Diversity Rules Magazine

5 Diversity Rules Magazine January 2018 e film started to surface in my dreams and sudden- ly Ariel was emerging from the water as if she we're emerging from another dimension. She did so out of love. From their, I could go on a long rant of "things" and "topics" that start to sound so abstract, it's hardly even understandable on a sonic level. e reason my film is so abstract is because I'm telling a story that's meant for the "back" of the mind to decipher vs the front. And in this "arena" of storytelling, words be- come increasingly cumbersome given they only blur a larger truth. Hell, even trying to explain "that" in its self is cumbersome, ha. But you feel me… sometimes a vernacular doesn't convey and thus my efforts to curate a visual journey that's more to do with emotions and deeper vibrations. JRK: You have said that your views on war, racism, sexual assault, and other disturbing topics in the news today could be described as "gifts" because they help us to realize that despite their darkness, we can shine as individuals. Can you expand on that a bit? JB: Yea… I did say that. And it's my hope that the future will be past such a need to even "have" to prove to our own selves we can maintain our shine despite the dark. Until that "time," It's odd to try and know your "Self " until you've gone though experiences that enable you not to define yourself, but in truth, "real- ize" your self. If your a small flame that came from a greater fire, then in order for you to really "grasp" your- self your going to have to exist within the dark first. en, once your fully able to maintain your light in the shadow, you can now return to this great fire. Still apart of it yet now… conscious of your own being. And can commune, coexist and share space with other beings who have equally created a self not out of thin air but from gradually making sense of what they've al- ways "been." I too have had some extremely dark times that i'd probably never even speak of publicly. But it's not out of shame or fear rather an even deeper urge to share just how these dark times revealed to me… how loving i can "still" be in the face of said darkness. It's easy to speak of what's right. But once your faced with so many reactions towards humans or situations that burn to the bone, then the real test comes and sud- denly how we each "react" becomes what we "are." And if you want to be filled with light and thus are, then your going to have to face off with the shadow… and maintain said light. us the conviction and deeper sense of knowing ones self when looking into the mir- ror and saying "I am the I am." ese… dark times and moments we all see, hear of and experience are awful. As an empath, it brings me to my knees when I read of the constant pain that soaks our everyday world. is species has so much potential. Magic and capacity to create. But without the ability to stand face forward, chest out, head tall towards the wind, then each of our wings will never grow the strength to fly towards the heights they we're meant to scale. So yea… the darkness is a gift. But only regarding the means of self realization it brings towards a single soul. Other than that, it sucks. And I grasp that enough to still hold someones hand as they cry over their pain while simultaneously knowing… their going to survive this. And will surface stronger and more loving than ever. It just takes time. JRK: ere is an ever growing, and blatant disre- gard for nature, especially in this current toxic po- litical environment. What is your perspective on this and how does kEEp scrEEming help to make people more environmentally conscious? JB: Sigh… it's been an extremely quiet couple of years for this cat as I've dug in deep to curate this film. About 90% of my days, months and years have been connec- tion with momma earth. Her limbs from trees to ani- mals to the very air in her atmosphere(s) has become so intimate it's all I can do to not feel a knot in my stom- ach at a drying leaf. Yet still our species gives so little energy to her needs. ough the truth is… Earth isn't the one that's in danger. It's the humans the live within her that will end up wiped out as lady earth spins on, simply re-growing all that we destroyed in less than a century as it takes humans vast vast vaaaaast spans of time to even get back to a rolling wheel once it's all wiped clean. ough I'm in the hopes that experi- ences like "kEEp scrEEming" and others that attempt to insight a growth of a mental capacity matched with a deepening of the heart to inspire humans to care that much more for the planet that currently spawns them. Like most of the dark behaviors from humans, all stems from a lack of understanding. From rape, to jealousy, to racism, to greed, to arrogance, to insecurity, to a lust for things over depth of soul, to all dark vibra- tions, once someone stares long enough at eache's and all's origins, they'll find it always and i mean always… comes from a lack of depth of perspective and a less- ening of the use of the heart that curates it all. From human to human. Hurt feelings to misunderstandings to anything that pains us. e same can be said for a lack of concern for momma earth and the creatures we share her with. Cause the truth is, our ability to care for earth shouldn't even be the goal. All planets, even Ghuman - Con't on page 6

• Cover