#jasara

[claracastellan]

"This is the worth while fight

Love is a ruthless game

Unless you play it good and right

These are the hands of fate

You're my Achilles heel

This is the golden age of something good

And right and real"

Jason & Clara // state of grace, taylor swift

[celestialdraught]

An Archive of Our Own, a project of the Organization for Transformative Works

I wrote a buddy-travel story wherein Demetheus and Jasara go on an otherwordly adventure to the Demon realm of Malfeas.  Have a read!  (18k words)

[jreneeuncut]

Balance

Life is kinda funny. Even if you are intending to do the right thing to the best of your ability, you can still screw shit up. It seems like unless we take time to check in and reflect on where we are, what the hell we're even trying to accomplish in the first place, and then what the hell to do about it, that we all can easily lose sight of what really matters.

I've been thinking a lot about this and here's what I've come to:

It all matters.

Every bit of it. Every single desire and drive that you have. Every need, every wish, every Dream. Every passion, every concern. Every Action. Every destination...it all matters.

I think the problem starts happening when we try to streamline and stereotype out "what" we should be thinking about and attempting to accomplish "when"...as if there is only one path to take and these specific steps must be taken. We are all trying to achieve our own inner peace...sometimes that happens in a different way then the rest of the World. So what? Who really cares? Why must everything roll one direction, and unless it follows that specific flow, it is not worth considering credible-even if the positive end result is ultimately achieved? We lower our successes by accepting the standard society forces down our throats to accept...

It's funny because us driven peeps tend to become so driven (which we often try to accomplish the "only" way we're told we can) that we end up missing out on everything else. We get hyper~focused in all the work, drama, blood, sweat, tears, reeling emotions, and chaos that it takes to often times accomplish a dream or even a job. The next thing we know, we've become miserable in what we're doing and we feel just "off." It's cuz we ARE "off." We forgot that while we are in the process of working shit out, that there needs to be room for everything else fabulous in life. 

I've sat with businessmen who made multi~millions...busted their asses like I've never seen men do before...pour everything they had into their corporations, and then sit there with a big void asking "But what's it all for? In the end, what do we really have? What have we REALLY accomplished?" Being the fact I'm new to the crew and like...NOT rich at all and just beginning this "business" business, my jaw kinda just about hit the floor. I wasn't expecting that. But you know something? I'm incredibly grateful to have been apart of that conversation, because that's EXACTLY the point. Fulfilling dreams, making millions, controlling tons of WorldWide crap...it's all fine and dandy AND fantastic (I do seriously mean that, no sarcasm intended) but when there's no room for family, when there's no room for love, when there's no room for fun....something happens. The emptiness happens. That "off" feeling comes back again. When there's no room to give our Time, no room to feed the hungry, or no room to even just STOP and eat junk food while doing ABSOLUTELY nothing in front of the television set, we lose ourselves a little bit...become out of touch with reality, often. 

It's because there's no balance. When there is not a well rounded, healthy approach being taken to whatever we do in Life, it just tends to bottom out at some point...maybe not financially, but definitely emotionally and spiritually. It's really tough, because we have ALL these deadlines we are supposed to keep up with, ALL these things we are expected to accomplish by certain points in Time if we are to be considered "worth our salt," but at what expense??? Life is meant to be LIVED...not trudged through, not simply conquered, not JUST A+B=C (and this is saying a LOT coming from me, as I Live my Life through Logic!!)

So the next Time you feel the need to do something of a legal/ethical nature...DO IT!! Here's the reality...we CAN'T keep up with all these expectations AND fulfill/LIVE a well~rounded Life. It's impossible...I've been trying to do it for a while now...you can't. Trust me, if you could??? I'm the asshole who works like a fucking crazy person...I wouldda FOUND that loophole by now!!! LOL!!!

Balance...the key is Balance. Just take an extra six months to fulfill your dream...to finish that deadline...whatever the fuck it is. It's only six months...if that's what allows you to be a present parent in your kids' Lives and gives you a breather now and then, then by ALL means TAKE IT!! What good are we if we are worn thin?? We can't keep up that kind of pace and CONTINUE to invent, improve, and succeed.

So hopefully that makes some sort of bloody sense...I know I'm gonna try to chill out and take everything in stride WITH Balance. We all know how successful I am at fulfilling my OWN epiphanies (LOL) but hey!!! At least I'm trying...

So LIVE, LAUGH, and LOVE...and TRY with me ;D <3

#JReneeUnCut

[jreneeuncut]

Major Labels vs Indie...from my experience...and Marketing

"The moment that Artists are expected to grow their own career at their own expense will be the day that the music business kinda takes a massive crap."  

