There have been so many instances of coincidences in my life lately that it's getting a bit freaky...

Someone I know told me all about another person, and then I meet this other person just by chance through yet another person, and then I get to know this second person well, talked about the first person and then bump into the first person in the same day...

Something like that...

And this is not the first time...

Some says that nothing in life is coincidental... that everything is part of a Divine Plan...

What is it that the Divine Plan is trying to tell me then? 

comments

Over the span of the last two days, I have watched two local theatre productions that have given me a buffet of food for thoughts...

I shall write generally about them here, but they are mostly my own impressions, please do not see them as reviews... 

The first was "Spirits" (or "妖精" in Chinese) by Toy Factory.

It is an interesting fusion of different traditional Chinese operas and beautifully designed costumes against a modern backdrop of steel and industrial lights and jazz music. The 5 different stories reveal the touching tales of 5 different women in Chinese history - 褒姒 Bao Shi (Zhou Dynasty), 吕后 Lu Hou (Han Dynasty), 鱼玄机 Yu Xuan Ji (Tang Dynasty), 客氏 Ke Shi (Ming Dynasty) and 赛金花 Sai Jing Hua (Qing Dynasty) - all branded as "evil spirits" or "妖精" because of their "evil deeds". All skilfully performed by 5 of Asia's leading male Chinese opera actors (or Nan Dan), no less...

Anyway, I enjoyed and appreciated the whole concept thoroughly, although the performance was a bit not quite on top form. I couldn't help admiring the aesthetics in the way these different Chinese operas were performed, and their intricate costumes, make-up and details down to their hand gestures...

This show represented these 5 women as spirits in limbo seeking a kind of release by introducing each of them individually, telling their tragic tales and how their felt they were maligned. How in order to defend themselves, or to retain the love from their men, they had to resort to murder and sacrifice to some rather extreme ends...

I was somehow most touched by the story of Empress Lu Hou, who ordered her subordinates to gorge out the eyes, cut out the tongue and severed the limbs of Concubine Qi, whom the Emperor  had switched favours to. When Lu Hou sang of how she did these horrible deeds in a fit of jealously (eg. she sang "they admire your beautiful sparkling eyes, but forget that mine saw only misery and tragedy, so I am gorging your eyes out", or something to that effect), tears just flowed down my cheeks...

I love the way symbolisms were interspersed into the creative design, as each of these characters carried a representation of themselves, such as:

Lizard (Bao Shi) - rumoured to be reincarnation of a lizard

Fierce Hen (Lu Hou) - a female ruler is as unnatural as having a hen crow like a rooster

Fish (Yu Xuan Ji) - she wished for a peaceful life as a fish in her next life

Eggplant Flower (Ke Shi) - demonized as the eggplant flower's spirit for her lowly birth and unscrupulous ability to exert influence everywhere

Cloud (Sai Jing Hua) - frequently refered to as a diabolical cloud over Peking

Besides these 5 performers, there were also 5 other supporting casts, all well trained in acrobatics and martial arts. The fight scenes were pretty energetic and yet stylistic...

Although others who watched the show might not agree with my views, I would still like to refer to this play as most inspiring and stylish and intriguing for me...

*

Well, the second play I caught was "The Nightingale", adapted from Hans Christian Anderson's tale by I-Theatre.

Basically, it tells of an old emperor who ordered to have a plain-looking nightingale with a beautiful voice captured so it could sing to him as he wanted. When his ministers present him with a mechanical and bejewelled bird that could reproduce the exact tune every time, the emperor decides to ban the real nightingale which only sang the truth from her heart. Only later, he found out that truth can never be replaced by an imitation, and almost lost his life...

It is a simple yet mesmering tale presented with beautifully designed costumes and minimal set pieces, and performed by my talented friends to lovely sing-able tunes...

I really wish I were in more productions like these two...

Anyway, I am proud to be in Toy Factory's new production come this November, and it is called "Ten Brothers", really can't wait already...

Just did a photo shoot with the cast on Friday, and will post them up soon... 

