May 14, 2009

What kind of "Superhero" can you be?

I like to observe people. That's what I do. I watch them. I try to envision what makes them tick. What makes them do what they do, look how they look , be who they are. What situations or circumstances brought them to each crossroad of their lives. Why did they let themselves go? Why do they strive so hard for perfection? Why do they settle for the middle of the road or celebrate mediocrity? Each individual is different. That's what makes them great, but the greater individual is the "character". The Character is the one who creates a definitive identity. Those are the ones that can be their own superheroes.

I stare at people and wonder not only if they could be their own Superhero or Antihero or even a Supervillain, but just what character is inherent in them that could bring forth such a result.

Some people have the personality or desire to create or become a character. Those are the ones that muddle through life without the thought of doing or being great at anytime in their life. Mainly this is due to low self esteem. They've never take the time to try to empower themselves because they always think that "good things like that happen to OTHER people." They think that it's "not in the cards" and they choose to let life be represented by a stampeding crowd that runs them over and think it's because they were designed to be the rug.

What you do in life, is controlled more by you than you think. I have one friend who is handicapped, yet on occasion, he gets hurt. He has a lawyer on speed dial who is now on his way to winning my friend his third settlement over six figures. I have yet another friend who has a case where she could be awarded millions (yes... I said MILLIONS) of dollars, yet can't get it in her head that she was wronged to the point of entitlement and actually DESERVES to be awarded that much.

It comes down to self awareness. Does your character, your personage actually DESERVE the best things that life can throw you? Well, the difference between those who have what they want and those that don't is truly belief. Believe that you can be what and who you want to be or at least that you DESERVE better, and you can achieve that.

Can anyone be a Superbeing? That's truly up to you. As previously stated on this site, it's all about you and what gifts you were able cultivate. When I see someone who's doesn't appear to have the potential, I try to see deeper into themselves than I think they would for themselves. Maybe they're a telepath but now introvert because of lowered self esteem. I feel sad for them with the thought that they let self esteem lock up a potentially powerful gift. Don't judge, convict and condemn yourself until you've gone through that "personal inventory" of every ability you believe you have. That's exactly how people waste their potential.

I don't look at a homely woman with graying hair and warts who's overweight and say "what a shame", however I look at her and imagine that in private...in her "secret identity", it's possible that she's a powerful mystic, or of superior intellect to create or design or craft something amazing. I look beneath the surface to find their inner super ability. This is what you must do with yourself if you're to challenge what's been thrown you.

Find the powers within you. Gain your "character" first and build on that.

Like the USA cable network says in their advertising campaign : "Characters Welcome".

Posted by Darkstar at 04:18 PM | Comments (0)

November 09, 2006

Imagery Part V: It's all about belief.

That's right. Belief. How many things today would not have been invented had no one believed in themselves? Would we still be riding in horse driven carriages? Would we have gone into space? Could we fathom that half the things we've dreamt of in Science Fiction could come true? Could we do more than imagine?

Someone had to dream it. Then they had to make a plan. Then they made it real. Your life can be like this also.

No one says you have to invent anything. No one says you have to do something so avante guarde... You simply must follow a dream. Your dream. The one you feel most passionate about. An Epicalist believes that his or her dream is obtainable in some form or another and in some way, shape or manner.

An Epicalist is never held back. An Epicalist does not believe in failure or the word 'no'. An Epicalist, in their mind, believes they can develop something great or be a part of something great.

An Epicalist does not feel they are too old for anything. An Epicalist has no fear of breaking societal rules when they believe they can make better ones. An Epicalist does not relent in his or her conviction, nor do they give up.

An Epicalist keeps the blinders on. Blinders are what they give race horses to wear about their eyes so as they can stay focused. If you think you have crazy idea, chances are it's not so crazy after all. You would know in your gut whether or not to go along with it. Research your idea. See if it's been done before. If it has, maybe you can improve upon it. There are only so many mouse traps, but, as the saying goes, "build a better one and they will beat a path to your door". We now live in a world where more ideas are accepted. There are fewer barriers, and yet the worst barriers we have are those set by either ourselves or those set by others. Don't let anyone tell you you can't do something. If you write a great play, philosophy, book, movie or song, don't let anyone tell you you cannot follow your dream. Don't let them tell you you are too old to start or too inexperienced. Find others to help you. Protect your ideas first then see them through. Don't let them tell you that you don't have a chance for in this life we all do.

