Joseph Elijo

Friday, March 4, 2022

97-The Children's Crusade (Unfortunately Revisited) Living in the Time of the Russian Invasion Of Ukraine

First they came for the Socialists, and I did not speak out-
Because I was not a Socialist.

Then they came for the Trade Unionists, and I did not speak out-
Because I was not a trade Unionist.

Then they came for the Jews, and I did not speak out-
Because I was not a Jew.

Then they came for me-and there was no one left to speak for me.
Martin Niemoller

There is a destiny that makes me fear not the rag man. The rag man was not a fictitious character but a real one. As a young child, I would cower and hide in my grand parents house behind the front door. I would kneel down and peak out the mail slot and listen for the rag man's call.
"Rags! Rags for sale!
"Clop, clop, clop, clop," the old work horse's hoofs would ring clear on the roadway.
"Rags! Rags for sale!
He was coming to get me. Just as my sisters had foretold because I had been bad. I lived in fear of the ragman in some form or another the majority of my life. I choose to no longer fear the reality that was the rag man or is now Vladimir Putin. They cannot have the children, Wake up America and the World! They are killing the youth of today, in Ukraine, they are bombing a Nuclear Power Plant. Threatening to make all of Europe Radioactive! Give us back the Children! We must find a way to re-engage the young into our society and make them a part of our world. We must create our own Children's Crusade and make it real or face another blight of Hitler's Youth where they will be coming for law abiding citizens under the guise of some social injustice.

I don't have and answer as to how to reach out and engage disaffected discouraged youths and citizens. Doing nothing is not working, as the number of mass shootings and domestic terrorism grows. Innocent citizens named by the generic term "soft targets" are dying by the hundreds while politicians can't seem to pass any gun legislation to keep AK-47's from the hands of these murders. Does gun legislation work anyway? Could we make all of these radicals, writers and poets instead? Writing has allowed me to channel my former life anger and desire for revolution into a productive channel of change. If not for society, but my own betterment I no longer want to tear down the fabric of society today as I did as a youth. The answer is not a simple one and people have to come together to address the problem or we will continue to become targets.

Eve of Destruction, Barry McGuire

Thursday, March 3, 2022

96: When Do You, Release The Kraken?

A little over Thirty years ago, I was fortunate enough to attend a Film and Screenwriting Course at the Aspen Writers Conference. The course was taught by Ira Wood, a Fiction Novelist who went to Hollywood to write a Screenplay for his best selling novel The Kitchen Man. He used two books by Syd Field, Screenplay, and The Screenwriter’s Workbook, as a course syllabus. I was immediately enamored to the course by the beginning quote. “Writing is a personal responsibility -- either you do it, or you don’t.” I didn’t know at the time just how prophetic that quote would become in my writing life. You see I chose the latter, not to write for many years. All the essentials were there for my writing success. I chose not to write. I wanted to write. I had the ability to attend the best writing classes the motivation to do so and to participate in the process. However, like many people have told me in my life, Al you are your own worst enemy. I let life get in my writing way. Oh yeah I dabbled with poems here, a fiction story there, I said things like, “Writing is just a hobby, it’s not what I do for my living!” No wonder writing has just been my hobby and has never become what I do for a living. I don’t need to have an Avalanche roll over me, to get the point. I guess unless you structure you life around your writing and not the opposite it will always be a hobby and not a living. Now that I have retired it is time to move forward with years of writing projects. Working on several long range projects. My short stories about my mentor will be woven into a novel about my early writing years and later years in Colorado and finish in Cortina, Italy. The location of the 2026 Winter Olympics, Milano Cortina.

Both Ira Wood and Syd Field have said, “A screenplay is s story told with pictures.” I have just decided to go back to the Film and Screenwriting notebooks pull out my screenplay about The sale of Arapahoe Basin to the Ralston Purina Corporation in 1978 and polish the opening act that I have already written and to finish the project. (I am not foolish enough to think it a simple task! You must Conquer it or it will forever Conquer you.)

So Picture this, I feel like Poseidon in the new re-make movie Clash of the Titans and I’m the God of my own destiny and I’m getting ready to say, “Release the Kraken.”

Albert Bianchine

Monday, February 28, 2022

95: Mastering The Art Of Inaction, In The Time Of the Invasion of Ukraine by Russia

Sri Yoganandaji described as follows the state of "inaction" mentioned in the Bhagavad Gita.

