"There is no good and evil, there is only perception..."

Color blindness is characterized by the inability to perceive normal colors on the visible spectrum as compared to those without an optic deficiency.  It is not a blindness in that these individuals cannot perceive color all together, but that distinguishing between other colors is difficult due to biological reasons.  There are also varying degrees of color blindness affecting the visibility of certain color combinations all the way to total difficulty in color disambiguation.

It is more commonly found in Men and rarely exhibited by Women.  Color blindness is sex linked and passed down by the x-chromosome.  Since Men  only have one x-chromosome it is the reason why it is more commonly expressed in males (females must have both xx-chromosomes linked to colorblindness to be affected).

My mother, two brothers, and I share the colorblindness genes which has led to my understanding of the genetic causation as well as perceiving reality through my own lens of color perception.

This condition is reminiscent of the philosophical argument of describing color to a blind person.  While not quite the same thing, it touches upon the characteristics of the dilemma.

My friends have come to look at my color difficulties with humored affection and have often asked me to describe what color blindness is like to them.
(I have no idea what normal color perception feels like.)

My two brothers seem to have difficulty with certain color combinations; whereas, I have difficulty with almost all color patterns and contrasts.  I discovered my condition in college when I began having trouble reading the classroom board when the lecturer used different colored chalk or markers.  I made an appointment for an eye exam where a color blindness test was administered.  My focus was better than normal which meant I could read small numbers and letters; however, I failed to see any of the hidden images within the color blindness wheels.  I flipped through the Ishihara test booklet thinking that it was a joke.  Every page contained a colorful mosaic of tiny bubbles where I was told the image of a number was hidden.  The doctor (after laughing) then explained the optic cells he referred to as 'rods and cones' were in some sort of imbalance and resulted in this genetic visual condition.

Small things like wearing matching clothes became challenges.  I often found myself buying the wrong type of milk at the grocery store even though I carefully read the label before searching for a later expiration date (it would often be skim or fat free milk masquerading as my 'blue' 2%).  Sometimes, I can't see which color a traffic signal is glowing and have to use visual cues based upon the environment (it has made me a better, safer, and more intuitive driver with a flawless record).

I began to wonder what regular people perceive.  What have I been missing?

I would ask people what they saw, and would get incomprehensible explanations to which I concluded that without some glimpse of what another person is experiencing, it is impossible to accurately convey a concept or idea.  Every attempt to describe a unique experience was a distorted secondhand translation.  Perhaps this is why people from different cultures have difficulty understanding another point of view.

“You never really understand a person until you consider things from his point of view... Until you climb inside of his skin and walk around in it.”
― Harper Lee, To Kill a Mockingbird

Without common perspective it becomes nearly impossible to understand or explain anything to another person.  We operate under the assumption that each individual possesses a fundamental understanding of reason and comprehension; however, we sometimes forget that due to biological and environmental limitations common perspective may not be available.

The Truth is not defined by a democracy, it does not rest on majority rule.

"The one thing that doesn't abide by majority rule is a person's conscience"
― Harper Lee, To Kill a Mockingbird

All we can do is our best to be respectful, compassionate, and understanding while seeking out experiences for ourselves.  In the end, who is to say which perception is "right or wrong"?

“Wisdom cannot be imparted. Wisdom that a wise man attempts to impart always sounds like foolishness to someone else ... Knowledge can be communicated, but not wisdom. One can find it, live it, do wonders through it, but one cannot communicate and teach it.”
― Hermann Hesse, Siddhartha

After reading Hermann Hesse's Siddhartha for the dozenth time, I became curious with the concept of listening to nature.  The characters in the book spoke about the wisdom of [the river] and how if only one were to quiet the noise in their minds that they could clearly listen to the water speaking to them.  All knowledge was contained within the flow of the stream.

Hesse wrote about the eternal state of change and constant flow of the river and yet somehow it gave the perception of permanence to the traveler (often times it was an obstacle on their journey).  He described the timeless nature of the river as simultaneously existing at both the source and destination, the beginning and end.  When individuals are mired with thoughts and concerns tied to life in this world, which eastern philosophy refers to as 'samsara', unhappiness is usually accompanied.  In order to release one from the confines of sadness, all one has to do is to see their connection to 'the source' and 'destination' like the river and realize that their unhappiness is linked to trying to hold on to something that is temporal in the first place.

