Manipura, will, power and transformation

Igniting the fire of the third chakra, located in the solar plexus, brings forth the will and power needed to manifesting one's vision. 

After learning how to accept oneself, and the gifts we have to offer to the world,  it is through connecting with will that we move come closer to bringing tangible results to our goals. We must trust that we contain the fire within us, and that this fire is strong enough to burn through all the blocks and fears previously keeping us from pursuing our goals.

One exercise used to get in touch with our personal power is meditation on, and writing down where we feel the most powerful in our lives. Connecting with the emotional quality and bodily sensations experienced in situations where we feel power and will are most present, allows us to feel into what magnificently powerful beings we truly are. Then we can call upon this quality in situations where we feel less able to make a difference, and start working towards our goal with a renewed sense of determination and belief in our ability to change and create.

Connecting with the transforming fire of Manipura, brings an understanding of how we are already infused with the power to manifest our visions. At our core we hold the force needed to manifest our dreams.

Anahata, Heart Connection, and Self-Acceptance

Anahata; the heart chakra, is related to issues around love, balance, relationship to self and others, self-acceptance and compassion.

One of the tasks to work with in regards to restoring the heart chakra is self-acceptance, which I have found extremely difficult throughout my life. 

I spent many years trying to hide who I am, until I came to the realization that it severely distorted my existence. After coming to this understanding I started a process of getting to know who I truly am, both at deeper and more mundane levels. Since I had pushed myself away, and covered my genuine self for so long it took time to reconnect with my true self and my identity. Slowly, the pieces started coming together again, and I started acknowledging myself for who I really am, and I even begun accepting the parts I had previously thrown away as precious jewels essential to my wholeness. 

I realized I had been so deeply terrified of not being accepted by others, that I did not even accept myself. The ironic thing is that if I do not accept myself, then how are others supposed to be able to accept me?                      

Vissudha, communication, inspiration and creativity

With Vissudha; the throat chakra, the issues of genuine self-expression, sound, the media, creativity, and the ability to create our own life come into focus. Issues important to the process of clarifying one's purpose in this cosmic game. 

Visuddha means purification. One way to work with this chakra is through sound and cleansing the energy body by using mantras. Personally, I start most mornings with chanting in Sanskrit, and I notice a difference in the flow of the rest of the day when I dedicate time to engage in this practice. 

Ending the day with reciting my own personal mantra, is something that makes me believe in myself, and my creative power. 

Writing, and music are other ways to work with restoring balance in the throat chakra.

Depression is one of the effects of a blockage in the throat chakra. In my life, I have noticed how my mood shifts when I express myself clearly, and how I experience an increase in positive emotions when this occurs. 

Speaking one's truth, and believing we all have something important to contribute aligns with the this chakra. 

Turquoise and aquamarine are some of the crystals related to Visuddha. Wearing a necklace with these stones can release blockages, and contribute to the free flow of communication.         

Ajna, vision and illumination

Chakra six; ajna, illuminates one’s vision, awakens the imagination, and allows us to see clearly. 

The sixth chakra can be crucial to work with in order to clarify ideas and invoke inspiration through various techniques intended to restore a healthy balance of the chakra. 

The techniques of dreamwork, mythology studies, visual art, mandalas, collages, visualizations, meditation, and intuition development are all helpful in expanding creativity and shedding light on the gifts we possess. These techniques are brilliant starting points when one wishes to work with, and enhance one's creativity.

Working with the sixth chakra, paves the way for pattern recognition. It illuminates the habitual patterns we engage with that keeps us away from manifesting our purpose.

Sahsrara, higher purpose, meaning and thoughts

The journey of manifestation through the chakras begins at the top. Here one becomes acquainted with the purpose of the seventh chakra; Sahasrara, the crown chakra located at the top of the head. The purpose of sahasrara is to connect us with divine intelligence and the source of all manifestation. 

Who are you really? What is your essence? Deep down inside, at the depths of your core, do you know who you are uncluttered and raw? 

Acquiring self-knowledge, and aligning oneself with the divine, and our higher purpose is a continuous, evolving process. As we keep pushing forward on the path of knowledge and wisdom, our purpose gradually becomes illuminated from within and without. The old belief systems that kept us from pursuing our higher purpose gradually fade away, and new, supportive and spontaneous ways of being emerges. We transform through releasing ourselves from habitual thought patterns, and beliefs that have been imposed on us. The process clears the space so that a deeper understanding of ourselves can emerge into conscious awareness.
                                                                                                                       
Another purpose of, and the personal function related to the seventh chakra is understanding. Interacting with the chakra of thought and consciousness through techniques of yoga, meditation and mindfulness helps us come to a clearer realization of our creative potential. 

