If I Could Do Life Again by Devi Nina Bingham

If I could do life again

wouldn't I be born anew

and take you as my faithful friend,

gentle as the morning dew?

 

That lingers as dawns soft light

and rinses away our sorrow

or rising as the moon of white,

staving off tomorrow.  

 

If I could do life again

I would do it with you

But this time never to offend

for I have learned what not to do.

 

It is our fears, our jealousy and rage

that drive a stake into the heart

making of love a gilded cage

while we call in vain, sweetheart.

 

For no soul is all my own  

an upturned hand, a silent cry

when my heart has turned to stone

still, nothing is mine, save the sky.

 

Had I known that freedom is fine

before I had asked you to stay

would we have romantically entwined

for capture made you run away.

 

If I could do life again

I would hold you with an empty hand

devoid of traps as age ascends

like an hourglass of restless sand.

 

No way to capture who you are

as some were made to roam

a blind maiden yearning for a star

and a prince looking for a home.

 

Your soul was never my own. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Value of an All-or-Nothing Personality by Devi Nina Bingham

Some souls seem destined to give voice to the silent mysteries that swirl around us. You know them as prophets, writers, musicians, and artists. Their gifts arrive in a rush of rare insight and creativity, reserved for those who wander off the beaten path. What they offer blazes with passion and soothes with compassion. When their work is touched by love, you can sense a higher source at play. By love, I mean the kind that glows with beauty, lifts your spirit, and stirs your heart, even if only for a moment, when you encounter their words or music. It feels as if the Divine has quietly woven its magic into the mind of the creator, and you stop in your tracks to marvel at their gift. There are many artists whose talent deserves admiration, but not all possess that elusive spark that seizes the heart and quietly changes the world, one soul at a time.

In their lives, you will observe the following attributes, and without them, their gift to the world wouldn't be the inspiration it is. They first adopt an "all-or-nothing" mentality. When it comes to matters of the heart they either love fully or not at all. They have learned that stillness is vital to creation, so they would prefer to suffer in solitude if their love is not reciprocated. They give their work their all and don't hold anything back. They will work nonstop and without compensation since their motivation is obvious: they are driven by a prophetic message and cannot stop working until the message is delivered. 

Secondly, they may have a chaotic personal life. They could be easily distracted, disorganized, moody, anxious or depressed, and prone to flights of fancy. Thia has been called the "artistic temperment," and there is scientific research to prove that the artist's brain functions differently. Many writers are diagnosed with Clinical Depression, or Bipolar Disorder. Practical issues quickly bore them, for they prefer philosophical discussions about existential issues. Their art touches on the most profound issues facing both society and interpersonal relationships. Professionally, they may struggle to pay their bills since they are more driven to hone their artistic skills by practice than to earn money. Inner harmony is more important to them than how they appear to others, and they may live apart from people or in oddly decorated rooms as a result of their social maladaptation. These artists cannot and will not give up their art, because doing so deprives them of tranquility. Their interpersonal relationships are typically transitional or inadequate since cognitive dissonance will not be endured for long. They fit the stereotype of the starving artist who is distant or lonely. Despite their calm demeanor and friendliness, they devote every spare moment to artistic endeavors. Although it can be challenging to get to know them personally, their art will allow you to get to know them entirely. Their art conveys the whole story concealed behind their mischievous smile because of the unparalleled intimacy of their subject matter. In truth, the only way to know these folks is via their art. The reason for this is that they conserve the most energy for it.

They believe life is not guaranteed because they frequently face mental or physical difficulties that have shown them how fleeting life is, or they have experienced catastrophic events. They know they only have one chance to contribute something valuable to humanity; therefore, they're resolved not to waste it on pointless things. If becoming an artist means giving up a "normal" existence, which includes marriage, kids, and a steady job, they will. This social illegitimacy may drive their family to view them as failures, which is the opposite of what is true for their message is worth any treasure ever discovered. This is because they prioritize the concerns of the world over their own. These enigmatic prophets are the royal jewels of God. It is impossible to gauge their value because, despite their loneliness and potential for misunderstanding, they are tuned into their mission and will do whatever it takes, even if it means losing everything. Yet those without a creative or spiritual eye may label them as indolent or worse.

