Poem: Despair's Waltz

Despair's Waltz

This sickening waltz

resides in my skin

a twist of dreams and shadow

Dance 

upon the fog

I am the shadow

Haunted in dreams

This moving melody 

filled with anguish

Dance

upon the echoes

A maddening symphony

Consumed with illusions

This orchestration consumes

these fractured dreams

Dance

upon the souls

Sleep embraces

this surreal masquerade

a wretched hallucination

of feverish delusion

Dance

upon the night

A vortex of madness

Encompassing light

Revealing secrets

The end of whispers

Dance

upon the curse

Dance

the waltz of despair

©Charisse Van Horn 2023

Why Greta Van Fleet Should Get a Free Pass for Sounding Like Led Zeppelin, Robert Plant, Jimmy Page, Rush, Yes and More

If you've ever heard Greta Van Fleet, you've probably heard the comparisons to seventies rock bands such as Led Zeppelin, Rush, and Yes. Some people are discrediting the band due to the comparisons they've made. I feel that this band should get a free pass for echoing the hallowed saints of rockdom, quite noticeably, Robert Plant and Jimmy Page. Hell, even Robert Plant stated during an interview the band WAS Led Zeppelin I. But before you write off Greta Van Fleet as some sort of Grammy-winning cover band, I want to point something out.

Greta Van Fleet features twin brothers Josh and Jake Kiszka, their younger brother Sam Kiszka, and their friend and bandmate Danny Wagner. First, it must be stated that Josh and Jake Kiszka were a whopping 16 years old when they formed their band. Little brother Sam was only 13 years old. 

When they released their first song 'Highway Tune' with former drummer Kyle Hauck (before Danny Wagner replaced him) Josh and Jake were 17. The song was used for the series Shameless and when it was released as the band's first single on April 2, 2017, the twins were just turning 21 years old. 

It's only natural that their influences would weigh heavily on their sound and as they grow, and have more experiences, their sound will also grow and evolve. 

There's no question that Greta Van Fleet's influences are identifiable in each of their songs but this is true of many artists. 

Greta Van Fleet writes their own songs and anyone who challenges Josh Kiszka's voice as being on par with the rock and roll greats including Robert Plant, Freddie Mercury, Geddy Lee, Jon Anderson, and Bruce Dickinson is hearing impaired. 

If it weren't for Josh Kiszka's voice drawing comparisons to classic rock bands, his twin brother Jake's lead guitar playing would be enough to keep the complainers full of gripes. Jake's heavy guitar riffs are comparable to those of Jimmy Page and Pete Townsend. Sam Kiszka rocks out on the bass and even drummer Danny Wagner is often compared to Led Zeppelin's John Bonham.

Middle Eight asked the question if Greta Van Fleet sounds 'too much' like Led Zeppelin and over 12,000 people shared comments weighing in on the subject. 

Some have praised the band for keeping the spirit of classic rock alive and doing so in a way that is relevant to today's generation.

Check out Greta Van Fleet's 'Meeting the Master' in the video player below.

Greta Van Fleet 'Meeting the Master'

Greta Van Fleet is a psychedelic, bluesy caravan that magically transports you to the dynamic sound of the 70s. Their prowess is homage to the classic rock gods of old, but make no mistake, this is a modern band, crafting a modern sound.

With their new album "Starcatcher" out on July 21, 2023, their meteoric rise to fame is sure to hit new heights.

Are you going for the ride?

Meditation's Reset Button: How To Restart Your Life

Have you ever wished you could reset your life? You know, just put a stop to everything that has brought you to this present moment, push a magic button, and start again. Would you be surprised if I told you that you can? Unfortunately, there isn't a magic button to push, but you can reset and restart your life through the power of meditation.

The saying is: As a man thinketh; so is he... and there is 100 percent truth in this philosophy. Your present circumstances and situation is a manifestation of what you thought and meditated on in the past. Your thoughts either led to actions or your decision to remain inactive, but either way, you are where you are now, because of the choices you made in the past.

If you want to restart your life, you need to think differently...like right now...and then make choices based on your new viewpoint. Only then will you find in the future that your new way of thinking manifested your new life!