Journey Through the Chakras: The Current of Manifestation

The current of manifestation is the descent of consciousness beginning at the top of the chakra system, and working its way down through the energies of the seven chakras. 

Along its way thoughts are turned into visualizations, then into words, and finally into form. 

When we take the journey downward from intention to form we bring higher awareness to our lower chakra activities. 

Through the current of manifestation we learn how to base our decisions on higher principles, and devise strategies instead of repeating compulsive patterns 

Envisioning futures

I'm in a superposition
Attempting to envision
The wave of possibilities
A future aligned with thrills I seek
Which particle will manifest
What way turns out to be the best?
Who will it take to observe my direction
To pin down my path in this life intersection

When time is only relative
Who knows how many lives ill live
If this one will be fast or slow
It turns out my movement is running the show

As above so below
In a universe of flow
Emerged from a big blow
A long long time ago
Continuing to grow
Along with my fascination
Of the mysteries of creation
It will never reach cessation
In this dynamic emanation
Of evolving mass we cannot describe
Constantly seeking to thrive
...Guess that's why I'm alive

Mystery 2

As a fractal creation

I embody information

Perhaps I already know

The script to this galactic show

As a part of the whole

And a part and a whole

Body, mind, and soul

How much am I in control

Of my true destiny? 

Is free will likely to rescue me

From my own limitations 

If I can't handle the information

That I am nothing special

In a universe on the threshold 

Of losing all its meaning 

I can't help but seeing

All the miracles of existence 

I don't need to build a fence

Between me and the other

When I am sharing with my brother

In this chain of relationships

Where separation doesn't really exist

There is no boundary 

Between what we call you and me

Contents of my Consciousness

Mystery I

This universe is greatly vast
It holds the future, present, and past
Contained in a block
As solid as rock
No, probably not
That's quite a long shot
When we only know about two percent
Of this place where human bodies we rent

I need to know its mysteries
To put my floating mind at ease

Resolve the fallacy of misplaced concreteness
And put my subjective perspective to test

In an infinite infinity
I might not be the only me

Eleven dimensions or something like that
The four I experience is enough to blow my thinking hat

Living in this space-time
Where gravity still holds me down

What matters is not the matter
99% space and a ton of mind-chatter

Where does consciousness emerge?
I'm always looking for its upsurge
But I can't seem to find
Where it flows out of my mind
Maybe I'm looking in the wrong place
Perhaps microtubules is where I should gaze?
When they quantumly synchronize
Penrose thinks the mind arise

But I am still not sure
There has to be something more
It's not just physical
Perhaps inter-dimensional
Most certainly intangible
Completely unimaginable
But I have to know
It messes with my flow
This uncertainty of being
Believing but not seeing
What makes it all come alive
The consciousness that makes us thrive

Carousel of Perfection

Spinning round and round

Faster and faster

I try to catch my breath

But there is no time

No moment to stop

And appreciate the colors of the horses

The intricate design of the moving mandala

People getting on and off

The golden leaves on the ceiling

Amber wood beneath my feet

But I do see the staircase

Leading to the second floor

Oh, how I wish I could get up there

To see so much more

More than I ever knew before

I am sure the horses and the people and the golden leaves

Are so much better there

I am sure I will taste happiness

Once I get 

Upstairs

I don't even know its a ride

A goddamn ride

Never have I ever stopped to wonder 

Why

Why I am on it

Why I seek to excel

Why there is no difference

Between my heaven and my hell 

Free Will - Wishful Thinking or Deep Reality?

Attempting to believe in the concept of free will gives me great satisfaction. Sounds awesome to control the course of one's destiny (slightly scary, and a lot of responsibility, yes, but still better than randomized or determined).

Unfortunately, the more I reflect upon the subject of free will, the more I realize it might just be wishful thinking. With so many conscious and unconscious factors contributing to our life and the decisions we make on a daily basis, believing in something like 100 % free will becomes impossible.

To me, free will seems possible within a limited range of options. Genetic factors, society, culture, the media, our immediate environment, and the people we interact with all contribute to the choices we make, the choices we are able to take, and our natural inclinations.

One interesting thing to reflect upon is the existence of an eternal soul. If this deep aspect of our being holds free will when it comes to the choice of reincarnating with a specific set of genes, its free choice determines the parameters of our life. Since this blueprint came from a free selection, free will lies at the core of our being.

