Like many of you I like Bob Marley.

Growing up, we all could belt out a few lines of 'I Shot the Sheriff' or 'No Woman No Cry' and many of us would rock a Bob Marley t-shirt. Most of it was to be cool.

I've always been pretty open minded about my beliefs and thoughts. There came a time some point in the last five years that I decided to delve deeper in to Rastafari and the beliefs, values and morals of their religion. I don't want to be an expert. It was more just a feeling that I should explore not only the belief in Jah, but also a few other religions and spiritual ideals. This is all in relation to me. My story. You'll have a totally different experience and thoughts so go ahead - explore them.

While I came to some conclusion that I wanted to explore Rastafari beyond the dreadlocks and marijuana a few years ago, it was only until very recently that I took action. This action resulted in me getting to know Bob Marley much more than I ever had before. I don't think I'll ever be a true blue Rastafarian and I doubt I'll ever have dreads. I would only get locks if I were to fully embrace that lifestyle.

Personally, music is the most powerful tool to access my mind. I have read many books and I appreciate their value greatly. I've watched possibly 50x more documentaries than I have movies and appreciate their ability to combine audio and visual elements. I have come to understand many of the ideals and values of Rastafari through both books and documentaries. But music hits harder and this was the big step of learning and embrace for me.

For a few weeks, the only sounds coming out of my iPod were Bob Marley and the Wailers' gracious tunes. The podcasts I listened to before I slept, replaced by Bob Marley dropping knowledge. The hip hop I listen to, replaced by the irresistible rhythm of reggae. Not just reggae, but reggae in it's purest form. Many musicians and creatives can claim that their art comes from their heart, but it's hard to compare that to the sounds and words that Marley sing and create.

I'm a white, European male with roots firmly entrenched in England, Wales and Scotland. This provided the first hurdle, which was possibly the only and easiest to overcome hurdle or barrier. Much of what I listened to, was angst directed to my ancestors. At the root of it, there was a constant battle between the black and the white man, Africa and Europe which had existed throughout the ages, through modern times with slavery and sadly still exists. This was the easiest barrier to overcome for many reasons. There may be white Europeans who are proud of their people and the way they've handled their business, I am not. Whenever this subject was raised by Marley in song, it was inspiring for me as the message was to protect your culture and stand up against the people who tell you otherwise. Racism and judgement based upon someones colour is a prominent thought in not only Marley's music but also in Rastafari so for me to dislike them and their views would simply be wrong, because he's preaching equality.

"Rastaman don't give up"

Although Jah Rastafari is believed to be His Imperial Majesty (HIM) Haile Selassie the former Emperor of Ethopia, for me Bob Marley is in some way the second coming of Jah. His Imperial Majesty Selassie's actions are more than worthy of his status in the eyes of Rastas and to only have learned of HIM through my pursuit of knowledge is sad. This is a man who stood tall with the morals and values we all wish we had, under immense pressure in world politics and who for a time was the only independent black African monarch in Africa. Bob Marley provided through his music a voice for not only Rastas, but Africa as well as people like me. Listening to Marley's words repeatedly provides a deep sense of enlightenment where you are exposed to a spirit that in my opinion everyone should have, a wholesomely good spirit.

"You got the horse race, you got the dog race, you got the human race ... but this is a rat race"

When you combine Marley's message with the musical composition of the Wailers, you have something pretty awesome. To call it all uplifting would be severe understatement as reggae music allows for simplicity to reign. There is a free spirit within the music, the bass might come and go and then be accompanied by hits of the sneer drum. There are weird noises and instruments that pop up randomly that somehow fit in. There is a combination of sounds that you'd think were not too far removed from Africa - drums, some flutes, etc. - while the irresistible guitar riff of reggae kind of brings it in to modern times.

No matter the subject matter, reggae music is uplifting and inspiring. This fits perfectly when Marley is singing about uprising, standing up for your rights and the importance of Africa. It also fits perfectly when Marley is singing about love lost, life in Trenchtown, the sadness that comes with being treated unjustly or on a song like 'Pimper's Paradise' - "Pimper's paradise, that's all she was". Where many would match the subject with a relevant composition, reggae music won't let you get bogged down, instead you get lost in the pleasure of the music.

