And is started out as a fun little exercise as a few people answered and shared that they wanted to be teachers or open up their own studios or be a conductor. But then Dr. Olander slowly went around the room and asked every single person to share. And each person’s eyes lit up and they smiled and they spoke softly about what lead them to this school and what they wanted to do with their degree, what their interests are and how they wanted to use their degree to help others or spread music or make a difference. 

Every person. 15+ people. It took nearly the whole class period. And Dr. Olander finished and said she was just curious and didn’t mean to take up the whole class talking about that, but she thought it was good to stop sometimes and remember why you’re here, where you’re going, who you are and what your dreams are. 

I started crying in the middle of class bc it had been so long since i had stopped to remember why i love music and why i want a masters and how badly i want to use it to change people’s lives with music the way mine was. 

So stop for a second. Don’t think about how much you’ve practiced this week, or your grades or your classes or scholarships or jobs or anything. Really stop. Stop and ask yourself, 

Why am I here? Where do i want to be in 5 years? Why do I love this? What is my dream?

Logic is how you play the game. Spirituality is the awareness that you are not the game nor the character therein. 

Beliefs, be they spiritual or otherwise, are just parts of the game. Beliefs are the realm of the mind. Awakening and awareness is beyond the game. They are the reality of consciousness. This is experienced through meditation, mindfulness, and similar spiritual practices. 

In spirituality, there are no real beliefs. There is only the clarity that you are. This is uncovered through spiritual practice. From that clarity arises insight followed by action. Beliefs can be props we use but they are temporary and easily tossed aside. 

Intelligence is the product of sustained attention. It is alive, fluid, and brilliant. 

Belief is often used as a lazy default instead of putting genuine thought into the moment. Belief can be easily coopted and appropriated by the ego. We can easily make egos of spiritual beliefs. 

Through spirituality, discover your clarity. Clarity is not an insight but rather the state of consciousness through which insights are given the space to manifest. 

Through your clarity, discover how to navigate this world-like hallucination we call life. Don’t impose your beliefs but observe how things seem to be and then act according to the naturalness of your clarity. Some things may not work out. Adapt and don’t take it personally. 

You’ll find yourself in a dynamically dimensional dance with reality itself. 

There will be a New Moon in Leo, Tuesday, August 2nd at 4:44pm EDT. The New Moon in Leo asks us to go deep into our hearts. The New Moon is a time for going inward, cleansing, renewing, and starting over. In Leo, this is about romance, creativity, self-love, pride, play. Today is a good day to hug yourself tight, and to believe in all the gifts you’ve been bestowed. Get in touch with your endless power of creation, and take pride in the things you’ve already created. This is a time for realigning with the Self - we are given the opportunity to fully embody who we are and who we’ve always wanted to be. Our lives are a creation in themselves, and we are the artist. This is a time for expressing warmth to those we love, a time for play and enjoyment, pleasure, and fun. Don’t take life too seriously, revel in the moment and let your worries wash away.

Mars will be going into Sagittarius today (August 2) and we will feel our energy move in a new direction, to greater heights. We’ve done the deep soul work and now we can dream bigger, aim our arrow higher, challenge ourselves to follow our destiny. Our energy will be restored and we will make big plans, our lives will take on a sense of adventure.

Mercury moved into Virgo on July 30 and will stay there until October 7, with a retrograde August 30 to September 22. We are figuring out the details, being more analytical, getting things just right at this time.

Uranus went retrograde on July 29 and will go direct on December 29. In the sign of Aries, we are revolutionizing ourselves, we are getting in touch with your inner rebel and creative genius. We are breaking bonds and becoming independent so that we may live out the lives meant for us, written in the stars.

Feminist.

Why is it socially acceptable for a woman to dress like a “man”? Masculine. Wear her hair short, wear pants, suits even and it be acceptable.

But for a man to dress like a “woman” it’s vile. Weak. Unnatural. Disgusting even?

Women are equal to men. In strength. Ability. Creativity. And their fashion, despite what society thinks, should be available to anyone.

I don’t mind wearing dresses. Frankly, because I look fabulous in them. But more importantly because I’m perfectly fine being associated with everything a woman stands for.