What Are You Showing Up As?

Hey, kids, play-pretend is fun! Not only is it fun, though, it is also practice for your imagination, your reasoning, your empathy, and even your motor skills. When you choose to get into somebody else’s shoes, see from their point of view, and take and handle everything as they would, you gain points and level up in consciousness and awareness. May even unlock a few talents while you’re at it. As if by the art of magic! 

Venturing into the unknown, and possibly the forbidden, can be spooky indeed. Therefore, it makes sense that it can become taboo, if not also terribly warned against and opposed. But shadows are merely shadows. And blindspots are merely blindspots as well. So, if you’re a curious one, armed with courage and cadence, chances are you will be fine. Potentially thrilled by such ‘mischief’. 

You should, nonetheless, be cautious. That’s no lie. If there’s a path you’d rather not take, a door you’d rather not open, a stranger you’d rather not trust, a monster you’d rather not face… do not ignore that. And even when it is tempting… pause and ponder. You might not be prepared enough for that or, regardless, it would stray and/or delay you from what is more suitable to you (and your cosmic growth). Magnificent tricks and treats await you, across and at the end of the scary maze of twists and turns, but you ought to stay alive and remain free to go for them! 

Now, let’s take a closer look at one creature. 

Why not start with the most essential kind?  A Ghost . Perhaps you or others will show up as one to the party, wander around the neighborhood, or join in the jokes and pranks. For better or for worse.

Ghosts are incorporeal beings, made of spirit. Their body may be elsewhere, while their soul lingers. In that sense, they are alive. They exist within planes that connect everything, where time and space are less of an obstacle. Watching, nudging, whispering, maybe appearing. Some might need help communicating, incapable of being fully present. They’ll point and hint as much as they can, but the rest is up to you (or the psychic medium) to decipher. Some are unsettled, craving peace, while some have found peace, and are bringing ease. Having a ghost on your side means standing alone but, SURPRISE, not really.  

Abilities might include, yet are not limited to:

• Invisibility

• Teletransportation

• Signals

• Influence

• Possession

Vulnerabilities might include, yet are not limited to:

• Boundness

• Ambiguity

• Mutedness

“Seeing is believing. Believing is seeing. 

You could detect my activity, but could you prove it? 

Now you see me. Now you don’t.” 

Last but not least, overindulging or not, don’t forget to visit your dentist!

You, enchanting/menacing creature!

Taylor Swift's The Fate of Ophelia

This one indeed opened a can of worms for me. So it was hard and difficult to stomach at first. However, after pushing through it, repelled and grossed out by aspects of the story that it is bringing up, I could at last get into how meticulously elaborated it all is and enjoy it. What am I even talking about, if it’s just another music video? Well… 

Let’s start with Ophelia. Who is she and what does she represent? Everything revolves around being saved from her fate. A fate that is far from ideal. So much that it can drive you into madness and cause you to lose your life. Ophelia obeyed, she played by the rules, and it cost her gravely. And essentially, that’s her legacy in this tale, to tell what happens down her path.

Now, this tale is kind of tricky. It is specific in what it notes but it is not explicit in what it means. You can interpret it in different ways. And two of them can be quite opposite. One making it a tale of virtue and happy endings, and another making it a tale of vileness and bittersweet experiences. And that’s interesting, too, because it goes to show how confusing things can be sometimes.

Read it as though the rescuer is a legitimate hero who sincerely cares for the damsel in distress, bringing clarity, and it is something to cherish or even honor. Read it as though the rescuer is an impostor hero, taking advantage of the damsel in distress’ most hopeless moments, and the gratitude is instead an intended result from the deceit that they brought. They’re not the one breaking the spell. They’re the one casting it.

The former seems, to me, more like the stretch because there are more than a couple of signs shown or described that evoke suspicion, as if begging us to take off the rose-colored glasses. 

Whatever the case, though, people are loving the music video. And I do, too. I also particularly like, though I don’t know if it is on purpose, how it is shot in one-take scenes that resemble We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together. And if that’s such for a reason, that would be a clue. And a very sneaky one at that.

