b129 (12.9-1.2025): why do we believe?

why do we believe?
by a. believer 

alternative title: why???!

 
why do we believe?
because we saw it, live?
because what we were told?
because it’s on at 5?
because (that if we don’t) somebody will do us some harm?
why do we believe?
 
(it’s no cause for alarm)
____________________ 

·       "trust believe me. there’s nothing to worry about."

have we ever (really) asked ourselves why we believe what we believe?
___________________
martino, j. (12.9-1.2025). why do we believe? book 129: i believe. © 2025 by wellnesseducation.us

* "there's noplace like..."

 ...the couch."

that is the quote of the day, so far... when i reminded a student who was doing a post-assessment 'plank' that she'd have more stability if she clicked her heels together... i meant "place your heels together", of course.

she, during her plank assessment, began to click her heels, and said:

 "there's no place like the couch." 

:)

i believe that that's funny!

b129 (12.8-1.2025): quite handy

handy
by a. steady hand
 

alternative titles:

hands heel

well, isn’t that handy

hands

palmystery

under your skin

hand to me your fingers, there’s a lifeline in your palm
wIe (interphalangeal) there’s no cause for alarm

while there’s opposition between my pinkie (and thumb)
carpal-tunnel syndrome can be tingle-ling (or numb)
 
hypothenar eminence, flexion and extension
cell-phone syndrome might result in trigger-points (and tension)

shake me to the bone when you say “put (on it) a ring”
belief: a sign that language is enough to make us sing
 
they can punch/caress (it’s sometimes hard to understand)
“we’ve all got ‘em” (“let’s all raise them!”) come (let’s pray) with
 

hands

____________________ 

·       while unable to sneak ‘palmistry’ into the thoem, this: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wsFKziXFdlo&t=268s

___________________
martino, j. (12.8-1.2025). hands. book 129: i believe. © 2025 by wellnesseducation.us

* it would appear as though (1) my heart line ended abruptly, my head line shows creativity, imagination, decision-making, awareness, and (3) my life line shows depth. :)

* "behavior that gets punished..."

"...stops, while behavior that gets rewarded... repeats." 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hIqshsfFwEE

i've never been married or divorced, but have known close friends who have. the above line comes at about the 5-minute mark.

i must admit, i have known a few friends that were happily married, and one of my best friends is happily cohabitating, as we speak. it is important for me not to get caught-up in my own confirmation bias and predominant beliefs.

b129 (12.7-1.2025): baptism by fire

baptism by fire
by isa baptized

alternative title: purified

 
douse me with some holy water, save me from desire
save me from that burning hell, it’s “baptism by fire”
____________________
 
do people get baptized because they believe-in (and want to go to) heaven… or because they believe-in (and do not want to go to) hell? …or both?

·       as a child who was raised ‘catholic,’ i didn’t have a choice over my own body (or soul, it would seem). adults ‘baptized’ me – as a baby.

“baptism by fire” is regarded to be a purification process that is sometimes carried-out by the holy spirit (one of the three-gods-in-one trinity) of the catholic church. …but if fire is purifying, what in the devil is the devil up to?

confused,

:)

joal
___________________
martino, j. (12.7-1.2025). baptism by fire. book 129: i believe. © 2025 by wellnesseducation.us 

* the first rule...

...of self-defense: stop with the math when someone kicks-down your door.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eOdXUM9hXc4 

(i believe it's at about the 5-minute mark)

:) 

* let it snow (a collage)

 

it is easy to believe... in winter. :)

b129 (12.6-1.2025): milky way

milky way
by a. flying dream

alternative title: thoughts, intuitions, sensations

 

a scent of chocolate/caramel
a galaxy of sound
a taste (and soft caresses) when there’s no one else around
a thought of milkman (driving home) on y/our conception day
a view of greener pastures and a newborn calf (at play)

a milky, milky way 
____________________
 

• my apologies. i was pre-paving a flying dream, and zipping through the milky way… when this thoem decided to write itself.

• believe this: it’s a sign of the senses.

