Saturday, April 7, 2018
Saturday, February 17, 2018
A New Moon and the Promise of Spring
© Susan Marie
You can listen to this being spoken on Soundcloud:
" . . . and I heard trumpets
sound across the Eastern skyline and tilted my chin, upward, to witness
majestic cirrus constellations of sketches of ancient poetry of the pyramids
scrolled upon the backs of my eyelids and felt my spirit shift between
dimensions . . . "
- Susan Marie
There comes a time in
your life, not age, but life experience related, when you are one hundred percent,
beyond any spectrum that requires defining; where you absolutely refuse to
accept anything less than what your divine, beautiful soul needs and deserves.
There are poets, philosophers,
great thinkers and souls of our time; this human race, that have stated these
things profoundly before. Yet, here I am to reiterate those things in a different
fashion because I, too, am an awake, alive soul that wishes to continue forward
and progressing, together.
If the human race is
not ready to come along with me on this rocky, well-trodden, lovely path, well,
I simply continue to walk it alone. You see, you do not have to have anyone with you, although having another
understand your mind, soul, and the scent of your very being is precious, quite priceless and rare, there are no requirements.
I may add, however, my dear soul, please, do not wait for a hand to hold as you
step lightly into this deep forest called life.
Life is a strange and beauteous
adventure. One day I shall write a most
distinguished book full of love and loss, horror and pain, heartbreak and
healing, and absolute divinity, but for now, all I have are my fingers, palms,
hands, heart, soul, mind and my words, on this day, in this moment.
A lovely soul once
wrote:
Ordinarily, I go to the
woods alone, with not a single
friend, for they are all smilers and talkers and therefore
unsuitable.
I don’t really want to be witnessed talking to the catbirds
or hugging the old black oak tree. I have my way of
praying, as you no doubt have yours.
Besides, when I am alone I can become invisible. I can sit
on the top of a dune as motionless as an uprise of weeds,
until the foxes run by unconcerned. I can hear the almost
unhearable sound of the roses singing.
If you have ever gone to the woods with me, I must love
you very much.”
friend, for they are all smilers and talkers and therefore
unsuitable.
I don’t really want to be witnessed talking to the catbirds
or hugging the old black oak tree. I have my way of
praying, as you no doubt have yours.
Besides, when I am alone I can become invisible. I can sit
on the top of a dune as motionless as an uprise of weeds,
until the foxes run by unconcerned. I can hear the almost
unhearable sound of the roses singing.
If you have ever gone to the woods with me, I must love
you very much.”
Indeed.
People ask me to go into the
woods with them and I do not decline due to the person, quite the opposite.
When I am in nature, this is my church, my altar, my prayer, my being, and my
rejuvenation and healing. This is where I talk to my ancestors, the great Gods,
whoever they all are, and when I reconnect with my own being.
The trees, I hug, touch, and listen to what they have to tell me. Deer prance, stopping beside me, peering into my soul to see if I am indeed an animal just as they are or a human that is going to disturb their existence. The crows caw, flying overhead keeping watchful eye and the squirrels and ducks follow me, along with chipmunks and all of the glorious birds flitting among the plants and flora that convey secrets to my ever-accepting heart.
The trees, I hug, touch, and listen to what they have to tell me. Deer prance, stopping beside me, peering into my soul to see if I am indeed an animal just as they are or a human that is going to disturb their existence. The crows caw, flying overhead keeping watchful eye and the squirrels and ducks follow me, along with chipmunks and all of the glorious birds flitting among the plants and flora that convey secrets to my ever-accepting heart.
I walk through woods, water,
cemeteries, grassland and gravel, boulders and dirt, through and up ravines. I
am one with the pulse of this land, of those before us. I am listening to my heart, beat, and my feet; they are roots
pushing deep within fault lines of this planet.