Finally, these all-or-nothing prophets were not created to suit the mold of civilization. They arrived to dismantle all the molds. Their souls will always and eternally break free from the confines of normalcy. It is pointless to try to control mavericks because they never behave how others would expect them to. They were intended to be free, and the products of these odd and erratic artists reveal their beauty. They might be labeled strange or careless by others, but once they see the brilliance they have been concealing, the critics fall silent. The viewer doesn't understand how they produce so fluidly and flawlessly, and all of a sudden they can appreciate the artist's oddity because you are aware that their work stands out as exceptional and deserving of praise. And even though audiences enjoy the artwork, the artists' sacrifices are what matter most for they are everything or nothing.

If you are willing to learn it, there is a lesson here. Their remarkable talent—or even the results of that talent—is not what is most admirable. Their dedication is something you should take note of. Instead of letting their gift be wasted, they would choose to live in a hut and subsist on bread and water. Even though no one else on the planet is aware of it, they somehow understand how crucial it is that they contribute in a way that only they can. These exceptional craftspeople have dedicated their lives to perfecting their techniques and aesthetics, to the point where it would be a sin to not employ their unique artistic voice. You can learn from their selflessness since they will put up with personal hardships for however long it takes. Simply stated, their art is who they are. It consumes them because they devote so much time and energy to it. And I ask you this: have you ever sacrificed so much for the good of others? Joy is always what you get back when you make an all-or-nothing commitment to a cause or even to another person. Because nothing is more crucial than giving it your all.

Understanding Matriarchy as a Model for Social Change by Devi Nina Bingham

 

 

Of all the stories women have been told, of all deceptions and trickery females have been subjected to, of all the soul-crushing, bombastic ego-mania that women have endured, the idea that women are inferior is the most damaging lie of all, and this worldwide inferiority complex has got to stop. Second-best is not good enough, for men cannot do an essential task that a women can, namely, males who have no womb cannot sustain the human race. Still, that does not make women superior, nor are they inferior, but the sexes are complimentary. The word complimentary means equal. It means, of the same value. And while common-sense reassured you that male and female were equal partners, governments and religions were formed mostly by men who consolidated and hoarded the power for themselves. Once they had gained control of government and religion, they controlled the money. And once they controlled the money, they could compel women and children to do whatever they wished. Through coercion they forced their agendas and in the process, lost their credibility and trustworthiness among women.

To be equal partners means to share the responsibility, but also the wealth and power. Males decided early to turn their backs on fair play; to outlaw and dictate until they could devour women and children the way an ogre grinds a man's bones to make his bread. Can you see the brutal force that has been employed century upon century, civilization after civilization, because the biggest monkey was the male? However, the strongest is not always the wisest. Brute strength is necessary to build a society, but women offer advantages that do not come naturally to men. For example, the ability to negotiate in times of dispute instead of running for the sword. Males will rush each other, trying to scare the adversary away, and these games of aggression cause war. Chest-beating is necessary once the threat becomes deadly. However, men in power prefer guns and force to reason. What the female offers, in addition to replenishing the planet, is a society in which violence and bloodshed are discouraged, and war is a last resort. A society where each individual has a voice. A society where men can build and defend, but within limits. A matriarchal society is not a weak society, but a moral one. It is a smart society. An equal society as it was intended to be.

But never mind my thoughts, for I am only a female with a soft voice, and breasts that men desire because breasts gave them life and allowed them to thrive. Never mind that my mind chooses care and concern before selfishness. Never mind that females must have been created first, for who came first, the chicken, or the egg? You cannot have life without a womb! Prove me wrong. Ah, but the eggs wanted to say that they were not the product. I ask you: what has the male created? He has not created life. Instead, he has engineered death. He split the atom, the very building block of the universe. In breaking apart what God joined together, he created the atom bomb. Now he uses what God meant for life as a mechanism for mass death. So many inventions he fashioned until the natural way was forgotten. The world has been engulfed by machines, computers, and artificial intelligence. The Industrial and Technological Revolutions turned humans into metal and electricity. It only follows that the coming generations will be less human and more machine. This is the logical next step and today's forward momentum. 

