Philosophy of Imagination*Forty Four

The Collective Conscious. What is it? Theories abound, so I will pull the pieces I believe to be the most valid to create my own theory. The most popular idea is that the collective conscious is, we'll call it Air, because it can be and permeate everywhere. Air is everywhere, except for in a vacuum, but there is still something there, the ether, is made up of something, we're just not sure what yet. Probably really tiny particles. Digression done.

The collective conscious is the Air that exists everywhere, that connects everything. The Air/Collective Conscious/Force, since it is everywhere contains ideas, morality, values -- floating around and a Imagination/sharp conscious is one that is better able to connect itself to this Air all around. There is no true form to all these things floating around. It's chaos. That's where your Imagination comes in. It's like your space suit for going out to explore this Air, to pull things from it and bring them back in to  your mind. There, in your own Imagination, separate from the Air is where you put together the things that you found. Just like I'm doing with this theory. Your Imagination creates order of the disparate pieces. That's the magic of you.

We're not pulling fully formed ideas from the Air. We're grabbing pieces, words, images, colors as they zip around. How we catch them and put them together is what makes each one of us (and our Imaginations) unique. After procuring the bits, our Imagination creates something beautiful out of the chaos. Being connected to your own Imagination and the Air/World around you is how you get better at  tuning into it all. It takes a lot of practice and time to get there, save the rare few geniuses who get spit out into this World. There are plenty of people who thing clear ideas and stories and art are flying around whole, but I believe that to be bullshit. Without our individual Imaginations, it's just chaotic stuff. You must learn how to harness and control the air and I don't mean superpowers or making objects move or some shit. Being receptive. Being present. Being you.

As a Public, as humanity, we try to capture as much of the collective conscious as we can and write it down into books, magazines, online articles, blogs, paintings, sculptures, architecture, speeches, so we can create understanding and discussion. This is what makes us people. Curiosity about the World. The desire to have it make sense. You can go as deep or as shallow as you want. I hope everyone wants to go deep, but that is not for me to decide. Everyone does that on their own and there should be no outside pressure. There are not many absolute truths in the Universe. Very few. But we must be open minded and empathetic, as to see the truths of others. Everyone has their own truths and we must respect that.

The trouble comes in lies. Where people say things they know to be untrue, even to themselves. This misinformation poisons and hurts all that it touches, to varying degrees. I recently heard a nice parable in the movie DOUBT. A woman confesses to her pastor that she has gossiped. She wanted forgiveness. The pastor said, first, take a feather pillow to the roof of your building and tear it open. The woman did and the wind began to catch the feathers. When she returned to the pastor, she told him that she had done what he told her to do. Now can I be forgiven. One more thing, he said. Now I need you to go gather up all the feathers that came out of the pillow. That's impossible -- they flew everywhere. That's gossip and lies. When these lies get repeated, they begin to look a lot like truth. We gotta be careful. We gotta be careful. Lies are poison and they can destroy even more completely and accurately than a missile. 

The Air is full of lies and we must learn to avoid them. It's hard, but we all have the ability and Imaginative power to stop, think and pull things apart. We all have the wherewithal to extract the truth. Don't forget you have that power. It is strong. You also have to have the courage to go into the Air and pull things out. There is a lot of scary, dark, evil shit out there and you will have to withstand it to find goodness and life. Often times, goodness and knowledge reside inside the evil and you have to be absurdly brave to go inside of it and extract the light.

We need as many Air/Collective Conscious explorers as we can get. We need the brave, courageous and intrepid. Find that in your true self and let's go journeying into the unknown!

Philosophy of Imagination*Forty Three

I've talked about charisma in my other posts, but haven't devoted a lotta time. Now I will. What is charisma? What does it do? How does it work? Can you see it? Can you get it? Are you born with it? Is it the same as confidence? 

Charisma is the ability of a person, a single person, to have and hold people's attention regardless of what they're doing and saying. It seems that whatever is happening, grating cheese or mowing a lawn or telling a story, we want to know what they're doing, why they're doing it like they're doing it. Can we help? Can we listen? Can we be close? The story could be one of the most pedestrian, long-winded tales and we still wanna sit in front of them, legs crossed in front of us, hands under our chins, waiting for the next word to tumble from their lips. If someone without charisma tells s shit story, we zone out quick. Try to get away. To look for a place to interject so we don't have to hear another asinine sentence poison the air. What is this power. Super power really. Anything not readily available, possessed by a few and sought after by all, that's a super power. They're like giant people magnets, these charismatic characters. Why them? Why do we listen? Why do we flock? Why do we try to make ourselves in their image?

