The Koan of Now You See It, Now You Don't

There's always more than one way to "see" things, but lately I have been "looking at" two extremes.  This "looking at" qualifier is important as it defines the position from which we can "see" things that is not as the typical "seer", "seeing" or "seen", but from the viewpoint of the unconditional which makes all variations possible.  The Conditional OS  invokes us to be one of the three without a "second thought".  By observing this automatic we can consciously enjoy life in the flow of the unconditional or Universal OS. Confused? You won't be in a moment, however it might be by way of being so confused that the Conditional OS simply fails to process.  

So, back to the two extremes.

Ever have so many things going on at once you can't see clearly what path to take and think things will never get better? Or, ever see a path before you and know in your heart all the good things that will happen if you take it?  Either way, it isn't true.  At least not for for "certain".  

Life is change and unconditional.  If we are looking for things to settle down, or be in order before we proceed, or of a "certain condition" as we proceed or when we arrive at our "destination", we will miss what can be.  Ready for the brain scrambler: Because like the "seer" the "seeing" and the "seen" "here" only exists by way of imagining someplace "else" and "now" only seems to be by holding thoughts of "then", if you get "there" you will find it has "now" become a "here". There is no "moment" to be "in" because there is no "past" or "future" to get "out" of or "reach", no "destination" other than the "journey" of transcending these paradoxes and fully enjoying the flow of life. 

It's that simple. Notice the automatic conditional qualifiers for what they are, limiting conditions that seem to hold back and resist. That being said, the journey of course includes seeing and not seeing all this.  Like turning blind corners, slowing down a little is often helpful. Now you see it, now you don't.  Feel your breath and smile knowing you are "all ways" in the flow of life no matter what conditions you think you see. 

Loving it,
Pic;) 

The Artiste

This year I am drawing and writing a deck of cards.  By doing so I look at the Fool's path and contemplate how the interpretations flow through the process of life.  By posting as I go, I invite you to also enjoy the process.
Peacefully, Pic

The Fool happened into town one day
and on a terrace along the way
she met an artiste with tools upon a table spread
he promised if she listened to him she could avoid a life of dread.
"You are the artist of the world you see
through thought, emotions, breath, and deeds,
but know before you attempt to control these
that using them is extremely messy."
He motioned to a clean canvas, behind him on the walk,
To demonstrate his methods he continued with his talk.
"Hold the brush dumb." he advised,
"What you think you know is a complex series of lies.
There is nothing to be kept safe from.
Nothing you can do that can't be undone.
Remember the options and choices are infinite and so
there's no reason to hold on and nothing to let go.
What doesn't work is just not finished - yet." His experience qualified,
Appreciate the messy process of life, and you will be satisfied."

If you do what you always did, you will get what you always got.

Albert Einstein

One of the most limiting things in life is what we know. Well, okay, not what we know, but our attachment to it.  For many, knowledge is the map by which life is navigated, but often it leads to dead ends because life is constantly under construction, and those orange barrels never get put away.

Change Happens

Just when I thought things were going to slow down, they pick up more steam.  It seems to be like that for everyone these days.  Trying to control it is crazy.  We simply don't move as fast as our fast paced world.  Just ignoring it, as mother used to say, doesn't quite cut it either, when being consciously engaged in life is something I would like to keep on the front burner.  So what then?  The sage advice, Just let go...and enjoy the ride, seems to capture both sides and wrap them into a fun time.  So here's what's up as a result:

• Enlightenmeant has a new look (it's about time I added a little color to the banner).  And there are new tabs at the top which cover the full offerings of my other creative interests as well.  Lucid Change is my favorite new addition. With short lively updates Lucid Change supports transformation through awareness and intent. Check it out and sign up to get email updates.
• You might enjoy my Process updates about my art and projects.  I will definitely be processing the art and philosophy behind my solo exhibit in Columbus this coming August, Not As Seen on Television, all 3-D wire and paper works.
• On Friday, June 1, 6pm-12am, is the opening reception of  SOS Art 2012, a community art show and event of creative expressions for Peace and Justice. This is a potluck reception with artist talks.  Two of my wire sculptures, Hoodie and Somalia, will be in the show which includes hundreds of artists of all ages and backgrounds.  Running through June 10th, the exhibit is hosted by The Art Academy of Cincinnati, 1212 Jackson Street, OTR.
• On Saturday, June 2, 6-9pm, I will be drawing Intuitive Renderings at the Center for Spiritual Living's Prosperity Potpourri fundraiser, 5701 Murray Avenue 45227.
• Also in June, New weeknight art practices will explore getting comfortable with not knowing so we can discover, explore and make some really cool drawings paintings and more.  I am also starting an artist support group for those who would like to live their art more.  If you feel drawn to either of these two opportunities, just email or call 513-549-4607.

I hope to see you around!
Pic;)

Drawing with Wire and Finding Hidden Dragons

Changing channels between artist and creative facilitator has its challenges. Oftentimes its tough to just find the time to get the word out.  So it is that I'm blogging at the last minute to let you know about two very different events both dealing with creative energy at the beginning of October.

Saturday, October 1, the Kennedy-Montgomery Building Art Studios will be open 6:30-8:30, 6566 Montgomery Road, in conjunction with CLICK! an exhibit of photography at the Kennedy Heights Arts Center (right next door).  I'll be in my studio pulling wire creating continuous-line drawings in mid-air while my paintings hang on the walls.  Ask about classes and commissions, or just hang out and have a cup of tea and conversation. One thing I might be talking about is a new group that will be meeting for the first time on the following Monday...

