Amy Macdonald's I'm Done

It took me quite a while to come back to Amy Macdonald, but I finally did. And whoa, it was immediately electrifying, all over again! I couldn’t get enough of the songs I loved in the past and would repeatedly replay them. Now I’m being blown away by all the power contained in more recent ones, such as I’m Done.

Believe it or not, I was just some kid when I first listened to Amy Macdonald. A young adult, if you’d rather I be precise. Lost as I could be. It was around the time I had just left the city for the town life and, in her music, not only did I find solace - it was as though it got rid of YEARS of baggage I was carrying. How is that sort of magic even possible? It is, it very much is! She is proof of it. And I’m ecstatic that she continues to be active, making art imbued with more of what her spirit brings.

It is wild for me to think about everything that’s happened all up to this point. From practically breaking under the pressure of a lifestyle that was never meant for me, having little to no mental or emotional fortitude, unclear about everything, to standing firm and unshakable in what is undeniable. The needlessly hurried, shallow, directionless, and basically rootless approach I was being urged to take was killing me. But, thankfully, now I know better, and such nonsense doesn’t stand a chance anymore. Maybe that’s for you. Me? Hard pass.

In I’m Done, I particularly love how playing games is a theme. Not only that, though. There are many key aspects touched on that relate to taking back your destiny. Not merely in a “What are this year’s resolutions?” kinda way, but in a more devastatingly profound and grand manner. Thoroughly resolute, no matter how long it takes (or what it takes). Calling it a reset would be the understatement of the century.

This one is resonating with me down to my core and further beyond...

It’s True, Though, It Shouldn’t Be Imposed

I just want to make it extra clear that I do believe that, if you are wounded, you should take your time and go at your own pace, in order to repair yourself. I would never want to be someone who rushes or even forces ‘recovery’ onto others. 

Some things are way more complex, profound, and delicate than they may appear on the surface. So, “just get over it” wouldn’t do. And I believe it is especially important to have a place and people with whom you can feel and be safe from careless or clumsy attempts at ‘fixing’ you. Or worse, demand that you “forgive and forget”, then open yourself to even more harm. But yes, indeed, being sheltered is ultimately not enough. Ideally, you’d eventually, likely gradually, get to the point where, if you haven’t already, things don’t bother you as much or at all anymore, where you are not triggered to relive trauma or sent into a state of fear and panic. That begins with security on the outside and is completed with security on the inside. Furthermore, even as a fully healed person, there are simply experiences that you’d rather steer clear of, as both your time and energy are precious (and for you to invest accordingly), and you should be free to do that too. 

Live your best life, not a life attempting to prove to anyone that you ‘matured’ and ‘evolved’ and can again and again endure and tolerate stuff that you’re better off without. I’m with you in that. And I'm wishing that the means for it never lack and are always within your reach. ✌

Desperate Times, Desperate Measures?

What are the odds that precisely the day when I’m, let’s just say… PMSing like hell, like I haven’t in who knows how long, this song, with no other than Chester Bennington, is playing so loud that I just can’t miss it? I don’t know, but amidst the pain and suffering, it was as comforting as it could possibly be. Though the irony of it got me chuckling through the tears, too.

It is extra odd because Linkin Park is not a band that’s usually blasted out around here. That alone, in itself, is a very rare event. And it, thankfully, happened to also coincide with my needing to be cheered up.

That is One More Light. I looked up the lyrics because, even if I’ve listened to a song countless times, I can’t always instantly recall all the words in it. “Should've stayed. Were there signs I ignored?” This line somehow hit me like a callout for not paying enough attention to my surroundings. I don’t know! Were there signs I ignored? Hm.

In any case, here’s another peek into my everyday life, since I figure many of you have no idea what happens behind the screen, whether it’s miserable or wonderful. (In this case, it was both.)

I’m not even going to say which one was on before it.

Just go have a great day today! And stay magical, magical beings. 🤍✨

Components in The Abstract Plane

It's been a while since I last posted The Conceptual Plane's Components and there have been various changes and additions since then. So here it is again! Updated. To be able to come back to as we go over each this year.

It looks 'complete' by now, but what do I even know? All I can be sure of is that these are the ones I'll be able to cover this year. If more are discovered later, they likely will have to be left for another round.