This is the final stage of imagery. The stage where whatever you think to be is so, only you must act upon it. Go forth and tell those that hold you back that you will see it through. Those who put you down are merely jealous that they do not have the vision you do. Mayhap one day they will live as epically as you and find the strength to live their dreams to fruition also. Until then, forge on. Do not stop until your life mission is achieved. Remember the Epicalist motto: "The key to success is to accept change, the key to luck is to recognize and seize opportunity ".

Posted by Darkstar at 02:52 AM

June 15, 2006

Imagery Part IV: Media vs. Real Life

aka (why can't my life be as exciting as TV?)

Why does the cinema and television excite us so? Because they bring to us escapism. They bring to us a reality more exciting than our own. It's all "make believe" and yet...why is this? Pretending you are someone you are not is just that...pretending. Life is not a game of "cowboys and Indians" or "cops and robbers" unless you actually ARE one of those. But what life IS is an adventure. How you plan to capitalize on that adventure is up to you. Your mind is such a powerful tool. It's a vast synaptic computing machine. It can create true virtual reality. All you have to do is close your eyes and raise the curtain on the theater of the mind.

Now what if you went one step further? What if you actually were what you wished to be? What if you actually created your own action or dramatic adventure? That in itself is the meaning of life...to give it meaning. Yes. The meaning of life is to give life meaning. It's that simple.

When it William Shakespeare said that "All the world's a stage,and all the men and women merely players"(from As You Like It 2/7) , that statement could not be any more true. In some ways, one could call our race the greatest reality show of all. Our audience is vast in which it includes ourselves and everyone we come in contact with and could very well encompasse beings greater than we and beyond our scope.

We deal in microcosms. We are the lords of our lands and the gods to the insignificant and lesser than we. We keep pets, eat plants and animals no matter how much larger they are to us. We squash bugs and kill micro organisms much smaller than we. We are our own gods in that sense.

But our minds, our psyches need to be entertained as well. So we create situations to be placed on film for the mass media to gain mental stimulation and sustenance. We play games both live and electronic that simulate greater feats than our day to day to entertain ourselves. We read books of the great adventures of those written to be far greater than ourselves. We do this to break the monotony of our day.

Yet we still feel empty. Unfulfilled. So we seek out faith to fill the void and yet that leaves us with a false sense of security because our faiths are taught to us with no fact behind them and we feel foolish. Most churches leave us feeling that life is better when we die. They teach us that we should live our lives as an audition for the afterlife. There is a terrible conundrum of duality here. Our lives should be lived to its fullest, within preset limits, yet that's ok because it will be better when we pass on. I can't subscribe to that because what the afterlife holds for us has yet to be defined in fact nor may it ever be.

The things we would like to do instinctively are considered sinful and should be abstained from, so there will be no bliss until we troll through this muck of life where we are allegedly rewarded upon death. Yet at the same time we're told to live our lives as good people who don't give into our urges.

Don't tell me to enjoy gods green earth in all it's splendor, yet only if you follow it's anal rules.

The movie "The Devils Advocate" said it best. "...he (god) sets the rules in opposition.It's the goof of all time. Look, but don't touch. Touch, but don't taste. Taste, but don't swallow." How true is this? Dangle the carrot before the ass and he will follow to toil in your fields. I do not want to have to wait to go off to die in the unknown before I can enjoy myself. I don't want to suffer in life in hopes to win the grand prize in the unproven eternity. I want fulfillment now. Right now. In this life.

Why is it, on television, there are situations that seem to be entertaining because they are odd or foreign to us? Why did one television show or another always glamorize an individual or a couple, sometimes married, as amateur detectives that solved crimes successfully? It's odd how these amateurs were so adept and always did what the professionals couldn't. Week after week we'd follow these characters and marvel at them. Well, I may ask you... Why can't that be you? Because we always believe that what we see in media is merely cleverly scripted fantasy, and yet only our disbelief stops us from doing these feats ourselves.

If this were my reality show, it would be one of drama and action. I'd want something challenging and thought provoking. I'd want mystery, conspiracy, adventure and wonder. I'd want to have this everywhere. I'd want it at the supermarket. I'd want it at the barber shoppe. I'd want it on the street in my car. I'd want it at work. I'd want it at home in bed with my lover. I'd want stimulation. I'd want fulfillment and bliss. I'd want instant gratification or the promise of eventual spectacularity.

