Stop Clicking Your Pens!!!

Posted on October 21, 2019 by Rod's World

Isn’t it true that in high school when the teacher told you to stop clicking your pen you did it at least once more? What are the truths you remember in your life, are they experiential moments or are they rules your parents raised you by. Here is a list that my friend Marc picked up while travelling, living in different cities, working for different companies ( and himself ), and meeting remarkable and unusual people everywhere in between:

There comes a point in life when you get tired of chasing everyone and trying to fix everything, but it’s not giving up. It’s realising you don’t need certain people and things and the drama they bring.
You can’t control how other people feel, or how they recieve your energy. Anything you do or say gets filtered through a mindset occupied by whatever they are going through at the moment, which has nothing to do with you. Just keep doing your thing with as much love as possible.
If a person wants to be part of your life, they will make an obvious effort to do so. Don’t bother reserving a space in your heart for people who do not make an effort to stay.
If you want to fly, you have to give up the things that weigh you down- which is not always so obvious.
Doing something and getting it wrong is at least 10 times more productive than doing nothing.
Every success has a trail of failures behind it, and every failure is leading towards success. You don’t fail by falling down. You fail by never getting back up. Sometimes you just have to forget how you feel, remember what you deserve, and keep pushing forward.
The more things you own, the more things own you. Less truly gives you more freedom.
While you’re busy looking for the perfect person, you’ll probably miss the imperfect person who could make you perfectly happy. This is as true for friendships as it is for intimate relationships. Finding a partner or a friend isn’t about trying to transform yourself into the perfect image of what you think they want. It’s about being exactly who you are and then finding someone who appreciates that.
Relationships must be chosen wisely. It’s better to be alone than to be in bad company. If something is meant to be, it will happen – at the right time, with the right person, and for the best reason.
Making a hundred friends is not a miracle. A miracle is making one friend who will stand by your side when hundreds have walked away.
Someone will always be better looking. Someone will always be smarter. Someone will always be more charismatic. But they never will be you – with your exact ideas, knowledge and skills.
Making progress involves risk. Period. You can’t make it to second base with your foot on first.
Every morning you are faced with two choices: you can aimlessly stumble through the day not knowing what’s going to happen and simply react to events at aa moment’s notice, or you can go through life directing your own life and making your own destiny and decisions.
Everyone makes mistakes. If you can’t forgive others, don’t expect them to forgive you. Set yourself free by forgiving someone else.
It’s Ok to fall apart for a little while. You don’t always have to pretend to be strong, and there is no need to constantly prove that everything is going well. Cry if you need to – It’s healthy to shed tears. The sooner you do, the sooner you will be able to smile again.
We sometimes do things that are permanently foolish just because we are temporarily upset. A lot of heartaches can be avoided if you learnt to control your emotions.
Someone doesn’t have to be wrong for you to be right. You have to allow people to make their own mistakes and their own decisions.
Nobody has it easy, Everyone of us has issues. So don’t belittle yourself or anyone else. Everyone is fighting their own unique war.
A smile doesn’t always mean a person is happy. Sometimes it simply means they are strong enough to face their problems.
The happiest people I know keep an open mind to new ideas and ventures, use their leisure time as a means of mental development, and love good music, good books, good pictures, good company and good conversation. And oftentimes they are the cause of happiness in others – me in particular.
You can’t take things too personally. Rarely do people do things because of you. They do things because of them.
Feelings change, people change, and time keeps rolling on. You can hold onto past mistakes or you can create your own happiness. Don’t make the mistake of waiting on someone or something to come along and make you happy.
It’s much harder to change the length of your life than the depth of it.
You end up regretting the things you did not do far more than the things you did.
When you stop chasing the wrong things, you give the right things a chance to catch you.
One of the greatest challenges in life is to be yourself in a world that’s trying to make you the same as everyone else.
Enjoy the little things, because they’re bigger than they first appear.
Anyone can make a difference. You have more power than you think. Use it.
Every experience is a life lesson – everyone you meet, everything you encounter. Never forget to acknowledge the lesson, especially when things don’t go your wat. Gain insight and move forward.
Regardless of how dark your past has been, your future is still spotless. Don’t start your day with the broken pieces of yesterday. Each day is a new beginning. Every morning you wake up is the first day of the rest of your life. What do you want to make happen?

So what has humanity said about its truth’s, here are a few of my favourites:

1. Living your truth may not always be comfortable, but well worth it.

2. But you can also reclaim some of your own truth by looking at what made you angry in the first place: Dark Horse.

3. What truths do you keep in your personal treasure chest?

4. From Sydney, Australia Palak Gupta won the Miss India crown. At just the age of 20 Palak’s truth is that life isn’t about your height, weight and shade. It’s about the values and beliefs you embrace, your truths: Unwritten.