I believe some people are born with charisma, that is innate in their make-up. I've been around kids who haven't had time to earn anything and they hold a room of children and adults wrapt as they muck about and be silly. They're magnets already! They haven't had time to learn a skill like that. Kids are good at manipulation, but this is beyond manipulation. We often just do what they say, without much question. Charismatic people are able to make us feel great about ourselves. They lift us up, make us levitate (there's that superpower again) and become powerful like them. While we're near. But we can still get knocked down easily. Charismatic people seem to have a force field around them. Impervious to what is happening around them. Like a pitcher alone with the ball on the mound, while 50,000 screaming opposition fans yell at him to fuck it up. Charisma can shut that off. Stick, stone, names calling, hate -- it bounces off harmlessly and thuds to the ground. The charismatic person standing there like Superman/Superwoman with their hands on their hips, chest out, chin in the air. It's a sight. They lift us up, so we flock and listen and try to be like them, hoping it'll rub off. But it doesn't. At all. When the person leaves, all the charisma leaves with them.

I used to believe that you either had charisma or you didn't. That is how most charisma exists. But, if you can work on yourself, slowly build your confidence, up, up, up, over a long period of time, you can begin to gain some. Earned charisma. This is not easy. You have to be willing to go deep inside yourself, all the way to the bottom. Love yourself unconditionally, forgive yourself and the others around you for any shortcomings or misdeeds. You have to have an amazing Imagination and the courage to be yourself always and everywhere. Do that and the seed of charisma can begin to grow. True charisma that cannot fade. I don't see confidence and charisma as the same thing, but they have a very close relationship. A cause and effect relationship. Like building a house. Confidence is all the lumber and nails and materials and labor that go in to building a house. Each alone have some confidence, but put together in a careful, thoughtful way will give you the house that will be there as long as any of us are alive. The house is charisma. And the materials to build it are hard to come by, despite being inside of all of us. We can all become charismatic, we only have to be willing to take the journey fraught with danger and things most of us would rather see stay hidden.

Charismatic people hold almost all the positions of power in our society. Which sounds great! But charisma is the ability to get people to do what you want them to do. That power is dangerous. Very dangerous. And even well meaning people can get sucked into it and themselves and begin to see people as things instead of human beings. Things, robots, sheep that will follow and wait on you, no matter how much of a prick/cunt you may be to them. That ugliness is everywhere around powerful people. We need to begin to see these people for sho they are. The people blessed with charisma, who are using their superpowers for evil. We need to extricate ourselves from them and move on, to people who care about us. People who will help us build our own true confidence and then charisma. If people are not treating you as an equal, get the fuck outta there. Get outta their tractor beam. We don't need them to be amazing. We all can be amazing if we focus on ourselves and our interior growth and acceptance. We could have a Universe filled with beautiful charismatic people, who use their superpowers to lift up those around them.

Look at yourself and the people in your life and if there are charismatic people or any people who are making you feel bad about yourself, treating you as a lesser person, being obstacles in your dreams and destiny, let them go. Let them go. It doesn't have to be an ugly divorce, but step away. Everyone deserves happiness, confidence and charisma of their own. Go find yours!

Philosophy of Imagination*Forty Two

I've already talked about how I believe we all have an incredible Imagination from the time that we're born. Something has to keep a child entertained when it's in utero. The mind can't live in darkness. It would drive anyone mad. So, we're born with our fantastic Imagination. There's nothing you can't do when you're a child. 

My theory on this next thing is hard to discuss, because it's so personal, but I think it's worth looking at. It has helped me to understand and heal. I was sexually abused when I was a kid. I'm not sure by whom or how often. My whole life it's something I had always thought may have happened, but I wasn't able to accept it as fact until recently. Medication for depression, therapy and the love of my wife and family helped get me there. But the initial impetus was my thinking on Imagination and how it works. How is my mind/Imagination so strong that it can block entire pieces of time in my life? That blows my mind.

Could the people who suffer severe mental and physical abuse go somewhere safe, until the abuse is over. 

As I've thought over my past, my Imagination helped make clear to me that the past is the past and it could be replayed a million times, a trillion times over and the outcome would always be the same. That there was nothing that I could do to stop the abuse. That the abuse was not my fault. That I am not damaged. That I have the confidence to tell people and not feel judged. That I am exactly me and don't have to be anything more than that. That I accept and love myself, every part and forgive myself for any past moments of weakness. 

Once you're able to forgive yourself, forgive yourself for everything, a magical thing happens. You're able to forgive everyone else for their shortcomings. It's beautiful. Nearly indescribable. 

I have forgiven my abuser/abusers, whomever they may be. I am by no means thankful for being abused, but I am very thankful for what it has made me. I wouldn't change a moment of my life. Even the awful shit. There is no shame or guilt if you have been abused. None. And I know it's hard to think about and face, but if you can see how bright the light is on the other side, it is worth it. But everyone in their time. It took me forty years of life to be able o accept and admit to myself what had happened when I was a kid. Love you all! We're all in this together and we need to help each other. Don't stay in that darkness alone. Come into the light and beauty where everyone will welcome you with open arms. Like Q-Tip said, 'Come spread your arms if you really need a hug.'

