Freedom

Many people want freedom without realising a simple thing. 

Pure freedom means freedom from your wishes and inclinations as well. Pure freedom means doing senseless things, because once something has a reason to be done, it's tied up by that reason and thus 'not free'. 

For me, freedom is doing something that rings true to my nature, not doing random things. Going to work when it's time to go, going to bed when I'm tired, eating things that agree with my body are my freedom. 

Building my world pt 2 - being selective

My world can't contain everything. I need to let in only the things and people I want to stay.

Things/people I don't let into my world:

- books/TV programmes on topics I don't want in my life (prison life, famous maniacs/criminals and celebrities in general, etc.)

- things I'll never use/won't use in the nearest future

- things I'll never wear/won't wear in the nearest future

- people who have worlds conflicting with mine

- 'materialistic' anything

- people and things that are essentially 'bad' (guns, drugs, criminals, etc.)

Beading ideas - Regions and Eras

1. Ancient Egypt

2. India

3. Africa

4. Middle Ages

5. Ukraine

6. Fantasy
7. Sci-Fi
8. Vintage
9. Native American

Limitations to overcome (general)

1. Fear of change
2. Distrusting myself
3. Distrusting other people
4. Lack of free energy

1, 2, and 3 are overcome by getting knowledge and careful observation. This way, I build trust in myself and people who are worth it, and I get rid of the fear of change by learning the new ways.

4 is overcome by physical exercises + meditation.

Getting to the bottom of my self

My inner world is like an old well. Moss covers its walls, and the water is shallow and dirty. I need to get to the bottom of my self to make it clean again.

Three inches down from the belly-button. Breathe in, breathe out, nothing else.

A system that works

A self-improvement system that works must:

- improve your health
- improve your finances
- improve your physical and emotional environment
- make you happy, energetic and willing to live

If any of these doesn't happen, the system doesn't work.

Biodiversity of the human species

All kinds of humans exist, good and bad, intelligent and stupid, moral and immoral. Every person is a unique mix of different qualities. Every person contributes something to the Universe. 

Thus, 'bad' people can't be removed from the world without ruining the subtle balance.

The insatiable hunger

- Learn everything you can, every day. 

- Analyse, compare, draw conclusions. 

- Watch and remember every moment. 

- Filter out only the things you definitely don't want in your world, after careful and conscious consideration.

- Don't filter out the things you don't know anything/much about. Use your own discretion to see if they are safe to explore.

- Never give up learning.

The simple prayer

Here's a simple prayer to the Universe if you have a problem you can't solve. Note: if it's something you can solve, you should do that. You can still ask for support and help, though.

The simple prayer:

1. Think of a problem you have
2. Keep your palms together
3. Feel your problem flow in between your hands
4. Wish for the problem's solution in general terms or a concrete way
5. Separate your palms, let it go
6. Don't think about it anymore

Talking to trees

Friendship with trees is very rewarding. I can learn many things from trees, and it broadens my prospective about life and the Universe in general.

*Choose a tree I find attractive
*Talk with my heart, not with words
*Watch the tree change with season
*Feel the tree as part of me, and feel myself as part of the tree
*Humble myself in front of the magnificent world around me
*Tell the tree about my problems and see them vanish
*Share my happiness with the tree
*Ask for the tree's advice and support

Surround myself with nature

Nature is beautiful because everything in nature is alive, including water and stones. Also, nature doesn't follow limited aesthetic ideals of humans, for instance, those who plan and design gardens. In nature, every creature follows their own path, and that makes nature a unique and limitless source of inspiration.

Surround myself with nature in urban areas:

- walk through a park whenever I can
- stop and touch trees
- watch birds and other animals
- smell flowers
- look for edible berries (use caution!)
- make friends with trees
- go out of urban areas as often as possible
- grow plants indoors
- keep pets

Divination and interpretation

Success of divination is not in the chosen system (Tarot, runes, I-Ching...). It's in the interpretation. That's why you can predict future using just about anything.

