Metaphysics of Demons

Demons have been classically aligned with the supernatural. They are hellspawn from another plane, attempting to possess us and control our actions in the real world. But what has gone for too long unrealized is that they are actually a metaphor. They're not really supernatural multi-planar beings, but rather elements of the real that inhabit our personalities. They are the elements of us that we hate the most because they have a tendency to rise up against us in our moments of weakness.

Demons can pervade our lives in many forms. Anger, greed, addiction, etc. They are personal aspects of self that can take the reigns of our lives whenever we let them. This is why so often, in twelve step programs, we are required to give our power up to a higher being than our self. Because demons can control us, but if we are forced to appeal to a higher power then perhaps that power can grant us strength against them.

I'm a smoker. It's a terrible habit and has been since I started it. It's disgusting and I'm personally repulsed by it. But in my moments of intoxicated weakness, I find myself desiring to light up. There's no stopping that want. It will always be there. The desire is a biological ramification of addiction to the drug nicotine. Experts say that addiction rewires the brain, forcing it to rely on that chemical to achieve satisfaction.

So if there is nothing that I can personally do to overcome that addictive force, then how can I banish it, so to speak? An appeal to a higher power is required. But to accept a supernatural higher power to counter a non-supernatural force seems whimsical to me. As though I'm but playing pretend to conquer something very real.

A good friend of mine is involved in a twelve step program and has maintained her position as an atheist. My friend's higher power is peace. My friend appeals to peace, not only on a global level but on a personal level to achieve power over the demons that plague.

My point is not so much the methodologies of a twelve step program, but rather the nature of demons. They aren't horned beasts from other dimensions hellbent on destroying our existence. Rather, demons are aspects of the real, parts of our lives, that have the ability to possess us and control us. They whisper in our ear when we are weak and define the logic by which we must abide.

It is by this understanding of demonology that we come to terms with the idea of the devil. If the devil is the source of all evil and the spawn of all demons then he too is an aspect of the self, within us all and capable of terrible things. It is up to us to master those elements of ourselves whether they are greed, sadism, lust, or wrath.

It is up to us to find the peace of self that leads us not into the reigns of our demons, but lets us work towards a greater sense of well-being with the world.

I've been in LA for almost a month now. So far I've seen three "celebrities." My first encounter was on my third day. I went to see the a show hosted by Jimmy Pardo at UCB theater. Pardo does warm up for Conan. In the audience that night was Labamba. It was a huge moment for me. That was Labamba. Labamba sat a few feet from me for a show. My mind was blown.

The next encounter was seeing Eugene Mirman while driving. He was walking with some lady. He was wearing a t-shirt and looked like any other schlub on the street.

Today, Zach Woods came to the store I work at. I saw him for about a second and a half.

Oh, he plays Gabe on The Office. I'm starting to realize that my definition of celebrity may be a little loose.

I was taking a stack of empty boxes to the baler and I heard a voice I'd heard before. It was weird. I recognized it, but not immediately. I turned my head and I saw him talking to someone else.

The dude is tall. Really tall.

I realized who he was. Then I baled some cardboard. But I've been thinking about it for the rest of the day. I'm still adjusting to the fact that actors on television are also people in real life. That's when I realized that I divide reality and television. And I think that's probably a healthy response.

But there is a reality that exists in television. It is a world that is entirely distant from my own. It doesn't exist within the real world that I experience. But elements of it are real. Zach Woods is a person and he bought some orange juice today.

It's still weird to see people that you see on television in your own world. There he is, existing in my life. This is my world, but there he is, from another fucking, planet buying juice.

Just do something new.

While talking to a good friend of mine, we came to the subject of ham and brie sandwiches. It's not an uncommon topic, given my propensity towards eating ham, brie, and sandwiches. Subsequently, we were also discussing how we would both love to lose some weight.

For the record, she's gorgeous and looks amazing the way she does.

I'm a hot mess of man that needs to drop 15 pounds just to get back to where I was 4 months ago and those nachos bell grande aren't helping.

After I assured her she looked great, which she does, she made an observation that blew my mind. It was completely obvious but I'd never recognized it. It was one of those hidden in plain sight deals. You know what she pointed out to me?

She knows what a ham and brie sandwich tastes like.

And then I realized: I know what it tastes like, too.

Why keep eating something again and again when you know what it tastes like? Sure, there is the satisfaction of getting exactly what you expected. But isn't the satisfaction of trying something new, and exploring something else even more rewarding?

Now, all of this seemed much more mind blowing when I was wasted. But I think that it's still pretty good. Branch out. Try new things. Don't stay comfortable. Do something new.

Do something new.

Multi-Pronged Assault

It's been a full month since I've posted to this blog and my, how shit has changed.

1) I finished my classes. After my trip to LA earlier in the semester I became a supercharged dynamo aimed to destroy any assignment in my path. So I did. I passed them and applied for graduation.

2) I found a Trader Joe's in LA that would accept my transfer application. I now work at the Hollywood Trader Joe's on Vine. It's phenomenal and the crew seem like a good bunch of folks, but I still miss all of my friends at the Coleman store in San Jose. 212, I <3 you.

3) I packed up my entire life into a 16' Budget truck and drove it almost 400 miles to LA. The drive was phenomenal. I stopped at Harris Ranch with my dad and ate a steak the size of my head.

4) I signed up for improv101 at the Upright Citizen's Brigade Training Center.

5) I Interviewed for and landed an internship at Zero Gravity Management in Santa Monica.

Each of these things is absolutely vital for my multi-pronged assault of the film industry. My internship will teach me how the industry works and put me in contact with people in the representation field. My UCB class will get me in contact with other comedians and actors. Again networking but also a chance to demonstrate my comedic chops and work my way through the UCB ranks. I'm continuing to work on my feature screenplays and enter screenwriting competitions.

Oh, and I'm working on a blog that will give me web exposure. So that's a thing.

Here I am, LA. Let's fucking do this.