It's so easy to forget that we are spiritual beings having an earthly experience. Our lives are fast-paced and many of us can't even find time to slow down and breathe. Everything is fast... in fact, many call this the microwave generation. It's no wonder that our modern society has resulted in people feeling stressed out and overwhelmed.

Anxiety disorders are widespread and many people have a deep longing to reset and recharge, yet never do.

Meditation is the best way that everyone can take time out of the hustle and bustle of everyday life and restart their life.

Meditation is an ancient practice that is backed by science. It will help you cultivate inner peace, and tranquility, and redirect your focus on the places where you want to put it. No longer will life grab a hold of you and take you on a journey. Instead, with meditation, you are given the tools to lead your life and move it in the direction you want to go.

Remember, your future is determined by the actions you take today, and where you put your mind or thoughts, action will follow. (check out my article on Fractal Flowers 'How Energy Follows Thoughts Connects to Positive Thinking) Willie Nelson released a song about this ancient philosophy that is the secret of manifesting the life you want that is in accordance with your higher will and for the greatest good of all.

When you spend quiet time in meditation, bringing awareness and attention on your breath (or a mantra or object of your choosing) you quiet the mind and create an atmosphere to connect with Spirit for your greatest good. 

Not only does meditation help your physical well-being, but it is also healthy for your emotional and spiritual health. 

Meditation can help you with your focus and concentration. These skills are imperative for restarting and resetting your life. If you want to set goals and achieve them, you need to focus your energy in the most constructive way. Meditation is key for creating attainable goals that will help you manifest your dreams.

Meditation can help with emotional intelligence by helping you turn your attention inward so that you can focus on self-awareness. Being able to simply sit in your own energy and power is often the catalyst needed to reset and restart your life.

Here are some benefits you can achieve from meditating on a regular basis.

Meditation Benefits

1. Reduce Stress and Anxiety: One of the main benefits of meditation is its ability to reduce stress and anxiety. By focusing your attention on your breath or a specific object, you can quiet your mind and calm your nervous system. This can help you feel more relaxed and less anxious, allowing you to approach life's challenges with greater ease and clarity. 

2. Improve Sleep: Meditation has been shown to improve sleep quality and reduce insomnia. By practicing meditation before bed, you can calm your mind and body, making it easier to fall asleep and stay asleep throughout the night.

3. Increase Self-Awareness: Meditation can help you become more aware of your thoughts, feelings, and emotions. By observing your thoughts without judgment, you can gain insight into your patterns of thinking and behavior. This can help you identify areas of your life that may need attention and make positive changes. 

4. Boost Creativity and Productivity: Meditation can help improve focus and concentration, which can boost creativity and productivity. By quieting your mind and reducing distractions, you can tap into your inner creativity and find new solutions to problems.

5. Promote a Sense of Inner Peace and Well-Being: Meditation can help you cultivate a sense of inner peace and well-being. By connecting with your inner self and finding a sense of calm, you can approach life's challenges with greater ease and grace. 

How to Get Started with Meditation

If you're new to meditation, getting started can seem daunting. Here are some tips to help you get started: 

 1. Start Small: Begin by meditating for just a few minutes each day and gradually increase the length of your sessions as you become more comfortable. 

 2. Find a Quiet Space: Choose a quiet space where you won't be disturbed. You can sit on a cushion or chair, or even lie down if that's more comfortable for you. 

3. Focus on Your Breath: Begin by focusing your attention on your breath. Notice the sensation of the breath as it enters and leaves your body. If your mind wanders, gently bring your attention back to your breath. 

 4. Use a Guided Meditation: If you're having trouble getting started, try using a guided meditation. There are many apps and websites that offer guided meditations for free. 

5. Be Patient: Meditation is a practice, and it takes time and patience to develop. Don't get discouraged if your mind wanders or if you don't feel the benefits right away. Stick with it, and you'll begin to see the benefits over time. 

Conclusion 

Meditation can be a powerful tool for resetting your life and finding a sense of balance and calm. By reducing stress and anxiety, improving sleep, increasing self-awareness, boosting creativity and productivity, and promoting a sense of inner peace and well-being, meditation can help you approach life's challenges with greater ease and clarity. If you're new to meditation, start small and be patient. With practice, you'll begin to see the benefits of this powerful practice.

