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There is an increasing reliance on everything tech for analysis, prediction and decision making in most realms, by most people. However, the cultivation and refinement of instincts has been neglected and even denigrated in contemporary society. It is rare you find a child or adult who has their instincts intact or developed. Why is this? What do we lose when we dismiss or dull our "gut" instincts? What do we miss when we succumb to the narratives of pop psychology or the narrow corridors of western science in regards to identifying and "harnessing" our basic human instincts? This week I call your attention to this aspect of our human nature that many are encouraged to "tame" and/or ignore...at our peril. We have within our power, instincts for protection, for nurturing, for warning, for love and as weapons. Our intuition and instincts are our most precious treasures, but they must not be kept under lock, key and cover.  As we end the month of November-a month to reflect and learn more about "Native American" culture in the USA-it is the Indigenous cultures of north America which have much to offer in terms of cultivating and recognizing basic instincts. The ceremonies of tribes such as the Lakota, Hopi, Menominee, Dineh, Ute, Cheyenne and Apache have ceremonies to elicit and expand our abilities in the areas of intuition, instinct and communication between realms or "worlds" and creatures. For more background and details see my post from November 2018: www.jopatti.com/blog/forewarnings Certainly other Indigenous cultures such as Australian Aboriginal, the Maori, Iban, Bidayuh (Borneo) and Mongolian shamanic communities have ceremonies for those deemed ready and earnest as well as the Shaolin and specialized ancient martial arts cultures. I prefer to write my posts based on at least some first hand knowledge. I will include personal experience with those ceremonies and training I know work from my own life journey, and encounters. They are presented in more depth in my books-both poetically and in prose. IF you are interested, see the home page of my website for ways to purchase them online. Alright-back to this discussion.  What is an instinct and is it different from an intuition? The common usage of the word instinct is: an inborn pattern of activity or tendency to action common to a given biological species. A natural or innate impulse, inclination, or tendency or a natural aptitude or gift. A reaction to a stimulus based on the will to survive, to socialize and to reproduce. These three categories are often designated as the three basic human instincts common to all human beings. They encompass maternal instincts, sexual instincts, safety/warning instincts, feeling when someone or some situation "feels right" as well as "feels wrong". They are within us although they are filtered by our previous experiences and even our ancestral experiences (epigenetics) with our environment. Our instincts require our attention! If we are distracted by noise, screens (visuals) by pain or illness, by overwhelming emotional burdens, by fatigue or distress...if we are disconnected from nature, from natural light, from deep sleep and healthy touch...we can bury our instincts. If we are convinced/brainwashed by advertisements, schooling, peer pressure and social engineering to consider our "gut feelings" as "dangerous instincts/animalistic" or told we are "crazy" or "paranoid" when we express our concern that a person, place or situation doesn't "feel right"; if our survival or sexual instincts are suppressed often enough or we are conditioned to deny them...we can "kill" the alerts our instincts are trying to send us and thereby "lose" our instincts. We can rewire our brains and bodies to ignore and/or re-direct our "gut feelings" but done often enough, our instincts and intuition will be silenced. If as a man we have an instinct to guard, protect and provide but are told that is "sexist" - or as a woman we have a need to protect, bond and be with our child or children, but are convinced that "instinct" is bondage and "primitive" and we need to disregard it for career or more 'competitive' goals-these narratives can be persuasive enough to cause both men and women to cut off their instincts and conform to social constructs which frustrate their "natural" and "gut" directions. They often end up being confused and sometimes will hide their intuition from others so as not to appear "divergent" or "not cool". Intuition is an element of instinct. It is a person's capacity to obtain or have direct knowledge and/or immediate insight, without necessarily using observation or reason. It's a "gut feeling" which can aid or change your decision making process. It may seem to go against reasoned plans or outward signs or conventional constructs yet it can lead to originality, pioneering, exploration and victories. It, too is denigrated in formal science, in the politically correct bubbles and in literature. Jokes are made about "women's intuition"-for example-as if it should never be given credence.  Killer Instinct "Thunder Skin" from Mortal Kombat 11 Taken to extremes, most elements of human life can be twisted and re-formed to be aberrant. The survival instinct can be hammered in certain training and threatening situations to bring out what is termed the "killer instinct" or the predatory behavior we see in serial killers, in bloodlust behavior or in business when no regard is paid to the humanity of those around you. Stepping up the ladder of success by stomping on the backs of others or "killing" your competition is referred to as having the "killer instinct" and lauded as part of achieving success in many societies.