Philosophy of Imagination*Forty

I'm forty now and I've never felt so young. It's like a drug, that I've waited for on-line, for twenty years. Worth the wait, bet your ass. I didn't know so many neurons could fire so much goodness at once. Imagination is my drug, my juice, my love--trumped only by my wife and family and dogs. Imagination has given me everything and I can't wait to keep feeding it daily.

I read a recent article about 'Simulation Theory'. It's basically the plot of THE MATRIX, minus the evil human battery overtones. The theory posits that our whole Universe and existence is a computer simulation, a real life Sims. It's interesting to think about. After writing all the code, doing all the math, tinkering with algorithms, did they push the button (The Big Bang) and let us go? Are they constantly manipulating things? Who is it?

I find the theory interesting and fascinating to think about, as do most. The Matrix blew almost all minds and it's remained popular, because WOW! What the fuck? That could be true? Are we in a simulation? Well done Wachowskis! Nailed the jump, didn't stick the landing and I think for good reason. Because when they tried to explain the start and continued existence of us and our Universe, the theory gets too confusing and stupid. I believe mostly, because it's a fun theory, but untrue.

Computers want perfection. Without it, they don't work very well. Ever get a virus on your computer or run outta memory? Shit starts to go bad quick and fast. You're computer becomes a miracle to a pile of junk in no time. Complicated systems have lots of complicated problems and our Universe is most certainly complicated and the most complicated thing in this complex Universe is our complicated brains. 

If we lived in a computer simulation, things would be breaking down all the time. We would see behind the curtain, the wires, the smoke and mirrors of our creation. We would see the fuck ups. They'd be all over, all the time. But not one person has witnessed one or has any proof it. Kinda like God. God as computer programmer--I think not.

Our Universe is imperfection. That's what makes it beautiful. Computers work on perfection and perfection is dull and boring. We aren't a computer simulation. We are a fucked up, disorganized, cluttered mess of beautiful being.

Philosophy of Imagination*Thirty Eight

I have spent most of my forty years trying to make sure my Imagination was always growing. But like everyone, I am full of contradictions and as I was working on growth and learning with my Imagination, I was also trying to kill it. Had a twenty year uncivil war with alcohol. Forty year struggle with societal norms trying to oppress and crush my individuality and self. And 22 years battling depression and sedentariness. All fights that are hard to win and my Imagination emerged victorious every time, always stronger on the other side. Not that any of those battles are over, they rage on every day, but most days it's a skirmish or propaganda, nothing that can't be subdued quickly and with little to no collateral damage. My Imagination has it handled and grows more powerful each day. It's bursting and exploding like a piñata of light and I'm trying to catch every last drop of it on to paper or any surface, making it shine.

Make sure you're catching everything your Imagination is throwing into reality, create and share it with the World! Everyday! Even if it's a doodle or a journal entry or a hug. Make it count!

Art comes in many forms and all you need is one fan of your work. It's best if you are the first most avid one. Love yourself! Love everyone! Love shortcomings more than assets, they're far more interesting and universal.

Philosophy of Imagination*Thirty Six

I struggle with a lot. A lot. But one of my biggest issues is listening. I am so packed full of opinions, I can't wait to interject or give advice, pushing my agenda. Problem is, no one gives a shit, besides me. Why do you think I'm writing these posts? I justify this, because it's written and people can come to my website to read it only if they want to. Otherwise they can ignore me. I'm fine with that. 

I'm certainly not alone in my deficiency. Most of us suck at listening. It really does take practice. A lot of it. I'm good at being quiet while people talk, looking on, attentive, sometimes with my brow knitted or the slow head nod in agreement with what is being spoken, but am I really listening? No. I'm taking it in, but I'm urgent to use my modicum of wisdom to help them solve their problem. 'Here's what you should do...' Bullshit. I'm making them my audience.

Have you ever cleared your mind, leaned in and only, really, truly just listened? Until a week ago, my answer was 'no'. Big, granite sculpted 'no'. But I've been trying to be aware. Cognizant. Clear-mind. No retorts or opinions on deck. Listening. It is crazy how much more you can absorb. It lands and feels different. So weird! But it is hard to remember to do all the time. I'm gonna keep working on it.

Listening is another key to growing your Imagination. Listening, empathy and Imagination are aligned. To really know people, to Imagine yourself in their shoes, to empathize, you have to listen like that. Forget yourself for a few minutes and listen. You're with yourself all the time. You have the floor for 24 hours out of the 24 hour day. You can handle sharing it for an hour or so every day. 

One of my favorite quotes ever is;
'You can't say anything you don't already know.' -- Unknown

Listen. Be curious. Expand your mind and Imagination. We are pliable. Nothing is certain, it's our best guess. Take in all the information you can, from both sides and think about it. Turn it over, look at it from every angle. We should be proud that we change our minds. That's evolution. Growing and maturing. Those are the people that survive. People who are stuck in their ways, will stay stuck, like mammoths in the tar. Not many mammoths around any more.

Truly listen. Erase you for a minute and listen. 