"Are you satisfied with the life you're living?"

Bob Marley is someone who serves as not only a window in to Rastafari but also a window in to a world where we ought to live. My experience of seeing the window, deciding to climb through that window and embrace the way of the Rastafari if only through the music, was something that will influence me forever. Listening to Bob Marley for at least 5 hours everyday for a few weeks does that to you. For me, as someone who has a basic understanding of HIM Haile Selassie and his importance for Rastafari, I see Bob Marley as someone who was put on this earth to be a vehicle for good similar to how HIM Selassie was. Through his music he not only inspires his own people and tells the tale of the Rastaman, but he also spreads messages that anyone can use. To ignore these messages and push Marley's beliefs and values in to just the 'Rasta corner' would be foolish. These are messages that transcend religion.

"Live for yourself, you will live in vain. Live for others and you will live again. Be not selfish in your doing, pass it on"

Bob Marley is not the greatest singer of all time. Nor are the Wailers likely to be considered the best musicians of all time. The beauty lies in the imperfections, which ironically makes it perfect. In nearly every song there is a pain and a strain in Marley's voice. It sounds like a voice that has endured many tribulations which makes it that much easier to relate to the suffering or determination of the specific song. The same voice also produces immense amounts of hope. It's easy to bemoan those who have suppressed you and your people, identify problems and negativity but to be able to provide a solution and inspire hope within people is an ability reserved for a certain few. Listening to so many songs consistently, you begin to feel like Marley is a higher being, someone who in a similar fashion to how HIM Haile Selassie was destined to do good for Africa, was placed here to be a voice for those with and without a voice.

I didn't really think like this until I spent a whole lot of time with Bob Marley serenading my ears. These thoughts and opinions kind of crept their way into my being. I found it all pretty strange considering that there is a crop of musicians that sit in the upper echelon which differs from person to person but the mainstays would likely be Michael Jackson, Prince and Bob Marley. Marley was someone I had always known to be a great, but I now know that he is so much more. It's strange because I've never really put a musician in that category.

Strange because I never really had any thought of coming to the conclusions I have come to. Reggae was just reggae from Jamaica, somewhere cool that I might go to one day, Bob Marley was Bob Marley, just another cool musician. I can't explain the moment or moments leading to me pursuing this interest. I don't know whether it was the personal things I was going through, or just my constant desire to continually learn but this need to explore Bob Marley and Rastafari came across me. I didn't go in search of it, it came in search of me.

I can't explain how grateful I am that said need came across me. You feel enlightened and you feel a weird sense of understanding of yourself and the world. No other musician has ever done that and few people in general have. My experiences are my experiences, I can't speak for you or the next joker but I know that the world would be a better place if the majority of it listened to and understood Bob Marley.

"Defend the rights, our children must unite, our lives are worth much more than gold"

There's no specific song that stands out more than another, that would defeat the purpose. I entered this journey/experiment kind of hoping to have my mind blown and as you've probably read, my mind has definitely blown. Snoop Dogg has a Youtube show called 'GGN News' where he asks his guest who they'd most want to see live. My answer would be Bob Marley hands down. To experience the rhythm, the groove, the funk, the happiness and the togetherness would truly be something else. It's a combination of the music - the sounds, instruments, uplifting spirit of the music + Bob Marley - his voice, his message, his delivery and the nature of Bob Marley and Rastafari that makes it all irresistible.

Rastafari talk deeply about a desire to return to Zion or repatriate back to Africa. I'll now add it to my list of places to go, to see and experience. To gain an understanding of how Rasta beliefs came to fruition I feel a need to go to the heart, to see Zion. Jamaica is obviously on the list as well, I'd feel pretty average if I expressed a desire to go to one and not the other. This isn't a mindset that I've had for my whole life, nor is it something to do - "oh it'll be cool to go Africa and Jamaica". For me it's a need. It's a case of going to the source to learn in the most efficient way, without the influences from the Babylon that we live in.

"Forget your sorrows and dance. Forget your troubles and dance. Forget your sickness and dance. Forget your weakness and dance."