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Merry Christmas

Sunday, December 18, 2011

Been a while since I wrote anything here.  Certainly not for lack of anything to say, but certainly due to lack of time to say anything.  So much has changed this past year.  Around this time each year I reflect on the lyrics to Lennon’s iconic song.  “And so this is Christmas, and what have you done?  Another year over; a new one just begun.”

 

What have I done?  What direction am I moving towards?  Is this where I want to go?  What good have I done?  How have I made this place better because i was here?

 

For too many years I didn’t like the answers to these questions.  Perhaps for the first time in a long time I do not dislike the answers I have come up with.  Sometimes my personal journals may contradict what I just said, but then again I often use my journals to vent the negativity from my body to prevent it from damaging my spirit. Naturally such negativity does not reflect my wholeness, but only the part that is selfish, lazy and irresponsible.  Change requires courage, commitment, responsibility and learning.  Staying the same would be so much easier, but without change the world would not have butterflies and I would still be drunk and suicidal.

 

And so this is Christmas; what have I done?

 

I went and got myself engaged, a full-time job, a new apartment, a new car, some new friends.  a Kindle and news shoes.  I planned my own wedding and was the best man in my nest friend’s wedding.  I changed my applauding habit so now I clap with my left hand above my right (just to try something new).  I bought some book shelves.  Gave away a bunch of my magic supplies.  Wrote a new theatre magic show and have no intention of performing it.  I started teaching magic classes again.  I became Catholic.  I bought some Christmas presents.  I have a new band.  I walked quickly through the grocery store.

 

I did many more things but that’s all I can think of at the moment.  My lap top is about to run our of power, and I really don’t feel like plugging it in right now.  I will type all that I can before the power runs out,  So if this ends at an odd moment please understand.

 

What happened to everything else?  What happened to my other thoughts and actions>  Where did they go?  They are still here in this blog and in my journals, but month after month, year after year, new thoughts take over and I am swept away to different places.  What happened to Herb?  What happened to the bicycle?  What happened to China?  What happened to the book?  What happened to the show?  How did I end up in a classroom?  How did I end up on this couch in this apartment in this town?

 

It all stands on what came before it.  It all came from the prayers I said silently and screamed out loud to myself and to God.  They are answers.  Certainly not what i was expecting.  But certainly grateful just the same.

 

I no longer care for my own thoughts for thy don’t really matter.  All that really matters is that I live.  And that I Am.

 

Another year over and a new one’s just begun.

Merry Christmas.

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Calendar

Thursday, September 15, 2011

Public Appearances

Saturday September 17:

1pm – 2pm @ The Road House Café, Rt. 9 in Belchertown performing strolling magic

 

Friday September 23:

6:45pm – 7:15pm @ the Belchertown Fair under the music tent performing an interactive comedy magic show

 

Saturday September 24:

2pm – 2:25pm @ the Belchertown Fair under the music tent performing an interactive comedy magic show

 

4:30pm – 4:55pm @ the Belchertown Fair under the music tent performing an interactive comedy magic show

 

5:30pm – 6:15pm @ the Knights of Columbus in Ware performing an interactive comedy magic show for the Wounded Warriors Project

 

7:05pm – 7:20pm @ the Belchertown Fair under the music tent performing an interactive comedy magic show

 

Sunday September 25:

3:05pm – 3:20pm @ the Belchertown Fair under the music tent performing an interactive comedy magic show

 

Saturday October 1:

10am – 5pm @ the Harvest Festival at the Berkshire Botanical Garden on routes 102 & 183 in Stockbridge, MA making balloon animals

 

Saturday October 2:

10am – 5pm @ the Harvest Festival at the Berkshire Botanical Garden on routes 102 & 183 in Stockbridge, MA making balloon animals

 

Saturday October 8:

7pm – 11pm @ The Hill, 111 Chestnut St. Springfield, MA performing jazz saxophone with Casual Sax

