ZLORD podcast

Dr. Deeh (Dorothy) Israel is back with us for a fourth installment of her magnificent and intriguing oral history. Carter, my co-host, and I joke that we're going to rename our podcast the "D'Zlord" podcast ... making it much more resonant to the purpose of recording for all posterity Deeh's remarkable life story.

From Harlem and Bed-Sty in the heart of troubled Black times, with extreme prejudice and crippling racism around every corner, Deeh has always focused on Love as her way. You can tell from her voice, that this lady has learned that the uplifting energy of Love replaces any fear or misunderstanding that might fester in a human heart, whether Black, White or anyone's.

Here, Deeh shares with us some of the more well-known Black and White people she's run into, befriended, and had interactions with. The conversation then turns to the current project that Deeh and Carter are involved in together, in our hometown of St. Augustine. Blacks and Whites are working on this project right now.

Little known outside of our small historical town of Saint Augustine, Florida, is a historical site called Fort Mose. In pre-Revolutionary War days, in the mid-1700s, Blacks were invited by the Spanish to come and settle in this specially built-for-them Fort, if they could but make it through the rough tangle of gator-infested swamps, gun-wielding bounty hunters, and marauding, warring factions between Spanish and English troops who were fighting for the right to "own" the New World of America at the time.

The story of Fort Mose is riveting. One that Tyler Perry should be making a major feature movie about.

After this one, you might wish to listen to all three of Deeh's previous podcasts with us, to give an all-inclusive view of a life lived in pursuit of Love and Justice, and service to others: Deeh's long and fruitful life. A truly remarkable women, we are honored to have her as our guest and hope to continue having conversations with Deeh for many more podcasts to come.

Everyone wants to be happy. But some of us don't know how, or have forgotten how very simple it is to choose to BE content with "What Is."

In this week's episode co-hosts teZa and Carter Lord give examples of how they use the simple formula of "Awareness, Acceptance, Action" to identify when a shift has to occur. First comes the recognition that a change is necessary (the Awareness part, from paying attention to when we feel "bad'); next comes realizing things aren't going to change on their own (the Acceptance part); and only then, after going through the first two steps comes finally being able to make a decision to change (Action! Sometimes this "Action" part is to take no action, but that, too, is a conscious choice).

Of course all this about being happy is more challenging that it sounds. It has to be, right? No, really it's that simple. To choose to Be happy. Being able to make that choice only comes after awareness had awakened within ourselves.

Having patience and courage to change are beginning steps for anyone wishing to experience real and long-lasting happiness -- even in the middle of a worldwide pandemic with all its accompanying annoyances, aggravations, hardships and lacks.

We hope our discussion lightens the load many are feeling in these challenging times we're all going through together.

This episode is dedicated to our Acoma Native American friends, and all First Nation Peoples who are suffering terribly, more than most in this dangerous Covid-19 time.

The world is often seen as a highly competitive arena. Everyone faces inner feelings of worthiness when we compare ourselves to the outer world. In our pre Covid-pandemic society, even more was made of a person's public persona. We definitely were (not so much today) a "celebrity culture."

Today, anyone who wants to be can be a Rock Star! An overnight viral sensation! Thanks to social media, YouTube, and the internet, in general. The pandemic has made us all more creative and that's definitely one of the perks of our cultural re-set.

We in the creative field (Carter is a filmmaker, teZa is artist/author/spiritual activist) know how important it is to believe in one's own worth, the "goodness" of our true Inner Self. To trust that what we "tell ourselves" is true, and not based on what others around us tell us is the focus of today's discussion.

The conversation begins, as always, with our own experiences. Both of us have noticed how our spiritual growth has expanded to recognize whenever "bad" or Self-judgemental thinking enters our mind. This type of "negative thinking" is the "Barracuda" of this episode's mysterious title.

teZa and Carter Lord, the two co-hosts of ZLORD podcast, discuss the way they'd found WORKS to not only maintain the highest level of personal happiness for each of them, but also to get along with others, especially another person whose opinion sharply contrasts theirs in our highly divided society as today's political climate sadly is.

In order to do both, stay personally content and get along socially, respecting others' opinions no matter what that might be, the two offer how they, along with minions of others who practice a mindful way of living, achieve this difficult balance in these enormously challenging times.

To help heal the social divide in America today, the two offer their assistance of how they've learned to stay hopeful. They offer suggestions how to mend the rip of our human fabric, by discussing how they view each and every person as having the same "Divine" spark within them. And this alone, seeing "others" as equally children of the Divine, warrants not only their being respected ... but, in Carter's words, "worthy of our adoration."

"This is awfully hard to do!" teZa honestly proclaims. Carter agrees, but offers how, since he's been practicing this method of non-judgment, he's been able to let go of very deep resentments that used to plague him. He gives personal examples of how this approach works, this spiritual approach to life.

