LossOfSight

Man fears what man cannot see.  Afraid of what lies in the darkness.  Hesitant to proceed when certainty fails to become present.  Reduced to aimless blundering and missteps as he plods on to what could be today's solid ground or yesterday's quicksand.  This past week, I have been voided of the use of my contacts.  Thus my vision is greatly impaired  

 I have been hindered in practice, work recreation, and daily activities.  Daily routine has been clouded with fear and hesitation.  things that would usually require no thought no require excessive caution and assistance. 

 I am reduced.  

To a burden. 

 To a second guess.  

To a hindrance

.  But through the absence of my sight, appreciation has grown for other aspects.  Music, Conversation.  Interaction.  Touch. Feeling. Sensation.  Realization of the complexity of the process of all that goes into a single feeling has light shed upon it.  the gap of ones use can mean a complete roundabout when interpretation occurs.  The absence of sight of facial expression and body language during a conversation, the location of objects, the beauty of the night sky, the surrounding nature when outdoors.  All contributed to what culminates to the ultimate factor that may at some times completely take over the occurrence.  The vibe.  The vibe in incredibly omniscient.  The vibe can defer between truth and lie.  The vibe can transport ones psyche to another dimension.  Yet even with all our senses, we sometimes fail to utilize or block our most important tool in detecting feeling.  

The obstructed use of sight this past week has opened other worlds for me.  And deepened contemplation as I sit on the dock of my cousin's beautiful lakehouse on torch lake Michigan.  Though the stars right now only appear to be blurs, I was still able to see a shooting star.  

The sounds of explosions in the sky, RjD2, Pete Rock, and Moving Mountains invade my ears.  Music floods the brain, waves gently lapping the shore and the occasional chatter of bats floats through the air.  Though denied one of the most crucial aspects of feeling: sight, I am still able.  To VIBE.  

ByTheWings

butterfly, grab it by the wings it won't be able to fly, let things come to us

As summer comes to greet us, many things change here in the great city of Chicago.  The beach is flooded, the streets are more busy, and tourists flock downtown, wicker park, and wrigleyville.  Chicago summers are superb, despite the extreme fluxuation of weather.  Both extremes always bring something good.  The best part about summer is being outside.

The other day, after a game of pool with my friend, we were sitting outside the quad.  Butterflies were gliding about, and I noticed one as it landed adjacent to my hand.  It opened and closed its wings magnificently, flaunting its beauty and flexing its frame.  I slowly began to move my hand towards it.  Thinking it would flee, I was pleasantly surprised when it willingly stepped onto my fingers.  As I brought it close to my face, I realized how beautifully and complex God has created this creature.  There I sat, butterfly in hand, mesmerized by the folding and unfolding of its wings.  When my friend tried to take a picture of this serene moment, it ended all too soon with its exit into the air,  Cruising on a jagged, jerky flight pattern.  After this, the wheels started to spin in my head.

As a child, I would often chase and capture animals because I enjoyed observing them up close.  I recall catching butterflies by grabbing them by the wings.  Watching them struggle to get away at my interests expense.  When I let them go, they struggled to get back into the air.  My mother then informed me to never grab a butterfly by its wings because there is a special powder on them that helps them fly.  This made them increasingly more difficult to catch, but I abode by this unwritten rule for myself.  Even though a butterfly is simply an insect, I have respected it and never done so since.

Today, I learned that sometimes, we cannot seize things  right away, as much as I would like to think.  Sometimes, we have to let them come to us and in the end, we will be rewarded.  Even if it is only to ourselves.  We cannot force things, or risk the suspension of flight in the future.  Something with a gift so incredible, such as flight, can be so fragile.  Some things must choose us.  We must work with them, as they work with us.  We may benefit, or we may simply interact.


Song of the mood

PartyOf8

Often times the question arises, if there were a dinner and you could have it with any people who have passed, who would they be?

I have my answers.

1. Jesus Christ
2. Bob Marley
3. Malcolm X
4. Abraham Lincoln
5. Mahondas Gandhi
6. Confucius
7. Aristotle
8. Slug of Atmosphere

(Honorable mention, Huey Freeman of the Boondocks, but I'm not counting him because he is fictional)

Can you imagine what kind of dinner this would be?  Can you imagine the conversation that would take place?  I believe I have an all star line-up and would come out of this conversation incredibly enlightened.  I would definitely have my notebook out.

