"Phoenixes burst into flame when its time for them to die and are reborn from the ashes."
- Professor Dumbledore, Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets
Phoenixes are mythological creatures. Birds of literal fire who burst into flames and are reborn from their own ashes. I love Phoenixes. I really do. The sheer power of bursting into flames and being reborn. They are the penultimate symbol of regeneration. Rebirth. Regeneration is powerful. They are the literal embodiment of the phrase "what doesn't kill you makes you stronger." How much more powerful than that does one get?
Beautiful creatures right? I like to think of myself as a Phoenix. As someone who will take hits and come out stronger. Really I do. Well, I am a Scorpio and one of our totem animals is a Phoenix after all. We are all about rebirth, about taking the shell (quite literally since the Scorpion sheds its skin as it grows) and making something new. There's a beauty in pain, in failure, in adversity. Those moments of pain, of hardship, of challenges are, yes they are difficult, but they are also beautiful. They're beautiful because in those moments you truly understand just how far you will go. You understand that yes, existing is hard, but you will be here, you will continue. Failure is a perception. Success is a perception. It's about how we react to both that makes the difference.
I've taken some serious hits in my life and I struggle every day against my own demons. One thing I've learned? That's exactly what they are. My demons. However I react, it creates a new demon. Boy do I get tired of fighting. I have my defeated days, weeks, months or worse years. I'm exhausted. Mentally, physically and emotionally. I'm exhausted. Burned out if you will. That's where my Phoenix philosophy comes in. In those moments of exhaustion, of what I think is failure or defeat. It's that moment right before I burst into ash. Where my shell can no longer contain the person within. Where I've outgrown the reactions of my past. I'm still me, but I've evolved. I can no longer function the same way. Change is mandatory. More importantly it's necessary. And we have to learn to adapt to that change, to evolve with that change not against it. Sometimes, most of the times, that's the painful part. The part where we as humans, don't really like change.
Oh, but Duchess what is the point?
There ain't no point. Not really. One of my favorite songs played and I couldn't help but write about Phoenixes. Yeah, the songs about being a Phoenix, metaphorically of course. I don't actually think I'm a Phoenix. Weirdo. Anyways, here are some lyrics to it:
"What are you willing to lose? You cover your wounds, but underneath them A million voices in your head that whisper, "Stop, now" Another twist of the knife, turn of the screws It's all in your mind and it's fighting you Arm yourself, a storm is coming Well, kid, what you gonna do now? It's your reflection looking back to pull you down
So are you gonna die today or make it out alive? You gotta conquer the monster in your head and then you'll fly Fly, phoenix, fly It's time for a new empire Go bury your demons then tear down the ceiling Phoenix, fly"
-Phoenix by League of Legends Ft. Chrissy Costanza
Cool right? Yeah, I know. It's one of my "Power Through Bitch" Songs. I have a whole playlist for those moments where you just need that extra push to get stuff done. My rebirth, regeneration songs. I'll share those with you.
I call it my "Fierce" playlist.
Phoenix- League of Legends Ft. Chrissy Costanza
Centuries- Fall Out Boys
Warriors- Imagine Dragons
Live like Legends- Ruelle
Castle- Halsey
Breath of Life- Florence + The Machine
Believer- Imagine Dragons
Phoenix- Molly Sanden
Free- Faith Hill
Alive- Sia
Immortals- Fall Out Boy
Born Ready- Zayde Wolf
Unstoppable- Sia
Yes Girl- Bea Miller
Remember This- NF
Courage- P!nk
I'll Make a Man out of You- Mulan Soundtrack (OH COME ON! BEST OF ALL DISNEY SONGS!)
You Haven't Seen the Last of Me - Cher (Burlesque Soundtrack)
F***King Perfect- P!nk
I'm Alive- Celine Dion (GODDESS)
You- James Arthur Ft. Travis Barker
10 Feet Down- NF
Mother's Daughter- Miley Cyrus
Fuck with Myself- BANKS
A New Day Has Come- Celine Dion
Wait For it- Leslie Odom Jr. Hamilton Soundtrack
Returns- NF
Power is Power- SZA, The Weekend & Travis Scott
All the King's Horses- Karmina
Life Goes On- LeAnn Rimes
Level Up- Ciara
Strut- The Cheetah Girls (Yeah- and what?)
Main Event- Ru Paul
Dejate Llevar- Juan Magan Ft. Belinda & Manuel Turizco
I am Here- P!nk
Danger Zone- Kenny Rogers (Yes. Top Gun makes an Appearance- fun fact Duchess wanted to be a fighter pilot when she was younger)
It's always darkest before something really beautiful happens. Light it up. Power Through Bitches and Rise, You Beautiful Phoenix, Rise.
With some Type of Love,
The Duchess
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