And you might ask, "But how are we supposed to know what our top components are if more keep appearing without notice?!" And that's a good question. We can't be 100% sure. HOWEVER, the worst that can happen is that you figure your Top 5 out of the visible ones here and, if another one appears that would make it into your Top 5, it would simply push one or more to the side and one out of the frame. They're all still very you, just that another highlightable one very much is. We live, we learn. 💁 

As for what's new: 

• I realized (as I worked on a spreadsheet to save dates) that the Complex Combo Components fit with the seasons. And was nudged to include that? And I mean, yes, indeed. The Seasons as Concepts are relevant here, too. So there you have them! Lots can happen in each season, of all sorts, but they come with a 'default' energy.

• To be safe, I also marked the Non-Recommendable Components with a Caution sign. And added a tiny yellow dot next to the ones that are a better option in their place. A concept to be addressed more thoroughly later on.

• There are also two peculiar components that I'm looking forward to but am keeping my mouth shut for now. They've been featured before, but it's only recently that I figured out enough of what they truly represent.

• Lots of Blue, as the Assembly that it is, but also more Yellow for Discovery. 🌞

I'm having a blast with this. I don't think I'll ever get bored with it. Haha.

Thank you for helping me spot and include so many of them!

And thank you for joining in this very nerdy venture. 

You know who you are. 🎨🤓💞 

Components? But…

When I queued the parts I’d be looking into each week, throughout the year, I was kinda mad at how I jumped straight into the components themselves before going over the different types of groups of components. It seemed backwards. Because I’m such a big-picture-first person and do a lot of it like that. But it’s turning out for the better because there’s still plenty I’ve yet to realize and I just realized more that I would have hated to leave out.

E.g. The Catalysts. I’d always perceived them as having plenty of Black (a.k.a. Dark) because they’re such rebels to the fabric of reality (and just to counterproductive or even regressive rigidity), but now I’m seeing more of how Black (a.k.a. Dark) manifests in them. And it’s blowing my mind! Turns out they can be ON while appearing OFF. And there’s a whole bunch of peculiarities in that.

But worry not, I’m getting to that by the end of this round, before going into what the different planes are, and then jumping into The Structured Plane and its components. Plus, I can still share bits here and there before and after wrapping up any description.

Furthermore! THERE’S SO MUCH MORE TO DISCOVER. I’m trying to hit key aspects of things when I post about them weekly, but with the aim to trigger more of what it could imply and entail. It definitely doesn’t end there. And if this is my life’s work (it is), there are countless opportunities up ahead to keep expanding on and covering everything in numerous forms. I’M HYPED!

So, I present to you, my configuration - revised. Also, can’t wait til enough information is out so that more people can figure out what their configurations are. I’ll eventually make a sorting Quiz app, but you know how I feel about quizzes and accuracy. It is better if you get to know what’s out there and what’s within you to get your answers. But quizzes can be a fun jumpstart, too.

Yes. The order matters. Significantly so. 😮

Sun Overview

In the case of the Sun, it primarily affects your core identity and conscious self. The Sun, just as it stands at the center of the solar system and radiates life-sustaining light, represents vitality, purpose, and the animating life force. Essentially, the Sun stands for the initial flame and personal arc. And it is in and through it that confidence, leadership, and authentic self-expression develop.

When it comes to the Sun, the sign Leo shares certain similarities and is said to be ruled by it.

What are Planetary Placements?

For context and more of relevance, please read about The Zodiac.

Cats Hanging Out, Luv, Luv, Luv

In a more wholesome note, I absolutely love it when there's a huge group of cats and they're hanging out with each other, having fun and more. It doesn't bother me at all to go "ignored". I don't even take it like that. It's only bad if they're being lil' jerks or plotting against me somehow. And sad if not a single one wanted to come up to me at any point (cuz wth?). But I'm not a very social person, not very energetic in general, so I do well with minimal interactions. In fact, it is awesome that they can be friends. 💗

Following the Herd? Don't Go There!

Don’t do the thing everybody else is doing, as though it is okay, even though it is not. If you have already started, it is never too late for you to stop (whether or not you have forever lost good people because of it). But especially if you have NOT done it, do not start now. It is not okay, no matter how many people are doing it. Maybe they are vile or maybe they have an extremely valid reason for it that justifies it (and you do not). If you habitually do the wrong thing, at most, you only have potential for others as a 'convenient asset', nothing more. And that may be generous and/or have you on "thin ice".

