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You know, sometimes we need a kick in the pants.
Don’t laugh, but the day before yesterday for fun, I decided to draw a Moon Card from the online Moon Card site. I got was “The Archer.”
That tickled me, for in high school PE I was good at archery. (Remember when we had PE. in high school?) I wasn’t great at sports—I didn’t like them, really—my forte was riding my horse, and in P.E. I liked the trampoline—I guess with both I felt I was flying and it was non-competitive.
That high school archery excel was a surprise, and it came with a lesson in human behavior. A student asked, “Why is she so good at archery?” The teacher responded: “Because she has good posture.” A fluke, I guess. I stand straight. I noticed that if you are poor at sports, you are somewhat outside the group. If you are good, you are envied—but then, maybe that’s teenage stuff.
I don’t think so.
I think it goes into adulthood.
If you are rich, you immediately go up the Awe ladder, but are envied by many.
Back to the Archery card:
“She's prepared to face any condition in pursuit of her target, emphasizing resilience and determination. The hillside behind her signifies the long journey she has taken to reach this vantage point, illustrating your own journey to this moment. This card represents your readiness to build the future you want and the motivation to chase your dreams, no matter what challenges arise.”
So, put on a leather arm protector, left arm if you’re right-handed, other arm if you’re left-hand dominate. Protect your arm against that whap of a bowstring. That stings. Load your arrow on the bowstring; one finger holds the arrow, the other fingers pull the string. Pull back until you feel you have reached a strong draw of the bowstring and a bend of the bow. Take aim. Look straight down the arrow. Stand up straight. Release the string.
Twang. Thud.
You hit the straw target, close, but not the bullseye. So, try again.
If you have read any of my other posts, you know that sometimes I shoot wild. Sometimes I rant. Other times I emphasize the positive. My best shot doesn’t always hit the bullseye.
But today I am revitalized.
Zig Ziglar says: “Some say motivation doesn’t last. Neither does bathing. That’s why we do it daily.”
Yes, I’m motivated to read the book I have owned and loved for more than 30 years.
It has had some rough treatment. Sorry about that. It has circled the Pacific Rim with us many times. (for our moves.) It looks ragged, but is much loved, as was the Velveteen Rabbit and thus was made real. One might think I used that book for target practice; however, if I had used it in place of a bull’s-eye, it would have a hole in its center.
It doesn’t.
Yesterday on Kindle Unlimited, I discovered a book titled The Magic Secret. Narrated and introduced by Mitch Horowitz. Horowitz writes about Clyde Bristol, the author of “The Magic of Believing,” The Science of Setting Your Goal …and then Reaching It.
I knew the pianist Liberace had used something akin to Bristol’s teachings, but I didn't know he praised him wildly for getting his career on track. Liberace, a flaming gay man at a time when that was wildly unpopular, had dreams of playing at the Hollywood Bowl, so to give himself the feeling of doing it, the courage to play his piano there, he found a night when there were no performances, and played his piano there—to an audience of one, himself.
He wanted to put himself in that place where he was aiming for his dream, to feel it, to embrace it, to make himself believe his heart’s desire was possible. You know how athletes look at the result, the ball in the pocket, in the hoop, over the wall.
Eventually he played there to an audience of thousands. And you know that his flamboyant self was eventually covered with diamonds.
Phyllis Diller, another of Bristol’s aficionados. She was not a beautiful starlet and she had a voice that could scratch records, but through her own mindset. effort and talent, she became wildly popular, including sitting in for Johnny Carson.
They had it, they used it, they got it.
Clyde Bistrol earned his writing chops—clear, succinct, on-target writing—as a Police reporter; think fast, get the facts straight, move on. He wrote not as an occultist, a spiritual teacher, or a scientist, but as a reporter. He was in the First World War and sent to France. He was a Grunt, carrying ammunition for the soldiers. Because of a mix-up, he wasn’t getting his salary. The military fed him, clothed him, and gave him a bed on the ground, but he had no money to spend. He began to envy the other soldiers who could light up a cigarette or throw away a gum wrapper. He vowed never to be in that situation again. Spurred to action, he studied and found The Magic of Believing, and has been praised for sharing what he found when others would have kept it a secret.