The Shamanic Arts Party is different from the classes that cross-reference life and art, in that we will be applying the media of creative energy to life alone as the canvas.  The first workshop is Crouching Jaguar, Hidden Dragon, Monday, October 3, 7-9pm.  In this workshop, the three Toltec masteries are blended with the metaphor of the Chinese Cheng Yu (idiom) to gain better understanding about how the jaguar could miss the dragon, and what the dragon really is.  We will use journeying, and reflective exercises (awareness) to positively identify, free and re-direct this energy in our lives (transformation) according to our will (intent).  Learn More about the Shamanic Arts Party or call 513-549-4607 to save a place (space is limited).

CC licensed Dragon photo by miheco and jaguar photo by magicmonkey at Flickr.com

Why Do You Fly

Listen, everybody! There's no limit to how high we can fly! 
We can dive for fish and never have to live on garbage again!

Richard Bach, Jonathan Livingston Seagull

Recently I took this picture off of seagulls flying off the back of a ferry boat on Lake Erie.  In an instant the birds went from gliding so perfectly on the wind to folding their wings so they could dive into the churning waters below scrabbling against one another to get a pretzel someone tossed to them.  To see something as awesome as flight ditched to chase bits of refined-carbohydrates that couldn't possibly be healthy was at once entertaining and sad.  

The lady who was throwing the pretzels giggled and commented on how easily amused she was, and the crowd cheered when a gull managed to catch a pretzel in mid-air. It was quite a feat, but it reminded me so much of the hope Jonathan Livingston Seagull held out for his flock to fly just because they could, even as all but a few rejected his dream of freedom as a threat to their values that maintained the purpose of flight was only to gather food.

If I asked, Why do you fly?  What would you say?  Many say they can't fly, just as they tell me they are not creative when I talk about how I teach life through artistic practice.  They think being creative is difficult even as they fluidly and perfectly create that impression without a second thought.  They believe any attempt at art falls short until it accurately represents whatever one intended to create, and this is then their limited experience. They feel similarly about life and I wish they could see how beautifully they are flying.

Art is not what hangs on walls, it is the intent to create, holding space for creative energy to flow according to a process that continuously unfolds rather than getting done.  Life is the same way.  The best life is one that is constantly unfolding according to our intent. Art and life are all about getting messy, enjoying the thrills of chaos, getting it, being unattached to keeping it, and letting our creative nature soar unfettered.  Because they are so similar, art is an excellent place to explore life -- how we create it, judge it, and enjoy it.  In art we can make mistakes and laugh like children learning. 

A wise leader once said one must be like a little child to get into the kingdom of Heaven.  In Jonathan Livingston Seagull, the Elder Gull teaches Jonathan, “Heaven is not a place, and it is not a time. Heaven is being perfect. -And that isn't flying a thousand miles an hour, or a million, or flying at the speed of light. Because any number is a limit, and perfection doesn't have limits. Perfect speed, my son, is being there."  

Yes, I really did just quote an imaginary seagull alongside a spiritual master.  The point is this, if you would like to experience Heaven on Earth practice consciously "being" through some creative experience.  


Starting October 3 we will explore creating a masterpiece of life through discussions and practices directed at using our life energy as a creative media. Eastern and western philosophy and shamanic practices will be explored to help us free up our intuitions to soar through life effortlessly.  Make a reservation by email or call 513-549-4607. 

The Mastery of Chaos

Chaos is at the core of every creative endeavor including those that may not seem so creative such as taking a breath. There are few who are willing to take on the mastery of chaos, though everyone is capable, having their roots in chaos. The process of conception, gestation and birth is quite chaotic, cells splitting, transforming, appendages growing, the potential for a good life developing. Few would leave such important work to a still developing child, and yet, that is what chaos is all about.  Chaos is a state of not knowing, nothing being in place, the good and bad of it as yet undefined, a lack of safety and stability.  For the most part, the world isn't set up to deal with chaos, though the world wouldn't exist without it. Life is too often concerned with avoiding chaos, and how good one's life is, is often determined by one's ability to put out fires.  Yet, chaos is invited in every time we start something, from the first idea throughout the process.  One can't create stability without sorting through chaos. Throughout the creative process, one's work can look chaotic, ugly, even unrecognizable at times, on the way to completion.  Instead of finding chaos unacceptable, artists learn to appreciate chaos on canvas and in life.  The mastery of chaos makes room in our lives for more than we know, a new place beyond good and bad.  From personal to professional life, learning to balance and benefit from chaos creates the ultimate peace of mind.  Practice makes mastery.  Get the gifts of chaos at the Heart Studio.


image: courtesy of erix!'s Photostream at flickr.com

The Thin Line

One evening on my way home I was talking with Rob who observed that there was only one letter different between the words mastery and mystery. Rob’s observation came on the heels of acknowledging that there seems to be a thin line between the two. It's true, whether we're dealing with a relationship or enlightenment, mastery is often equated with demystifying things.

It might seem that the defining line however thin, would be knowledge, and that would be correct. But mastery does not land on the side with a lot of knowledge compared to mystery having none. The reverse is true in that while a master may have a great deal of knowledge, what is most useful is the awareness that knowledge -- attaining and maintaining it -- is what keeps us steeped in mystery.

With a little imagination we can see the “y” as a symbol of the questioning “why”. Asking “why” is grasping at knowledge which when unknown leads to the suffering of needing to attain it, and once known leads to attachment. On the other hand, mastery has an “a” which brings about the sound of “ahhhh”. Mastery is the relief of letting go and finally grasping that there is nothing to attain but giving up the effort of seeking to understand why.