Moving further on to the more tangible aspects of existence, we are embedded in a society ruled by a set of laws determining what we are able to do. Culture provides behavioral norms, narrowing our range of acceptable actions. The media contributes to our desires and aversions. Our immediate environment further molds our behavior. If we take all the influential factors of our existence into consideration, free will seems desirable, but highly unlikely on most occasions.

However, the more conscious we become of all the factors that mold our existence, the freer we become in our ability to make more conscious, freer decisions.

Dark Goddess Secret #2 Medusa - Serpent Queen

Representing female wisdom, the ancient goddess Medusa started out as a beautiful serpent goddess among the Libyan Amazons. 

 When Greek mythology wove her story into the male-dominated Olympian pantheon, she lost her power. Digging into the “archeology” of the Medusa myth we can see how patriarchy first invaded goddess-worshipping cultures, and then stripped women of their natural power. The new tale of Medusa transformed her into a monster with a horrifying glare, with writing snakes sprouting from her head. 

In ancient lore, snakes were often associated with feminine power. But following the rise of patriarchy, these reptiles were associated with evil, becoming objects of fear and disgust (for both men and women). However, knowing the evolution—and distortion—of the Medusa myth in the hands of male myth-makers, we can see that her infamous head of snakes once symbolized immense and positive female power. Her force lies hidden, just like her symbolism.

Return To The Goddess

The fully integrated woman embodies the Goddess in her light and dark aspects. She is the Goddess. Deep and divine. Wonderful and wild. She accepts and cherishes the totality of her being. Let her breath enliven you. Touch the sparks of passion in your divine essence. Embody your emotions. Sing her song. Paint her pictures. Join her as she dances around the fire. Flaunt your feminine nature and feel the flow of freedom. Remember that She lives in you, and you in Her. Be fierce, embrace the Goddess.

Simplify 3

Free yourself from anything excessive.

Got too much stuff in your house? A garage that barely fits your car anymore?
A closet on the verge of exploding, full of items you haven't touched the last 6 months?        

-If you don't use it, I'm sure other people will. Throw a yardsale. Visit the thrift store. Send some love to the Salvation Army.

Extra space in the outer world = extra space in the inner world.

Let the uncluttering begin!

Simplify, Simplify 2

Just be

Simplify, Simplify, Simplify 1

Get to the point
Unclutter
Shine

I used to have a passionate preference for elongated sagas sprinkled with purple prose at every introduction to new subjects or events in the flow of the main narrative of the overarching body of the unfolding, emerging, birthing story I was attempting to convey through the means of the written word. Did I mention the deep, heartfelt love for long sentences? Do I need to?

My new mantra in writing as in life is: simplify, simplify, simplify

Get rid of the unnecessary
Say it simply
Breathe

Summon your Self

Do you know who you are uncluttered and raw? 
Acquiring self-knowledge, and aligning oneself with the divine and ones higher purpose is a continuous, ever-evolving process. As we keep pushing forward on the path of knowledge and wisdom, our purpose gradually becomes illuminated from within and without. The old belief systems that kept us from pursuing our highest vision gradually fade away as a new, supportive and spontaneous ways of being emerges. We transform through releasing ourselves from habitual thought patterns, and beliefs that have been imposed on us. This transforming process clears the space so that a deeper understanding of ourselves can emerge into conscious awareness. Welcome every little whisper of essence. Embrace the totality of Self.          

The Power of Passion

Passion saturates existence. The power of passion infuses life with vigor. It keep us going even when life confronts us with enormous complications. When passion is the force that drives us, life always opens doors and sparkles with radiant color.
What, is passion supposed to be everywhere? Well I most certainly can't see or feel too much of that you might think. Think again. And look closely. What is it that drives people to learn, to love, to live? Beneath the surface of ordinary lies the threads of passion. Weaving every being into their future orbits. Pushing all that exists further in their pursuit of ultimate satisfaction.

Infinite Knowledge and Invaluable Experience

When will I ever know enough to feel that I am enough? No matter how much knowledge I accumulate along my path of perpetual studies, I always end up feeling like all I know is only a minuscule, insignificant amount of the big picture. And of course it is miniscule. Indescribably tiny. In an infinite cosmos, one can never reach for unlimited knowledge in the limited human form. But is my knowledge insignificant? And what about my experience? No matter what I learn or experience, I have come to realize that it is never insignificant. Knowledge always makes a difference: it broadens my horizon, opens new doors, introduces me to new people with new theories, and makes me feel more alive and excited about life. When knowledge is backed up with experience, that is when it gets really juicy. It is the first step towards switching from an absorber of knowledge to a transmitter of such. When you feel deep in the core of your being that what you learn is true, valuable and rich, the excitement will rub off onto whomever you choose to share your wisdom with.

