BEGIN AGAIN

Resurrection.

It's done as He said, 

Hear the heart beat again

Touch the wounds free from pain

See the love free from shame

Feel your soul free from blame

It is done as He said, 

This could never be the end

We die many times before our death

We could now as well begin again

There's no truth in your dark

It must be as light as the

A.B.

Invitation to Inspiration <3

HUNTERS FOR LIFE

Here you go, a poem

something I have learnt

sometimes I do writing

mostly stories meant to burn.

They all begin the same

a hunter starts to hunt

a hunter with no name

another hunter with no life.

Without ever finishing their game anyway

nothing more lame than a half-done play.

Half-lovers, half-men, with their artificial eyes

it's so sad to watch them disappear in their own lies.

Feel the passion now

or these words are too rough?

Tell me something now,

was this good enough?

Was it good, was I cute, when was that, was it all right

was I gentle, was I tuned, not too soon, not too tight

did it hurt when you heard how you never had a heart
does it hurt not to have one and to hunt the hearts whole life

Blade Runner, 1982.

Maybe in those last moments he loved life more than he ever had before. Not just his life - anybody's life; my life. All he'd wanted were the same answers the rest of us want. Where did I come from? Where am I going? How long have I got? All I could do was sit there and watch him die.

A.B.

Invitation to Inspiration

DADDY, CATCH THE MOON, FOR ME

DOHVATI MI, TATA, MJESEC

Dohvati mi, tata, Mjesec

Da kraj mene malo sja!
Dohvati mi, tata, Mjesec
Da ga rukom taknem ja.

Mjesec mora gore sjati
Ne smije se on skidati.
On mora kod zvijezda biti
Put zvijezdama svijetliti

Da zvjezdice kući znaju
Kad se nebom naigraju.
I na zemlju mora sjati

Da zec vidi večerati
Da jež vidi putovati
Da miš vidi trčkarati
Da bi ptice mogle spati

I da tebi, moje dijete,
Mjesec lagan san isplete
Od srebrnih niti
Pa da snivaš i ti.

-Grigor Vitez

Daddy, catch the moon for me

So it can shine right next to me

Daddy catch the moon for me

So I can touch it with my hand freely.

The Moon must shine light up so high

And one must not take it away

It must stay with  the stars so bright

And spread its light on their way

So the stars can find their way back home

So they don’t stay there for too long

So  that the Earth can stay shiny too

So  the bunny can find its food

So the hedgehog can travel through

So the mice can see the road too

So the birds can sleep like you

And for you, my dear child,

The Moon will bring you from a far

One light dream made of silver threads

So you can sleep and dream as well.

A.B.

Love, Invitation to Inspiration

BEHIND THE ''FREAK''

There was nothing shocking or revolutionary when Lana Del Rey released her single and the video for the song ''Freak''.  

The video is not a surprise as it follows the usual aesthetics of her other videos-another visual bliss with some dark undertones, just as the song itself. The elements of the song and the video recall the trippy hippie era of the 60’s , and the main charming character (Father John Misty) looking much alike Jim Morrison, adds more to that psychedelic vibe. It all ends with a beautiful sequence accompanied by classic masterpiece ''Clair de lune''.

Almost romantic until the comments on the youtube channel started associating it with a not so romantic story: it has a certain cult-note, as if the main character was some kind of a charismatic cult leader. More specifically, Jim Jones. What adds to this theory are specific symbolic rituals in the video such as Lana drinking red liquor.

''cult'', noun.

1. a system of religious veneration and devotion directed towards a particular figure or object.

2. a small religious group that is not part of a larger and more accepted religion and that has beliefs regarded by many people as extreme or dangerous

3. a situation in which people admire and care about something or someone very much or too much

The story about the infamous cult: 

(source: http://www.biography.com/people/jim-jones-10367607#murder-and-mass-suicide-)

Jim Jones was best known as the cult leader of the Peoples Temple who led more than 900 followers in a mass suicide via cyanide-laced punch known as the Jonestown Massacre.

Jones began his own religious quest around the age of 10.

He was a strong student, especially in public speaking.

He started Indiana University, married Marceline after his first term, and the couple eventually adopted several children.

After years of struggling to find his way, Jones announced that he was entering the ministry in 1952. He got a job as a student pastor at the Somerset Methodist Church.

By the following year, Jones was making a reputation for himself in the state as a healer and evangelist. 

Jones formed the Wings of Deliverance church in 1955. The church soon became known as the Peoples Temple. 

