LESS EGO / MORE SOUL

Since I first heard these ideas two months ago, my appreciation for Water and life has expanded in a very beautiful way. This is why I have taken the time to pass on this important message, channelled through a great teacher I found here in Israel. His name is Shir and his words run deep. Here I have put together the essence of his inspiring message. Enjoy.

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It is important to understand the role of Water in our life. Science has proven that Water receives energy and holds memory. We know this, yet so often we forget the importance of this finding.

Consider this: approximately 65% of each and every one of us is made up of Water. That’s more than half of our bodily composition.  The fact that Water is so receptive and open to programming by intention offers a great opportunity for self-creation.

The Water Spirit is a traveller. It cycles through the planet, from the underground spring, to the cloudy sky, falling back down with the rain to join itself in the rivers and oceans of our planet. This cycle of reincarnation continues again and again throughout eternal time and space.

One could even say that Water is the “collective consciousness” incarnate as it travels around the globe, communing every single living being. On the first day of creation, Water arrived on earth and took on the biggest, highest responsibility to care for all of the creatures of this earth. Without Water, life would not exist.

Today there is the same amount of Water on earth as there was on the first day of creation. Science has even proven, that not a single drop has disappeared from the face of the earth since the dawn of time. Over the millennia it has just recycled throughout the complex life systems that support its journey across earth.

As we know, Water holds memory, and memory is information. As Water travels, it collects memories, gathering together a huge bank of information, documenting all of life’s history and evolution. As we drink from the same Water and allow it to pass through us, we both receive and contribute to the distribution of this information.

Being 65% Water, means we have access to all of the information in the world, within us at all times. However, most of us are not really used to listening – and I mean, really listening – enough to understand the wisdom Water is so willing to share with us. Instead we play games of guess and check, questioning our inner knowing, not believing that we can know all those things until we see some physical “proof”. Then we are suddenly surprised when we have a “new idea”, when in fact, we are just remembering – or acknowledging this information that is being shared with us, always.

Unfortunately, Water is something we tend to take for granted. We have been conditioned to expect that when we turn on a tap, Water will come. But this is merely a convenience of the modern world and we must recognise this for the luxury it is. If there is no Water in your taps tomorrow, perhaps you wouldn’t freak out immediately. Instead you would go to the supermarket and buy some bottled Water. But what if that was unavailable also? Okay, so you would find another beverage to quench your thirst. But how long could this really sustain you?

We need Water; pure Water, to grow into fully conscious human beings.

Always remember, that without Water, life cannot exist. If we stop drinking Water we get dry. When we get dry, we get weak. When we get weak, we die and like this, we return to the earth. They tell us there are places where there is “no Water” but there is not a place on earth where Water does not exist. At the very least, the spirit of the Water is in the air and when we breathe with conscious awareness of this, we drink.

If you think that we humans treat the Water with respect, then you are very much mistaken. Perhaps personally one by one, yes, but as a society, there is very little respect for the Water that sustains us so generously.

When you turn on the TV and you see moving pictures of a boat with a motor and oil driving around the Kinneret, you may realise with alarm What? We are suppose to drink this Water? (The Kinneret used to be the biggest source for drinking Water in Israel, until recent years as it has become polluted.) This is our disease as human beings – we don’t take responsibility for our own Water.

Today, as you read these words, I am calling out for your awakening. Take care of your own Water. Give intention to your Water. Love your Water. Give thanks for every drop that graces your reality. Know that when you speak to the Water, directly to the molecules, it listens. Likewise, as you drink, you open yourself to receive to the Water’s message. For as we approach Water with love and respect, we prolong the relationship. Yet if we continue to make Water feel disrespected and unwelcomed on this planet, one day it will surely leave us.

The Water asks for love and we give love through our appreciation. That is it. Imagine when you are parched and those first drops of Water touch your tongue. This is the gratitude we should feel with every sip, acknowledging that without Water, we would not be alive.

So give thanks for the Water and use Water with divine intention.

When you drink, say thank you.

When you bathe, say thank you.