 

Sunday October 16:

5pm – 7pm @ St. Thomas in Palmer, MA performing an interactive comedy magic show for benefit

 

Thursday October 20:

8pm – 11pm @ the Black Moon Music Lounge, State St. Belchertown, MA performing jazz saxophone with Casual Sax

 

Saturday October 29:

1pm – 1:30 pm @ Big Y, 503 Memorial Ave. West Springfield, MA performing an interactive comedy magic show for their customer Halloween Party

 

3pm – 3:30pm @ Big Y, East Silver St. Westfield, MA performing an interactive comedy magic show for their customer Halloween Party

 

Sunday October 30:

1pm – 1:30pm @ Big Y, 255 West Main Street Avon, CT performing an interactive comedy magic show for their customer Halloween Party

 

Saturday November 5:

2pm – 3:30pm @ UMASS McGuirk Stadium alumni booth performing walk-around magic for Homecoming pre-game festivities

 

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Last week at this time

Thursday, September 1, 2011

Here’s a message I received in an email this morning. I found it interesting and I thought you might too.

 

Enjoy…

 

 

 

Just think, last week at this time we were all beginning to prep for hurricane Irene. Here we are, one week later and many of us came through unscathed. Amazing. However, we are now aware of the utter destruction to the property of friends or family here in Massachusetts, Vermont, New Jersey, and numerous other areas. I have several friends in Vermont, and know of others right here in MA, who are stranded due to roads or bridges out and who have lost homes. This is not even mentioning the loss of life. Some of you readers may be enduring these very hardships and our hearts go out to you.

 

For us “survivors”, how do we cope and make meaning that so many others are suffering right now? If we look at the bigger picture, we can include Katrina, Japan, and many areas around the globe impacted by fierce and ferocious weather at this time. And yet, those of us who came through with flying colors can go about our daily lives as is. And with all predictions of 2012 most of us understand the world won’t come to an end. But we DO know we are transitioning from our attachment to the material world and moving more toward a conscientious world. How is that? Well, ask anyone who has just lost life, limb, house, bridges, towns, et al. When setbacks happen our priorities begin to shift from HAVING to BEING. From ISOLATION to CONNECTION. From TAKING to GIVING. From HOARDING to SHARING. From WORRY to GRACE.

 

 

Anyone who has known tragedy knows ultimately that consciousness is where the meaning making leads us to. Still, we live in a material world. Our increased awareness may wane, but we never forget these realities. Irene reminded us that at a deeper level we know “it could of been me”, or “it could be me next”. These are both true. If we simply worry about either, it is not useful. But if we can allow ourselves to take action around either of these points we empower ourselves and show our support to those who have lost everything. We can use the experience as a spiritual tool. We can take these worries and take action.

 

What might action look like? Here are many options:

- Extend our wallets to give to charities and organizations helping those in need.

- Offer a physical hand to clean up or rebuild.

- Take inventory of our own lives. Ask DO I REALLY NEED THIS?

- Give our extra THINGS to organizations who can distribute them to the needy is a perfect way to help others.

-  Focus on relationships. What relationships do I need to clear up?

- Do our spiritual work. What is your purpose on this planet? Are you moving in that direction?

- What is not working in your life. what blocks you from changing?

- How are you being asked to reach out to others?

- Are you taking care of your body/mind/and spirit as own your spiritual temple?

 

- Practice gratitude for what you DO have

- Spend time in daily prayer or meditation showering metta onto those who are suffering.

No shame around what you haven’t done. There is only now and tomorrow. You can start now. One step at a time.

 

Many Reiki blessings everyone!

Haleya

 

http://www.valleyreiki.com

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Judging Success

Wednesday, August 31, 2011

 

Today I received an email from Jeff McBride.  It contained a message from Jordan Wright, a talented artist, both as magical performer and filmmaker.

 

Judging Success

How do you judge yourself and your success? Do you look at your career and see completion or do you see room for growth? Many magicians might choose to measure their success by how many shows they have done. Others might choose to measure only by the amount of money they make. The tendency is to dwell on the work we have in the moment or have had in the past. But there are those times when we feel like we are working just as hard yet we are getting very little “work”. It is easy to get to feeling down and to feel like we are not a success. We might receive a bad review, and suddenly our self-doubt creeps in. In the end, it all comes down to our attitude in how we judge our success. If we judge how great our work is by what we have done, or the feedback we receive, then we are only looking at the end result rather than the passion we had doing it.

 

One of my favorite types of art is conceptual art. In its origins, conceptual art challenged the belief that the purpose of art was to create material objects. Conceptual art is never focused on the result, or the product that is produced. Instead, the focus is placed on the process, the creation of new concepts and ideas. Relating this to magic, think of magicians who are always striving to develop new techniques and skills to accomplish an effect. A lay audience might never see much of what they come up with, yet they are always generating new ideas. Perhaps we can learn from this “concept” to measure success by our passion to attempt something new. After all, we have to be willing to create something beyond what has been done in the past in order for our art to evolve. Our work is not just about the end result, it is about the creative process. The end result will look good if the process felt good.

 

http://www.jonascain.com

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It doesn’t matter what I do

Saturday, August 27, 2011

It doesn’t matter what I do so long as I do it.

 

Seek first the Kingdom of God.  Then all prayers will be answered.

 

Seek the inner, rather than the outer.  Seek first to love and understand.  What matters now and forever is the spirit.  What matters now is Life and that I do it as my soul wills.

 

I’ve natural abilities that are to serve this mission in Life.

 

To honor God and all that is I must use my talents, sharing them with others.

 

In this way I will be God’s moon, reflecting His Light into the darkness for others to follow.

 

They in turn will become my moons, reflecting God’s Light to even more, until one day his Love is set up as a tent over the entire world.

 

We are God’s campers, blanketed by his Love.

 

Some do not see and even those that do do not fully understand.  But if we continue to listen and follow our Hearts, the promptings of our Spirit, we will know our Lord’s Peace, Love and Joy.

 

I have a dream.

 

In this dream my talents allow me to support myself and my family.  My talents are as a resource magnet; all that I need is supplied to me in abundance.

 

If I need food, it is given.  If I need clothing, it is given.  If I need shelter, it is given.  If I need transportation, it is given.  If I need nurturing, it is given.  If I need a favor, it is given.  If I need forgiveness, it is given.  If I need help, it is given.  If I need Love, it is given.  If I need Hope, it is given.  If I need prayers, it is given.  If I need guidance, it is given.  If I need council, it is given.  If I need opportunity, it is given.  If I need experience, it is given.  If I need a friend, it is given.  If I need advice, it is given.  If I need wisdom, it is given.  If I need strength, it is given.  If I need perseverance, it is given.  If I need knowledge, it is given.  If I need warmth, it is given.  If I need a cool breeze, it is given.  If I need Light, it is given.  If I need a sign, it is given.  If I need my Heavenly Angles, They are given.  If I need my Savior, He is given.  If I need my God, He will carry me Home.

 

And in this dream, with these talents that support my well-Being, they are also shared with others, so that they too may be supported.  That all that they may need is given unto them.

 

My dream is to be God’s moon.  To reflect His Love unto others.  To shed His Love all across this beautiful Earth.

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Biology

Sunday, March 20, 2011

“It is a magnificent feeling to recognize the unity of complex phenomena which appear to be things quite apart from the direct visible truth.” – Albert Einstein

The wall calendar of my high school sophomore Biology class had that above quote from Einstein printed on it.

I had no idea what the heck it was supposed to mean.

At the end of the school year I asked my teacher, Mrs. Higney, if I could have the calendar. Ever the gracious teacher, she agreed to it.