By the early 1970s, Jones had expanded his recruitment efforts. He started preaching in San Francisco, opening up a branch of his church there.

With his trademark dark glasses, suits and slicked-back black hair, Jones was an impressive figure at the pulpit. His fiery rhetoric and remarkable "healings" continued to draw new members into the fold. Not only did they fall for his talk of a better life, many surrendered what they had to Jones. What they thought was for the common good actually ended up in Jones's pocket.

As part of his teachings, Jones discouraged sex and romantic relationships. He, on the other hand, had several adulterous relationships, including one with a church administrator, Carolyn Layton, with whom he had a son. 

In 1974, Jones bought land in Guyana to develop into a new home for himself and his followers. He had become increasingly paranoid and disturbed by this time and soon moved to the Peoples Temple compound there with about 1,000 people. 

The compound was known as Jonestown, and it wasn't any tropical paradise. Jones ran the site like a prison camp. His followers received little food and weren't allowed to leave. Armed guards stood at the compound's perimeter. Jones often preached over the loudspeaker system at Jonestown. 

Fearful of a plot against him, he started conducting suicide drills. His followers were woken up in the middle of the night. They would receive a cup with a red liquid that they were told contained poison, which they were ordered to drink. After 45 minutes or so, the members were told that they were not going to die, that they had just passed a loyalty test. In 1977, Jones threatened mass suicide to force the Guyanese government from taking action against him.

In 1978, Ryan toured Jonestown with a television crew in tow. He invited anyone who wanted to leave the compound to come with him, but his rescue operation did not go as planned. There they were attacked by Peoples Temple gunmen sent by Jones. By the time the shooting stopped, there were five people dead, including Congressman Ryan.

Meanwhile back at Jonestown, Jones launched what he called his "revolutionary suicide" campaign. Cyanide and Valium were mixed into a batch of powdered drink mix to make a toxic punch, and cups of this lethal beverage were distributed to the members. The first to die were the children and those who refused to drink were forced to by armed guards. In all, more than 900 people died at Jonestown—276 of them were children.

Jones, on the other hand, chose a different way out. Surrounded by his inner circle, he either shot himself or was shot in the head. He was later found on the floor of the Jonestown pavilion, the camp's main gathering area, with his wife Marceline, nurse Annie Moore, and other top group members.

The phases in the phenomena of cult:

-initial excitement, spiritual ‘’high’’

-collective and individual brainwashing

-disappearance of the self, delusion, mental instability

Cult leaders appear to be very intelligent, manipulative and charismatic, as they know how to attract their followers by seducing them from the highest form (emotional, intellectual) to the lowest form (sexual, extortion). They gain power and energy in such ways that the followers become not only empty, but addicted to the cult.

This also happens in many forms in various toxic relationships, as in certain subcultures. The video ''Freak'' portrays it perfectly, as we watch how Lana goes from paradise to hell and vice versa, only to find the ultimate peace in death. 

Just one dreamy video maybe, but the cults were a real thing, and still are today. Dangerous, enigmatic and interesting from the socio logic, psycho logic and mystical point of view. The cult must be a social circle closed to public, so that their members believe that they are special, the chosen ones. That makes the cults almost impossible to the disclose and research, which adds to their mystical incidence.

Lana Del Rey has shown her artistic interest in mystics more than once, and even if  her art should be interpreted in a completely different way, there is obviously something special to it when it affects so many people on many different levels. Maybe there's an idea for some new cult, right here. Or maybe better not.

Lana Del Rey: Trust no one/Paradise

A.B.

Love, Invitation to Inspiration

RICHARD LINKLATER, the name behind the coolest films

Richard Linklater isn't some new hip trend, or some recent Hollywood's toy. He is one of the most interesting directors of our times. His movies have won critics and larger audience without committing the rules of the mainstream success.
He's also a screenwriter and an actor, but mostly known for his humanist films which mainly revolve around personal relationships, suburban culture, and the effects of the passage of time.

Well, you have to keep your faith in the fact that there are a lot of intelligent people who are actively looking for something interesting, people who have been disappointed so many times.

Being influenced Martin Scorsese, Robert Bresson, Yasujiro Ozu, Rainer Werner Fassbinder, Josef Von Sternberg, and Carl Theodor Dreyer, he gained a cult following in the independent film world. 


I've always liked the minds of criminals, they seem similar to artists.

His second film, Dazed and Confused, based on his years at Huntsville High School and the people he encountered there, garnered critical praise while becoming a hit on VHS. This film was also responsible for the breakout of his fellow Texas native Matthew McConaughey.