When you flush the toilet, say thank you.

When you turn on the taps to run a bath, or wash the dishes or Water your plants say thank you.

When it rains, say thank you.

Realise the role Water plays in your life and give thanks, because Water is Spirit.

With the awakening of this realisation, you will begin to open and become more receptive to its knowledge and wisdom.

Bless the water.

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Just wanted to share this here for those of you who are interested in following my musical career… This was my first radio show Tomer Rozenblum on 106.2FM in Tel-Aviv. In addition to choosing the playlist, I got to play some of my own songs live with some incredibly talented musicians – Ohad Bar (vocals) and Asaf Rachimof on lead guitar. So far this is all I have online but I am looking at professionally recording a few tracks later this year. If you like what you hear, please show your support by liking my Facebook page! Enjoy!

Original Link: https://soundcloud.com/jiveny/keep-moving-with-jiveny-tel

Set List:

Thrill – Jiveny

Smoking Gun – Lady of The Sunshine

Cold…Shivering – Jiveny

Wasted – Mazzy Star

Why Do You – Ohad Bar & Asaf Rachimoff

Restless Sinner – Black Rebel Motorcycle Club

Jet Plane (Cover) – Captain Generous

Wolves – Jiveny

Another Blue Lady – Winter Moon

The Fragility Of Intimacy – Jiveny

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Update: A New version of my single, Cold…Shivering (The Piano Sessions) is now available on Soundcloud for download. You can also find it on YouTube here. Sharing is the currency of the internet, so if you like, please share it with your friends. 

Last week I had the privilege of both witnessing and participating in the manifestation of an event of a lifetime. Inspired to help support the healthcare of sick, orphaned children in Israel, a friend of mine – lets call him Al – put together a DIY fundraiser.

Over the course of two weeks, what started as a “nice idea” became a full-blown reality. This was manifestation at its best.

Hailing from Brazil, Al had bought with him Ayahuasca, the sacred medicine of South America. His idea was to put on a three-day retreat that exemplified a really high-quality way of life. His vision included three days of workshops on nutrition, yoga, healing, sweat lodges and medicine ceremonies. As he began to discuss his vision with others, inspiration took on momentum and it was not long before many came together to help make it happen.

Land was donated for the week, along with infrastructure to make shelters, compost toilets, showers, a kitchen, sweat-lodge and ceremonial space.  Food was donated by each of the 200 participants who came through over the three day period. This assured an abundance of nourishing wholefoods. Healers, yoga teachers, storytellers, an NLP guru and even a magician came together to share their crafts. The result was three days of deep spiritual work, and I can tell you now, it really has changed my life.

The whole event was run entirely by donation, and by the end of it all, 25,000 Israeli shekels were collected - all of which went straight to the children. The fact that such an epic event came together in such a short period of time, (and based entirely on donation!) is a truly inspiring example of collaboration. Add to that the intense healing that benefited all participants, makes this a fundraiser “pure genius” in my books.

The Sweat Lodge…

On the first evening, I joined 40 others to partake in the first sweat.  “We come together in this womb to pray together and our prayers are the songs that we sing…” said Matias, the facilitator, as he opened the ceremony. He was an interesting character with long brown dreads, clear blue eyes and a muscly body, heavily tattooed in sacred geometric symbols. A stranger may have been intimidated by his stature and alternative image, but when you heard him speak, his words were so full of love – his kindness undeniable. “Family is everything and the children are our future, and let us not forget that we are all children at our essence…” he reminded us.

One by one, we each held our hands towards the fire before crawling beneath the low ceiling of the makeshift cave. Inside we sat shoulder-to-shoulder loosely holding knees to chest. The women sat on the right, the men to the left. In the centre of the lodge was a dirt pit. One by one the stones were taken from the fire outside and gently stacked in the pit.