What can halt this march towards a technological takeover? Certainly, those who have driven humanity to the brink of destruction cannot be counted on to solve moral problems. And this is what humanity is facing: a crisis of morality, of distinguishing right from wrong. The male urge is to build and to conquer, while the female motivation is to nurture and build community. Are not both necessary? Is not balance the only solution? Our species has lost its equanimity, and thereby lost its morality. Now it cannot stop itself from self-destructing. 

And this drive toward destruction is the end-result of a patriarchal society that did not fully leverage its decency, its diplomacy, and its compassion. It chose to ignore temperance. It despised and ridiculed equality, what the Creator gifted the world when He gave two models of human being. So today we are functioning as a man hopping around wildly on one limb. Flopping like a fish and gasping for air, oblivious to the fact that men are endangering themselves. Not understanding that without the feminine balance, men will render themselves obsolete, and call it good! How is destroying the natural world and the creatures in it beneficial? Tearing out your humanity is neither progressive, nor evolutionary. It's just plain stupid.

Indeed, mankind is a broken species; there is no doubt about it. The question is, how do we rectify what went horribly wrong? Do we allow men to continue their reign of terror and destruction, or should we not restore the balance that the feminine influence can bring? I am not in favor of a purely matriarchal society for we need the boldness and drive that males offer. I say, we have a choice to make, a crucial choice. We are at a crossroads of fate. We will either turn towards a future of patriarchal dominance and automation, a world of slaves, masters, and robots, or we will restore the natural balance of power. Without female equality, our progeny are doomed to live an existence which is not fit for the human race, and which will require a new type of hybrid being that is part human, part robot. 

Personally, I cherish my humanity. Though it is tiring, I even love the struggle. I love passionate, tempestuous relationships. I love the roller coaster of emotions that I ride, and I do not wish to surrender my humanity for I believe it is worth preserving. There is only one thing that can save us now, and it is not technology as they want us to believe. It is certainly each other.

How Past Lives Shape Our Thoughts and Behaviors Today by Devi Nina Bingham

 

Everyone has a distinct set of inclinations when they come into the world. These could be referred to as personalities. But a personality is a different matter. It is influenced by both genetics and the environment. It is a 60/40 ratio, according to scientists. Forty percent of who you are is hereditary, and sixty percent is shaped by the environment. Our inclinations may need to be strengthened when they are weaknesses. For instance, after receiving my Bachelor of Applied Psychology degree, I served the state of Oregon for 17 years as a Qualified Mental Healthcare Associate, and I had a private Life Coaching practice. On a regular basis, I spoke with people who had been diagnosed with "addictive personality."

I disagreed with this, though, because their personalities weren't what made them addictive. They acted out because of their habits, or behavioral inclinations, which were reinforced over time. To put it another way, their whole personality was not addictive. To lessen stress, worry, despair, and insecurities, they drank and smoked. I occasionally overeat because I have a bad sweet tooth. When worried, some people may be prone to becoming irate, others may withdraw, and yet others may become noisy. These are all examples of behavioral inclinations. Since temperament is inherited and determined at birth, they categorize us as either introverted or extroverts. But aside from our personalities and temperaments, we also struggle with our habits, or tendencies. As anyone who has attempted to stop drinking, smoking, or overeating knows, they are not easily changed. We are likely unaware of the underlying causes of these tendencies, which might afflict us throughout our lives. We reach for them because, in a way, they appear to be our friends. But if we indulge in them, they will shorten our lives and harm our health. What is the source of these tendencies, then?

According to geneticists, inclinations are inherited propensities, which means that you might be enticed to smoke if one of your parents or grandparents smoked. Behaviorists would explain that you smoke because it momentarily reduces tension, whereas environmentalists would argue that you want to smoke because society has persuaded you to do so. I contend that there is a third cause. Even while some characteristics are obviously inherited or influenced by your surroundings. I think that you bring traits from previous lifetimes when you are born. Now, at least listen to me before you write me off. You possess a soul. This point has not yet been discovered, or perhaps I should say that it cannot be confirmed scientifically. This is known in the fields of physics, neurology, and psychology as "the hard problem of consciousness. "The location of consciousness is one of the many mysteries that scientists are continuously striving to solve. Does our brains produce an identity, or the "I am?" sensation for us? Or, as religions assert, is the seat of consciousness concealed in the everlasting soul?