From 1999 to 2009 that calendar hung on my bedroom wall opened to that quote. I kept it open there so that it would be constantly there, ever present in my daily life to incorporate it into my reality.

It was taken down from my wall in 2009 for I no longer had walls. That November I left on a bicycle ride in fulfillment of my mission.

I quit my job, got rid of all of my possessions, sold my car, left my apartment and got on a bicycle and headed to California from Massachusetts.

The ride lasted five days before I turned around and came back to nothing but Love and a Clean Slate.

Despite the fact that I didn’t make it to California didn’t concern me, for that was not the real destination.

And in many ways, even though it has been over a year since the return, I know that I am still on that bicycle ride. I just don’t happen to be on the bicycle right now.

So what, then, is the real destination?

Perhaps it was the Clean Slate. Perhaps it was to Discover Love. Perhaps it was to take a break from Life. Or perhaps to take a break from what others call the World. And perhaps it was a means to an end.

The ride didn’t really start in November 2009. Perhaps it started that spring when a tree spoke to me and told me that I was on a Journey of Discovery. Or perhaps it was the summer before when my fiancé passed away. Or perhaps it was when we met in high school nine years earlier. Or perhaps it all started my sophomore year of high school, sitting in Biology class, looking at the walls. And wondering what it means “to recognize the unity of complex phenomena which appear to be things quite apart from the direct visible truth.”

In the time since I left everything behind to go on that Faithful ride I became broke.

I became homeless.

I slept on my friend’s floor for six months.

I let go of all that was holding me back.

I became a Mormon

I read “Siddhartha” by Hermann Hesse

I became a school teacher.

I met a wonderful woman and fell in Love instantly and asked her to marry me.

She said yes.

All of these things I could not see going into that bicycle ride yet all of these things prepared me for what was to come next. And what is coming next is preparing me for what I still cannot see. Yet what I can see is the unity of the complex mystery of Faith that is the Universal Plan.

And I am enjoying every moment of this Journey of Discovery.

The Study of Life is a worthy endeavor for all Beings.

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a skill that all human beings have

Friday, November 5, 2010

Two friends were sitting in a park.

They sat in silence for several moments on this sunny afternoon when suddenly one friend turned to the other and said, “What are you thinking about?”

The friend said calmly, “I am praying for all those with troubled minds, broken hearts and weary souls. Praying that they may be comforted and that their spirits be lifted.”

The friend was astonished with this profound selfless thought and said, “I can never think of anything as nice as that.”

The friend replied, “Such thoughts require but one skill, my friend; a skill that all human beings have.”

“What is that?” the other asked.

The friend simply replied, “Selfishness.”

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The Art of Not Doing

Monday, November 1, 2010

I forget where I first heard about this concept. It was probably a Dalia Lama idea from one of his books or perhaps I found it in a Carlos Castaneda book. At first I didn’t understand it. How can we do something that is a “not doing?” But just the other day the answer was revealed to me.

I was substitute teaching at a local high school and as I was doing attendance a student noted my facial hair and said that he wished that he could grow a beard. I simply told him to do it then. But he said that it was difficult. I finished by saying that on the contrary, growing a beard is perhaps the easiest thing to do. One simply must not shave. It is the opposite of a doing. It is a not doing.

It struck me then that giving up old habits and thought patterns and other aspects of my life that are no longer serving me by applying this “Art of not Doing.”

Want to save money? Don’t spend money. Don’t want to do drugs? Don’t do drugs. Don’t want to drink? Then don’t drink. Don’t want to gratify yourself? Then just don’t do it.

It is far easier to do nothing than it is to do a something. Therefore these afflictions that trouble me can no longer have control over me, for I have recognized the truth: The simplicity of the “Art of Not Doing.”

Related to this concept if the “Art of Allowing,” such as Reiki work, or in theology the idea of “letting God be God.” There is nothing that needs to be done. In order to do a something like this we simply have to not interfere. We simply allow the flow to occur.