The smell of cedar filled the air as it seared upon the rocks. Once the entrance was closed, everything became dark. Voices hung loosely in the air, without bodies to ground them. We were no longer individuals, but a metaphor for disembodied consciousness. As the heat gently wrapped its warmth around me, I welcomed the steam into every cell of my body. It was comforting and I felt safe to melt into the darkness without having to project any self image. In the dark, I could pull any face I wanted, feel happy or feel sad, smile or cry, without worrying about being “appropriate” in the moment. In the dark, my feelings were mine to feel. Matias began to sing, shaking his rattle to the tune, heya heya heya heaya ho… Gradually more voices joined united in the darkness, improvising on his melody.

The ceremony was split into four parts, each representing the opening of a spiritual doorway in alignment with each of the four elements. After each segment, the door was re-opened and more hot rocks were added to the centre. After the opening of the third door, we were given the opportunity to share one of our own songs with the group.

Now I love to sing, but I can still have a lot of blockages when it comes to singing in front of others – especially acapella. Despite my inhibitions, I figured here, in the dark was the best time to conquer this fear. Though it took several false starts, I eventually found my voice, singing a simple portugese medicine song that I had learnt while traveling around South America.

Com suas flores, limpe o meu coração

Com tuas águas limpas a minha alma

Hey mama…hey mama Oxun.

This song is a prayer to the water goddess, Mother “Oshun” and roughly translates to “with your flowers, cleanse my heart, with your waters, cleanse my soul.”

I had hoped others would be familiar with the tune and sing with me. In fact, my biggest fear was that I would be left to sing alone. So guess what? This fear was quickly realised. It seems to be true – that which we fear, we become. Nonetheless, fighting my ego, I  continued to sing the song a few more rounds until, gradually more voices joined me.

When the third door was opened, a crystal jug of water was blessed and then passed around the circle.  More prayers were sung, more sweat released, and two hours later, we emerged together, dizzy beneath the moonlight.

The whole experience was intensely spiritual. Much more real than any other (non-psychadelic) religious ceremony I have experienced. Before the sweat, Matias told us “this is where we come to pray,”  and I get it now, I really do. However, prior to entering this sacred womb, I didn’t really have a reference point for what true prayer is particularly as I never connected to this idea of prayer as “asking God for stuff…”

In the hot, damp, darkness, sit bones in the mud, I realised that prayer is really about coming together, celebrating life and surrendering to the discomfort as the mundanities of day to day living dissolve. Singing together is a powerful way to pray and I am learning more and more every day about the spiritual power of music. It blows my mind.

Overall, this whole experience left me wondering why it took me so long to brave the heat and darkness, considering the numerous opportunities I’ve had to participate in sweats around the world. Contrary to my apprehension, the  perceived suffering of the mind is nothing compared to the benefits I reaped, because when I sweat, I find my answers.

…To be continued…

The secret to desire in a long term relationship…

I just watched this TED talk and felt compelled to share it.

“In long-term relationships, we often expect our beloved to be both best friend and erotic partner. But as Esther Perel argues, good and committed sex draws on two conflicting needs: our need for security and our need for surprise. So how do you sustain desire? With wit and eloquence, Perel lets us in on the mystery of erotic intelligence…”

‘I just…feel like I should have more to show by now, you know?’ said one of the girls.

This got me thinking a lot about the western view of life and our struggle to accumulate security through the accumulation of material wealth.

It seems to me, that at the end of the day, all any of us have to “show for ourselves” is what we think of ourselves.  No one really cares if you have a mercedes or a beach house in Hawaii. In fact, they are much more likely to be irritated or jealous by your wealth as it reminds them of their own (self-percived) “failure”.

The truth is, material wealth by no means indicates your value as a human being. Your value as a human being is solely influenced by what you think of yourself. So the question is, do you have an inner fan or an inner critic?

To me, the only true failure is failure to love oneself. That is, failure to see the beauty that is present in any given situation. When you derive your self-worth from your job or accumulated wealth it’s easy to fall into the trap of thinking that you need a high-ranking job to be successful. But really, this will only help you to appear successful. Real success depends on what you feel from within.

Anthony Robbins teaches us how important it is to understand our emotional values in life. Based on our emotional values and goals, we tend to create a set of  beliefs (or rules) and measure our own success or failure by our ability to meet these emotional values and feel pleasure. Beliefs often come in the form of ”if-then rules”.