So do stay tuned... 

comments

These few days have been inexplicably linked by yet another string of coincidences, one of which was that I have been slated to do some photo shoots for the shows I am involved in, "Ten Brothers" and "Don't Say I Do", as well as for a health consultancy clinic as a favour for my friend, Charles...

Well, the first photo shoot was just over, and here are some pics I took with my badly-need-a-memory-card-upgrade camera phone...

(Back row L-R: Jacqueline Chow, Eugene Ho, Caroline Cheong)

(Middle L-R: Desmond Chen, Larry Liu, Edric Hsu (Me!), Zachary Goh) 

(Front row L-R: Zachary Mosalle, Teo Wei Bin, Dwayne Lau) 

(Missing in the picture are: Beatrice Chia, Koh Chieng Mun, Benjamin Ng and Darius Tan) 

Check out my silver 'do, guys...

I loved this new metallic silver colour sprayed onto my hair! It's pretty cool, especially when I entered a soup restaurant that evening for my dinner, two of the waiters came up to me separately and asked me where I got my hair coloured etc!

Too bad it only lasts till the next shampoo... 

comments

Here are the informal photos taken of the cast of "Don't Say I Do", at Jazreel Low's Collection...

(From L-R: Noodle as "Joyce", Me as "Jon", Boo as "Rain" ) 

(From L-R: Joann as "Yor Mama", Noodle, Darius as "Calvin" ) 

(Left: Pamela as "Mannequin", Right: Jazreel Low's Collection) 

More photos are on the way... 

comments

'Hello, a-ding-dong, a lang-a-lang-a-lang...'

That was the start of the song, "Sh'Boom!", performed by the six reservists including me as the soloist, in the SAF MDC Choir concert tonight...

All my friends loved the song, and most certainly, the singers all enjoyed performing it too! We had loads of fun miming musical instruments to form a pseudo-band as a hilarious backdrop to my melody, and piling on plenty of cheese and corn, as well as giving one of the verses a special rock treatment...

The above is just one of the many fun and challenging choral items we performed during the concert, with a repertoire spanning centuries and genres. But the only difference is, "Sh'Boom!" is the kind of songs that exemplifies the kind of fun and hilarity that we have come to enjoy in the SAF Choir...

And the audience also enjoyed our finale, a medley of songs in tribute of Frank Sinatra... 

They laughed and loved our struggling attempts during a series of choreographed moves, courtesy of Claudine Chan of CCCrush fame, as well as the special entrance of our wonderful conductor and choral trainer, Jennifer Tham, in "New York, New York!"...

All in all, our concert was a great success, and although it is in all likelihood my final reservist stint for the choir, I really do hope to return again soon to perform with this wonderful big family of talented singers...

Made lots of friends this time round too, and it made all our rehearsals that much more enjoyable... 

That said, I am glad the concert is now over, and we all did our best in it. For now I can eat what I like again, and no more need to abstain from sex, booze and sinful foods...

comments

At the request of Charles, who is planning to update the website for his health consultancy clinic, I agreed to be one of his models. And in return I get a free treatment from his clinic!

Here are the photos taken with my camera phone today...

comments

Just watched the new TV series, "Lost", on Channel 5 tonight, after a long wait, and with a steady build-up of suspense and intrique, not to mention a highly telegenic cast, it certainly didn't disappoint...

Click here to listen to one of the Mandarin radio trailers that I recorded for this TV series...

comments

After some consideration, and a bit of inspiration from the recent series of photo shoots I have just completed, I agreed to sign up with a local talent management agency called BRAVE...

Now waiting to see how my modelling composite cards will look...

Hope they'll gather some exciting new well-paid modelling projects suitable for me soon.

comments

Wow, just saw on TV a commercial for a cool new technology in optical lenses:

Apparently, when wearing these glasses in an indoor setting, the lenses are clear as normal glasses. But when subjected to dangerous UV rays and glaring bright lights outdoors, these lenses will immediately turn a darker shade into a pair of sunglasses!

Just how cool is that, man!!!