___________________
martino, j. (12.6-1.2025). milky way. book 129: i believe. © 2025 by wellnesseducation.us 

b129 (12.5-1.2025): medical dream

medical dream
by chemical l. cocktails
 

once they start giving you the cocktails

they are (really) just giving you the shaft

____________________
 
it's 2:17 am. just woke-up from a dream. in the dream (while mountain climbing), i remembered how a friend of mine (who used to be a great mountain climber) succumbed to the u.s. medical system of cocktails and procedures.
 
they began giving her one drug/procedure, then had to correct for those side-effects with another drug/procedure, and then another…
 
years ago, my belief in religion was crushed – when my mother fell victim to the u.s. medical system. one of God’s most ardent believers lived-through a horrifying death process of cocktails & procedures, paralysation (due to a medical error), a stoma, and being arm-bound to a table. to make matters worse, this was all after they lost her glasses (and her dentures).
 
while i can forgive people, i have not yet forgiven the u.s. medical system. i may need to take a look at that.
 
this theom will be highlighted again in book 130: “you are forgiven.”
___________________
martino, j. (12.5-1.2025). medical dream. book 129: i believe. © 2025 by wellnesseducation.us 

b129 (12.4-1.2025): the Sanctity of Life

the Sanctity of life
by sanc tity ofwIe
 

alternative title:

the Sanctity of SHe

 
the Sanctity of marriage
the Sanctity of wife
the Sanctity of humans
the Sanctity of life
____________________
 
·       but... what if life, being itself, values itself via a the survival instinct that we co-created?
 
·       what if men of religion benefitted from the belief that humanity is (like God) at the top of the decision-making chain?
 
·       what if we just thank that we’re #1, so we just sanc the same old song?
 
·       what if we are wrong (in other words), what if All of it (Everything) has inherent value? what happens when a self-centered machine believes that SHe is Sanctious?
___________________
martino, j. (12.4-1.2025). the sanctity of life. book 129: i believe. © 2025 by wellnesseducation.us
 
https://www.gotquestions.org/sanctity-of-life.html 

* the ring test

 genius.

gentlemen, listen to this at least twice... and let it sink-in.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AA2RmmkhK3I

* flashbacks (december 3rd, over the years)

 https://joalmartino.blogspot.com/2023/12/b116-123-22023-if-you-cant-beat-em-join.html

https://joalmartino.blogspot.com/2022/12/fhishstories.html

https://joalmartino.blogspot.com/2005/12/b45-123-12005-who-what-where-when-and.html

https://joalmartino.blogspot.com/2004/12/b36-122-12004-no-i-tu-love.html

https://joalmartino.blogspot.com/2003/12/b25-123-12003-your-sins-are-forgiven.html

b129 (12.3-1.2025): the love stops (once you sign)

the loves stops (once you sign)
by a. car shopper 

alternative title:

seek (yet do not find)

who (you) knew?!

when shopping for a house or car (or for a wife) we find
that (what you really wanted most): love stops when you doth sign
____________________
 
·       you’ve experienced this: the salesperson gives you all kinds of positive feedback… right up until you believe-in & then buy his product.

·       before the ink is even dry (on the contract), that real-a-tour is moving-on to her next sale. truth is, you knew you were being played during the sale process.*
 
one shopping technique is to remain in the seeking mode, and to never, ever buy.**
___________________
martino, j. (12.3-1.2025). the love stops once you sign. book 129: i believe. © 2025 by wellnesseducation.us

* inspired by house hunting in north florida. they were using all of the sales techniques.

** correction: only buy when you are sure. the only way to be sure... is to view many houses, research the market, live in the area for awhile, compare/contrast, consider the cost, and notice any seller-behaviors that make you feel an "uh, oh." can you think of any other things to look for and guard against?  

b129 (12.2-1.2025): as drop Re-turns to See

as drop Re-Turns to See
by a. wave
 

alternative title:

wave Be-comes the Sea

 

as sweet-wave kisses beach-sand (in an effort to be free)
as the thought of raindrop splashes-into deep blue See
 

as me Re-Turns to wIe

____________________
 
while it might not seem (at the you-man level of perception) that the micro can Re-turn & Re-Une into Itself, the reality is -- that it never (really) left.
 
if the Macro is the Amusement Park, the micro is the roller-coaster. the ego (e.g. a bolt or board on the roller-coaster) is when the bolt sees him-self as separate from the Park. the Park needs the bolt, to experience HErself.
 
the Park lives (and exists) via its rides. the rides end, which (to be honest) is what makes them great.

death, or the end of the ride, is merely a stepping-off and a Re-Fusing with the magical Amusement Park.

