Mirror Mirror: Does this make my freak ass look big? And something about drums...

"I was looking back to see if you were looking back to see
If I was looking back to see if you were looking back at me."

Jim Ed Brown - Maxine Brown

and:

"I used to live in a room full of mirrors; all I could see was me. I take my spirit and I crash my mirrors, now the whole world is here for me to see."
Jimi Hendrix

and then:

"Anytime I switch to another instrument, I immediately turn it into another kind of drum so that I can understand it better."
Levon Helm

Do you ever feel like a big ass mirror that nobody wants to look into?  When I allow myself to feel cocky, I do.  Other days, I take a humble look at myself in others.  I have two faces.  I can do that.  And I'm okay with both. 

Seriously, when it comes to the journey of a spirit disguised as human...well, I'd be real surprised if it was all about me.  Believe it or not.  Never mind the fact that we live in a world that contradicts itself.  How many self-help books are on your shelf?   Women are forever concerned with self image.  And a self-made man somehow sounds better doesn't it?  Self service anyone? 

But whatever you do, don't be selfish.

Forgive me, but there's some serious cosmic humor in being told you're self-centered and oh, by the way, people are mirrors.  Interesting.

Sooooo...it's not about me?  Well, pooh.  Is it about you? 

Maybe it's about us, them, this, that, those people over there?  How about we're all connected in one way or another and, depending on what we need to look at in our SELVES, the energetic cords that connect us will be a comfortable country mile long...or, snap!...in your face? 

Sometimes the cords are more like handcuffs, but only in extreme cases of attachment.

And some connections are like bungee cords, bouncing back and forth until the motion stops.  Either someone dared you to take that jump, pushed you or your horoscope that day gave you a thumbs up for taking a risk.  Regardless, you're not likely to take up bungee jumping on a daily basis unless you enjoy feeling dizzy, disoriented and uncertain. Strange karma anyone?

Moving along, someone once told me I was a freak magnet.  And someone recently told me that I would attract weird no matter what.  Sooooooo...if people are mirrors?  Anyway, both messengers are drummers.  What's that about?  Coincidence or not, if it's about me then I've decided to embrace my inner freak and learn to play drums...which I've wanted to do for a long time anyway.  Not so weird, actually.

Drums are the heart and soul of a band as far as I'm concerned, and here's why:  If you're a card-carrying member of the "spiritual community," when was the last time you were invited to a bass guitar circle? Or a harmonica circle? A lead guitar circle?  In my experience, never.  But please let me know if there is such a thing.  You might attend a spiritual gathering that involves singing bowls or Native American flute, or (my least favorite) hugging trees, but if there's a circle involved there will be drums.  There could even be fire and naked people.  But again, there will be drums because the language of rhythm transcends normal communication boundaries and the drum circle is the space provided where "hum drum" finds inner rhythm. 

Even better, when a circle becomes one inner rhythm.  I've always felt a strong energetic connection to the Ethiopian community.  Just thinking about the people, the music, the food puts a natural smile on my face.  The first time I attended an Ethiopian celebration, I was a spec of white in a sea of darkness...but when the ladies formed a circle and "Momma Mulu" called me with her drum and I stepped into that circle...wow, just wow.  I was laughing at my clumsiness.  The little girls were laughing with me.  And then something else took the place of my clumsiness.  I felt it in an instant.  It was the rhythm of my heart flowing into the rhythm of the drum and all the women in that circle.  We were connected.  We were as one.  That may very well be the only moment in my life, thus far, that I have truly felt that sense of oneness.  That is my definition of world peace...dancing to the rhythm of one heart, one drum.

It's also important to dance to the beat of your own inner drummer.  Makes life interesting. 

Meanwhile, I'll be practicing...got my sticks, got my pad (less offensive to the neighbors when you're in the "I suck at this phase") and the first thing my Ruby Lou self wants to put a beat to when I don't suck too bad is this - who doesn't love Rick James? - because it sounds easy:



Kimmy Sue is stupid enough to think this is possible:

Uh, maybe not. 

This concludes the first quarter of one soul's journey in the year 2012.  I'm a good student, I think, but if you look in the mirror I might also be a good teacher.