The Artist's RPG / Components: Fog

FOG

FORCE

SURFACE - SCRIPT - CONVENIENCE

One step at a time, no leaps of faith, prudence. You don’t know what is out there. You can’t see that far. You are not prepared. What if it is more than you can handle? What if it is more than you’d choose to handle? What if you’d simply rather not handle it at all? Avoid, avoid, avoid. This has kept you safe. This is sensible.

“Sometimes lacking effort. Sometimes the required effort.”

•••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••

There is a manner of doing things. It is what you have seen. It is the set of instructions that you were given. It is the routine that you stick to. It is the habits that die hard. It is what you like to call… discipline. Though it may be something else. But it works. Somehow.

One step at a time, no leaps of faith, prudence. You don’t know what is out there. You can’t see that far. You are not prepared. What if it is more than you can handle? What if it is more than you’d choose to handle? What if you’d simply rather not handle it at all? Avoid, avoid, avoid. This has kept you safe. This is sensible.

Alarms go off, and you panic. What is that unfamiliar sound? It cannot be good. It definitely isn’t. Because it is new and it is different, and you don’t know what to do with that. It is not what you were expecting. It complicates.

But you are no coward, not necessarily. You will get through it, one way or another, if you must. Taking what you are used to and mixing it with what you encounter. What is right and what is wrong be damned. There is only survival and making it to where you ought to be. And that is back to where there are no threats. Taking risks and expanding your horizons is overrated.

You are baffled. Why would anyone deviate? Didn’t they see what happened to the person who did that? They were insane! Repetition is fine. Repetition is preferred. Repetition brings you the same. Let’s not be original, let’s imitate.

I will shrink, I will stagnate, and I will be adequate. How dare you insinuate I am miserable!

NOTE: This is a component to use with extra caution or dismiss completely, as it operates against art when unchecked. 

People-Pleaser Much?

Is being a people-pleaser worth it? When you’re the book definition of a people-pleaser, the only people you really please are other people-pleasers and abusers - people who are more than happy to endlessly be catered to and pleased.

All while increasingly losing yourself to a fog of falsehoods because your true thoughts and feelings may not be compatible with what you would believe would be ‘pleasing’. You may even stop having your own, as you no longer pause to ask yourself what you feel or think about a situation. Instead, you instantly go to ponder or (in even more lousy attempts) assume what another or others might prefer from you.

Don’t get it twisted, however. To stop being a people-pleaser, as described above, you don’t have to go all the way opposite to it and become a “people-displeaser”, choosing only yourself at all times or even going out of your own way to ‘prove’ that you won’t bother at all about others. That would likely put you in the abusers category.

The issue is that, if you wish to be authentic, whole, and secure in yourself, being a people-pleaser won’t take you there. You might get applause, acceptance, and belonging, but that’s not truly directed at and embracing all of you, is it?

People-pleasing can be a requirement to survive dangerous and dire situations, and a lot of us come from or go through that in life, so it is understandable. However, when it is carried out without a legitimate need for it, it can turn into something far uglier. What may have started as a habit then becomes manipulation for status and more, whether within an individual’s priorities or within a group’s hierarchy. And perhaps you are all playing that same game as if it is the norm, while secretly resenting each other or just having lower opinions than those shared. And if that is your world, you are free to stay in it.

Nevertheless, when it comes to actually having and showing humanity, the drive to please others comes from different motivations. And calling you a ‘people-pleaser’ when that is the case would be inaccurate. It is not about pleasing. It is about considering others, caring for them, and wishing to contribute to them, for their sake. Yet, simultaneously, doing so, if they are worthy of such gestures (or you are merely, unfortunately, under that impression), it will bring you fulfillment, too. Especially if you were able to contribute from parts of you that are unequivocally you. You are simply being, existing as you are, and that is enough.

So when you take yourself into account, respecting and loving yourself, not only do you discover more of who you are, but you also treat yourself to what you both need and want, as a human, which will literally be filling you with more to give, making you more abundant. In what? Who knows! Whatever your particular brand of human is.

It can be lonely; it is not a recipe for guaranteed and immediate popularity. But it is on you to decide whether you will invest in yourself, to bring forth your best version and reach your potential, or in some nebulous and evershifting concept you can adapt or contort yourself into. If the latter comes easily for you, it may be the sensible option. But if it is painfully unbearable, you should definitely look into completely dropping people-pleasing.