The "instinct to reproduce" can be roused to an extreme level where rape and violence in sexual activity, devoid of compassion or love, is part of accepted gang, war and predatory conduct. Media can be one of the factors pressing on the neurological/hormonal buttons of some individuals and driving them to commit criminal actions because their social instincts have been perverted from connection to coercion. Self preservation instincts can be subverted, thwarted and twisted to turn on the self in mutilation, self medication with toxic substances and even self murder...suicide. The reporter and social commentator Paul Joseph Watson, presents this starkly in his latest video - I suggest you watch this clip, bearing in the mind the terribly tragic statistics and demographics especially in North America and Europe. It is entitled "The Truth About Suicide": www.youtube.com/watch?v=ArwGJ74CVwE Remember, it is easier to control people who no longer can feel their own instincts and have no inkling of intuition. it is easier to manipulate and denigrate those human beings who no longer feel worthy or feel they have no purpose. Even an instinct to "rebel" against societal perversions, humiliations ("toxic masculinity") social media pressures - can be healthy but the signals one's body, mind and spirit are sending...must be acknowledged and acted upon before instincts and intuition are strengthened. There is also an instinct in terms of timing and satiety. Time to finish, since there is enough information for ya'll this week. Right?! Closing with a music video from the group "American Football". The song is entitled: "My Instincts Are The Enemy". In plain sight-social engineering using a multicultural landscape. Be alert! www.youtube.com/watch?v=iCI1QXMumBo For those of you who celebrate in the USA and elsewhere..."Happy Thanksgiving!" We do have so much to be grateful for in this world. Till next week, thank you! Jo
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A version of the game for children called "telephone" is played in most countries in our world at some point in school, or in communities. It serves the purpose of demonstrating how easy it is to "mis hear", "mis interpret" and "mis understand" each other. It is also a game that usually ends in laughter when the original phrase is told to all the players. Listening through a wall, on the other side of a closed door or straining to discern words in a conversation across a crowded room achieves similar results to the game of "telephone"- the message perceived is usually not complete or accurate, and certainly cannot be trusted as "evidence" in any courtroom in nations with a comprehensive rule of law. Yet, corporate/main stream news and social media have leapt up and grabbed onto snatches of conversation "He said he overheard him say the President of the United States of America was supposed to have said or asked..." Sadly, this is not a joke. This is no laughing matter.  When the technology exists to record audio and video of a conversation, transcribe the conversation to written text and document any significant discussion, decision or conversation-why is "hearsay" and third hand information even permitted anymore in a public legislative forum? All these snippets of "hearsay" simply waste time, money and add to the mountain of untrustworthy RUMINT...yes, there is an acronym for "rumor intel"...the most unreliable source to use unless one is deliberately creating a false narrative and inserting "dis-information". This is the realm of Psyops missions. Innuendo based on hearsay has been used in politics and war globally - since the genesis of politics, politicians and the competition for power. "Show trials" have been used since the Greeks...remember Socrates ordeal? This man generated/created what we know as the Socratic method. He laid the foundation for Western systems of logic and philosophy. When the political climate of Greece turned against him, he was brought to a public "trial". Socrates was then sentenced to death by hemlock poisoning in 399 B.C. What do you think the intention of "the squirt squad", the "never trumpers" and the main players in the Democratic party are? What are they social engineering? Do you think they earnestly want the American and international public to know the truth about US policies in Ukraine-US citizens involved in Ukrainian gas/energy deals and pay to play...the whole story? Personal opinions, parking lot and neighborhood gossip will probably always exist but should they be given a serious international platform, given time and "news analysis" in the