For example, “if enough people know who I am, then I am successful.” or “If I earn $xxx,xxx then I will be successful.” Whatever.

On balance, there are also rules that influence our ability to deliver on our values. These are the limiting beliefs that hold us back from taking the risk of following our dreams. A common example of this is the belief, “if I feel successful then I will lose my motivation”. The real truth is, when you get too comfortable, then you are likely to lose your motivation. Paradoxically, “too comfortable” is often the mindset we get into when we continuously hold ourselves back from following our dream; when we fall deep into the security of a predictable reality.

Unfortunately, many of us have not written our own beliefs or “life-rules”. Instead they have been impressed upon our minds from the very early years of our lives. This is why it is so important to discover and define what beliefs you have collected over the years and decide for yourself if they are serving your best interests.

This is your chance to write your own life rules because life was never meant to be difficult. If you want success, it is up to you to set yourself up so that you can win this game of life.

So ,based on my values, here are my rules for life:

If I see beauty, then I feel joy.

If I am learning, then I know I am growing.

If I eat consciously (it doesn’t matter what) and enjoy my food, then I eat well.

If I move my body then I am healthy.

If I am alive, I know that I am loved.

And this one I stole form Robbins: If I learn something new, then I am successful.

Because, there is no such thing as failure.

ayahuasca experience

Finally a moment to break this writing hiatus…

As you can imagine, a lot has been going on in my life. Its crazy to think that only three weeks ago I was living deep in the Amazonian jungle, doing dieta with a shipibo shaman called Aquellis. This was the most intense and revealing experience of my life and I am dedicating the next several posts to sharing the experience with you in detail.

For those of you who don’t know, a dieta is an ancient shamanic initiation in the Amazon which involves dedicating oneself to a non-psycho active “master plant” for a set period of time. During this time, contact with the outside world is minimized, often causing subjects to retreat like hermits into the deep jungle.

By eating a very bland diet, without the use of any sugar, salt, spices or other stimulants, the body is weakened, allowing the spirit of the plants to transpose itself into the human body. Thus a relationship is formed and a mutual exchange of alternative experiences between plant and man is shared.

Traditionally shamanic apprentices would do a dieta with a particular plant for 1-2 years. These days however, subjects are able to do dieta from anywhere between a week to a year. During this time Ayahuasca is traditionally taken 2-3 times a week (or more) and works as the translator or mediator between the master plant and the initiate.

This time, I chose to diet a master plant called Bobinsana, which happened to be the first plant that caught my eye when I first arrived in Peru. I took it as a sign and Aquilles later confirmed that B. had indeed invited me.

Bobinsana grows by the waterside with beautiful white/pink blossoms. To me, her spirit is a winged siren – a gorgeous (sometimes sharp toothed) mermaid with a fiercely protective mother energy. This is contrasted with the friendly playfulness of some childlike fairy creature. She works deeply with ones emotions and opening up the communication channels with the precision of a hummingbird.

This being my second trip to Peru, I found the dieta to be a very interesting and rewarding way to deepen my relationship with Ayahuasca. In particular, I found that my journeys felt much more focused on healing and letting go of past traumas and my visions were much clearer.

Finding the right shaman was essential of course, and I was lucky to have had a lot of the searching done for me by my good friend Aster who had arrived in the jungle a month prior. Considering the amount of Ayahuasca tourism that goes on in the Amazon these days, it can be difficult to find a legitimate shaman of pure intentions.

Our shaman, Aquilles, was a kind hearted man in his mid forties. He lives in the small town of Yarina Cocha with his wife, children, two daughters in law, grandchildren and a couple of young orphans they adopted from the streets. Altogether there is 21 of them, who share the dirt floor of their humble four-bedroom home.

What instantly struck me about him was his authentic generosity as he kindly opened his home and heart to us. Unlike many of the other shamans competing in the area, he encouraged us to pay him by donation after covering the expenses of our trip. This is unique considering how many mouths he has to feed and how money hungry the society is out there. Amidst pollution and overpopulation there is a lot of struggle to make ends meet in the “city”.

