Would you still be as conservative, liberal, “woke”, “red-pilled”, or some crazy combination of those if you had been born ten, twenty, fifty, or perhaps one-hundred years ago? What if you had been born in another state? Another country? This is an interesting and worthwhile thought experiment because it demonstrates the malleability of our cultural…
Author: Robert W. Oliver II
Reflections on a Hallows’ Eve, or Losing a Friend
It is immeasurably convenient for us that the year is separated in light and darkness. Unless you are at the equator, the night dominates October through March, and the day reigns from April through September. The spring and summer are ideal for starting new projects, growing existing ideas, and preparing for the harvest of our…
Olivia Cover Preview
I apologize for my prolonged absence from my blog. It’s been for good reason, I assure you. I’ve been hard at work writing the last two books in the Sign of Alchemy Series – Olivia and Frasie. Olivia is done, just needs a blurb for the back cover. I’m currently writing Frasie and expect to…
The Dark Half of the Year
The cycles of nature are more than a metaphor for our lives – they are at the heart of life itself. Life basks in the glory of the light half of the year, but the journey doesn’t start there. A new life has its roots in the depths of winter, on the coldest of nights,…
Bad Things Happen to Good People
It’s a comforting thought that good people experience good things and bad people experience bad things. But, as anyone can observe, this is not always the case. It can provide comfort to imagine a cosmic order of judgement. But nature doesn’t judge. It isn’t interested in our definition of good and evil. So why do…
Streamer FemYoga To Review Dragonfly
My dear friend Ruby Calypso arranged for popular Persciope, YouTube, and Twitch streamer FemYoga to read and review Dragonfly on her channel. She announced the review Thursday on her live stream and will be broadcasting excerpts soon. Haven’t bought Dragonfly for yourself yet? Enjoyed it and want to grab a copy for a friend? Head…
Something needs to be done about this!
I’m sure you’ve heard and said that many times. Here’s a secret: No.. actually, it doesn’t. By saying others need to do something to address a fear or concern of mine, I am, interestingly enough, giving up control. I’ve gained tremendous insight about myself by examining my mindset when I make this statement. By asking:…
Authentic Living
One of my new years resolutions in 2018 is to live an authentic life. The immediate question that comes to mind is – Robert, were you not living authentically? Yes and no. For sure, I try to be a good person. I think most of the time I succeed in that endeavor. I do not…
The Little House of Cultural Expansion
I watched an episode of Little House on the Prairie named Injun Kid last night and was struck by a pivotal moment of cultural expansion. It was subtle, but well played, and analyzing it yields a fascinating look into human psychology and spirituality. In the episode, a half-Native American boy and his mother arrive in Walnut…
Faith and Responsibility
The universe rewards faith and responsibility in equal measure. No matter your belief system, you probably would agree that if you have faith, at least in your own abilities, you are more likely to succeed. This has been shown time in time again both in studies and in most people’s personal lives. Religious and spiritual…
