Equanimity and Creativity in the new city

The word “equanimity” has been stuck in my mind for the past few days because it describes a quality I’m actively developing.

Today, even during the most boring parts of classes, I’ve experienced a few moments of loving euphoria. My solar plexus chakra seems to be acting up a bit more but I’ll work on that as soon as I finish this entry. And out of nowhere my guitar prowess seems to have risen to a new stratum since just last night. I’ve written a substantial portion of a new song that I’m more satisfied with than anything else I’ve yet composed. To be more precise, it’s pretty much written itself.

That’s it. Life is good.

The Twue Spiwit of Giving! *barff*

The first couple days of college were pretty fast-paced. I must’ve set a record for most names forgotten in a weekend. However, I’m settling into it. Tuesday night was so insane that Wednesday I felt less pressure to make things happen, and they just happened by themselves. I carried that attitude into today and once again it’s been relaxing and thrilling in a “Wow, this is my life,” sort of way. I’ve been meditating on my lower chakras a lot, especially orange/sacral and trusting the universe.

My first few hours as an orphan

Yesterday was awesome. I won’t bore you with the details of moving into my room at UCSC; just know that it happened pretty smoothly.

Last night was awesome. I won’t bore you with the details of going door-to-door with a small army of people just knocking on doors and introducing myself, setting a new world record for most names forgotten within a one-hour period; just know that it happened.

This morning was awesome. I won’t bore you with the details of waking up before any man ever should and attempting to hit the gym; just know that I took this picture.

I feel good.

Tribute to the Summer of 07

I write to you today, not as the pompous ass Mike from senior year or from the glorious Summer of 07, but as the pompous ass Mike of the now. Last night, I went to bed a permanent resident of my parents’ house. This morning, I awoke a college student.

Behold! The only perfect tribute… to the best days of my life:

Another beautiful day of learning for Mike

Today I got in an argument with a girl about whether or not I love her.

BIG mistake.

I learned today that when I engage in argument (especially with this particular woman), I am more likely to convince her that arguing is a good idea, than convince her she’s wrong.

The Solution to Immigration, War, and Damn Near Everything Conceivable

Thomas Edison had an idea for an invention called the “World Brain,” in which all the information of the world would somehow be available to everyone. Too bad nothing like that was ever invented. Just kidding; you’re using it right now. Everyone, from all over the planet, can see the same thing at the same time. Also, any one person can see almost anything, no matter where it is, anytime he wants. And anyone can contribute. What a wakeup call this “Internet” should be; what a great reminder that we’re all in this together.

It’s time to remember that we’re all people.

Oh, that’s so cool -OR- Stage Conception

I’m listening to an interview of Ken Wilber and he just told a story about a woman (Gilligan) who did an experiment. She asked a question:

Does a woman have the right to have an abortion?

and gathered the different types of answers:

1. Yes, I can do whatever I want, fuck you.
2. No, it’s against the Bible and the law in some states etc.
3. Yes, there are many factors to consider for the woman and the fetus and the world, so under certain circumstances she has that right.

and watched over time to see how the answers changed.

A Relationships Post

I haven’t posted since the evening that I got “mini-dumped.” Long story short, I had met a wonderful girl at UCSC orientation and we’d hit it off great; so we decided that once school started, we’d get it on, or be “together,” or however you want to vaguely phrase it (and I do mean vaguely—neither of us were ever exactly sure what would happen). Anyway, last week she changed her mind.

Two Acts of Love in One Afternoon

I went to Borders today.

Hell

I took an Art History class a couple years ago. In some paintings from Christianity-dominated Europe in the middle ages, Hell is portrayed not as a fiery pit of suffering, but as a cold, dark, icy blue, cavelike place. The idea behind this Hell is not that your soul will be raped by razor-penised demons for all eternity, but that you are forever in a place that is separate, distant, from the warm, blissful love of God.

Ramesh Balsekar has said, “The presence of separation is the absence of love, and the presence of love is the absence of separation.”

The Universe Tends Toward…Perfection?

“‘The fact that something is meant to happen is inherent in the fact that it happens.’”

Nothing that is not supposed to happen, happens. It is literally impossible for something to happen that is not supposed to, because if it weren’t supposed to happen, it wouldn’t! You’re coming with me on this, right? Good. And if not, hey—it wasn’t supposed to happen. ‘”

When I first learned about the Law of Entropy in 11th grade Chemistry, I found it fascinating. “The universe tends toward disorder,” it says, which explains why your room seems to get messy all by itself, and you have to exert energy to get it clean again.

Today, in all my ponderings about acceptance, our lack of control in the world, and the idea that “everything that happens, must” made me see the definition of the Law of Entropy in a new light.

Blog Post! #2

I made a few MORE changes recently. I added a subscription option (left column under “Blog Stats,” it’s the little orange thing), which will email you each day that I make a new post. So if you don’t feel like checking every few minutes like a TRUE FRIEND , I hereby grant you permission to sign up and forever enjoy being lazy.

I also decided to steal (with permission) a few emoticons from the ideaGasms forum, because they’re great.

And on the right sidebar, I added some links to blogs that really seem to hit the nail on the head, and are focused on many of the same goals as I am. They’re all definitely worth a look or two… if you think you can handle it.

Grocery Shopping a la Divine Plan

I may have just made the transition from Willingness to Acceptance (as defined by David Hawkins in Power vs. Force, summarized by Steve Pavlina on his blog, and illustrated briefly here). My parents and I were discussing things that ended up allowing space for me to share some of my new philosophies. Not in the spirit of teaching them what I’ve learned, but to help them understand me and how I interact with the world. Some interesting words came out of my mouth; I don’t take credit for the idea, as it’s just a thought that spontaneously manifested in my mind: