Going Berserk
This Mercury Retrograde has been so long and tiresome. Delay after delay after delay. June 3rd couldn’t get here any sooner. I’m too tired to comment on the shooting and gun control. I’ll just quote Kazepis below.
I feel like I’ve been getting in my head too much and overthinking but this typical for this time period. I almost forgot I need to workout or else my mind starts going and going. I just got back from hitting the heavy bag and doing the rowing machine. That nice ache and soreness feels good, brings me back to Earth, back to this tatted vessel. One day in the future I’ll do a tattoo tour and the meaning behind the ink.
For various reasons, I’ve had to take a break from jiu jitsu which has been my primary workout regiment for the last 6 months. I’m back on the heavy bag, back to wrapping my hands, and back to lifting weights. This is like a moving meditation for me.
In other news, I’ve been tearing through the manga Berserk and this is one of the best comics I’ve read in my life. It’s hyper-masculine, violent, and so well done. I heard Kelby and David raving about this for months and I finally took the plunge and I don’t regret it one bit. I mean it opens up with Guts, the main character, banging out this fine girl in the woods who transforms into this giant demon bitch who he ends up slaying. I read a portion today that made me tear up where he gets triggered and unpacks some of his trauma. A rare moment of vulnerability for Guts.
Guts has lived a hard life yet he doesn’t let life smack him down. Instead, he picks up that big ass sword of his and does what he does best and keeps on fighting. Themes of redemption, following your dream against all odds, and perseverance. It’s something I could relate to on deep levels. Even when life feels heavy which it feels super heavy with this transition I’m going through, I think about Guts and I persevere. I keep it moving.
I still have multiple volumes to read, but if you like dark fantasy and a badass MC, you need to read Berserk. Already in my top 5 mangas of all time and top 10 comics at the very least.
In writing news, I’m slowly revising short stories and adding to Project Hum. These are much more skeleton-like than I remember a la Richard Christian Matheson bare so I’m adding some flesh and muscle.
I heard through the grapevine that Project Bullet Baby made it to the top 30 list out of 179 submissions. Cross your fingers that I make it to the final 6.
I’m sketching out some loose ideas for a couple of others books in my notes app and I might fuck around and turn the title of my last newsletter into a full-blown book—The Sleep Protocols…
Currently Watching: Moon Knight & Ozark Season 1
Currently Reading: Inspection by Josh Malerman and Hunger for Death by Joshua Marsella
Currently Smoking: A random joint I can’t remember the name of. A mystery joint.
The Chicago Queen Dreezy spazzes in this LA Leakers Freestyle. I had to run this back more than once.
This is my introduction to Gordon White despite listening to the Higher Side Chats for sometime and I love it. He talks about our relationship with cosmos, outdated belief systems in regards to our relationship with nature and breaking said imperialistic beliefs, and more. I especially love how he points out how Western Society views the Earth as a “wilting white woman” who constantly needs our help. Eye-opening stuff and well worth your time.
I was feeling down a few days ago until I clicked on the new Danny Brown podcast. It’s hilarious, free-wheeling and Brown reminds us why he’s so charismatic and so much more than a rapper. It’s good to see people have third acts in life.
Keep your head up