Tag Archives: community

Seasonal Slowness

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I am currently working on a documentary on slow clothes and have been in contemplation on how hand made items can deeply enrich our lives, how it is a necessity for us to make more of our own goods with 7 billion people cohabiting on the planet with a limited amount of natural resources.  It is a fact that the majority of people in our society have no connection to the items they possess other than selecting them at a store. 

During the winter holidays, when daylight is scarce and our schedules are full, it can be hard to maintain our bliss.  I am coming out of a very busy spell with a schedule that kept me at school working on projects until 1-2 AM several days a week, and sometimes at school 7 days a week.  Now that I have a few weeks off my first instinct is to sleep.  My second instinct is to spend as little time as possible shopping for obligatory gifts and to spend quality time with friends and family, the people who fuel me.  Taking the time for the subtle joys.

bright

The first thing I did with my free time was to buy materials in which I can create with.  For the next few weeks, aside from quality time with loved ones, I am developing skills pertaining to hand crafted textiles.  I am slowing down this season and that does not mean that I will be hibernating.  Aside from catching up on sleep I am going to be less spread thin and more intentional with my time.  As the winter solstice envelopes us with darkness I find my equilibrium, I engage in activities that recharge and inspire rather than distract and deplete.  Moving forward with clarity and focus on what the holidays really represent and not so caught up in the superficial aspects of the winter holidays in North America.

drop spindle

I hope to create more of what we normally consume, always contemplating how to reduce my footprint.  I look at all of the stores selling stuff and I wonder how much of it ends up in a land fill within a few years, barely making a lasting impact on the person who acquires it. I dream of a society that spends more time with peers creating rather than shopping for useless distractions that are depleting our Earth’s resources.  I dream of people learning more traditional skills and combining them with our modern technology and wisdom to truly innovate and revolutionize how we be.

I slow down this holiday season and my mind feels anything but slow.  I feel sharp and inspired.  My heart is full and ready to give.

Truly sustainable textiles consider the land that grows the materials spun then woven into cloth.  It is a human art deeply connected to the Earth.

Imminent Change

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It seems that the keleptocrats are getting their asses kicked and rightfully so. The unethical practices conducted by Wall Street have griped me for many years. My ex-husband transitioned from a sensitive software developer to a bond trader for Citibank a decade ago and my marriage went downhill from there. He became volatile and corrupt, he lost interest in his children as he fully subscribed to the world of finance which he described as ‘sexy’. He has been in touch lately telling me that the world’s economy is on life support again with a state of anxiety in his tone.

Our youth have become distracted by media; Facebook and iPods keep them distracted and unaware of what is really happening on the planet. I am so thrilled to see a revolution, to see that people are standing up for their futures, for their freedom. Revolutions are a healthy part of any society and there has been a lack of revolution in America since Vietnam. Corporate America has done a great job at keeping the masses somewhat sedated but now the corruption on Wall Street seems to have left many in a position that they can no longer be passive. I am thrilled to see people expressing their views in a peaceful way.

Major media conglomerates have not been covering the Occupy Wallstreet protests though you may want to keep one eye on what is happening, this is the boldest and bravest event I have ever seen by the American People, David is taking on Goliath. There is plenty independent coverage.

I have been feeling intensity boiling in my veins, I have been unable to tolerate situations or people who violate my freedom or the freedom of others and have been feeling bolder than ever. The feelings within me mirror the energy collectively being acted upon. I feel a balance in power is on its way and I am excited at this prospect though I must admit to feeling somewhat terrified by the process. Ready or not I think things may eventually get ugly before they improve. Brace yourselves.

Synchronistic Flow

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Continuing with my theme of the past two posts this is turning out to be a magical summer where all of my efforts have produced a flow that seems to have a force of its own. That is what synchronicity is after all. After seeing ‘Cave of Forgotten Dreams’ I ended up at a ranch on native land near Lytton, BC. We stayed with a beautiful family with a special ancestry steeped in rich traditions from BC’s first nations. In the surrounding area and in the nearby Stein Valley there are caves with petrogylphs and for three days I listened to stories of the paintings in these caves, stories of the land and of ancestry. Stories of prophecy.

My dreams during my stay on this pristine land were vivid and insightful. My dreams were different than I have ever recalled, and I am a dreamer. I felt a strong connection to nature which was refreshing after months of intense study. Further to the synchronicity the room I stayed in had an old spinning wheel in it which was exciting for me as I am developing a documentary on textiles produced from hand spun fabrics. This family has lineage as very skilled weavers. When I drove home I felt elated and allowed myself to fully relax and rejuvenate before jumping back into my hectic schedule.

