There is nothing new under the sun (or moon or stars or street lamps shining in the suburbs of Atlanta), and there is no deeper wisdom I can summon right now on an early Sunday morning. Try as I might. Flail as I do. In vanity.

I truly believe that the kernel of life can be gleaned from this verse found in the Gospel of Thomas:

“If you bring forth what is within you, what you bring forth will save you. If you do not bring forth what is within you, what you do not bring forth will destroy you.”

Thank you to Angie Tibbs for publishing my poem “Radio Silence” at Dissident Voice this week. It’s a newer piece that can be read here…

https://dissidentvoice.org/2018/04/radio-silence/

Breathe. Deeply. Stay present in the moment. Allow whatever emotions arise throughout the day to pass through consciousness as they need. Accept reality as it is with as much peace as possible. And with love. And with faith. It’s all a necessary part of the process that will lead to growth. Time does heal. It just takes time. That’s the catch. Tricky, tricky.  

Life is karma. Each step forward is born of trust in the future. All the best, my friends. Selah

A little bit/fit of laughter is good at times (as the cycles shift). It’s a healthy remedy for almost anyone (though cynics can’t stomach such). I recommend the practice at any hour, though the odd ones are best. All patterns should be shaken and/or stirred on a regular basis. All habits should be sent to the four winds to sing and swirl.

Rain is just one point of view. Sunshine is another. But proper perspective can thrive in all environments.

I’m happy that my poem “Humming with the Angels” appears in the new GloMag print anthology published out of Chennai, India. Big thank you to Glory Sasikala for all her efforts editing this edition. Available here via Amazon.

I went for a walk late last night that quickly turned into a dance under the radiant moon. I felt high as a soaring kite on nothing but natural electricity amplified by light pouring down from the sky. Every song that ruptured my ears sounded like a thousand blessings blasting with rebirth. Reaching that exact moment is why I’ve been obsessed with cleansing my body and mind recently. The energy created is why I am screaming hallelujah from the top of my lungs on this Sunday of salvation. Selah

March arrives. February fades. All cycles shift as they must. There are certain phases in life when one’s preconceived belief systems must be smashed to smithereens so that previously unrealized ideas can have room to take root and eventually expand.

A muscle must first be broken down before it can then grow back stronger. So too must the mind occasionally plunge into uncharted depths of the subconscious in order to fathom the treasures that await beneath the water before bringing them back to surface one second before lungs burst.

Go to the edge. Then take one more step. Truth awaits on the other side. Even if the process sometimes feels a bit chaotic before the next a-ha moment of awareness comfortably settles in.

Consciousness can prove to be a tricky beast. It need not be tamed, however, nor even fully understood at all times. Only acknowledged, respected, and honored with a dedication toward its constant, continual, progressive development.

I have been healing of late. Rapidly. I am greedy for more.

Wishing all the best to my friends in the new month ahead. Selah

I’ve been in an absolute fit this week, fine-tuning, focusing, and then funneling my energy into a project that has been swirling around in my subconscious for the past two years. The time eventually comes to thrust one’s hands into the soil and start planting seeds in a frenzy. Songs of a Dissident II: From the Ashes. Rising soon. I’m officially stoked and ready for it to soar.

I’m also set to start hammering out an essay for the next issue of Setu Mag. In the latest edition I wrote about Heath Brougher’s new book, To Burn in Torturous Algorithms. Thank you to Sunil Sharma and Anurag Sharma for publishing it in their wonderful venue. “Chasing After the Essence” can be read here…

http://www.setumag.com/2018/01/Scott-Thomas-Outlar-talking-art-and-artists.html

A new interview I did recently has now been published at Vagabonds. Big thank you to Weasel Patterson for allowing me the opportunity to run off at the mouth a bit about my work. The question and answer portion of this session can be found here…

https://www.vagabondsink.com/single-post/2018/02/08/Interview-with-Scott-Thomas-Outlar

I was recently a featured performer at the UUCA: Wine, Cheese, and Spoken Word event held in Atlanta, Georgia. Huge thank you to Carol Douglas for being such an amazing host. The 30 minute reading included selections from several of my books, and it can now be watched in its entirety here on YouTube.

Copies of Poison in Paradise are available here through Alien Buddha Press

The first day of February started off wonderfully well. Two of my poems that were recently translated into Italian by Mihaela Melnic have now been published in the new issue of Setu Mag. My essay “Chasing After the Essence” written about Heath Brougher’s latest book from Weasel Press is also included in the issue.

A short story I wrote way back in 2004 has been published in the new print collection, Tales of the Alien Buddha Volume 1.

Three of my poems appear in this month’s edition of Our Poetry Archive, and three others appear in the new issue of Poetry of Moon. Another poem “Hot Breath of a Primal Yes” was posted today at the CTU Publishing site. It is an excerpt from my book they released last year, Happy Hour Hallelujah. Copies of which are available here.