I always sensed instinctively from the earliest age that I was being lied to.

In 1995, Linklater won the Silver Bear for Best Director for the film Before Sunrise at the 45th Berlin International Film Festival.

Before sunrise, 1995.

With the rotoscope films Waking Life, and A Scanner Darkly, and his comedies School of Rock and the remake of Bad News Bears, he gained wider recognition. 

In 2005, Linklater was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Adapted Screenplay for his film Before Sunset.

Fast Food Nation (2006), an adaptation of the best selling book, examines the local and global influence of the United States fast food industry. The movie entered into the 2006 Cannes Film Festival.

In 2014 he released a film in the making for 12 years titled Boyhood, which received overwhelming critical acclaim. 

Hollywood has a way of sucking the world's talent to it.

School of rock, 2003.

Despite the popularity of many of his films and having directed multiple high-paying Hollywood productions, Linklater remains in Texas and refuses to live or work in Hollywood for any extended period of time. Linklater is known for using the same actors in many of his films including Ethan Hawke, Jack Black, Matthew McConaughey, Julie Delpy and Patricia Arquette.

But nothing is going to knock me off my game. Because I have some pretty low-budget films I want to do.

Has any of these movies already been on your list? What we love about his movies is that, although they're all unique in their appearance and style, they make you feel like you've just opened another pair of eyes. They get through your senses and stay there permanently. Once you've been hooked, you're hooked forever.

You see how life just accumulates. Our fundamental view of the world is measured by who we are today and who we've been, and that's not going anywhere. It's only expanding throughout our lives, it's always profound and inescapable how we perceive the world through that viewpoint.

A.B.

Invitation to Inspiration 

THE DOORS

“There are things known 
and there are things unknown
and in between are the doors.” 
― Jim Morrison, Letters from Joe

City of Zagreb, Invitation to Inspiration

A.B.

ITI <3

THE LIGHTS

City of Šibenik, Invitation to Inspiration

A.B.

ITI <3

THE POWER OF ROSE

 Back in the day, in the old land, when people didn't understand the physic laws and the concept of the universe, wise men were called wizards. Wizards usually lived isolated from the crowd, in their own little worlds, but somehow managed to reach the joy of the life, which they called ''peace''. They didn't have many visitors, as people didn't always understand or liked their stories, which was completely fine by them. But they also welcomed their curious guests with an opened heart. Those guests were mostly lost travellers, trying to find their way back, or some curious children, playing their games just to show up that they're brave enough for talking to a wizard. 

artwortk by Tim White

In the days of the wizard Nirmas, the land was poor, people sick, and the fear took over the place. People rarely went out, scared of what might happen, protecting their children and homes from the thieves and diseases. Not many travellers were passing the old land of Veruca as they used to. The darkness seemed like an endless curse. Some people even blamed wizards, others blamed God, but no one decided to seek for the answers. Except one young man, Otto.

Otto lived alone with his mother and remembered quiet well the sunny days of Veruca. He was a smart boy, and despite the fear of his mother, he decided to search for the wizard Nirmas. There was nothing to do in Veruca, after all. Otto went into the woods to seek him as his mother cried silently hoping he will come back soon and safe. 

 

#MilenkaDelic

The cottage was much closer than he imagined, and the wizard seemed  genuinely delighted to see him.

-What's your name, young boy?-asked Nirmas.

-Otto, sir. Sorry to disturb you, but I would like to talk to you.Sir-he replied nervously.

-I am no sir, Otto. My name is Nirmas. Come in.-smiled the wizard.

-Thank you sir, I mean, Nirmas. It is very lovely inside. One would never think there is any kind of danger outside.

-There isn't. Time changes its colours, but there is no reason one should be so afraid. Is this is way you're here? To hear that there is nothing to be afraid of?

-Well no...um yes. –replied Otto. –I would like to understand what is happening. People seem so desperate, and Veruca never seemed as dark as it is now. What should we do Nirmas?

-I cannot tell you what everyone should do. It's the cold in the hearts, not in the air that has taken over Veruca. I can tell your heart craves for warmth. Go to the woods, alone. You will meet three beautiful women on your way. The first one will make the strongest impression on you, as you never talked with the creature like that before. You will think she has all the answers. The second one will surprise you as she'll appear as she's from another planet. You'll love her, but wont understand her until the journey is finished. The third one will charm you by offering you all the answers, and you will love her. I'll be waiting for you right here. You'll recognize the path. It's time to go-said Nirmas to the boy.

