For All the GYRL's ("Gifted & Gorgeous, Youthful, Resourceful, Ladies.") & Guys!

For You.

Tuesday, August 30, 2011

MUDITA - A Joyful, Simple Spiritual Concept.

Hey Luvies,

I'm still basking in the afterglow of remembering The Greatness of Michael Jackson on his would-be 53rd Birthday, remembering Aaliyah (I've got to do an in-depth blog about her this week, just got so caught up, I almost overlooked Our "Babygirl."), and the great news Bey & Jay dropped on the world last night, such a sweet moment. That smile of hers on stage, and his proud, fatherly grin in the audience as Kanye cheered on, just reverberated through my entire being, as well as with my friends. I'm also still "high" from all the neighborly love we were feeling here in my 'hood in Brooklyn post-Tropical Storm Irene. It's moments like these that remind me that "The Good of One, Is the Good of All," and that the way to grow that warm and fuzzy feeling is to continuously go out of your way to be plain, & simply, & genuinely Happy for someone else.

It's is a term the Buddhists have dubbed Mudita and it's one of my ALL TIME FAVORITE SPIRITUAL TENETS. I don't claim to know all about Buddhism, or any religion or spiritual path for that fact, but I see the ability for Universal application of any idea, tenet, spiritual tool that helps you bring forth your True Spirit, Cultivate Your Soul, and Be Your Best Y-O-U!

Mudita goes a lil' something like this, be Happy for others, with no conditions, no ulterior motives, and You Will Grow Your OWN Happiness. That's It. No Strings Attached :D The Buddhists liken it to the happiness a mother has for her child (how appropriate given all the good baby news in the World, and my world right now...I've another baby shower to attend on November - The GYRL's are Busy. :D ). The mother has joy for the small baby just for existing, and then as that baby matures into a toddler, Youth, etc., the mother has happiness for her offspring's accomplishments and experiences, but moreso has happiness when her child has HAPPINESS. We see it effect everyday, and embracing it will really turn those hardened bitter frowns upside down :D And it reminds me of a lesson a Theatre teacher, Ms. Patrica Dolan Gross, once gave us, she was explaining that the actor truly is an acrobat of the heart because we go into emotions and help give them form, some would say channel them in a way other people can feel them; and that as human beings, we truly are apart, and integrally meshed into each other's experiences. She gave us the example of her grandson's birth, she didn't have to be the one in labor to be elated at his arrival - and this is the point of Mudita. It Is The Vicarious Experience of Another's Joy & Experience, thus bringing it down, or channeling it into YOUR OWN Experience. I think the World would be a much better place if more people consciously knew of the spiritual principle/tenet of Mudita, and actively tried, that is put forth an effort, to implement it in their everyday lives, think of all the beef that would be squashed!?! It's basically the equivalent of "Don't Hate, Congratulate!" So, on that note, CONGRATULATIONS Mrs. Knowles Carter, and thank-god it's you this time around, cause I have NO PLANS TO GET PREGGO ANY TIME SOON, lol! Thank-You Bey for Sharing Your Joy, & Your Pregnancy Experience, in advance, with Us.

Mudita at it's Finest!

Namaste ("I Honor the Divine/Creator/Creative Presence in You")Luvies,
B-RAE

An Excellent Article on Mudita. Goes More Buddhist on 'Ya, But with Good Examples, & Very Easy to Understand.


Monday, August 29, 2011

HAPPY BIRTHDAY MICHAEL!!! "Good Art Never Dies."


Today is the Would-Be 53rd Birthday of Musical Genius, Icon, Visionary, Pioneering Artist & Businessman Michael Jackson, and in the midst of all that's going on, I'd be Remiss not to "Pause" and Take a Moment to Reflect, & Give Thanks for this Ancestor, & ALL He's Given Us.

There Are Never Enough Words For You Michael, You are Appreciated, Loved, & Missed...ALWAYS.

"Good Art Never Dies."
-Michael Jackson

"I Promise You, The Best is Yet to Come."
- Michael Jackson



Personal Thoughts on Michael Jackson @ 1 minute

Simply Put, Love You Michael.

Sometimes Less is More Luvies,
B-RAE

Sunday, August 28, 2011

BEYONCE IS PREGNANT - It's Official. CONGRATS GYRL!!! and oh, NYC had a HURRICANE this weekend...whatever, I Know - back to Beyoncé!

Photo by Jason Merritt/Getty Images

Hello Luvies!

So, Yes, I admit it, I've been madd sporadic with my writing as of late, the last post being at the end of May, JUST before the "end of the world rapture" was to occur, and before I unofficially officially kicked off my Summer... and it's been go go gadget ever since I tell 'ya! Finally, culminating in me hunkering down last night for the first HURRICANE to make landfall in New York City in God knows how long!!! (Run-on Sentence). But if ANYTHING can make me come out of blogging/pop-culture writing hibernation, it is the fact that, yes, it is Officially Confirmed, the Dime Diva herself, Beyoncé Giselle Knowles (Carter) is Pregnant.

Yes, Pregnant!
Photo courtesy Getty Images

And OBVIOUSLY Sooo Elated :D This is Totally a Mudita Moment!
Photo by Steve Granitz/WireImage

B-RAE's REACTION INSTRUCTIONS FOR THE POP-CULTURALLY CHALLENGED:
1) Brief Moment of Silence to Allow One's Cerebral Cortex to Process.