What I do not want is to wait. I do not want to be restricted. I do not want to live a dull life. I do not want to fade into the woodwork. I do not want to wake up everyday and wonder why my life is so dull and never changing. I do not want to think that I contributed nothing to our society even on the smallest level. I do not want to know that this is all there is. I do not want to get stuck in a humdrum day to day life. I do not want to have to supplement my mental state with drugs or alcohol to escape the quagmire of my life.

This is how I'd want my life and I think you all might benefit from the same attitude.

I would want to reevaluate all that is bad in my life and try to give it an epic flair by attacking them with a sense of excitement.

You may think I'm mad. You may think I'm completely insane. Or you may look at yourselves and wonder; "what have I got to lose in changing my thought process?"

If you had everything you could ever want... Do you think you would be happy? No. That's the biggest lie you could ever tell yourself. If you had it all, you'd become bored rather quickly or succumb to the greed of wanting even more, so your happiness would wane. You see, the meaning of life is to live it with the desire to keep improving on it. To create more challenges for yourself for which you would grow.

Life is not sitting about sedimentary and complacent with a dead end job living from paycheck to paycheck or marking time by counting weekend to weekend watching your life go by.
You must get into this game of life and play it to win. All you need is that imagination to make your life an epical one.

Posted by at 09:05 PM | Comments (0)

May 18, 2006

Imagery part III: Building your Superhero

How does this Imagery thing work?

I can hear many screaming at the preceding words, yelling; "HEY! How can I become my own Superhero?" Well I believe there are formulas to everything. The formula for this is broken into several steps:

1) Take an inventory of any and every talent or useful skill or ability you have. By useful, I don't mean balancing a breath steamed spoon on the tip of your nose, as that is not useful. When listing these positive attributes, take care to create a separate list of the negative traits you may have. These are the traits you would endeavor to discard, change or improve upon, but should in no way mingle with the good traits upon which you are using as your building blocks.

2) Examine your physical capabilities and body type. If you are incapacitated or physically challenged then forego this step ONLY after you have inventoried your workable abilities.

3) Examine your mental abilities. Are you smart? Are you creative? Are you imaginative? Are you psychic? Are you telekinetic? Are you insightful? Are you clairvoyant? Are you a natural problem solver? Are you good at math? Are you a fast thinker? Are you artistic?

4) Develop an active imagination. If you have none, then you're doomed for that is all that it takes. Imagination is the only thing truly required for this to work.

5) Examine the list from 1 and build upon the strongest points. Select the ones that can be honed into the most useful of talents for which to build upon.

6) Practise these skills and increase their strengths.

7) Imagine all the talents you could assemble and build them into a person you could make extraordinary. Put then on paper and teak the description or draw it if you can. Become confident in the abilities you possess at the level that they are at and keep in mind that the more you use them, the greater you will become. Treat these talents as "gifts" or actual objects you can use like tools.

8) Imagine you ARE that person you created because these are YOUR skills.

9) Be proud of this "super being" you created. Step up to the plate when it is YOUR special ability that shines in a given situation.

10) Give this persona a name and and image, then live in your new persona and live it well, but moreover live it fabulously.

Now I can see you saying: "You're simply mad! Grow up! This isn't a comic book".

Now let me say one thing about that. Fantasy films and books are simply what happens when the mind is too lazy to make the imagined happen in real life. It's easier to dismiss what one fathoms as supernatural rather than examine the natural and make it super. If you excel at something and people compliment you on you prowess, then evidently you are super in that aspect. An Olympic athlete is a Superhero to one who cannot run fast or push their body to great lengths and do great feats. When a basketball player launches his body far higher than anyone to slam dunk a basket with explosive power, he seems rather "super" to me. If a psychic proves they can find a missing child or predicts a major disaster or shows some sort of telekinetic prowess that moves objects, they are quite super to the "normal" person.

We look upon things that are outside of our spectrum as bizarre or abnormal or perverse or twisted because the "norm" has no imagination and limits our mode of thinking. These thought patterns are destroyed by the "doubting Thomas'" of the world.

If you showed any psychic ability or success in the metaphysical arts, you'd be labeled every name from "freak" to "heretic" to "blasphemer". However, most psychic ability is inherent in all of us. That "feeling in your gut" you call instinct is just the spark that could ignite your metaphysical fire.

