Activist Artists Don't Cross Picket Lines (and other ways to walk the walk)

I'm an activist artist. As an artist my focus is to invite people to consider changing their consciousness. I have changed my own consciousness "so much" since my upbringing in early 60s Scotland. Many boundaries expanded. Many concepts, understandings and ignorances discarded. Changing consciousness is the true revolution.

The Scotland of my childhood was a union country. There was still large-scale shipbuilding, large-scale coal mining. Even then, I noticed that our communities were intra-supportive.

And so to an entwined story about me and two of the local grocery stores I shop at.

I've been shopping at my local Nob Hill store for more than eight years. A short while back (November 2012) management decided they wanted to, essentially, get rid of the union. Short story version - There was a strike that lasted nine days ... the union won and the kinda clumsy management lost. The saturday (grocery shopping day for this family) in the middle of the strike I went to Nob Hill ... to shop. Pickets were out. My friends who serve me there were on the pickeet lines. We talked. I didn't cross the picket line. No way, for more than one reason. Including ... activist artists don't cross picket lines.

So on to January 2013 ... John Mackey, co CEO of Whole Foods Market, a corporation that espouses radical and very good ideas around shop local, fair trade, organic food and so on, denounces Obamacare as "fascist". Well ... I was horrified. I've been shopping at my local Whole Foods store for more than eight years.

I wrote to my local Wholefoods Market store denouncing this. And, received an acknowledging reply. Here is an extract -

"Thank you for contacting Whole Foods Market to share your thoughts on John Mackey’s recent comments in the media. We understand and are concerned about your feelings of disappointment. We are hearing from many of our customers about this, and we are sharing all of the feedback we’re receiving with our leadership team, that includes both co-CEOs. I want to acknowledge that we may not be able to provide a response that satisfies your comments ...Thank you for your feedback. Again, I understand this message may not win back your support, but I do hope you'll reconsider and please know that we are listening and working to make our stores (and our company) a positive part of your life."

I'm boycotting them now. It is sad and awakening, both, to realise that some people who claim to actively be for a "better" human civilization are actually one-percenter elitists at heart. The several large goods that Obamacare brings to the healthcare chaos in this country are huge.

Activist artists don't give their business to elitist one-percenter wolves in sheep clothing. No way.

And ... by the way ... my new current work (short stories) goes well. More on that and these another time.

Namaste! I bow to and honour the Light within You ...

Superstorm Sandy 1000 miles Across ... and Calling Us To Our Senses

Not Whispering ... Calling. Not entreating ... but demanding.

Mother EAerth is reaching out to us with fierce intent. Of course, She whispers all the time. Every moment. To every being and every thing upon, and supported by, Her. Mother EAerth tells of Love and Life. And now She tells that imbalance is being forced upon her.

So ... superstorm Sandy was 1000 miles across at its fiercest. I have not done the two calculations - the area of Sandy and the percentage of that to the surface of Mother EAerth Herself - but that was a huge disruption.

Let Us Speak and Hear Reverence

That is why it is such a tragedy that the climate change deniers are not just content to be denial huggers, but want to suppress truth (by lies, of course). I hear no Reverence from the climate change denial huggers for Mother EAerth and all the wonders upon Her, including us. I hear no Reverence from the climate change denial huggers for Life. I hear no hymns from them of Gratitude. I do hear their frenzy though. Loud (very) and clear (though deranged).

The truth of climate change, right here and now upon Mother EAerth, is being fenced off by the creation of a parallel universe. Yet truth still exists and truth is being expressed all the time - every moment - by many of us. Everyday, "ordinary" activists who feel Reverence ... for the mystery and miracle of life.

Story as One Thread in the Tapestry of Healing

I consider myself an activist artist - I tell stories to heal. To heal consiousness, individual and collective. In my novel Alba there is deep and fully felt reverence for Mother EAerth by the Weaver Women of Alba. I use many "techniques". These techniques are all with the aim of kindling, awakening, and re-awakening Reverence. Just Reverence. Once we have true Reverence for one thing upon upon the Breast of Mother EAerth, then we can have Reverence for all.

So, for example, I have my characters talk and tell of the Reverence they feel. That's a simple technique! And then resonance happens. And reflection. And Stillness internal. And a fire, some times, to "change" the course, content, and manner of one's life.