I first met Aquilles in a feverish state after arriving in Yarina from Cusco. The cold of the mountains had taken its toll on my immune system and I had contracted some parasites which left me in a cold sweating fever for three days. During this time he and his wife visited me day and night with medicinal plants and with their aid I recovered quickly.

Before heading out for our dieta, we spent a week with his family in town as Aster and I organized what was needed for our trip. This included finding land, transportation and gathering enough food and plant medicines (including Tobacco, Ayahuasca and Chiddy Sanagoe) for the duration of our stay. During this time we’d often go over to his home for dinner and his children and grand children would always greet us warmly, running towards us with hugs.

We celebrated his birthday that week and it was brilliant to see how similar things were to my own life back home. Family members gathered at his house to eat, drink and be merry. Speeches were made and children laughed and played chasy in the background. Despite the differences, it was humbling to recognize the cultural similarities of a family coming together to celebrate the life of a loved one.

…To be continued…Part Two coming soon…

I have been on the road for about three months now, and I have travelled to what I would say is the most beautiful place in the world. These mountains broke my soul, in the best of ways, taking me into a divine state of grace. With tears in my eyes and a dove in my heart, I felt satisfied and whole at the sight of beauty. I hope you feel this way sometime; empty and complete, full of gratitude, wanting nothing, needing nothing more than what is present. And the beauty of the world does not stop with the land. I have also found it refracted in the souls of many who were once strangers to me.

We were camped out in a valley in the Andes, nowhere in particular. The days were warm and sunny but the nights were crazy cold. My sleeping bag wasn’t really enough up in the mountains, so I would often Every morning I would wake up with numb fingers and toes. This is what got me out of my hammock, to run up the hill, over frost covered grass and sumberge myself in the warm waters of the natural hot springs. From dawn till midday, I’d stay naked in the hot pools, bathing and talking with new friends. As the sun rose over the mountains, we would gradually migrate down to the cooler natural swimming pools. The first week at the festival was a little isolating at times, as my spanish wasn’t very good and not many people spoke english, but by the second week my spanish had improved a lot and I made many friends.

I remember meeting David from Switzerland when I first arrived. From the moment my hazel eyes met his, soft and  brown, I  found myself crushing on him big time. He was perfect, bar the fact that he could not speak a word of english.  At first we both tried to communicate through our pigeon spanish, but it was frustrating and we both soon gave up (his first language is french).

A week later, on an ominous, rainy night, I went to check on my friends tent… Beneath the moonlight and raindrops, mud squelching beneath my boots, I made my way between the tents of “Camp Avalanche”. This is the name we had jokingly given the tents parked at the base of the crumbled mountainside.

I found my friend’s tent cold, damp and vacant. There was nothing I could really do about it while the rain was still falling, so I zipped it up and began to walk back to the kitchen where everyone was huddled. I’d taken about ten steps down the hill, when I heard the music; the most incredible, beautiful music calling me to find the source. I saw candlelight in a nearby tent. It took me a moment to find the courage to invite myself in, but when I finally did I was welcomed warmly by David and his Swiss brother from another mother: Jonathan. The two of them were so beautifully inseparable.

Tired and wet, I lay curled up like a cat in their tiny tent letting their melodies and rhythms wash over me as they  played my dreams into reality. What touched me most deeply about their music was that it was all improvised, never to be recorded or heard again. This was it and i savoured every note, tasting its flavour as it come forward and then melted into the greater composition of the moment.

Then the moment ended. Or changed, rather. After an hour of non-stop jamming, they were tired, but I didn’t want them to stop. Jonathan opened a box of cookies and passed it around. “Do you play?” David gestured, offering me the guitar. Swallowing my insecurities, (talk about a hard act to follow) I accepted the guitar and began to play and sing one of my own songs. It wasn’t long before  David picked up the other guitar and started to play with me. Then Jonathan fumbled for his flute and we played together in a timeless reality.  Without the need for words, music became our language and we jammed for another two hours, loosing all sense of time and pain despite our cramped positions, being three people and two guitars in a two-man tent.

