bye bye 2017

Usually, at the end of every year I do an in depth reflection post on my status. I discuss the struggles, triumphs, and everything had in between. I express my gratitude, my love, my commitments. 2017 was indeed a “hangover” year. Recovering from the beatdown 2016 had on my mind, body, and soul...accomplishments included.

2017 had its fair share of experiences and learning moments as well though. I was tried in every arena from faith to emotional stability. I learned of my resilience...as I experienced everything so deeply and intensely that I often wished I could turn off my ability to feel anything at all. Getting through that taught me not only am I strong...but I am tougher than I know. In 2017 i’ve never felt any less sane....I thought I was losing my mind on multiple occasions and I learned not only to anchor, but to keep pushing...because no one is more a match for the darkness of my mind than I am. I learned perseverance... period. There was no task I began that I didn’t complete... even if it did push me to the brinks of exhaustion beyond recognition. I learned to redirect...and be in the now. By focusing on my commitment to the practice of Kung fu and art I was able to learn to be in the moment and not allow the anxieties of tomorrow or the shortcomings of yesterday influence my performance today. I learned that I must stop overcommitting and oversharing of myself because it’s very often to my detriment. I learned to swim in my magick, be confident in my magick, to trust in my magick and to commit to my magick because I am both creator and created. Last of all I learned that this was only the warm up... that each and every one of these lessons and trials were to prepare me for what’s to come.

So even though we are embarking on a new year...there will not be a new me. I have worked entirely too hard to get the old me where I am. With the new year I will be recommitting to mastery of self...and the expression of that mastery. I will take my time and I will take care of me. I will commit to the continuous refinement of who I am and commit to the magic of every single breath I take knowing that there will be good days, bad days, between days...and that all of that is ok because it’s another day.

...see you all in 2018!

-Rah

The Power of Words: The Magic They Produce.

Recently I've been working on presence and self awareness as it relates to how people perceive you. I've come to the conclusion that outside of how one dresses or carries them self,  a big 25-65% of how one is perceived is determined by how one speaks, and what they speak about. That means that from head to toe you may dress the part, walk the part, and essentially look the part; but once you open your mouth you may have lost the part. Inversely however, you may essentially come off as completely unworthy of acknowledgement UNTIL you actually start speaking and in that there is great power; not only for perceptions sake but also had the need arise for you to be a chameleon.

A chameleon is an animal known to blend into its surroundings by being able to change the color of its body to whatever colors in nature it's most frequently around. Being a "social chameleon" (the act of being able to communicate in a myriad of environments with different people) is an acquired skill but a useful one. Being able to talk to one group of people at a level that relates to them and makes them feel comfortable, then being able to switch it up and speak to a group a people that demands a totally different caliber of language and articulation is not something that most people have a desire to do or even  find easy.

But I digress...

Recently I got a tattoo of Arabic lettering above it's English translation that reads "I SEEK REFUGE IN ALLAH FROM SATAN THE ACCURSED".  I have to admit that in standing there showing the tattoo artist the design I felt a slight air of discomfort and judgement. Here I am, some young guy with visible tattoos and a fitted cap on asking for another tattoo in Arabic..."Oh he must be one of those mooslems" had to be a thought as I was immediately asked "Are you Muslim?" Which led into a variety of questions and my poised, non defensive answers that concluded in the man saying,  "Nicely stated young man" to which I thought to myself f*ck yea! #winning (who got that Charlie Sheen reference?)

 I was raised in Islam, I love Islam, and I live in accordance with the foundation Islam has provided me, but I do NOT call myself Muslim. I got this tattoo however because it is a phrase I use everyday, multiple times a day in seeking the protection of a higher being against any and all entities that may threaten me. Against myself, the master of my actions, and against any destructive force that may come my way.  It's in a language that I do not speak but have been taught to pray in. They are some of the most powerful words I know. 

 Taking a sharp turn down mystical lane, in most all forms of magick, worship, or otherwise reverence based activities there are 3 stages. Conscious collection of a thought, the conscious direction of that thought in the form of will, and the projection of that thought/will through SPOKEN WORD and physical actions. That being said, words are a necessary point in the manifestation of ANYTHING in this material world and thus should be used with careful intent and caution. Not only due to the power present in influencing how you are perceived, but also due to the power present in influencing reality as a whole.

I want to close by saying some of the worlds most powerful and influential people are indeed magicians of a sort. They move and shape spirits, moods, loyalties, entire lives with their words. They exemplify the quintessence of all that magick is; willful influence of one's environment. I don't think that the only thing separating man from animals is intellect because I believe animals to have quite the intellect. I believe the separation to exist in man's ability to declare and exclaim! Be! and what follows is creation.

Watch your words my friends!