5. What to carry in your makeup kit for life.

6. From Russia with Love: Time and Glass.

7. It’s up to Us.

8. Everyone is Free now: Everything is Free Now.

9. From the man who gave us bliss, his truth about life.

10. What mask do you present to life that hides your truths from your dearest and nearest: Behind The Mask.

11. And then we find someone to share our truths with.

12. My ethos in life is Love and Respect for All. Everybody Included: Respect Yourself.

13. Do you worship your truths, what value do you give them?

14. As Marc says in poit 7, it is not the things you own that measure your lifestyle, but how you are remembered: Happy.

15. And for our final lesson, it’s good to remember the shadow and the light in our lives.

So to make it really the longest blog I have ever done, 10 more truth questions:

What does the child inside you long for?
What is the one thing right now that you are totally sure of?
What’s the best decision you’ve ever made?
What is the biggest motivator in your life right now?
What are you most grateful for?
What have you counting or keeping track of recently?
What’s the difference between being alive and truly living?
If you had the opportunity to get a message across to a large group of people what would your message be?
Have you done anything lately worth remembering?
When is the last time you tried something new?

Today’s playlist begins in pop diva land with Katie Perry and Natasha Bedingfield. We then journey to Russia with Name 505. Gillian Welch then sets us free, Michael Jackson lifts our masks. Madonna is the penultimate track and we finish with Pharrell Williams: Stop Clicking Your Pens.

My truth for the world is Love and Respect for All, Everybody Included. Until we meet again, my dear friends.

I Trust My Intuition and Live a Courageous Life!!!

Posted on October 17, 2019 by Rod's World

I have attended two meetings in the same room over the past three days. One was on the future of Interculturalism in our local council area, which I love and the second was on Race discrimination and racial and religious vilification which I despise to the core of my bones. At each meeting, there were different energies, one of what was possible and the other what to do when it all goes wrong. It made me think of what effect energy has on a situation and is that the primary driving factor of any situation.

My friends Marc and Angel Chernoff wrote an immensely popular blog called “30 Things to Stop Doing to Yourself”, it was an instant hit. Soon they started receiving this request: “I would love to see you revisit each of these thirty principles, but instead of presenting us with a ‘to-don’t’ list, present us with a ‘to-do list’ that we can start working on today together ” Here is the list they created in response to that request:

Start spending time with the right people.
Start facing your problems head-on.
Start being honest with yourself about everything.
Start making your own happiness a priority.
Start being yourself, genuinely and proudly.
Start noticing and living in the present.
Start valuing the lessons your mistakes teach you.
Start being more polite to yourself.
Start enjoying the things you already have.
Start creating your own happiness.
Start giving your ideas and dreams a chance.
Start believing you’re ready for the next step.
Start entering new relationships for the right reasons.
Start giving new people you meet a chance.
Start competing against an earlier version of yourself.
Start cheering for other people’s victories.
Start looking for the silver lining in tough situations.
Start forgiving yourself and others.
Start helping those around you.
Start listening to your own inner voice.
Start being attentive to your stress level and take short breaks.
Start noticing the beauty of small moments.
Start accepting things when they are less than perfect.
Start working towards your goals every single day.
Start being more open about how you feel.
Start taking full accountability for your life.
Start actively nurturing your most important relationships.
Start concentrating on the things you can control.
Start focusing on the possibility of positive outcomes.
Start noticing how wealthy you are right now.

So that is a pretty awesome list, I would suggest picking a few favourites and work on those for a while, attempting all of them at once would be a case for overwhelm, methinks.

So when the world looks at positivity, what does it have to say, here we go:

1. Without providing these basic and essential ingredients don’t expect to be on the A list for very long.

2. Simply walk the talk is what this says to me: Listen to Your Heart.

3. Such beauty in the words. “Building a thoughtfully crafted life”.

4. As I am writing this in the Darebin Intercultural Centre I sure this is deeply profound and very positive,: Shab be oon cheshmat khab narese

5. The adage you can’t take it with you is addressed in this quote.

6. That one life has breathed easier because you have lived, a worthy task to take on: Breathing.

7. Printers don’t work if the paper is crumpled, if you stop living a positive life by burning the trust in it, you will probably attain the same result.

8. From little things big things grow: From Little Things.

9. My friend Fleassy talks about your comfort zone and your safety zones. The comfort zone is what you challenge for positive growth in your life, your safety zone is your declared boundaries, to be protected for all you are worth.

10. How about every new acquaintance in your life you greet with these words: Rise Up.

11. You can always get more money, but you have a finite time to live a life of positivity.

12. It is also great to remember that positive doesn’t necessarily mean neat and tidy: Messing with the Kid.

13. Works for my life essence of Curiosity.

14. There are many different versions of positivity, pick your favourite: A Few of My Favourite Things.

15. And for our final lesson, I reveal the part of your body that your positivity resides in.

Right now is a miracle. Right now is the only moment guaranteed to you. right now is life. So stop thinking about how great things will be in the future. Stop dwelling on what did and didn’t happen in the past. Learn to be in the “here and now” and experience life as it is happening. Appreciate the positive attributes that it holds, right now.