Get More: Music News

2) Insert FIREWORKS, GLITTER, SPARKLERS, CONFETTI, TICKER-TAPE PARADES, HORSE-DRAWN CARRIAGES, VUVUZELAS, INTERNATIONAL SHOUTS & JUMPS FOR JOY, & PARTIES in sed BABY's HONOR.

3) Get back to your own business with the Joy of knowing the World will potentially be a bit more fashionably, musically, & choreographically enhanced with the coming of the "Jayoncé" offspring in about a year in 2012 - "The Future IS Now."


"Daaaas It!"

Neary (I don't even think that's real word, but in my excitement it sounds right, so Mark Twain - it'll be my present to the baby) the announcement of a pregnancy has been so eagerly awaited. I would dare say, and think I'd be right on the money with that statement, since the first natural born child of Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt, Shiloh Jolie-Pitt, was conceived has a celebrity babe been so eagerly anticipated. Don't EVEN get me started on if it's a boy or a girl, or THE NAME (Shawn Knowles Carter II - My guess if a son) this will be exciting & fun to follow!

Beyoncé (& Jay-Z) didn't even make a press release, press conference, or interview to announce the news to the World, she just showed up in a beautiful Blood Orange colored Goddess Dress, giving the universal "I'm with child" baby bump pose.
Photo by Jason Merritt/Getty Images
She Is Always the Classy, Elegant One in terms of her Demeanor and Presence, as has been established time and time again.
And I just like Beyoncé's "get er' done" style, 'ya know? Even though she's soooo "Type A," her work ethic is admirable. Plan, plan, plan, work, work, work, and LIVE YOUR LIFE to the fullest regardless of what the detractors, and naysayers, for lack of better words, well, say...

FULL "LOVE ON TOP" MICROPONE-DROPPIN', BELLY-PATTIN' SURPRISE 2011 VMA PERFORMANCE

Get More: 2011 VMA, Music, Beyoncé


She Is Always a Step Ahead... B COMPLETELY STOLE THE SHOW! Whether it was with her Lanvin gown on the Black Carpet, or energized, multiple modulations during her performance of "Love on Top," which was not an easy feat to pull off Live - definitely not for the autotuned faint of heart... B to it to another Level. And we've come to expect nothing less from Our Beyoncé! And you gotta give it to ger, she takes One-Upsmanship to the NEXT Level, but does so Gracefully. :D
She EVEN went ahead and Thunderheisted on NYC's downgraded "Tropical Storm Irene" - making one of our City's most EPIC weeks ever, and earthquake last Tuesday, and POTENTIAL Hurricane yesterday and today, pale in comparison to her Golden Locks (though I have no problem with her hair, lol), and baby news... "Oops she did it again!"
(I couldn't help myself y'all - it wouldn't have be a proper MTV VMA's related post without a gratuitously, faux-nude Britney Spears moment - back to Beyonce) Hit album, sold out concerts, and baby on the way, all anounced within 2 months. The latest ballad may be called "1 +1" but Beyoncé is OBVIOUSLY 3 for 3.

The big news being announced on Sunday, August 28, 2011 at the MTV VMA's on the New Moon/Lunar Month of Virgo (for all the Astrology buffs out there) whilst Beyoncé herself is a Virgo, contains a certain magic, poetry, and symbolism all unto itself. Her 30th birthday is this Labor Day weekend on September 4th. Not to mention the news comes on the eve of Michael Jackson's would be 53rd birthday. Could they be imprinting this little on in utero for Greatness??? If this this little tike is anything like it's mom and dad, this very well could be another "musical messiah," in the same vein as a Michael Jackson, I mean Jay-Z already cited Beyoncé as "The Second Coming of Michael Jackson" - the Hope & Possibilites are Endless.

And that's what REALLY has us all so geeked. Whatever the Future holds for B, J, and Baby, we here at GYRLNYOURWORLD PRODUCTIONS would like to extend our Warmest Congratulations to the Couple/Family - Thanks for Sharing Your Joy with Us!
Photo courtesy FilmMagic

...I honestly didn't even know how she had a "baby bump." She just performed four sold out shows about 2 weeks ago at New York City's Roseland Ballroom on August 14, 16, 18, and 19, with seemingly no "bumpage."
Photograph by Jenna Rubenstein

And one more Beyoncé image just for the heck of it. I liked all of the booklet art for "4" but this particular studio photo caught my eye due to the angles, deconstruction, and sheer wackiness, yet sexiness it embodies - that and the boss legs muscles, get it GYRL! Well, I guess you got, and now your going to incubate & nurture it, ha! CHEERS!

Perhaps, the bump's not that big yet, but the camera angles coupled with the simple gesture of a hand place gently on a stomach sent us all a little over the top? The ONLY thing that would make this Anouncement any better would be if this is a multiple birth pregnancy, which could be right up B's "Type A," "Out-Do Everyone Else," Work-a-Holic" personality alley - but that's all conjectjure & hearsay...let's deal with the facts for now. Whatever the case may be, we ARE on the look-out (if tonight's 1st official pregnancy outing was any indicator) for all the amazing designs she'll wear - 9 months of Haute Couture Baby Fashion here we come!
Photos courtesy Getty Images

MTV's VMA OFFICIAL BUMP COVERAGE

MTV's VMA OFFICIAL BUMP COVERAGE II

MTV's BLOG COVERAGE OF "4 Intimate Nights with Beyoncé"

AND REMEMBER "GIRLS" MAKE THE BABIES THAT (RUN THE WORLD),
B-RAE OUT