Simon's Blog

Authenticity is one of those topics that’s both deeply personal and intensely academic. Often, it’s about how we feel vs how we think. Defining Authenticity Authenticity is the alignment of internal beliefs and values and our external actions. It is the state where your beliefs and values match your actions. Why is it difficult? Living this way is extremely hard because we are biologically wired for belonging and to be part of a community. Evolutionarily, being cast out of the "tribe" meant not only abandonment but death. To be authentic often requires us to risk disapproval, break norms, or disappoint the people we love. It’s a constant negotiation between the need to be real and the need to be accepted. Peeling Back the Onion Peeling back the onion is an excellent starting point because it acknowledges that much of our identity is inherited, not chosen. We are born into "scripts"—religious, cultural, and familial—that we follow before we even know we have a ch...

Recent headlines regarding New York real estate and City Mayor Mandami’s proposal for a "luxury second-home tax"—targeting properties valued over $5 million—sparked my curiosity. This specific policy directed at the ultra-wealthy led me to research the various loopholes this group utilizes to protect their capital. After exploring the strategies the "extra rich" implement to store their wealth, several sophisticated methods came to light. The Invisible Vaults: Freeports The first method involves the use of Freeports to hide and store assets. It is helpful to visualize Freeports as massive, high-security locker rooms for the world's most valuable items, tucked away in secretive locations globally. When an item enters a Freeport, it is legally considered "in transit." As long as the asset remains within the facility, it cannot be taxed. This leads to a curious phenomenon: why go to such extremes to store wealth if you cannot even enjoy the items? The ...

Preamble: The Way of Water We, Divine Beings, recognize our immense creative power and our responsibility to the Tao. We acknowledge constant change, commitment to unlearning, and shedding the ego. Article I: Five Pillars of Conduct All interactions are governed by the 5 Agreements : Impeccability of Word: We speak with integrity and truth Internal Sovereignty: We take nothing personally and recognize that the actions of others are reflections of their own internal landscapes Path of Clarity: We ask questions for clarity and are direct in our desires Fluid Standard: We always do our best Discerning Presence: We remain skeptical, but listen deeply to the intent of others Article II: Eight-Fold Flow Our spiritual development follow these paths: Path Application in the Charter Understanding Acceptance of Change Intention Rooted in Love & Compassion . Speech Positive and Constructive Livelihood In Harmony with Earth and Spir...