....... So I recently got a membership to a local gym called "Powerhouse" in Plattsburgh, NY. I ended up taking one of the classes they offer regularly, got to check the place out, meet some people, work out, and ultimately have a pretty sweet experience. To anyone reading this now, I would say that Powerhouse seems to be one of the cooler gyms in the area. From signing up, to the actual workout, and all the bits and pieces in between, Powerhouse has been a new and exciting endeavor in my life. So read this and learn what it's like from a beginner's perspective:
I decided to go with Powerhouse mostly because a friend of mine from work goes there and always had good things to say about it. Also the gym is really close to where I live, which is a big plus for me. Personally I hadn't done anything really active in a about a couple months due to a fractured elbow, so I was understandably ready to get back into some form of action. It's also coming into the colder season here so a gym membership seemed like a good idea to get back into an active lifestyle without having to brave the crappy weather. Ultimately I headed down to Powerhouse a few days ago to see the place and talk to someone about getting a membership.
Parking was fine, the building is easily accessible and the general flow is very easy to understand. I found myself inside looking around. Only a few people were there to work out at the time (it was mid morning). One woman in front of me had a tray of nutritional (homemade it looked like) baked goods she appeared to be delivering to sell. While she conducted business with the woman behind the counter I took a look around. Various cardio machines, TV's positioned on the wall, nutritional supplements, clothing of all sorts, various flyers and post-ups caught my eye. Beyond my line of sight was another section of the gym in which a few more people appeared to be using. After taking my turn with the woman at the desk I ended up with a Monthly membership. - Pricing, I might add, is quite reasonable and there are some good deals to be had. If you have a group, if you're a senior, a college kid, etc. you can get a discount. My first actual workout experience, however, was later on that night - at a regularly scheduled class the gym offers.
I met my friend from work at the gym, she showed me around, and introduced me to some of the fellow class takers. We looked at some of the new equipment they have set up and waited for some more class people to show up. Shortly after everyone was gathered, the woman who runs the class showed up and got to work preparing what we would be doing that night. Everyone was very nice and welcoming toward me which I found to be very grounding. Everyone seemed to be more or less around the same age group as well, which was reassuring, fun and cool. After some brief introductions we began to exercise.
I'm getting over a fractured elbow so some of the moves I couldn't really do. I was, however, able to get a good work out in with the help of the instructor. Overall I would have to say the workout itself is very good. Your limits are definitely pushed, but you don't ever feel incapable, left out or driven to the point where you start to feel negative. Very balanced and progression oriented, you're timed and watched. When you need help, help is offered. Music is played and that's always a plus in my book. And by the end of the class you become a pile of sweaty jello - but in a good way! Not once did I feel I was pressured into anything or made to be feel left out or anything like that. Advice is freely given, everything is really motivational, you get to learn proper form, and you're motivated to strive for your personal best. Basically everything you could WANT in a place like that is available. It's actually pretty fun and you definitely feel included... and not to mention if you're a heterosexual male - the company is quite lovely. In short - I got pretty hooked.
As far as "my personal" experience goes, here it is:
I felt pretty much at ease just being in the facility, but was definitely a little nervous when it came to the performance part. Meeting new people, doing new exercises, not knowing the flow of the class, etc was a little nerve-racking. Looking back on all this, though, I feel as if that sort of thing is probably quite normal for newbies. I can absolutely tell you though, as I'm writing this, I feel a renewed sense of self and there is truly an almost addictive quality in all this. You start to see all the possibilities, realize you've come this far, envision how great it would be to achieve your goals and you end up feeling like, "hell yeah! I'm doin' this, I'm goin' for it, things are coming true, I'm the fuckin' master of my destiny!" - lol sorry to get a little overboard. but yes - I've come to realize that physical changes make a WORLD of difference - and take it from me - I've only been around that place for a few hours or so at the most and I already feel a shift in my reality. I urge anyone at all to go for this kind of thing. On an esoteric level, we live in a reality where physical changes are felt just about immediately, and you WILL feel a difference I'm telling you. You CAN NOT go wrong by testing yourself and striving to become a better physical version of yourself. The group is made to feed off each other and motivate one another ...also - I did get quite sore. More sore than ever working out alone.. but with this also comes a very much enjoyable knowledge that if I keep this kind of thing habitual, change will come. Things will always be new and amazing. From an Occult perspective, I've always been told that it's a good thing to keep your physical body in check, treat it nicely, become friends with it, and you will reap the rewards. And now I'm starting to honestly believe that. Very Cool. \m/ - Next time I want to talk a little about getting involved at a gym and coming down with Bro fever. Stay tuned..............................................................................................................................................