Some things are physically impossible. You must be able to separate the real from the OVER imagined. You cannot gain immortality from drinking blood just as you would not be able to turn yourself into a bat and flit away in the night. However, there are those who believe they are vampires. Some because they can drain energies from others. These are called "psi-vamps". They have tapped into their inner gifts of the mind. The "Sanguine" or blood drinking vampires believe they derive health and vitality from drinking the life fluids of another, usually a donor. I personally would believe in a psychic vampire over a Sanguine one.

Now back to the thought on what is physically possible. Lets go over a few talents and see how they could be construed on the homo-superior" level:

"I can tell whats going to happen in the future when I dream..." (or in any other form of successful clairvoyance.) You are "The Seer" or "The Oracle"

"I am a great orator... So much so, when I speak, not only to people listen, but they follow whatever I say..." You are "the Leader", or "Dynamic".

"I am skilled at the arts of magick. I have been successful in spellcasting..." You are "The Witch" or
"Warlock" .

A person who's able to get into someone's psyche and guide them to success would be called "the Muse".

A person who is amazing with math and numbers and investments, upon becoming successful with this, might call themself, "The Financeer or "The Mogul".

A person who a very fast runner, might call themselves "The Human Bullet" or "The Laser".

Someone who is very intelligent or good at designing things or implementing ideas, might be known as "The Brain", "The Thinker" or "The Planner".

Someone who has a great sense of humour and can effortlessly bring one or many to their knees in stitches with laughter would be known as "The Jokester".

People give their trust and open up to those they feel safe, secure and comfortable with. They open up more. They let their guard down.
If you had the uncanny knack of blending in with different people or making them feel comfortable as you mirror them and become them, adopting their styles and mannerisms, that would help you gain access to their trust and I would call you "The Chameleon".

Be as creative with your names as possible. Give them adjectives. I'm only using simple names as suggestions.

If you have many talents and cannot pinpoint just one, then create a unique alter ego for yourself. I have called mine:"The Darkstar"

Now you may be physically challenged in some way. That doesn't have to stop you from seeing something super within you. I had a friend who was severely overweight from the waist up and in a wheelchair, paralyzed with polio since he was nine. However, he was rather charismatic, had a true gift of gab and was confident in himself. He was quite the charmer. In the past I remember himself involved with some rather lovely ladies romantically because he had such a strong and personable personality. I would call him, "the Charmer" or "The Lover" or "Magnetic Man". He chose to call himself "Buster" or "Bus" for short. He even had a tag line for himself : "The Bus every girl wants to ride on".

I saw a man the other day. He was was behind the counter of a drug store as a clerk. I wondered, before I wrote this, how he could be "super"? He wasn't handsome, he had long nice wavy hair, only it was dirty and full of dandruff. He had a pot belly and had a dull bored look in his face. Here we see a man who let life defeat him. Now were he to clean himself up, possibly follow the 10 steps, he could better his life.

I don't know anything about him, yet I believe that if he could dig deep inside himself, he could find something within which he could gain an unconquerable confidence and make himself super. I believe this in those who read this also. Dig deep inside and pull your alter ego out!

Posted by at 06:22 PM | Comments (0)

April 26, 2006

Imagery part II: Be your own Superhero.

"Why do we fall, Sir? So that we might better learn to pick ourselves up." -Batman Begins

"With great power comes great responsibility" - Spiderman

"If the human mind can do that to water, imagine what it can do to a HUMAN?" - (Quantum physics documentary:) What the bleep do WE know?

"What one man can do another can do!" - The Edge

"You can kill a man, but you cannot kill and idea." - V for Vendetta

"You have to become more than just a man. You must become... A legend." - Batman Begins"

"Try NOT. DO! Or do not. There is no 'try'". Star Wars Episode V:The Empire Strikes Back

"I will be the ONE!" - The One

"YOU WERE THE CHOSEN ONE!!! Star Wars Episode III: The revenge of the Sith

I find it odd, how superhero and science fiction movies or action films in general for that matter, can only be inspirational or useful on the philosophical sense when it is in relation to what we find to be fantasy. When I watch a drama, there's such hardship that tugs at the heart strings or instills anger, and yet, there is no extraordinary situation in which a triumph is reached. In fantasy, there are overwhelming odds that can only be defeated by an extraordinary person or event or ability. Why is this?

Epica, the music form, is the soundtrack to life. Being Epicalis to live your life as if it was a movie revolving around the lead character which is always YOU. However, your character should not be just some extra or mundane bit part in a larger film. You star in your own film. The question remains; are you merely playing the tragic victim or the headstrong lead? Are you the one who needs the saving or are you the savior? To be Epical is the self empowerment to be the lead. It's YOU'RE story. If you choose to be the supporting actor/actress in someone else's drama as an ensemble cast. Either way, YOU are the star/stars.