Teling from - Alba: The Great Dance of Leaving and Returning

This is what Soay says in Alba.

Soay laughed.  “And Mother EAerth, upon whose Breast you walk, by Her Grace, will lead you to the Golden Boar of Alba, for all paths are of Mother EAerth, and all only walk anywhere by her Grace.  And all, awarely or unknowingly, are Guided by Her as to which path to walk upon!

Talitha, teacher of the Weaver Women of Alba says this at one point in the story.

"Kingdoms do not exist in truth.  Kingdoms only exist in the whirling minds of women and men that make true things false and unreal.  If you would fly as high as these first clouds this afternoon, and flew for a day and a night, you would not see kingdoms.  You would see the body of Mother EAerth.  She is the only land.  And across Her can be painted webs of illusion.  Or, across Her the Weavers can work, healing, uplifting, teaching, joining that that needs joining.”

And later Talitha talks with Moireaichd.

“That morning for that young girl, Moireaichd, was a chorus of whispers that changed that little girl’s life forever in this life.  That young girl knew, without doubt, that we travel across this sea called Time.  That Mother EAerth whispers to us all the time of wisdom.  Hers is a song that never ceases.  Just refrain after refrain after refrain.  We are Guided to open at all times.  That little girl learned that in a flash of light.”

One of the sacred dances in Alba is the Great Dance of Compassion. This is how it is described during the story.

And so, although the space was cramped and crowded, Duancan Danced the Great Dance of Compassion, as taught to him by his teacher, Moon Bear.  When Mother EAerth hears this Dance, then She sends all of herself, winds, snow and rain, Sun’s light and Moon’s light, birds and buzzing bees, all to wash away the hurt and untie the departed.    Until the place is healed.

And, lastly, Mora, succouring a dying soldier of Alba the Beautiful.

“And so I tell to you, warrior and soul, lover and friend and more.”  Mora smiled again.  “There is a Dance, young and beautiful man.  And we are Dancing it now.  But first let me tell to you what I know.  Mother EAerth, upon whose belly and Heart we all, people and animals everywhere, live, is but a fragment, a point in the great sky above us.  Mother EAerth is kin to a star.  And you, hero and warrior and Soul-on-Your-Journey are a Thread.  You are a Thread that is Woven upon the Great Loom of life.  And as you are Woven, so all things are Woven, including Mother EAerth, each and every star and more.  All.  You, me, Mother EAerth and all the stars are Woven by an essence of pure Love.  Your Thread, Cemoy’th, is Woven with all Threads.  The sky, the Moon, the One Ocean, the birds of land and sea, all animals and the beautiful Golden Boar of Alba.  All are Threads.”

Namaste!

My Long Lost Portrait is Found ... and that is a Story in Itself

Once Upon A time ...

Once upon a time ... and ... once in a place in the known and unknown Universe ... inherent together in Space and Time ... I had my portrait begun. The year was 1981 ("as the Nazarenes understand and tally the turning of the years").

I sat for the very gifted artist Natalie D'Arbeloff. You can visit her blog here.

Who broached the suggestion? I intuit it was Natalie. Though, human memory is frail and creative. In 1981 I lived in Hampstead; at an address on Willow Road.

I sat. I had never seen a painter at work before. Natalie set up - the canvas looked huge. In fact it was - 4X5 feet. That is a lot of me!. I sat very still. Natalie set to with brushes and paint. And, of course, I can see her moving and watching, and not the brush on the canvas.

Reaching Out ... Across Space after the Passing of Time

At a pause I looked. The talent to paint is such a gift! I sat a small number of times. Maybe twice ... and perhaps it was three times. The portrait progressed. And then there was disruption. Natalie left ... the painting was unfinished. I presumed the painting lost. And then ... a couple of years ago, December 2009, I reached out to Natalie - through this marvellous invention, The Internet, and found her ... alive ... and well ... and creating, creating, creating. (She is so, so gifted!)

She emailed me back. She had photos of the unfinished portrait. But ... sadly (for both of us) ... this magical portrait had been painted over. And then this morning (November 1st 2012) I receive an email from Natalie. She has found the portrait. The FINISHED portrait. And below is the story ...