There once was a time when people lived in harmony with nature, when communities coexisted without causing destruction to the environment. These people looked up and had a vision that reached beyond the sky. Our leaders today look down and squabble over breadcrumbs in comparison. I am feeling refreshed after listening to stories that have been preserved over thousands of years. I am feeling refreshed to remember that life is beyond what we produce and what we acquire.

July High

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As we are graced with 15 hours of daylight this time of year in the Pacific North West, festival season is in full swing.  Vancouver is a city that harbors whimsical summer fun and I am feeling ever so grateful to live here.  Happy 125th birthday Vancouver.  I am riding the high from being surrounded by inspiring music, films, and people in a city that you can swim in the ocean and climb a mountain, hike pristine forests, and eat amazing organic food all in the same day.

One of the films that impressed me the most this month was Mike Mill’s ‘Beginners’.  Ewan McGregor and Mélanie Laurent rocked the screen in a well told story with enough subtle humor to have kept me giggling throughout the film while striking enough of an emotional cord, a necessary element for me to give a film praise.  Sweet story, sweet film making.  I especially was impressed that the dogs thoughts were subtitled.  I really loved this film.

‘Submarine’ by Richard Ayoade is a coming of age film humorously presented with depth, whit and enough of a twist that I loved as well.

Wishing you summer bliss and creative fulfillment.

Gunbare Japan

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Gunbare translated from Japanese means to persevere, to not give up.  It was one of the first sayings I learned when I first went to Japan and it is evident that the Japanese need global support right now after these tumultuous events.  I envision Japan whole heartedly re-embracing its nature loving Shinto roots while it recovers and rebuilds.

“…the discipline and strength of the survivors are inspiring the world.” – David Suzuki

Please support an evening of music at the Queen Elizabeth Theatre on April 19th. Tickets are available at Ticketmaster http://www.ticketmaster.ca/Ganbare-Japan-tickets/artist/1578058

100% of ticket sales will go to Japanese Red Cross.

Over twenty thousand people are confirmed or presumed dead, and half a million people are displaced.

http://bc-jerf.ca/ganbare/

 

Land of the Rising Sun

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Again YouTube is keeping us connected as disaster strikes our tumultuous planet.   When a natural disaster or major uprising surfaces we are all effected as we are hyper connected since the internet has made its way into our homes on so many devices, we carry it around with us in our pockets.  Updates make it to us instantaneously.

I’m grieving too.  I know that northern Japan will rise again, this nation’s ability to regenerate is unprecedented.  The way the people co-exist with such harmony is truly impressive and has always filled me with inspiration.  Japan has given me so much, right now all I can do is send love back.  With such an intact collective mentality I can envision the entire nation suspended in disbelief yet being able to move forward supporting each other and finding order amidst the devastation.

I hope Japan takes on renewable energy with as much passion as they take on pretty much everything else they do and move away from nuclear energy.  It is time, please learn from this.

Let’s find solutions that don’t include putting our health at risk.

***

I fell in love with this song when I spent my first year in Japan, back in 1994.

A Revolution for Sustainability?

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For the first time I watched a feature film on my iPhone, fully embracing the convenient technology. It is a noteworthy project, the Zeitgeist Movement a documentary that is brilliantly leveraging the viral video phenomenon and also is ‘non-commercial’.

If you have ever wondered what the world would look like without money then it is worth checking out, it goes into detail on how a resource-based economy would impact the Earth. I think that it is healthy to envision the future of this planet through different lenses in different scenarios to our current socioeconomic model in which we work so hard to transcend. What I like about the ideas presented in this documentary is that they are discussed along with an understanding of human needs, the first section reveals our needs in utero and in the developmental years. It is grounded in a thorough understanding of one of the key components to the critical situation on this planet: PEOPLE.

It is a common thread in many of the documentaries I have watched in the past year; revolutions are a necessary component in world history, they bring about justice and allow us to move forward in our development in a healthier trajectory. In the west we have such a comfortable lifestyle and are bombarded with personal entertainment and consumerism that it does appear that the masses pour their energy into sustaining their lifestyle rather than look deeper for solutions to global concerns. We have become passive and complacent. Sustainability is such a poignant issue it seems alarming that the revolution has been so ineffective. It seems we are all going green though global emissions are still on the rise.

Check out this documentary that has almost 4 million views in just over a month and let me know what you think.

Solstice Bliss

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I have returned after a two month absence and it seems ironic that my last posting discussed my need to unplug from the every day bustle and create the space to travel inwards on a regular basis. That is what I was forced to do during the past two months. When life throws you curve balls it can be secretly providing you with a gift as well, it is important to uncover the message in these circumstances to ensure our development is not curtailed by our own self pity or by sweeping these events under the rug.