When you see a sign and perceive it as such, you interpret it in terms of what's most relevant to you right now, regardless of whether you recognize it consciously or not.

Divination works especially well when you don't recognize/do fool yourself about certain aspects of your life. Interpretation makes you totally sincere with yourself.

Things I've learnt from cats

The main thing: Everything is made to match its purpose, every single cell of it. Eyes, a nose and whiskers are at the front - to investigate. Vital organs are in the middle - to be protected all the way round. There are four paws and a tail - to keep perfect balance.

Other things I've learnt from cats:

1. To walk quietly and graciously.

2. To love and forgive unconditionally.

3. To pay attention to detail.

4. To slow down and watch.
5. To be patient.
6. Purposefulness doesn't have to kill beauty.
7. To accept loss.

Divination and the power of now

You can predict your future by looking at your past and present. If you don't change anything this moment, your future will reflect your past and your present. To really change your future, you need to look at the present.

That's how divination works. Don't ask questions about your future, ask questions about your present.

Languages as association games

Etymology is a science revealing associations. Very basic, concrete words are easy to name, while words denoting more abstract or constructed things are often named by association from concrete, easy to understand words.

In English, pen = "writing implement," c.1300, from O.Fr. penne "quill pen, feather," from L. penna "feather," from PIE *petna-, suffixed form of root *pet- "to rush, fly" (source).

In Russian, pen (ручка) is diminutive from 'рука' (hand, arm) making it something like 'a small hand/arm'.

This way, languages = idea pools/association ranges

Language wish list

- Old English
- Scottish Gaelic
- Coptic
- Icelandic
- Chinese
- Finnish
- Dutch

Curiosity

Curiosity rover still at the lab

Happy landing to NASA Curiosity rover!!!

http://mars.jpl.nasa.gov/

Sources of inspiration

- watching the nature/animals
- watching programmes about other countries/cultures
- listening to various music
- watching people in everyday situations (including film)
- travelling
- browsing through random reading/watching
- browsing through random languages

Composing poetry

Poetry has rhythm like music. If I have a certain rhythmic phrase on my mind, it's very easy to add words to it.

Usually, a poem begins with a beautiful first line. The other lines come naturally once the first one has been caught.

How to learn a new language

1. Set a clear, motivating goal
2. Learn it for fun, every day
3. Watch and read everything I can in that language (random)
4. Dive into the culture
5. Write and speak the language, even to myself
6. Learn songs in the language
7. Watch soaps
8. Read articles and interesting books

Perfectly fitting shoes

Even perfectly fitting shoes rub sore at first. What about unfitting ones?


Even perfectly matching people have disagreements at first. What about mismatching ones?

Talent

Talent = passion + skill + practice

But passion comes first.

Learning excellence

1. Watch a master do it
2. Imitate + learn the skills
3. Apply the skills to your own ideas

Building my world pt 1 - cleaning up the mess

Things:

- clothes I don't wear
- food supplies I'll never use
- books I won't read/reread
- stationery I don't like/won't use
- things that have lost their sentimental value
- any other old, unused things

Emotions/Thoughts:

- old offenses

- old infatuations

- memories of unpleasant incidents (except the learnt lessons)

- worries about the future

- worries about other people's opinions of me

No limitations

Limitations exist only in my brain. All I have to do is get rid of the illusion I can't do this. Some illusions are more persistent than other, but then again I can't do everything without losing my unique nature.

1. Identify my dream.
2. Get rid of the illusion hindering its achievement:
    - Invent my law of nature
    - Allow myself to want this particular thing
    - Find examples of other people

Lucky charms and the power of prayer

I always get what I believe I'll get. Sometimes, when the pressure's too high, I get the opposite. Hence:

1. Always assume what I want it to be.

2. Let it go, don't insist on it. The Universe will do the rest.

My dreams

1. Making my music

2. Learning new languages

3. Making new friends

4. Exploring the world

5. Making the world around me greener and more magical

6. Exploring the spiritual