In "Imagery", it was discussed that you can achieve whatever results you want of this world if you were simply to not only imagine your outlook, but to whole heartedly BELIEVE it. Now I move to taking this one step further. In finding one's inner gifts, one can make their life as the "star", fabulous! In metaphysics, the key to success is imagery. The same can be said for many other aspects of life. One must believe that they are what they need to be.

If one took the time to discover their inner gifts, they could hone them to formidable forces...be they the gift of creating music, or being a natural mathematician, to inventing the next greatest thing, to painting or writing or curing a disease to telepathy.

Our skills are culmination of our ability to adapt and learn. If I was good at public speaking, perhaps a top notch lawyer or politics was in my future. If I liked to blog fantasy stories, then maybe I was meant to write the next great fiction novel. Were I comfortable with math, I would use math forumlas to solve probabilities or perhaps develop the
theory of physics that would explain something we can't do today like time travel or something.

I believe (and it is "belief" that I believe in most) is that with applied mindsets, one may become more than what they are and become extraordinary. One can actually become a "super hero" of sorts.

Posted by at 04:51 PM | Comments (0)

January 28, 2006

Imagery An Epical discussion

*Imagination is imagery. Imagery is key to production. Production is bliss.

Mental prowess is a powerful tool. Not simply intellect, but imagination. The imagination is the magnified manifestation of the power wrought of that tool. Whatever you believe yourself to be is so.

If you believe whole-heartedly that you are the image in your minds eye, then you will become what you desire. Within your minds eye is the canvas with which only the mind can paint the perfect portrait. When you have painted this portrait of yourself, with strong enough belief and conviction, you will bring your imagined painting to life. For even the homely may exude an air of sensuality that is alluring to all, even if it is only enough to weaken the resolve of your opponent and allow you to greater access their weakness, utilizing it and bending their will to your own.

Now putting this into perspective of life, success and relationships, there are those, like the late Anton LaVey, who believe that they cannot achieve things "out of their league". I do not agree with this. With perserverance, one can gain the ultimate goal. With diligence, one can achieve success. With CONVICTION, one can do what he sees another do. With drive, there are no obstacles. But at times that may be more challenging than one has will for. Can anyone be president of a company or country? If one believes they can, yes. Can anyone, man or woman, command legions of individuals? If one believes they can, yes. It's the drive and conviction that fuels the fire of desire to LEARN what one needs to learn and chose to excel at it. It's not always about who has the talent, but of who has the DRIVE to do so.

A line from the movie, "The Edge" gave me a very interesting inspirational line; "What ONE man can do, ANOTHER can do!" You are only limited by your will, drive and imagination. To limit any disappointment, you may want to curb your expectations. Will the beauty queen fall for the geeky troll? It's not impossible, but you've many objections to overcome. You must first make sure your external appearance is as perfect as you can possibly make it. Grooming, hygene, style and condition of dress can only help. You must use all you can give to overcome resistance. It is then when you would execute your strategem. If in your mind you're as charming as James Bond, then you will (with practise) exude the same confidence, wit and charm as your imagined idol. The spoken word can be more powerful than you imagine. A good salesman can sell anything if his gift of gab is set, practised and polished and he knows that the most important product to sell is YOURSELF. Though it would not be perfect in your initial trial run, these are arts that anyone who puts their mind to it can master.

There are very few minds that should be able to resist a strong mind and force of will, however you must first commit to that force of will. It is with conviction one must dive into the tasks and images at hand. On the other hand, without self evaluation of assets, strengths and weaknesses, one may also fail. You cannot lie to yourself. One cannot be Angelina Jolie if they look like Dame Edna. Within logic, one can and will say with conviction, "Whatever I believe of myself today is so." and make it so.

Imagery is not about the shallowness of man but of what his attitude will grant him. It is about what is within first. For what you sow within will reap a huge bounty outwardly. It will change your disposition, brighten the day of other for everyone loves a winner and you can be one if you believe you truly are one.

Build off your strengths. I cannot stress that enough. If you are balding, you cannot look like a long haired rock star, but you however can just as easily create success with a "distinguished" look, or shave your head completely and still achieve that "hip" rocker look. You can be and act as whatever you BELIEVE you are. Can you believe with me?

Posted by at 01:57 PM | Comments (0)