Today’s playlist contains Ireland’s greatest rock guitarist, and he’s not in U2, a jazz legend and a new version of one of Australia’s greatest songs. Roxette opens up, followed with a tune from Persia by Ebi Gheseye Eshgh. Then the pop diva track from Ariana Grande. John Butler, Missy Higgins and Dan Sultan rejig a great Australian anthem allowing the sultry tones of Andra Day to lead in the rocking guitar of Rory Gallagher. We finish with the majestic notes of John Coltrane Live: I Trust My Intuition and Live a Courageous Life!!!

In the meeting about the Intercultural Centre, it was grand to see up to 10 different cultures being positive together. It gives me hope that there is a future for ny ethos of Interculturalism: Love and Respect For All, Everybody Included. If you enjoy reading this ode to possibility register yourself to receive future blogs in the space on the right-hand side. Namaste until we meet again, my dear friends.

Take Time To Connect To The Divine.

Posted on September 30, 2019 by Rod's World

I spent the weekend at three entirely different connections in my life. Friday night I made chai at Dancing Freedom, Saturday I crewed on a Spring Chant Meditation and Sunday I attended Sunday Assembly. Each fulfils a different part of my soul and the people come from completely different parts of society.

I believe the more parts of society I have contact with it helps me able to strengthen my resolve to see the ethos, Love and Respect for All, Everybody Included become accepted across the planet. I am working on the Act Local, Think Global principle. I live in the Darebin Council area in Melbourne, Australia where there are over 150 different cultural groups residing and volunteer at the Darebin Intercultural Centre where differences are Acknowledged, Explored, Understood and Embraced.

How has the world look at connecting in this time of world leaders talking about nationalism vs, Globalism and the difference which of these being dominant will make to human beings connecting with each other? Lets have a look over time:

1. From Hollywood, the land of fables comes this wise insight regarding human connection.

2. Jacqueline is an entrepreneur who left the banking industry to make a difference in the area of global poverty: We are all Connected.

3. In our instant gratification times, we can easily miss the message of deep connection.

4. The We are all Starseed conversation: Across The Universe.

5. It can be as simple as eyes locking across a crowded room at a party.

6. Harvey grew up openly gay at a time when very few celebrities were. So to have the above be true he must have had a strong belief in universal connection: You’ve Got A Friend.

7. Hip Hop artist Dramatik of the Wolves speaks about the mind, body and soul connection we make with certain individuals we come across in our life journey.

8. Don’t really know what Facebook founder, Mark Zuckerberg . is referring to here, although I know I have connected to quite a few people on a deep level across the airwaves: So Far Away.

9. I agree, if you can discuss your shadow and light with your connections, they tend to be more intimate than just making polite conversation.

10. Our roots are our common humanity: Human.

11. Connection isn’t always about spoken words, it may be a shoulder to cry on.

12. And then there is the special one: We Found Love.

13. One World.

14. John is known for his work on marital stability and relationship analysis through scientific direct observations, many of which were published in peer-reviewed literature. The lessons derived from this work represent a partial basis for the relationship counselling movement that aims to improve relationship functioning and the avoidance of those behaviours shown by Gottman and other researchers to harm human relationships: Steady Love.

15. And our final lesson is from Steve Maraboli, I spend my time on how to make all relationships like this. Imagine that world paradigm.

A short blog today, Dancing Freedom fuels my body transformation connection. Chanting my heart connection and Sunday Assembly my desire to connect to humanity through service.

Today’s playlist begins with one of the most unusual songs I have used, it is a group of scientists known as Symphony of Science. Then a cover by Rufus Wainwright followed by two songs by Carole King and James Taylor where they reverse roles. The beautiful anthem by Rag N Bone Man is next, the penultimate song is by Rihanna and we complete with the golden voice of India Arie: Take Time To Connect To The Divine.

A dear friend who passed way to early, said that Love was the Answer. I agree, the more we communicate it the closer we will get to having Love and Respect For All, Everybody Included in all our relationships. Remember, if you wish to receive a reminder about when I have done my latest blog, sign up on the right-hand side. Until we meet again, my dear friends.

Painting is just another way of keeping a Diary!!!

