*This poem comes with a preamble, and I wish I could look into all of your eyes and that you'd be able to hear my voice as I tell it. February marked one-year since I threw caution to the wind and embarked on an indefinite world-travel adventure. Unlike my other trips to Australia, Fiji, and Bolivia, I've had no plans to return; no timelines or reality to snap back into, I was really letting go of everything and I had no idea how I was going to make it work. In short, I was terrified.

But, based on all of my instincts, it was profoundly clear to me that remaining in the US as a slave to rent payments, bills, coworkers and bosses I despised, and the endless consumer cycles of income, spending, taxes, holiday guilt, commercialism, fashion, and waste, was by far a more grossly horrifying prospect. I would rather live in obscurity each day fighting to survive as a true Earth steward, learning and respecting the laws of nature in an authentic human+Earth relationship based on the merits of deep ecology and love, than to "comfortably" die slowly as a programmed western drone perpetuated to sustain the financial grip of corporo-political mobsters raping the planet and our dignity, and knowing exactly what I had to expect week after week, season after season.

To live simply for the sake of living, particularly under the grotesque manipulation of an economic system of socio-emotional and religious machinations which seeks only to better the interests of the few controlling the illicit profit channels of war, black markets, perversion, finance, mass media, agro chem/tech, pharmaceuticals, and fossil fuels, is the most heinous insult you can give to your creation energy, to the beautiful temple of purpose and prosperity that you are. We as a species, a single race of personhood, are meant for more than we could possibly imagine. The entire universe awaits our unique ability to explore, adapt, and co-exist; an infinite pool of inspiration upon which to draw our arts, theatre, music, literature, dance, humor, dreams, love, and every new magical facet of our human expression yet to be discovered.

But such a future can only be ours if we make it our will; we all have the free-will to do so, yet there are some here on this planet that seem to think that their free-will trumps that of others,' and it would appear to be one of their most integral duties to actually find the means to suppress and eliminate the opposing free-will once-and-for-all.

"The most effective form of slavery is a system that allows just enough autonomy to give the illusion of freedom, while keeping the public in a perpetual state of indentured servitude."

Perfecting slavery is as simple as having those who would be slaves freely choose their roles as a subjugated mass loyal to the constructs of a self-sustained oppression which appears as a moral, if mollifying, lifestyle. This can be achieved through, namely, religious pressure and subsequent guilt, the emotional puppetry of social-class mentalities via subliminal media, commercialism, fear, status, image, drugs (including food-additives and processed animal products), sexuality, gender construction and division, and the illusion of race. And most crucially, through a surgical and nearly irreversible separation from Earth-energy consciousness and the true sources of spiritual and personal transcendence. And it can be stated just as clearly as these tactics openly arise in our lives, that the earlier in a human's life these manipulations can begin, the higher the chance that successful brainwashing will occur.

So, where am I going with all of this, you ask? How have I been making this life of travels work, you may be wondering? First, years ago, I decided I was fed up with being sick. Or, more accurately, being sickened. Sickened by a poisoned diet, sickened by noxious propaganda, sickened by antipathy and hate, sickened by negative energy, sickened by toxic chemicals, sickened by self-defeat and conformity, and sickened by being a willing participant in the wanton and virulent ruin of all that is innocent and beautiful.

With so much weight bearing upon my body and soul, I figured the best place to start was my own temple; so in 2011 I changed my diet and hygiene practices. For just ten-days I switched to nothing but organic green-smoothies, organic raw veggies and pickles, and organic fresh baked bread with some balsamic + olive oil to dip it in. And of course water. By even the fifth day I was feeling tremendous positive side-effects that were replacing my normal awful side-effects of my previous standard American diet. By the tenth day I was convinced by the amount of energy and clarity I felt: there was no longer daily heartburn and indigestion, no more heaviness and fatigue, I felt I actually smelt attractive for a change, my skin was improving, I was becoming all-around healthier. For the last years the positive side-effects remained and the negative ones have never returned. I have since stayed as true to the organic/raw/vegetarian diet as I can, with some acceptions for seafood and eggs as a source of protein (which I am continuing to find better sources), and locally hunted, or organically raised meats that I have been offered by kind hosts.

Around the same time as adjusting my diet, I took account for the hygiene products I was using on my body. I decided to outlaw any corporate chemicals, switching to natural soaps with only a few organic ingredients. Also, coconut oil is amazing for more than you can imagine. Once again, the feelings from my body spoke for the effectiveness of the adjustment, and I even felt a surge of happiness simply from eliminating so many carcinogens and toxic chemicals from my life.

I then began research for a tour in the PeaceCorps, but in order to stay true to my conscience I knew I had to distance myself from any and every government organization and sacrifice of rights in the name of "freedom" and "democracy". My journey would be one of independent, international graduate research where I would have the final say at the end of every day.

