Saturday, October 24, 2009

Secrets (theholders.org version)

The Holder of Secrets is dead.

It's no secret that he died, for at the moment of his death, no more secrets can be kept. The knowledge enters everybody's mind and floats among the debris of their life experiences. The reason for his death is no secret either, for with the knowledge of his passing comes the knowledge of its cause: the weight of carrying all the secrets in the universe has crushed the Holder's mind. Yes, even Holders can have their minds destroyed. As if the Object is paying its last respects to its Holder, the name of Father Brian O'Shea drops and ripples in the babbling din of thoughts and memories that can no longer be kept out.

-----------------------------------

I find myself in a familiar churchyard looking at the weathered edifice of a tiny cathedral. I remember the many times I entered the church, seeking solace, attending mass, witnessing a baptism or marriage, or paying my last respects to the departed. I remember often seeing Father O'Shea enter the confessional to assume his post. In hindsight, a priest receiving confessions being the Holder of Secrets is rather fitting.

In my mind, as well as in the communal mind that the death of the Holder created, I start to realize and understand things that were open secrets, things that everybody knew but never acknowledged. Things like why bread was sold at half price at closing time (Fresh Baked? Think again.) or what certain nursery rhymes really meant (Humpty Dumpty sat on a wall...).

I start walking towards the forest at the edge of town.

Other secrets start skittering in. Personal secrets, public affairs, and even the secrets of things that have no life in itself, like governments and institutions...

Mr. Smith had an affair with Ms. Johnson. My mind is suddenly flooded with the memories of their trysts and alibis.

My body aches and my soul is weighed down under the pain of the beatings and the despair Mrs. Chan carried as a battered wife.

The creature sighting at the lake was a hoax; its photographs were fabricated. My/his heart beats with elation as I/he realize the success of my/his actions.

Beep, beep, beep, beep .... said the machine. The infamous dictator of that Latin-American country has been braindead for months, yet the machine keeps the body alive. Beep, beep, beep, beep ....

In the dying bank where I keep my money, many hands are feverishly feeding the shredder, trying to wash themselves of guilt in this modern Pilate's basin. Shredded paper, shredded lives, pointing the accusing finger even in its death throes.

As I enter the forest, the babble of secrets begins unraveling the weaker minds, yet strangely leaving the minds of the insane untouched. I start to lose my own sense of identity as I lose track of which secrets are my own and which belong to someone else.

I become rooted in the middle of the forest as the final, most deeply hidden secrets start to emerge, the secrets everybody hides from their own selves:

Rosalinda, the socialite and life of the party, does not want to be left alone to face her own demons. They torment her with her fading beauty, with the futility of her wealth, with her constant loneliness.

In his dreams, a little boy is always lost, trying to find his way. In his mind, a giant is walking the earth, crushing everything in its path. In truth, George, the black sheep, wants his absent father to take notice of him as he looks for the source of his missing comfort, wanting to destroy that source of unending pain.

Then I turn and look at myself.

And realize.

The awful truth.

The darkest secret I've kept from myself: I've been the Holder of Secrets' Object all along. I look deep into my "memories" and realize they were never my own but borrowed and pasted together from the secrets of those who strayed too close. I myself have nothing. I am tabula rasa.

A black cloud swirls in my vision, accompanied by the sound of a million flapping wings. Secrets, like crows, are coming home to roost. I raise my arms to ward them off, but my arms freeze as bark and leaves start growing on them.

In desperation, or perhaps defiance of my fate, I shout, "Where do secrets draw their power?"

Instead of echoing back my words, my voice responds, "From fear do secrets draw their power."

Fear sprouts with every leaf: fear of losing this short life of borrowed memories and thoughts, fear of the void, the nothingness beyond death or rebirth, in truth, back into an Object of no memories, no identity, no self.

As the bark closes over my mouth, as darkness and nothingness close over my eyes, I scream out one last time, "Where does fear draw its power?"

My own voice replies, before silence reclaims its place, "From secrets does fear draws its power."

Secrets at theholders.org

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Monday, October 19, 2009

Secrets

The Holder of Secrets is dead.

It was no secret that he died, for at the moment of his death, no more secrets can be kept. The knowledge entered everybody's mind and floated among the debris of their life experiences. The reason for his death was no secret either, for the with the knowledge of his passing came with the knowledge of its cause: the weight of carrying all the secrets in the universe has crushed even the holder's insanity. And in afterthought, as if the Object is paying its last respects to its Holder, the name of Father Brian O'Shea dropped and rippled in the din of the babel of thoughts and memories that can no longer be kept out.

You find yourself in a familiar churchyard looking at the weathered edifice of a tiny cathedral. You remember the many times you entered the church, seeking solace or to attend mass or to witness a baptismal or marriage or to pay your last respects to the departed. You often remember seeing Father O'Shea enter the confessional, to assume his post. Very apt indeed, a priest receiving confessions as the Holder of Secrets.

In your mind, and in the communal mind that the death of the Holder created, you start realizing and understanding things that were open secrets, things that everybody knew but never acknowledged. Things like why bread was sold at half price at closing time (freshly baked every day!) or what certain nursery rhymes really meant (Humpty Dumpty sat on a wall....)

You start walking towards the forest at the edge of town.

Other secrets start skittering in, personal, public, and even secrets of things that have no life in itself, like governments and institutions:

Mr. Smith had an affair with Ms. Johnson and your mind is filled the memories of their trysts and alibi.

Your body aches under the pain of the beatings while your soul is weighed down with the despair Mrs. Chan carried as a battered wife.

The creature sighting at the lake was a hoax, its photographs were fabricated. Your/his heart beats with elation as you/he realize the success of your/his actions.