Posted on September 27, 2019 by Rod's World

I . have just begun journalling again after a break of several years. I was in North Fitzroy Library yesterday when I saw the book: Creative Journal Writing – The art and heart of reflection on the shelves: Get it Here, Free Shipping… I could not resist even though I have three other books on the go at the moment. The following . review sums it up pretty well from my 3 hours reading:

Winner of the COVR Award for Book of the Year (2007) From the #1 creativity publisher in the country comes to our latest creativity bestseller–Creative Journal Writing–the ultimate book for those who are looking to use this powerful tool to heal, expand, and transform their lives. In this exceptionally positive and encouraging book, Stephanie Dowrick frees the journal writer she believes is in virtually everyone, showing through stories and examples that a genuine sense of possibility can be revived on every page. Creative journal writing goes way beyond just recording events on paper. It can be the companion that supports but doesn’t judge, a place of unparalleled discovery, and a creative playground where the everyday rules no longer count. Proven benefits of journal writing include reduced stress and anxiety, increased self-awareness, sharpened mental skills, genuine psychological insight, creative inspiration and motivation, strengthened ability to cope during difficult times, and overall physical and emotional well-being. Combining a rich choice of ideas with wonderful stories, quotes, and her refreshingly intimate thoughts gained through a lifetime of writing, Dowrick’s insights and confidence make journal writing irresistible? and your own life more enchanting. Included in Creative Journal Writing are stories of how people have used journal writing to transform their lives; – inspirational instructions, guidelines, and quotes;
– key principles, practical suggestions, and helpful hints;
– 125 starter topics, designed to help even the most reluctant journal writer;
– more than forty powerful exercises;
– and much more!

Starting to read it has made me think of the different ways I have journaled over the years. The most obscure was probably a period of time I attended Saturday afternoon art lessons in Brunswick for a year, the entry being a bottle of red as Miklos was a lover of the wee drop. I have used Julia Cameron’s methodology for several years: Morning Pages., attended Catherine Deveny’s superb Gunna’s Writing Workshops: This is what started my blog writing career. Another art experience was my dear friend Jac Price’s fantastic Creative Meditations Practice: Meditative Art. At the moment I am faithfully doing Danielle LaPorte’s Daily Planner, a short sharp precise journal of what you are committing to for the day, what you are grateful for, what isn’t working, what you should stop and a daily meditation are included, I also write a daily love meme and post it on my Facebook page: 5 years and counting, one of the original users.

So what do people say about journaling or what do they write that ends up as a quote, there are some beauties:

1. For some people they love quotes, I admit to this fetish.

2. We go back to the 17th century for this piece of sage wisdom from one of the founding fathers of the United States: A Song For You.

3. Or then you can journal new possibilities in your life.

4. Journal well, my friends: It Was a Good Day.

5. Journalling on these days will help you snap out of it quicker, remember, the shadow and the light both need some loving.

6. George was a Republican, he spoke in favour of African-American equality and civil rights. Something the current mob seem to have forgotten: It’s My Life.

7. Did MLK keep a journal, they would be a great read.

8. Envision greatness, why not: The Greatest.

9. One of life’s great mysteries, creating your life with the written word.

10. A save your personal planet kind of space: Earth.

11. When putting the words on the page, don’t forget to water your soul.

12. And from one of the most famous of those who journal, why we do it.: You Only Live Twice.

13. Love this definition of writing.

14. I actually do a celebration, challenges, commitment practice: Life Is Worth Living.

15. And we finish with a lesson from the world’s most famous journal writer.

Stephanie makes some suggestions, lets finish with those:

A routine for your journal writing supports what you are doing. It also keeps you on track. It isn’t essential to write every day, but writing most days does really make a difference.
Sit somewhere to write that feels really good to you. Let go both physically and mentally before you begin to write.
Whenever you feel flat or ‘stuck’, describe that state of mind in your journal. Be a scientific observer of your own condition. (‘I kept writing in circles, just commenting on that, then suddenly I took off against all my expectations…’)
Go against the current tide that tells you ‘instant is best’ That’s only sometimes true in journal writing. Here you can be both tortoise and hare.
‘Forget what you wrote yesterday. Practise coming into this day, freshly. Bring to your journal writing your capacity to be present in the moment – even when you are writing about the past.
Are your expectations high enough? Do you feel like trying something that you are at present? Taking greater risks with language or subject matter or point of view? Looking more attentively at what you might be avoiding?
Concentrating mostly on ‘thoughts’? If so, look at the feelings associated with whatever topic you are writing about. If you have written a lot about your feelings, take some time to review your thoughts. Or to be a little more analytical and detached than usual. Or look at these feelings themselves somewhat dispassionately. What do you think about those feelings? How precise are they? Are they your familiar repertoire? Could you think about your feelings with great subtlety?
Notice with interest where you might be limiting yourself. What are you telling yourself that you can’t afford to notice, feel or write about?
Notice with interest what’s exciting you about the journal writing process. Let yourself be surprised.

We cover 50 years in today’s playlist. Beginning in the 1970s with Leon Russell and Friends, then forward a bit with Ice Cube. Then to last decade with No Doubt and finally to today with Sia and Little Dicky. The penultimate number returns to the 70s with Nancy Sinatra and then forward in time for the last number with Justin Bieber: Painting Is Just Another Way of Keeping a Diary!!!

The more I journal, the closer I get to achieving Love and Respect for All, Everybody Included. Remember if you like reading my blogs to put your name on the email list on the dropbox on the right. Until we meet again my dear friends.

Love The Trees Until Their Leaves Fall Off!!!