I wonder if there is such a thing for contact lenses...  

comments

Last night some of the cast of "Don't Say I Do" were called upon to do a last minute recording the musical's songs for the "Five Foot Broadway" musical CD to be produced and ready for purchase during our performance run...

So Boo and I got down to Stereo Image Productions Studio at Tanjong Pagar Road to record our song, "Our Song"...

Here are the photos, commemorating Boo's first studio recording debut!

And then Justin decided to go ahead and record the ensemble song "Someone Just For You" with Michelle and Kelvin, and I joined in the harmony too since I was there...

The rest of the cast will have their own studio moments separately, hope they take lots of photos and have fun during the recordings...  

1 angel(s) visited

There is brilliant sunshine today! Rejoice, rejoice!

After finishing some voice-over recordings at Reeds Media, I rushed over to the nearest swimming pool and spent more than an hour basking under the glorious rays of the lately-elusive afternoon sun...

With my new micro Jap-style swim trunks, I managed finally to achieve a nice tanline, although it is still a tad too subtle...

Will try to hit the pool decks again this weekend, let's pray for more sun!

Well, in any case, spending a relaxing afternoon lying and doing basically nothing with cool lapping water around me... that's the ideal lifestyle for the Merman indeed..

At the very least, it managed to lift my spirits higher, and I could put behind some recent disappointments and setbacks, as well as a new and worrisome discovery...

And what could be the next best thing to follow up?

A Sakae Sushi Buffet!!! Yum!!! 

Not to mention that the following cast photo of "Don't Say I Do" was featured on page 36 of today's issue of The New Paper:

It was a great day indeed, which ended with the second recording at Stereo Image Productions for "Don't Say I Do", this time including Noodle, Darius, and Joann...

And I managed to get home just in time to catch "Lost" on TV too!

Muahahahaha!... 

comments

I had to go to the polyclinic this morning for a check up, and a few incidences there really tested my patience and tolerance...

For instance:

I was fiddling with my handphone's games while waiting for my turn, and a toddler toddled over and patted me on my elbow and gave me a beautiful smile and said "Hello" in her newly-discovered voice...

And then a woman, presumably the toddler's mother, came over, pulled her away and scolded her, "Don't anyhow touch other people" in a disgusted voice. I smiled and told her it's alright, and she gave me a dirty look...

What's up with all that attitude and the sour face, Ma'am!? Nope she wasn't the ill person waiting for the doc, so I am not going to excuse her behaviour...

I hope her daughter doesn't grow up to be like her...

Next up...

I was again playing my Rock Bubble game on my handphone, sitting in the middle of a row of seats, when I noticed a man with 3 small boys approaching the seats. The man sat down with two of his sons, leaving one standing. I saw that and automatically shifted over to another seat so they could all sit together...

The man just pulled the standing boy over and told him to "SIT!" as if to a disobedient pup, and didn't even bother to acknowledge my effort with a "Thanks"...

Why are Singaporeans always so grouchy, so impatient, and always taking things for granted? Where are the basic manners and courtesy? 

And it's not just adults with kids who gave off such negative vibes, I get that all the time, in the streets, everywhere...

My other pet grouses include:

Lovey-dovey couples holding hands in the middle of the walkway/escalator/stairs/lift/everywhere or strolling ever so slowly as if nobody else exists, blocking people's way...

People who enjoy slow walks or has all the time in the world to stroll, tend to walk right in the middle of pedestrian thoroughfares too. Even if they have never sat on a vehicle or taken driving lessons, isn't it just common sense to keep to the sides and give way to other people who need to hurry?

Maybe we should install speed lanes on pedestrian walkways and escalators just like on the roads...

In fact, in cities like Australia and London, escalators are indeed divided by left lanes for people to stand on the steps, and right lanes for people who needed to climb along... 

There are tiny little signs on our MRT stations telling people to "Keep Left" on escalators, but obviously romantic couples and slow coaches couldn't be bothered...

And then there are people who enter lifts and immediately aim for the "Door Close" button, irregardless of whether there are others still about to enter or exit the lift cabin...

