Forced Food for Thought
(The Affects of Subliminal Messages on Our Subconscious)
Impressed images fuse with frantic words galore
Lurking beneath the surface, these memories are stored
But there is no guard that we can see
Muck seeps and leaks from media and TV
Abrupt yearnings for things we don’t need
Unnatural feelings; lust, violence, greed
Flashing pictures and melodic tunes
Beware; our entire mind is not perfectly immune
We react poorly, swerving out of control
Into unwanted thoughts one is lulled
If only a filter was in our possession
In order to stop the foul art of subliminal domination
.. Jessica Fennelly …
This writing was an assignment my daughter, a Senior in High School, had for her Human Behaviors class. When I read this it struck a chord of resonance with the recent reflections on information overload and greed to make money at all costs. The use of subliminal messages is not a new technique and in its most useful form is companion to the learning process we have as infants. The subconscious mind is in the state of process and intake continually and forms the storehouse of images, experiences, etc… that await the appropriate threads of connecting information that bring them to the surface, or if not received, lay forever dormant.
Add to this process the feverish pitch of advertisers to sell their products. IF we take this magic pill we will be less depressed, have more vigor in the bedroom, feel no pain. The lists of cautionary disclaimer and side effects runs on and on; often worse than the ailment that is being helped- yet, people still buy into the promise. If we buy this phone, or that make-up – go on this cruise or drink this coffee- we will feel, look and be just like those beautiful people in the ads. Yet, we still buy in to the glamour, hype and need to be techno-savvy.
Maybe there is no correlation at all to what may lay “between the lines” in the mass media approach to buying and selling. Maybe the desire to be all the things we see displayed within these ads is the great motivator in our subconscious to buy first and ask questions later. This simple high school exercise will certainly make me give more thought and attention to what really is being said between the lines.
Musings and Writings
Sunday, January 23, 2011
Tuesday, January 11, 2011
A Weekly Reflection: Just One More Piece of Information
I am someone who delights in learning new things, finding more sources to feed that new found knowledge and being swept away on the various currents that have fed into that source. Having admitted that, I am also becoming more acutely aware of the impact that trend of thought and process has on my overall well being and what tools are have used to embark on these treasure hunts.
Some would consider me a Type A personality. Energetic, very driven; and, the many years of being a ballet dancer enabled me with discipline, dedication and the overriding of my own limitations to transcend that physical vehicle. It was with the same approach that I entered into motherhood; having 5 children (under the age of five at one point) and making sure that each received full doses of what I could provide in support of seeking out answers to the important questions. This approach has always been my modus operandi for pursuing my spiritual path, from the youngest age on. Sometimes I feel as though I was born with an encyclopedia in my hand, the desire to “know” has been so compelling. So, to that end, I have shelves of books, hoards of tapes on every and any subject relating to spiritual practice.
With the advent of a new year, a 55-year birthday looming just weeks away and having taken long hard looks this past year at how to simplify, modify and make better use of the resources around, I truly “get it”. Listening to the message of my instinctual self has led me away from the book learning I have so treasured. Taking selective days off from technology and queries has led me back to the stillness of inner query. And, sometimes holding back with offering that one last piece of information has been just what was needed by the intended recipient in coming to a conclusion of their own.
Most importantly, making a conscious choice to engage in experience, conversation and what could never be fully captured in the pages of a book or the usual informational sources, has taken me along currents that would have gone otherwise unnoticed, and these are often the ones most densely laden with gems of wisdom.
Happy Querying!
Some would consider me a Type A personality. Energetic, very driven; and, the many years of being a ballet dancer enabled me with discipline, dedication and the overriding of my own limitations to transcend that physical vehicle. It was with the same approach that I entered into motherhood; having 5 children (under the age of five at one point) and making sure that each received full doses of what I could provide in support of seeking out answers to the important questions. This approach has always been my modus operandi for pursuing my spiritual path, from the youngest age on. Sometimes I feel as though I was born with an encyclopedia in my hand, the desire to “know” has been so compelling. So, to that end, I have shelves of books, hoards of tapes on every and any subject relating to spiritual practice.
With the advent of a new year, a 55-year birthday looming just weeks away and having taken long hard looks this past year at how to simplify, modify and make better use of the resources around, I truly “get it”. Listening to the message of my instinctual self has led me away from the book learning I have so treasured. Taking selective days off from technology and queries has led me back to the stillness of inner query. And, sometimes holding back with offering that one last piece of information has been just what was needed by the intended recipient in coming to a conclusion of their own.