There are actually LOTS OF THINGS to notice. In the environment, in the costumes, in the choreography, in the transitions, and so on. I wouldn’t be able to point to all of them even if I tried (I’m probably still missing a bunch). So I do suggest, if you’ve been around for more of TS’ history (or you’d ponder it regardless), to pay close attention to everything that’s going on because there’s a high chance it is a reference.   

I adored the trio dressed in black with hints of yellow (and how the image of them kaleidoscoped through what seemed like a crystal). I adored the group dressed in red with black tones (and how much unabashed sass they had). I adored the crew dressed in blue with the lifebuoys (and how there’s a solo attire and then also four more that stand out). I also adored the more casual pack of pals carefreely going through the hallways. I could go on. The point is that the wardrobe was wardrobing. 

Taylor Swift also emphasises that she really wanted to bring the cast of The Eras Tour together for this production. So it is pretty much doing homage to those times, which is thoughtful and lovely beyond words...

The Life of a Showgirl

It’s out, TS12! Without much delay, Taylor Swift is the gift that keeps on giving. And this time, we get an album for October, primarily colored Orange.

Given the magnitude of The Eras Tour, along with the length of The Tortured Poets Department, I did get to worry about whether or not it was marking a significant end or at least an extensive hiatus. But Taylor Swift is a workaholic extremely passionate about her work. And I respect that! Still, girl, shouldn’t you have been… you know… replenishing your artistic juices, finding divine inspiration, and etcetera instead? GETTING A FAR DUE REST?!

I can’t nag about that, specifically, because the album did deliver regardless. And she’s just superhuman like that, with insane levels of stamina and multitasking ability. Many disagree, claiming that it’s her worst album ever. But I’ve been around long enough to know that this tends to happen. People hate her music, then her music grows on them. Or the hate just fades away, and then you’re left with the love that there is for it. Furthermore, there is something particular about her melodies and her lyrics that makes them work best as enhancers and amplifiers of experiences, so they come alive marvelously when you actually have the context for them to be enriched. Just like pure romanticization.

The theories on the album are running wild. Many are taking things at face value, some claiming that the work is shallow or even void. And many are going on about how there’s some 5D chess going on that only the genius of Taylor Swift and the most deranged Swifties could grasp. I’m just like… It’s deep, but it’s not THAT DEEP. Then again, you really do have to wonder what, exactly, she’s aiming to address and tend to.

Ultimately, though, and how I see it, Taylor Swift is simply doing more of what she has always done: continuing to add to her enormous library of music for people to relate to, no matter how crazy or oddly specific their situations are. And, through that, there is a, mostly gentle, mending of issues that can go from mundane and trivial to utterly complex and delicate. Dealing with the heart and relationships, yes, but also with life itself. You miss it if you don’t have a degree of sensitivity to allow you to recognize that they exist in the first place.

People are saying that she’s dumbed it down for Travis. I don’t believe that is the case. But I do get how her environment and those around her do play a role in how tapped in she is to different realms and layers of reality. With sports and the like becoming such a great part of her day-to-day, I wouldn’t expect her to be outstandingly mystical. Rather, she’d be more in touch with the physical - and disconnecting from that to drift further into the abstract would take more effort. But I still find her storytelling doing the storytelling I know her for. And the roaming around that she typically does to cover more and more is there.

Besides, the theme is The Life of a Showgirl. Not My Soul Left My Body and I Met With The Source of The Infinite. It is what it is. Compilations and depictions of what the life of a showgirl is or could be pictured as. It’s a magazine containing various accounts that tie back to show business. To be or witness a showgirl. And the fun (and realizations) that come out of that.

