We interrupt the Ayahuasca Experience to bring you a very simple, but important message:

The more you say no to what you don’t want in life,

The more the universe says yes to what you do want.

Don’t buy into the fear that you can’t have what you are dreaming of.

You are worthy, no matter the extravagance of your desires.

Just believe that anything is possible and work with a gentle intention.

This is where it pays to be gullible.

It came up in a discussion with a friend recently, where I examined how in school, we would laugh at one another for being “gullible” – calling one another naive and stupid. But I sense that this is really just a program put in place to set limits upon our reality. I say be gullible. If you want to let magic into your life, you can’t be afraid of appearing a fool. Anything can happen but you have to first allow the possibility to exist in your mind. Fantasise and familiarise yourself with your dreams. Know there is very little difference between your imagination, reality and the dream world. Use this knowledge to your advantage. There are always exceptions to rules, and that exception can be you. All you need to do is believe that what you want is possible and that you deserve it.

Now go, play, create. That is your life purpose after all, and remember: you’re making this all up.

People often ask me how I manage to travel so much, so here’s eleven tips to make it happen for you.

1. Save. As you already know, to travel, you need to get good at saving. I have a separate travel-savings account and essentially put all of my discrepancy income in there as soon as I get paid. And once it goes in, it doesn’t come out until I’m actually booking my trip. On top of that I have a regular transfer set up of $14/week inspired by Chris Guillebeau’s comment: “most people don’t realize that if they just put $2 aside each day, they could go on an international trip every 2-3 years”. This brings me to my second tip…
   
   
2. Don’t buy dumb shit. I try to lead a minimalist lifestyle and when I am in a frivolous mood I browse op-shops (it’s always more fun than regular shopping). I also buy all my food, fresh and organic form the local farmers markets for less than $50 a week and keep eating out to a minimum (I prefer my own food more most of the time anyway). It might seem painfully obvious, but I watch so many people around me buying crap they don’t need on a regular basis.  Listen up: it’s about quality over quantity. My own personal mantra is live simply so that you may simply live.
   
   
3. Learn to Share. Following on from my last point, sharing at home is a great way to save and ensure an abundant and luxurious lifestyle without the financial debt. If fashion is your vice, organize to swap and share clothes with your friends. If you’re looking at getting a new thing (e.g. surfboard, kitchen appliance or whatever else) at least consider the option of sharing the costs with your housemates. In terms of on the road, share your everything– your food, you’re clothing – whatever you have, and watch it manifest three fold.
   
   
4. Travel light. I once met an inspiring man who traveled with little more than the clothes on his back. I’ll never forget what he told me “the more you own, the more you are owned”. This is an invaluable reminder. When I travel, I take no more than three carry on size bags, and I can usually get away with taking it all on board with me when I travel domestically. This also allows me to save a little on airfares. I promise I’ll do a more in depth post on this in the future, but for now, its suffice to say that less really is more. Thoroughly consider what you take with you. You want to be prepared but not over prepared as this will only weigh you down.
   
   
5. Learn to detach. We all love souvenirs, so in the vein of traveling light, it can be nice to shed belongings as you go. I have a loose rule; whenever I buy something I give something away. Its cool to know that there are parts of me scattered all over the world with the people who have bought light to my journey. This can also be an extra kind of currency and keeps things fresh and interesting. As the streets put it “I came to this world with nothing / and I live with nothing but love / everything here is just borrowed.”
   
   
6. Travel hack. Do your research. Sign up for email alerts on upcoming travel specials. If you’re traveling domestically – book your own flights. If you’re going international, talk to multiple travel agents to get a good deal and don’t be shy to ask for a better price. Once you arrive, talk to the locals to find out where the best cheap eats are, along with any other conveniences like free internet.
   
   
7. Network. Couchsurfing.org is such an amazing resource for the savvy traveler. My own experiences have only been positive. For those of you who haven’t heard of it, Couch Surfing (CS) connects travelers with potential hosts, encouraging a worldwide network of avid explorers. It’s a great way to save on accommodation expenses and meet amazing people!
   
   
8. Develop a talent. Busking is a great way to support your travel habit as you go. Whether it’s making music, dancing, performing or making art, do not be afraid to put yourself out there. I know it might seem daunting, and believe me, if you told me I’d be busking eight months ago, I’d tell you you’re dreaming. But honestly, I’ve found that it really adds to the travel experience on so many levels. Firstly, you get to recoup some of your travel costs – I’ve made up to $365 on a good night, and funded most of my Tasmania trip on just a few hours of jamming. Secondly, it’s a really fun way to meet people – I enjoy it more than clubbing. Thirdly, it’s just a really cool way to share your art with the world. Ultimately you want to develop a skill that is portable, cheap and most importantly enjoyable.
   
   
9. Volunteer. Festivals are so much fun, but they are also a lot of work to organize in order to run smoothly. More often than not, event-hosts will offer workers discounted tickets and food for a half-days work, so it can be really worthwhile enquiring. Make sure you get in touch with the organizers early on though as such opportunities tend to go fast.
   