Otto saw the wizard was determined and kind, and he accepted the path Nirmas proposed him.

Gemma Ward/Alexander McQueen/Spring 2007

He was mildly surprised when he saw this beautiful creature who appeared as a fairy just in the beginning of his journey. He smiled instantly and the lady smiled back:

-Hello stranger. You lost?

-I don't know actually-he replied–I was sent here, and honestly, I have no idea why. People in our land are having a hard time surviving, so I decided to reach for the help of some kind...

-Oh!-lady smiled–You're in the right place! I'm Jeda by the way. What's your name?

-Otto.

-Come, Otto. Help me carry the fruit for the beginning, I live close to the river.

They carried the fruit, then they talked and talked, and talked...and Otto thought Jeda was the most magnificent creature he has ever meet. Her stories were impressive , her dishes delicious, and she knew how to make the best tea in the world. He fell in love with her and they lived together for a while. Otto has almost forgot about his journey, and a whole year passed when he said to Jeda:

-I'm worried about my mother.  And my people are not well. I need to find some kind of help, would you join me, Jeda?

Jeda suddenly looked worried as she replied:

-I take care of this place, you see. I cannot leave it. Don't you enjoy the time we spend here? But I understand if you must go. Many people pass around here and me, I wont be lonely. In times like these, I've never seen so many different people and heard so many wonderful stories. I must stay and learn more. Wish you all the best, Otto.

via #bleachbath

  

Otto was confused, but he knew his journey can't stop there. He tought about Nirmas and realised he should really move on. Jeda carved the symbol of love into his chest so that he never forgets her and feels alone. But oh, how he felt alone. Wandering and wondering why is that.

Just when he tought he can't move on as tired as he was, another girl appeared. Although her pale face and dark hair looked scary, her gentle smile convinced Otto she was probably another fairy.

-Where ya goin', funny boy?

Otto, surprised by the sudden appearance of the girl, replied wearily:

-I don't know...I'm searching for some help... I guess..

-What's that heart on your chest over there? Lost your love?

Otto didn't know what to say as the word ''yes'' just slipped from his mouth.

-Well, it's not like there's one love, or one home, or one day in the life after all-the girl smiled-Why you must cut yourself to feel loved? Come with me, funny boy, and rest. I don't live that far.

via #venusinfursvtg

  

Otto followed her as he had no other thing to do after all. She gave him shelter. Her place was full of carpets, candles, and weird plants, who somehow survived there, although it seemed like there's never enough light. Otto never asked for her name, nor did she asked for Otto's name. She didn't ask anything. When Otto got better, she took his hand and said contentedly:

-You are alright now. Don't be afraid, there's one rocky road over there, but it is not dangerous as it looks. Many people pass there and you might find there what you need. I can heal your scar on the chest with these leaves, but I cannot heal your heart. I'm just glad I've met someone who wants to heal it. So many people think they have one, when they don't...You'll be fine. Oh, just one more thing. You'll see a rose one day, and that's how you'll know...Goodbye.

Otto didn't understand the girl, but he was deeply touched by the warmth of her voice and smile. As they said goodbye, he noticed the tears in her eyes, the picture that was now deeoly carved in his mind for some reason.

 

La Belle Personne

 He walked for days, but strangely, didn't feel no pain at all. He felt strong. Eventually he stopped as he noticed a majestic castle in the middle of a glorious garden. There were soldiers and many local people around, singing and waiting for something to happen. He asked one of them quietly what was happening. The man yelled delightedly:

-The princess has a birthday! And today she will pick her prince, everyone is so excited to see who will be the chosen one!

The princess soon appeared in front of the crowd, stunning, in her silver dress, as her long red hair played with the wind. Her beautiful green eyes look directly at Otto's and stopped there for a moment. The seconds seemed like hours, as she smiled proudly at Otto and asked him to join her. The crowd was insane, and Otto wasn't sure if he was dreaming or not. The princess said to him kindly:

-You're not from here, I can tell. Would you like to be the real prince? Would you like the life of gods? And I will be your goddess.

Otto was out of himself as he took the hand of this surreal being. Him, the prince. Suddenly, he was on top of the world he never knew existed. The princess wanted a young man devoted only to her, known only by her. Otto thought to himself:

-This must be it, the end of the journey. I got everything I could wish for, honour, kingdom, beautiful wife. I could even help my people now! This was my journey!