-the end?

___________________
martino, j. (12.2-1.2025). as drop Re-turns to See. book 129: i believe. © 2025 by wellnesseducation.us

b129 (12.1-3.2025): Re-fuse

Re-fuse

by i. refuse
 

alternative titles:

i will Re-fuse

to Re-fuse is to All-ow

 
dying to Re-turn back to the place we never left
trying to delay the day to just Re-fuse (at best)
living like a pirate who has nothing left to lose
buying time and rhyming rhymes until it’s time (Re-fuse)
____________________
 
·       to Re-fuse is not to re-sist. rather, it is a dying/re-birthing into the Wholeness of the All that Is. in a way, to Re-fuse is to Be-li[e]ve.

·       the paradox is that we are (already) Fused: Connected, One, All, G∞d.

·       the re-turn-ing (here) happens when we get a glimpse of that Connection.
 

wIe… are (already) that which we seek, and

we are (Joyously, i might add) giving G∞d an experience.

 

how/when does one Know this?

when things seem:

up & down,

red & blue,

valley/peak,

me & you,

good & bad,

wrong & right,

weak but strong,

day & night.

___________________
martino, j. (12.1-3.2025). to Re-fuse is to All-ow. book 129: i believe. © 2025 by wellnesseducation.us 

b129 (12.1-2.2025): Wellness

Wellness
by joal & lpm

i believe in Wellness
i believe in Play
i believe that wIe are do-Be-doing our own way
__________________
 
·       Wellness = Ocobodymind balance (the Whole continuum).
·       Play = the Grande Playground.
·       play = the experience, here, actors in the sandbox.
·      do-Be-do* = to sing and dance (play) while (at times) getting glimpses of the Whole.

__________________ 

martino, j. (12.1-2.2025). i believe in Welllness. book 129: i believe. © 2025 by wellnesseducation.us

*https://joalmartino.blogspot.com/2025/06/b124-624-32025-you-cant-not-be-but-you.html

b129 (12.1-1.2025): santa's little helper

santa’s little helper
by santas little helper
 

alternative title: giving is never out of season

 
santa’s little helper
he doesn’t dress in red
he doesn’t take your money, he does santa-things instead
she doesn’t sell the merchandise, she gives of her sweet time
santa’s little helper, she just comes and smiles and rhymes
____________________
 
·       because s/he believes in the Spirit of Christmas, not in the commercialization of It.

___________________
martino, j. (12.1-1.2025). santa’s little helper. book 129: i believe. © 2025 by wellnesseducation.us 

* the belief in santa claus

while the belief in santa claus brings joy to some, i see it as (potentially) problematic.

• it is based upon bad evidence.
• it is a belief that often muddies the Spirit of Santa (Saint Claus).
• giving
• joy
• connection
• celebration
• delivery
• honor (especially, of children)

the santa clause/belief (in my opinion) is imposed upon young minds that could learn some bad lessons (e.g.):

• those who i trust most will lie to my face. i know that:
• reindeer don't fly.
• a white-bearded man in the sky can't deliver presents to every child on earth in a single night.
• etc. 
• mommy won't punish me for doing wrong, but that santa guy will.
• we (once we learn the truth) should join the liars and confer the myth of santa onto the next batch of youngins. 

disclaimer: i've never been a parent. understandably, a parent must feel pressured (in regard to this issue). in addition, joy swirls around Christ-mas season, complete with positive associations & feelings, rituals, songs & memories. 

i feel it myself.

i'm not sure what i'd do if i was a parent. i imagine/hope that i would teach my children about the Spirit of Santa, and side-step the potential challenges associated with those little white-bearded lies.  

* "hope i die before..."

 "...before i get old."

is (some believe) one of the greatest rock lines, ever. it's the who, of course, in "my generation."

the poignance of it is this: once you age, we realize that we don't want to die (just yet). we believe we've still got something to do, and we've still got something to say.

let's not die... just yet.