Here in Austin, there is a river that runs through the center of town (called Town Lake), officially dividing the city into the North and South.  It is part of the Colorado River and was established as a reservoir in the 1960's.  Hundreds of people walk, hike, or jog around the lake everyday.  The trail around the lake is dressed in a canopy of mature trees which provide shade and protection from the noises of the city.  There are also bridges and businesses around the lake where people can be seen exercising, fishing, or enjoying themselves.

I discovered a rowing club that rents various boats to anyone wanting to enjoy the lake.  My favorite rowing activity quickly became the stand-up paddle board.  It's basically an 8 ft surf board where one stands in the center and uses a tall oar to paddle themselves up and down the river (It reminds me of the skiff the boatmen in Siddhartha used to take people across the river and listen to the water).

Sometimes after sweating at my gym located south of town, I enjoy cooling off on the water while avoiding the nightmare of traffic that inhibits efficient travel back to my apartment just north of the river.  I usually go out onto the lake halfheartedly stabilized on the teetering board secretly hoping to lose balance in order to experience the coolness of the water and wash away the sweat earned from my workout.  It feels great but most people close enough to observe the plunge still laugh as it looks convincingly unplanned (sometimes it's truly an accident).

I've noticed with maturity people become better listeners.  They speak less, and say more.  It's something that I'm learning to respect.  Out on the water, I'm all by myself.  While there are often other people sharing the lake, we are usually "passing ships" to one another.  I've tried "listening" to the water as Siddhartha learned to do on his journey.  I've heard the movement of gentle currents, the faintness of laughter, the splashes of fish kissing the sky, and the sound of 'quiet'.

I've lived most of my life in the close company of family, friends, or roommates.  It's only been recently that I've lived on my own and been given the opportunity to grow and appreciate this solitude.  I am responsible for me.  I get to cook and eat what I wish, clean up after myself, and spend my time going and coming as I please.  I read, write, and think (sometimes I even talk to myself).  It all helps to make me a better listener and I feel blessed to be able to do so.

For this, I'm truly grateful.

"Be alone, that is the secret of invention; be alone, that is when ideas are born."

― Nikola Tesla

“The fault, dear Brutus, is not in our stars, but in ourselves.” 

― William Shakespeare, Julius Caesar

Gravity is the force of nature that pulls or attracts an object to the center of the Earth or any physical body having mass with respect to Newtonian Laws of Physics and subject to general rules of the Theory of Relativity.

It gives weight to an object in relation to that which it is being compared.  In the UK, people's body weight is measured in 'stones' a concept derived from an older system based upon the weight of an actual stone.  In the olden days, it became necessary to standardize physical mass or weight in order to describe size and heaviness to another person.  It's something that we've not had to really think about for generations in our current society, but these standardization differences pop up from time to time in science, engineering, and especially while traveling.

Different cultures evolved their own methods of explaining concepts and ideas through relatively understood notions (Pounds vs. Kilograms vs. Stones).

The definition of Gravity hinges upon the understanding of relativity and how things are perceived from another's perspective.  (defining a person's weight on the moon, Mars, or under water will be difficult without common perspective).

Gravity then gives meaning to the weight or mass of an object as defined by that object's attraction to a relative body or mass.

Science teaches that the creation of our Universe began with an explosion known as the "Big Bang".  Billions upon billions of stars were created from this explosion along with all the planets, moons, and stars within our solar system.  We are the resulting life from billions of years of evolution from the cosmic dust scattered throughout the galaxy.  Our cellular makeup shares common ancestry with the planets that orbit our sun.

Astronomy is the science of mapping the movement of the planets and stars relative to their orbitals (usually from the perspective of the Earth and Sun).  This science has been studied for thousands of years.

Astrology is the science concerned with celestial gravitational attractions and their effects on life.  The most commonly studied planetary gravitational mapping is known as the Zodiac Calendar.  Many cultures have their own interpretation as to the meanings and observations in what might be regarded as a pseudo scientific study on the planetary effects of the gravitational attractions the planets have upon a developing embryo until birth.

