Sunday, December 1, 2024

Article: Meditation on Overcoming Unfulfilled Expectations by Goddess Rosemary

Meditation on Overcoming Unfulfilled Expectations
Goddess Rosemary, November 30, 2024

As we gather today for our meditation, let us take a moment to reflect on the theme of unfulfilled expectations. Often, our lives are shaped by the hopes and dreams we carry. We envision futures where our aspirations become reality, but what happens when those visions do not manifest as we imagined?

Acknowledging Feelings
Begin by finding a comfortable position, allowing your body to relax. Close your eyes gently and take a few deep breaths. Inhale slowly through your nose, feeling your chest rise, then exhale through your mouth, releasing tension.
With each breath, acknowledge any feelings of disappointment or frustration that may arise from unmet expectations. It’s important to validate these emotions; they are part of the human experience. Allow them to wash over you, recognizing that it’s okay to feel this way.

Nature of Expectations
Now, let’s turn our attention to the nature of expectations themselves. Often, we build our lives around certain outcomes, imagining how things should be. Consider what expectations you have held onto tightly. Picture these expectations as balloons that you are gripping firmly in your hands.

Cut cords & Letting Go
As we meditate, imagine slowly releasing these balloons into the sky. With each breath, feel the weight of these expectations lift from your hands. Watch as they float away, recognizing that you are not defined by what you planned but rather by how you choose to respond to life's unfolding journey.

Embracing Present
Redirect your focus to the present moment. Take in your surroundings, the sounds around you, the warmth of the air against your skin. Engage fully with the ‘now.’ This moment is your reality. Instead of longing for what could have been, appreciate what is available to you.
Consider the gains you have made in your life, the lessons learned from every experience, both fulfilled and unfulfilled. Reflect on how challenges can foster resilience and growth. In this space of acceptance, find solace in knowing that the journey itself, with all its ups and downs, is what shapes who we are.

Gratitude
As we near the end of our meditation, let’s cultivate gratitude. Think of three things that you are thankful for today. Allow this gratitude to fill your heart, transforming feelings of disappointment into a source of strength.
With this newfound perspective, take a few more deep breaths, anchoring in this sense of peace and acceptance. When you are ready, gently bring your awareness back to the room, wiggling your fingers and toes, and slowly opening your eyes.

Remember, unfulfilled expectations are not failures; they are merely stepping stones on our path. By letting go and accepting what is, we empower ourselves to embrace the journey ahead, full of untold possibilities.
Thank you for joining in this meditation. May you carry this sense of acceptance and gratitude into the rest of your day.

Goddess Rosemary
Sahjaza meditations

Full Length Review: Nocturnal Breed "We Only Came For The Violence" (Folter Records) by Daniel Ryan

Band: Nocturnal Breed
Location: Oslo
Country: Norway
Genre: Thrash/black metal
Format: Digital, CD, vinyl
Label: Folter Records (Berlin, Germany)
Release date: June 28, 2019
Nocturnal Breed from Norway pack a huge sting with their full length album We Only Came For The Violence with its nasty and brash antics that leave the listener for a huge wake up call. Excellent timing and severe lyrics that are key to any perfect thrash album should have. These guys know how to hit it up to 11 literally. I can’t get enough of it. It is very well done and totally wicked. You get the ooouhs! And the guts it takes to bring out this possession in one’s own art.
Seriously heavy and seriously well rounded in its butchery, the guitar solos are nicely put in and the vocals cut through you like a burning knife. WOCFTV has everything you could want out of a blistering hard raged motorcycle riding engine fueled nightmare that brings you to absolute fucking glee. I can’t say it enough, pick this one up and check it out.
Fearful and vicious in its annihilating course you can feel the efforts put behind on this one are 110%. Filled with pulverizing riffs and serious attention to details, this one hangs onto you for a long period of time. Definitely filled with replay value and absolute pleasure those that can get down and truly rock out to this album track for track.
Nocturnal breed never fail to amaze me and keep me thoroughly entertained and impressed by the music they put out there. Get ready to dig your own grave because Nocturnal Breed can’t wait to throw you right in the casket. My favorite track I would have to say is Limbs of Gehenna. And I definitely enjoy the rest of the songs as well.
Give this one a spin if you dare! –Daniel Ryan

Lineup:
S. A. Destroyer: Bass, vocals
Axxeman I. Maztor: Guitars
Tex Terror: Drums, vocals

Track list:
1. Iron Winter
2. Choke On Blood
3. Nekrohagel
4. We Only Came For The Violence
5. Frozen To The Cross
6. Desecrator
7. Cannibalized By Fear
8. Sharks Of The Wehrmacht
9. Limbs Of Gehenna
10. War-Metal Engine
11. Can´t Hold Back The Night
12. Bless The Whore
13. A Million Miles Of Trench
14. Ut å Slåss

EP Review: Gormoth "My Own Funeral" (Independent) by Daniel Ryan

Band: Gormoth
Country: Hungary
Genre: Black metal, DSBM
Format: Digital
Label: Independent
Release date: November 21, 2024
Gormoth from Hungary really hit the spot for me as a recent black metal up and comer.
The songs here provide you atmospherics, depression and coldness throughout! All the antics you would expect but with superior power drawing the listener in to its landscape of doom and gloom. The drums sound like they well mixed in and the guitars wail on in melancholy to the singer’s voice carrying you into its frigid existence. Epic black metal with a somewhat DSBM feel about it, these guys know how to get the job done on this EP.
Nihilistic and lethargic they may be it also picks up nicely with all the instruments in sync with one another in the boldest of fashions. It all hits you like an avalanche and slowly tears you down again in its very doomy and funeral gloom like manner. I have to say it fits well with funeral doom but the black metal is also present in the songs with the guitars. For fans of None, Bethlehem & Draconian, this band really knows how to step in and make your day that more depressive. The singer sounds like he is authentically in pain which is what I like the most about it. Someone pouring their soul into their craft in such a way sometimes is never recognized but on this album you can feel the dread and yearning from miles away.
If you want an album to take you to a place out in the woods on a hike or on your free time this is the album to choose for just that. A very well composed black metal masterpiece to be had. –Daniel Ryan

Lineup:
Adam: Vocals, all instruments

Track list:
1. Lake of Ashes
2. Autumn Lament
3. My Own Funeral

Single Review: Wax Mekanix "Silver Tongued Devil" (Electric Talon Records) by Daniel Ryan

Location: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Country: USA
Genre: Metal, experimental
Format: Digital
Label: Electric Talon Records
Release date: November 4, 2024
With industrial and EBM sounding beats this one by Wax Mekanik is a club track for sure. I would recommend this song to people into KMFDM and Pig. The whole song is well done and leaves you wanting to hear more. The lyrics are very simple but very moving.
The acoustic version is basically the whole song with nothing but acoustic guitars and vocals that you hear on the original track. I’m still not sure which one I like more so I would have to go with both of them. The only thing left to do now is to hear their full length album when it comes out so I can get a better view of what Wax Mekanik is all about. Or just listen to any album prior to this single I just heard.
If it’s a party you want, Wax Mekanik may just be on your playlist. –Daniel Ryan

Recorded by: Lectriq
Mixed by: Lectriq
Mastered by: Lectriq
Produced by: Wax Mekanix and Lectriq
Lyrics by: Wax Mekanix
Music by: Wax Mekanix and Lectriq

Track list:
1. Silver Tongued Devil
2. Silver Tongued Devil (Acoustic)