I’ve only really started using mantras on a regular basis over the past year. My astrologer Vic DiCara (he also plays in hardcore punk band 108*) drew up my astrological chart using Vedic Astrology last year. After interrupting it he decided to prescribe a certain mantra that would help in manifesting my dreams to reality. You’re probably going ‘what the hell is a mantra?’ Let me explain:
Mantra is a practice that involves the repetition of a word or a phrase of words. At first it may feel mechanical but once you get into it you start to (hopefully) embody the quality or essence you are trying to invoke. You should try to be sincere when saying your mantra.
My friend Vic described the usefulness of mantras by telling me, “Practice the mantra with a given intention and need and you will find that need, will be addressed… the power of mantra is to open your mind and free it from habit. So doing the mantra enables you to learn the lessons of the planets as quickly and painlessly as possible, even enjoyably and blissfully in fact.”
I have found that putting both meditation and chanting a mantra (along with yoga) into my daily routine has helped give me a grounding and solid base in which to start my day in.
Mantra are used across many cultures (it’s not just an Eastern exotic thing), faith and philosophies. I have found that they help to give me clarity and boost my energy.
For more on mantras check out: The Power of Mantra, Gently Returning and History & Info on Mantra.
A song from the album Mantra by one of my favourite hardcore punk bands Shelter.
*108 trivia – 108 is a semi-permanent number; malas have 108 beads for use when reciting mantras; according to Ayurveda there are 108 pressure points in the body…
“In fact, punk rock means exemplary manners towards your fellow human being”
~Joe Strummer
Punk rock and hip hop music have been a part of my life for as long as I can remember. I have my older brother and sisters with their schizophrenic cassette tape and record collections to thank for getting me into it, and my life off to a running start. It’s helped inspire me along the path to fighting the good fight.
Both punk and hip hop culture has helped educate me about the world we live in (as well as other dimensions—just ask Gift of Gab :))—but that’s a discussion for another day… ha, ha!). They’ve helped craft my values; ideas shared in the music and lyrics have influenced my views on the world and helped shaped my beliefs. They’ve encouraged me to open my eyes to my own potentiality and helped unlock my heart. They’ve empowered me with tools to do anything I want to in life. The cultures provide a platform in which I can have a voice and the friends that I have made on my journey navigating the cultures make me feel like I matter. Being a part of the communities for over half my life has helped illuminate my awareness and nurture my self-awareness. In a way, it feels like they have been parents to me… mi familia.
Time and time again punk (I include hardcore too, it’s all punk to me) and hip hop, facilitate the experience of being wholly present in the moment. When I am present I feel truly alive, time seems to stop and nothing else matters beyond that moment. It is something profoundly sacred to me, pure and beyond words. I know that many of you reading this will totally know what I mean. Those who get it will and those who don’t won’t … and that’s totally fine too! I just speak from what I know to be true for me, from my heart and my experience.
Conversations with Punx: A Spiritual Dialogue is by far my most ambitious project to date (it is only the beginning :)). It is a celebration of mi familia and a discovery and journey of self. It’s an exercise in questioning, asking why and how? It’s all about conversations on the pursuit of happiness. It prompts you to reflect on your own life and dig deeper for your best. It’s about sharing information and (hopefully) opening up thoughtful discussion.
Conversations with Punx… is the foundation for this site and an extension of the community of like-minded individuals championing creativity across the globe that is always building slowly yet surely (sometimes in secret… I love the underground, bedroom jams and crafts from the kitchen table). It’s a coming together in celebration of individuality and commonalities. It’s about the human condition and life… one that I am thankful to have.
In short: 60+ conversations with creators from the punk and hardcore world sharing their thoughts & feelings on and experiences with creativity, music and spirituality! How exciting!
It’s been six years since I first started the project. I had the idea for it around a year or so before that. In a way I’ve felt that everything I have done and everything I’ve learnt along the way has propelled me to this point… so my friends, this has been a loooong time coming. Thank you to all who have supported and who continue to support both me and my projects. Thanks old friends and new friends, each of you means the world to me. I appreciate that you care, as I do too. We understand each other; we’re on that same frequency (no matter if we’re into punk, hip hop or something else entirely—we all ultimately want to be happy and are on a search for our truth—whatever that means for us). This project is for the True Hearts, True Believers & the Truth Seekers.
Now without further ado the news you’ve all been waiting (patiently) for…
Conversations with Punx: A Spiritual Dialogue release details:
The book will first be released as a series of limited-edition handmade zines over a twelve-month period. Each issue will feature around 5 conversations possibly more (there are still a few I’m finishing up now). They’ll be around 60-70 pages in total give or take a few.