Most importantly, making a conscious choice to engage in experience, conversation and what could never be fully captured in the pages of a book or the usual informational sources, has taken me along currents that would have gone otherwise unnoticed, and these are often the ones most densely laden with gems of wisdom.
Happy Querying!
Monday, January 3, 2011
The Knot of Time and Tarot Key: Strength
Solid foundations must be crafted upon which to stand
Trust in the process, resolve is at hand
Rise above limitation and learn from your peers
Empower yourself with wisdom honed from your fears
Notice the strides that have been taken and make note of missteps
Gather to you all your courage and worry not about safety nets
The answers that you seek are those that you already know
Honor what you have created and stand in truth as the strength within you grows
Read More at:
The Esoteric Tymes
Tarot Tips and the Knot of Time Spread
Trust in the process, resolve is at hand
Rise above limitation and learn from your peers
Empower yourself with wisdom honed from your fears
Notice the strides that have been taken and make note of missteps
Gather to you all your courage and worry not about safety nets
The answers that you seek are those that you already know
Honor what you have created and stand in truth as the strength within you grows
Read More at:
The Esoteric Tymes
Tarot Tips and the Knot of Time Spread
Sunday, January 2, 2011
A Weekly Reflection: The Cost of Doing Business
We hustle and coerce
We contrive and spin
our webs of manipulation.
Saying all the while
“It’s just the cost of doing business”
Have to hit the benchmark
Productivity must increase
Sales are down and
Advertising is at full Blitz
The consumer buys in to the pitch-
Another sale made
After all,
“It’s just the cost of doing business.”
As the words reverberate
on Wall street’s stately bricks
The homeless stand and wait
For sandwiches out dated
Pastries un-bought and
Passerby’s tossed off coins
The only consumption for
The hungry is what
Society’s consumers thoughtlessly discard.
The mantra on tip of tongue,
it must be fresh and clean
Trendy and unused,
And, of course,
It absolutely must be cutting edge.
Things not truly needed
And quickly upgraded
While most of humanity
Just barely survives.
Sales are down and
Corporate America bemoans
Its imaginary crisis of poor state
And the echoes reverberate
On filthy subway walls
as the homeless take up the cry
“It’s just the cost of doing business!”
As we move into a New Year...
Let’s use up our natural resources, as we help others who have less
Let’s discard those things which continue to separate and divide us
Let’s be avid consumers of the gifts of love, friendship and community
Let’s buy only what we need from ethical and fair vendors
Let’s be hoarders of every opportunity to brighten someone’s day
And, as our bank accounts of life’s experience and interactions
Grows, matures and is ready to be cashed in
Let’s count our blessings earned and share the wealth with the world.
Written at a Starbucks while observing…. 12.29.2010
We contrive and spin
our webs of manipulation.
Saying all the while
“It’s just the cost of doing business”
Have to hit the benchmark
Productivity must increase
Sales are down and
Advertising is at full Blitz
The consumer buys in to the pitch-
Another sale made
After all,
“It’s just the cost of doing business.”
As the words reverberate
on Wall street’s stately bricks
The homeless stand and wait
For sandwiches out dated
Pastries un-bought and
Passerby’s tossed off coins
The only consumption for
The hungry is what
Society’s consumers thoughtlessly discard.
The mantra on tip of tongue,
it must be fresh and clean
Trendy and unused,
And, of course,
It absolutely must be cutting edge.
Things not truly needed
And quickly upgraded
While most of humanity
Just barely survives.
Sales are down and
Corporate America bemoans
Its imaginary crisis of poor state
And the echoes reverberate
On filthy subway walls
as the homeless take up the cry
“It’s just the cost of doing business!”
As we move into a New Year...
Let’s use up our natural resources, as we help others who have less
Let’s discard those things which continue to separate and divide us
Let’s be avid consumers of the gifts of love, friendship and community
Let’s buy only what we need from ethical and fair vendors
Let’s be hoarders of every opportunity to brighten someone’s day
And, as our bank accounts of life’s experience and interactions
Grows, matures and is ready to be cashed in
Let’s count our blessings earned and share the wealth with the world.
Written at a Starbucks while observing…. 12.29.2010
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