How To Discover Your Motivation With Meditation (Video)

Here is a Meditation track for those who wish to discover their motivation. If you are following my blog posts on Motivation, Purpose, and Success, then you understand how important meditation is for checking with our inner being and examining our desires.

Our motivation is the result of what our heart's desire is and sometimes, our desires may be focused on the wrong thing.  Through meditation, self-discipline, and by using our willpower we can redirect our desires so they are in alignment with Spirit, our higher selves, and for the good of all. 

With this eight-minute meditation track, you may begin your journey inward to find your motivation and connect with your heart's desire.

 As with any meditation, the intention is key. Set your intention for your meditation work before you begin. This may be a simple statement that you make to yourself, or it could be a prayer that you make to the God of your own understanding.

Before you begin, set your intention that this meditation will connect you with Spirit and your inner being, examine your heart's desire, and align your motivations for the highest will of all according to love. 

 Ask Spirit, your Spirit Guides, your Higher Self, or the God of your own understanding to release the things in you that are not aligned with love, light, and the highest good of all and transmute them into the white light of Spirit that permeates your being, and floods your heart, mind, and desires.

To begin, simply find a comfortable place and close your eyes. Play the video that is operating at 555 Hz and take a deep inhale for a count of four, hold for a count of four, and slowly exhale for a count of six. 

As you fill up your lungs, visualize that you are breathing in life-giving, healing energy from Spirit. Let that energy permeate every cell of your being and visualize it restoring you, strengthening you, refreshing and renewing your very core being.

If you are familiar with chakra work, visualize your inhale breath connecting Spirit to your Crown Chakra and then pulling that energy through the top of your head down into each of your seven energy centers (chakras) where it spins, cleans, restores, expands, washes, purifies, and energizes your spirit, mind, and body.

As you perform the slow exhale to a count of six, visualize everything that is toxic, negative, and unhealthy leaving your body. You may find yourself bringing things to your mind such as past hurts, traumas, painful memories, etc. That's okay. Don't linger on these, just let them go and release them to Spirit. 

If you are adding chakras to your visualization and meditation, on the exhale, visualize yourself pushing the white light of Spirit from your inhale, out into your aura where it is removing the dark, toxic energy and transmuting it into the white light.

Feel free to adjust your meditation any way you like and you may find that on some days, Spirit guides you to stay with a painful memory to work through it. On other days, you may just release it simply and freely.

Listen to the voice of Spirit as you will often be prompted to release healing, and forgiveness, and embrace love throughout your meditation session. 

You may also try visualizing various colors when you inhale and exhale. For instance, on your inhale, you may want to visualize Spirit's energy coming in as bright, white light, a sparkling universe, or a pink glittery pastel, that fills you up and permeates your being. You may begin to spontaneously visualize other colors or even see toxic energy as dark matter that the light consumes like an enveloping light, a magnet, a fountain that sprays, etc., your mind will individually come up with the imagery for your meditation, and that imagery may change on a day-to-day basis.

How you meditate is very individual and your mind will naturally fall into its own rhythm and present visualizations and images that are tailored specifically to you. Just go with it. Just remember that the focus of this meditation is to get in touch with your inner being and become aware of your heart's desires, or to know what it is that motivates you. 

Keep your intention at the center of your meditation. Begin and end each session by focusing on your intention. If your motivation or desires are in the wrong place, such as focusing on things that aren't healthy and helpful to you, Spirit will bring it to your awareness and you will deal with those issues by bringing them into the light for purification and cleaning. Then release them and let Spirit fill you with love, healing, peace, and joy. 

When you are finished with your meditation, write down what you discovered. Did Spirit reveal to you past hurts, traumas, or areas of unforgiveness? What did you release? How did Spirit appear to you? Did you hear anything in your inner ear? Did you see anything in your third eye? Write it all down and keep a daily journal of all insights you've obtained.  

You may begin the meditation video below and stay here in the blog, or watch it on YouTube.

 

What's Your Motivation?