Eventually we emerged from the tent, smiling, so god-damned high on life. The rain had ceased, the clouds parted and the moon was full.

After that it became absolutely necessary to jam together every day. We needed our fix.

Click here for part two.

You can read Part One here.

Today I find myself back in Cusco, sitting in the sun talking of loneliness with a timeless friend. If there is one thing I have discovered about myself through travel, is that I am not the lone wolf I once believed myself to be. Yes I love my independence and would never seek to have a relationship based upon dependency, however taking a very literal leaf out of a good friends book, I’ve found great value in following the trail of loveliness, walking the road with only the most beautiful people that grace my reality. I flow with those who make me feel good and feel blessed to find kin so easily. Community is key for me these days and I am delighted to watch it develop around me wherever I go. There is only love here, and so much love, at that.

Where in the past I  have valued solitude, these days I am all too aware that it is not the places I visit, but rather, the company I keep, that brings satisfaction in my life.

I am also learning to give and give and give and give, for as I give, I create space for me to receive more and more and more and it is the transience of these gifts that grace my reality which really excites me. And people are such divine gifts, for we can only go so far within ourselves, by ourselves. I believe it is the contrast of an alternative reference point that really allows one to grow. I see my connections manifesting perfectly as I become the medicine for those around me just as they become the medicine for my own personal development. Sometimes this comes in the form of a challenge – an invitation to transcend old programming as our interactions highlight egoic attachments that it is time for me to let go of . Other times, this human medicine is in the comfort of another’s arms and as they lend their ears and mind.

As I wonder through this hall of mirrors, I also become a gift to others through our interactions, naturally providing what is needed for them to grow. In turn, I have met shiny, shiny beings who live up to Marianne William’s manifesto. They remind me to be myself without fear as everywhere is a safe place to express myself. The implicit message is, a universal truth… if you are okay with every aspect of you, then the rest of the world will be too.

They say the jungle is not feared by the saint; that pure thoughts keep one safe from harm. If this is true, it must be the same in these cities which sometimes feel colder than they really are. I am learning to accept that I don’t have a dirty mind, that my intentions are always pure and how blessed are the amoral. Everything I do is okay. Adulthood is a myth. My choices are right and there is no need to doubt myself or suppress my desires and dreams as everything I could need or want is here for me. All I have to do is trust and it is given.

Sitting in the sun, we went on to discuss loneliness as a state of being vs. an emotion. One thing I have been really learning to do is letting emotions flow through me like food and water. I believe sadness and loneliness to be fleeting emotions, rather than lasting states of consciousness. That is, unless I allow my ego to engage in their illusions. Its become a yogic practice for me to consciously not attach to such emotions, knowing how the Ego loves to personalize emotions and create attachments through stories. I want to stress that this doesn’t mean suppressing emotions like sadness and loneliness. Rather its about giving myself the space to feel these things, without justifying them with a story.

Looking back, I can see patterns in my past where I actually believed that holding on to pain and sadness was worthwhile. Like it gave me a place in a twisted world focused on pleasure, pain, loss and gain. I wore my pain like a badge of honour, as if I had “earned my stripes” to be here. As if I needed this pain and sadness to fit into a world of lost souls. These days I choose to see things differently. I notice how more often than not my mood is affected by my environment. It’s not so personal. When I  am aware of the stories my mind likes to create to make my emotional state relevant to reality, I can detatch from the emotions that I do not enjoy and allow them to fall away like water off a ducks back.

Saying that, I can also recognize the beauty of contrasting emotions and the important role they play in allowing me to appreciate the good times, which is why I am prepared to feel them fully from time to time. Lying on my back, my eyes to the sky, I can let everything be as it is, with gratitude as I recognize that I am still alive and breathing. It is moments like this that I am able to tap into amazing states of interconnectedness, where I feel that no matter what becomes of this physical body, I will never dissapear.