I also came across people complaining about how it is so “happy” and so “millennial”. And I’m… you’ve got to be kidding me. A lot of them are indeed kids who apparently missed the memo - and what’s right in front of their eyes, too. But it's also just cluelessness. It is implied in the title (and promo) that she’s looking at matters in hindsight, so why would you expect anything else? And it is tradition for her to base albums off the assigned color that differentiates them from the rest, which, in this case, is orange (A HAPPY COLOR, and it wasn’t even like she was THAT happy on and with every track). So, yeah, more of what I’m used to when it comes to TS. Completely baseless arguments. That don’t even require counterarguments, but I wanna facepalm.

If you are familiar with Taylor Swift’s work, you would know. She considers herself and behaves herself as a healer with her art. It is more about expressing than it is about impressing (though she manages that too with the packaging of the message). And if you just happen to be in dire need of her brand of medicine, then you get it and you get it (unless you’re terribly unaware).

For me, personally, Opalite and The Life of a Showgirl stood out the most. They quickly took effect as songs that, through the dirt and the ordeal, help you look on the bright side, come to terms with what is and was, and move on to new horizons. But I’m betting other songs will later do their magic in incredible ways as well.

I’m fond of how she closed it all up with a conclusive moment. The exchange between Taylor and Sabrina’s characters, candidly sharing about what being a Showgirl is like. That was perfect. It is what we call here “cerrar con un broche de oro” and I absolutely loved it.

Glad the album was released early in the month. I will keep listening to it through it and beyond. And although it is only 12 songs, I DO PRAY this album will get more MVs than the previous one. Come on, there are GEMS in there.

What's Going On?

HUGE THANKS to people who, besides sticking to the facts, are as clear and honest as they can be when a person is confused or doubtful (or just doesn't quite have a firm grasp). One of the worst things that can happen to someone's psychological health is being dodged and/or gaslit. I really appreciate those of you who actively keep that from happening.

The Sacrificial Lamb

Maybe being chosen isn’t always such a great thing. We might be so desperate to feel special that we fail to ask where they intend to take us. Is it to honor us or to sacrifice us? Or is it both, so you can’t quite tell?

It is nothing new and will keep happening, over and over, for as long as it is allowed, wherever and however it is. People with valuable qualities get sacrificed for the benefit of somebody or something else. It’s not a compliment to be called useful when all you’ll be is used up. What good is for you to be appraised for all that’s worthy in you if it’s only to take it away?

You can spot these monsters sooner rather than later. Before it is too late for you. Before there is no coming back from it. They may look like regular people at first or, worse, like virtuous people. But make no mistake, they will not show you compassion.

In fact, they could come to you with very convincing arguments about why you must agree and why not doing so makes you a horrible person - a selfish person who cannot think of others. All the while, being the ones who cannot pause to think of you and what is best for you, despite you being innocent and owing them nothing. That doesn’t matter to them. What matters is what you can do for them - and whether or not you comply.

There is something in or about you that they lack and cannot achieve on their own. They could even resent you for it, viewing it as ‘unfair’ and as though, because of that, you are obligated to ‘share’ it, because it would be so good for everyone else to have. And you might be blind to what that is, you do not recognize it in yourself and instead take it for granted, but it is desperately sought after for some reason. And it could be almost anything.

Alternatively, maybe it is not unique or exclusive to you, though they may tell you so, and you just happen to be someone that they are fine with leaving nothing of so they go to you for as much of it as they can get.

And what a scary situation to be in, when those around you are willing and ready to put you through the worst, as if it is the right thing to do. Yet, it is so wrong.

Halloween Month

October is here!
It’s Halloween time.
You can expect an emphasis on terror-related content.

Within Temptation's Light Can Only Shine In The Darkness

This has been out for a while now, but don’t think for a second that I took it for granted! I was just waiting for the weather to be just right so that I could more fully immerse myself in it. And now it is.

As usual, Within Temptation doesn’t disappoint when it comes to soulful art. I still find myself at a loss for words to describe what it does to my spirit and how much it requires it. I don’t always realize how deprived it is until, suddenly, I get to indulge in this kind of energy.