First of all, social media means a lot, but with today's new~found marketing principles of "buy your way to the top to appear marketable"...it practically means nothing at all. It made sense that initially this may have been a good test of marketability, but now?? Not so, my friends. Not so.

I'm bloody sick and tired of mouthpieces (especially in the Indie Industry) running around trying to make the Artist do ALL the work, while they sit back and collect the paycheck.  At this rate, I might as well form my own label and business, right? Immean seriously...with all that work, why give ANY money away!?

This is NOT such a big problem with Major Labels. From my own personal experience, Major Labels "get it" when it comes to this point.  Good music is GOOD MUSIC.  And people who understand talent will never turn their nose up at it if they truly believe it is marketable at that time or in the near future.  I greatly appreciate this take.  

I know a TON of people bag on the major labels, but you know something?? The major labels are the ones who have treated me with respect, actually VALUED my Art and what I have done as an Artist, and given me excellent feedback on their OWN time...They never tore me down, ripped me up, told me I didn't know shit from poop, or EXPECTED me to pay them. NOPE!!

Cuz you know why?? Here's the secret...they are Major Labels for a reason.

And for the record, there are MULTIPLE Indie Labels selling my music and taking the profits behind my back (which shall remain unnamed for the Time being/and no longer behind my back as I KNOW about it now)...but I can say that they are NOT related to the Major Labels...so what does that tell me??? A~LA~SPONGE~PROBLEMS...

A TON of lower~level people are out to make a mint at an Artist's expense.  Just know that, even though people bag on the Major Labels, a lot of it is just talk, conjecture, and ignorance.  The only way to know how it works is to watch how it plays out, and although their are crooks everywhere and in every nook and cranny of the world...the last two and a half years of dealing with these different labels has taught me a ton. Hopefully it will spare you all some unnecessary drama.

Keep workin', Keep meetin' peeps, Keep makin' Art, Keep promoting it and performing, KEEP sendin' in Demos...and the rest??? Let the cards fall where they fall...

oh!

And enjoy the ride:)

Jasara Renee

#JReneeUnCut

[jreneeuncut]

Be Fruitful And Multiply...

We live in a society that claims to be 80% Christian...that being said, Jehovah said to "Be fruitful and multiply"...which meant have children as your legacy in the World. There are many instances that God extended grace and love, blessing the barren with children, and times that he cursed men for withholding a woman from having children of his own accord.

Hmmm...sounds like God takes this "bringing people into the World" business pretty seriously.

He also takes the "take care of the widows and orphans and the poor" situation pretty seriously as well.

So...society...today I would like to ask you...why do we punish the "bringing of LIFE into the World?" Shouldn't it be precious, praised, and celebrated???

Yet we find our society demeaning those who bring life into the World outside of the structure of marriage...I'm sure you remember hearing those rude comments made, remember seeing how many thought that the child should have been thrown to an adoption agency or "taken care of," remember them talking about how the girl's "life was ruined because of WHAT she did and that she was with child,"...maybe you were even one of them??? And how many of those individuals actually dedicated themselves to making sure the child and parent received the help they needed??? ...my point exactly...we ALL just LOVE to talk and gossip about people's problems...BUT not many of us are out there helping them out...

We set up society as almost to "punish" those who carry the burden of raising children alone.  Think I'm wrong??? Then tell me why it is IMPOSSIBLE practically for a woman or man that is a single parent to work without strapping their family and friends down with full!~time babysitting??? Tell me why the government can mandate health care...and YET we have NOT mandated companies to provide child care under workers who have children under school age???

Have we forgotten that WE would not EXIST is some loving, generous woman did not destroy her body, rearrange her Time, and change her entire World for the sake of our existence??? And the same goes for our fathers that have paved the way for all of us! ummm...hello, guys, this is a problem...

It about high Time we all got outside of our own existence and make a movement to come together as humanity...as friends...as ONE...and determine that elevating and encouraging ourselves as a whole surpasses elevation and encouraging only oneself.  The World is bigger than you or me...we are all apart of it...and we are one...

Why are we not valuing LIFE...our legacy...more??? Why are we all so selfish???

I'm doing the best I can...but I AM one of those women...those single moms many of you don't want to deal with and have made highly clear to me should be one of the reasons I will struggle to ever get signed or live any of my dreams...ya...I'm one of them...so I can do everything I can, just like how I'm writing about the problem...but people like YOU who are not in it,,,who have the POWER to change it...should...and actually you are ethically responsible to do so...not because "my God said so" but because you are a human being...

So please...come on guys...those of you, rich or poor...help out.  Quit saying negative things about babies being born and Life entering the World.  Hold Life precious...value it...and ensure that we raise up~or that you HELP to raise up~productive and healthy members of society!!! Don't think someone else is taking care of it, or that it's not your responsibility...because nothing EVER gets down when we shirk our own responsibility and the innocent are left holding the bag.