They step, ever so lightly, my feet, in a most
blessed, sacred fashion upon the face of dear Mother Earth, one of mindfulness,
the realization that I am walking upon hallowed ground. Father Sky greets me
with sunshine and clouds, rain and grey skies, snowfall and flakes and as they
fall upon my face, the rain and snow, my spirit is ignited, mythical and volcanic.
If you were standing by me, it
may appear that I am present in this
world. You just might call my name and if I do not answer, know that I am peering
at salamanders, holding in my hands rocks taken from the breast of great bodies
of water and when I tilt my chin upwards know that I am speaking to that which
created all of this.
You see, my dear, the wind in my hair is the touch of a lover.
People, we discard what is
integral to our own existence, to this planet, to the continuation of the human
race and more importantly, we are visitors here. I implore you to get into
nature and simply be quiet. Open your
eyes, look up and into limbs of trees, for they too, are your own arms. Crouch down
low, watch bugs scramble about their day in the dirt, listen to the water for
she has stories to tell and be humbled beyond comprehension when wildlife is present.
Breathe into your powerful human lungs the very
being of the essence of all things our feeble human brains can barely begin
to comprehend.
For those that have gone into
nature with me know that I love you so
very much. For those that have yet to go into nature with me, I look
forward to introducing you to yourself.
“I am restless.
This state of being greets me in
times of immense change.
When I look out at the world, I see both technicolor and black and white, simultaneous.
A world I am fully conscious of, yet
do not completely belong in.
Maybe I am impatient. Maybe I am
growing more enlightened.
Maybe I am simply plain crazy.
All I am sure of is I must keep
stepping forward."
- Susan Marie
© Susan Marie
Thursday, February 15, 2018
Same-Sex Marriage in America
“All
human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights. They are endowed
with reason and conscience and should act towards one another in a spirit of brotherhood.”
(Article
I, The Universal Declaration of Human Rights, 1948).
Sexuality
is defined as the state, condition or quality of being sexual, taking part in sexual
activity and expression of sexual receptivity or
interest. This definition is a factor that all human beings possess regardless
of sexual orientation, gender identification and classification.
Sexuality is a
state of being and an inherent basic need for human beings. Without sexual
activity, relationships falter and needs of individuals are not met. Sexuality
is healthy. It is the recognition that one is human, alive, and comfortable
with self.
Sexuality is an expression of love.
One’s own sexual activity and preference is private to each person. This is not
law or something that neither can nor should be decided by government,
community, religion, family or the public. The birth of each human being
signifies the beginning of a journey towards adulthood where identity is
formed. Part of that identity includes sexuality.
Sexuality is a part of
birthright. It is not a psychological disorder or a state of existing that
needs to be cured. Sexuality, sexual preference and gender identification is how and who a person feels most comfortable being.
“A 57%
majority of Americans now favor allowing same-sex marriage and 39% oppose. As
recently as five years ago, more opposed (48%) same-sex marriage than supported
it (42%).” (Pew Research Center,
2015).
In 2015, the highest
level of support in America towards same-sex marriages has increased in twenty
years, however, there are still Americans divided on this issue. The main
component regarding anti-same-sex marriage is religious law, institution and
belief. The key ingredient for the massive increase in support for same-sex
marriages is due to younger Americans, or millennials.
For
example, my eighteen-year-old son, his friends, colleagues, and students, are
open and accepting regarding one’s choice of sexual preference. This is a
different world than most of us were raised in where religion, society and
politics were absolute.
The majority of millennials envision the human race as
moving forward, progressing, instead of going backwards. Although religion will
always play a factor in deciding lifestyles, it is indeed due to how one is
raised regarding religion and faith that determines opinions regarding basic
human and civil rights and needs of others.
In addition, most Americans now know
someone who is homosexual or lesbian. Due to the shift in opinion, more same-sex
couples feel comfortable in recent years coming out for themselves and with one
another, to their families, workplaces and the public.
In regards
to religious belief and practice, there is nothing wrong with standing by your
faith, however, the prophets, leaders of faith and all holy texts do not teach
hatred, they all embody love. The ideal that religion is about judgment, hatred,
bias and determining how another must and should conduct their private lives is
a societal issue, not a religious one.