In my previous post, What is Motivation? I gave a summarized opinion of my view on the topic. It boils down to the mind/heart connection and your desire. We are spiritual beings temporarily living in a human body and what are heart desires will motivate our mind to make the choices we take. When the mind/heart connection is weak, or if the desire itself is negative, we may become motivated to make unhealthy choices. 

Addictions may form when there is a break in the mind/body/spirit connection. This can occur after a tragedy, trauma, or even a genetic disposition. To overcome addictions, one must first repair and rebuild the connection between mind/body/spirit while continually assessing your desires. 

Some people are addicted to drugs due to a break that occurred in their mind/body/spirit connection. The break was never healed and trauma set in. There may have been underlying reasons why someone "became" an alcoholic and those reasons could be that they have a genetic disposition towards alcoholism (granddaddy was an alcoholic, daddy was an alcoholic, etc.) or it may be learned behavior. However, when the mind and body take on a chemical substance to numb or suppress traumas that impact the spirit, the results are simple: bondage.

No one can live a truly free and happy life when they are enslaved to toxic behaviors and live their lives in bondage. This is why I say it is imperative to thoroughly self-review and assess your motivations in life. 

I think we should "check ourselves" every day to see why we do the things we do, say the things we say, feel the way we feel, and in a sense, be our own partners in life. Think of this as spiritual house cleaning for your spirit, mind, and body. 

There is a great need for all humans to walk through this life with temperance and self-control, yet for many, this is very hard to achieve. Some people were never raised to temper their own behaviors and instead grew up in environments where the control was so tight, once it was released they didn't know how to control themselves.

That's okay. Many of us have gone through this stage, but it's important to realize that you are responsible for your own actions. You are responsible for your own behavior, and checking in with yourself to assess your mind/body/spirit connection is imperative! Human nature is tricky and sometimes we get it right, Yay, Humans! Other times we don't and that can be tricky as well. Sometimes we do the wrong things for the right reasons but let's face it, sometimes we do the wrong things for the wrong reasons too!

And this is why we need to check our motivation.

Here are some questions that I believe we should ask ourselves when checking our motivations.

Are our underlying desires aligned with Spirit (God)? Are they aligned with our Higher Selves? Are they aligned with love? Are they aligned with positivity? Are they aligned with mercy? Are they aligned with grace? Are they aligned with compassion? Are they aligned with empathy? Are they aligned with self-sacrifice? Are they aligned with bettering ourselves, our loved ones, those around us, and the planet? 

Another important question to ask ourselves is who will benefit from our motivations? Don't forget, our motivations inspire our actions. If we regularly stop and ask ourselves: 'What's my motivation?' I believe we can identify many pitfalls that ultimately bring us into spiritual, emotional, and even physical bondage.

I also believe that if we self-examine our hearts and find that our motivation is coming from a selfish place, we can actively and consciously choose a better path.

If you feel a bit overwhelmed or lost about finding your motivation for something, I'll let you in on a little secret. Shhh, don't tell anyone!

Meditation!

Okay, you can tell.  Everyone should know this one, anyway.

If you want to truly align with your higher self and Spirit and to thoroughly check your heart's desires, start meditating. It's free, healthy, feels good, and is one of the best ways to go within and really listen to what your heart, mind, and spirit are saying. 

Now granted, when we meditate, we do want to let our thoughts drift past and not catch them, and that's fine. You will still do the spiritual preparation work that brings you in tune with your inner being so that you will truly know yourself, your desires, your strengths, and your weaknesses. In turn, Meditation will give you that calm, peaceful, energetic reset button that is the foundation for a happy life. And the beautiful thing about meditation's reset button is that you can freely push it any time you want!

Why not try and meditate right now?

Here is a meditation I created to help you discover your motivation.

Chinese Dramas: My Obsession with Asian Entertainment

I have a new obsession: Chinese dramas. Actually, I'm surprised it took me this long to discover my love for Asian entertainment. Especially after Zhang Yimou's work blew me away in the film House of Flying Daggers. Now, I'm kicking myself for not doing thorough research to fully understand the entire genres that were ready at my disposal. Instead of diving into Wuxia, Xianxia, and other Chinese fantasy dramas,  I simply looked up the cast and director and watched more Yimou Zhang films. I then watched Memoirs of a Geisha (an American movie) but didn't realize there were entire genres of Chinese gems for me to watch.

