Featured Artist Daniel Garza

Featured Artist
Introducing Daniel Garza

Guest Blog Series

Post 1

Post written by Daniel Garza  Buy his book here Two Sides to Every Story

Foreword written by Katarina Miletic

Last summer, I was very lucky to read for the first time, and be captivated forever, by the easy free flowing of Daniel’s first published book of poems called Two Sides to Every Story. I was even luckier that we have since that time become great friends. It is nothing short of the life’s pure magic, and those mysterious ways that dart between reality and dreams come true – so you can never quite tell which one it is. I absolutely recommend wholeheartedly that you read his book. It is my great pleasure, honour and privilege that Daniel said ‘yes’ when I asked him to write the first guest blog post, so I will let him introduce himself and his story to you. Enjoy and stay inspired, my friend!

I search for my place of zen,

As I lose my center, every now and then, 

So I push my pain through the pen.

My ‘story’ is not to make you sob,

Nor a moment of your happiness, rob.

It’s to, encouraging words relate,

To those who, themselves mentally sedate,

And express nothing but self hate.

I too have been through some heavy shit,

Not quite hitting rock bottom of that bottomless pit,

To end the pain, even my wrists I’ve slit,

But in being better, I will never ever quit!

D. H. Garza

Eye open this post with this poem because just like you, Eye tend to lose my center. Because just like you, Eye too have gone through some things. Some heavy things. Because just like you, Eye too AM a SOUL in a human vessel. Because Eye too am going through this life at this very moment in 'time', who knows where physically, but metaphysically Eye am NOW in YOUR heart. Like YOU, Eye have ears to hear the cries of sorrow that also listen to joyful laughter. Eye too have eyes to see the unbearable sadness but view immeasurable happiness. Eye too have a beautiful mind to which negative thoughts can be redirected to positive ones. Eye too have the most sacred and wonderful of all our organs; A Heart. The seat of the Soul. That is where we will ALWAYS find our way home. ("Home IS Where the Heart IS") Through the rhythm that beats from the inside out. It will never happen from the outside in. The outside world is a direct reflection of the world inside YOU. Let me do my best to bring you to terms to what Eye mean.

Everything just IS. In other words there has ALWAYS been Light and Dark. Good and Bad. Right and Wrong. Love and Hate. I'm sure you get the point by NOW. There has to be one so the other can exist. It IS just part of existence in itself. For every action there is an equal and opposite reaction. It just IS. From my interpretation, Whoever or whatever designed or IS still designing this universe, amongst all other universes, has done it this way for no other reason than to have what to 'compare' it to. In other words how can you know black is a certain 'shade' of black if not for the graph/image of the different shades of black that exists.(same for all colors) Even if someone wants to 'argue' that the invention of having different shades was manmade, whenever that was, we still can't argue against the fact that we are a part of Creation so therefore the universe is expressing itself through us! However it may BE. Through words. Through images. Through songs. Through every single action WE partake in, it IS creation STILL going at it. In other words we hold the power to create because we hold the power of whoever or whatever created US. Whoever/whatever that created EVERYTHING.

And so with having cleared the air with that we can move on to how much power those words you have just read hold. And more so after you realize that all these words YOU have just read are JUST that; words. Until YOU give them VALUE. And if you have any VALUE for life itself then you have definitely given MY words great value. Eye sure did, as they helped ME redirect myself deeper into myself to get a better understanding of myself thus giving me a better understanding of this power to create love we so dearly hold in hearts but so greatly take for granted. ("Despite how open, peaceful and loving you attempt to be, people can only meet you, as deeply as they've met themselves."-Matt Khan-)

In wanting to STOP having the insidious thoughts that Eye was having (suicide). In wanting to stop the feelings Eye was having(deep sadness), my soul directed me to where Eye needed to go to find what Eye am in search of. What we are ALL in search of; Peace. So Eye went inward. Eye went into my heart to patch up all the wounds. To heal ALL of the hurt, because the ONLY way Eye could be able to REALLY create something(my life) out of pure LOVE, would BE to get rid of ALL the HATE that existed inside my heart. Or at least as much of it as Eye could. And Eye have done just that. Well at least been working at it. We are all a work in progress.