Philosophy of Imagination*Thirty

How do you capture someone's Imagination? Is it capturing? Or is it a stimulant? It starts first with being in touch with yourself. Being so good, that you can crawl inside your own skin and having all the tools to navigate anywhere you wanna go. You have topographic maps of your brain and heart and soul and the Moral Compass. But if your Imagination is fantastic, you don't need any of the gear to find every part of your being. Snap your fingers and you're there. Every place you go you love, even if it's long buried shame and guilt. You love that, too, because it's part of you. It made you you. Embrace it all. Fear nothing. 

You get there and your Imagination has so much more time to explore and concern itself with so many other things. It can take flight, no longer weighed down by self doubt and fear and anger. You shed your shell and fly into the infinite. There you will find the extraordinary and it's all yours. It will manifest itself in confidence, possibly even charisma. That is the ability, The Force, the Super Power to capture Imaginations. But it is not capturing. Imaginations are too fast and we can only see our own, unless the person uses art or kindness to show you their true inner selves. Imagination is quick. It's hard to catch, even when it's your own and no outsider is capable of it. 

When we say 'capturing Imagination', what is really happening is that a person with an amazing Imagination/confidence/charisma (this could be you if it's not already) has a dream/vision/plan/art that is so powerful and resonant, it transports you to the same Imagination place within your own mind. Like when you look at a painting hanging in a museum, or reading a spectacular novel, or watching an amazing movie, or listening to a speech or someone tell an awesome story. Your Imagination springs to life and begins to whir. Therefore, it's not so much capturing, which we discussed is impossible, but stimulating and growing the Imagination of the listeners and onlookers. 

Know yourself. Love yourself--even all the dog shit and ugliness that's congealed and buried in us all. Love it all! You're beautiful. Then you will unleash the full potential of your Imagination and it will stimulate others to do the same. We are well short on Dreamers and Imagineers and we need all of you to keep the lights on bright.

Imagine! Dream! Share yourself with the World--especially the buried you, the one even you haven't seen maybe ever and share it with the World!

You're awesome! Pass it on!

Philosophy of Imagination*Twenty Seven

You're amazing. We know that. Sure, you can occasionally be rude, dismissive, judgmental, petty, caddy, fussy, whiny, obsessive, manipulative, cold, bitchy, an asshole, lame, dumb, unpleasant, smelly, old, loud, annoying, obnoxious, stupid, moronic, unrealistic, vapid, vitriolic, bombastic, quiet, self-centered, egotistical, narcissistic, clumsy, hacky, copy cat, clingy, needy, co-dependent, angry, violent, racist, stereotyper, ugly, gross, greasy, unctuous, overbearing, hamfisted, pussy-footed, scared, frightened, cloying, mendacious, dick, pussy, fuckhead, fuckwad, prick, prat, dipshit, cock, bollocks, hermit, non-communicative, introvert, extrovert, slow, too fast, insufferable and a nincompoop. You're never these things for long. Fleeting bursts of obnoxious. Usually, you're a beautiful human being.

All other people are occasionally rude, dismissive, judgmental, petty, caddy, fussy, whiny, obsessive, manipulative, cold, bitchy, an asshole, lame, dumb, unpleasant, smelly, old, loud, annoying, obnoxious, stupid, moronic, unrealistic, vapid, vitriolic, bombastic, quiet, self-centered, egotistical, narcissistic, clumsy, hacky, copy cat, clingy, needy, co-dependent, angry, violent, racist, stereotyper, ugly, gross, greasy, unctuous, overbearing, hamfisted, pussy-footed, scared, frightened, cloying, mendacious, dick, pussy, fuckhead, fuckwad, prick, prat, dipshit, cock, bollocks, hermit, non-communicative, introvert, extrovert, slow, fast, insufferable and a nincompoop. Other people are never these things for long. Fleeting bursts of obnoxious. Usually, they're beautiful human beings.

If we can recognize this and forgive ourselves and others for their foibles and missteps, then we can know true empathy. If we can learn to see it all the time, then we won't get angry at ourselves or others, because they (and you) are doing the best that they can.

If we can do that, Imagine ourselves in all people and things, see you in them, then our World will immediately become more beautiful. Empathy needs a great Imagination. Practice Imagining. Practice always and like  magic, everything is you -- Amazing!!!

Philosophy of Imagination*Twenty Four

Let us Imagine that all particles, even the smallest tiny ones (Higgs-Boson, Neutrino, Tachyon and so many others that we haven't found or perceived of yet) all have memory. They all know where they are now and where they have been, but like us, have no idea where they're going. If they have memory, then they also have Imagination and so at some level, conscious, subconscious or something else, they have a desire to be somewhere desirable in their future. With memory and Imagination, even a single particle, the smallest we can conceive of, has dreams.

Like people and everything else in the Universe, it has dark and light, the two forces wrestling for dominance in any Universal body, from macro to quantum. The particles memory keeps track of this ebb and flow and is drawn to other like particles. That is the Imagination/gravity of the particle at work. They don't have complete control and so there is plenty of randomness and particles hitting everything that comes in their way, even if that particle wanted to run into other light-dominated particles, often it runs into a dark body of particles and it will do its best to turn the others it runs afoul of, into light. Same goes for the dark particles. It's the back and forth, the yin and yang, the good and the bad, the ebb and flow, the highs and lows that make up life and the Universe. 