   
10. Make travel an educational investment. When one travels personal growth is inevitable, sure, but are you making the most of the opportunities? Travel can be a great way to pick up a new language or unique skill that could well inspire your future livelihood. There are plenty of NGO’s around the world that offer unique learning experiences – often including accommodation and food for little or no charge.  WOOFING is a great example of this, as travelers are offered free food and accommodation in exchange for working just four hours a day on organic farms. Plus, it’s a great way to learn about gardening and sustainability.
    
    
11. Be spontaneous. There is an old Huna proverb that states “Energy flows where attention goes.” When I hear about a festival or a nearby town that sounds like a place worth visiting, I simply make the choice to go there. I don’t worry too much about the details – just book a flight and let the rest fall into place. In terms of budgeting, I usually base it on my usual spending + and extra $50 per week. This budget generally covers my food and transport and the odd local attraction. In the words of Nike: Just do it.

How to be humble? As a musician and an artist I’ve been exploring how to perform my art in a way that allows me to fully self-express my work from a position of humility. Here are my observations on the journey…

To be humble is to do your best with a smile.

It’s to make yourself vulnerable as you share yourself with another.

It’s to share your art without holding back.

I hope you’ve witnessed a truly humble performance in your lifetime. The way it pulls at your heartstrings and invites you to melt into the present, knowing that this is it – the divine manifesting – right here, right NOW.

That is how I feel when I witness my favorite artists performing anyway.

Regardless, somehow I had adopted the twisted idea that being humble was more about being modest. That is, in the deluded sense that I should “dim my light”.

Don’t you be too good, clever or impressive now – you’ll make other people uncomfortable… seemed to be the implicit message.

It took me a while to figure it out, but I’ve decided that being humble is actually about shining your light REALLY bright. Full power. Burn baby burn.

After all, it is by being comfortable with oneself and our talents as individuals, that we are able to give others permission to develop their own talents and shine.

None of that “But who am I to be so shiny?” bullshit.

Whatever your talent, it is your gift to the world, and consequently, your responsibility to share it fully with others, as a reminder of the inherent divinity that lies within all of us.

Fear might try and restrain you, sure, but experience will tell you that fear is a liar with a convincing tongue.

1. Stand on their level - the aim is to create an equal, relaxed, human-to-human connection.
2. Remove your sunglasses and look them straight in the eyes.
   
3.  Say as little as possible BUT try to answer direct questions as honestly and directly as possible – though NEVER deny or confess (without the advice of a lawyer).
4. Know your rights and declare them in a respectful manner.
5. Remember that a polite & respectful attitude can save you money.

“Then said a rich man, Speak to us of Giving.

And he answered:

You give but little when you give of your possessions.

It is when you give of yourself that you truly give. For what are your possessions but things you keep and guard for fear you may need them tomorrow?

And tomorrow, what shall tomorrow bring to the over-prudent dog burying bones in the trackless sand as he follows the pilgrims to the holy city?

And what is fear of need but need itself? Is not dread of thirst when your well is full, the thirst that is unquenchable?

There are those who give little of the much which they have – and they give it for recognition and heir hidden desire makes their gifts unwholesome.

And there are those who have little and give it all.

And you receivers – and you are all receivers – assume no weight of gratitude, lest you lay a yoke upon yourself and upon him who gives. Rather Together with the giver on his gifts as on wings; for to be over mindful of your debt is to doubt his generosity who has the free-hearted earth for mother and God for father.”

~ Kahlil Gibran

You can tell a lot about the quality of someone’s words through their tone of their voice.

For example, those who speak with a nasal tone tends are usually communicating their ideas based on what they think in their heads (influenced by the ego) rather than what they feel in their hearts.

In contrast, when one speaks from their heart, their voice tends to take on a deeper and more resonate quality. Their words flow freely and eloquently without the disruption of “ums” and “uhs” or “likes” and “you know”.

They speak with passion and conviction; with far less false starts because they don’t need to “think” about what they are saying – they are simply stating their truth.

As a listener, you can feel it in your own heart. It inspires you and excites you. It reminds you of your own truth.

So listen carefully to those around you. Where are their words coming from, their head or their hearts?

I’d like to dispel a few common myths…

This idea that there are certain topics of conversation that are too “taboo” to discuss with others.

That in asking questions inspired by a natural curiosity, we might be seen as inappropriate.

That clarifying where we are at in our relationships with others is too risky and revealing.

That in being transparent, others will judge or lose interest in us.

No lie is harmless.
Silence breeds assumptions.
Assumptions breed expectations.
Expectations breed disappointment & suffering.

This is why it is so important in our own evolution to find our voice, to learn to respectfully ask for what we want and to express ourselves accurately.

You can ask for anything.
You can talk about anything.
And you can also neglect to talk about certain things if you feel your privacy is being invaded.

But I encourage you to acknowledge the moments when you silence yourself for fear of embarrassment and be vigilant about the assumptions you make in your relationships with others.

You can be honest and people will still love you.

After all, authenticity is attractive.

Because it is through making ourselves vulnerable that we become invulnerable as we abandon our egoic conditioning and accept ourselves for who we are and not who we appear to be.

& often it comes down to one casual conversation vs. a thousand awkward moments.