same way actual evidence is presented? By doing so a society descends into a morass of inference and suppositions making targeting easy against anyone on the basis of prejudice, bias and suspicion. In that type of world there is no necessity for facts, proven beyond a doubt, documented, verified and triangulated. One's neighbor, colleague, competitor, family member or ex-spouse/outlaw, can whisper or call in a "charge" and this is taken as bona fide, as grounds for further action. The proposal under consideration of "Red Flag Laws" could implement similar procedures based on information from a phone call-be advised. Examples of societies which were run like this in the not too distant past include the Soviet Union, Pol Pot in Cambodia, Pinochet's Chile, the Nazi Reich in Germany- lessons should be learned from history, and should be cautionary to us. Yet, a number of American, Canadian, Australian, New Zealand and UK government departments already incorporate "hearsay" in determining actions against children and families. For instance, CPS/CYS can be called anonymously and action take on the basis on a single call. It is often up to the family to engage and pay for legal counsel and go through the court systems to actually retrieve their own children. Read the numerous situations where a phone call about someone "possessing weapons" (whether verified or not) even in states which have 2nd amendment rights, resulted in a SWAT response and in a number of cases, the wrongful death of the person whose home was due to be searched. A home owner just asking to see a warrant and know the reason for law enforcement to pay a visit, has ended in tragedy for many families and businesses-often based on an "anonymous phone call" and "suspicion" of having weapons or drugs or even "non-approved home food products" in a home or place of business.  The boundaries of what is evidence have been extended with AI and other tech surveillance tools in the 21st century. Combined with "hearsay" programmed as "documented" by either a human analyst or through a "program", are link up diagrams to display "guilt by association". This data is used as the basis for arrests and incarceration as well as for positive recognition and promotion. The American company designed "social credit" system (another psyops just in the name which was originally part of the "Skynet" Google project) which is currently implemented in China and soon to be running in Saudi Arabia, Qatar and the UAE, rates and berates individuals based on financial/credit history, purchasing records, political postings, medical records, occupation, family status, professed religion, travel patterns, "contributions to the State", and a host of other categories selected and approved by the President for Life (i.e. supreme leader/dictator) and his agenda for control. Huawei is a Chinese government owned company and produces the spy phones which become part of the collection gathering instruments utilized by the regime to harvest metadata for each citizen's personal "file". It has already been proven that "smart" i.e. spy phones can record you and listen to your conversations www.komando.com/security-privacy/youre-not-paranoid-your-phone-really-is-listening-to-everything-you-say/464613/ as well as track your movements as long as the battery is in your phone-even if your phone is turned off. The newer phones make it very difficult to take your battery out. This is for all "smart/spy" phones not just Huawei FYI. www.techdirt.com/articles/20130723/12395923907/even-powering-down-cell-phone-cant-keep-nsa-tracking-its-location.shtml  Yes, "playing telephone" is no longer just a game. It's become a science for tech companies, military/political intelligence and corporate espionage. In addition, they can use "deep fakes", U2 voice reproduction, deep skull voice interference and morph porn to add dimension to narratives they desire to fabricate. Haven't heard of these tools?
See my post from February of 2019: www.jopatti.com/blog/deepfakes-morphporn-boars For all of you who do not know about the band "Credence Clearwater Revival" I am including one of their most famous songs: "I Heard it Through the Grapevine" appropo of my subject matter this week-going from the political to the personal but both apply. www.youtube.com/watch?v=wCCfc2vAuDU Be discerning...always...wherever you are and whatever you read/see and hear. Cheers to you, Jo There has been minimal coverage of the international "business" connections during the interference by the US and Russia in Ukraine, from 2014-2019. What has euphemistically been referred to as "partisanship" on the part of the Obama appointed ambassador to Ukraine, Ms. Marie Yovanovitch who served in Ukraine from 2016 until recently, would-under any other administration-be fired immediately. Disagreeing in public and denigrating your boss, especially in an international arena-such as in foreign embassies-when your boss is essentially the President of the United States-should not be tolerated in the diplomatic sector. Evidently Ms. Marie Yovanovitch after decades with the State Department, burnt out in diplomatic skills 101. She was "called out" by both Ukrainian nationals who worked with her and by Americans who were involved in investigating for the "impeachment inquiry".  