And so, dear ones, I shall open my poor yellowed pages of Bristol’s book The Magic of Believing, and begin to read it all over again.
I’m motivated to read the book I have owned and loved for more than 30 years.
It has had some rough treatment. Sorry about that. It has circled the Pacific Rim with us many times. (With our moves.) It looks ragged, but is much loved, like the way the Velveteen Rabbit was loved by the little boy, and thus made real. If I had used that book as the bull's-eye, it would have a hole in its center.
It doesn’t.
Five-thirty this morning: I'm reading Bristol's book, with love sleeping at the foot of my bed.
Bristol writes,
“I am cognizant of the fact that there are powerful forces at work in this country that would dominate us, substituting a kind of regimentation for the competitive system which has made America great among nations. The world attempts to destroy individual thinking and initiative, cherished ever since our Pilgrim Fathers established this country in defiance of the world's tyranny. I believe that we must continue to retain the wealth of spirit of our forefathers, for if we did not, we shall find ourselves dominated in everything we do by a mighty few and shall become serfs in fact if not in name. Thus, this work is written also to help develop individual thinking and doing.”
“Since the beginning of man there have been two great subtle forces in the world—good and evil. Both are terrifically powerful in their respective scopes and cycles. The basic principle operating both is mind power. Massed mind power.
“Sometimes evil appears to have the upper hand. And at other times good is in control. It is power that builds empires, and now we have seen how it can be used to destroy them—history is recording the facts.” –[Written in 1967]
“THEREFORE TAKE GOOD CARE THAT YOU DO NOT MISUSE THE SCIENCE OF “MIND STUFF.” I cannot emphasize this too strongly. For if you employ it for harmful or evil purposes, it will boomerang and destroy you just as it has others down through the centuries. These are not idle words, but solemn words of warning.”
I have long believed that our Present President has been using mind stuff to get where he is, perhaps not intentionally, but through his belief system. He grew up feeling entitled. He never knew what it was to struggle or be poor. He got what he wanted, when he wanted, because he wanted it.
He set up the system to support himself. He gave himself almost complete power—never has a president had that, nor should they. He stacked the cabinet with cohorts who backed him. He has tried to silence all opposition: the media, the comedians who, since George Washington’s time, have used humor to make political comments, and Politicians were fair game; it was part of the deal. Not anymore. He gave us a preview of what was to come, but few noticed or cared.
He seems to believe without doubt. He runs roughshod over his people.
Thinking people doubt and question themselves; that’s the reason strong evil intent is so dangerous. They do not question their motives.
But notice, the great commander-in-chief is crumbling. To stop him, attack his belief system. He behaves as though he is above the law. He acts without restraint. If he is restrained, he throws a tantrum like a two-year-old. His yes-people run to his defense.
Don’t tolerate such behavior.
Stop tolerating that he tears down public buildings without proper authority. Try getting a building permit, folks.
Stop tolerating that he can bomb another country without permission from Congress, clearly against the Constitution that he vowed to uphold. Vows? Apparently they mean nothing to him. We the people have been lied to, given false information, and had information withheld for so long that our brains are scrambled. That’s intentional, folks. Keep the masses confused, then swoop in and steal them blind.
He thinks, apparently, that he can do whatever he wants.
We say, “No, you can’t. Remember, you work for us.”
All other presidents have had checks and balances. He wants none. Replace his belief system with another one.
It is up to us.
Notice he wants adoration, so don’t give it to him.
He wants loyalty above all else. Don’t do it.
If he doesn’t get his way, he throws a tantrum. Ignore it.
And keep the insults coming. He wants to be adored. Opposition will break down his resolve.
Is that the sort of negotiator you want?
We can do it.
Take aim, folks.
I love you guys,
Jo
