Last night I went to a dinner party at my friends' @ELAmental & @Hempress place, and was so happy to spend time with my brother @Alchemage, introduce @TheLynx to some of the Steemit crowd, and get to know @RichardCrill & @LindseyLambz better :-)

One of the things that came up was the Freedom Friday project, started by @EagleSpirit, and now operating in collaboration with @FreedomTribe. Now, I'm not actually part of @FreedomTribe, but I support what they're about both in principle and through the @TribeSteemUp project (and lots of TSU members are in Freedom Tribe as well), and I have really been enjoying getting writing prompts from various communities & sources to keep my brain moving in different ways. This week's prompt for #FreedomFriday is:

As you've probably noticed by now, I often start off topics like this by giving the actual dictionary definitions of the word(s) being discussed, then moving from there to my own thoughts. In this particular case I won't be doing that, in part because I'm sure a lot of folks answering will be, and in part because I really don't find most dictionaries' take on the word to be anywhere near good enough.

I generally define freedom as a 2-part idea: internal & external, or "inner freedom" & "freedom from _____". I have begun to do this for a variety of reasons, most notably because each of us clearly has absolute control over one of these, while the other is a bit harder for someone to own unless they've already walked the path of the first.

Freedom from violation

The idea of freedom that the average human is generally more aware of or familiar with is that of freedom from external violation. In American culture & mythology, humans have had it ingrained into them that they have certain "freedoms", protected by a 350 year-old piece of paper, written by slave-owners. Most folks in the Euro-American world would say that they have a pretty high amount / wide range of this kind of freedom, though it is factually untrue.

Can you do ANYTHING you want as long as it doesn't harm another? Think about how many codes, ordinances, and laws exist in most countries, specifically telling humans what they can and can't do, even if nobody else is affected by their actions in any way.

If you can't offer a service (like, say, doing someone's hair) without paying for "permission", then you're being violated.

If any amount of the income you earn by agreeing to exchange time for money with some other human or company is taken from you without your consent (taxes), under the threat of violence, then you're being violated.

If you can be rolling down the street and some guy in a funny uniform turns on flashing lights, tells you to pull over, and is then allowed to give you extortion slips and kidnap or kill you if you argue with him, you're being violated.

The simple fact is that the state, those corporations that are referred to as "governments" are simply large-scale organized crime syndicates, in the business of violating as many humans as they possibly can. One of their most common tools is to cast spells over the minds of the masses through things like the illusion of authority (the idea that someone else is morally above you) and the use of euphemisms ("arresting" is simply kidnapping, "war" is simply mass murder, and "taxes" are just theft), and hammering home those spells through 13-year forced indoctrination camps ("school").

Side note: a little poem I wrote

Taxation is Theft
War is Genocide
a Ticket is Extortion
and Arresting someone is just Kidnapping them
Euphemisms do not change actions
Control over another cannot bring satisfaction
This system has existed for thousands of years
Now I've got a message for each of your ears
That paradigm is over, its time is done
We simply have to realize, we've already won
By taking responsibility for all of our actions
We withdraw support of the parasitic faction
In the new age of love and cooperation
We create systems based on decentralization
My life is truly blessed, it needs no exaggeration
All that is supports us when we work for liberation
So go forth and shine your light each day
and be sure to find some time to pray
It isn't just about dogma and religion
but being thankful for all that's in your vision
You are a creator, you are one with Source
Everything you could want, it's already yours
Unlearn your conditioning and integrate your trauma
and life will cease to be a constant flow of drama
If you just change yourself, you've already changed the world
Step into your truth, and let your potential unfurl
I'm going to keep being me, it's the only thing to do
and I'm so thankful for each and every one of you
You are beautiful
You are powerful
You are free
and I love you!

Internal Freedom... AKA Total Responsibility

The more foundational part of freedom, the part that is absolutely necessary to actually make head-way in the realm of freedom from violation, could also be called total responsibility for self. I am the creator of my experience; I am responsible for my actions, my thoughts, my words, the situations I find myself in, how I react to those situations, and ultimately the whole of my experience.

When something comes up in my life, I have the option of being grateful for it, whatever it is, and finding the lessons and opportunities for growth & joy in it, or seeing it as a negative. The way in which I handle these things, especially the long-term patterns around this, decide whether my life is one of joy & freedom, or one of limitation and feeling like a victim. Are you acting as though life happens to you, or as though you are the one making the decisions?

The only reason that statism, this planet-wide disease of violence & coercion, is able to exist is because SO many humans choose to out-source responsibility for their lives to others instead of owning it themselves. When you see an issue in the world that you want addressed, you can either choose to change how you are living to help resolve that issue, or you can "vote" for the state to steal more money and use violence & coercion against others to resolve that issue (little tip: they rarely ever do anything about the actual issue, but they're happy for the excuse to commit more violence).

Just think how laughable it would be for a thousand or two old windbags to try controlling 7 billion humans if those billions didn't for some reason believe that they needed to be controlled, or that it is even divine will that they be controlled. How many folks would show up for their jobs in the military or police if they actually had to bear the moral burden of the wrongs they commit instead of passing the buck and saying that they're "just following orders"...

The ancient practice of Ho’oponopono takes this idea of responsibility for everything around us and uses it as the basis for powerful healing & forgiveness. If you're not familiar with the concept, do a quick search for the term, and read the story of Dr. Ihaleakala Hew Len.