The reason I chose this combination of people is that all of these people have something to contribute to the conversation.  Many of them have things in common, but there are also those who form their opinions in the exact opposite manner of what another guest at the table would base their logic on.

Let me go through why I chose each of these candidates

Jesus Christ

Obviously, I am a Christian.  Jesus is the one and only Savior.  But in addition to being the Messiah, he was also looked at as a regular person.  His personal qualities and teachings would be true gems to get to witness in person.  Also, he would have impact on what the others at the table had to say.  He cannot tell lies, say anything wrong, or sin in any way shape or form.  Some would hold everything he said in high regards, while others would simply dismiss the latter.  An extremely intelligent man, he could prove or tell through parable almost everything.  The Lord is my Shepherd.

Bob Marley

His music inspired for generations upon generations.  Though it was unknown if Bob Marley drew religious insight from sources aside from the Rastafarian movement, he was a very spiritual person as is observed through his music.  It seemed as if Bob was enlightened to almost a god-like state.  This reggae icon's smarts came not from knowledge of education or smarts, but rather philosophy through observance and experience.   His professing of peace, love and unity are enough to make anyone question what they are doing in this life.  I would like to think he treats all people as equals.  It would be very interesting to hear his philosophies measured up against some of those who came before him, and see if anyone else with high intelligence could find flaws in what he said.  I would be joyed to hear what he had to say.  "One Love."

Malcolm X

This is where things would get interesting.  The previous people have mainly preached peace and passive philosophy, and then we have this man.   indicting white America in the harshest terms for its crimes against black Americans. Detractors accused him of preaching racism, black supremacy, antisemitism,  and violence. This man had been through some of the harshest times and fought so that his people would not have to endure them in the future.  Though his philosophy was highly regarded, few know that he was on the opposite path before he turned to his more promoted teachings.  I wonder what the other guests would have to say about this?  This man took aggressive manners when passive acts just weren't doing anything.  Respect.  "By any means necessary."

Abraham Lincoln

 A man known for telling the truth and going down in history as one of America's greatest presidents.  I'm sure he would garner a friend in X for thwarting the expansion of slavery.  A man who was to my knowledge a Christain, and a man who intended to do good.  Although he is just a human.  Let's see how corruptible he is. Honest Abe.

Mahondas Gandhi

Also known as Mahatma Gandhi, or "The Great Soul". Here is a man that was the preeminent leader of Indian nationalism in British ruled India. Employing non-violent civil disobedience, Gandhi led India to independence and inspired movements for non-violence, civil rights and freedom across the world.  Fought for what he believed in through peace.  Ironic.  I would greatly enjoy to hear his endeavors and how the world treated him through his humble and peaceful, yet looked down upon my many revolutionaries, methods.  We'll see how well he get's along with my homie Malcolm X.  "An eye for an eye makes the whole world blind."

Confucius

Politician, teacher, social philosopher extraordinaire, Confucius would fit in well at this table. The philosophy of Confucius emphasized personal and governmental morality, correctness of social relationships, justice, and sincerity. One of the deepest teachings of Confucius may have been the superiority of personal exemplification over explicit rules of behavior. His moral teachings emphasized self-cultivation, emulation of moral exemplars, and the attainment of skilled judgment rather than knowledge of rules.   Author of the 5 Chinese classics, this man has knowledge for ages.  Let's see how the Confucian classics hold up against what everyone else has to say. "If I am walking with two other men, each of them will serve as my teacher. I will pick out the good points of the one and imitate them, and the bad points of the other and correct them in myself." Well buddy, let's see what you can do with 8

Aristotle

A teacher in pretty much anything you can think of, and mentor of Alexander The Great himself, this man one would think cannot be argued with.  Rhetoric, politics, history and optics, what could one do against his brain no one could stop this.  His morals would definitely clash with others at the table.  The times have vastly changed since he has been around.  What has he predicted? What has he foretold correctly and incorrectly? Also, what would he be able to prove against those who could possibly prove even him wrong? "All men by nature desire knowledge" We shall see.

Slug of Atmosphere

O Sluggo, my old friend.  The day I met you was an inspirational one.  Slug depicts the struggles of life and the tribulations of the rugged and troubled mind in his music in a way not many others can imitate.  An obviously intelligent man, but one with obvious biases.  Complex as the rhyme schemes and wordplay he shells out song after song, this man is full of street knowledge as well as intellectual treasures.  It would be intriguing to see what the Sad Clown had to say to the other guests.  By the end of the night, I would definitely have to  "Just take a breath and reflect".




