"Making Love to the Universe"

The Weekly Read #8, "Making Love to the Universe"

I have been watching old Mac Miller interviews this week as I work on putting together a new music project.  I find Mr. Miller to be a master crafter of albums/projects.  While I was on the stair stepper at the gym, listening to an interview between him and somebody from Soulection, he said something that caught my ear.  He said that he had learned to “make love to the universe.”  I found this to be quite intriguing.  I wanted to give it a try.  

Funny enough, these past few weeks have been a self-growth intensive set of days.  Jack and I have been keeping a heavy watch on our use of language and thoughts.  We have made an emphasis to refrain from saying negative words about other people, art, events, or anything at all.  We make sure to either: a) Keep our mouths shut, or b) Find a positive viewpoint about the situation, person, etc., and speak about that instead.  When we slip up, we will say out loud, “Fuck me! If I hated on ya!” in the melody that Frank Ocean sings those words in the outro, Futura Free, of his album, Blonde.

This practice has played well in my newfound endeavor of learning how to “make love to the universe.”  Today, on our hour-long trek to the studio, I had a thought.  We had been talking in our new practice, (I don’t consider myself to be a hater or even a negative person, but you will notice how frequently you tend to say negative things about a situation or person once you actively try to stop doing so,) and I was showing Jack a project by this smaller, fantastic artist named Bennett Coast.  I have known of and about Bennett for a few years now due to mutual friends and colleagues, but I had grown resentful of him and his art due to just how talented he is.  I would watch his music videos and hear his songs, wishing I had made them.  I was unknowingly growing jealous and bitter! I didn’t want to share his beautiful art and I never wanted to admit to others that I loved his work because of this jealousy.  Then, in recent months, when I realized that this perspective was a pestering ball of negativity growing in my soul, I started to rethink my view of this guy.  I really liked his work - so why the hell am I being a hater? I have no problem sharing the music I love by other artists, so what’s the difference with this guy?  Is it because we share mutual circles and are (in my opinion, of course) in similar realms of genre, taste, and aesthetic?  Well, whatever it is - it’s time to let it go. I believe I was resentful of the rocket-level trajectory of his career and was upset it hadn’t been mine.  

So, while Jack and I were listening to his project in my car, bobbing our heads to his ethereal ball of sound,  I believe I began to grasp an understanding of what “making love to the universe” meant to me.  We must be grateful and be loving of all that happens in the universe.  To the events the universe brings to our lives and to the events the universe brings to the world around us.  When I first heard Mac say that phrase,  I had no clue how I could “make love to the universe.”  Then, on my morning walk a few days ago, I considered that maybe it was the way I physically moved my body through the space around me while going through my daily motions.  I started to loosen my muscles and posture, preparing for a full-body body roll as I walked down the sidewalk in my neighborhood.  Moving like a snake made of gelatin for a few steps, I realized that this was probably not what Mr. Miller meant.  I now believe the tip of the iceberg that this phrase holds for me lies in this concept: Find your version of the loving, positive perspective to every situation.  No matter if it’s for yourself, your friend, or your enemy *least favorite person*, find the love in the news you hear.  When you hear that “Janet” got the promotion you were hoping for, use empathy to find the place in your heart that feels happy for her.  Yeah, it sucks you wanted it and maybe deserved more, but maybe the Universe/God/Mother Nature/Whateve has something even better and fitting in store for you.  We make love to the universe by showing love to It’s decisions and choices.  What happens, happens for a reason. Life seems to always work out when we allow ourselves to look for the positive side.  

I hope you are having a good week. After today, I am going to be sending some daily emails because I like writing to you guys.  I appreciate that you read ‘em.  Now, don’t forget to…..you know it…….

Read a Book!