Like any good mother, her desire was to have her child grow bright and bold, and to be full of good humor and wit, and to be generous and courageous and kind.
For, being such, how could anyone not have the most beautiful story?
After all, what is the code and concept of life, of living, of humanity, if it is not to find one's calling and to have that calling be greater than one's self; if it is not to pursue that calling and complete it with joyous self-respect?
"You are braver than you believe, stronger than you seem, and smarter than you think." — Christopher Robin, Winnie the Pooh
Fatherless boy. Spiritual mentor. Wise counselor. Bard. Prophet. Commander of oceans and fire. Mover of magnificent stones. Chivalrous romantic. Shapeshifter. Wild man of the woods. Legend.
What human bears these emblems, as befits an angelbestriding earth, crisscrossing myth and mystery, time and timelessness, literature and history, with the fluidity of a scribbler's spill and the sweet ease of a baby's breath?
Merlin. Do I hear you say? That Arthurian Wizard without whom there would be no Camelot, no Excalibur, no Knights of The Round Table, no Legendary King Arthur? Yes, Merlin! Though some might have said, Gandalf (Lord of The Rings), one shapeshifter indistinguishable from the other, their profound and enduring impact on many cultures revelatory of a unique power invested in every life-shaper championed by The Decider, Destiny, and The Dream
Along our journey we have toyed with the question: If you were a super hero what would be your superpower? Our answers tell us many things of value about our experience and our dreams. So, if you were a super hero, what would be your superpower?
This time around, there is no playfulness in the question; we have reshaped it into an exercise-and-practice that forever alters the quality and legacy of our choices.
Welcome to the fourth episode of Myth Or Mystery - Merlin - curated by Neville DeAngelou. Saul becomes Paul: that, if not the acrid of Wisdom's Humor, certainly it is the irony of Love's Candor. For whom then is there no hope? Unfathomable! Unfathomable! Unfathomable!
"Sometimes it is the very people who no one imagines anything of who do the things no one can imagine."
The Imitation Game
Enjoy actionable discoveries continuously being shared - smartly - particularly those that uplift, inspire, promote harmony, expand opportunities, exemplify beauty, and reveal wonder, in other words, those proven to strengthen our emboldened exercise of genuine love through all of its fertile dimensions, supplying those of us, who are blessed and inspired to take action, with the necessary skillsets to be awesome in our real world. Namaste. Share.
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Pick a number! Or. Look around and pick the largest number you see.
What was happening in your personal (ancestral) history that time ago?
In the toss of many words few perform sweet puppetry in all of us. God utters this word and that word, and we behold wonders. So is heard. And so is said. The mind of a champion, the soul of a hero, the spirit of a believer, the will of a survivor, are swept and swooned into the realms of greatness on the wings of just a few words. Such words are like mustard seeds.
During
this series we are exploring myths and mysteries to peel away practical wisdom without asserting fact or fiction purely to glean what's usable for enriching relationships, confronting challenges, and producing outcomes worthy of the label well done.
As we share real snap stories of our search and findings (in context with our word of the moment), we will encourage each other to select gems from the scramble, thanks to exceptional creators, influencers and producers.
Occasionaly we will invite you to score a particular disclosure - myth, mystery, awesome revelation, or pure folly - then to re-examine your evaluation after a period of reflection. At the end we will ask you to put it all together. Then voila!
Enjoy.
"What an intriguing idea," the Tea Lover implied then inqured, "Is it your destiny or just a dream?"
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You may have heard said in reaction to some outcome that was unwanted or unexpected or inexplicable, or may have even expressed similar sentiments such as these yourself: it is for the best; it happened for a good reason; what is to be will be?
Have you?
When such is the outcome of your action and your intention, what is the truth influencing your expression: is it an excuse, a sigh, a defeat, or a belief? And what if it is someone else's action and intention now impacting you? The truth!
Any exceptions?
This episode's word is prestige: def - "widespread respect and admiration felt for someone or something on the basis of a perception of their achievements or quality; status, reputation, distinction." (Which of the world's four most powerful words by virtue of influence would 'prestige' be considered a derivative of? 25 points.)