All of these particles are flying around in every direction in our Universe. Running in to each other, some times bouncing off, sometimes being absorbed by a large body of particles, sometimes being broken apart into smaller particles. They are always moving, always flowing and always becoming part of something else. 

One day a particle may be part of a camel, the next day it's sand, the next day it's more sand -- there's a lotta sand in deserts -- then two years from then it's a man in China, then ten years from then it's a fish in the Atlantic, then a 100 years from then it's rock in Amsterdam, then six days from then it's a spoon in Luxembourg and on and on and on into the Infinite.

Eventually, all particles become everyone and everything else and everything is connected. We are the Universe. We are Imagination. We are a camel. Everything we do, does effect everything else in the Universe. You matter very much. You have a hand in everything, whether you like it or not.

This does not mean you have to be an amalgam lump. Or that you have to do what others are doing, or believing or saying. Be yourself. That is very important. Your unique Imagination is what will continue to make the World great! Do whatever you want, as long as it doesn't hurt anyone else, or impede with someone else's self being. Keep yourself light. Don't let the darkness extinguish your beauty. Do that and you will help the Universe survive. Live a good life and you will make the entire Universe a better place for everyone, now and for Infinity. 

Particles are swirling and flowing and smashing into each other always, they become you and me and oceans and your friends and your enemies and then you again. Send as many particles back out into the Universe with as much light and Imagination as you can pack into them!

Philosophy of Imagination*Twenty Three

You only have to know one thing. One absolute truth. It is the seed, the seed that will grow into your love and beauty and happiness and knowledge and experience -- I could go on 'and-ing' forever, because that seed will make everything better. You have to know for sure, it must be unshakeable, a truth that is never lost, no matter how many naysayers and assholes and rules say 'no'. You must hang on to this 'SEED OF ABSOLUTE TRUTH'. Forever.

Everyone has an Imagination. No one can see or steal or corrupt it in any way. It is safe and sound. It is your seed and it is impossible to steal or destroy (even after you're dead and gone). Your Imagination is powerful and allows you to do anything you want. Whatever you can Imagine, you can make happen. That's it!

Albert Einstein said 'Imagination is more important than knowledge.' I agree, but I would go further. 'Imagination is more important than everything.' it is where everything lives and grows. It is love, feelings, fun, laughter, music--I'm and-ing again. So, with that said...

The only truth you absolutely need in life is that YOU/YOUR IMAGINATION allows you to do anything!!! Anything!!! So fucking cool! That is your Seed. Help it grow and you can make a beautiful World for yourself!!! Start with changing your World and when your ready, you will know how to help the rest of the World.

Imagine every day. Imagine yourself swallowing a whole watermelon and spitting the seeds out like a hose. Imagine bouncing up and down a power line. Imagine running and jumping over a mountain and having a chat with a crow on the way down. Imagine being happy every day. Imagine doing what you love for money. Imagine floating in a blue lakeland knowing that your future is love and beauty and happiness. Imagine eating a ice cream cone ten feet tall, that never melts. Imagine everything and your body will follow.

Philosophy of Imagination*Twenty Two

When we are kids, even too young to talk, we begin to express ourselves with art. We draw. We color. We paint. We make crafts. We cut shapes. We make music with pans and sticks. We build with blocks and legos. We use anything at the disposal of our little hands to let the World (but mostly our parents) know what we are all about. Besides crying, it is our first form of communication. Not only does it help us communicate, we also use it to learn about what we don't understand. Expression in its most simple form. These are our Imaginations at work! And as kids, our Imaginations are humming.

Then we begin to grow up. We watch more TV/films/internet videos, play video games and we use our Imaginations less and less. The art continues through grade school, but when we get to junior high, it's an elective. By the time we get to high school, only about 35% of kids are taking any type of artistic class, which includes art, wood shop, playing an instrument, singing in the choir and writing for the school paper. After high school, it drops to less than 10%. Funding for these endeavors is always the first to go. Most don't give a shit that they're taking away one of our most important assets for communication.

Studies have shown that when Imagination and creativity is used often in schools and classrooms, everything gets better. Literally everything! Grades in all subjects. Test scores in all subjects. Attendance. Attention. Behavior. Everything! Art should be the last to go. It's salt! It makes everything better! You would never make food without salt. Everything has salt in it. Even the sweets.

Quitting Imaginative/creative/artistic endeavors is debilitating for everyone. It extends to everything beyond school, too. When we are artistic, everything in life gets better. It's exercising our Imaginations. It's the salt. The elixir for all that ails us, but we use it so infrequently. Most often, we let others entertain us with their Imaginations, which is important, too, but we'll never recognize the importance of it until we do it ourselves. We're losing one of the most important aspects of communication, a highway into the individual Imagination, the greatest destination one can visit.