Posted on September 12, 2019 by Rod's World

In my state of Victoria, Australia, a group of indigenous women from the Djab Wurrung tribe have been fighting the State Government to save their ancient birthing trees, I attended a rally of support outside our Parliament House yesterday.

Among the women speaking out against the eviction of the Djab Wurrung protection embassy camp and the removal of thousands of trees between Buangor and Ararat, including some 200 sacred birthing and direction trees, some of which are believed to be around 800-years-old, embassy leader DT Zellanach travelled from country to speak into power, supporting the rally’s calls of “no trees, no treaty.” The embassy camp has been actively blocking the removal of the trees for around 14 months, despite notices of eviction from the Victorian government being delivered to make way for Major Road Projects Victoria to begin clearing the land.

Our government declared a public square that is just 17 years old, Federation Square being added to the state’s heritage register in recognition of its cultural significance to Victoria. Yet they will not recognise the birthing trees which are around 800 years old the same protection.

When did we forget that nature and the lore of the indigenous people of our country are just as important, if not more so?

What has society said about the rights of mother earth and its peoples over the centuries, remembering that the First Australians are the world’s longest existing culture who had looked after this land for 60,000 years before European settlement, lets have a look:

1. We are the only European settled country that does not have a treaty with the indigenous people of the land we invaded, our relationship with them suffers accordingly.

2. Embassy leader DT Zellanach had this to say at the rally: Zellanach: We are the land. What you do to our country you do to us. We’ve never ceded sovereignty.

Our women and children are the most oppressed people in this land. I get sick and tired of seeing what men want to do to our women and children. The trees are Women’s business: Wild Women Do.

3. The actions the Djab Wurrung women have taken to raise support to resist for 14 months is truly magnificent.

4. These women can clearly hear their regions earthsong: Earth.

5. Sixty thousand years, I believe we have something to learn off these women before it is too late.

6. Ralph Emerson was seen as a champion of individualism and a prescient critic of the countervailing pressures of society, he died in 1882. Luckily there are still people like the Djab Wurrung women who are willing to stand up for their rights: Eve of Destruction.

7. Clearly does not satisfy the Victorian State Government.

8. A quirky individual, Michael Jackson stood for the earth, he possibly would have been at the embassy if he was alive today: Earthsong.

9. I consider the Djab Wurrung women Earth Angels.

10 What are the birthing trees but not the soul of the Djab Wurrung nation: With Arms Wide Open.

11. Our premier, Daniel Andrews has forgotten this, No Trees, No Treaty.

12. I was gifted the ability to hear the earth by an indigenous elder at Confest, sometimes I hear the earth crying, I sure you can hear the trees on the Embassy site: The Memory of The Trees.

13. To all the people who attended the rally with me, thank you for giving the trees a chance.

14. Many Christians who follow the greed train seem to have forgotten this quote from their holy book, including members of our state government in this situation: Timeless Land.

15. And for our final lesson some words from one of the great women of this and the last century, Maya Angelou. To the Djab Wurrung women, I stand with you, No Trees, No Treaty.

Indigenous land, it’s where you stand, we cannot keep denying 60,000 years of occupation. Time for a treaty, and time to protect the Djab Wurrung sacred birthing trees.

Today’s playlist is about the Earth, birthing and trees. We begin with Natalie Cole. Some rap from Little Dicky follows, then we go back to the 1960s to Barry McGuire to demonstrate we haven’t really learnt the lesson this song is about. Then a Michael Jackson song I actually had never heard of. Creed follows with a beautiful ode to birthing then, the penultimate song is from Enya and we complete with a tune from one of Australia’s preeminent indigenous bands Yothu Yindi in praise of the timelessness of our ancient continent and its first people: Love The Trees Until Their Leaves Fall Off!!

I have not written a political based blog for several years but realised that it was time to reenter that space. No Trees, No Treaty. If we are to have Love and Respect for All, Everyone Included becoming the worlds catchcry all must be willing to take action. Until we meet again, my dear friends. Remember if you wish to receive my blogs sign on in the follow space.

Why Walk When You Can Dance!!!

Posted on September 9, 2019 by Rod's World

I made chai for Mojo, The Dance of Connection over the weekend. I have been chaistro for four different dances over the past month: Mojo, Dancing Freedom, Ecstatic Dance and Resonance Project. Here, in Melbourne Australia, we have a vibrant conscious dance scene which I love being part of. I hold that dance is one of the true forms of healing available on the planet. It has existed longer than language and takes us to states that words alone cannot.

Each dance is different: Mojo, to me, is the dance of healing where people get to be touched in a safe, loving manner during the forest and if they fulfil the request to dance with a different partner each track, they get to examine their relationship to connecting with others: How to contact Mojo. Dancing Freedom is more a personal shamanic transformational dance through the elements the earth is made from, you are a little bit different after each journey: How to contact Dancing Freedom. Ecstatic Dance each fortnight brings you diverse rhythms beats and melodies to attune your Body, Mind and Soul to: How to contact Ecstatic Dance. Resonance Project brings together an evening of 5Rhythms embodiment and sound medicine magic, a full sensory experience for you to journey deep and invite transformation of the highest frequency. It includes a guest musician as well: How to contact Resonance Project.