For instance, the Earth's Moon is responsible for the ocean tides.  It's gravity, while lesser than the Earths, is significant enough to attract the seas on a molecular level.  The Human body is composed of 90% water and our blood is very similar in salinity to seawater.  There is enough evidence to argue a correlation between the Moon's gravity and it's effects on humans.  (Ask anyone with work experience in an Emergency Room during a full Moon).

If our Moon orbits our planet, which in turn shares an orbital with other planets around a common Sun, then it stands to reason that each planetary body contributes to the gravitational attractions we experience as humans on Earth.  On a molecular level we experience gravitational forces that affect our thoughts, actions, and behaviors.

Human's too possess their own 'gravitational pull' to one another.  People often find themselves attracted to others who possess qualities that they desire.  These high gravity individuals cast an effect on others that can influence and even change normal behaviors. (Observe the effects an attractive woman has on men at the gym).

If the gravitational pull of two objects are equal, then attraction is mutually distributed and balanced.  They are equals, free to come and go as they please.  An object with more gravitational mass possesses more attraction.  This means that lesser gravitational masses will be more attracted and pulled towards the heavier mass.  Other gravitational masses can effect the attractions of two separate bodies by introducing a third (or more) gravitational pull similar to the effects of the Sun holding the gravity imbalance of the Earth and Moon in orbit with out them crashing into one another or flying off into outer space.  (It reminds me of two parents and a child).

People do not get to choose the circumstances surrounding their birth.  A concept that still amazes me today.  We have no control over where, when, who, and what we will be born.  Our understanding of who we are as a person doesn't form until we are mature enough to process the environment in which we find ourselves.  People grow, adapt, and act accordingly to which ever race, religion, wealth, or orientation they are born in to (regardless of the year in which they exist).

Our inherent gravity would determine who we attract and to whom we ourselves are attracted.  In this manner, astrology seeks to understand orbital compatibility.  Individuals operate on their own orbital frequencies and are best paired with others who share common ground.  This is not to say two people should be on the exact same frequency all of the time (that might become tedious), but rather they must orbit one another with enough common frequency in order to build a relationship with respect to each others own orbits.  For example, two colleagues getting together for drinks after a tough day at work.  They have endured a common labor and wish to relax in a social setting distinctly separate from their daily orbit at work.  These individuals can then return to their own lives at home, but share a common perspective together in a single area of their lives.  This sharing of perspective is what makes orbital compatibility.  In this way, people are defined by the company they choose to keep.  The elements of their character are most comfortable in the presence of shared perspectives from common orbits.

We do not get to choose our "Gravity".  Seemingly, It chooses us.  It's best not to fight with nature, but rather let yourself be guided by its flow.  In this way, one doesn't have to force anything and attraction will flow on a molecular level.  One can learn to enhance one's "gravitational attraction" by developing their character.  By understanding the universal dynamics of nature's forces and building substance to their character, one can feel a sense of their gravitational pull on others.  People are naturally attracted to individuals that radiate peace, happiness, and confidence (children can tell it right away).  It is an increasingly difficult state of well-being to find with all the distractions of ego in the world.  One way this can be achieved is simply by treating others with the same respect that you wish to receive in return and sincerely allowing people to feel good about themselves.  When one is in the presence of individuals with this mentality, strong attractions may be felt for them.  These individuals may choose to use their high gravitational pull to influence the world around them to better fit their wants, needs, or concerns.

It's a controversial topic with subjective evidence at best.  These are my thoughts and feelings with support from pseudo sciences even if there are noticeable patterns to people and zodiac sign memberships.  I choose to accept the notion that these signs are general observations and not limitations, and that each of us as humans share a common ancestry to the Cosmic Spark of the Divine.

A privilege is special, something not shared with everyone like a set of unique permissions only granted to a specific group or person.  It's a gift not a guaranty.  One doesn't get to choose their own privileges.

It can be expressed as special trust, higher status, or class entitlement.  Think of it like a 'promotion' at work (sometimes these 'promotions' are the result of nepotism, not merit).