I will never know everything. I am not the oracle, the dictionary, or the encyclopedia. Nor should I strive to be. I am me. A valuable piece of the infinite whole. Designed to seek out certain teachings and experiences. Inclined to filter everything I learn through my perspective and spit it back out again. That's what I do here. I spit out my infinitesimal piece of infinite knowledge and invaluable experience. In doing that, I hope to inspire others to do the same. Even with all that I know and all that I don't know, I still wish to see how other people comprehend this magnificent universe of ours. What is your view on knowledge, experience, and the entirety of the cosmos?

Why Write?

Since I am currently enrolled in a writing class, I found it suitable to take a moment to reflect upon why I have this intense desire to write in the first place. Why spend precious time and energy on putting letters into words, words into sentences, sentences into paragraphs, paragraphs into pages, pages into chapters and so on?
Well first of all, why the hell not? It is by far the most effective way I have found to bring form to my ideas, and get the bubbling thoughts out of my head. A constant spring cleaning for my over-cluttered mind. A way to make space for more clarity and increasingly refined ideas. After the clearing, the space shines with new radiance. And so the flow begins. The magical, wonderful, completely absorbed, utterly engaged period of being one with ones immediate, spontaneous creative essence. Time dissolves. There is only creation in progress. Manifestation of meaning. That is what it is all about. Putting together the pieces of creation into new forms.

Writing is truly a form of art when it is conducted by a proper craftsman. The beauty and brilliance that shines through a well-composed piece. The entire spectrum of emotions are evoked by simple signs on a piece of paper. Unstoppable laughter. Rivers of tears. Raging anger. Agony, annoyance, bliss. Deep dimensions of our being are awakened through the media of the written word.

By writing this piece it has become pretty clear to me why I write: I am writing myself free. Why do you write?

Historical Consciousness

What are the contents of the historical consciousness that human beings growing up in the Western world have today? How is our historical consciousness affected by the fact that what we have been taught at school, through media, e.g. as being historical realities, are actually only the story of the victors, and thereby only portraying one side of an immensely larger picture?                                

I wonder how the fact that we only know one part of our historical reality affects us on the both the conscious, and the unconscious plane. All the stories that reside deep within the collective unconscious, which have never before been granted a voice, must as I see it be trying to be brought forth, in order to add their unique contribution to the tapestry of history. History is never complete until the voices of minority have been heard and successfully integrated. I think we are in desperate need of a more complete history, a history that will guide us into creating a better future. A history that depicts all parts of the complex picture that makes up a historical event will help us to steer away from repeating the same “mistakes” as our ancestors might have made and build a future that has room for all beings.

Ancestral Forces

How do the actions of our ancestors live on in us, and in what ways do these actions influence us and our lives?

The new generation of human beings carries forth a conglomerate of our ancestors’ genes, and we clearly acknowledge the shaping power of our genetic makeup. However, despite our genetic predisposition, it may be both easy and desirable to consider ourselves as a tablua rasa; a clean slate to be filled with our experiences and our experiences alone. But what is it that drives us towards certain kinds of experiences, and steers us away from others in the first place. How come we experience so much “history repeating” in our lives? Do the stories of our ancestors act as predispositions ingrained in our genetic make up for us to experience similar kinds of experiences, until our modern expression of these stories have found some kind of resolution to the issues that our ancestors struggled with?  Even when the stories of our ancestors have never been openly discussed, and we are oblivious to what impact they might have had upon the world, and the people in it, their stories still has an effect on us. Maybe the effect is even stronger when the stories have been kept in the dark all these years. All we can do is acknowledge our ancestors as being one of the forces that actively contribute to shaping our lives. We can then work with shedding light on the material that has been passed down through generations, integrate it into our being, and release old blockages and patterns that no longer serve us. 

Focus Remains

Welcoming the New Year by burning away remains of the old that no longer serves us.