Not to mention people waiting behind the yellow lines at MRT stations, and then just as the door is about to open, start crowding the doorway and ignoring those about to alight...

Hungry people tend to be ruder too, such as the woman who asked me at the coffee shop table where I was having lunch, if the other seats were taken, whereupon I said "No, please feel free to sit". Immediately without a second word or look, she pulled the chairs away to another table...

And how about those standing in the aisles of crowded buses yet unwilling to move to the back and allow more passengers to board?

I could go on and on but I think these are already common occurences that everybody could identify with...

Whatever happened to our "Courtesy Campaign"?

What about our good old "Courtesy Song"?

"Courtesy is for free, Courtesy is for you and me..." 

Every so often, our gahmen have come up with slogans and logos etc (click here) to promote graciousness and manners among us Singaporeans, but just all talk...

Disclaimer:  The above ramblings are aimed not just at incorrigible Singaporeans but the world citizens at large. However, since I am a Singaporean and living here indefinitely, it is cause for concern and much distress to me...

comments

On today's edition of The New Paper, several interesting articles caught my attention...

Firstly, there was an interview of sorts with a local female blogger who displayed her artistic nude shots online and got plenty of flak for it... 

I did not get to see those controversial photos but I think it is perfectly A-Okay and her absolute freedom to choose to present herself in this particular way...

Not sure why, but many people seem to enjoy and even take delight in criticising anything or anyone not conforming to social norms...

And how many people actually could be secretly suppressing such hidden desires or needs too, only too timid to do anything about it...

So what if a girl is simply proud of her body and is unafraid to display it?

Then there is another more famous female blogger who is famous/notorious for her direct and candid words who had been called many unflattering names simply for writing down her thoughts for us to read...

So what if a girl is simply being honest to herself and stands by her beliefs?

Both bloggers don't seem to agree with each other,  but so what? Each of them has their own views and both are equally valid...

Who are we to determine who's "right" or who's "wrong"?

Everyone is just * d i f f e r e n t *, so why can't we live with it?

Another article in the papers told about this 11-year-old local girl with a special gift: the ability to bend metal utensils much like the local college student I wrote about just a while back...

The full story can be found by clicking on the photo below:

Isn't it amazing how more and more gifted people emerge among our masses? And this girl supposedly attained such a gift through attending a self-improvement course to change perceptions and overcome inhibitions...

Actually, come to think of it, every single one of us is special in one way or another. Some might even say that being in this life is already a gift...

But I believe that every one of us are special and unique just for being ourselves...

This evening, I happen to receive the following timely quote from the Spiritual Master, Osho, that goes:

"You are carrying a masterpiece hidden within you, but you are standing in the way. Just move aside, then the masterpiece will be revealed. Everyone is a masterpiece, because God never gives birth to anything less than that. Everyone carries that masterpiece hidden for many lives, no knowing who they are, and just trying on the surface to become someone. Drop the idea of becoming someone, because you are already a masterpiece. You cannot be improved. You have only to come to it, to know it, to realize it. God himself has created you; you cannot be improved." ~ Osho

Well, for all that uniqueness and gifts that we might individually possess, how much of that are acknowledged and celebrated, and how much goes sadly unappreciated?

Food for thought indeed... 

comments

After writing the past two entries, I realised an obvious truth, that life is full of contradictions and paradoxes...

In one entry, I wrote of ugly Singaporeans and people with bad manners, and in the next, I quoted that everyone is a special gift, a masterpiece...

So how now, brown cow?

Are we expected to accept and embrace every jerk for all their selfish acts and inconsideration to others? 

After meditating on it for a moment, I came to the conclusion that perhaps we attract such people in our lives at certain moments to bring forth certain emotions or actions within us...

In short, these people appear in our lives as more lessons to be learned... 

Okay then, I have learned enough in this lesson and paid my dues, so may I move on now please? 

comments

Good news!!!

A short film that I acted in recently, "Strings (Hong Xian)", has been included in the screening list in an all-new Singapore Fantastic Film Festival (SF3) 2005!!!

