Hello all, and welcome to the Mojo issue of Meniscus Magazine! When we put out the call for submissions a few months ago, we had no idea what we’d be getting on this hot topic. But as you’ll see, the creative artistic and musical counterculture has got it goin’ on!

So what is mojo? Well, according to artists Yuko and Andy G., in Cosmic Mojo, it starts with the powerful, innate desire to survive and prosper. At its most fundamental level, mojo is the tendency for beings to attract each other and produce off spring. This mission to survive lies at the very base of evolution and is everyone’s ultimate raison d’etre.

Mojo is the zesty spark that makes life amazing and allows it to continue. Within each human being there is a holistic energy system stimulated by a powerful sexual battery. The tendency to procreate is the fuel for the spirit that adds primal vitality, essence and energy to life—balancing the yin and yang.

Emlyn Lewis thought he knew all about mojo prior to the recent birth of his first child. What he found out is that mojo is not only the life force driving us to survive, but it is also the result of that life force brought into reality. If this doesn’t make sense, just flip to the picture of his embodied mojo in the Elements section and see for yourself.

On the other side of the spectrum, this barbaric life force can be harnessed and channeled to any area of your life that requires pizzazz! One of the greatest gifts of human evolution is our unique ability to shape life through our intentions. Not all creatures are lucky enough to have such manifestable will power, but humans can literally create reality with our thoughts through action. More highly evolved people are thus able to harness the animalistic desire for sex and channel this powerful energy towards other areas of their life. When you’re not using this creative force for procreation, it can be channeled to any thing you set your mind to: art, music, photography, spirituality, philosophy, travel, technology—even fishing! (Not that fishing is better than sex...!)

Have you set your mind on your greatest potential? In Music Maestro Please, Michael Levy urges us all to ask a few simple but important questions in regard to where we focus our will power: Have I truly been the maestro of the orchestrations in my life? Or have I let other people conduct my compositions without my input? What does it mean being the maestro of one's own life?

Of course everyone is different. Maybe you’ve decided to channel this vital essence towards spirituality as Annie Rigo has. Maybe your bag is photography. Or perhaps your driven to get out of bed because its past noon and the rest of the world has been awake for hours. Everyone is different.

For Addison Groove Project, the band members are driven by the memory of John Hall, friend and band-mate. Even though it was tragic to lose a 25 year old to cancer, he lived a life of strength, positivity and empowerment that his friends will remember forever. Now with the true realization that life is short, they tour with everything they have, always remembering not to take life too seriously when the glass seems half empty.

Sounds like mojo to me.

So how does our mojo relate to others? Carl Jung might say that when you’re out on the town and see someone with a “supernormal degree of luminosity” it might be just chance—or it could be a meaningful coincidence. I’d like to think it has something to do with the natural harmony of the universe leading us to find people on the same wavelength.

Everyone’s energy vibrates at a certain frequency. We are all motivated at different levels based on human needs; from basic survival needs to self-actualization and transcendence. Less energized individuals will be motivated by hunger, thirst and bodily comforts. But those that are able to capture and control the vast power of their personal mojo will be able to drive towards self-actualization, where you can truly realize your full potential.

Highly evolved individuals are not only able to drive towards their own self-fulfillment, but they are able to take on the greater struggles of the world. We here at Meniscus Magazine recently had the opportunity to work with some amazing people that have taken on the daunting task of making the world a better place by working to end the war in Iraq.

On March 26th, Meniscus and Boston-based musician Brian O’Connell hosted Assembling Peace, a party for peace and justice in Jamaica Plain, Mass. When we began planning the event two months ago, we had no idea how it was going to turn out. What we found was a rich culture of activists and organizations that are set on bringing justice to the world by educating people and ending the war. It was a truly amazing experience to be a part of such a powerful grass roots movement and to see the gusto that these people exude. Thank you to everyone that focuses his or her energy on bringing light to the rest of the world.

So as you peruse this springtime issue of Meniscus, enjoy the art and ideas from the upper echelon of human consciousness. This creative energy made its way through the perception of the artist and now is in front of you as a resplendent snapshot of Awareness. What you’ve got here is electronically-transmitted liquid mojo: manifest destiny.

Peace and Love,

Jon

PS - Speaking of mojo, check out the new line of swimwear from Victoria Secrets.

NOW THAT'S DEAD SEXY!!!

From the Swim Sale 2004 Vol. 2 catalog.