John Kerry, Victoria Nuland with Ukrainian post coup President Poroshenko, US ambassador Geoffrey Pyatt Let's have a look at what is listed as "official" (not wikis) for Marie Yovanovitch's background and bio. Marie Yovanovitch has Serbian, Russian and German roots. Her paternal grandfather was a Serb who, at the end of WWI lived in the Russian city of Chita. Right after the birth of his son, Marie's father, he returned to Serbia and from there emigrated to Canada. Marie’s maternal grandfather was anti-Bolshevik. He fled from Russia to Germany, which is where his daughter Nadya (Marie's mother) grew up. Marie was born in Canada in 1958. Marie speaks and understands Russian fluently. She grew up in a household where Russian was the main language. it is not stated on any official bio that she speaks any other Eastern european language such as Serbian, but French is listed. Their family was not Jewish as some sites would suggest. Her parents moved their family to Connecticut, USA when Marie was very young. She attended Kent, a private high school. Marie attended both Princeton University and the Pushkin Institute (Russia). She furthered her studies in the Russian language. She graduated from Princeton in 1980. Ms. Yovanovitch started her career in the foreign service in 1986. Marie was posted to a number of countries in various capacities then her star rose in 1998 when she served as the Deputy Director of the Russian Desk. From 2001 to 2004, Marie or "Masha", worked as the U.S. deputy chief of mission in Ukraine, as second-in-charge to Herbst, before being named ambassador to Kyrgyzstan in 2005, then Ambassador to Armenia from 2008-2011. I had a few direct short meetings with Ms. Yovanovitch during the time I served in a DOS sponsored program with CIED as an invited faculty member for the Yerevan State Medical University (Heratsi) and the Yerevan Institute for Medical Genetics, as well performing other cultural support activities such as talks at the American Council and acting as a panelist for US exchange programs, the Salzburg Medical conference series and for IREX, from 2008-2010. I was given "strong advice" from Armenian nationals who were working and had worked for years for the US embassy, and who served as my support while I was there...to slant all my American council programs leading up to the election and after the 2008 election...toward Barack Obama. My role was a minor one in the scope of DOS programs. Mine was not a political purview but throughout my two years there I did receive directives which I felt were political in nature, not the least of which was "do not mention the 'genocide' of the Armenian people". Moreover I received a list of sites in 2008, which were "restricted" from online viewing. I found that curious and imagined these would be salacious/porn/criminal sites but when I researched them on my own computer, I found them to be sites which were political/libertarian and generally ones which offered different points of view than corporate news. I felt this was controlling for no other reason than to sway us all toward the democratic candidates and "ways of thinking". My next posting was to Siberia, Russia in 2011-2012 the last years of Hillary Clinton's term as Secretary of State. What happened there with her push for shoving "millennium goals" down our sponsors throats, will take up a few chapters in my next book. Marie Yovanovitch was an avid Hilary supporter as was my immediate foreign service supervisor in both Armenia and Russia. There was no hiding their political views, partisanship and their prejudices. To express my true values and political beliefs anywhere around them and their staff would have been career "suicide". There was no diversity of opinion tolerated for decades in the US DOS. Moreover, in Armenia and Ukraine (I was there with Peace Corps Response in 2015) the US embassy pushed George Soros Open Society Programs. George Soros funded the Salzburg Medical seminars (for example) and "civil society" capacity building programs. When, in both Armenia and Ukraine, a number of organizations and officials wanted/needed to investigate Open Society and George Soros's actions in their countries-the US officials (ambassador Marie Yovanovitch at the time) pressured the legal entities involved to "stand down" and "drop the cases". thehill.com/opinion/campaign/435906-us-embassy-pressed-ukraine-to-drop-probe-of-george-soros-group-during-2016 Speaking of "interference" and "Quid pro or No $Dough"...that tool was leveraged mightily under Barack Obama's Secretaries of State (Clinton and Kerry) and their servers in country-Ambassador Marie Yovanovitch, Ambassador Michael McFaul (Russia) Ambassador Geoffrey Pyatt and the foul mouthed Victoria Nuland-all three were ambitious career foreign service officers who patted each others...backs and pushed hard for coups. Did you know of the fiasco of the "white revolution" tried in line with the other "color revolutions"? What a backfire on the "re-set" button Hillary Clinton conjured. Ambassador Nuland