There are
numerous pro and con arguments regarding same-sex marriage. For example, basic
pro same-sex marriage attitudes lean towards “Denying
some people the option to marry is discriminatory and creates a second class of
citizens.”
(ProCon.org, 2018).
In addition,
same-sex couples deserve to enjoy benefits equal to heterosexual couples. With
the ever-changing traditional ideals of marriage, conventional society changes
and people must adhere to constant flux. Not only is marriage a human and civil
right, but marriage is about love and sharing your life with another, it is not
only about procreation.
There are no studies reporting that homosexual and
lesbian couples make bad parents and the addition of same-sex marriages will
aid to boost American economy. Lastly, within a same-sex marriage, children
involved face constant struggle and bias when they have to explain that their
parents do not have the right to be married.
In
contrast, con attitudes lean towards, “The
institution of marriage has traditionally been defined as being between a man
and a woman.” (ProCon.org, 2018).
This is an outdated opinion.
Furthermore, the belief that marriage is only for
procreation denounces that marriage is a romantic-love relationship. The
argument that children need both a mother and father is fruitless because growing
numbers of heterosexual households in America are single parents and the sexual
preference of an adult does not determine sufficient parenting ability.
Same-sex marriage is not a disease. It will not bring society to a “slippery
slope” involving deviant sexual behavior. The fear that the
institution of marriage is weakened by same-sex marriages is irrational, as
people will marry if they want to marry regardless of the “type” of marriage
that is socially acceptable.
Despite
the changing legal landscape with regard to marriage, same-sex couples still
face inequality. This is in part due to miseducation by media, government, and
the public. Familial upbringing and extremist, unrealistic religious
affiliations add to miseducation of same-sex marriage.
Bias in the home,
school, community, and the unwillingness for parents to raise their children in
a nondiscriminatory fashion add to inequalities for the LGBTQIA communities. In
addition, when a teenager is growing into an adult, it is up to that individual
to make conscious, educated choices on their own, away from what they learned
via family, religion and society.
“On June 26,
2015, the US Supreme Court ruled that gay marriage is a right protected by the
US Constitution in all 50 states. Prior to their decision, same-sex marriage
was already legal in 37 states and Washington DC, but was banned in the
remaining 13. US public opinion had shifted significantly over the years, from
27% approval of gay marriage in 1996 to 60% in 2015, according to Gallup.”
(ProCon.org, 2018).
Social institutions most impacted by this Supreme Court decision include religious, judiciary institutions and businesses. For example, religious clergy have the First Amendment freedom not to perform a religious wedding ceremony contrary to their beliefs. The decision then is focused towards public officials who do not have religious objections to same-sex marriage. This can result in refusal of performing a ceremony and legalization of marriage licenses.
Social institutions most impacted by this Supreme Court decision include religious, judiciary institutions and businesses. For example, religious clergy have the First Amendment freedom not to perform a religious wedding ceremony contrary to their beliefs. The decision then is focused towards public officials who do not have religious objections to same-sex marriage. This can result in refusal of performing a ceremony and legalization of marriage licenses.
Businesses have the right to
deny a same-sex couple provisions for a wedding that involves goods and
services. Religious opponents are concerned with court rulings over tax-exempt
status of religious affiliated educational institutions. State anti-discrimination
laws and religious freedom restoration acts will be critical to resolving conflicts.
“The ethic of life is premised on the
doctrine of Imago Dei, the
inherent dignity of every human being as a creature uniquely crafted in the
image of God himself. Why do we care about the poor, oppressed, and suffering?
Because they are human beings.”
(Teetsal, 2013).
References:
Pew Research Center. (2015). Support for Same-Sex Marriage at Record High, but Key Segments Remain
Opposed. First paragraph. Retrieved from: http://www.people-press.org/2015/06/08/support-for-same-sex-marriage-at-record-high-but-key-segments-remain-opposed/
ProCon.org. (2018). Should Gay Marriage be Legal? First paragraph. Two quotes from
second paragraph. Retrieved from: https://gaymarriage.procon.org/#pro_con
Teetsal, Eric. (2013). Religion and Politics. Why I Fight Against Same-Sex Marriage.