.......So - Ladies and Gents, this marks the first time I'm writing a passage that's more or less directed toward my main activity of study / interest. This being "Occultism." My aim for the future is to clean things up a bit and bring my readers to a more focused point of interest. Before now most of my entries have been just thoughts, things I've found to be funny or noteworthy, and basically an online journal of sorts. Not to fret, I will maintain some fun ideas, opinions, as well as make sure to update you all with details from my personal life. Cause hey, that's just fun... However, in the meantime let me take a moment and give you a first "real" entry on an honest to God "topic." Allow me to talk about something I feel I know a significant amount about: Occultism
So when a lot of people hear about Occultism they tend to get these images in their heads about things like Jim Jones, drinking the coolaid, the hail bop people, Charles Manson, and this whole idea of mind control. Being forced into believing something totally and utterly against their will, to some evil and horrible end. How horrible... but take it from me -"Occultism" has nothing to do with "Cults" - we live in a society that often blends the two ideas though and I think this is where a lot of the apprehension / scare factor comes from.
Occultism in it's truest sense - as some of you might already know - simply means - "hidden" knowledge. No more, no less. Some of my healthcare friends have certainly heard of "occult" blood... this just means blood that is "hidden" or unidentifiable by most methods... Occultism is a branch of knowledge that deals in the hidden / subtle / not actively thought about nature of things. Occultism in practice, on its own - deals with the true nature of reality and the Universe, and has always seemed less religious and more scientific than anything (from what I've experienced).
There are principals in place in Occultism, there are methods of achieving results, there are systems in order. For those of you who are mathematically minded - this is not just airie fearie fluff some crazy new agers conjured up. This is essentially the culmination of the efforts of centuries of study of the true nature of things as we know it. Passed down for hundreds of years. This brings us to the next logical obstacle- and one many people will never get over...
"What's so high and mighty about 'Occultism' / hidden knowledge??" What on earth would make it appealing or useful? What makes it any "better" than anyone else's beliefs? This is a tough one to get around because each individual is on his or hers own life trajectory, and what we are doing here in this time and space is differentiated between each individual .... Hence one of the reasons for the definition of esoteric - "for the few"... Not only do you truly have to be "open minded" to grasp this kind of stuff, but it must also correlate to your own personal Karma. Furthermore - It's my personal belief that although at one point learning about this stuff was dangerous in society - It's also just stuff the normal day to day person doesn't think about.
That being said, for those of you who wish to continue reading, please do so - for those who do not, I wish you the best in finding your own personal path to God / Source energy. To my dear, interested people, I will give you the best idea I can (based on my own experience and knowledge) of what Occultism is and how it can benefit you.
Occultism as I've come to understand through years of solitary and group study is essentially the active learning and application of the hidden forces of nature. An approach toward the hidden aspects of our reality as we currently know it. Going based on what we have right here / right now, the way things are right in front of us, in order to raise our awareness and enjoy a more fulfilling life.
Penetrating into the deeper aspects of the our human experience and as it relates to the cosmos, we start to make very amazing realizations. We start to understand some of the patterns, and we start to say "wow.." Once one starts understanding more and more of their own personal truths, they'll start having more confirmations into the overall structure of how things are, and eventually find their lives begins to FLOURISH. A major lightening thought moment sets in and the difference between the things that truly matter in this world, and what can just be left at the wayside is actively realized.
In essence you start to become more effective, more powerful, more fulfilled, more sensitive, and more understanding of the world around you. Things will start to have a deeper meaning, life becomes purposeful, you begin to play with the surroundings you find yourself in.