And then

you have

me.


Jacob Daniel Mager.  JakeTheSnake.  Contra. VenomMenace.  What would I contribute to this lovely evening?

God gave us 2 eyes and 2 ears so we could watch and listen twice as much as we talk.

I would only be listening.

Travel

Welcome, the cure for your suffering, tell them it's pure
No subtle hints of weak substances cutting it
I chuckle when evil and pride collide with judgement
Add that to your buzz and the results is malfunction
No longer should I listen to your babble
Too many coming off the deep end
With a steady stream of shallow

We travel like the wind across a rotten fruited plane
Travel like the blood that surrounds your brain
Atmosphere is landed demanding that we change the curve
So unravel your thoughts and come across in a verse



Aside from Slug being a lyrical genius, and contrary to the fact that the verse regards ripping an MC to pieces, this verse conveys very effectively the self constructed mindstate embraced by yours truly.

This life is one long journey.  A travel.  Never ending until lifespan permits, personal choice, or a twist of fate reconfigures.  The roads, times, turns, paths, and methods of travel are all decisions made by you to get there.  Each experience may be considered a pit stop.  And with the infinite amount of stops, the road, ocean, air or path always remains when we start up our journey again.

With each pit stop we may

Run out of energy
Become damaged
Reroute course
Switch vehicles
 Lose parts
Encounter bad weather
Break down
and whichever other metaphor satisfies your interpretation.

The bottom line, at the end of the day, is that we still travel.  How so is up to you.  And you alone.

The mindset and travel plans are also yours to make or break.

Which is why it brings me back to this song.  O Slug, my old friend.  Whimsically executing verbal acrobatics exemplifying experiences throughout his travels.  We have much in common.

The meaningless "tribulations" or as most would put it, "problems," to us are not subjects to dwell upon.  Rather to grow upon.

The positive experiences add to our fuel, as well as our confidence and minds as to reference during the previous. But no matter what we do, after the smoke clears

We travel.

Some go farther than others
Some stay at a slow and steady pace

But we must keep moving.  Because if not.....


We get left in the dust, ran over, and trampled.

It's all in a state of mind. The insignificant should be ran over.  Dropped weight. Let nothing effect you.  Be impossible to phase.  Be on the move constantly.  Travel.  Because sometimes,

sometimes,

It's about how much ground you can cover.

You may never know how much longer your journey will be

InAWorld

In a world
where night time is revered.
where daylight is shunned
but darkness is feared

Passes by the cats in the dark alley.
where we ponder on the rooftops,
and do not keep tally

of anything at all.
constantly attempting takeover
is evil.  Waiting for us to fall.

Where demons float above us
both living and our own
Which are fact which are fiction?
How we wish we could have known

Where the bad, dark, and suppressed reign supreme
Where we live in constant wondering
If we will obtain mercy from these beings

Where angels and demons are in constant battle
fighting for our souls, sounds muffled but
We often hear their rattle

Thoughts read and stolen
minds paralyzed in fear
Attempts to retreat the happy place
but nothing for sure is near

The constant fight to seek reality
and separate from delusions
And sharpen morality

Dark sunshine and dim moons
fireflies of hope floating
enclosing walls in rooms

Trapped in the projections of my mind
In a world
My world.

Hardcore

Hardcore.  Real, efficient, effective, dedicated, knowledgable, seasoned, passionate, prioritized, best, respected,  takes names. KILLER.

Hates. Fake, watered down, sugar coated, euphemisms, lies, overstepping boundaries, typical.  IMPOSTERS.

In a world surrounded by the soft, with emphasis on the irrelevant, it is increasingly difficult to find the hardcore.