For the purpose of argument, let's imagine that the soul—an immaterial, invisible energy or substance made of light waves—is the seat of awareness rather than the brain. After all, physics has demonstrated that we are nothing more than atoms at work when reduced to their most basic elements. Furthermore, our physical bodies are nothing more than electromagnetic radiation since atoms produce light waves. Since Einstein demonstrated that energy cannot be annihilated, the idea that humans are eternal is not so far-fetched. As physicists assert, let's assume that all of this is accurate. This would imply that, like all eternal things, consciousness—that is, our knowledge of "I am" and our intelligence—is ageless and timeless. Your soul might conceivably go to parallel universes on the timeline of eternity if there are parallel universes, as many theoretical physicists like Stephen Hawking assert. For the sake of argument, let's also say that you have conveniently forgotten that you had a whole life in one of these universes. It would seem reasonable then that you may (in theory) carry unresolved tendencies from one incarnation to the next. 

I guided hundreds of past-life regressions and thousands of sessions during my 19 years as a clinical hypnotherapist. I want to tell you about one of these that convinced a doubting client to believe. I was having supper with an old buddy one evening. Steve was testing me on regression therapy. Although he was adamantly opposed to the concept of reincarnation, he was always willing to discuss spiritual matters. He had not seen any proof of that, but he was willing to talk about it. Steve was a skeptic with an open mind. Instead of continuing to respond to his barrage of inquiries, I offered him a free past-life regression in my office. I wanted him to decide for himself, and there's no better way to do that than to do it. We made an appointment after he appeared both excited and completely horrified at the prospect.

Steve was practically bouncing as he walked into my office. However, he felt so anxious that he excused himself and went outside to smoke a cigarette. He cautioned me before we began: "I don't think this stuff is real. The mind is making it up, in my opinion. Therefore, if it doesn't work, don't be upset. I have a stronger mentality than that." Many of my customers had expressed to me their doubts about being hypnotized. However, I consistently observed them enter a profoundly hypnotic state as effortlessly as lulling a baby to sleep. I clicked on the cassette tape recorder with a knowing smile so Steve could play it back later. In twenty minutes he was totally at ease and had let his guard down. I started by employing a timeline technique, and in a matter of seconds, his voice could be heard clearly: "I've already arrived. Everything is visible to me. I'm a dude living on my farm." He described the rural setting, and the problems this farmer was facing. Before I could guide him to another place on the timeline, his subconscious took control again and swiftly moved him from one existence to the next. He described each life in extraordinary depth and was fully aware of the tendencies of each personality. He was a woman in some of his lives, although he seemed unfazed by it (certainly not macho-man Steve). He spoke endlessly, moving so quickly from one life to the next that I found it difficult to follow. He was eager to view his many incarnations, which was surprising for a skeptic! We would have remained there all night if I hadn't stopped him when the tape ran out after ninety minutes! After I brought Steve out of the hypnotic state, he opened his eyes and shakily sat up. With hesitation, he inquired, "How did I do?" I merely chuckled. I said, "I am going to let you answer that," and I replayed some of his memories. He shook his head in shock as he listened with wide eyes. "I don't remember all this, only the beginning part." I gave him a tissue as large tears streamed down his face. He chuckled. "I am now a believer after coming here to check if it was true. We lead numerous lives."

I tell his tale because, when I started leading these sessions, I was also skeptical. I was completely persuaded after witnessing this occur to client after client, particularly to skeptics like Steve. After that, I started experiencing unplanned regressions to previous lives in my dreams and before I went to sleep. What I realized was that my life's challenges were nothing new. I have comparable characteristics in other lives. Additionally, the individuals in this incarnation were prominent figures in previous lifetimes. Even my fear of heights and other phobias were brought on by trauma from a previous existence. Moreover, diseases and injuries kept happening. I so firmly believe that the life we lead today is merely a reflection of past lifetimes.