I love everything about this music video. All that it captures. The numerous scenarios, the wandering around and through them, the painful and heavy loneliness carried within and shown on the outside, the bitter, the sweet, and the bittersweet moments. While the lyrics may be simple, short and to the point, pictures speak a thousand words. And so, you wonder what each line could be hiding or pointing toward. The many ways they could be interpreted.

It is hauntingly beautiful yet also crudely real. Sometimes we lose others and sometimes we are lost. Or the other way around (they lose us and they are lost). However, when bonds are undeniable, the connection and more can remain.

Definitely more profoundly meaningful than you’d assume at first glance…

It Wasn't an Easy Task

A formal apology if you found me depleted, frustrated, irritable, heartbroken, with trust issues, and in extreme survival mode. Add to that fretting and panicking about my mother’s life-or-death situation while loathing my relatives' lack of support. The odds were definitely NOT in your favor. It was mission impossible to ace it. And if you “passed” anyway, that’s already superhuman. 👍🏻

Optional or Obligatory Group Work

Some people prefer to work alone and some people prefer to work in groups. There are pros and cons to both, but sometimes we don’t have a choice.

Working in groups, there are countless ways in which things could go wrong or just not run smoothly. Working alone, well, if you’re diligent, you can get it done, but it may be lacking. Who doesn’t have one or more outlandish stories about that time when they worked in a group? Insufferable in the moment, laughable in hindsight. And who doesn't have an instance when they worked alone, only to then look at a group's work with wonder and admiration while falling short? Or just wished their time had been shared to be more memorable.

In the event of having to work in a group, you don’t always get to choose who you’re working with. In fact, you rarely do. People are included or they include themselves. And unless there’s an irrefutable reason to kick them out, you’ll have to put up with it. Don’t get it wrong, many can be wonderful. Or just worth the trouble. But quite frankly, some can be a complete waste of space.

Frustration and disappointment can be expected. Someone might be too lazy, another might be too incompetent, another too irresponsible, and another as if cursed with the worst luck. Then, if any work gets done, it is because of the few hard and smart workers who pulled through regardless.

The hard and smart workers will tell you that they’d much rather you stay out of the way if you will only complicate matters and instead simply let them handle it. However, ideally, everyone would be able to carry their own weight or at least add their own spice. Yet, what is most unbearable is having somebody meddling, causing distractions and delays, only to not really contribute anything of substance to make up for it. These workers might even be charitable and personally select and include somebody who’s falling behind and cannot do much, and gladly help them out, but will not welcome somebody who, while capable, does no more than get in the way.

You can call it rude and "not being very nice". But the reality of it is that work is work, not play. If playing is what you all are doing, then you may have a valid argument for being more laid back about it and fooling around. Nevertheless, when people are invested (especially intensely so) in making progress and seeing results, indifference (particularly the sort that sabotages) can be detestable.

Ironically, it is usually those least willing to put in the work that are most drawn to group work, so that others will pick up their slack or just for the heck of messing with everyone and everything. So beware of that and take the measures you must.

Groups form as work to tend to arises. See when you can opt in to lend a hand. And opt out when your hands are full.

Stans

Regardless of how much (or how little) I had going on, I couldn’t just ignore this. I was immediately drawn by the concept of Stan and “Stans”. Automatically, I wondered, “What could Shady Films possibly be up to this time?” And still, with part of me angry at everything and at nothing, I went for it. Hoping I wouldn’t regret it. And I didn’t.

Stans is a documentary in the form of a film, lasting around 1 hour and 45 minutes. It was initially released for theaters but, soon after, began streaming on Paramount+, in the year 2025, during the summer, on August. It features clips from Eminem’s history as well as direct testimony from him and his many supporters (including devout “Stans”).

If you’re one of the “Stans”, this is for and about you, and you should watch it. And if you like Eminem despite or even because of his problematic nature, you should watch it. Also, if you just enjoy raw, profound, masterfully crafted, and infinitely meaningful storytelling, particularly regarding the character arc of a musician in the industry, you should watch it. I recommend it to you. 

  SPOILER ALERT!   Keep reading at your own risk. There are spoilers ahead...