So there was dance before language, what have we said about it since we learned to speak, read and write, here are a few of my favourites:

1. The Hebrew Bible is not somewhere I would expect to find this quote praising dance.

2. Passion, turn to the left, hold on that’s: Fashion.

3. My Happy Place.

4. I just had to look up who Marilyn Ferguson was after reading this fantastic quote, A founding member of the Association of Humanistic Psychology, Ferguson published and edited the well-regarded science newsletter Brain/Mind Bulletin from 1975 to 1996. Her acquaintances included Bucky Fuller, Ram Dass and Al Gore: Let’s Dance

5. Considered one of the most innovative dancers of the last century, Isadora Duncan began teaching dance in her teens, unfortunately, she suffered one of the most bizarre causes of death when her scarf went around her cars axle.

6. Transcend the limitations of our self – what a beautiful description of ecstatic dance: Desert Dwellers at Burning Man.

7. All hail the teachers of dance that exist on the planet.

8. They have them, they are just made out of gossamer: Fly.

9. We dance for all the things!!!

10. And for me, it is always an honour: Waiting for Love.

11. How true is this in a dancers world, very in mine.

12. I feel so sorry for the deaf ones, they do not know what they are missing out on: My friend Suebee Fae.

13. In all its forms: folk, ballet, conscious, line, rock and roll, swing, etc. etc. etc.\

14. Even the cardiganed one has something to say about it: Dance Monkey.

15. Our final lesson on the dance comes from an extraordinary source: Margaretha Geertruida “Margreet” MacLeod, better known by the stage name Mata Hari, was a Dutch exotic dancer and courtesan who was convicted of being a spy for Germany during World War I and executed by firing squad in France.

So as you may have guessed dancing is one of my passions, I have fallen in love with my friends Marc and Angel Chernoff’s lists again: Here are some questions on passion to make you think.

1. What will you never give up on?

2. What activities make you lose track of time?

3. What’s something you would do for every day if you could?

4. At what time in your recent past have you felt most passionate and alive?

5. Are you doing what you believe in, or are you settling for what you are doing?

6. What one thing have you not done that you really want to do? What’s holding you back?

7. What is something you would hate to go without for a day?

8. Would you rather have less work to do or more work you actually enjoy doing?

9. What would you do differently if you knew nobody would judge you?

I have tried to include some more obscure tracks beside the classic tracks about dance in the playlist today. We begin with David Bowie twice, yes, one of them is that track. From The Desert Dwellers next is a sunrise set then we fly with Marshmello. Avicii lays down the next track and then my friend from Byron Shire, Suebee Fae features. We end with a track from Ireland by the Tones and I: Why Walk When You Can Dance!!!

Remember to signup to receive these blogs in your email box if you enjoy them, we can dance our way to a new world ethos: Love and Respect for All, Everybody Included. Until we meet again my dear friends.

Death takes no Bribes!!!

Posted on September 2, 2019 by Rod's World

I spent yesterday watching the ABC inspiring documentary Old People’s Home for 4-Year-olds, the premise is a group of 4 years old would visit an aged care facility and re-inspire a group of 70 and 80-year-olds to partake in life again. But what if you don’t make it to 70 or 80 like my friend who passed away at Burning Man this week in what would seem the most extraordinary circumstances. He is the third person I have known this year who has passed before their time. One of them gave me a download as follows: Get on with your passion and dreams, I am living evidence that you cannot guarantee you will be here tomorrow, so get on with it.

As the title of this blog says, Death takes no bribes, so how has society spoken about those that we lose earlier than we expect, here are some of my favourites:

1. For me, it was Fathers Day in our country yesterday, even though it has been over 9 years my dear dad passed away I still remember his quirky habits that I loved so dearly.

2. Because they are not here to answer it in the flesh: Too Young To Die.

3. The three people I knew said this in their own unique ways.

4. It is very rarely we assume that the goodbyes we say to our beloveds will be the last time we have the opportunity to: The Last Goodbye.

5. Charles Palahniuk (born February 21, 1962) is an American novelist and freelance journalist, who describes his work as transgressional fiction. He is the author of the award-winning novel Fight Club, which also was made into a popular film of the same name.

6. I think every human on earth has an unfinished story in their life: The Unfinished Story.

7. One of my favourite stories relating to this is when a butterfly magically appeared when he was selling his dearly departed’s car.

8. Lest we forget: Never Forget You.

9. Time to go out bush and look at the Milky Way again.

10. What is it that reminds you of your departed? For me, it is the meditation stool my parents brought me as a surprise birthday present: There You’ll Be.