served as Assistant Secretary of State for European and Eurasian Affairs from September 2013 until January 2017 under President Obama and Secretary Kerry. She was State Department Spokesperson during Secretary Hillary Clinton’s tenure, and U.S. Ambassador to NATO during President George W. Bush’s second term. Ms Nuland served as Special Envoy and chief negotiator on the Treaty on Conventional Arms Control in Europe from 2010-2011, and as Deputy National Security Advisor to Vice President Cheney from 2003-2005. She was also a rising star-seemingly for both Republican and Democratic presidents-or as some astute observers would say...for the DeepState. www.vipr-bg.com/en/articles/coup-detat-in-the-ukraine/ "We know from the leaked, early 2014 telephone conversation between Victoria Nuland, (then assistant secretary of state for European and Eurasian affairs), and Geoffrey Pyatt, then U.S. ambassador to Ukraine, that then Vice President Biden played a role in “midwifing” the U.S.-backed overthrow of an elected Ukrainian government soon after that conversation. That’s the biggest crime in this story that isn’t being told. The illegal overthrow of a sovereign government." Former CIA agent Ray McGovern on the conflict in Ukraine, stated: “It was a coup, sponsored by the West”. McGovern was in the inner circle. consortiumnews.com/2019/09/26/what-isnt-mentioned-about-the-trump-ukraine-scandal-the-routine-corruption-of-us-foreign-policy/ Moreover the "prize" for this coup went to the offspring of then Vice President Biden, Speaker Nancy Pelosi and a good friend of Secretary of State John Kerry-given lucrative contract positions with Burisma Holdings and Viscoil/ NRG Gas companies and agricultural rights. thepatriotwatchdog.com/video-nancy-pelosis-son-caught-in-massive-ukraine-energy-scandal-trump-was-the-target/ American companies also benefited: The investment banker Michael Cox said: “Ukraine and Eastern Europe are very promising markets for agricultural companies, DEERE, Monsanto and DuPont." In a secret "white paper" on goals for policy in Ukraine-the US was keen to have "access and management to fertile Ukrainian lands" but they had little concern for Ukrainian people and adamantly worked to "de-Russify" Ukraine in any way possible including starting a civil war...brother against brother. An active propaganda campaign against Russia, Putin and anything "Russian', including the Russian language; was launched in both Ukraine and the USA. In 2016, Marie Yovanovitch returned to Ukraine after President Barack Obama nominated her to be the U.S. ambassador. It was common knowledge that Ambasador Yovanovitch supported both Barack Hussein Obama and Hillary Rodham Clinton for president. Marie as ambassador was appointed to be there during the final allocation of more than five billion dollars to "promote democracy" in Ukraine." It would be due diligence to follow on with forensic accounting on exactly where those funds went in terms of "promoting democracy...against Donald Trump". “All the leading Ukrainian politicians in 2016 supported the Democrats. Absolutely all of them, with the exception of Tymoshenko. I think that neither Trump, nor the Republicans in general have forgotten this Ukrainian interference in the internal affairs of the U.S. Nor have they forgotten the scandal in regards to Manafort; nor all the insults hurled at Trump in the Kiev press. I have no idea how much interference there was on the part of Russia, but I do know that Ukrainian citizens participated in (American) internal politics, on the side of the Democrats. There is absolutely no doubt about that.” Statement by Ukrainian sociologist Evgeny Kopatko in 2018 “The embassy in Ukraine was a ‘Hillary Clinton for president’ office. And they were looking to dig up dirt on President Trump,” Giuliani said. “There was a lot more collusion with Ukraine than in Russia, where there doesn’t appear to be any. They were trying to bring Trump down.” So much for "non-partisan" Marie. Hillary Clinton and Marie Yovanovitch were, and remain very close. Hillary came out to personally advocate for her against President Trump and his decision to "recall" ambassador Yovanovitch- on as many media platforms as would have her speak. Although he passed away last year, before his earthly departure John McCain was a major player in Ukraine as well. For more details see my previous post: https://www.jopatti.com/blog/playing-with-fire-trying-to-split-christians-in-ukraine You will notice all the same names/players keep coming up within these circles gouging at eastern European countries...why is that? What are/were the real agendas other than the "buffer against nasty Russia" narrative....your thoughts?  This has been an eventful weekend in the United States of America. The US Marine Corps Birthday and Veteran's Day and the first time a United States President has opened a Veteran's Day parade-which was in New York city. This week I close with the US Army chorus singing and playing "The Battle Hymn of the Republic". www.youtube.com/watch?v=gkkIUsV36f4