Join me...and let's take this to a whole new level and change this...

<3 <3 <3

[jreneeuncut]

Imperfection...

Here's your first clue...when the celebrities can't handle the pressure of being so~called "perfect" for society, it's TIME we all realize that this "perfection" ideal we all have cracked up in our heads needs to pound sand.

May I please ask...what is WRONG with society??? Do we really need to throw peeps under the bus or find them unattractive because they aren't skin and bones??? Sickeningly, I have met peeps who find "skin and bones" not quite BONEY enough!!! Let me tell you something...it's who you are and what you're doing for this World that counts...not some physique you think is gonna make you somebody...cuz it won't.  We are so busy on the whole judging each other's flesh while letting ugly insides run rampant and tear each other apart in a cannibalistic fashion.  Is this who we have become??? Are we proud of this???

When a beautiful and talented Artist like Kesha, at the TOP of her game, cracks under the pressure with an eating disorder...WE are doing something wrong...sorry...it's about Time we stop throwing everyone who has a struggle under the bus and we take responsibility for the damage WE are all doing.  all I ever read and hear about in regards to anyone in the Industry these days is "how fat or skinny they are or need to be."  HELL!!! I've even had peeps I've barely met in Industry tell me to lose weight...and some I've NEVER met!!! You wanna know my take on it??? Shove it up your ass...if the Art is good then enjoy the Art, and enjoy the person who created the Art.  All of you who are sitting there expecting us to look a certain way are ONLY looking for a quick visual, sexual gratification and a GODDAMN rating...and you know what??? We are no one's pieces of meat. We shouldn't have to feel like we can't eat food to make great Art and share it with the World...and the consumer shouldn't be looking for a boner fix every time they turn to the internet...or turn to find ANY form of pleasure! See what I mean??? Problem solved.

Quit looking towards all of us Artists to meet your every flimsy whimsical desire...We are not your genie, your lover, or your sex toy.  WE are human beings...Artist...SOULS...and role models (hopefully) for all of you.  So while you are busy being judgemental twats at us, watching us from the computer screen while you eat your hamburgers and doughnuts by the handful...THINK about what you are really asking for.  Is starvation and the concept that "you'll never be good enough" and "you're not worth anyone's while if you aren't a size negative two" the images you want shoved down your kids throat...HELL! how bout your own throat??? Then ALL Y'ALL best stop the behavior...quickly.

Take responsibility for the discouraging comments you speak, write, and tweet...it's a start folks...quit being so insecure that you have to point out everyone's flaws (or shall we say what YOU consider a flaw) but your own...OWN your own problems and fix your own crap...and let people be people...including the celebrities you love so much.  Let them take breaks, eat food, and dress frumpy! Who the fuck are you to give a whoppin' shit what they wear??? I don't see any of us throwing you under the bus for your sweatpants...so back off...

[jreneeuncut]

The Fool Redefined...

The phrase "Better to remain silent and be thought a fool than to speak out and remove all doubt," is held in high esteem in our society.

Yet I often wonder if this is largely incorrect.  Let's break this down.  We are encouraging people to say "nothing" ...in other words encouraging people to only use the words that they are "certain" will not be judged and deemed inappropriate within a society.  

Doesn't this mean that we are teaching people to be "people pleasers" and shove themselves into the stereotypical societal mold???  Has anyone stopped to think what might occur if everyone lived out this concept??? It's quite terrifying, really.  In a way, it is discouraging the freedom of speech...ya, I know...all of you wanna blast me right now because of who said it...but whatever...if we don't question the validity and usefulness of what we say and do then tell me the effectiveness of saying and doing it in the first place.

If people are not allowed to "speak out"...when will they find the bravery to ask detrimental questions involving their growth and development?  If we tell people that they should be quiet lest they be determined a "fool," aren't they more or less fearing development due to the forced societal standards? I think so...

This is just a bad idea flat out.  It brings out judgement on whether someone is a fool or not over what they have said.  I have been thrown under the bus plenty of Times for being incorrect...and when I realized I was wrong, I was still considered foolish. Is this the type of logic and behavior we want to encourage as a society~judgement and an inability to recover from your mistakes and ignorance???

I think not...

Maybe instead of brandishing the stupidity that comes out of people's mouths, we should encourage and guide with gentle criticism, and not judge them for not understanding.  I'm definitely in need of working on this myself, but I must say that it makes more sense and brings about more change. And isn't that the point??? Change???

Or is the REAL point to persecute and be above others...

Food for thought, my friends...

Food for thought...

[jreneeuncut]

Here's to 2014!