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The Pledge
"Each and every person has a date set when he or she will arrive at the place where destiny and the dream meet. Sometimes that person - the guest - gets caught in a storm, a kind of test, a stirring, and does not show up at the appointed hour, or oversleeps of laziness or tiredness and the encounter is deferred. Nevertheless, wherever and whenever the three - destiny, the dream, and their guest - meet, if ever they meet, there will be a battle, an explosive sorting out. No successful person, no fulfilled life, no achiever of the dream, has ever been able to avoid that encounter, at the surrendering of which the guest is either victor or spoil. And that's not all. This is the account of their first encounter. The three will meet again and this time it is to establish prestige."
The way the tea-lover displayed this journey's four principals (Destiny! The Dream! Their Guest! And The Decider!) across the canvas of life enthralled me. I was in for a most unexpected surprise. "But first, the harsh realities," she said.
Destiny does not yield, she said. Never has. Never will! Destiny's course is set. Destiny's design is decided. Destiny seeks certainty and will crush surprise, yet nothing is ever wasted. What doesn't fit Destiny retrofits. Everything gets to its rightful place in due time. Every speck, every spittle, every dot, every dither is impeccably designed. As is clay in the potter's hand, the perspective of the finish, the beauty of the pot, its price, its cost, the true evaluation of its worth; these are not that of the clay but of the potter. Destiny liberates, but only on condition of surrender. Complete surrender. Destiny does not prevaricate or tolerate obfuscation. Destiny does not bow to objection. Destiny is confident of the final outcome, for when all is said and done The Universe wins.
Of that latter, both Destiny and The Dream thoroughly agree: The Universe wins.
I swallowed.
But The Dream's mastery is creation, the joy of The Universe, she said. The Dream honors creation. The Dream serves creation, and the fullest joy of creation is its gift of free will, granted entirely upon request and delivered promptly upon receipt of claim. The Dream is guardian of free will. Ruthless in its guardianship. The Dream guides free will. In every speck, in every spittle, in every dot, in every dither, abides a spark of the glory of The Universe never to be extinguished, and in every life is its home, and in every home there is a gallery of the wonder of creation. As is an embryo in the womb, so is the dream to the Queen: nurtured, protected and defended forever and ever.
I breathed.
Then the tea-lover posed this crucial question: "To rendevous with Destiny & The Dream, The Guest must go through The Decider. How does a worthy guest prepare for such a phenomenal encounter? This is the battle of champions! And The Decider never turns up unprepared, alone, or offering any favor!!! For this is not The Destiny of which commoners speak nor just some idle dream." Myth or mystery?
Some Decisions Are More Equal Than Others
The clock chimes. Then minutes tick away. The clock chimes again. Then minutes tick away. The clock chimes again. Then minutes tick away. The clock chimes again. Then minutes tick away. The clock chimes again. Then minutes tick away. The clock chimes again. Then minutes tick away. The clock chimes again. Then minutes tick away. The clock chimes.
Prestige
"Know what you own. Understand what you claim. Believe you can achieve what you conceive then call it by its name. Mine! The extent to which you have this clarity of mind, this purity of understanding, this strength of belief, you have the fire, the fuel, the impetus, the passion, the determination, the willpower you require to pursue and retrieve your truest desire. But do not claim what does not belong to you. It will not keep you . . . it will suffer you but for only so long."
You are valued. You are important. What you experience is important. Your intention matters. You are a whole being. You are a true wonder. You diminish yourself whenever you pit valued elements of who you are against vital elements of who you are: your intuitive self against your intellectual self, your rational self against your emotional self, your gut against your heart against your head. Don't be put at war against yourself: you are a masterpiece. An intricate being. Human!
How to become a Super Hero (without being self-absorbed!) - Part One
We happen to think it is cool to be super. Would you like to try our exercise-and-practice?
EXERCISE - PRACTICE
1. LIST IN YOUR JOURNAL YOUR PERSONAL STRENGTHS. (If you are unsure what these are, ask three people who you trust, who know you well).
2. CONTEMPLATE WHY & HOW THESE BECAME YOUR STRENGTHS.
3. IF YOU WERE TO BE A SUPERHERO WHICH THREE STRENGTHS WOULD YOU WANT AS YOUR SUPERPOWERS? (Make a note of it in your Personal Journal. You will be using these to face The Decider.)
