Categories
Firescape Fridays Philosophy Poetry

Inner Monologue | FF 23

A political ideology is always faulty
and, lacking inherent existence, temporary
empty of true philosophy
each strawman finds himself merely
propped up in dependence
                    – in most cases –
upon a fat paycheck,
pockets stuffed with straw
and sometimes a free iPhone X

We witness a dreamlike hologram
feeling like it’s played out before
hollow men assailed by eight concerns
running to this part of the world and that
searching for sensual pleasures
                    – or escaping crap –
a quick high, come down, fall flat
putting it all online, shamelessly on the line
and still, with each desire filled
birthing seven more in place
and as the siren’s wine is spilled
each vice is found and chased

I know the appearance to be empty
I know it’s just the karma of this life
arising moment by each moment
ever changing, temporary, light
only made serious in grasping
and how we hold the tendency so tight
we struggle to create a better habit
to remember all appearance dreamlike
is just effects of actions of past mind
and in present moment torment
patient endurance does just fine
as never for discouragement
could I justify a moment’s time

While we wish it would be easy
and that others’ take our pain
there never was a politician
who sacrificed money or his name
and if I need a hero
                    – and certainly I do –
I just put Dharma into practice
maintaining faith & pure virtue
and never was a better hero
than my internal motive true
mixed with my Spiritual Guide
and all of Buddhas’ blessings too

Oh how my success is guaranteed! and
perhaps because my name means halfwit
I won’t cling to one inborn habit
finding no meaning in madness
I abandon gross self conceptuality
and break attachment to all pleasures brief
now seeing clearly the suffering it brings
not to mention pervading disappointment
hearing “Is that all there is?” old Peggy Lee sings
wondering, doubting that we’ll learn
caught in a world lacking honourable kings
I will not find a perfect ordinary being

It does no good to stomp and yearn
or spend much time out in search
of something I could never find
in this world and in this time
a (single) man – no, not even one –
who knew when to speak or hold his tongue
and understood why war was waged and won,
a man who lives with honour
and dies by sword
or                  – at the very least –
can keep his word
perhaps he has philosophy
more than a mishmash of newage trickery
a value system tried and true
but then… he would have time for… who?

No, no such person could exist
but female fantasies persist;
so this hero imagined
I take it upon myself to become
and just crank up the volume
if I wish to feel strings, bass and drum
enjoying skin-kiss from torrid summer sun
that sensual object simply swapped
for this other one
changing suffering is all we appear
until awakened from this cursed nightmare
happy ever after begins to seem
no more than an impossible dream

Yet it’s also my firm work-in-progress
because effects must arise
as no action is wasted
and His compassion prophesied
all beings become enlightened
all happy, all free
it won’t be found in samsara
won’t arise from this political crime spree –
we ourself abandon bullshit
and gain control of our mind
with spontaneous understanding
we take it upon ourself to be kind
no other can take responsibility
for this, your one precious life
for when swallowed by death
you leave this world for the next
and there is no remember
no refuge, no best
no freedom, just sufferings
for aeons, without rest

Making use of this life
means bowing out of the race
I haven’t the time
I can’t keep worldly pace
my focus and practice is a spiritual drive
never separate, never selfish
never political nor so contrived
understanding my actions imprint on all minds
I refrain from harming others
and strive to be wise
always increasing my wisdom
and with blessings apply
each Dharma teaching in correct stride
this cannot be mandated nor politicized
for a Spiritual Path is individual
and                  – in most cases –
private, not public,
but for each, he decides
when to opt out and regain control
of his conscious awareness
and reprogram his soul
until then, never satisfied

I cannot help but laugh
at the fake tears our politicians cry
even as some will believe their lies
I laugh because I am not surprised
and I will not be corrupted
                    – even in spite –
because happiness is only comprised
of parts found within the mind
                    – never outside –
so I cannot be bought
I will not run nor hide
and having removed the delusions
pure loving peace now abides
so I can truly help others
without self
                    – or political ties.

Categories
Tarot

Just Us & The Mountain | TT 6

A Message from the Tarot:

I feel it’s necessary to note that as I was shuffling, a lot of cards were “jumping” out of the deck. No – not because I’m a terrible shuffler (I’m so-so). The cards were primarily court cards and specifically wands. It feels like the collective energy is restless, passionate, impatient, ready to take mastery over their lives, ready to stir change, complete cycles and take rebirth. Awesome! Because we have work to do. 