11. Loving memories cannot be taken from us.

12. At what age the person is this doesn’t matter, I missed with my mum, I was on the way to see her when she passed. And all the younger souls, who would have thought you would not get the chance again.: How Long Will I Love You.

13. A positive way to remember those who have passed.

14. It may be one year, thirty or ninety years, remember how lucky you were to receive the blessing of their life: Sunbeams.

15. And for our final lesson, remember they always remain in your heart if they may no longer be here physically.

So taking my friends download to heart, lets get out there and live our lives to the fullest.

The playlist begins with the man and finishes with the women. First, we have Jamiroquai, then Jeff Buckley. Our unknown entry is from South Africa, their name is Stimela. Zara Larsson starts the women, followed by Faith Hill. The penultimate song is Elliot Goulding and we finish with Lil Bo Weep and Zheani: Death Takes NO Bribes.

So given that we rarely know when our loved ones will pass, remember to live from Love and Respect from All, Everyone Included. Also if you wish to receive my blogs on a regular basis remember to sign up on the email list. Until we meet again, dear friends.

From Where We Are, There Is Always a Pathway to Love!!!

Posted on August 26, 2019 by Rod's World

So, its the day after the Warriors of Love retreat and a feel many kilos of dross lighter. We looked at the power of choice in quite a rigorous and at time lighthearted way. I picked up a new nickname to go along with Tiny Tim and DF, I have to use the initials as the whole name and story behind it would not pass #Metoo guidelines these days. The latest addition is Naughty Boy. Here is some info about the Warriors of Love: Enter the Portal.

We worked with the distinctions The Loop and As it Is and What I Choose. I struggled with this for quite a time as the concept there are always consequences after making a choice got in the way. I got it in the end though.

So how has humanity worded choice over the centuries, let’s take that journey:

This quote is talking to you , not your circumstances.

2. This is an ongoing inquiry that ends when they throw the dirt on your coffin: The Path to Wisdom.

3. Two words, great list.

4. All hail Queen Oprah: Every Sperm Is Sacred.

5. Probably been replaced with the word journalling these days.

6. Trust the gut feeling and get the fuck out of there: Diamonds.

7. Luckily for me, my siblings are amongst my dearest friends, are yours?

8. What if you daily choices were that free: How Far I’ll Go.

9. Your awesomely wonderful life isn’t choosing, your heart-space is.

10. Blogger turned New York Times best-selling author and speaker Mandy Hale is the creator of the social media movement, “The Single Woman.” With a heart to inspire single women to live their best lives and to never, ever settle, Mandy cuts to the heart of the matter with her inspirational, straight-talking, witty, and often wildly humorous take on life and love. Mandy’s message reaches literally millions of women across the world every day through her blog, books, and social media platforms: I am Woman.

11. I found this one on consequences.

12. How many day and moments do you choose this: Can’t Stop The Feeling.

13. When was that again, Today?

14. Feeling life instead of just attending it, that would be novel: Freedom.

15. And for your final lesson, realise that where you choices take you is your own unique journey, the one meant for you.

We will finish with one of my friend Marc Chernoff’s lists, Ten Timeless Lessons/Choices from a Life Well Lived:

Happiness cannot be travelled to, owned, earned, worn, or consumed.
Be a student of life every day.
Experience is the best teacher.
Your choices, your actions, your life.
No one is “too busy” It’s all about priorities.
Be patient and tough. Someday this pain will be useful to you.
It’s usually better to be kind than be right.
You can become a . magnet for good things by wishing everybody well.
Only you are in charge of your attitude.
Satisfaction is not always the fulfilment of what you want.

I have taken up the practice of including a relative unknown song on the playlist. Its begins todays and is by Mr. 48 Alec Verkuilen. The next track speaks to the light side of the weekend and is by the Monty Python crew. Then back to my beloved pop divas with a number by Rihanna. A track from a musical follows from Auli’i Cravalho. An ode to women from Jordin Sparks is before the penultimate track by Justin Timberlake and we finish with the iconic Beyonce: From Where We Are, There is Always a Pathway To Love.

Remember to sign up to the email miss so you don’t miss out on my latest blogs. Each is based in Love and Respect for All, Everybody Included:

F.L.Y. – First Love Yourself!!

Posted on August 15, 2019 by Rod's World

I have begun writing my blogs about how I feel about things in my life, I don’t want to write about having a cold or a dodgy knee so that leaves self-love. I went and saw my mentor Arion for my weekly session and as always he asked me what did I want to discuss. I said I would like to discuss why I am finding it hard to feel my ethos of Love and Respect for All, Everybody Included throughout my body.

He replied, but that is who you are for your friends and family. We went through a list of people and places I am a part of, he asked me if I asked them was I an example of Love and Respect for All, Everybody Included what would they say about me, I had to admit that they would probably say I was. So the next question was if 99 people were saying this about me that why was I not getting the message, this is when the old warhorse lack of self-love raised itself through my body.