A special breed.  Kills the weak and plants their own seed.  Ostracize the minds of the blind who can't see.  Wrote the books and painting to all mythology.  Brings destruction to false dichotomy.  Grandfather of knowledge been through the depressions.  Mind fine tuned to swallow the blessings and retain the nutrition, digest the fiction, lives off a diet of pain and what's missing,  Observes the false from miles away and when the false arrives death traps await, battle tactics derived inside the mind and thoughtful state, reflexes fine tuned to parry away hate, crush kill destroy a boy any given day, no excess noise employed silent trip to the grave,  as the armor on euphemisms gain rust the hardcore still stands as the fake remains dust, unbreakable will impossible to retain us, none of what others do needed to sustain us, Armed with swords fists shields spears flaming projectiles and mindsets of death to anything that should get foul, knows the outcome all that's visible is a smile, we are the hardcore. fighting is futile

This world has turned into a multitude of cowards, weaklings, and pretentious followers.
 

Everything self related that is exaggerated and made out to be a big deal is insignificant.  The amount of adversity needed to have mass affect on an individual or group is so small it is disgusting.  Is everything and everyone doomed to become this soft save a minuscule amount?  What or who will it take to shake up this bruise-easy mindset?  In a world of wearing your heart on your sleeve, tell me

What happened to your exoskeleton?



Man up.......


Song of the mood - Jedi Mind Tricks - I against I instrumental

Back

Inconsistency in blogging has been due to school, training, and finding myself.  The usual

Lots has passed.

First and foremost, the trip that changed my life

California.  The golden state.  Sunshine and smiles.  The place everyone wants to be to party and relax.

I had other intentions.

The Numskulz and myself were invited out to our family's jam, the Freakshow 10 year anniversary.  It was an honor to be invited and I truly wanted to attend.  The only problem was that I was stuck in Chicago.

Then something hit me.  If I wanted bboying to be a part of my future, to leave my mark, to inspire, to achieve greatness, to live glory days,  I had to start making moves.

It was like a sign from God, I got an urge to just drop everything and go.  It was like He said to me, sometimes, you just have to forget about everything and live life.  School, work, gymnastics, friends, and everything else was immediately put on the backburner.  The only thing that was on my mind was going out to represent myself and my crew.  Following my heart.  Beginning to follow dreams.


As plans were arranged, I was fortunate enough to have my crewmate Juambat tag along with me.  It is inspirational to me how much he has grown as a bboy and as a person.  To watch someone come from simply a friend to a crewmate, and watch his passion for something he already knows very well expand, to see improvements and joy in accomplishments, to know I had anything to do with it is truly a reward.  No less than 8 months ago he had no idea what bboying was really about, and then now, as we flew on the plane, I turned to him and said, "We're doing it.  We're pursuing our dreams.  All those times we watched others dance and dreamed of traveling all over doing the one thing we love the most.  It was all finally beginning to come into fruition.  "This is the start to something beautiful.  We're  LIVING. LIFE." I said to him as I drifted off to some Armin Van Buuren on the flight to LA.

After we arrived, we met up with our Freakshow family, and prepared for the jam.  The state of California is beautiful.  I loved the way the land is and enjoy the weather.  The greetings and bonding was superb.

Then came the jam

As we came into a new scene we had never experienced before,  we were intimidated of the west coast scene at first noticing the vast amount of heavy hitters.  Then as we were cyphering, we realized we may never see most of these people again, and just began to go all out, be free, be one with the music, lose all sense of care and awareness, and DANCE.

Throughout the jam, I was able to reunite with some of the pioneers I had met previously, cypher with some of the best this dance has ever known, and represent what we are about.  Getting to see this amount of talent and getting to battle with lots of people you've seen online and been inspired by was truly sublime.  I realized we had made the decision coming out here.  Our battle went well, we ended up befriending our opponents afterwards and meeting them, exchanging stories and philosophies on the dance.

After the jam, we received some of the most inspirational life talks I have ever heard from the legends and people who have inspired me.  Roxrite, Crumbs, and the rest of the great people we met dropped mines of gems on us and provoked us to continue on what we are doing.  Though we received much positive advice, we got reality checks too.   Freakazoid impaled into my head, "You can get a normal job and train casually, or you can work yourself to the bone and get to experience everything bboying has to offer.  Get paid to do what you love, travel the world and this beautiful dance and culture can be your life" Dash and Miraj added "We're only saying what we are because we care.  We want you to be the best you can be.  Push all the way to the top.  Achieve the next level"

And in that motel room, that was it.

It sparked motivation to train like never before.

The day I returned, I trained harder than I ever had, accomplished multiple new moves that had scared me before, I was a totally different person with a totally different mindset,  and the fire that was set underneath me is still burning right now.

Now, I just have to keep adding the wood.