Sometimes I wonder how sustainable this lifestyle is and how I can make it easier and more wonderful for myself. I have my doubts from time to time but it is these profoundly familiar moments I share with once-upon-a-time strangers that reminds me that this is what I want. A life of moments like this, where I feel at home with new friends, as if we have always been together, we are meant to be together, and the spontaneity of our interactions were always preordained.

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.

What is it that holds us back from claiming our own personal power; from being the best version of ourselves we possibly could be?

If you are anything like me, you’ve probably found yourself tugging at the skirt of your ultimate-self-vision with frustration every once in a while. Habits seem too stubborn; addictions too intoxicating. Match that with some underlying beliefs of unworthiness, and you’ll be forever tugging at that skirt.

But lets examine the situation a little more closely; as while the transformation into the highest expression of our self, might seem daunting, we all live with the hope that it is possible. And it is possible. You’ve seen yourself change for the better before; you’ve seen others change for the better before. Change is always possible, so the question remains: what holds us back?

A large part of the human story is this idea that “humanity is flawed”. That humans are incompetent in handling power. That we are not worthy, nor good enough to deal with the responsibilities that power entails.

This message has been perpetuated throughout our culture for thousands of years, through centuries of mythology. You needn’t look hard for examples – Adam and Eve’s original sin – Man’s “fall from grace” is perhaps the most prominent evidence of this brainwashing in action. This has led to a deeply embedded sub-conscious fear of power – reinforced by an insecurity of unworthiness.

Yet, we continue to seek our power; in fact we crave it because it is our birthright. Were you not born to rein over your own body, inspiring it to express your highest vision of self?

In light of this, it seems that whenever we get close to the edge of our own personal power, it scares the shit out of us, and so we run, putting as much space between it and ourselves as possible.

The mere idea that we could change instantaneously puts us up there with “the gods” and though our western culture might appear to contradict this theory as our governments struggles to own this god-like power, we perceive the responsibilities of “gods” as far too much for ourselves to handle. “Humanity is flawed after all,” whispers mother culture, and so, we fall back into old habits, sub-consciously self-sabotaging our dreams, trying less than our best in order to fit in and save face.

The truth is, we are powerful expressions of the divine. After all, were we not made in the image of the divine creator? All it takes to be who we want to be is a change of mind. Yet, this personal power is scary, because with the capacity to change our minds at will, we become unstoppable as we move through the flow of life, learning and transforming ourselves for the better.

Unfortunately, because we don’t trust ourselves with power (and we certainly don’t trust others of our kind with it) our subconscious will do anything to keep us from changing quickly and sustainably. And so the cycle begins, where we bring ourselves down to the level of those around us – for fear of becoming a prosecuted scapegoat (like Jesus). We also pull others around us down with our lack of confidence in their ability to handle power responsibly.

Considering how many times I have been disappointed by examples of humans who have used power irresponsibly, I will admit that this isn’t a completely unwarranted fear. However, it is important to distinguish that these painful cases are ALWAYS instances where humans have attempted to claim power over others. This is the power of domination that dominates our culture as leaders attempt to enforce their vision and their unique perspective onto others.

This never works, of course, as the point of being human is to experience a unique perspective and to make choices related to one’s own individual paradigm. There is no such thing as an answer that is fitting for all, which is why it is so important that we learn to govern ourselves with confidence and dedication in using our bodies to express ourselves authentically. After all, do you not trust yourself to be the captain of your own soul?

So let me be clear, when I talk about “claiming your own personal power”, I’m actually talking about embracing domination’s better looking sister – the power of dominion (power with others).

While the power of domination thrives on the concept of limitation; that “the more I have, the less you get”, the power of dominion, celebrates the power we have when we step up to the challenge of expressing ourselves in all our glory. This is the power that allows us to inspire one another to live a life of liberated authenticity. This is the power that allows you to not only touch your dreams, but experience them in reality. This is the power that generates sustainable success.

So I’m practicing embracing it without fear; to make the choice to change my mind and kick the habits that keep me from expressing who I really am.

And so I remind myself to stop trying - instead, to choose something and be it.