As an English speaker, I never minded reading subtitles but I slowly reverted back to English-speaking films and lost out on hundreds of beautiful works of art that could have graced my television screens. This all changed when Netflix recommended Alchemy of Souls. I was hooked and binge-watched every episode! The story was so beautiful and it was a very nice change from the blood and gore from many shows that I watch on premium cable (i.e. HBO and Showtime). I watched House of the Dragon in 2022 but found much of the content disturbing if not triggering. 

After Alchemy of Souls, I tried some more South Korean films and television series and then followed another of Netflix's recommendations: everything changed! I binge-watched the series Love Between Fairy and Devil and now my whole life has been rocked.

I couldn't believe the beauty on screen and the story was romantic, yet wholesome and innocent. I guess Chinese censorship has its advantages, eh?

After Love Between Fairy and Devil, I searched for Chinese dramas on Netflix, Prime, and Hulu. After my careful research, I decided to ditch two of my premium cable channels for Rakuten Viki and iQIYI (I'm hooked). 

There are over 200 dramas for me to watch and my biggest problem now is budgeting my screen time while resisting the urge to check out the YT and TikTok video edits from my favorite series!

If you've never watched a Chinese drama, I recommend you do so. There is a level of filmmaking in Asian entertainment (I seriously believe Chinese stands above the rest) that is unparalleled. The beauty, the attention to detail, and the plots are just wonderful.

As I continue with my obsession, expect to see more content here about what I'm watching, what Chinese drama is expected to air this year, and maybe a little celebrity news on some of the Chinese and other Asian stars I'm following. 

One of the funniest things that have occurred since diving into the Asian entertainment world, is AI seems to think I'm also Asian!

My Netflix recommendations are now all Asian, I'm getting ads across YouTube that are speaking Chinese, Mandarin, and Korean, and Prime is recommending Asian series to me as well. Don't worry, I'm not going to pull a Gwen Stefani and announce I'm now Chinese!!! Good grief, that was just ridiculous!

Since binge-watching Alchemy of Souls, I haven't watched an American movie or series. At this point, I  have little desire to either. I'm tired of the graphic violence and gratuitous sex scenes just to feed many Americans' need for lust and gore.

The storylines and journeys each character takes during these dramas far surpass what American entertainment is offering.

Here are a few trailers and videos for some of my favorite Asian dramas.

Alchemy of Souls

Love Between Fairy and Devil Trailer

Novoland: Pearl Eclipse (Trailer)

What do you think? Do you watch Chinese dramas and Asian entertainment?

What Is Motivation?

I've been thinking about motivation and where it comes from and how we lose it. Motivation is a word that is used throughout our lives to describe everything from mundane to meaningful events. To sum it up, motivation is the reason someone does a thing. What I've been contemplating are the reasons people lose their motivation and how they can get it back.

Looking at motivation from a philosophical point of view, I've even wondered if I could sum up depression and suicide ideation as someone losing their motivation to live. Often when someone suffers from clinical depression, one symptom is they no longer take interest in things that used to make them happy (activities, hobbies, spending time with friends, and so forth) and I think you could even say they have lost their motivation to enjoy life and simply give up. Please let me know in the comments if you disagree with this. And if anyone reading this is dealing with thoughts of suicide, please call 911 or your local suicide hotline for help. The National Suicide Hotline is now 988 and you can call that number for help. https://988lifeline.org/

We often describe lazy people as having no motivation. The definition of lazy is "unwilling to work or use energy." It takes energy to be motivated, but where does that energy come from? If we could all tap into an unlimited source of energy would we find greater motivation to succeed or are a lack of energy and a lack of motivation actually two different things? For instance, could a person actually have the energy to succeed, but simply not the motivation therefore they choose not to succeed? 

If everyone has the energy to succeed what is the difference that triggers motivation and causes some to push past their peers and become "highly successful" while others are content to just stay where they are?

Why are some people highly driven towards success and others aren't? Is there something that can increase motivation in those who have little or wish they had more?