This short film, a horror-styled psychological thriller and now restored to it's original half-hour long version, won us 3 top awards in last year's Canon-DMH Digital Video Festival, namely: Grand Prize (Media Students Category), MediaCorp TV Prize for Best Direction and United Overseas Bank Audience Choice Award...

The screening, which is this Sunday, 26th June 2005, 4pm at the Singapore History Museum, is free entry and free seating, but limited seats as it is in a theatrette. Hope all of you can join me there...

Screening together with "Strings" is another award-winning local film called "A Wicked Tale", by Tzang Merwyn Tong. It is a twisted version of the Grimm Brothers' "Little Red Riding Hood"...

Please do come support "Strings" ya!!!

comments

A curious thing happened yesterday right in my kitchen...

I woke up in the morning, ready for my daily ablutions, when I noticed to my surprise a business card right in the middle of my kitchen wash basin...

I had my windows closed the night before due to potential rain, leaving only one leaf slightly ajar for some ventilation. This panel was located on the other end of the wall. So I couldn't see how a namecard could make its way into my kitchen and land itself smack centre in my basin...

Anyway, I take it that there must be some providential reason why this card came to me, so I might as well share and benefit others with its services...

The card belongs to:

Pagoda Master Tailor (an established tailor located at Chinatown), and it even boasts of a pretty comprehensive website (click on picture)...

Perhaps someone reading this really could do with a new tailored outfit?

Well, I did discover in the website some interesting information about how to take proper clothing measurements etc (click on picture):

In any case, it's always nice to share. So here it is...  

2 angel(s) visited

Finally the two short musicals that I have been working on lately, namely "Heartstrings" and "Don't Say I Do", have come to an end with tonight's only performance at The Arts House, Play Den...

With only a very short period of rehearsals and working with mostly newbies in theatre, this has been a rather fun and spontaneous sort of performance. We never knew what's gonna happen next, and there have been several interesting surprises along the way!

I must say everybody put in all their effort and then some more, and for a series of works-in-progress, I reckon we did pretty well!

So many pats on our backs, and hope we get to perform again together someday soon!

Group hugs!!!!!! 

comments

Oh no...

It's close to 3 a.m. and I just can't sleep...

It doesn't help that I am super hungry now and, frustratingly, some folks were cooking the most deliciously fragrant rendang curry downstairs at my void deck for some event tomorrow (most probably for a Malay wedding...)

For sure, I'm also experiencing yet another bout of post production blues for the last two shows that I have just completed...

I can still easily visualise all the various memorable scenes whenever I close my eyes...

Songs from "Heartstrings" and "Don't Say I Do" just keep going on "Repeat" mode in my mind's playlist...

Thankfully, it is not a big thing getting into character for the two different roles, "Joshua" and "Jon", and I have not displayed any significant changes in my own personalities due to these roles, unlike previous shows when I took on some of my characters' quirks and traits...

But I guess for some time afterwards, I will still be humming these recent shows' tunes, quoting their lines, calling the cast members by character names, and reliving wonderful memories of the entire rehearsals and performance again and again...

As I am doing right now... 

comments

After days weeks months of talking, preparing, rehearsing, getting it together, the "Five Foot Broadway" series of musicals have finally come to an end tonight...

And courtesy of Ken Lyen, the generous originator of this creative project, each cast member received a CD recording of song highlights from four of the five shows, which I am going to listen over and over again (favouring those from "Heartstrings" and "Don't Say I Do" naturally)...

But the main thing is...

I am now totally free to do my own things...

Except for a school show for Health Promotion Board, I now have no other rehearsals to attend for the next couple of months. In other words, I am finally getting time off!

To signify this momentous change in my lifestyle plans, I decided to go for an extreme haircut this afternoon...

What's on next then?

For starters, I desperately need to settle my housing plans. Already two of my neighbours have expressed interest in buying over my flat. Good news for me...

And perhaps I will find time to finish up my own musical script for "Journey Of A Song", which has been dangling in mid-air for more than two years now...