On 18 Dec 2009, at 7:26AM, rennie wrote:

natalie, you may very well not remember me. it was in simon meyerson's place by the Heath. for the sittings i wore all green - green trousers, green shirt, green sweater draped over the shoulders. i believe ... (I was into green at the time). this would be c. 1982-3-ish.

these times seemed a little bit crazy for everyone around that time, place & person. and i don't suppose you ever finished it. i loved it VERY much. i thought it a wonderful piece of work.

i think about it and you ... oh ... once/twice most years :) it was the only time i ever had my portrait painted ...

Blessings, rennie walker

Success ... Joy ... and Disapointment

December 18, 2009 3:28:25 AM PST To: rennie

Rennie! How amazing!

Of course I remember painting your portrait in Simon's big room downstairs at Willow Road, wearing green, Lotus-positioned on cushions, the windows behind you. I have a photo of the painting, and you next to it, somewhere - I'll find it and email it to you, I promise. I'm ashamed to say that I never finished the portrait, and I can't remember why not? Even more ashamed that when I ran out of canvas some years later, I....um.... painted over it. AAAAAAAARGH!

However,if you're ever in London for a while, give me a call and I could start (and finish) an updated version. I've just had a quick browse of your beautiful website and will go back to it later - you seem to be happy and creatively productive - bravo! I guess you found me via the miraculous internet? Are you in California?

If you have the time and inclination, have a virtual stroll through the many rooms of my online home (links below). I became computer-addicted about seven years ago and my digital self seems to have taken on a life of its own. This has its benefits and challenges but also drawbacks, and I need to do more hands-on-canvas work.

I'm very glad you wrote to me and hope we'll keep in touch. Will send you the photo very soon.

All good wishes, Natalie

December 22, 2009 8:09:38 PM PST To: rennie@

rennie, a quick note: I've blogged about your portrait and posted the photos too and linked to your sites - I hope that's okay with you? If not, I can remove any or all of it. Sorry, I should have asked first!

Happy to know you too. Natalie

What was Believed Lost is Found!

October 31, 2012 5:22:42 PM PDT To: rennie@

Hi Rennie, I was looking for something inside a cupboard in my studio today and, lo and behold, inside a big container I haven't opened in years, what did I find? The actual canvas of the portrait of Rennie, painted in 1981 at Willow Road! And it's completely finished.

As you know, I thought I had painted over it and that it was forever lost. But it's alive and well and looking terrific. I'm attaching a photo I snapped of it tonight, standing on a table above it, because it's huge: 4' wide X 5' high.

I'm so pleased to have found it because it is really a good painting, one of the best portraits I've ever done. Would you be interested in buying it? It could be shipped in a heavy cardboard tube as the painting can be rolled up. It's on highest quality canvas.

Sending you warmest wishes. Love, Natalie

November 1, 2012 3:14:33 AM PDT To: Natalie@

natalie!

this is the most amazing story! as a story teller myself i am knocked out by this true one! what a find. you are a treasure!

yes i would totallyTotally love to buy it. but you would likely get more for it if you sold it on the "market" - because i agree it is a wonderful piece of execution - colors, composition and all. i also don't know what a price is since i have never bought a portrait. let me know. it is likely out of my range ... and i will talk with kathy (my beloved and spouse). anyway let's see ...

btw i love one of the landscapes - the one with the hills sliding downwards to the right. you are so gifted and articulate.

all best to you, rennie

Remembering Gabrielle Roth ... and Remembering Myself in the Dance

Gabrielle's CD "Ritual" is playing in the background as I write ...

I found out during Sunday afternoon (Sunday 28th October 2012, "as the Nazarenes understand and tally the turning of the years") that one of my dearest teachers of my Wisdom Journey, Gabrielle Roth, transitioned out of this SpaceTimeEnergy nexus that we call "Life" a few days previously. Gabrielle Roth was great, great teacher to me.

I found out in a "strange" way. Kathy - my beloved, spouse, and fellow-traveller on our individual and shared Wisdom Journey - and I were chatting about Gabrielle. I mention her sometimes, for transformation was seeded and happened through that Dance. Kathy asked how old Gabrielle was. So ... I went to Wikipedia. I spotted her birth date immediately. And then ... I kind of looked twice ... with eye and mind ... and ... I noticed that there was an "end" date a few days before our Sunday. Oh my ...