Many philosophers, psychologists, and spiritual people have pondered the varied theories regarding motivation and its origins, but today, we will keep things simple. 

As I look over my own life and think about what has motivated me, it was always based on something my heart wanted. For example, when I was younger I used to smoke cigarettes. I had very little motivation to quit, even though there were plenty of logical reasons that made it a good idea. It wasn't until I became pregnant and wanted a healthy baby that I found the motivation to quit.

My health wasn't enough motivation to quit but the health of my unborn baby gave me the drive to quit. This prompted me to reflect upon motivation, will, determination, and drive. It seems the underlying source or willpower to succeed at anything first comes from the mind/heart connection and what you want.

Unfortunately, not everyone is motivated in life to make positive changes. Some people have wrong motives therefore they are motivated to do wrong things. For example, criminals may not have the energy to go out and get a job, work hard throughout their life, be content with their wages, and just live a happy and simple life.

They may have selfish motives and instead of working hard for a good, comfortable, yet simple life, they are motivated to steal, launder money, manipulate or take advantage of others in order to satisfy their own selfish desires.

Let's take a drug addict for example and their "motivation." Many addicts can not maintain a "normal" lifestyle of working hard, saving money, and renting or buying a home. They may have extreme difficulty paying a mobile phone bill from one month to the next. But if they need to get $200 a day to support a habit (or more) they will find the will, the desire, the determination, and the motivation to do whatever it takes to get their next fix.

Is there a way to use the power of your mind to shift or reshape your motivation? Could a person become a high achiever simply by using their mind to retrain their motives and then find the motivation to succeed in a positive manner?

I believe the answer is an emphatic YES!

I also think it is VERY IMPORTANT that every one of us pays close attention to our motives, our desires, our goals, and what we want.

Can the answers to many of humanity's problems be found simply by examining our motivations or motives in life? 

I believe so.

Can we change our behaviors and live better, healthier, and more fulfilling lives simply by examining our motives in life?

Again, I believe so.

Let's begin with a baseline, shall we?

Let's start with the premise that you are on this planet to live a good life. You are not here to suffer, to be in pain, to live in sorrow, lack, poverty, or despair. 

It may seem as if all should easily understand this, but it isn't an easy concept for everyone to grasp. Different cultures, faiths, and generational behaviors have instilled the belief in many that we are on this planet to suffer and then gain some sort of prize in the afterlife. 

As a psychic medium who communes with those who have crossed the veil, I do not believe this is correct.

We are to live our lives on this planet in love and harmony with Spirit, ourselves, each other, animals, and nature. We are to take care of this earth and its creatures and ensure that we leave this plane better than we found it. 

If you have questions about your purpose on this planet, please subscribe and continue following this blog as you will find many discussions on the subject.

No matter what you may believe about yourself right now, I PROMISE you have a purpose. Your purpose is outside of yourself and it is greater than you alone. You are here FOR A PURPOSE and other people are depending on you to make the right choices. Even if you feel alone, I PROMISE YOU that you are connected to others. No matter how alone or isolated you may feel, no one is ever truly alone — not even you! 

I believe that above all else, everyone should have the underlying assurance and what I would call the "motivational seed" that everyone is here for a reason. Everyone has a purpose and everyone is to live a life that is rooted and grounded in love for Spirit, themselves, others, animals, and the planet Earth.

So again, let's ask: "What is motivation?"

Motivation is the underlying reason or cause that prompts you to take action or remain still. 

Once you realize that your life is important, that you matter, that you have a purpose, that you are not here by some ill-fated, mathematical chance but that your spirit willingly came to this lifetime, for this incarnation, for this time and reason, I believe you will find your motivation changes for the better and you will live a life of empowerment, success, and ultimately happiness.

So let's start here. 

What is motivation? It is the force that will propel you to achieve your purpose and fulfill your destiny while on your life's journey.

No matter where you are spiritually, physically, emotionally, or financially it is never too late to course correct and get back on track with Spirit. You are on a journey and you are not alone. It's time to embrace all that Spirit has for you in this lifetime and find your motivation again.

I hope you are excited about your future. You should be.