"When a true yogi performs an action, karmically it is like writing on water. No mark remains."*

*ie., no karmic record is kept. Only a master is a free man- one unbound by karma (the inexorable cosmic law that holds unenlightened persons accountable for their thoughts and actions). In urging Arjuna to fight on the battlefield, Lord Krishna assured him that he would incur no karma if he acted as God's agent, without egoistic consciousness. Sayings of Paramahansa Yogananda

You can move forward with lightening fast speed in your life by ascribing to God's will for you. Do not assert your will but rather perform what God's will for you is. How do you know? Listen in the quietest moments of your life to your inner voice. The voice that tells you in your silence which way to proceed. Ours has enlightened us to continue our teaching and rescuing. Instead of the Equine souls we once saved our mission is to raise and support humankind. We wish to use our limited platforms to the fullest extent of their possibilities in the hopes that they will grow exponentially in magnitude. Having been listeners since the beginning of Covid-19 and captives as well, we are finally at the point like Howard Beale in the movie Network, where this is the start of my rant and we are not going to take it. Silence is no longer a snowflake falling in one of my poems. We are writing on the water our displeasure and disillusionment and sitting back to watch the Karma of the world snap back with its own response in the Americas. Beginning with these new blogs our mission is now set in motion. We are willing to watch the course it now takes.

The outrage of the invasion of Ukraine by Putin is beyond belief in these times. It is past time to stand up and to be heard and to speak your truth. Truth is our only weapon against such atrocities. Through all our collective wills coupled with Divine Will it is time to no longer be part of a silent majority. Be heard and speak your Discourse with great firmness and authority. Be one of those who will not have your will be bent or swayed by Tyrannical Rhetoric. See and Say what your Heart and Soul speaks to you.

Perhaps it is our time to lead our people out of bondage! Beware you who lead through Autocracy and Aristocratical Arrogance.!

Wednesday, February 23, 2022

94; Embracing the Everlasting

Our dear ones promise to love us forever, yet when they sink into the Great Sleep, their earth memories forsaken, what value their vows? Who, without telling us in words, loves us everlastingly? Who remembers us when all others forget us? Who will still be with us when we must leave the friends of this world? God alone---- Paramahansa Yogananda, "Whispers from Eternity"

The Ghosts they do come in all sizes, shapes, species and forms. They are woven deeply into the fabric of our daily lives. Yet the one true love is often over looked or ignored. Shame on delusion and her sister maya that keep us in our darkness and fearful isolation. Isn't it everyone's wish to become a part of something greater than one's self? Look for the one who hides in the ocean, air, mountain's and earth. They are ever omniscient and present. It is not that they aren't looking for you. It is you are not showing the desire for spirit's presence. Change all that today! Use your sense's and intuition to put your life on track. No matter what the World is doing, the global conflicts are increasing intensely and disillusionment seams to be on the rise. Why do we care about your Spirit or your advancement in this world? We were once of you, the trials and tribulations are not just yours alone. Through Divine Will not our own Will we have opened our hearts and minds. There is a Scientific Method through Kriya Yoga that will lead you to Peace (Samadhi). It is not the only method. If you are skeptical take the time and research your own path. There is a Strength and Truth that you can gain through Discipline. You owe it to yourself to explore it.

We will move on to our own writing goals. Hopefully you have read the posts of the Beijing Olympics. They represent youth and the promise of hope. It is time to shift the focus to our new writings. Perhaps they will entertain you and help you to enjoy the New Dawn we all face.

Tuesday, February 22, 2022

93-How can I learn to Meditate?

The more you meditate the more helpful you can be to others, and the more deeply you will be in tune with God. Selfish people remain spiritually hide-bound, but the unselfish expand their consciousness. When you find your omnipresence in meditation, you will find God. If he is pleased with you, all nature will work in harmony with you. Learn to talk to Him with all your soul---Paramahansa Yogananda, SRF Lessons.

You must do Kriya Yoga everyday is the edict that Gurudev has given us. Meditate deeply to find your truth. It will become clearer to you the deeper into Spirit that you journey. If you do not know how to meditate the SRF Lessons are a wonderful place to begin. The journey of a thousand miles begins with the first step. Simply put you must make the effort to begin. The journey is filled with joy and freedoms that you have no idea exists. Why not take the journey today, right now. What are the alternatives, suffering and desperation that is the world we live in today. Do you wish for a change. Then be it!

The Autobiography of a Yogi

Saturday, February 19, 2022

92- Allowing Intelligent Cosmic Energy To Work In Your Life, In The Time Of The Omicron Variant Corona Virus

Our deep conviction has been justified again and again over the years. It is that, if the spirit is truly expansive and self-giving, then God—perhaps through the Intelligent Cosmic Energy—will always provide.

Swami Kriyananda

The quote paraphrased is "The Lord Helps Those That Help Themselves! What is it that you want to achieve in your Life in these frightful times. Affix your gaze to the heavens and place your will in God's Will and you will be able to accomplish your goals. "He said to them, "Because of your little faith. For truly , I say to you, If you have faith like a grain of mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, 'Move from here to there' and it will move, and nothing will be impossible to you." Matthew 17:20.

Nothing is impossible to you in the coming times. The world is a new world. Do not let yours be filled with fear and doubt. You are a child of God and have been given all of his gifts. Use them wisely and apply yourself and you will see the results. Do not accept anything but your greatest success.