A new issue will be released each month. Each issue will be available to order from the first day of the month until the last day of the month. Once the month is up though that’s it, you will have to wait for the limited edition (numbered) hardcover book release or the concise paperback edition (which will feature additional conversations never before seen).
To get a piece of my [he]art to your letter box (old school) post style—it’ll be super fun to receive more than only bills every month—you will be able to choose your own adventure and purchase as you go (month by month) or get it as a 12-month subscription. If you make the one-off subscription payment you will be really and truly helping me fund the project! As a thank you, you will receive the zines at a cut-rate price as well as having the option to receive a (currently) top secret bonus I’m working on. I’m trying my best to pull it all together as soon as I can, I want to make sure I give you guys my best though as you do to me.
More details to be released soon…
Kind words from kind people:
“I’m looking forward to reading the finished piece. I’m glad that you are getting so much out of the process.”
~Ian MacKaye
“Can’t wait to hold a copy of the book in my hands!”
~Vic DiCara
“Can’t wait to see the book, so happy to be a part of it. Go Bianca!”
~Jonah Matranga
“I’m psyched to see the finished product.”
~Rob Fusco
“I look forward to reading the book and thank you again for having me be a part of it… it’s such a worthwhile project”
~Robert Ehrenbrand
“I am really happy with our conversation and it is very gratifying to know that it will be out there in the world… you really have a fantastic journalistic style. I think you are on the right path with your book and with your interest in spirituality… keep up your excellent work… I think it’s an important book.”
~Jesse Michaels
I hope you guys are digging the way I’ve decided to release the project. It’s taken me a long while to reach the decision of how to release this work. I thought about it, a lot! I asked a lot of people for advice. Personally, I didn’t want to release it as a book and then that’s it—as what often happens—there’s so many books released every day. I wanted to do something more with it. I wanted to create something wonderful, something sincere, meaningful and long lasting—to create something special. The thoughts contained on the pages are too thoughtful, extraordinary and important.
Dannii, Anthony, Jhonny and Everett thank you for having conversations with me on the day I decided to release the project this way… your words, thoughts and opinions help guide my decision—without you even knowing it!
So many people I spoke to just wanted me to release it as a book (apparently releasing a book comes with prestige (ha!)) and while I can’t wait for the book (!!!) I knew I wanted to do something else too. Ian’s words, ‘I’m glad that you are getting so much out of the process’ made me stop and think about the process… I came to the conclusion that I’m still not done with the process. I’m still really enjoying myself, now more than ever. Now it’s getting really exciting because I’m sharing it with you guys and making so many new friends worldwide. I want to give it the release it deserves. I’ve always been reluctant to just hand the book and its contents over to someone else. I had thoughts of ‘Would they change it?’, ‘Not get it?’, and ‘Just try to cash in from it?’ The people I’m working with to bring you it, are remarkable, good people… you’ll find out more about them as the process unfolds.
Part of why I wanted to release it as a series of zines over 12-months is because to do something like that takes a commitment. I wanted to commit to myself and I wanted to create something beautiful—handmade zines (to start) just felt right. Making that commitment means that I have to be on my game at all times, I have to organise myself, look after myself, stay healthy, positive, rise to challenges, learn new things (my Jhonny is teaching me to screen-print the zine covers!), push myself past my limitations… in short, it’s a commitment to me living my best life.
Releasing it over 12-months also gives you guys a chance to really absorb the stories, lessons, love in each conversation and hopefully find something that rings true to you that you can take onboard and utilise to make changes—lasting, positive changes in your life. As a whole piece, the 60+ conversations can be really, really intense!! Even to me, who has looked at them every single day over the last 6 years, I find it overwhelming! I laugh, I cry, I shake my head in disbelief or nod in agreement or disagreement as I read. Some of the conversations just make me want to give the person I’m speaking to a big old hug—they’ve all given so much of themselves to their creativity, art and the world. They inspire me by being themselves and following their heart for better or worse.
From day one of this project I have told myself that the bottom line is to enjoy the process, keep my mind and heart open, make new friends and contribute something positive and rad to the world…. and it’s been so far so good. Thank you for joining me on my journey. Let’s commit to the next part together. Let’s encourage each other to live our best life.