"Strangely", several days before Sunday I had put Gabrielle's "Bardo" in the car. And I played it several times on short drives around town the previous few days. Strange because I pretty much never have played Gabrielle's music in the car - the music is not for that, for me. Though ... "Refuge" by the Mirrors and Boris Grebenshikov was for seven or eight years me and Kathy's most played "road trip" music. And it still gets played several times a year on our road trips. We growl like wolves at the beginning when some low sounds kick in! I don't think I put Bardo in the car on the actual day of her transitioning. Though ... it's possible. It was just one of those throwaway acts of everyday lived life that had no "significance" at the time. Of course, Bardo is a SpaceTimeEnergy state that consciousnesses "travel" through after "death". And, of course, I am now reflecting on me doing this "for no reason whatsoever". Hmm ... oh well ... And, of course, the guidance that is given to consciousnesses traversing Bardo is measured in human life days ... oh well ... and traversing Bardo takes a specified number of days ...

I signed up for my first Gabrielle Roth workshop in England (I lived in London at the time) in 1987 ... or thereabouts. I didn't keep a diary. I don't know exactly where or specifically when.

Some context ... This life I have lived several lives. Being a writer I some times call them "chapters" ... but they are not really. They are more and other. Lives strung together within one. However I do measure the timeline of my life in two parts - before Gabrielle Roth and after GR. I and my life changed. Over two, three years. Before ... I was training and practising as a Gestalt therapist. And after ... I realized that I didn't want to heal others by "therapy", but that I wanted to heal - consciousnesses, hearts, souls, the human GroupMind - through stories. And so I embarked on the long journey, longer by far than that of Odysseus, to "become" a writer, a writer of stories.

Memories. And reflections. And ... reflection upon reflection.

In the first workshop - somewhere in rural England - Gabrielle said to my friend ... I think to him and not direclty to me though it equally applied ... "what you're running from is what you're running with." Hah! Well ... that kind of message certainly cuts through.

During the first workshop I attened at Esalen she talks about "space". Space doesn't belong to anyone. "It's not your space!" Well ... how true; space is never ownable and is just there to Dance into and through. At this workshop ... or maybe it was the English one ... we dance to "Can You See Me". I "remember" this being at Esalen since I remember a big dancing space and lots and lots of dancers. Who knows? Memory is a frail and yearning thing. There were always so many musicians around. First or second Esalen workshop Frank Ekeh sat in. I still have the cassette tape of him and Steven Halpern. I really liked him ... gentle, sensitive, kind. One night Raphael played solo piano for us - wonderful, surging music. Other musicians I don't remember the names of. One of the two Esalen workshops I went to we spent an afternoon with so, so very, gentle music playing and us chanting, in the massage place massaging the musicians. Three or four of us to one musician. One evening, late, Boris Grebenshikov played for us. We all sat in a big, big circle, and he played his guitar and sang. One evening session, certainly on the first Esalen workhop the energy in the dance room was ... higher than the walls of Troy. Music as loud as ... oh ... loud ... I mean LOUD ... archetypal ... and shamanic. I had never ... and I mean never ... sweated so much. I was slick. Liquid. Hot. Ecstatic. Fearlessness abounded within me.

I remember driving down what I later came to know was Highway 1 with Gabrielle and two of her core posse all the way from I think South San Francisco to attend my first event at Esalen. Bear in mind ... this was only my second trip to the States - the first, three days in Boston where I don't think I was ever further than a few hundred yards from the Four Seasons where I stayed. And I was a recovering shy person. (Hi, my name is Rennie, and I am a recovering shy person.) So ... all that coast. All that ... California. We stopped at Nepenthe for lunch. Gabrielle had some kind of Asian chicken salad. Me too. Then Esalen. Evening. The first session. I knew no-one of the workshop participants. My fears as big as the walls of Troy! What is a recovering shy, Scottish person going here? Indeed. There was Guided Purpose that took me there.

I remember sitting in the Esalen hot tubs on the edge of the cliff. Being touched by stars of a different sky than that of Scotland. Or my childnood. I stil have a Taos drum I bought at the Esalen gift store. (Five or six years ago me and Kathy dropped into Esalen on our way home from somewhere and said to the guy at the gate we were going to the gift store ... oh ... long ... long gone apparently.)