February 15, 2022 ~ The Tarot of the Divine

Justice (reversed)

It seems we are on the edge of Justice (not glory), but we’re not there yet. While the Justice card may speak to harmony, balance, equality, honor and, most importantly, virtue, here we see it in the reverse. Bias, false accusations, intolerance, abuse and dishonesty. Collective! What is going on? 

We each create our own reality, but when we look at the one we share, I think we can see all these challenges are present. Where do we find honesty? Where do we look for clarity? Where do we find the perspective that lacks bias? Where the f*** is  our virtue as a society? It seems we are doing everything to negate virtue and replace it with false idols and ignorant, self-grasping agendas. 

I believe in Yoshitani’s deck, Justice is illustrated with the Amhaeng-Eosa legend which speaks to incorruptible agents used to secretly inspect government officials. It represents the punishment of the corrupt and promotion of the deserving.

Now, in its reverse, it suggests that our current governing institutions have been corrupted and at this time, justice has not been delivered in any sense. The absolute corruption of some individuals is still hidden and has not come to light. In a broad sense, things are kind of fucked up on a federal and worldwide level.

But that in no way leaves us powerless. Because the outer problems of our world are very much reflective of the work we must do on an inner level. We must look at the corruption in our own lives. And we must understand that two wrongs don’t make a right. We must question what is wrong and do the right thing, even when it’s difficult. And we must call out our own errors, not the mistakes of other people. 

For too long it has been far too easy to point to the problem. Unless you’re pointing to a mirror, you should probably just look inward to see where you can find justice and balance within yourself before trying to tackle the rights and wrongs in the world at large. Because many things are out of balance, and many beings are lacking virtue. This includes our own self.

Pay attention to what situations in your daily life tend to throw you off-balance. Discover the conditions under which you find harmony again. Carry this quality with you more and more as you move through your daily activities. 

Ziegler, Mirror of the Soul
Ziegler, Mirror of the Soul

A Message from the Oracle:

February 15, 2022 ~ The Wild Unknown Archetypes

The Mountain

In the archetypal world, the Mountain is both inside and out. It represents the challenges we must face on the outside and the work that takes place on the inside. To think that we accomplish anything without the mind that thinks it can is false. The Mountain calls to the ocean, tells of itself & and the sea. The rising and the falling. And if the mountain is calling, it calls you to discover yourself, find the balance. The up, the down. Learn each crest. What’s above, what’s below? And how do you tackle the mountain’s many paths without the prayer, “Show me the way?”

How can you awaken that which has fallen asleep within yourself? How do you choose the artist’s path and dive into your inner pain with intention to create something – beautiful or ugly? What do you need to purge? What blocks the doorways to the mountain caves? What sediment has built you up and what rains have eroded you away? 

The mountain asks you to deflate your sense of self and rise to new heights through a sacrifice of ego. Putting aside fears of how you are perceived or will be perceived, how can you follow the fool’s path? How will you conquer your fears and achieve your passions and dreams? What makes your heart beat faster and when do you come alive? What is the first step on the path to conquering your mountain? And what do you need to put in your rucksack?

Be uplifted, and don’t be daunted. And don’t be afraid to ask for support from friends. You don’t have to climb alone. But you do have to make the choice for yourself first. 


The Poet Dreams of the Mountain
by Mary Oliver

Sometimes I grow weary of the days, with all their fits and starts.
I want to climb some old gray mountain, slowly, taking
the rest of my lifetime to do it, resting often, sleeping
under the pines or, above them, on the unclothed rocks.
I want to see how many stars are still in the sky
that we have smothered for years now, a century at least.
I want to look back at everything, forgiving it all,
and peaceful, knowing the last thing there is to know.
All that urgency! Not what the earth is about!
How silent the trees, their poetry being of themselves only.
I want to take slow steps, and think appropriate thoughts.
In ten thousand years, maybe, a piece of the mountain will fall.


Tarot: Tarot of the Divine by Yoshi Yoshitani
Oracle: The Wild Unknown Archetypes by Kim Krans