In the midst of chaos and broken pieces of past pain

One thing stays untouched by the flames

Focus

Dark Goddess connection

It hit me like an unexpected earthquake on my way out from a yogaclass. The foundation of my connection to the Dark Goddess and her teachings were deeper and more personal than I had previously understood. I suddenly realized why I feel such a strong tie to the dark goddess. I have been in her shoes. I have felt her degradation and humiliation. My values have been stepped on and deemed to be insignificant. I have been called crazy, bitch, slut, worthless, useless, and incapable of adapting to society. Members of my own family thinks I have made a pact with the devil. My main interests have been labeled as inappropriate, weird, taboo, disturbing, and just plainly wrong.
But I am still here. I never disappeared. All I did was gather strength and knowledge until I was ready to emerge again as a fully capable and complete being. A being that has something important to offer to society. What I have to offer is nothing less than the enlightening words of forgotten knowledge. The wisdom found in the teachings of the dark goddess about magic, sex, healing, death and rejuvenation. Invaluable information to a society in decay.

The Dark Goddess is a symbol of the freedom I am reclaiming. The freedom to be me, just the way I am. To embody the weird, disturbing bitch within and allow her to emerge when she is needed. She is one of my many faces, and she gives me the power and freedom to speak up on behalf of the fierce face of god.

Dedication, celebration, reflection

Womens day.
A day dedicated to women.
Before I enter a rather dystopic analysis of the subject, I want to invite you to celebrate.
Celebrate. Co-create. Flaunt your womanness. Release your inner Goddess and let her dance around the fire in all her brilliance. Dress up in the colors of the rainbow and twirl, just because you can. Jump. Scream. Laugh. Sing. Roll around on the ground. Take off your shoes and feel the nourishing ground beneath you. Let your inner light radiate. Embrace your shadow and give it space to breathe. Reach out to your sisters. Give a gift to women less fortunate than you. Share from the well of your uniqueness.

But also take the time to reflect on why there needs to be a day dedicated to acknowledging women. Should not all the days of our lives honor the feminine and masculine aspects of existence? Does the fact that we have a woman's day mean that it is implied that the rest of the days in the year are generally more dedicated to men? Think about it, how many holidays are dedicated to great men (real and imaginary) and their actions, as opposed to women? Why? What can we do to help balance out the equation?

Creatrix

Chaos is the cornerstone of creation.
Vibrant, chaotic potential waiting to be connected into a multiplicity of matter.
Changing patterns.
Unfolding enfoldments.
Breaking breath awakens.
Fire encircles form.
The cosmic sea swirls.
Earth is unearthed.
Cosmic resonance precedes the dawn of time.

Learn about being. Being what you learn.

My journey into consciousness is coming to an end. For almost two years I have completely immersed myself in my favorite subjects. Science. Philosophy. Psychology. Mythology. Spirituality. It has been me and the books. The books and I. Quite a powercouple. I've been soaking up all the knowledge that one day will allow me to add my unique part to the puzzle of life. But even more important than the books are the experiences. You can only learn things by reading about them up to a certain point. Full integration and understanding requires an experiential component. Learn about being. Being what you learn.

I have cried in class. I have died in class (well, at least some of the old self defeating patterns have). Crawled around like a tiger in the wild. Slowly awakened my strangled inner child. Stared into the soul of my classmate. Seen how the most awful people are not worthy of my hate. Awakened my intuition. Separated science from superstition. Dissected my chakras. Read up on the tantras. Learned how to become conscious in my dreams. Seen how reality is never what it seems. Found my personal myth, and the power therein. Released imprinted ideas about natural sin. Slowly grown into the purpose of my soul. Reconnected my pieces to the transcendental whole.

Dark Goddess Secret #1 Lilith

Lilith, the original first woman was created as Adam's equal. Lilith was created from the same earth as Adam, and they were originally assigned to name the things in the Garden of Eden together. However, the idea of complete equality did not sit well with Adam. When Lilith refused to lie below Adam during sexual intercourse, they got into a big fight. Adam wanted to prove his assumed superior position, and Lilith realized that he was never going to accept her as an equal. Therefore, instead of succumbing to Adam's will, Lilith uttered the secret name of God and flew into the air. Lilith ended up living in exile in the desert close to the Red Sea. She was transformed into a demon, and removed from the later versions of the creation story.

I think the time has come to bring Lilith out of exile. Lilith is a symbol of the strength that is hibernating within us all, the inherent power to stand up for ourselves and claim our role as equals in all areas of existence. Lilith encourages us to explore our primal, instinctual sexuality. Through Lilith we can obtain the courage to be assertive when we need to, and stop succumbing to roles that are imposed on us from the outside. Lilith allows us to get in touch with our true nature, as Women of the Earth.

The Journey

Offering to Pele

Grasping

Change liberation
Comfort hesitation
Floating in thin air
While trying to
Grasp
The Essence of me
Oh, how I long to be free
From any constraints
Still I keep reaching
For this substance of
Me
Will there ever be liberty
In the cage of this
Ego I see?