Back from the first Esalen workshop, in my West London apartment I danced to Gabrielle's cassette tapes every day. We're still late 80s, remember. Every day. I was in transition. I was breakingBursting. I was dancing for my life. Oh yes, for my life. A few months of these days passed. I got a postcard from her. Signed "Raven". Something about just thinking of me. I travel light, this lifetime. Not much baggage. Possessions. But I did check before I began writing this, in the one box of old 80s/90s papers that I have. Not there. But I knew that before I looked. No harm in looking though. Memory humming as I leaf through the box.

I still have the cassette tapes. Dancing Toward the One. Initiation. Bones. Waves. All waiting all these years to be converted into MP3.

What happened next? Changed, I hummed and hawed, dithered and deliberated. Should I ... or should I not ... train with Gabrielle? I "went to India". And by "India", yes I do mean the place (and I've been there with more than one teacher), but I mean eternal, energetic, archetypal India. The India of Buddha and Krishna, of the Gayatri Mantra, of the Bhagavad Gita, of Hanuman and Lord Ganesha, God of Abundance and Compassion, both of whom I sing songs to some times now. And Love. I have Danced a long way from my Scottish upbringing.

Thank you Gabrielle Roth for all the Service that you did for so many! Dance through Bardo! (I am sure you will be much loved and much enjoyed there.) And Dance on. For there is only the Dance.

And a few last words between you and me, Gabrielle, from here "where" I am to Bardo. My story since our first dance, Gabrielle, has been "long" .. l o n g ... and perfect. Longer and more labyrinthine than any novel. And now I write stories. And I never knew that was my Life's Purpose until I met you. So, thank you! And ... y'know ... I still feel the Dance ... it's within ... it never goes ... it "helps" me write ... my body feels it every day ... Dancing is a state of Consciousness ... forget Higgs Boson ... what's really "there" where Higgs Boson is conceived to be is the Dance. Thank you, Gabrielle, for letting me find that out. Thank you. Seven times seventy times seven hundred thank yous.

Namaste! I bow to and honour the Light within you all ... and the Dance within which we all participate

When Living in a World of Lies ... Why then Stories?

I live in a society where floods of lies are released (and re-told) every day. It's high political season here in California, and in the larger USA. Thus, lying is very, very foreground in the media circus around me. So ... politicians lie (not all, but most) at scale. Those who own and control politicians lie, at scale. Corporations lie, all the time and every where, and employ armies of skilled and experienced lie-makers and lie-promoters, and then spend fortunes to flood the "media" channels with tides of lies that become part of our GroupMind consciousness.

I live in a society where floods of lies are acted upon every day. Lies that advocate hating and belittling those (many, many) who fight against the One Percent. Lies that tell that it is OK and harmless (both) to rape and despoil Mother EAerth. Lies that tell many of us to eat (very) badly and then to self-medicate with chemicals we don't need it we eat normally and correctly. And lies that constantly whisper of the need to beat the drums of war. And more. And on ... and on.

And at the same time we tell our beloved children, and encourage them, to not lie. We want our children to be honest in word. And in deeds. And then in cultural parallel ... circulated and read widely in the USA ... there is a two thousand year old book called The Bible that explicitly, in very simple, unambigious and terse language, commands that we should not lie. All of us. But who amongst the politicians, their handlers, their shills, and the One Percent care about that one line? None, it seems to me as an engaged observer. Many liers and lie-drinkers seem to live in parallel universes at the same time.

And so ... to writing stories. Since political culture here in the USA is mad (truly) and hysterical, to use a very old-fashioned term (truly), and bearing in mind and heart at all moments and times that there is no such quality as "good" hatred, I write novels that oppose, fundamentally, this culture.

In Alba, there is black, white and grey. Somewhat as life. Some characters are for Life and Mother EAerth Herself, and honor all upon Her Breast, some are for hatred and its effects - despoilation - and others try and do their best.

I see my role as a story teller very clearly. I see clearly story-telling and story-giving as intrinsically healing. I write to contribute to the Stilling, and hence the healing, of the human GroupMind. I do this in many ways. One way is to activate archetypes in my stories. Archetypes remind us ... of what we AreCanBe ... of what we MostCertainly are. The Sacred Dancers of Alba tell True. They know (and they have worked hard to get to that consciousness) that True Wisdom exists outside and over the obvious. They offer selfless Service. To animals and humans. They pray. Dance is their prayer.

