These strange rocks I photographed while in New Zealand. Ironically most of them live under water for twelve hours each day as the tides comes in and out. Our whole self is seldom exposed in full. We are satisfied to have secret parts of ourselves unseen hidden under water. This became a perfect metaphor for a recent two month retreat; I focused on being, observing stillness. On the shore of Long Beach Bay in Auckland the rocks were hidden each day beneath the tide. If we try for a few hours of each day to expose ourselves like the rhythm of tides, the practice will help in every other aspect of our lives.
Lead me to Stillness
My new collection of icons is called “On Holy Ground”. Our unique human incarnation is consciousness on a grand landscape. I hope the icons can serve as a visual narrative reminding us of the power humanity has over what we have been given. We are one magnificent species influencing the entire planet, acting out our presence on land mass and oceans. It is my hope that the collection will stimulate conversations about changing our relationship to earth, from one that consumes to one that nurtures.
Yes, the icon style diverts radically from most traditional icon image and my own past work. I painted the collection with ground stone from the earth. This in itself illustrates the beauty of our planet, such color and texture is worthy of awe.
“…..And He Made it and said it was Good ”
We are on a big rock hurling through space at 50,000 miles an hour. I think we have faltered in our appreciation for the planet, as stewards and caretakers we have been negligent. She gives herself abundantly for us to live, move, and have our being. Whether we listen to the teachings of Mohammad, Buddha, Lao Tzu, Christ, or the planet herself, it is hard to ignore the beauty and grace which sustains life on earth.
We are Connected
The past two decades have been really jumbled and stressful for many of us. The greed, the destruction, the waste, etc. have been eye popping and mind boggling as we stand back thinking, how did THIS happen? The amount of individual choice we have through the clicking a screen has never been greater. Unfortunately, with this much choice and abundance comes a certain inevitable limit. Eight Billion of us cannot have everything we want, it is not sustainable.
It may be prudent to begin changing our lifestyle and find more time for rest, rejuvenation and replenishment. It is essential to pause and reflect as we go about living. We think that the norm is constantly wanting more and having more. This misconception drive lifestyles that have become wasteful and corrupted. Perhaps, our undisciplined consumption as a species is ruining our spirits as well as the planet.
We ARE the God head having a Physical Experience.
I want to suggest we analyze what it took for spirit to become physical. I was on retreat with my main objective being silent and still. My mantra became the lilies of the field who want for nothing. Reading, walking on the beach, in the woods, listening to bird song, and watching the tide change left no carbon footprint.
On returning to Mexico I went to a Krishnamurti lecture. He said, it has taken humankind 250,000 years to arrive at our current collective consciousness. We are about to surrender that evolutionary accomplishment to our cell phones and technology. How we treat the planet influences its healthy balance and sustainability that has evolved just for us.
I want to leave a mark on the world. I know the internet will not lead me to stillness, it will not give me recognition, value or purpose. I want desperately to walk away from the web sites, social media, shopping on line, marketing and promoting myself. Our internet participation does not ask the question, who am I? Surfing on the internet it is a fast impersonal media experience preventing me from becoming conscious.
People mess us up time and again.
I was silent for two months at Vaughan Park, it helped me to focus and re-calibrate the fact; I can live through and act on being, observing stillness. My interior practice has been about living in the moment. On Holy Ground is a collection of paintings which lead me to stillness. Humanity is Gods greatest gift. We can live in part like a lily and simply be content with “ I AM ”. Breathing this life is enough and complete, the rest will come with time.
Life occurs first in the form of spirit mind and then, what I am physically will be a witness to the rocks, living on holy of ground in all its beauty.
Leave a Reply