You wouldn't sew your mouth shut or paint your eyeballs black or stuff your ears with cotton, but that's what we're doing when we don't do anything artistic. We're ignoring one of our senses. The salt! The most sophisticated and complex of all the senses. Where all the other senses come to be made sense of. 

Use your Imagination! Write! Draw! Paint! Play music! Write music! Make films! Sculpt! Cook!(with salt). One of our first and most important forms of communication is being forgotten. Go back down the road to where you through it out, dust it off and make it new again. We're all artists. We just have to do art. It will make everything better!

Philosophy of Imagination*Twenty

We spend a lot of time, most of our time, thinking about what other people are Imagining about us. How we dress. How we look. What job we have. Who are friends are. Where we live. What movies we like. There are no shortage of opinions out there. You could probably call the internet 'Opinion' instead and it would make more logical sense. All this that I'm writing is my opinion on life. It's good in small doses, but almost none of us consume it in small doses. We grow up with social norms that we follow. Our parents have ideas on how we should look, act and behave. Our friends, too. And then we get roped into it, almost from the time we're able to understand the World around us.

All of us have a beautiful, infinite Imagination. One of the only things that's hard for us to imagine is what other people are thinking and Imagining. We can't see their Imagination and never will (we try and give people the best representation through art and action). So why do we spend most of our lives trying to figure it out, when we have our own brilliant Imagination that is aching to be explored. Explore it!

Your reality and how you view the World is different from everyone else's. So quit following their rules and follow your own. Learn about you. Think about you. Be you. And this is not a conceit or egotistical. It doesn't mean you stop helping people or think yourself to be better than those around you. It is simply taking the time to get to know yourself. You'll never understand a fucking thing until you really know and love yourself. Until you set others reality aside and live yours, with no apologies.

I know you're amazing and I've never met you. Now it's your turn to find your own reality and see the amazing light inside of yourself!

Philosophy of Imagination*Eighteen

Where's happy?

Hopefully all of them. Throw a rock and you'll hit happy. Have you ever been to an amazing concert? The band is playing the best song they've ever written, an energy and vitality like it was the first time they played it and crowd is going apeshit like it's the first time they've heard this musical genius!

What is that special feeling that everyone (except maybe the drunk people barfing in the port-potties) is experiencing? That euphoric happiness that is so strong, if a bomb was dropped on top of all of you, everyone would be fine with it. What is that connectedness that makes you lock eyes with a total sweaty stranger three rows down, while you dance and sing the lyrics to each other? Invisible, but palpable. Free, but invaluable. Strong, but fleeting. What makes this happen?

This can be said of all events where groups of people come together to share a joyous experience. Sports, movies, parades. It can also evaporate quickly and leave sad, anxious, angry feelings if something goes wrong. Like when your football team is winning big and the other team slowly comes back and that moment when they take the lead, its as if everyone was struck with depression and insecurities. They always use the term 'the air got sucked out of the stadium'. What is that? What sucks the collective exuberance out of a crowd? 

Imagination. Our Collective Imagination gets condensed, concentrated when we're all together, sharing an experience. Our Imaginations are working together toward a common idea -- how awesome this concert/game is going to continue to be. The best fucking concert ever! That's what the Collective Imagination is doing and it's so powerful, it can suck in everyone. 

If something goes wrong, someone gets hurt, the music stops, your team goes down late in the game, the same Collective Imagination that created the happiness hysteria, turns to Imagining the worst. The ripples encompassing everyone. Is the person gonna die? That might have been the last note my favorite band ever plays? Our season is over.

Overwhelmingly these events stay positive, fueling our happiness and love for each other without a word being spoken. How can we create more events and coming together moments where we tap into the beauty and power of our Collective Imagination? We should have huge coming togethers for no other reason than coming together.

For love alone.

Philosophy of Imagination*Sixteen

In the great movie from 1984, NEVERENDING STORY, Atreju and Falkor go on a quest to save Fantasia. Sounds awesome, right? Because it is! (Although my wife would disagree -- sometimes if you don't see a certain type of movie when you were a kid and there is no nostalgia attached or patience for corniness and bad CGI, no matter how beloved, you'll think it's shit. Mine is HOOK. Sorry Hook fans, I still love you.)

We come to find that it's not a quest to save Fantasia, rather a quest to capture the Imagination of a kid. When the kid realizes that it's him that will save everything, all he needs is that seed of an idea, one particle of light to drop into his own Imagination and he can recreate Fantasia and make it even better than before. One kid's mind can make infinite Worlds. Sounds like that kid might be God? Spoiler, he is not God. He's is just a kid, but armed with his Imagination, he can do anything a God can (we are told that God has all these powers from religions and other sources, Bible, Book of Mormon, etc, but we're still waiting on some actual scientific proof -- I'm sure they'll let us know when they find it -- we'll wait.) If all he needs is an Imagination to have god-like powers, does that make us all gods? No. We shouldn't use the word god, because it implies something to be worshipped. We don't want to worship anyone. That implies that a God is more important or better than everyone else, which is not true. We are all the same. All equal. We all have Imaginations that give us great power, but we must believe in it and ourselves to unleash it. To spread goodness in our own way across the Universe. To express ourselves, to create our Fantasia for the rest of the Universe to enjoy.