In the Age of Lies stories can tell True. And the truth is that we are not pawns of the One Percent. And we all know this with no doubt. So all we really need is community and constant inspiration.

Each one of us is not alone. We are choirs of voices. We only need to change one person upon this world of seven billion. Our own self; our own mind. That is our only duty to Mother EAerth. There are so many good paths for the diverse multitude of all of us to follow. Story works some times for some.

Namaste! I bow to and honour the Light within you.

My Current Work in Progress

So ... as a one-person global publishing empire, as all do-it-yourself artists are, multi-tasking on all my global publishing roles, I am, in equal parallel, working on my works-in-progress. btw ... let me say in parens, writing is the easy piece!<.p>

I have two pieces of work on the go. One is a recently begun series of what at the moment are "poems", based on resonances from and memories of my dreams. I have some vague intuitions where this work might lead. It is work that is completely out of character for me. You can read an extract called "The Mirror Undecided" on the "This Moment's Poem" page here. It is very thematic and will tell a story, of a sort, in its own ravelling and unravelling way. A story, I suspect, that will talk to different pulse points within us that accept the touch of Story.

The other work i have going is a new novel. At first ... i began sketching out the sequel to Alba. And now ... since the last few weeks ... I'm on a completely different story. The story that I am being Given and crafting is about an 11-year old girl, Carolyn, and a cat. And her cat, whom she finds in a mysterious way, in turn, has several mysterious talents ... 'nuff said! At least for now.

More about this story to follow. btw ... i have what I think and feel is a great title!

Namaste! You are Great-Soul-on=Your-Journey ...

The Book I Never Thought I would Publish

So ... I've just published a book that I never thought I would. And ... the reason that I never thought I would publish it is ... that I never had any (conscious) intention to write it.

And yet ... I've just published Gathering Stillness: Reflection upon Reflection. And am just about to market it. It's a book of fifty poems. (Not sure why it's fifty either ... but it is so.) It's a collection of spiritual poetry; I have my influences and I have walked paths.

This is what it is collectively "about" ... if a book of poems can be declared to be "about". From off the back cover - "Gathering Stillness is a collection of poems to inspire us to perform the devotional act of gathering Stillness to oneself. To gather Stillness is to engage in a sacred, devotional ritual, a shamanic practice. Once Stillness is Gathered, "you" are not really there, yet a You not of the surface world is most certainly there. Perceiving. Accepting. Being. you and You are joined, together."

And yet ... I had no (conscious) intention to write Gathering Stillness. It was well into May this year - 2012 ("as the Nazarenes understand and tally the turning of the years") - and I was juggling my "day job" with my "Life's Purpose" job. I had just published my first novel - Alba: The Great Dance of Leaving and Returning" - in April, and was (very) ready to begin marketing it. And ... Whaam! As Roy Lichtenstein famously quoted (many, many times). I felt the Touch of inspiration to publish my poems.

What an "odd" time to receive that Touch. What about Alba! Well ... when the Divine reaches out and Touches ... who am I to say "No"?

I worked hard - but in fact I experienced the whole work of making Gathering Stillness effortless. Did I have enough poems? Well ... how many is enough? I decided that "enough" was that amount that gave me a book in Createspace that was just thick enough to give me a spine that could hold a title and an author name.

So I lightly stepped through my poems. Reacquainting myself. Re-introducing myself to them. "Hi! I'm your writer, Rennie!" Gently through my notebooks and content from fablesofeternity.

A few small polishes here and there. Not many or much. Finished or wrote three or four additional. Struggled, struggled, STRUGGLED with one. Could not quite get the rimes and rhythms so. And then it was "so" enough (which is Perfection enough for me). Played around with the cover. Could I ... or could I not ... fit the title text on the spine. Hmm ... I did fit it on. but ... Hmm ... I'm a couple of fractions of an inch under the recommended width for holding text on the spine. Hmm ... should I risk? Not being a graphic designer or book designer by trade - and in fact this is my first ever book cover - I decided "no".

And this is verily a most true account of the coming into being of Gathering Stillness. Took me two months ... in equal parallel with my day job. You can visit the website here. And you can buy it from Amazon here.

Namaste! I bow to and honor the Light within you ...

rennie