Hey there, everyone - Sorry it's been a while since I had anything to say but I've been busy with other things. Hopefully everyone is having a good time and feeling positive about 2016. Lots of ups and downs in my life but I'm feeling positive about the future. Still taking care of people at County, still working out at Powerhouse, still continuing my personal path to enlightenment... and still thinking of cool things to do! I can't complain and truth be told there are some pretty awesome things on the horizon. This edition will be kind of short and simple - BUT there is always more to come...
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This "Esoteric Entry" is going to deviate slightly from the way I had planned things. I feel at this point it is ok though and for this occasion maybe even necessary.
While at work the other day I heard some sad news that yet again, another young person in a local school district committed suicide. Although I am not 100% sure, I did hear from a number of sources that Bullying was a major contributor of this incident. So in memory of this young man, I'd like to talk a little bit about the concept of the "group mind", how it relates to Occultism, Bullying, and our every day lives.
Whenever there is a situation where people "gang up" on an individual, on an unseen level it USUALLY relates to the need for acceptance. In a system where a number of individuals are gathered together (such as school, or work, etc..) there is a phenomena that occurs that makes acceptance to a whole a top priority. There becomes a need to fit in and be part of the greater numbers. This I'm sure can be traced back to the days when we were still in a "Tribe" type stage of existence.
Think of a time when you have witnessed this idea in action. In the news, in your local community, remembering when you were back in school, in your work place, etc .. Back in the day it was so crucial to be part of a larger system - it meant survival, it meant safety, it meant security. and this is ingrained in us. Unfortunately in recent times the reasoning is not always as righteous or productive.
For many people, if they see a number of there peers ganging up on, ridiculing, making fun of, or hating on someone else an inner sense of "need to be a part of" kicks in, and it becomes far too easy to join the legion of "bullys." If you're not accepted as part of a group you are in essence cast out and most of the time we find ourselves on one side or another...
This is why Occultists (and anyone really) need to be aware about this kind of thing. It can be very easy to get swayed into something if you don't have your head about you. Especially if great numbers are involved. This is how things like racism, sexism, homophobia, etc spread around... not to mention the salem witch trials.. (little occult joke there) - If you find yourself in a situation that you know in your heart doesn't agree with your values there is a chance you are being "led on" by something you're much better off without.
The problem with bullying in my opinion, is that kids get caught up so easily with the idea that it means so much to be accepted that very often they will do anything to become part of that group. Even if it means the degradation or humiliation of someone else.
I can remember the "school yard" days of my youth quite well... I gravitated toward wherever my friends went - for better or worse... and I suspect this is the same for a lot of us. Only until I got a little older and more knowledgeable did I realize that thinking for myself was a viable option and there is such thing as right and wrong.
There are many victims of the bully culture - firstly the outsiders / people being rejected by the group, and then secondly very often the individuals of the group themselves, (and thirdly - not to mention - the families of everyone who is involved).
There are some would-be solutions to this awful occurrence that keeps happening in schools across America (and keep in mind, all this I'm saying is just my opinion) - I feel that hands down we need to PROMOTE the best way we can, that Bullying is NOT COOL.
We need to PROMOTE that It's MORE than not cool, and in fact it's DANGEROUS to your character, the community, and the wellbeing of society. Chances are a lot of these kids who are part of these groups of bullies or what have you are just blissfully ignorant of what damage they are causing. They just know they need to be accepted somewhere. If we took a little time to spread some truth - some honest, decent, cool, good truth, I bet things could change.
In essence, the greater group - the whole - the entirety - the populous - needs to be ANTI-BULLY. I strongly suggest to the people involved in this local tragedy to do whatever they can to organize and do what they have to in order to help make bullying as UNCOMFORTABLE as possible. The idea is that we want to make bullying, making fun of someone, whatever you want to call it, as UNCOOL as possible and as AWKWARD as standing up and doing the macareena in the middle of a church service... or as awkward as practicing a trombone at the movie theater... You feel what I'm saying?
When there's a Will there's a way, and as sad as it is that another young person with potential and a future got to the point where suicide was the only way out, I believe that his death will increase this kind of awareness, and GOOD will come out of it. - and who knows, maybe the attention that's being created will save someone else's life one day.
One last thing - If anyone out there knows these people or has any information on how to get in contact to help out or be part of a solution please let me know. I feel strongly about this and am willing to do my part to help things get better. Thank you for reading
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So it looks like Plattsburgh is opening up a LEGAL marijuana dispensary for those who are in need. Right on - You Go Plattsburgh! Way to be so medically open minded... lol In a town full of republicans I'm wondering if they had a hard time to finally make this happen. I'm not sure how many people around here are actually prescribed marijuana but it must be enough to constitute a dispensary. Perhaps it might have something to do with us being so close to VT as well? I can't imagine it's too far before they legalize the recreational use as well - even if it's just for the tax revenue. How crazy would it be if NY dropped the hammer on that one...
Anyway, good luck to all the people involved with the medical dispensary. I can tell you that from a medical standpoint, as a professional in the healthcare field I have seen some things - and it certainly seems that there are some people out there getting legitimate life giving benefits from the use of marijuana. So why not make sure the people who are entitled to these benefits get medical grade, clean product? Makes sense, no?
I won't bore you with my personal feelings on the drug itself, but I will leave you with this:
Thanksforreading, byeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee <3