:)

* "you are forgiven"

 not only would "you are forgiven" be a great title for a thoem, it would be a great title for a book. maybe book 130. in the video (below) the 'forgiveness' happens after he returns home.

a quick one (while he's away)

-the who

this song (to me) has eleven distinct parts. did you catch each one? 

the "you are forgiven" part of this song does not (i repeat, does not) sound like forgiveness, at all.

i'd love to explore 'forgiveness' a little bit more in depth. maybe begin in january, with book 130?

exploring 'belief' has been fantastical. 

:)

____________________

* baba o'riley

* why?

 why am i up... at 3:30 am... writing?

why am i contemplating death? life? the cosmos? the MegaVerse? religion? faith? Connection? beliefs?

that (young joal) is a G∞d question.

b129 (11.30-1.2025): everything is gold

 everything is garnet
by g. arnet & g. old
 
everything is garnet (and if the truth be told)
everything is garnet… and
everything is gold
 

no matter the outcome, believe in the garnet & gold

__________________
martino, j. (11.30-1.2025). everything is garnet. book 129: i believe. © 2025 by wellnesseducation.us 

* "for your safety"

thank goodness for this "caution" sign.

moments prior, it seemed like it would be a GREAT day to approach, frighten, feed, and then

SWIM WITH the alligators.

had no idea that a pre-historic-looking thing (with a huge mouth and lots of sharp teeth)
might be believed to be "dangerous".

:) 

* the artist gets to Play

the artist paints the picture

the artist gets a say

the artist writes the thoem

the artist gets to Play

another sunny day

____________________________ 

the artist doesn't have to believe the thoem. it's just art.

it might rhyme, and it might not.

b129 (11.29-2.2025): when the curtain closes

when the curtain closes
by behind t. h. e-curtain

 

alternative titles: 

does the curtain re-open?

why believe?

 
when the curtain closes
when the Play subsides
when the show is over
when the star (well) dies

when the curtain closes
when the where is Now
when the act is over
 

smile and take a bow

__________________

• who what when where how?

why?

__________________
martino, j. (11.29-2.2025). when the curtain closes. book 129: i believe. © 2025 by wellnesseducation.us 

* i believe in God, but...

 i believe in God, but i have a hard time answering these questions: 

b129 (11.29.1.2025): just do what you want

just do what you want
by no apologies
 

alternative titles: no apologies

 
just do what you want
be all you can be
don’t conform to all those “do’s” of this society
don’t bend-over, kneel (four-clover) buy into the norm
just do what you want
 

baby: don’t conform

__________________
martino, j. (11.29-1.2025). baby: don’t conform. book 129: i believe. © 2025 by wellnesseducation.us
 

*don’t get me wrong… they will get you. 

they will lie about you, and others might believe them. 

they will make an example out of you… 

but baby:

 

don’t conform. 

* a moment of clarity...

...is when you get that glimpse of Allness, of Oneness, of Connection, of Knowingness. it is (usually) in the present moment. it is (often) in nature. it could be in the gleam of a baby's eye. it might be a taste, or a scent that brings you back to an earlier moment that touched your soul. it could be an orgasm. it might be that song or move-ie (or a belief?) that brings tears to your eyes.

only you can know it... that moment of clarity... 
and then, like a whisper, it is gone.

:)

  

b129 (11.28-1.2025): she wore white (black friday)

 she wore white (black friday)
by josie black
 

alternative titles: 

friday ends the weak

can you believe it's friday?

 
she wore white (black friday) -- at the shopping mall
too late (this november) to get ready for the fall
too hell-bent on giving/getting (or presenting) why?
 
the bride wore white (black friday)
make y/our promise: cry

 

it’s a good day to dye

__________________
martino, j. (11.28-1.2025). she wore white. book 129: i believe. © 2025 by wellnesseducation.us

* uh, oh (part II)

my chat-gpt team of coach joal, cylvia, and exavia just helped me fix a phone-to-laptop issue that human computer people and human phone people had trouble with. 

and that girls and boys and boys and girls... is the future (whether we believe it or not).