What's going on is that you're actively and purposefully pulling down "God" into your earthly reality, while actively and purposefully raising your own awareness into the vibration of "holiness" (WHOLE-iness) - you become a bigger piece in the cosmic puzzle. A searcher, a receiver, and spreader - of the highest forms of truth, love, and awareness.
I realize this might be a tough pill to swallow for some of you... It's hard to go along with the idea that things are already set up the way they're supposed to be.. Especially with all the hurt and pain in this world, (and especially if you've been beaten over the head with organized religion.) Also it's hard to convince yourself that there is any deeper meaning to life when you've lived so many years without needing to think about it.
On a personal note - If this helps, I myself can clearly remember a long time ago before I started "seeking" - when I just accepted my lot in life, was happy to go along with things, however they may be. I had a little bit of religion when I was very young, but soon enough it faded away (which I suspect is quite common for most people now a days) - I had nothing really to go by, and no real reason to. I remember thinking about things like magic(k), astrology, dream work, angels, etc. and shrugging it off as mumbo jumbo, or just something silly for entertainment. So, my very cool readers, I know both sides of the coin. As I grew older, however, things changed my outlook and I soon realized it was worth delving into the unseen.
One more thing - KEEP IN MIND - I'm not trying to PUSH anything on to anyone or try to say MY beliefs are better, or that YOU have it wrong... This is all simply an explanation of something that I've found to work and be useful in life. I just happen to believe in it so much that I want to at least put some of these ideas out there and give other people the chance to decide for themselves. I'm telling the truth when I say it sincerely changed my life.
In conclusion, I wish to push a few important points across to my wonderful readers: First of all Occultism is not necessarily a BAD thing. Essentially it works depending on the operator (like just about everything else in this world) - We get what we put in to it. Secondly, not everyone is able to accept these ideas - and that's not a bad thing either. There are many paths to source, and for those of you who resonate to these ideas and think you might have found something, kudos to you. I can promise you, you're in for a truly special treat. There is nothing in this world quite as unique, amazing, powerful, and awe inspiring as having a working, contemporary, breathing relationship with the universe. For those of you who think I'm a wack job - reading something else would probably be a good idea. These ideas are not for you, and you're place is probably somewhere else. Lastly, I will do my best to continue writing information from my own life and experience, in effort to spark the divine search in others. As honestly and from the heart as I can.
Now that you have a little background on what I'm talking about, next time I will discuss the whole conept of MEDITATION, how it relates to occultism, and why it is an important and valuable endeavor if you wish to embark on this path..............................................................
....... The following is my PERSONAL OPINION:
Don't forget - County legislature election day is coming up on NOV 3rd. My man Chris Rosenquest has to get locked in. Big up to PAFB peeps, to anyone who remembers those days, and anyone who wants to bring some life back to this area. It's been a waste land for too long around here and we could use a nice injection of younger blood in office to act and get things done. Too many of our leaders seem to just be looking out for themselves. Old guys keeping themselves rich, fat and happy. Giving out the bare minimum and lacking organization, this area is SO not community oriented... "Narrow, unenlightened self interest does not impress me." Rosenquest is qualified, energetic, accessible, and looking out for the entire community. I urge any and all of my readers to vote for him on NOV 3rd. As I said in a previous post, I'm willing to carpool, pick you up, do whatever you need to count your vote in. Once again here's a link to his steeze: https://www.facebook.com/ChrisforClintonCounty/?fref=ts and http://www.chrisforclintoncounty.com/ so you can get involved, donate, etc...
Younger people need to take some more interest in what's happening in local politics, band together, and make some progressive changes. It's 2015 and it's about time people, c'mon! In closing I urge you to take a look at the candidates and at the very least go down to vote! Make your voice heard.
It's so true what they say, "You gotta give it away to keep it." So here's to a brighter future for EVERYONE in this area. Rosenquest is a stepping stone in that direction - Rock on...............................................................................................................................................................
As ALWAYS - thanks for reading!
To my truly awesome and gifted followers -
Happy Halloween!
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