To maintain happiness takes work, they both agree. And they're both willing to do what's necessary to lead a full and satisfied life, even in the midst of so much conflict. They ask, "Are you?" Send your comments, we'd love to hear form you! [email protected]

Change is a choice. Whether it's a national choice, a vote of presidential change, as we've witnessed just now in America--or our personal wish to change. Change begins with being AWARE of needing to change. Then, ACCEPTANCE that a better change is possible, over and over, until--ACTION can take place, which takes ... COURAGE.

teZa and Carter Lord discuss the step-by-step process of how they work with change, and show others how any change a person wants -- is possible.

Waiting for the election's results teZa and Carter discuss all of life's other uncertainties. We express our free choice, but we must accept the powerful expression of the Divine. Sometimes that comes as a ferocious storm. Sometimes as an unexpected divorce, disease, or crisis--or election result. No matter what happens, the Divine aka God is in charge. As long as we approach our different material aspects--economic, political, way of thinking--trusting this universal principle, we can have a full and satisfactory life.

Today, we apply this to the uncertainty of the presidential election which is unprecedented in its historical importance. People refer to its outcome as "determining the soul of our nation." We discuss that, too. How we can be politically-minded folks and still honor the spiritual side of our human nature, along with our physical and mental aspects. By accepting the power of the unseen forces ... the Divine in all things.

It's presidential vote week! One week from today we'll know who won. For some of us it will be a time to celebrate. For others, it will be depressing news. No matter what happens, your vote counts!

And also, what you THINK counts!

Before an act, a thought arises in our consciousness.

If you think positively, no matter what the results of any situation in life, you will be able to continue in a state of Grace. But if you hold negative thoughts, fear-filled, angry, conflicted or blaming, your own life will never be satisfactory, let alone the situation facing an entire community, nation, and our blended global family.

In this week's podcast I (teZa Lord) alone discuss the importance of watching our thoughts, and keeping as positive as we can--no matter what. I read an excerpt from my book "Zen Love" to illuminate the importance of

• trusting the invisible healing energy that surrounds us
• knowing that from a higher perspective, all is revealed

We never know what's going to happen next in life. That's what makes this, our single life and all our lives combined, the magical mystery tour it is. Be in tune with the invisible power that is YOURS and be aware of your thoughts, words, acts. Keep them positive. Correct yourself kindly, when you realized you've gone astray from the path of higher awareness.

BE LOVE

See you next week!

teZa

Co-hosts teZa and Carter Lord discuss how they work with setting goals. Goals for happiness, goals for work, goals for even family interactions.Even big LIfe goals Including how, as teZa tells Carter, "I manifested you," on this, their 29th wedding anniversary. Both discuss how they individually work with goal-setting. Carter gives a thorough step-by-step exactly how to discover one's current life's goals, by using the sure-fire method he and teZa have used for years. The conversation ends by both committing to "do" the exercise cited (which admittedly, they hadn't done for a while) and invite any listener to join them, to discover more about their heart's true calling, and ... their life's true purpose.

Carter's back and teZa, his cohost, feels like he's almost a "guest" because he's been absent for quite a few episodes (while she's been "interpreting" and reading her visionary book WE ARE ONE the last four episodes).

Carter explains what's on his mind about this topic, "What's Really Important," and then teZa does. A back-and-forth discussion ensues about what they share, a three-decade-long couple, as being most important. Everyone is encouraged to look within their own life passions, to determine what's most worthy of dedicating your life's energies to. Everyone's idea of what's "important" is different, of course. This couple is happy to share with the world that, even though they are very different in many ways, what they enthusiastically share is their love for Spirit, Higher consciousness ... also called God consciousness, or good ol' God (although that Name is a highly charged one for some folks, so ZLORD tends to shy away from using It).

This episode is the fourth and final installment of "We Are One" -- a verse n' vision artbook teZa narrates the poetic, scant text and describes each of the visionary images comprising this gem-like book honoring Oneness that she created. The previous three episodes of ZLORD podcast make, with this fourth, the completion of an intimate audial interpretation of this hardcover exploration of Unity Consciousness. Published in 2006 the 83-page, black-paper-as background vividly colorful art experience (as book) is available on Amazon along with Lord's three other publications, all three of which are illustrated nonfiction narratives.

On ZLORD's next episode teZa will offer the beginning of another audio book treat. "Zen Love" is the title of a 3-generational love story that reflects the multi-diversity of our contemporary blended family of humankind. Look for the title of this book with its accompanying number to stay up-to-date with the story's sequenced narration. Anyone who wishes a copy of Zen Love may purchase a paperback or Kindle at Amazon or anywhere online where books are sold.

For wondering regular listeners of ZLORD, Carter, teZa's co-host, will appear whenever he is able, in between his other projects of creating videos, writing, and working with Fort Mose, the special project commemorating the first freed Black community in precolonial times, in what would become Florida in the U.S.A. This incredible project that Carter's involved in was discussed in previous podcasts. (Look for the 3 episodes with our Black 95-year-old PhD friend.)

If anyone would like further information about teZa Lord's art, writing, and spiritual activism please visit her website: tezalord.com This bizarre year 2020 has been a busy one for her, with lots for her to do being sequestered during the Covid-19 pandemic. Look for her next illustrated, nonfiction narrative book to be published next year. Join her mailing list on tezalord.com for updates about her work.