So, the Mexican Toltecs have this practice called recapitulation. It involves reviewing the experiences throughout one’s life in order to liberate one’s self from the bind of the ego.

They do this by reliving their interactions with others, breathing rhythmically, and fanning their heads from left to right.

With each exhale, any remaining negative energy is released. With each inhale they reclaim any of their own energy left behind during the event.

Meanwhile, the mind examines the situation – the motives of all involved and the emotions that were provoked as a result of the interaction. This provides insight and the opportunity for a more evolved understanding of one’s self, illuminating the works of the ego and allowing one to detach from the expectations and limitations that have resulted from past experiences.

Since I’ve been practicing this kind of meditation I’ve found it to be a kind of euphoric communion with my higher self. It’s also allowed me to explore how past events have led me to react and ‘protect’ myself from reliving the pain of old wounds. This then got me thinking about the stories we tell ourselves of ‘who we are’ based on our past.

Perhaps you’ve experienced a time, where you’ve just found yourself triggered.

You’re cruising along, in a reasonably good mood and then BAM!! someone says something that just throws you off.

You might have been bullied in primary school and a seemingly playful remark hits a soft spot.

Or, you get a call from a parent that for one reason or another pushes your buttons, leaving you agitated and confused.

It might even be as subtle as the way someone touches you or says your name.

Whatever it is, it triggers you and suddenly you find yourself reacting unconsciously and it’s only later that you wonder what caused you to act in such a primal way. These are the energetic blockages that recapitulation seeks to prevent and undo.

In contemplation of this, it’s been interesting to discover how many eastern cultures encourage one to disidentify from their past.

In India, for example, the Yogis are known to renounce all association to their own personal history. They generally don’t ever speak of the stories of their past openly to others, or if they do so, it is often in the form of an unclaimed parable. In this way their experiences stay personal within them, but also merge with the collective experience of humanity outside of them.

It is said that this practice allows them to live more fully in the present – watching life flow by with non-attachment, like water downstream.

While experience can be a very effective teacher, perhaps the real gift of experience comes once we are able to learn the lesson and then let go of the story with non-attachment.

After all, it is through letting go that we release ourselves from the bind of the ego as by clinging to these stories we tend to separate ourselves from others – saying “look what I did” or “look at what was done to me”. If we are not conscious, we may even subconsciously manipulate these stories in an attempt to establish credibility and power over others.

Ever found yourself replaying a particular interaction in your head over and over?

You might have tried to consciously move on, but for one reason or another your mind just isn’t ready to drop it. Often this is because there is a lesson to be learned or an insight to be gained.

Recapitulation invites one to get to know themselves – the good, the bad and the ugly. Taking this one step further, it helps one to realize the big picture and rise above their everyday egoic pursuits.

It teaches the user to be aware of themselves, without defining themselves by the stories of their past. Because when we define ourselves by our past we sell ourselves short, limiting our potential to grow and to conquer.

Let go of these stories and you unlock the gate to your soul, leaving the future wide open for you to claim your own version of world domination.

The first step is to overcome one’s fear of death.

The second, to overcome one’s fear of pain.

The third, to overcome ones fear of love, and to embrace love fully.

Like anybody, I hate feeling ripped off.

As a consumer, a client, the person who invests in your business and with the power to recommend or discredit your services I have two quick suggestions for those running a service orientated business.

First of all, don’t come on too strong. Finding and keeping customers is like dating, you need to play a little hard to get in the beginning if you want people to come back for more. Telling people that they NEED to come back again for X more sessions is totally overwhelming and transparent. I much prefer the sage who smiles sweetly as you leave, knowing that you may or may not come back again, and accepting what will be will be. Doing the best service possible will increase the chances of a return visit, while trying to get a client to commit early on is probably going to make them think twice.

Secondly, be open, honest and up front about your pricing. There is nothing that I hate more than being charged more than I expected to pay without an upfront explanation. Even more so, I despise it when practitioners offer to do a little something extra for you, making it out to be a gift, and then charge you for it later. However, I often have no problem paying the price if they are clear about it from the beginning.

Sure, one could say “it’s up to the client to check”. But, essentially we come to you so that we can relax a little and hand over the reins. We don’t want to be on guard, questioning awkwardly. If you want us to come again, it is in your best interests that you provide us with a stress-free, pleasurable experience. And honesty will get you bonus points.

1. Retire now.
2. Understand that happiness is more important than money and money is more important than power (over). Power over separates; money is a mere vehicle and happiness is what you are truly here for.
3. Ask questions with an open and honest agenda
4. Eat when you are hungry – what you want, when you want / honour your body.
5. Don’t say “I tried” just to look like you are doing something
6. Know that being a good, decent, respectable person does not mean others will see you as weak, unless you buy into that perception.
7. Seek to tell the truth.
8. Don’t commit to engagements you may not keep.
9. Love others and let them know why.
10. Enjoy being the best “you” that you can be.
11. Be satisfied with enough.
12. Don’t complain to manipulate.
13. Enjoy your own company & make time for yourself.
14. Question the world; write your own answers.

YOU ARE ALIVE SO LIVE.