Seventh paragraph. Retrieved from: http://religionandpolitics.org/2013/06/25/why-i-fight-against-same-sex-marriage/
United Nations General Assembly. (1947). The Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
Article I. Retrieved from: http://www.un.org/en/universal-declaration-human-rights/
Monday, February 12, 2018
The Hidden Messages in Water by Dr. Emoto
Dr. Masaru Emoto, Japan, conducted various experiments with distilled, pure, and tap water and when the water formed water crystals, he added sound, music, words, EMF fields and exposed the water to various things we, as humans, experience all day.
The results are monumental.
Our bodies are composed of 70% water. By exposing various kinds of water to negative and positive words, sights, sounds, the water crystals reacted. Imagine what we experience daily, yet do not realize the impact of our words, actions, behavior?
More importantly, the impact of the kind of water we drink, music we listen to, words we hear, think, speak and ones we do not, have a massive impact on our own bodies and those around us, including the planet and everyone in it.
Dr. Emoto began this as a personal experiment. What occurred was a six year observation that turned into global talks, conferences and the publishing of several books. This is a short volume explaining water, our bodies, photography, and the reason for the experiment.
This book includes some of his photography of the crystals. You will be shocked and pleased when you see how words, music, EMF, and negative and positive things affect water.
This is why it is crucial to be responsible for your words, behaviors, actions, environment and health. It not only affects you, it effects everyone associated with you and the planet as a whole.
Excellent experiment with photography. Dr. Emoto shows us how delicate words are. Say, I am sorry, I love you, I care, You are beautiful, and tell people how much they matter to you.
The water that was ignored formed no crystals at all.
Choose your words wisely, fill your body, mind, heart, spirit with goodness and be wary of those that speak to you in demeaning fashions.
If water crystals react within moments to negative and positive words, sounds, music, sights, and experiences, the human body reacts just as, if not more, intensely.
To see Dr. Emoto's work, photos, books, videos and lectures: http://www.masaru-emoto.net/english/water-crystal.html
Expose yourself, your body, mind, spirit, heart and those around you to beauty constantly.
Saturday, February 10, 2018
snowflakes
On Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/susan-marie/snowflakes
Dizzy,
dying,
walking,
free.
dying,
walking,
free.
My soul
drifts,
like snowflakes,
falling,
faster,
the air I breathe
fills my lungs,
drifts,
like snowflakes,
falling,
faster,
the air I breathe
fills my lungs,
my lungs . . .
The sun hides
its weary face,
yet the trees
are blanketed,
safe,
secure,
nurtured,
and sound -
is resounding
in my head,
a boomerang,
sonic booms,
supernovas,
of electric light,
the breath of those
that created
this,
have settled upon my eyelashes
like confetti on New Years Eve,
wide,
white,
wondrous,
and wild.
its weary face,
yet the trees
are blanketed,
safe,
secure,
nurtured,
and sound -
is resounding
in my head,
a boomerang,
sonic booms,
supernovas,
of electric light,
the breath of those
that created
this,
have settled upon my eyelashes
like confetti on New Years Eve,
wide,
white,
wondrous,
and wild.
I can hear them landing,
upon my face,
wet
upon my face,
wet
upon my head,
hallowed
hallowed
upon my skin,
welcome.
welcome.
And I bear witness to this day,
this season,
my body sings,
my feet, electric,
my eyes,
shining,
the dearest of eves.
this season,
my body sings,
my feet, electric,
my eyes,
shining,
the dearest of eves.
My Lord,
I am born,
birthed,
re-birthed,
and my soul,
birthed,
re-birthed,
and my soul,
cries out
in unison,
with the silence
of this most holy sky.
of this most holy sky.
© Photos and words Susan Marie
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