As for me and my big freak ass?  You can kick it, kiss it, sniff it or spank it...it's all good!

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Elementally Speaking: What's Your Sign?

"Fire, water...air and dirt...fucking magnets...how do they work?"

Insane Clown Posse

Quoting Insane Clown Posse again was not intentional, I swear.  They're just so fucking brilliant!  This blog will not be...but you'll laugh! 

So, my friend Isa, another Leo/fire sign, and I got together for some Little G Weevil at Blind Willie's.  Of course we sat up front, because the pedestals - I mean bar stools - were too far away from the action.  And of course we were loud.  That's just how it is.  Photo session with Little G?  Absolutely!  Hair?  Fabulous!  Fabulous meaning somewhere between don't fuck with me and just got laid.  Seriously, when it comes to Leos, if you don't know what you're doing...don't touch the hair!  Just get it over with.

The only thing missing was a couple of scorpions lurking in the background. 

For some reason, I'm hearing Cheech and Chong, although they are totally not Scorpios...but for the purposes of this blog, my Scorpios will have hippie Mexican accents.  No offense to either Scorpios or Mexicans.

Scorpio Cheech:  Duuuuude...this water is cold, it's fucking freezing in here!

Scorpio Chong:  Keep it down man, keep it down!  Smell that?

Scorpio Cheech (sniffing):  Ohhhhh...dude...is that what I think it is?!

Scorpio Chong:  Shhhhhhhhhh!  Siiiii...it is fire...and not just any fire...it is the...

Unison:  Jungle Boogie!  Score!  Shhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh....

Scorpio Chong:  Yeah man, those bitches can hear a hyena fart two jungles away.

Scorpio Cheech:  So what's the plan? 

Scorpio Chong:  We have to study this situation...one false move and they'll eat us for breakfast.

Okay...SCENE!

This isn't complicated.  When it comes to elements, fire and water are very predictable.  Actually, fire is  more predictable...but both are strong forces of nature.  Both have the power to destroy everything in its path.  

Like this:

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Or like this:

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Either way, you're going to lose the house.  Indeed.  This pairing falls into the category of "hot mess." 

And if you look at what's going on in the world today (or, for that matter, at any time) the struggle between these two elements is obvious. The quest for fire and the need to control it will never cease.  The need for water is obvious.  This is why Leos and Scorpios, fire and water, are such natural magnets.  They need each other.  And while there's an inherent struggle for power that plays out really well in some ways, finding balance in other ways is very tricky. 

Between the two of us, Isa and I have five Scorpio ex-husbands.  We'd be good candidates for cosmetic surgeons specializing in the removal of scorpion ass sting scars.  Apparently, her ass has room for a few more because she has a date with one tonight.  Please join me in prayer. 

Seriously, my last Scorpio husband stung my ass good.  His need to control my fire was so great that I had one tiny little flame left in the end.  Fortunately, it was enough heat to slowly bring me back to the surface of those dark, murky waters.  I had to crawl back to the jungle.  Needless to say, my hair was a mess.  It took years to comb that shit out!

So.  Fire and Water.  Steam heat on a good day.  Sauna in hell the next.  Completely drowning is a possibility as well.

Have you ever tried fire and fire?  Yeah.  I had the brilliant idea to marry another Leo.  Talk about the blind leading the blind.  No kidding.  Every bad habit you have, latent or otherwise, will join forces in a blaze of glory.  This is when all hell breaks loose.  You don't need flood insurance.  And this pairing falls into the category of "fucking stupid."

It looks like this:

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I'm not well versed in any of this, but I'm capable of decent general analogies.  Air and dirt?  I'm guessing the worst case scenario is this:

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Since I'm not a meteorologist, I won't attempt to elaborate on the many variations.  There's mudslides, earthquakes, tornadoes, hurricanes...yadayadayada.  It's all about control.

In a perfect world, the elements find harmony.  It looks something like this:

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Nice!  Not too windy.  Probably not humid.  I'd save a fortune on hairspray!

Whatever your element, BE IN IT!  Claim it, own it and share it where needed...but don't ever give it away or let anyone steal it. 

Rather simplifies the whole concept of think globally, act locally doesn't it?

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