Repeating personality patterns are called vasanas in Hinduism. Vasanas are mental imprints, latent tendencies, or subconscious urges that affect a person's ideas, actions, and reactions, according to Hindu philosophy. To put it simply, a vasana is a deeply ingrained pattern of behavior that persists from one life to the next and functions subconsciously. Furthermore, vasanas are the driving force behind the actions known as karma. Vasanas, above all, keep a person enslaved to ego and reincarnation. Hinduism holds that our vasanas are gradually dissolved by spiritual practice.

I'm aware that this convoluted explanation of previous incarnations might not make perfect sense, but I hope it's at least something to think about. In your life, which tendencies are problematic? Could previous lives be the cause of them? What strategies might you use to deal with persistent behavioral issues? According to Hindu philosophy, we can be liberated from the ego and become happier and healthier if our negative tendencies are eliminated and rendered helpless. Quick fixes or simple answers are not guaranteed by reincarnation. According to Buddhists, it could take tens of thousands, if not thousands, of lives to change our inclinations. Because it is a process, we might not be able to untie the knots we have created in previous lifetimes right away. We will, however, eventually.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Rewriting Your Life’s Story (Dedicated to Frida Kahlo)-by Devi Nina Bingham

 

 

                                                        Frida's Art Journal

As with most things, direction in life is a misnomer. Because when you are watching a movie, how can you be sure of the way you are going? When you read a book or watch a show, can you predict what will happen next? Or don't you just follow the route as it unfolds in front of you, page by page, scene by scene, like a child? Life has enchanted you, you see. Like an engrossing television program or novel, you can't wait to see what happens next. Are you not being entertained? You're being mesmerized. You are so engrossed in the people, their relationships, their happiness and sadness, and the sheer drama of it all that you fail to recognize that you are only the star of your own show.

You're welcome to say, "If this is not real, if life is but a stage and I am the star performer, who has written this lousy script, for I am not enjoying it as much as I would like to." It's also possible that, like me, you believe life is a nightmare and try your hardest to get out of it. Or you can be attempting to establish yourself because if you can be anything, why be nothing? However, I was more nothing in my case because, as a child, I was physically felled like a tree and deprived of its fruit. What I did not give was taken away, and I was used and dragged away in its whole.

Everyone learns in a unique way. My heart was kicked shut by a partner's infidelity, and I had to learn to open it again. Additionally, my heart was never entire and was always half, thus it wasn't a partner, but rather my other heart. I knew it wasn't whole, but I kept attempting to finish it. Oh, the pain of my unquenchable desire for love! For a lifetime, a broken heart might remain broken. I aired it for everyone to see, even though I wanted to fix it. "Come and watch me bleed," I said. The virginal canvass was smeared in my paint, which silently bled white, red, and green like a Mexican. I played the brokenhearted, and this was my script; both body and soul were broken.

And "Why has sorrow chosen me?" was the question I kept asking God and my earthly father. I knew that men are rarely chaste because I was the "other woman," but why couldn't I be contentedly married, have kids, and be consoled by a husband? I was normal; why couldn't I? Why was it that I couldn't stand, run, and walk for as long as I needed to? Why was I born a woman in a male-dominated world, despite having a strong sense of independence? I was dependent, but why? Was it necessary for me to be declared invalid? Why was my suffering persistent? Why a wheelchair, the height of indignities? And why, oh why, was I never sufficient for the one person in the world for whom I desired to be sufficient?

You have to understand that certain individuals will never find you sufficient, my friend. However, your goal is not to be what people desire. It never was and never will be. Being who and what you are is your purpose. You are the star of this show, not anyone else's opinion, therefore it doesn't matter what others say if you have the courage to be that, to just be a genuine version of yourself, and to live the life you want and dream of living. 

"But what could be easier than being yourself?" you would ask. Yet you know that to be completely honest about who you are and what you want is not easy in this world of make believe because others wish to alter you. You will be pulled and shaped by them. You will be too much for some people and too little for others. It takes a lot of work to figure out what your job is and to decide to be fully yourself. You might never understand why you are experiencing this narrative or why things had to go this way. You might believe, like I do, that you had little to do with crafting your life's harsh circumstances. However, since you are present and it is taking place, someone did. This is your life's narrative. You don't have to know if you call it God or chance. It simply is. You are the only one you can control, I discovered.

