Author Archives: admin

Please give to the victims of Typhoon Yolanda (Heiyan)

on

Typhoon Heiyan (Yolanda)

Three weeks ago, a 7.2 earthquake hit Bohol, Philippines, the island my mother and much of my family is from. Over the weekend, Typhoon Yolanda (Haiyan) hit much of the Philippines. I’ve heard that a Tropical Depression is forming and another typhoon may hit the Philippines.

For the fans of my work, I ask you to donate whatever money you can for the relief efforts.

http://www.abscbnfoundation.org

http://www.redcross.org.ph/donate

 

A lot of people are now homeless and clean water will be hard to get. Usually in post-disaster situations, its easy for people to get sick. Especially for the children and elderly.

Although the Red Cross is a reputable and experienced organization when it comes to disasters, the ABS/CBN Foundation is part of a news organization and have better information of where help needs to go first. If you have friends or family or just have an affinity to other countries that are in Typhoon Haiyan’s path, then please donate money to them instead or, if you don’t mind your kids getting a $20 toy rather than a $200 toy this Christmas, give money to as many countries as you can.

Thank you.

Star Wars Tarot: Ace of Swords

on

“This is the weapon of a Jedi Knight. Not as clumsy or as random as a blaster, but an elegant weapon for a more civilized age.”

–Obi Wan Kenobi

 

This design is a blatant swipe from the original Return of The Jedi Movie Poster. Just before I finished it, I used Luke’s lightsaber hilt  from Return of The Jedi. But pondering over the meaning of the card, it was the wrong lightsaber. If you notice, its Akin and Luke’s lightsaber. A lightsaber that wasn’t used for about twenty years.

In my experience of reading Tarot, the Ace is like a reset button. The “energy” that The Swords represent is there, but hasn’t exactly come into play. There’s something dormant about it. There’s a lot of potential energy. Its more obvious with the Ace of Pentacles. Usually, someone is starting or quit their job. Swords are a bit more… airy.

 

“Basically, swords cut through bullshit.”

–Alan Moore

Swords represent things like intelligence, reason, wit, truth, and fortitude. It is usually associated with the element of Air, which is why the lightsaber is yellow and not blue. (I’m saving blue for cups/water.) But sometimes, Swords are associated with fire, or red. (The meaning of a red lightsaber in the Star Wars Universe sort of messes up the meaning for this card.)

The Sword was probably the first weapon created just to fight and kill other people. All other weapons before that were used to hunt for animals or were some kind of tool. Even though there have been much more efficient weapons created to kill people, none of them hold the archetypal weight like the sword.

There are legendary swords like Excalibur. There are magical swords and Samurai swords. There are swords used just for ceremonies, swords of royalty and tradition. Even peaceful religious traditions have positive imagery of the sword. And in the modern mono-myth of Star Wars, we have the lightsaber.

 

“The pen is mightier than the sword.”

–Edward Bulwer Lytton

 

When someone is very smart, he is said to be “sharp”. If a movie review is mean but honest and funny, it is said to be “cutting”. I’m not sure about the etymology of these words and phrases, but the use of these words are related to the metaphor of The Sword. The funniest comedians in the world were often picked on as little kids or had an unhappy childhood. They had no physical defense, so they developed a sharp wit and a deadly sense of humor.

People don’t get Pacifism. They think it is for the weak. Mahatma Gandhi and Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. fought harder and more effectively than any warrior. They were not unarmed. But their weapons were their words and their enemy wasn’t necessarily British Colonialization or angry racists. Their enemy was the ideas stuck in culture that perpetuated injustice. Often the sword is associated with justice and truth.

Nowadays, countries aren’t just fighting with guns, but with information. There is something very threatening about truth. Often we hold onto our bullshit. When you feel angry because of what someone said, often times its because you’re attached to bullshit, delusions, and beliefs. And when you feel this rage in you, another type of bullshit, maybe you should look at why you felt so angry when someone insulted you and your clothes. Often, you will find that your ego is another sort of bullshit.

The physical sword is an easy weapon to wield, but a sharp mind takes finesse, elegance and is reserved for a much more civilized age.

 

May the Force Be With You.