It is the Imaginations quest for knowledge, otherwise known as Curiosity. This is the path of our evolution. To seek, to learn, to create a better understanding of the Universe and all the people and things in it. Without that Imagination Quest, we as a species would rot and wither away. First our minds and then our physical bodies. Without the Imaginations Quest/curiosity for knowledge and learning life would be shit. A big pile of shit. Even if you had billions of dollars, could buy anyone or anything that you wanted, if you got a blow job/cunnilingus from a different hot girl/guy every day, if you ate the finest foods for breakfast lunch and dinner, lived in a palace, could drink the day away and do nothing but have unalloyed pleasure day in and day out, if you were without curiosity and new knowledge, you would soon become miserable! Guaranteed.

We need our Imagination Quest to go on living. To be happy and fulfilled. To make a better World for the Imaginations (not gods) that will come after us. You must Quest for Imagination-Knowledge-Happiness, they have to be chased down and caught with great difficulty and hard work.

Vacuos pursuits, greed, idleness and pain are slugs. They chase you and fall into your arms. They have to be asked to leave and when they become belligerent you have to throw them out. Why do we revere what is so easy to attain? Questing for money and stuff. We spend most of our lives in these pursuits. Fuck that quest.

We're gonna be a tribe called Imagination Quest! Showing ourselves and others the beauty that lies on the Quest within!!!

Philosophy of Imagination*Thirteen

I got looking back at my posts so far. I sound like I've never had a problem in the World. That my life has been sunshine, popsicles and rainbows. Like everyone else on this planet, that can't be further from the truth. Happiness is something that has to be worked at and I have worked hard to get happy. Although the gush of good vibes and positivity can seem cloying and obnoxious in abundance, I will make no apologies of it. I am not always happy. Sometimes I'm fucking pissed and sad and lost. My work to make happiness the largest part of my 'Feelings Pie' is what I'm celebrating. Imagination has got me here. No apologies.

Why do we want to be happy? Why is that the feeling that we're all chasing? How do we stay happy? These are questions that we need to answer for ourselves, I'm only hoping to spur thought, to awaken the conscious to think about such things. 

Everyone should be free to do whatever they want -- *as long as it's not hurting anyone else. ANYONE ELSE. The only rule, The Golden Rule. However, if you have never taken a deep dive into yourself and asked yourself a few of the existential questions, you should try it. A deep dive. Deep. A dive where shit starts to get scary and dark, but you don't turn back. I promise, as dark as it may seem, if you keep on diving, it will begin to get light again. More light than you've ever seen. It's beautiful -- there goes my inexhaustible happiness rearing it's smiling head. No apologies.

I hate rules. More than anything. I came up with the three. The only three that I follow. You are free to adopt them, hate them, be ambivalent toward them. That's up to you. I will never stand in the way of what you want to do and neither should anyone else (*as long as you're not hurting anyone). I wanted to share, though. They're pretty awesome.

1. Be good to everyone and everything.       

2. Always be in the now with an eye on the future.

3. Imagine always! Have fun! Create!

That last one kind of sounds like three, but I assure you, Imagination begets fun, which begets creativity. If you've got one you think I've missed, I'd love to hear it and why you think it's important?

Give it a shot. Apply these to all that you do. Be conscious. Dive deep. Unapologetic happiness may start to feel less cloying and obnoxious. Love you all!

Philosophy of Imagination*Twelve

Imagination creates reality.

What was the last thing you Imagined that became reality? How often do you do this? Consciously? Unconsciously? What are the things you Imagine most? 

Imagination happens without us even knowing. We will often subconsciously put ourselves into situations that will help us manifest our Imagination and to help our conscious mind eliminate impediments to creating the reality we desire. Do your best to recognize when you arrive in these situations , so you can take full advantage. Otherwise, you'll have to wait for your subconscious to help you out again and who knows how long that will take. Be in charge of the journey, be in touch with your Imagination and what you want will present itself faster and more often. No thumb twiddling, waiting for it to come.

If you work enough on your Imagination, you will begin to know yourself. As its strength builds, your Imagination starts to break the barrier between the conscious and subconscious mind. Knowing yourself, being truly honest with yourself and loving yourself (all functions of Imagination) will turn the barrier to dust and you will be free. Unencumbered by fear and hate and darkness.

You become the brightest Light. Then you can help others find their Light. And on and on and on, until the World has to squint it's so bright.

Philosophy of Imagination*Eleven

Imagine every day.

Dream every day.

Love everyone every day.

Give every day.

Be you every day.

Imagine how good that will be every day.