It’s interesting the decisions we make as young children, I don’t remember coming to don’t allow yourself to be loved, because you will have to leave from moving a lot but at times it controls me. Loaded up with some breathwork exercises, I headed to the local library to sit in the rooftop garden and contemplate the session. It made me think what have the mystics and soothsayers said about self-love over the decades, here are some of them:

1. Lending his popular voice to various topics, Steve’s books, quotes, videos, and memes have become a social media sensation; being shared by millions across the globe in more than 25 languages.

2. I’m a step from this, I feel: Conceited.

3. I forgot the last line on my tattoo.

4. As is each of us: Irreplaceable.

5. Dodinsky’s home page has been hacked by a casino site, Love this quote.

6. Makes me think of that civil war statement, Rebel Yell: Rebel Yell.

7. Has to be some Brene in the mix.

8. Somewhere, Everywhere: Somewhere Over The Rainbow.

9. Marvel comics know this relates to both women and men.

10. Some of the really tough work, mirror work: I’m Still Standing.

11. Not surprisingly I became Community Manager of a company called Collective Potential.

12. This is because you actually have boundaries when you love yourself: Emotional Boundaries are Important.

13. Perfection, the ultimate booby prize.

14. Supposedly they are already there: Loving You.

15. The final lesson, don’t devalue yourself.

Writing this has made me feel a lot better, time to look at the evidence, not listen to identity.

There are two great yells in the playlist today, and we may double the views of the young woman who has been viewed a mere 35 times. We begin with rap diva Remy Ma, then four icons from totally different era follow. Beyonce, Billy Idol, Ariana Grande and Elton John make them up. Then the little known Nadia Nelson and we finish with a classic from the 1970s by Minnie Riperton: F.L.Y. – First Love Yourself

I’m learning to include myself in Love and Respect for All, Everybody Included. Until we meet again my dear friends.

midsection of woman making heart shape with hands

Photo by Pixabay on Pexels.com

Let Go of Your Mind and Then Be Mindful!!

Posted on August 13, 2019 by Rod's World

I have been missing for a while, firstly a cold then a very painful knee that had me sitting very still for about a week. I returned to life by attending a Waking the Warrior workshop run by my friend and mentor Arion Light, if you are interested in Warrior of Love work here is the link to WOL land: Warriors of Love.

We travelled a journey that began in the Immature male, I could list the characteristics but give my readers enough intelligence to work them out for themselves. Starting here was to exemplify what hanging around there a lot costs you. We then moved onto the Mature Feminine, that part of our life that is often known as our intuition. Picking up the gifts from here allows us to move through the area our identity that you can hang out in for days and days, that of the immature feminine. As we are empowered by the mature feminine we learn to not hang around here as long and move on to that area of life that completes our Warriors of Love, the mature masculine, that enables you to get those things done you have wished to your whole life.

So are the distinctions Feminine energy and Masculine energy new to the planet, I went on a search via Google to see what had been produced, here are some of my favourites:

1. From Sai Baba land we get this very succinct definition.

2. I like how they have balanced the two energies in this meme: Balance

3. Kundalini was first mentioned during the 3rd to 9th centuries BCE in India, so the concept has been around for a very long time.

4. Author of 18 books over a 40 year period Shakti Gawain is considered an expert on vibrational energies: Dance of the Sacred Union.

5. This is the cost of the Immature male being dominant I was talking about.

6. All contained within the one vessel, yours truly: All I Want.

7. To acknowledge all four areas exist and keep moving between them.

8. Immature, Mature, Toxic, Divine: whatever words work for you: Human.

9. I liked the image, the quotes good too.

10. Another oldie from the Buddha. This is one of the takeaways I got from the workshop, thanks Arion: Focus.

11. Love the logic of this one.

12. It’s very hard to be somewhere else than where you are: Whenever, Where-ever.

13. I thought this was a great reminder not to become am immature, mature junkie.

14. All is needed, the immature, the mature, the toxic, the divine: Light My Fire.

15. And for our final lesson on the feminine and masculine is the addition of a powerful tool, that of the art of hugging the two together and passing on a gift to another so they can see the possibilities they may have missed.

I forgot to mention the four areas were drawn on top of your tree of life so that having power in them increased the power of your roots and branches in life. Funnily the workshop took place at a beautiful retreat centre called Vines and Branches.

Today’s playlist contains a song that has a mere 200 plays and one that has over 500.000.000 plays. Have a guess before you listen. We begin with two relative unknowns to me, Timaya and Anu Sophia Ra El. Then Kodaline followed by the deep tones of Rag and Bone Man. Two pop divas belt their songs out next, Ariana Grande and Shakira. We complete with The Doors: Let Go of Your Mind and Then Be Mindful!!

It’s not about being balanced 100% of the time but the journey. Add some Love and Respect for All, Everyone Included and who knows where the planet could end up. Until next time we meet, my dear friends.