So Eye've gone into my heart MANY, MANY times. Eye have found myself curled up in a ball on the floor silently screaming from the pain of so much hurt inside. Coming from cursed semen, Eye was born with the darkness already inside. Therefore having to heal NOT only MY pain but of those that came before me has NOT been easy. But Eye have continued on because the Light shines brightest in the dark. And if Eye had to BE in those dark places all of those moments, it was and IS so that Eye/We can shine brighter as we are ALL one, since we all come from the same place.

So using myself as a reference point, Eye look at the level of hate Eye have felt for myself and do the exact opposite and then some as Eye have the ability(as do YOU) to choose to what extent or degrees Eye am going to LOVE myself. That is how Eye can hold the power to create happiness. Joy. Positivity. Enlightenment. Nourishing OUR soul with all that IS good. Always do what brings the most peace to your heart: it's the seat of the soul. It beats in such perfect rhythm when you are expressing yourself exactly how it wants you to. When you speak YOUR truth. When you basically do what has been said for ages: Wear your heart on your sleeve! Do not fear who IS not ready for YOUR love. Everyone IS on THEIR own journey. We were ALL born on different 'times', and Eye don't just mean here on Earth as a human. Eye mean as a soul. There IS STILL much knowledge we must learn and turn into wisdom. BUT know YOU are right where YOU are supposed to BE.

Daniel in Grand Canyon

And so, being that WE are right where we are supposed to BE, in the eternal NOW, which IS the ONLY moment that matters, which IS this PARTICULAR moment in 'time', YOU/WE are being presented with an INFINITE number of possibilities for our future's outcome since OUR future IS directly affected by our PRESENT state of BEING. 

By NOW, MY words and actions (the ones Eye took to put these words together) have given YOU that POWER, should YOU CHOOSE to give them VALUE. The power to know that YOU have the power of the universe to rewrite YOUR/OUR future/destiny/fate. 

You are the star of YOUR story. You are the entire production team of YOUR movie. You, BEING the main character, have the ability to choose what scene comes next. You CAN place this avatar/vessel/temple/body physically whereever it IS that brings most joy to YOUR heart. And when Life hits you with curve balls, and IT will, since Life itself IS the most unreliable narrative because it can take US anywhere at ANY given MOMENT, YOU can also choose HOW to respond because WE have the power to choose right afterwards. We have the ability to CHANGE the narrative. Transmute the dark into light. Transform the story. 

Where YOUR story started DOES NOT have to BE where it 'ends'. 

Eye am NOW doing just that. Changing the outcome of MY story. No matter how MANY others outside of YOU nor even those voices inside of you (Ego's demons) tell you NOT to change the narrative because it feels uncomfortable, DO IT! Choose LIFE. Choose to LIVE for LOVE so you can have a LOVE for LIFE. It may take some work BUT everything worth having DOES. And trust ME:  YOU ARE VERY WORTH IT.

For those of who have read this far may you receive an infinite amount of love, light and energy from me/theyouniverse, as you have chosen to do MORE. Continue doing the work. Continue nourishing your soul. Continue expressing yourself authentically. Show your uniqueness to the world without fear. Be an observer of YOUR thoughts and feelings. Know your heart well. Follow it. Use your mind as the tool it IS meant to BE used as, which is To envision the greatest version of yourself. Once you do, hold that version with ALL of YOUR MIGHT. Make sure to LET yourself FEEL the emotions behind being that great version of yourself and release all attachments to any outcomes and obstacles that may get in the way and watch the magic happen. 

You showing up every day being the best YOU, helps build a strong US: Remember Every ME equals WE. 

D.H.Garza

London photoshoot - raising awareness for Daniel's book in Europe

Photos by Sofia Pop-Hristic

However possible, the pain in your heart, you must force out,

On your power to do so, don’t have a shred of doubt,

Because that’s NOT what you’re about!

No! You are a strong, resilient being,

Who shouldn’t be fleeing,

Instead, the divinity inside you, you ought to be seeing. 

Because what happened does NOT define the rest of your beautiful life,

Please know that, and that you can bring an end to that inner strife. 

D.H.Garza

P.S.

Remember – You Are Safe Here

This is the sacred place between our souls. Thank you for sharing your visions, dreams and ideas. Your courage to be vulnerably seen will always be respected, and you will be treated with nothing but kindness and compassion. ♡