My family emigrated to the United States in the early 70's.  I was born in one of the most privileged countries in the world.  I have never experienced starvation, sickness, or poverty like my counterparts in developing countries such as India.  While I wouldn't consider our family's social status as wealthy here in the US, we were doing relatively well in the world.

Our family took a trip to India when I was 5 years old.  We stayed for a month.  In that time I got to experience life in Bombay (Mumbai today).  My 3 yr old brother and I played with the children we met outside my grandmother's cottage.  We ate food from the street carts, attended school, and ran around the neighborhood doing the stuff kids do.

On my international adventure I came across beggars up close for the first time in my impressionable life.  Some were old with missing limbs, neglected teeth, and smelled very bad.  They were the picture of sadness and despair.  I even saw beggar children my own age.  They too were filthy, and sometimes maimed.  Some of them carried their baby siblings with them while they begged (a haunting sight indeed).  I saw a child dig through the trash for a newspaper soaked with the grease and food particulate from a street snack and proceed to eat the translucent paper out of starvation (my father told me that many of them go blind from the lead print they consume).

This was reality for many people in the world.  My parents wanted my brothers and I to know the 'grim' as well as the 'beautiful'.  As children are born truly innocent and have a difficult time processing the harsh realities that some face, I compartmentalized this lesson for study in the future. (Sometimes I would dream of begging on the streets with my little brother and would wake up terrified).

Back in America, it was easy to shrug off the disturbing reality I saw firsthand in India.  I adjusted quickly to school work, recess, American food, and sleeping in a comfortable bunk bed with my brother safely below.

Growing up in a predominantly white culture especially when one doesn't belong to one of the significant minority populations can be difficult.  I was an average student, a mediocre athlete, and had a penchant for class clowning.  My strategy was to befriend everyone and avoid being classified as "a loser" (as the kids say).  Like most of my Indian-American peers across the US, I was not "cool".  I didn't fit in any of the categories and thus took my place with the "unclassifieds" which happened to occupy one of the lower rungs on the social ladder.

Children instinctively rate and classify their peers into categories especially throughout puberty and on through high school.  With the development of secondary sex characteristics comes adolescent mating behavior.

Young men and women start to behave or campaign according to their biological predilections.  School becomes a mating "playground" under the auspices of higher education.  Attractiveness and desirability becomes the new standard of merit and popularity.  In an environment where race, religion, orientation, and wealth are not in equal distribution and are subject to the "high school classification model" many adolescents find themselves excluded.

It was not until University that I discovered people of similar origin to myself.  It was a breath of fresh air, one that I thought would never come.  For once in my life, I belonged.  I had an identity.  I discovered that I was not a reject, but felt rather included.  This experience served to give me perspective.  While still considered a minority, I belonged to a group instead of socializing with others on my own.  I was growing tired of being representative of all Indian people to my white friends (my family originates from a Portuguese Colony in Goa, the smallest state in India where we were raised Catholic for generations).

After college I entered the work force only to discover that I was back in an environment similar to what I left in high school.  People treat one another according to attractiveness, social status, wealth, and overall usefulness.

For years I labored under the notion that my experience in college wasn't an ephemeral dream, but rather something that I could somehow recapture.  With out the structure of attending a regimented and diverse environment such as graduate school, prospects of finding companionship and a sense of belonging grew slim.

I realized that I had a choice.  I could fight nature and the environment by not accepting reality or embrace the situation and be thankful for the experience and perspective gained from School.

Since college, I've had the privilege to travel to other countries in Africa, Asia, South America, and Europe.  I've discovered that the world is smaller than I once thought.  I learned that we are all more similar than we are different.  Unfortunately, I also learned that poverty, sickness, hunger, and exclusion affect more than those I saw in India as a boy (in fact it was exactly the same but with slightly different colored skin).

We here in America are truly blessed and privileged to enjoy the gifts of freedom we have; privileges that overwhelm and lure us into attitudes of entitlement.  We often waste food that could feed the starving (as my parents used to remind me).  We often spend our attention and money on frivolous expenses that serve our egos instead of our character.  We waste precious time fighting instead of working towards mutual solutions.  We are spoiled by excess.  Our greed and lust for 'more' hinders our appreciation for what we have now.  We are spoiled because we can afford to discriminate against our brothers and sisters without a hint of empathy or concern.  We have more than we need and less of what we want which leaves us unhappy.