I also include the Mormon choir singing the same majestic song and mourn the terrible and violent death of some of their community. I believe many will also be heartened and awe inspired by the bravery and resourcefulness of the children who hid, who walked miles for help and who survived. What battles they have endured. May the murderers be found and brought to swift justice and may the truth be revealed in all these cases: www.youtube.com/watch?v=QSiVjlknuSw Until next week, Jo  Extra weight and compression added to the spine by holding/viewing a cellphone in various stationary positions There are physiological consequences and even moral consequences when you go against the natural uprightness of being a human being. If you capitulate, whether due to technology, ideology, forced submission, torture, injury or advancing age -you may feel you are lost and can no longer walk tall again, but as long as you are breathing and conscious...you are able to change. There are numerous examples of human beings throughout history and some still alive today-who have endured and re-directed the course of their lives. As much of the world writhes against the corruption in their governments, institutions and themselves-it is instructive to examine how the descent happens and ways to re-navigate toward upward spirals. This week I discuss 'bending over' because of forced submission-(conscious and unconscious)-and of rationalizing bending the boundaries of "right conduct" by social engineering, thereby becoming one of those who descend, bend downward and lure others to follow them. Certain segments of society will encourage you: "Why not? Everyone else is doing it? "Take your children to transgender events and leave them there...go on." "Follow the crowd-don't swim against the stream!"....and so forth. Be compassionate yet firm to those whose "spiritual spines" are deformed, corrupted, and wander around in oblivion because they can no longer "see or stand straight". Both abject poverty and blinding fame can cripple a human being, twist them into a barely recognizable shadow of who they used to be in the world. Learn to discern who is who, and protect against what could enslave you. The bonds of addictions are stronger than ever without a strong code of conduct as a shield and Divine guidance as constant sword in the battle for "freedom" of movement, of thought and of action. Be brave enough to wear the mantle of virtue. Pictured above are illustrations by artists of the anguish/ecstasy of addiction; and a photo of a genius artist who tragically tasted then was consumed by drugs, fame and decadence. I start with "artists" because they often have a rarefied view of life which they transcribe for others. They warn as well as inspire us, if we can look/listen and discern. I used to see Jean Michel-Basquiat aka as "SAMO" a graffiti artist, on a street corner in the East/West village intersection in New York city, before he was famous. He was a friendly, generous, supremely gifted artist who had to sell his hand painted post cards for $1.00 when he started out, but Jean Michel always stopped to speak and smile to whomever was interested in his wares and his work. I bought quite a few of his postcards and sent or gave them to friends. There were no cell phones or digital cameras then. People visited in person. Jean Michel-Basquiat was extremely hospitable. It was part of his ancestry and culture to share. Unfortunately, there are people who are predators and seek out those who are vulnerable because of poverty, illness or weak will. Jean Michel had too big a heart in some ways and let everyone in-he also let in drug dealers and dementors. Perhaps the injuries he suffered as a child from a hit and run car accident not only informed his work but also re-wired his brain. He said he could never "be still in his mind". Jean Michel Basqiat was seduced by the "calm" the poppy plant product delivered. He died of a heroin overdose at age 27, though his prolific/prophetic artworks carry his energy and legacy forward. Like so many artists, his work is worth more after his death and others (not he) benefit. www.youtube.com/watch?v=JX02QQXfb_o The vulture-like activity of art dealers and agents feed on the talent and productivity of many artists. Don't believe their promises and be wary of the percentage they demand of your sales, contracts and residuals. They are the benders. The "rehab" industry, especially in North America, is a very lucrative industry. It feeds off the sickness of addiction and the vulnerability of addicts and their families. The USA has the highest per capita opioid, amphetamine and cocaine consumption in the world. recoverybrands.com/drugs-in-america-vs-europe/ The USA also has the fourth highest rate of suicide by military veterans in the world, even with the best follow on support (medical, physical, psychological, financial) than any other country studied in the most recent report completed in 2011- Ukraine, Canada and Turkey had slightly higher rates of suicide by military veterans however that rate may have changed since 2010. It is estimated the American rate is significantly higher now, with no drop in suicides per day; as of September 2019: http://commons.pacificu.