And I do crave the excitement of travelling abroad again. I so wanna return to Australia, Europe, China, Hong Kong and Bangkok, not to mention exploring new places (for me), like Japan, USA, India, Tibet, Nepal etc...

But at this moment, I am still reeling from my recent performances as well as the special screening of "Strings (Hong Xian)" (the full 29min and scarier version) at the Singapore Fantastic Film Festival 2005 this afternoon...

And I just can't sleep...

I might just go watch the DVD of the latter short film which the producers finally gave me before the screening...

comments

Just after I wrote about being free from performances and all that last night, I had to attend yet another rehearsal this very morning for the "Gum Health Show" for school tours with Paddy and the alternate cast...

Which didn't go too bad, although we could really do with a proper rehearsal dance studio for all that energetic moves and floorwork...

So to date, we have:

Ridzuan --> Stephen --> Peishan

Lawrence --> Stephen

Jacintha

Kelly --> Peishan --> Rosanna

Edric (cest moi)  --> Justin

And almost immediately after, I attended yet another audition, a deal which I hope to secure...

Well, I suppose I can make more time... 

After that I pretty much stayed home to idle and watch TV while surfing the net...

Watched yet another fun-to-watch episode of "Desperate Housewives" (eg Felicity Huffman in a French maid costume! LOL), followed by an MTV of "Over", a fem-rock break-up song by the beautiful (okay, hot!) Lindsay Lohan of "Mean Girls" fame...

Now Arts Central is showing the old primary-coloured ultra-cheesy "Batman and Robin" movie (the one with Adam West and Burt Ward) with all the typical villians like The Joker, Catwoman, The Riddler, The Penguin etc, and shouting out soundbites along the lines of "Holy Moly!", "Holy Hurricane!" and other such cartoon nonsense, which makes for pretty fun and inane TV viewing...

Then Juju called and needed to talk and get over the PPBs (post-production blues) which I am sure all of us are afflicted...

But it's gonna be hard, after all that effort we've invested into the shows and fun and laughter we've shared...

I am trying my best to detach myself and not wallow in what is over. Which is why I have yet to open up my copy of the shows' commemorative CD...

Yeah, all's over and now it's time to look forward to more exciting shows to come!

comments

Someone just called to ask me out for a date, and another messaged me asking to be friends. I'm in some romantic mood right now, haha...

Here's to all my friends reading this blog... 

...................................
......... , . ~ . ~ , _ , .......
......... ) `- . . ; ' ` ( .......
........ / . . . .  ) . .   ) ........
........| . . . . .( . . .   ) ........
........ (. . . .  /) ,   /) .........
...........` ^ ( ( /  V .........
............. `-;`.-7 ............
...............  `)|   ... , ........
................  || _.-' ) ........
............^,_||_(,  / ........
...... ..  /  )..||  . '/  .............
....... . (  /,. ||    /.............
.... ,._ ,v  . ||  Y, ............
..... '-...'-._ ||  / .............
.........   _.-`|| Y ..............
.............. ,_|| / ...............
................  || ...........
................. || ..........
................. || ...........
................. V ...........
..................................

(That took me a while to colour and adjust, but it's rather therapeutic... )

[ Feeling... * romantic... * ]

comments

Birthday Calculator

You were born on a Saturday
under the astrological sign Scorpio.
Your Life path number is 7.

The Julian calendar date of your birth is 2441625.5.
The golden number for 1972 is 16.
The epact number for 1972 is 14.
The year 1972 was a leap year.

As of 6/28/2005 12:48:38 PM CDT
You are 32 years old.
You are 391 months old.
You are 1,704 weeks old.
You are 11,924 days old.
You are 286,188 hours old.
You are 17,171,328 minutes old.
You are 1,030,279,718 seconds old.

There are 129 days till your next birthday
on which your cake will have 33 candles on it.

Those 33 candles produce 33 BTU's,
or 8,316 calories of heat (that's only 8.3160 food Calories!) .
You can boil 3.77 US ounces of water with that many candles.  