Philosophy of Imagination*Ten

Today is V-E Day! Hooray! One of the greatest days in the history of our World. The day before, we were engaged in the biggest war the World has ever seen. People were dying everywhere. The families of soldiers were scared and fearful that their sons and husbands would never come home. Europe was drudging through the idea that their future lay under the thumb of Nazi rule.

Then the next day, that was all wiped away! Everyone could Imagine a big bright beautiful future! Even for Germany and the Nazis. All of that positivity and hope and dreams unleashed upon the Earth by millions of people at once. It had to have been palpable, the song of the collective Imagination rising up and making a rainbow that shown across the whole planet. I bet V-E Day set the record for most fucking in one day?

Propaganda can be a very effective tool in wartime. It can tap in to the darkness of the Imagination and foster feelings of dread and hopelessness. The psychological damage can be much more severe than the physical one. If that hopelessness spurred on by negative propaganda permeates a city or town or country, often times there is no coming back. 

It's best not to listen at all and only see the life in front of you. Keep your spirits up and hope alive for a brighter tomorrow. That spirit is what kept the Allies going. Despite overwhelming odds, they could still envision a great future with their collective Imagination. They were able to defeat an enemy that was unbeatable, because they believed they could do it and they didn't listen to the voices telling them that they were finished.

Recently I was feeling very anxious, angry and scared about our current political climate. Every day there was something in the news that reignited the fire that I had put out the day before. I got so caught up in the propaganda, I was having trouble focusing on anything else. So I quit the news. I haven't read or watched any news in almost two months and I feel amazing! My mind and Imagination are working better than ever! And it allows me to Imagine my World, how I truly see it, not how the news media and advertisers want me to see it. 

We need to think more for ourselves. I didn't realize how much power the media has until I turned them off. It is powerful! They are creating drama and your Imagination (usually the dark side of it) blows it even further out of proportion. We have to think for ourselves. Take back full control of our Imaginations and let it focus on making our lives happier and more fulfilling.

You're Imagination is your own. Make sure you're piloting it.

Philosophy of Imagination*Eight

Cinco de Mayo celebrates the Battle of Puebla, when Napoleon's enormous army tried to invade and were pushed back and defeated by a much smaller, mostly untrained peasant force that was defending their own land and homes. The French had their lives on the line, but the Mexicans had their lives and the lives of their children and their children's children and so on and so on. Not to mention the future of their culture and traditions. Imagining the decimation of their future existence gave these humble people the power to destroy an army that had them outmatched in every capacity, save the size of their Imagination and will. That's fucking beautiful!

Imagination can be the darkness and the light. Most often, the light is where we want to reside, positive Imagination and vision drives us to better place, but Imagining a dark, hateful future can help people see a World in which they are unwilling to live and endure. Imagining that hell, juxtaposed with the bright, happy future that they also Imagined for themselves, gave them the will and the power to win.

Imagining and working and fighting together (like the evolving cyanobacteria) to see and create a better future for all. I'm sure the French were pretty fucking happy to be heading back to their families on the fleeing boats.

You don't need destruction for growth and new life. You don't send out armies to take what you want. You ask people to help. And then you ask them what you can do to help them. That's how the cyanobacteria became a multicellular organism, by working as a collective. As one. And if we ever hope to mature and evolve into something better than we are, then we must do the same.

Cowards create wars and destruction. Heroes end them. Like the amazing people of Puebla!

Philosophy of Imagination

Where did Imagination come from? Why did it come? Did it come all at once? Did the first animal that got Imagination look out into the World it inhabited and say 'I think I can make this a better place', in whatever animal language they spoke? Or did he Imagine saying that to himself? And did it freak him out that his own voice was suddenly in his head? Or did it happen gradually to species of animals? One step at a time as the generations moved down the line of time? It seems that it would have had to come gradually, as the brain is the most complex known thing in our Universe. That it needed time to grow and mature. If you just handed someone/something Imagination (and therefore consciousness as I believe the ability to have a 'me', to know that you exist, to ask questions, to have feelings, to create, to learn is all born of Imagination *which is why it gets capitalized) it would wig them out. They would have no idea of the self and suddenly it's upon them -- they would think they were crazy bananas. But crazy is an abstraction, too. Maybe they would freeze? Their instinct for survival being drowned out by all this amazing Imagination? I believe it came on slow. Like life. Like geology. Like the coalescing of the Galaxies and Solar Systems and Planets. It.                     Takes.                                            A.                                           Long.                                                                                                                      Time. But who were the first animals/beings with full Imaginations? Where they could feel/know a self? Where they could feel emotion? What was the first emotion? Have to be fear? The instinct of survival that just goes. Is Imagination contagious? Are animals like dogs more likely to have Imaginations (or more acute Imaginations) because they're around people more? Is the process of evolution sped up when animals, insects, human beings are around more Imagination? Imagination is everything, but at its core, where Imagination gets its heart and power and kindness is that it looks at the World as it is and says 'I can make this place, this mind, this life better.' 

If we can grow everyone's Imagination, this World will be a better place for everyone.