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1328&context=spp The most common way to treat active and veteran military with post trauma reactions, residual/ chronic pain and psychic stress is with pharmaceutical drugs. The prescription drugs can hook a human being into a cycle of dependence and when "legal" drugs are no longer available the "illicit" channels for drugs are easily found. Those selling and prescribing drugs profit by dependence and not by independence from these "medications". Although the supply has increased, the actual reasons for the increase in consumption and addiction may be attributed to the loss of accountability for individuals due to the breakdown of the family, religious communities and peer pressure (in a positive sense). Moreover "rehab" has become a noun in common use due to "celebrities" going into and out of rehab while media salivates over the latest performer/celebrity/politician who needs to be "rehabilitated" due to alcohol, drugs or a combination of abusive self medicating. Echoing the tales of decadence during the Fall of the Roman Empire-high society members over indulge in an orgy of drugs, food, sex and violence and then "vomit" and purge so they can start the cycle over again. The media outlets feed audiences on this diet of depravity as if this is part of the price of "fame" and the new "normal" response. Instead of encouraging abstinence and/or moderation; advertising, films, celebrities profess "highs beyond belief" if someone will join them in various binges-often documenting these excesses on instagram and other social media platforms. These experiences are validated only if they are public-a grotesque display of narcissism while they imbibe or ingest during their "purging" in and after rehab. This display conditions the public to their shaming and submission, as well as justifies the "pain" as "the price" for pleasure. Mainstream media sources whip up feeding "frenzy" for more photos, videos and salacious narratives. Don't be tempted to waste your time on these toxic stories. I know it is not easy to find conscionable secular platforms, examples or praise for prevention, resistance and/or discipline in western society. However, a few are beginning to appear and gain popularity. Here are a two podcasts which emphasize rising up and not "giving in" to excess, greed, fame and addiction: jockopodcast.com/ mikeritland.com/mike-drop-podcast/ Both podcasts: Jocko podcast and Mike Drop podcast- have guests on their show who have who faced difficult challenges and rose to meet them. Every guest recounts how they sometimes slipped backward but persisted until they overcame their problems, situations, imprisonment, war, injury and disappointments. They often outline their strategies for coping and for success on the "right path". Mike Ritland and Jocko Willink both sound confident and when appropriate...compassionate...with whomever they are interviewing. Without the flash of special effects it feels as if you are involved in their conversation and questioning...although of course, in reality - you are not. Their words/images may linger, but actual human to human contact with them does not happen. Yet ultimately this specific three dimensional contact is what is vital for human beings to grow, thrive, heal and fight. The virtual connection is just a beginning to what could be a productive conversation and exploration with those you like, love or want to engage. They provide more impetus and possibilities than simply watching TV or scripted film characters. However we need to go further to re-connect to remain a strong, upright society. America, especially needs a more "social" society to peacefully co-exist. Whereas in times past and in other societies, elders, religious leaders and even neighbors might have filled the role of adviser, listener and/or coach for someone bent over by the tribulations, deprivations and injustices of life-today, more and more people rely on their hand held tech devices to "guide" and direct them. Unfortunately, without realizing it, many are bending over to view or listen to this "guidance" and in doing so burden their spines, isolate their hearts and muffle their spirit. We must fight to keep upright, those of us who know the difference between real living and just surviving, between true connection versus cyber contacts. Find a human to talk to and listen, no matter what their political "persuasion". Defy the narratives that keep us apart and bowing down. Deliberately initiate conversation and make a conscious choice to sheath your phone and...look up! Here is music that should make you feel motivated, joyous and upright from the band "MIQEDEM" an Israeli group which sings in a number of languages. This song is called (in English) Hallelujah-from Psalm 150. Now, some people will not even listen to anything in Hebrew or from Israel out of pre-conceived and brain washed indoctrination-but I urge you to put aside your prejudices and just listen for a few minutes (less than five!) and see if you don't feel like moving, maybe leaping and smiling. www.youtube.com/watch?v=U_lt6RqHRFU Shalom, Salaam-Peace out, Jo |
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