Beep, beep, beep, beep .... said the machine. The dictator of a Latin-American country had been brain dead for months but the machine keeps the body alive. Beep, beep, beep, beep ....

In the dying bank where you keep your money, many hands are feverishly feeding the shredder, trying to wash themselves of guilt in this modern Pilate's basin. Shredded paper, shredded lives, point an accusing finger still.

Your shopping list include salt, black pepper, garlic, rosemary, onion, flour and vinegar. The seven secret herbs and spices are ordinary household spices easily available from your local supermarket.

As you enter the forest, the babble of secrets begin unraveling the weaker minds, strangely leaving the minds of the insane intact or at least untouched. You start losing your own sense of identity as you lose track of which of the secrets are yours and which came from somewhere else.

You become rooted in the middle of the forest as the last and deeply hidden secrets start to emerge, the secrets everybody hides from their own selves:

Rosalinda, the socialite and life of the party, does not want to be left alone to face her own demons. They torment her with her fading beauty. They torment her with futility of her wealth. They torment her with her constant loneliness.

In his dreams, a little boy is always lost, trying to find his way. In his mind, a giant is walking the earth, crushing everything. In truth, George, the black sheep, wants his absent father to take notice of him, as he looks for the source of missing comfort, as he looks to destroy that source of unending pain.

Then you turn and look at yourself.

And realize.

The awful truth.

The secret that you have kept from yourself: YOU ARE THE OBJECT ITSELF. You look deep into your "memories" and realize they weren't your own but borrowed from and pasted together from the secrets of those who were nearby. You yourself, you have nothing, you are tabula rasa.

A black cloud swirls in your vision, accompanied by the sound of a million flapping wings. Secrets, like crows, are coming home to roost. You raise your arms to ward them but your arms freeze as bark and leaves start growing on them.

In desperation or defiance of your fate, you shout, "Where do secrets draw their power?"

Instead of echoing back your words, your voice comes back, "From fear, secrets draw their power from fear."

Fear sprouts with every leaf, fear of losing this short life of borrowed memories and thoughts, fear of the empty, the nothingness beyond death or rebirth, in truth, back into an Object of no memories, no identity, no self.

As the bark closes over your mouth, as darkness or nothingness close over your eyes, you scream out one last time, "Where does fear draw its power?"

Your own voice replies, before silence reclaims its place, "From secrets, fear draws its power from secrets."


Secrets at theHolders.org

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Sunday, October 18, 2009

Blue Sky, True Sky



Song: Blue Sky, True Sky
Artist: Yuuki Aira
Album: Blue Sky, True Sky
Other: Ending song for the anime Tears to Tiara

Fairy tale was gone omoide ga hashiru
furenaide tada miokureba
I said regret mind natsukashisa ni oborete
tokeaeba ii yo ne tabun ii yo ne
kanashii Liar

Fairy tale was gone, my memories run away,
I won’t touch them…I’ll just see them off…
I said regret mind, I drown in my nostalgia…
It they melt it’ll be fine…it’ll probably be fine…
Such a sorrowful liar…

tobazu no tori ga jiyuu wo utau hi ni
ima ha inai kimi no sugata
sagashi ni yuku tooi ashita he
Jump to your heart

On the day a flightless bird sings for freedom…
Let’s go look for your figure
that isn’t here right now, let’s search until the distant future.
Jump to your heart

toki no naka de oikakeru kagayakeru yume ha
mirai doshi ga tsunagaru koto de
tashika ni naru kara
takaku soshite tsuyoku maiagaru kokoro
toki ga matteru yo sakenderu yo
hayaku aitai to
Blue Sky, True Sky
namida ha iranai Blue Sky

The glittering dream I chase within this time is
a future where both you and I are together,
I’m sure it’ll come true.
My heart dances proudly and strongly,
time is waiting for us, it’s calling for us,
“I want to see you now”
Blue Sky, True Sky
Blue Sky that has no need for for tears.

Silent days had you ushinaeba wakaru
maniatte mada ai ga aru
I can’t call your name todakanai to nageita
akirameru yori mo sora no tatakasa
kanjite Flier

Silent days had you, if you lose someone you’ll understand.
In time, there will still be love.
I can’t call your name, “It won’t reach you” I grieved…
Rather than giving up…I’ll feel the
flier of the sky’s height.

tsubasa ha kienai me wo tojitegoran yo
senaka atsuku kimi no moto he
michikareta youna kimochi de
Take off! Myself

Our wings haven’t disappeared, try closing your eyes,
With the hot feelings that seem
to lead me towards you, I
Take off! Myself

motomerareta sonzai ha hanareba nare demo
jiryoku matteru hikiyoseta no ha
sadame de aru kara
ookiku motto ookiku hirogeta tsubasa ni ha
motomotemitai yo tsukamaraetai yo
subete dakishimete
Birds eye, Birds eye…Hi Sky!

The person I search for, even if I’m separated from him,
the awaiting magnetic fore that pulls me in is
destiny!
The wings I spread more and more
try to look for you, they want to catch you and
embrace everything.
Birds eye, birds eye…Hi sky!

True Sky!

toki no naka de oikakeru kagayakeru yume ha
mirai doshi ga tsunagaru koto de
tashika ni naru kara
takaku soshite tsuyoku maiagaru kokoro
toki ga matteru yo sakenderu yo
hayaku aitai to
Blue sky, True sky, Blue Sky, True sky
namida ha iranai Blue sky

The glittering dream I chase withing this time is
a future where both you and I are together,
I’m sure it’ll come true.
My heart dances proudly and strongly,
time is waiting for us, it’s calling for us,
“I want to see you now”
Blue Sky, True Sky
Blue Sky that has no need for for tears.




Translation from/by Deciphered Melodies
Youtube video by Tears to Tiara Animax and Wolfrozern

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