4. PRACTICE YOUR STRENGTHS.
5. WHO (of the people you know personally, who know you) WOULD YOU INVITE TO BE MEMBERS OF YOUR LIFE'S ROUNDTABLE? (List them. Say why.)
mentor
coach
advocate
sponsor
Life: it is a dance. It gets better with practice; its music is in your heart and in your soul and in your blood and in your bones. Life; it is a dance. It gets better with practice. You have a partner – your spirit. You can have a party if you like, but choose smartly who you invite, for life – your life – is a dance. It gets better with practice, unless you stop the music or so crowd your dance floor there is no space to move or be moved within it. Explore. Yes, life; it is a dance. It gets better with practice until the dance becomes the dancer and the dancer becomes the dance and life and all of existence becomes a singular flow. Yes, life; it is a dance. It gets better with practice. Dance.
Masterpiece
a work of outstanding artistry, skill, or workmanship.
tour de force
EXERCISE - PRACTICE
1. LIST IN YOUR JOURNAL YOUR PERSONAL WEAKNESSES. (Most people are aware of their weaknesses. However, if you are unsure what these are, ask three people who you trust, who know you well).
2. LIST IN YOUR JOURNAL WAYS IN WHICH THESE WEAKNESSES ARE IMPACTING YOUR PROGRESS AND SUCCESS.
3. FOR EACH OF THESE RECORD WHAT YOU CAN DO TO TURN THESE INTO STRENGTHS OR TO MITIGATE AGAINST EACH. (The Decider will be using these against you.)
Out beyond ideas of right doing and wrong doing there is a field. I'll meet you there.
When the soul lies down in that grass, the world is too full to talk about.
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live laugh love
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let your light shine
Come, let us all be friends for once,
Let us make life easy on us,
Let us be lovers and loved ones,
The earth shall be left to no one.
Across the nation and around the world there is a long rumble.
It is a rumble so loud it strikes ready ears as a distant clap of a fierce thunder. It is a rumble so low, it rides beneath the noise of a thousand human fears; it can no longer be heard. Fear of flight, fear of heights, fear of sand, fear of snow, fear of monsters in the closet, fear of bugs in the pillow, fear of cats, fear of bats, fear of strangers at the door, fear of being lost, fear of being laughed at, fear of being stuck in the toilet bowl, fear of whites, fear of blacks, fear of browns, blues and yellows, fear of nakedness, fear of the unknown, fear of being hurt.
Smile. Live. Love. Laugh. Look. Listen. Learn. Be awesome. You are powerful beyond measure. You are not alone. You can do all things. I am you. You are me. We are one. Keep Sharing.
May our light shine on sprinkled seeds along The Journey.
"Live Your Life - Live it well. You are worth it."
Listen. Learn. Lead.
Things We MIght Do: 1) Cultivate relationships that boost your strenghts 2) Build relationships that help you improve your weaknesses. 3) Encourage relationships that lift up and empower.
Something to Consider: As we engage our superpowers in the fullfilment of our purpose and in our fellowship of the human family we may will continue to discover that our orientation to every imbeded concept of home is what awakes us ready for our journey and facilitates sleep in our moments of need. - (A Place Called Ah.)
Breathe.
We are accompanied.
Balance - Focus - Rhythm
Love is alive in fertile dimensions, where it lifts you up, never puts you down, and is always real! Love heals.
The Journey - Your Voice Illuminated - Our Global Digital Radio Show & Podcast. We stop at exotic places, meet fascinating folks with intriguing stories and novel solutions to some of life's tricky problems. We play a few games too, and track remarkable characters of three classics: ILICET - A Time To Begin Again (True Story) SBL Series: 2:26 AM, The Gathering (Matchbox Mystery) and Flight Of The Fused Monkeys (5-Star Series). Life is beautiful and full of surprises. Breathe! Along our journey of life and learning we challenge ourselves toward the reaches of our highest ideals: to be our best, do our utmost, achieve our finest, wherever necessary and practicable redesigning the contours of possibility, reshaping human capability. Join our posse. We are changing the game! We welcome your perspective. Enjoy top dramatic, inspirational, mystery, scifi, and true stories. Live. Love. Laugh. Look. Listen. Lead. Learn with us. Get your FREE AUDIO of 'Sven: The High Achiever's Journey'. You'll be glad you did. Share the experience.
ILICET - A Time To Begin Again (True Story) 
