Butterflies, magnificent gentle creatures that fly so gracefully through the wind. Butterfly Breeze is my latest inkblot design that artistically displays the butterflies beautiful winged form.

The greatest martial artists,
when they become masters of the art,
and have found “The Way.”
They realize their best technique,
is not to fight.

Masters of and art often reach this stage of duality.

This piece is titled “Okinawa Sanshin” from my Inkblot design series. The Sanshin, is a beautiful snakeskin-covered Okinawan instrument that produces enchanting sounds that fills the hearts of all who listen.

It’s definitely our discrimination of the details that determines the difference between dull and dazzling.

If it is true that everything is a lie (an illusion), then the statement contradicts itself by being true, thus making the statement false by involuntarily proving truths existence.
If it is false that everything is a lie (an illusion), then it again simply proves truths existence.
Either way, Truth is proven to exist.

In life, “the illusion” is often prettied up and designed to sell, and at that, at discount prices. People bite at the bargain, It seems easier and cheaper, so their off with their bargain, and go down this long winding road until they eventually are lost, and finally reach a dead end, the end of “the illusion.” They are then forced to turn back, and back track to where the road originally split, sometimes taking them what seems like an eternity just to get back to that fork. Once, they are there. Then, they take that road, yes, the one less traveled, the one that leads them to the way of enlightenment, the way they wish they would have traveled to begin with, the way their hearts originally pointed to, the way of the truth.

Today I heard somebody say, “Where am I?” I thought to myself, “You are right where you are.” You are always right where you are. You are always right here and now. Then I pondered my use of the word “always.” “Always” is a word that shouldn’t be used lightly. It’s an endless word like “never.” I started working it out in my head, Are we really ALWAYS right where we are? What about when we die, when we are buried below the ground, or have been turned to dust and thrown in the ocean. In death, since there is no conscious to think or say, “I am here,” are we sincerely no longer here? Which naturally raises the next question.

Who is “I”? When we speak of ourselves, when we say, “I,” is this “I” - us physically, or is “I” simply our conscious, or maybe something more? I’m sure this is an age old question, but I feel it is important to understand, to come one step closer to living aware and in the light of truth. If “I” or our “self” is just our “conscious awareness,” then when we die, I would assume that “I” would cease to be, thereby forcing me to remove the “always” from my previous statement. The reason I would have to “assume” that “I” would cease to be in death and not know it as a fact is because I have never died. I do not know what death consists of other then our physical parts cease to function and our bodies rapidly descend into decay.

If “I” is more then just our conscious, say for example it consist of our physical form, and even maybe a spirit (though I have yet to uncover proof of spirit existence) then perhaps the above statement has a chance of holding true even with the always, but It may be unlikely. The only thing I have found consistent in the world, that would constitute using the word “always” is “change.” Change is always occurring.

Even as I write this, I keep using the word “I” to reflect “me.” But what really is “I” or “me.” Further thought might conclude that “I” is a reflection or the resulting reaction of everything that “I” has come in contact with, thus making “I” a part of everything. So even if my body and my conscious die, The “I” still lives on in everything else. How is this possible you ask? In this scenario, “I” is not only a reflection or the resulting reaction of everything, but also a contributor to everything. Everything “I” comes in contact with is effected from that moment on. This motion is happening every moment, a continuous chain reaction linking us all together as one.

The conclusion, there is only one “I.” We are all “I.”

Think of it like this, each of us resembles one word, and these words create one diary, a diary that is continuously being written. If someone outside of this chain were to read this diary and every word in it. As they pass through each word, those individual words may die, but their meaning and contribution to the diary still lives on.

James over at “Right On!” posted his opinion on a new plan called, Edge (Evolutionarily Distinct Globally Endangered), a conservation effort to save endangered species. James’s focus was on “man” and mans obsession with control and stepping in on Mother Nature by trying to preserve a “naturally?” dying out species.

There is nothing new about this. Groups and organizations have been out there for a long time to protect endangered species. As far as if it is right or wrong, who can say? Doesn’t it not equally effect nature in saving a life and in taking one? We take animals lives all the time, for survival, for food. Would it really hurt so much, to save? There is a whole lot of killing in the world, and not much saving. In this respect, I can’t complain about the act of saving a creature, a life. If the species were about to go extinct, and we saved it, therefore, not becoming extinct, and have the possibility to repopulate, is this unnatural? What is natural anymore? Does a snowflake not fall perfectly in place?

I do agree on “mans” ego though and trying to control everything. We are too big for our britches. With power comes responsibility, and the modern man has not been as responsible as it should. Our abuse of nature is outweighing our respect and care for nature. In the end, we will have destroyed ourselves due to a lack of responsibility of our power. Maybe we should take a refresher lesson from our native Indians on “resourcefulness.”

What are your thoughts?

This piece is titled “Kijimuna (Okinawa Fairy)” from my Inkblot design series.

In Okinawa, there’s a kind of ubiquitous sprite or goblin known as kijimuna, though in the northern area it is called sema or bunagaya which means “a living thing with a large head.” Most all of the stories describe the creature as a little boy or girl of three or four years old with a red face and red hair living in the hollow of big old trees such as the banyan tree (called gajimaru in Okinawa).

The kijimuna is said to like fishing, but it dislikes octopus. It also has a penchant for eating the left eye of any fish it catches. Sometimes it carries along a flame or firebrand while walking through the forested foot of the hills and mountains or along the beach. (That wandering light is called kijimunabi “kijimuna firebrand/torch”). Also it has been known to approach a sleeping person, and to press itself on the person’s chest making it impossible for the person to get up. Being mysteriously tied down and immobilized like that is called kanashibari in mainland Japan. There are stories of persons who managed to get on good terms with the kijimuna and as a consequence became rich. But when the relationship went sour, the person ended up chasing away the kijimuna by throwing octopus at it. But recently there are few reports of kijimuna being encountered. Nonetheless, someone has built a kind of observatory for the sole purpose of seeing kijimuna.

When Kijimuna come out from the thier trees in the evening, they sometimes attack people. They cover the person with their bodies. Women usually get covered by male Kijimuna. It is unusual for a man to be covered by a female Kijimuna. A person who is attacked by a Kijimuna can’t move or breath.

Kijimunas appear to be about six years old, These are found all over Okinawa, a Kijimuna can stand between one and four feet tall. People in Ogimi and Kunigami village, Okinawa, say that Kijimuna are fairies. One of the Kijimuna’s favorite stomping grounds is Ginoza Village where, it is beleived, a famous Kijimuna legend originated. Kijimunas are known to be mischievous and do naughty things. Have you ever had the experience where You cannot sleep or have a bad dream? Many Okinawans beleive it is because the Kijimunas sneak into their bedrooms and jump on their chests. Kijimuna is a good fisherman. IF a person becomes Kijimuna’s friend,it takes that person on it’s back and flies over the mountains and the sea. Kijimuna hates it when humans break wind. If a person breaks wind on Kijimuna’s back,he or she is thrown off, over the mountains and the sea, and their skin is sprayed with poison.

This piece is titled “Smokin’ Hearts” from my Inkblot design series. Especially designed for the rebel in you. Click the image to enlarge it.

I am, of course, none other than blank verse. I don’t know where I’m going, yes, quite right; And when I get there (if I ever do) I might not recognise it. So? Your point? Why should I have a destination set? I’m relatively happy as I am, and wouldn’t want to be forever aimed towards some future path or special goal. It’s not to do with laziness, as such. It’s just that one the whole I’d rather not be bothered - so I drift contentedly; An underrated way of life, I find.

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