Purpose, free will, and all that jazz..

Purpose. Does my life have a particular purpose attached to it? A soul mission safely stapled to the immaterial part of the complexity of me? I am slowly approaching the end of an era, and the emotional ambivalence within could not possibly have been any more heart-shattering. Both good and bad. I am mad, glad, and sad. Simultaneously. Now, that's some massive emotional turmoil. Sometimes you have to leave the comfort of safety and good influences behind in order to find your path. New layers of one's being are never uncovered in the steadiest of times. I left the most comfortable country in the world behind in order to pursue a line of study carefully designed to expand my mind (and not necessarily my job opportunities). I have let all the knowledge I have gained throughout my journey in consciousness studies mix and slowly simmer in the cauldron of my own subjective chunk of mind. That is of course what I prefer to think of as my own subjective part of the universal mind, whether there in fact really is such a thing is a whole other question. I have my own experiences. I see the world through my unique lens. But how much of that lens is affected by my interconnectedness with other beings? How much of my life has been constructed directly through free will; as in my imagined separate sense of free-will-individualism? I seem to be free, at least free enough to follow my inner sense of life direction. But where (on earth or beyond) does that sense of direction come from. Is there such a thing as a unique purpose for each individual's life, or is it just a matter of safely navigating oneself through one grand, old, random mess of coincidences?

Fragmented crystals
Floating beneath the
Surface
Of our eyes
A telescope for lovers
Separating the despair from the
Accumulated wisom
In the branches of the
Trees
Far beyond the edge
Of mundane restrains
United light
Cause no harm
To the observing
Rainbow

Dark surfaces...

... reflects light in unexpected ways 

Goddess of Fate
Pulling my strings
Waiting
Watching
Wondering
Whispering wisdom
In a language unspoken
Spellbound and bewildered
The watcher never sleeps

The power of mythology in an amnesiac society

Becoming acquainted with the universal themes that are addressed in myths can greatly enhance our understanding of the world and our place in it. Belief in the inherent power of these great tales have faded, yet they continue to pose influence upon our existence, only this time in an unconscious way. When a myth is consciously encountered it can be opened up to co-creation and exploration. But when it is thrown into the dark depths of the unconscious, its power as a guide and tool for transformation dissolves, and instead it may end up pulling your strings and making you a helpless puppet in the tale of your own life. 

To become consciously aware of and accepting the mythological characters that bear a resemblance to us and our way of living, along with exploring the deeper layers of our myth, allows us to connect with the archetypal forces that shape our lives. When we connect, we free up a lot of energy, and can use it to start co-creating our lives again. Through working with myths, we can learn to appreciate their influence and power as one of the cosmic architect’s most sophisticated forms of play. I see the importance of myths and think of them as blueprints of common patterns that occur in human behavior across the course of time. By becoming aware of the myth we find ourselves in the midst of, we can become conscious agents in the unfolding of our human adventure.

Man Machines

The one and only thing I have really ever imagined myself doing is writing. From the moment I learned to write at the age of three, I started composing poems and stories. I seemed to be tapped into a limitless source of creation and inspiration. If you gave me a blank piece of paper and a writing assignment, you could be pretty sure that I would have filled it up with a relatively remarkable piece before other kids had figured out what was up or down on their pencil.                                                                          

Where did the joy of writing go, and why did the secure writer withdraw? The answer to these questions is that the joy and the writer herself got strangled by criticism, both from within and without. From the first writing assignment I had in first grade, all I got taught was that I needed to limit myself. I learned how to shove myself into an appropriate box of regulations, as opposed to discovering and playing with my natural talent within the field. Everything I wrote was deemed to be too long and inappropriate. The contents of the stories did not really matter. The fact that I could make up entire species on different planets and portray their existence meant nothing as long as I did not know how to curl the letters in the correct manner. In fact the content of the written assignments did not really matter, it was the form and structure of the letters, and how similar they were to the model letters that mattered. Get into the proper form and structure kids, that is what really matters, don’t mind the creative force screaming inside, we will gladly provide a suffocation bag to put an end to that distraction.                

Early on I learned that the school system was not designed to foster creativity and promote new ideas. No, instead it was a breeding facility designed to bring forth exact copies of the people who have successfully pushed our very existence towards the edge of destruction. Man machines. Conformity is the key to a comfortable existence. Well, if that is the case, then please bless me with some turbulence, universe dearest.