In order to prevent this descent into unhappiness, it becomes necessary to appreciate our gifts.  We have the choice to continue ignoring the growing reality of poverty, sickness, hunger, and discrimination; or seek to understand the situation, be truly grateful for what we have,  and make meaningful changes in our lives to honor and respect the lives of those not fortunate enough to have the gift of 'privilege'.

With the litany of testosterone commercials being played on the radio and television, it's hard to ignore this notorious hormone.

It has been billed as the "fountain of youth" in that it is associated with increased cellular regeneration, higher mental focus, and thrill seeking behaviors attributed to the boldness of young people.

It's what gives a person 'Jedi-like' reflexes behind the wheel, or the ability to pilot a jet, ride a motorcycle, or partake in martial arts.  It's like a superpower that keeps you young.

Both men and women possess this hormone; however, it is much more pronounced in men usually at a ratio of 10:1 as the primary male sex hormone.  Females generally produce higher Oestrogens [Estrogen, being the primary female sex hormone].

Testosterone is predominantly generated in the testes of sexually mature males and reaches peak production by around age 30 which then starts to decline slowly with age.  This hormone is responsible for the ability to quickly develop and maintain muscle mass which is one of the reasons men are muscular and can generally lose weight faster and metabolize calories quicker than their less developed counterparts.

Body builders sometimes use synthesized testosterone to boost their performance in order to stay competitive.  Anabolic steroids are also used which are chemicals that 'trick' the body into faster performance gains than could be naturally achieved with unaided hormone manipulation.

It has been theorized that our male ancestors relied on their ability to hunt and fight off rival males in order to provide for and protect our offspring in tribal cultures.  The ability to run fast, hit hard, stay focused, and heal quickly became paramount to early life and individuals who exhibited these traits were sexually selected to be rewarded with offspring.

In cisgendered social dynamics, women seem to be attracted to men with healthy testosterone levels which seems to support evolutionary psychological findings.  Testosterone is the original competition hormone.  Men compete with one another for resources and of course the privilege to mate with women.  (It's probably responsible for most if not all Wars and Racism.)

Testosterone (T) is associated with dominance.  Higher levels of the hormone in men often result in displays of aggressive behavior.  These can be violent in nature and without the maturity to control such impulses it can lead the individual down a destructive path.

Women who are attracted to the 'dominant' genetics of such individuals may not be able to reconcile their instinctual desires with how they are actually treated (the Bad Boy phenomena).

Also noted in human pair bonding, is the correlation between higher T levels and the propensity for polygamy.  High T is associated with risk and thrill seeking behavior which includes, sex, drugs, alcohol, violence, and gambling.  The more risk, the more satisfying the 'high' is for such individuals.  These neural pathways get hard-wired into their brain from the repeated neurotransmitter releases (like dopamine and serotonin) resulting in addictive chemical dependency, thus the term "adrenaline junkie".  While the referenced chemicals are technically different hormones, they all serve to contribute to certain behaviors in a biofeedback loop that rewards its host.  The thrill of evading or surviving danger is a powerful intoxicant.  It can corrupt one's ego into believing in an inflated sense of self-importance.

With maturity, these hormones may be controlled and channeled into constructive outlets which can benefit the individual as well as the community.

Many use their biological gifts as a means to help influence their environment as they see fit.  Those whose competition genes have allowed them to achieve some measure of success, power, and respect can use their influence to encourage and uplift community members to achieve their own potential.  This is illustrated with sports celebrities and CEO's who lead by their example, or even in local community leaders who 'lead by deed' or practice as they preach.

It is important to understand that not everyone possesses equal respect for their genetic gifts.  Some choose to indulge inwardly focusing only on themselves.  Others take their gifts for granted and neglect to develop their abilities and skills until it leaves them.  And some even choose to behave like 'Jedi' allowing their gift to benefit not only themselves but enrich the world around them.