The time to take back your life is now. Seize it. Don't give it away so quickly! It will yell to the world, wild and precious: I was like this! What are you, then? Who are you? Be that, then. You can be sure that you are sufficient because of this. You can suffer from a broken heart and the world might not cheer you on. However, you are sufficient in every corner of this vast universe when you be who you are, doing and being what you came to.

Then you are enough.

With Love,

Frida 

Simpletons and Their Vulnerability to Deception by Devi Nina Bingham

And about this foolishness of repeating history; is there anything more stupefying than watching what failed miserably raise its terrible head, repeating nonsense and cruelty as if it had never happened? Has humanity learned absolutely nothing from its lessons? The wheel is turning faster as if it were being cranked in haste to make the self-same mistakes, hurrying past the warnings of wizened time, crushing morality as if they were building a home in the Winter and trying to escape the rain. But a storm is brewing on the horizon. And if you look closely, you will see it, too. 

The simple would rather tread the path laid out for them, warning, "Don't cross the masters or you will be whipped for your insolence." The simple are the conventional who still believe that if they avert their eyes and keep their heads down, they will be spared. But denial only delays the inevitable. Maybe by pretending not to see you can soften the blow; buy yourself some time, though the deniers never escape. They stick around thinking they are special; they will not be swept up in the net of a helpless humanity as a fish is snatched from the sea. Yet history reveals that they were not judged as special because they agreed with the brutes. Duped and lulled into a false sense of security, it was too late to save themselves or to offer help to anyone else. 

These I call simpletons, for they are like children who can be manipulated by deception. Even when they have been caught like a fish that goes into the oven, they still defend their captors, insisting that they will not be dinner. Of course, I do not mean that there is a real oven, though The Nazis had real ovens that baked human bones by the millions. But first they stripped their dignity away which left bare corpses, by shaving their hair and robbing them even of their spectacles, shoes, and gold teeth—mountains of teeth that demented dentists mined for the gold. Such horrors were never imagined by the average person, for sane individuals do not dream of wearing gold jewelry fashioned from corpses' teeth. But the Nazis were only demons wearing tight-fitting skin with swastikas. Among those who marched without questioning to the showers to be seen again only as the rotten smell of ash in the sky were simple men, women, and children who should have believed that there are demented demons that smile, that make empty political promises, and who shake hands. 

Until it was done to them, the simple could not allow themselves to believe that such horrific plans existed. Afterward, when the world saw what the German people had hidden, the only question that hung in the air like the stench of burning flesh was: "How could an entire nation of decent people allow this to happen?" But you see, violence silences dissent. In this war and in all others, the fear of becoming one of the piteous causes the average citizen to make excuses for monsters. "They will only take the illegals," they answered. In fact, those who were legal they made illegal, one group after another, until most of the frightened Germans found themselves twisted in the net. It was not until they were standing in line, naked and trembling, waiting their turn in the showers, now one of the illegals, that they hated themselves for not speaking up. But then it was too late. They had been thinking in simple terms because they were trying to be inconspicuous. 

To not believe what is happening right in front of your eyes is to excuse yourself from taking part in it, true. But it also means that you are wasting what precious time that is left. You could be planning your escape. You could be doing your all to protect those who cannot protect themselves. You could be involving yourself in political activism. Instead, you are spending the most precious moments you have left pretending that what your eyes see isn't really before you. But you are only fooling yourself, because everyone outside of your circle is warning you, so listen to them. There is no hiding from the tidal wave that is coming. Either prepare now, or you will drown. And some reading this will say, until the very last minute, "I do not have to worry about that because I am legal and one of their own." Yet know that at any minute your safe status could be revoked by something you say or do that they do not approve of, or even how you look, or what you believe. Nothing and nobody are sacred or safe now. Only simpletons refuse to believe what their eyes see and their ears hear. It is time to wake up. Don't be a simpleton. 

With Love,

Frida