Ego Death, Birthing Something New
When things go haywire, let the sparks fly
Leading Thought
Acceptance. It’s a powerful attitude.
Acceptance of things that I can’t control or that don’t much bend to my will. Working with what comes my way rather than against it. Making efforts that invest my natural gifts. Touting my strengths and owning them.
For example: handling animals comes easily to me. Watching others’ pets is one of my superpowers (apparently) and likewise I’ve started to enjoy and learn more about plants working at The Juicy Leaf. Both things are grounded in the physical and the present. They pull me out of my head and into the energetic and tangible. They tap my desire to be in service of others as a path toward satisfaction.
The last seven months of job hunting have challenged me, challenged my assumptions about life and achievement, and forced me to search my soul for meaning, purpose, and joy. I’ve come to recognize when I’m operating from the heart and when I’m not, and I’ve been able to hone in on my true priorities—things that, no surprise, diverge from convention.
I’ve tapped into an invisible vein that feels good.
I can’t be certain where I’ll end up, but I have some new ideas, new leads, and new contacts that I’m confident will lead somewhere “right”. Whatever it is, it’ll be enough.
I’m doing the work. That’s good enough for me.
Setting the Mood
There’s something special about a tasteful application of colored light. Above, a strand of bulbs glow green against a plane of arrowleaf ginger (I think!). Below, a single blue mood light sets the Studio 54 tone at the house in Laurel Canyon.
Collages on cultureedit
One of LA’s best stores is cultureedit (link NSFW), a fashion / art / sex boutique mashup. It’s also the official Tom of Finland store. But it’s really a gathering place, with openings and cocktail parties and live demonstrations of men getting wedgies (for example). It’s a fun place.
They’re hosting an amateur art auction beginning soon with submissions from their community, and I’m one of the artists!
Below are two of my pieces of digital collage.
Pet Pic
C’mon now sisters, be nice! They’re always like this.
Movies
Go see Companion if it’s playing near you. It’ll probably be streaming soon if not.
Similar to other dystopian thrillers, it’s a smart, well-executed take on the blurred boundaries between humans and robots as artificial general intelligence becomes the norm.
And of course…Happy V-day all of you! I love you.
That’s all for now.
_Alex