As the exquisite, strong, inspiring lady Corey Parks told me:
We’re not victims of circumstance; we create our own reality. I love that we can draw anything to us through the laws of attraction and that through the power of our words we can access anything we want in life. I want to have a life beyond my wildest dreams. That’s my divine right. That’s your divine right. That’s Duane’s divine right and little Clash’s here [laughs].
If from reading the title you think this is a post about my lady lumps sorry to disappoint… however If you just groaned at reading ‘happy mid-week’ this post could be for you (ha,ha). It’s the time of the week where we’re half way from last weekend and halfway to our next weekend…
I’ve heard many refer to this time of the week as the mid-week hump (or bump): by now some of you will be starting to feel tired (or bored) with your week and wish the working week was over, hence the importance of doing something you love for a living. My ma and pa, always told me that: If you do what you love with your days you’ll never feel you’re working a day in your life. And, when challenges arise you’ll rise to the occasion and rule it! I love my folks they’re so smart!
*Note: In the Urban Dictionary ‘mid-week hump’ is also a term for having sex on a Wednesday apparently. That’s something that could definitely work to cure the mid-week blues! He, he… ;)
Suggestions to help you reach the weekend:
Music. Listen to it! Make it! Share it! Go see it! Dance to it! No matter what my mood there’s always something in my record collection to suit. Music has never failed to cheer me up… perhaps the only constant in my life (but that’s a whole other story for another day).
When I need motivation out comes: Sick Of It All –Built To Last, Blackalicious – Blazing Arrow, Shelter – When 20 Summers Pass, Jay-Z – the Blueprint and Rancid – Indestructible, among oodles of others. What music kicks you in the butt when you need motivation? Please share, I’m always on the lookout for new tunes/artists to check out. One of my best friends in the entire world, Ant once told me that music can give us hope for a better tomorrow. My homie Efrem from Fullerton, Orange County also told me that, “I think writing songs is an attempt to be happy. It’s part of the pursuit of happiness.”
Check out what the planets are doing. After all, we are all connected—humans, animals, trees, the Sun, Moon, planets etc. My friend Vic shares some wonderful information on what the Universe is up to over at his Vedic Astrology site and his Astro-blog. You can check out what planet is ruling today! Vic did a reading for me about a year ago & seriously he was so spot on with so many things. The insight he gave me to where I’m at in my life cycle and where it’s headed helped me to better understand things in my life. I’ll be expanding on this idea more in future posts.
“Spirituality is basically that every living entity on planet Earth has some type of spirit. In that spirit, we are all connected. In the same way that every leaf of a tree—some big, some small, some still growing, some fully matured—is related to the roots of the tree. In that sense, there’s some sense to the universe, some intelligence behind it. We’re all products of that source. We’re all dependent on that. It’s not blacks and whites, girls and boys, Australians and Americans; it’s every living dependent entity on earth. That type of recognition gives us a sense of respect for all.” ~Ray Cappo (Conversations With Punx extract)
Practice gratitude. In my experience if you’re truly thankful for what you have you’re not worrying about the things you don’t have. It’s all a state of mindset. Did you wake up this morning? Do you have a roof over your head? Is there food in the cupboard? Clean water to drink? Are there people in your life that love you? If you answered ‘yes’ to the aforementioned let me tell ya, you’re a rich, rich person indeed, you have everything you need… all the other stuff is icing on top of the cupcake of your life. Maybe tomorrow morning when you first open your eyes ask yourself ‘what am I thankful for?’ I take the time to give gratitude for my wonderful life in the morning before I do my Morning Pages and/or meditation or at night. Why not every day think of just three things you’re thankful for. It’s not super hard and costs you nothing… give it a try!
A thought to carry into your day: Let us rise up and be thankful, for if we didn’t learn a lot today, at least we learned a little, and if we didn’t learn a little, at least we didn’t get sick, and if we got sick, at least we didn’t die; so, let us all be thankful. ~Buddha
Do you guys do anything to help beat the mid-week hump? Please share…
A wonderful tune to inspire your day:
*(thanks Tizmond for introducing me to such an awesome band)
Up an early for the hope of a brand new day
See a homie you ain’t seen since back in the day
Fresh haircut fitted wit a fat ass fade
End of work, we chilling on a Saturday
How you felt when you first heard the Daddy Kane
Rakim, KRS hey I had that tape
Cooling out with ol’ girl on a fat ass date
Find a hundred dollar bill wow man that’s great
Get promoted at your job up to management
Plot a long time finally a plan has made it
Time I feel I wanna shout, man it’s real that way
Wanna think of things that make you feel that way
~Blackalicious
Art by Chainsaw Panda