Everyone has their goals, dreams, wishes, and what~not that they aim to hit during the year...so here goes mine

1) I'm going to continue to be the best parent I can be within my faculties...no seriously...all our children are our future...and we need to take the responsibility to raise them ourselves, no matter how exhausted we can be at Times. All us parents have to take a dose of selfless on a regular if we want to create future productive members of society.

2) I'm going to continue serving Jesus Christ to the best of my knowledge and abilities. There are plenty of things that I don't understand, but there are millions of things I plan on learning and growing towards. Hopefully, I can do a decent job representing Him well...and of course, I KNOW there are always peeps who disagree with me, my existence, and what I do...but that's ok. I just ask all of us to give each other space to grow, heal, become who Christ wants each of us as individuals to become, and change the World. We should all be allowed to be wrong and grow in our faith without being thrown under the bus...and also allowed to change our minds without condemnation that we were at one point "wrong." The sooner we all quit throwing peeps away because they are wrong about something or don't have it together...the better. Sorry...I'm on an anti~Pharisee kick this year. Time to ring in some change and healing for all...seriously.

3) I'm going to look at each day with the "cup half full" mentality.  Let's face it, this negativity isn't helping any of us. Sure, the World sucks sometimes...maybe a lot of Times...but the reality is that complaining about it and moping and groping about whatever horrendous situation we are in gets us all nowhere. (YES! I speak from personal experience!) God has asked all His followers not to worry about their existence, to have faith in Him, and to live each day in that faith. So...therefore...there really is no room for fear or negativity, if we are followers of Christ that is...so I'm gonna do my best to get rid of it.  This inadvertently means I will continue to do the best I can in life, but I am thoroughly admitting that I don't have all the answers or control over what is occurring at all Times...so those of you who freak out and ask me all the Time "what areyya gonna do now???" ...here is your answer! HAHA ;D Join me on the optimistic journey!!! Let's look for opportunity to be successful without mad "bull~in~a~China~shop" panic!!! It really is possible...and I think our biological systems could all use a serious break from stress...So those of you who I forsake participating in stress with, just don't take it personal, cuz it is NOT <3

4) I'm going to be the person who gets off my keister and changes the World...albeit something small or large.  I am not going to be the person who complains and does nothing about the status quo.  It doesn't matter if we are rich or poor, famous or barely known...we ALL have something to give to the World, to others.  We can all sacrifice something, whether it's our Time, our Words, our Hugs, or maybe even a little bit of our elbow~grease.  Yes, now I KNOW none of us even like doing our own responsibilities, but it's about Time we stop wondering when someone is gonna save us and help us out and just start HELPING others out. Granted, I know many of us have gotten a bad deal in Life, get sucked dry by society, and have a reason to wonder if their is ever going to be any equality in this thing called Life...the only advice I can give (based on my experience) is that WE have to BE the CHANGE. Otherwise, it's really easy to get stuck in the "martyr" roll and the "self~entitled" roll. We don't start there...but somehow we morph into it if we spend Time dwelling on all the ways we have been jilted in this Life.  So if you don't like what's happened to you, LEAD the way towards change for everyone.  That's what I'm gonna do...and ya, it requires me and you to give MORE...but in the end, it brings healing to all instead of letting situations dissolve into something worse...could you imagine that??? Being guilty of just sitting by and letting things get even worse??? This is all our responsibility...not just mine...but all yours as well,,,and the sooner we quit passing it off to someone else to take care of, the sooner Life won't be such a crap~pile for all of us. So be there for people...spiritually, emotionally, physically, and mentally.  Don't complain that you have to "put yourself out" for someone...cuz one day you might not even have a friend to "put yourself out" for and be quite lonely.  That's when you realize how important the simple things in Life are...like conversation...take it from a person who's been there. <3

5) I am going to be making enough money to be living comfortably and taking care of my family off of my Artistic ways...somehow...I'm not sure how God is going to work it out yet...but if it's in His plan, then BY GEORGE I am going to be successful!!! One thing I know for sure, when God is good and ready, no hacking code alive will be able to survive DEUS~EX~MACHINA!!! LOL! This goal is completely doable...and I know I'm working hard enough AND smart enough to make it happen, so here goes!

6) And last but not least, I must end it all on a fickle note...I plan on having better ABS then DANTALLION by January 1, 2015!!! YES!!! THAT brother of mine is going DOWN in this competition!!! HAHA!!!

So here's to the New Year ~ 2014 ~

It's gonna be whatever we CHOOSE to make it with each millisecond we are alive! So let's use our Time on this Earth to leave a Legacy of Love, Healing, and Change.  It's a ripple effect, folks...so get to ripplin' with me!

;D

Much LUVVV to all of you!!!

<3 <3 <3

Jasara Renee