to the religious idea of an ultimate and all encompassing deity.

When one begins to experience the phenomena of synchronicity, (And it most certainly is nothing less than a phenomenon) they often times shrug it off as a "coincidence" and think nothing of it, but it is when such occurrences continue, or even intensify in frequency, that one begins to wonder if they are awake or still dreaming, and if it is an awakened state that they find themselves in, it is their sanity that they begin to question. Such experiences, simply cannot be understood by those who have not experienced them, for those who have experienced them understand that such experiences cannot be explained in the full measure that is deserved, and even if they could, it would not have the same effect, gravity, nor meaningfulness.

When a synchronous occurrence happens, there are many factors which account for the experience seeming "unnatural" and yet, at the same time, despite all of the "unnaturalness" of said event, it is the natural flow of the entire event that creates the apparent uncanny nature of such an event. It is a conundrum. 

Factors Involved

• The immediate and direct surroundings of the experiencee, to include not only what he/she sees, but also what they hear.
• The thoughts of the experiencee prior to the event, and the method in which said thoughts began to stray in that particular direction.
• The flow of life in general, and the way one's day is going.
• Everything....

To some who read the above list, it will seem as though I am speaking a foreign language, and for those who have experienced synchronicity, it is more than clear what I am describing. Perhaps there is someone who is reading this, and is for the first time realizing just what these series of random coincidences are, or at-least how to term them, and their visit to this blog has turned into a synchronicity in and of itself. 

Why do they happen?

If synchronicity is the metaphorical paintbrush of god, then what exactly is he/she/it saying, and is it what I think, or am I missing the picture? The simple answer is, "yes, no, and maybe". 

Whenever one begins to focus on their synchronous experiences, they notice an increase in the frequency of occurrences, and sadly, some do not know when to quit, and actually do "go over the edge" so to speak, but you see friends, synchronicity is not what this article is about.

It is quite possible to misinterpret synchronicities as being something that they are not, but you see, it is also quite possible to misinterpret synchronicities as being something of little importance, a neat and odd coincidence that you think nothing of, I.E. not something to use in decision making. This can be either very bad, or very good, but by now, I think you all know that I don't really view things in such dualistic manners anyways. 

What are synchronicities and why do they exist? I cannot tell you. All that I can do for you is make you aware that you are not the only one experiencing them, and yes, they are "proof" of "something", and that in and of itself is, yet again, a synchronicity, because while they cannot be truly defined, or explained, they seem to always have the essence of being a confirmation of sorts for "something". They an undefinable also, simply because of the very personal nature of them.

The purpose of them on a personal level is something that you must find for yourself, but the purpose of this post is to emphasize the reality that we are indeed all a part of a whole, and everything happens for a reason. So don't ever think that it doesn't. Everything has a purpose, a meaning, and a point. That's life. It is what it is.... :)