Your birthstone is Citrine
The Mystical properties of Citrine

Citrine is said to help one connect with Spirit.

Some lists consider these stones to be your birthstone. (Birthstone lists come from Jewlers, Tibet, Ayurvedic Indian medicine, and other sources)

Yellow Topaz, Pearl, Diamond

Your birth tree is

Walnut Tree, the Passion

Unrelenting, strange and full of contrasts, often egoistic, aggressive, noble, broad horizon, unexpected reactions, spontaneous, unlimited ambition, no flexibility, difficult and uncommon partner, not always liked but often admired, ingenious strategist, very jealous and passionate, no compromises.

There are 180 days till Christmas 2005!

The moon's phase on the day you were
born was waning crescent.

Saturday, November 4, 1972

comments

What Your Name Means (Numerology)

You entered: Hsu **** *****

There are 12 letters in your name.
Those 12 letters total to 54
There are 5 vowels and 7 consonants in your name.

Your number is: 9

The characteristics of #9 are: Humanitarian, giving nature, selflessness, obligations, creative expression.

The expression or destiny for #9:
The expression that you exhibit is represented bythe number 9. Your talents center in humanistic interests and approaches. You like to help others as you were intended to be the 'big brother or big sister' type. You operate best when you follow your feelings and sense of compassion, and allow yourself to be sensitive to the needs of others. You work well with people, and have the potential to inspire. This suggests that you could successfully teach or counsel. Creative ability, imagination and artistic talent (often latent) of the highest order are present in this expression. It's possible that you're not using or developing all of these capabilities at this time. Some of your talents may have been used at an earlier time in your life, and some may still be latent. Be aware of your capabilities, so that you can make use of them at appropriate times.

If you are able to achieve the potential of your natural expression in this life, you are capable of much human understanding and have a lot to give to others. Your personal ambitions are likely to be maintained in a very positive perspective, never losing sight of an interest in people, and a sympathetic, tolerant, broad-minded and compassionate point of view. You are quite idealistic, and disappointed at the lack of perfection in the world. You have a strong awareness of your own feeling as well as those of others. Friendships, affection, and love are extremely important.

Undeveloped or ignored, the negative side of the 9 expression can be very selfish and self-centered. If you do not actively involve yourself with work that benefits others, you may tend to express just the opposite characteristics. It is your role to be very involved with other people and their needs, but it may be difficult for you achieve this role. Aloofness, lack of involvement, and a lack of sensitivity mark the low road of this expression.

Your Soul Urge number is: 3

A Soul Urge number of 3 means:
With the Soul Urge number 3 your desire in life is personal expression, and generally enjoying life to its fullest. You want to participate in an active social life and enjoy a large circle of friends. You want to be in the limelight, expressing your artistic or intellectual talents. Word skills may be your thing; speaking, writing, acting, singing. In a positive sense, the 3 energy is friendly, outgoing and always very social.

You have a decidedly upbeat attitude that is rarely discouraged; a good mental and emotional balance.

The 3 Soul Urge gives intuitive insight, thus, very high creative and inspirational tendencies. The truly outstanding trait shown by the 3 Soul Urge is that of self-expression, regardless of the field of endeavor.

On the negative side, you may at times become too easygoing and too optimistic, tending to scatter forces and accomplish very little. Often, the excessive 3 energy produces non-stop talkers. Everyone has faults, but the 3 soul urge doesn't appreciate having these pointed out.

Your Inner Dream number is: 6

An Inner Dream number of 6 means:
You dream of guiding and fostering the perfect family in the perfect home. You crave the devotion from offspring and a loving spouse. You picture yourself in the center of a successful domestic unit.

comments

As you can see from the sudden increase in the number of new blog entries, I have been spending plenty of precious time doing nothing but getting online...

That and also watching TV, sometimes late night re-runs of shows that I've missed...

But besides "Desperate Housewives" and "Lost", I have been getting myself terribly hooked to another genre - reality programmes that show supposedly ugly ducklings (people la, not real ducks) into beautiful swans (with model-worthy looks)...