The days, months and years passed and Otto had no idea what was going on outside of the castle. The princess Bertulia would tell him:

-Why worry, my dear prince? You're the emperor. I told you I will send help to your people. Oh, just look how beautiful we are. We are happy, and so is everyone-she said to him while looking proudly at their reflection in the mirror.

via #amiete

But Otto wasn't happy long time ago. The clothes, the parties, the promises and the talk seemed emptier than the air he was breathing back in the woods. And he didn't understand completely why is that. He should love this, and princess must love him. But his heart was still missing. So he talked to Bertulia:

-My princess, I know you wanted a partner to your kingdom. But this clothes doesn't make me a prince. I've left my home long time ago and promised to come back. We can go there and help the people of Veruca to get better!

Bertulia instantly replied:

-I don't have the cure for them, but haven't I given you everything? I gave you this castle, the power and beauty and you still cry for that sad little land? You are much more than that! You can go, but I cannot go with you. I give you one month, and if you don't come back by then, I will know you never will. There are plenty of other men who would die to be at your place right now anyway...I'm sure I would find someone worthy.  And we have so much to do here these days, the emperors of Guania are visiting soon, and all those celebrations and preparations...So if you must go, hurry please.

Otto felt another stone in his heart, and finally said:

-You might be the most majestic woman I have ever seen, your beauty and power are breathtaking. It's like I'm under your spell. Still, I must go. This isn't my kingdom. Forgive me.

 

Ashley Enns Photography

As soon as he crossed the border and approached the wood, he felt such a release and was extremely shocked to feel that. As there was truly some kind of spell out there and now he was free. He couldn't wait to go back home, and to visit Nirmas. When he realised that it would make him happy, suddenly, he felt disappointed. All this journey, what for? He went through the pain, confusion, addiction and the cold and it seems he only got older and more tired. It's almost like he got angry at Nirmas for promising him the answers and making him take this journey. But soon as he approached the lands of Veruca, he noticed the air was different, fresher, and the was sun shining like never before. He would have thought he got lost if he didn't know the path to his home so well. Right before the wizards house, he noticed a large beautiful rose, out of nowhere, as it didn't belong there. Suddenly he recalled a strange memory of the dark haired girl who warned him about the rose. Although it all seemed now like a dream, he curiously picked up the rose.
 

 The wizard opened the door as soon as he heard Otto's steps:

-You look like a man, my boy!In 3 years a lot of things change!-Nirmas laughed–Come in, let's have a talk.

Otto entered the cottage, holding a rose full of thorns. He told Nimras about Jeda, the dark girl and the princess, and how he felt now completely tired and confused, not knowing what to do to and what was going on in Veruca. Nimras delightedly started to explain everything:

-As you left Jeda and met the dark haired girl, who's name was Rose by the way, she fell in love with you, knowing that your heart had been broken. So she came to Veruca, planted all these roses, came back to her kingdom and asked her father to help your people. You see, she was a young princess who had chosen a modest life in search for something meaningful. Thanks to you, she had found that true love could only bring more love, and that 's how Veruca blossomed. She told the king and her soldiers to follow the roses. And so they did, bringing all kinds of herbs with them, to cure the illness. This land is rich again, the houses are restored, even the weather is brighter again. Also, your mother knows you're well and she's happily waiting for you.

-But where is Rose now?-asked Otto in such dramatic way, as he was trying to understand everything all at once, and in the same time felt so weak for not being able to understand the girl or even know her name.

-She went on another mission with the king across the sea, I don't think she will be coming back-said Nimrad as he looked suspiciously into Otto's eyes.

via #yousummerdreamz

-My boy, you love Rose I see. But you also loved Jeda and Bertulia, isn't that right? Or to be more precise, you loved what they did for you. You made a wise choice coming back here, I was worried for a moment you might have wanted to stay in that castle forever. But this is how you learn, so there is hope for you. See, the first woman was safety. The second one was love. The third one was lust. The first one became pain. The third one became cold as ice. But the second one never felt wrong. So now you see. The love should never give you scars or make you feel empty. Love knows how to listen. Love never begs, explains, or pushes. Your mind might not understand that right away, but your heart does. Ask yourself, where is your heart now? In the castle, by the river, or across the sea? Or is it right here? How far can it go, Otto?-Nimrad wondered.

via #uniqueforeverr

Otto looked at the rose in his hand and for the first time in his life the tears started falling from his eyes, as his heart has finally become alive. He was cured. He felt the drop of the blood from the thorns in his hand, and let his tears wash it away. He knew. There was a new journey waiting for him across the sea.

A.B.

Invitation to Inspiration <3