Summary:

"From an autobiographical account of a near death experience, to long jazz poetry, to fables of southern slaves master reincarnating as gangster rappers, Canelo's acute sense of justice and divine irony are conveyed in top form. Please, enjoy!"

Introduction:

Somebody once told me that teaching was the highest form of human to human communication. I think they were wrong. After looking closely at the behavior of aboriginal tribes, searching the expansive catalogue of American and Russian 'PSY' experiments, and even turning through the pages of "Psychic Warrior" by David Morehouse, a book well worth reading, I say the spoken word is just an old bridge to cross before ascending up a mountain.

This is what I believe. The original language of meaning is the highest form of human to human communication. The lonely word without the power of life, lacking honesty and force, and void of the fire of conviction, is a weak attempt at any explanation. Too often, as listeners, we go deprived.

I can't count how many nights I desired to be comforted next to the fire of a strong and honest conversation. I can not count how many days I have replayed the words of great thinkers, great minds, through my computer speakers. Always, something in me races to hear the poet sing. And then, through pure observation, I can dream of what it must be like to become the poet.

Life is more than what I think it is. I am no teacher of spiritual things. I'm just a young man who is in love with the mystery. In love, I have the tendency to enjoy the chase immensely. My words do not possess the force of absolution. They contain the strength of a sincere pursuit toward absolution. I've walked over fire to write them. That is my passion.

Come to think of it, what is a spiritual teacher anyway? Is it every white robbed man with shaven head reading from scriptures? Does that man play the gong or the drum? Is it a man who preaches righteous morality while excusing himself of his several affairs and illegitimate children, often born from his female initiates? Why can't it be a woman? Why can't it be nature? Why can't it be your children? Why can't it be you? When you hear the words "Spiritual Teacher" does a man who emphasizes concepts of sanskrit and astrology come to mind? Is it a man who manipulates what is eternal within humanity by reckoning age old prophecies governed by the procession of ages or the vault of stars above? Where is God? Is there a bearded white man nestled above the clouds judging us or observing all that we do? I wonder, is it a man?

In the great play of Julius Caesar, the profoundly spiritual playwright and poet William Shakespeare wrote "It is not in the stars to hold our destiny but in ourselves." Through his creative effort, William Shakespeare brought the world something that few other teachers, political regimes, think tanks, and levitating sadhus may even comprehend. He did this only because he wrote for freedom.

I write for freedom as well. I would like to tell you why I placed a white dot within the 'O' on the cover. This is an ancient symbol representing a sphere within a sphere or a wheel within a wheel. Electro physicists tell us that a sphere within a sphere can create a unified frequency. The Earth and its ionosphere may come to mind. However, this symbol portends something more than the Earth in its electric womb. Early Buddhist, Jewish, Gnostic, Egyptian, and even Christian sects acknowledged this beautiful symbol. We do not know why. It is considered an historical anomaly. However, what does it mean?

For these reasons I named this book, 'The Secret One'. It is in honor of that secret one within all people, unawakened and lost. I have been told it exists. To me, life is nothing without its mystery and presence. It elevates me. It enchants me. So I want to see it fly.

'The Secret One' is my personal book of stories and poems.

Thank you for readin