On a completely ordinary day I was stopped in traffic, absorbed by my own thoughts, when I was hit by a car with a driver who was not present behind the wheel. Luckily I am not physically deformed or suffering life threatening injuries though I have been unable to perform my daily activities up until this point at the same capacity as before the accident. I am not bothered by it though. I am tenaciously pursuing my own rehabilitation and leveraging this experience as an opportunity to travel deep with during the darkest period of the year. I am not totally certain what my lessons are, I have some ideas but more time is needed to weigh this through.

I find the solstices a time of heightened sensation and always enjoy celebrating the light, both in inner and outer manifestations. Today this day was amplified by the full moon lunar eclipse which left me unable to sleep and full of blissful sensations reverberating through my body which was a welcomed change. I have been surrounded by the most amazing people which leaves me with a deep gratitude and awareness for the magic that keeps us filled with light during the sun’s absence this time of year in the northern atmosphere. As I dive deep within while holding an awareness of my surroundings I do feel an innate sense of renewed faith in humankind. I genuinely feel that we are all shifting, together, at an ever accelerating rate. I believe in our ability to transform and drastically improve living conditions on this ever so sacred planet. The most receptive leading the way and inspiring others, who in turn put pressure on the masses to follow suit. Bravo, domino effect!

tree of light

I have been craving India since my accident as I have been pursuing health and comfort, it is a magical place for me. I need the energetic support of the ashram, the transformation that is resultant of panchakarma which is Ayurvedic treatment based on natural principles towards healing and balancing the body. I have been advised that the injuries I suffered from this accident could take up to a year and a half to recover from. I am going to prove them wrong. I have found western medicines to be more debilitating than restorative and find the holistic approach to health my only legitimate option. To all who have been a part of my support network during this dynamic healing period, I am deeply grateful. My doctors have given me their encouragement to pursue meditation for my healing so I am creating an environment where I can properly pursue this.

Stay tuned for postings from India as I dive deeply into alchemy. If you are curious about Ayurvedic treatment than this will be the place to check out a raw interpretation of it. I have lost my ability to hold myself back. I am listening deeply to the subtle sensations that arise from within, to the subtle phenomena that we are surrounded by. With a strong grounding in the light I dance in the deepest darkness.

Human Behaviour

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Last week the Vancouver International Film Festival wrapped up after two weeks of film galore. This year the theme for me was documentaries and each documentary that I watched had an environmental spin on it even if it was not an ‘environmental’ film; it is a global topic. All of the films discussed an imminent need for conditions on this planet to shift RIGHT NOW, that we are in need of a REVOLUTION.

Sometimes I think about conditions on our sacred planet and I wonder why people aren’t freaking out and being more proACTIVE. There are some amazing people making a difference, creating a future for us to live in balance and all of these people are my HEROS. Although we are making progress it seems as if a great majority of the population are so passive about planetary conditions and current issues. regeneration-themovie.com discussed how we are plugged into the internet, personal entertainment devices, we are consuming more than ever before and this is leaving us DISTRACTED. Our youth is preoccupied and passive. Even with all of this ‘media’ there is such massive censorship that most Americans have no idea about what really is happening in Iraq, there are no major protests like there were when the US ambushed Vietnam & Cambodia.

Our feet in both worlds the key thought for me, leveraging our connectivity and unplugging on a regular basis. Remember that we CAN make a difference. Make time for community, don’t wait for someone to do something. MOVE. I am certain that we are capable of pulling up our socks and focus more effectively at transformation and have ecstatic fun while doing so. Immerse yourself in love, remember that when we keep our vibrations high we have more energy to focus our thoughts and actions, magnetizing momentum.

Irresistible.

Word on the Street

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Last Sunday the mighty Vancouver Public Library hosted the ‘Word on the Street’ festival which was ridiculous fun. I was asked to direct and edit the video of a flashmob featuring Vancouver’s ‘The Carnival Band’ and dancers which included my son Solen. The flashmob started on Thurlow and Robson and made its way down Robson to the VPL on Robson on Homer.

I loved coordinating 7 cameras plus audio, then editing it all together. I loved seeing Solen so excited to partake in such an event. And mostly, I love what it represented, the celebration of BOOKS! Yes, we came home with many new books, magazines, zines and even a CD & DVD. Vancouver is promoting literacy with a ‘One Book One Vancouver’ campaign and ‘The Hitchikers Guide to the Galaxy’ was just announced as the book of the year. What a perfect book for everyone to read, I fell in love with the trilogy when I was 16. This will explain why in the video Solen is wearing a bathrobe (read the book to find the significance) and the dancers are holding the book!