And there has been a lot of such programmes on local TV (and their local counterparts) these couple of years, with shows like:

Extreme Makeover...

The Swan...

Nip/Tuck... 

and many many more...

Including my current favourite, the fast-paced, energetic yet effective:

Ambush Makeover...

Perhaps it is the Pluto/Scorpio aspects of my personality that places emphasis and delight on all things transformed, but I really enjoy the "Before" and "After" comparisons and how each individual is being crafted into beautiful masterpieces (although I do believe everyone is already a unique work of art in themselves)...

I have always believed the saying that "there are no ugly people, only lazy people". Everyone could do with a little styling, a healthy lifestyle, diet and plenty of exercise. In extreme cases, there's still surgery...

Personally, I often present myself in all sorts of images, leading people to comment that I always look different every time they see me. In fact, it has become a fun habit for me...

Maybe that's what I enjoyed most about my performing career, being able to take on vastly different looks and images to portray various unique characters...

Here's a quick series of the different images I created, in no particular order, for some of the colourful characters I played just this last few years (courtesy of my Friendster albums):

2 angel(s) visited

Using the 20% discount vouchers for Kinokuniya printed on various issues of my regular read, our local "8 Days" magazine, I headed down to the mega-bookstore last night and purchased three exciting new additions to my I've-lost-count-already-th Tarot decks...

Introducing...

1) The beautifully illustrated and highly acclaimed Gilded Tarot:

Review 1

Review 2 

Review 3 

2) The business-oriented and brilliant brainstorming tool, The Bright Idea Deck:

Review 1

Review 2 

3) The retro and domestically-inclined The Housewives Tarot:

Review 1

Review 2 

I have yet to explore them, along with my dunno-how-many-other decks, but I guess I collect them mostly for their aesthetic value. Each deck that I own have unique and inspiring illustrations that befits different moods and settings, perfect for different reading sessions...

But ultimately, I only use my mostest favouritest deck, The Elemental Tarot:

Review 1

Review 2 

This deck, which I have owned for almost half a decade, was the very first deck that I started my very first readings. And it sorta stuck with me and I connected most with it...

For those reading this but yet to know me, I have been giving successful and professional readings for a very reasonable fee for the past four-or-five years, at various holistic events and event outdoor parties like "ZoukOut @ Marina South" as well as private sessions...

For those reading this and thinking I might be dallying with the Devil or dabbling with the Occult, or whatever nonsense, well, I am not, simple as that...

The Tarot is an important divination tool, yes indeed, but to me, it serves mostly as timely reminders of the paths we have taken, are taking now, and have yet to take...

I do not at any moment believe that any quest for our future answers are associated with the Devil, or any devils for that matter, but that they lie within each and every one of us...

It is really only ourselves who can determine what future paths we would eventually choose... 

Most people are afraid to know their futures, and I certainly do not profess to any powers that can predict such. What I can do is tap into each individual's innate consciousness for these answers...

I will talk more about Tarot in future entries, but I am excited to explore my new decks, and am also hooked to the TV at the moment...

Till later... 

comments

Well, whadayaknow?!...

Barely an hour after I finished my last entry on my newly acquired Tarot decks, and while I was spending the time perusing the website of one of the decks for tips and articles, I received in my Email Inbox a newsletter from the creator of that very deck: The Bright Idea Deck!...

Although I had signed up for this newsletter since January this year, I have not received an issue for quite some time and wasn't expecting it today. So the timing of this latest edition could not have been more perfect!...

It's such fun when things like that happen, and I must say, they happen to me pretty frequently...  

This newsletter explains how our business cards are similar to Tarot cards in that both allow readers to interpret you from the images and text within. Also, we could use The Bright Idea Deck for inspirations on how to create the ideal business card...

There's plenty more of course, but I'm gonna spend some time reading the email now...

For those interested to know more about the "Bright Ideas - The TarotTools.com Newsletter", simply click on the link to its name here and sign up for it...

comments