It is far easier to allow something to happen than to try and stop a something from happening. If it is good to allow, allow. If it is good to not do, don’t do.

In both cases there is nothing that needs to be done. We can simply sit back and observe, or witness, this marvelous life, comforted to know that we are doing our very best by doing nothing and allowing life to unfold as it should.

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The Ring

Monday, June 21, 2010

June 13, 2010

12:56AM

I have decided to sell my fiancée’s engagement ring so that I may make good on the many debts I accumulated when she passed away just a day after I picked it out for her.

I have not made this decision lightly for this is the ring that I promised to give to her but never did. I just could not bring myself to do it after that unimaginable Sunday afternoon after stepping through the unfathomable door at the funeral parlor and walking the impossible walk across the room to stand over her lifeless body lying in the casket.

One week earlier from that very moment we were playing mini-golf at Lake Winnepesaukah and just four days before that we were lying together in her bed staring into each other’s eyes, our souls were talking to each other you see. She was willing me to ask, and I that I hadn’t a ring yet, and she that it didn’t matter.

And so I asked.

And so she smiled.

And so she nodded.

And so I smiled.

And so I said, “I always wondered what that would feel like.”

And so she asked, “What?”

And so I said, “To ask the woman of my dreams to marry me and to have her say yes and to have that woman be you.”

And yet there I was with ring in hand and finally ready to give it to her seeing in my heart that the woman lying in that casket was not Stephanie.

No.

It was not my best friend.

No.

It was not her.

No.

It was most certainly the body her soul inhabited during her time as Stephanie but no that was not Stephanie.

And so I couldn’t give Stephanie’s ring to a lifeless body that was not her and so I carried that ring with me anywhere and everywhere I went in search of her from appletini to appletini yet anywhere and everywhere I could not find her.

I drank all my work. I drank all my possessions. I drank all my money. I drank all my hopes. I drank all my life away and still I couldn’t find her.

And so time went on and time went by as I did not and just when I all but gave up I did find her again and I will give you a hint as to how I finally did:

She was found in letting go.

No job. No car. No home. No possessions. No anything nor no everything. No nothing no never no not no none no no.

Once I let go of life I found that I could have all of life and it was in all of life that I found Peace of Mind. And it was in all of life that I found Love in my Heart. And it was in all of life that I found Joy for Life.

Yes, I have finally found Stephanie again.

Yes, I have not made this decision lightly to sell my fiancée’s engagement ring that I promised to give to her but never did but I have found Stephanie again and I have also found I no longer need to carry this ring anymore nor do I need to hoard it anymore for this ring is of this world but is not for this world and my work is for this world but is not of this world and my work for this world needs the money that this ring holds. Transferring this money to my work for this world will finally allow me to give to Stephanie her engagement ring that I promised to give her but never did to make good on the many debts I accumulated when she passed away just a day after I picked it out for her, this modest trilogy diamond ring that has an inscription that reads “P.S. I Love You”

It is with a heavy heart that such a moment has come but it is with a heavy heart that all moments of this world come.

With Abundant Peace of Mind, Love in Your Heart and Joy for Life-

Jonas Cain

http://www.jonascain.com

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I Thanked God

Saturday, May 15, 2010

Couldn’t afford to pay my cell phone bill, so I thanked God for giving me the opportunity to become more present in each moment.

Car broke down, so I thanked God for giving me the opportunity to help the environment by relying on car pooling.

Didn’t have a place to live, so I thanked God for giving me the opportunity to become closer to the friends that welcomed me into their home.

Best friend died, so I thanked God for allowing me the opportunity to know how fragile and precious life is.

Struggling with alcoholism, so I thanked God for giving me the opportunity to find my strength.

Receiving harsh criticism, so I thanked God for allowing me the opportunity to practice determination in the face of adversity.

We get out of life what we give. If we perceive problems then we will get problems; but if we choose instead to perceive opportunities then we will grow to our full potential.

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