With only a few thousand dollars in savings, so far, through various volunteer organizations, I have been able to visit and help with organic farms, nature reserves and nurseries, meditation retreats, private chateaus, family homes and gardens, horse stables, rural B & B's, intentional communities, rural seminar centers, fine restaurants, and I'm just getting started. By contributing my energy for a few hours each day (the equivalent of part time work with two-days off), I am provided room and board at the very least. However, I've been frequently bestowed gifts and have gladly accepted invitations to dinner parties, holiday celebrations, popular local attractions, trips to neighboring towns and cities, cultural ceremonies, historical sites, school functions, nature hikes, yoga and meditation classes, games and films, pot lucks, birthday parties, road trips, fairgrounds, and so much more.

I've been provided most of the things I need, and very little of the things I once wanted. And the longer I go without the wants, the better off I continue to be. And the more I discover about what I really need, the more I enjoy new things I didn't know I really wanted, including the lack of wanting.

Even if I had the means to do otherwise, I still would only want to travel this way: living and laboring with honest, hard-working families and communities away from the tourist trails, and in authentic centers of grass-root values far from the greed and corruption of profiteers and the class and money culture, and where I could even cook for them on occasional nights as we share meals together as the equal human beings we are.

Money is cheap- Real, good-spirited energy by means of education, wisdom, inspiration, hospitality, acceptance, acknowledgment, friendship, and trust, is the most valuable form of remuneration. With such support you can really accomplish anything; WE can accomplish anything.

There are many millions of like-minded people around the world that will help you escape emotional, financial, and spiritual bondage; as much as the corporo-political powers hate to believe it, the organic farming movement and a contribution-based economy is growing rapidly, and programs like WWOOFing, workaway, helpx, and au pair are gaining momentum by the year.

So ask yourself if you are really living for yourself. Is this the life that your soul calls out for? Or are you, like I once was, just a corporo-political shill?

Even if you feel unable to undertake such an uprooting journey as I have, because you have small children, you're currently finishing studies, or whatever else, you can still make a few small but powerful changes to your life (and even better if you have small children you can be a positive influence for) that will have a helpful impact on the spirit and progress of the movement. Not to mention a dramatic improvement to your health and energy!

--Try the ten-day green smoothie challenge like I did. I even cheated a little because I ate bread and pickles. It really will change your life.

--Try milk alternatives, almond milk and coconut milk are incredible. And if you must have cow's milk, purchase from a local organic farmer that respects the cows.

--Have meals with just raw organic veggies, nuts, and seeds a couple nights a week. Support your local organic farmers. If you must eat meat, purchase from local organic farmers that respect the animals and raise them kindly.

--Stop using fluoride toothpaste and do some more research on the chemicals in your hygiene products.

--Consider volunteering some hours on a local organic farm, or even help some world travelers from workaway or helpx that are on a similar journey as me. You'll meet some really kind and helpful people.

So, I will now leave you with my new poem, and I remind you to feel free to follow along with me on my blog site during my upcoming adventures:http://www.writeoutloud.net/profiles/jakevincentbelmont --where you can also freely print and share any of my poetry that you may like. And I am also frequently adding to my photo exhibition album here on FB which has the best of my travel shots, and I wish for you to also feel free to keep or use any of those images you may also like.

Thanks! And be happy and well : )

A Given Year

Hit the road in February snow
Busted Portland, time to let go
Her hope is lost, she's become a cliche
Perfect cannot last day after day

California, we meet again
But I can't let you have me when
Despite the love, despite the friends
Her means puts to death her ends

I March downunder, in time for fall
Queensland sunshine heeds my call
Against the odds, third time's a charm
She never meant to cause me harm

Just what do I do with me?
Some self-fulfilling prophecies
With a few old tricks up my sleeve
A golden April I achieve

On Bali I try to follow-through
May have bit off more than I could chew
Though I lacked in diplomacy
I attract who I'm supposed to meet

An escape arming for the escape
Biding my time in a dream landscape
Like Durrumboi I'm made a vassal
Lunar June with queens in grass castles

Now my fuse is running short
No patience for games of this sort
My mission accomplished, raise the sails
To calmer Julys and open trails

Alive in an August paradise
Each day's new emotional spice
With all I'm really made of
I prudently fall in love

The stars lead me to Germany
Follow footsteps of my family
Forge new trails in Spanish country
A September serendipity

Ode to October romance
Autumn in the heart of France 
Tantric miens and chateau scenes
My heart melts in blues and greens

Adventures in southern Gaul
Streetlights and senses enthrall
In an Amsterdam dream
November noon reigns supreme

Through merry London skipping along
Into the channel by siren's song
December days in Guernsey grace
Earthen home upon the island base

January in the kingdom north
Like St. Patrick I venture forth
With the trust of beasts and sky
Forever we live and die

Keeping a highlands fortress
Kneeling before her empress
Hit the road in February snow
Welsh synchrony and beauty aglow