Aloha Ke Akua

When I think of the end of the world as we know it, this is the direction my mind travels. Thanks to Nahko Bear for this lovely creation.

Lend your ears, lend your hands,

Lend your movement, anything you can.

Come to teach, come to be taught.

Come in the likeness in the image of God.

Cause, you can be like that.

With all that humbleness, and all that respect.

All of the power invested in me,

be it hard to love my enemies.

All of the black bags over the heads of the dead and dying.

The more I understand about the human race,

the less I comprehend about our purpose and place

and maybe if there was a clearer line 

the curiosity would satisfy.

Time based prophecies that kept me from living,

in the moment I am struggling

to trust the divinity of all the guides

and what the hell they have planned for us.

I cry for the creatures who get left behind

but everything will change in a blink of an eye

and if you wish to survive,

you will find the guide inside.

I go back and forth every single day,

the clarity that comes to me in a choppy way,

as the feelings and the places

and the seasons change,

the galaxies remain.

Energy fields cone the body in space.

The angels that are coming from a spiritual waste.

The hate that gets me distant from my spiritual pace.

Ten fold the manna when the planets are in place, in polar alignment.

We're on assignment.

Bodies on consignment.

Return them to the circus.

And what is the purpose?

What is the purpose and would you believe it?

Would you believe it 

if you knew what you were for

and how you became so informed?

Bodies of info performing such miracles.

I am a miracle made up of particles

and in this existence,

I'll stay persistent,

and I'll make a difference

and I will have lived it.

Aloha, Aloha Ke Akua, Ke Akua,

Aloha, Aloha, Kuleana, Kuleana.

Aloha, Aloha Ke Akua, Ke Akua,

Aloha, Aloha, Kuleana, Kuleana.

Each day that I wake,

I will praise, I will praise.

Each day that I wake,

I give thanks, I give thanks.

Each day that I wake,

I will praise, I will praise.

Each day that I wake,

I give thanks, I give thanks.

And the day that I don't wake up

and transcend the holy make-up,

I am capable, I am powerful.

And the day that I don't wake up

and transcend the holy makeup,

I am on my way to a different place....

I'm not a leader, just a creature,

seeking the features of a teacher.

Whether you follow or whether you lead

All mysterious ways of nature and I'm into it.

Changing management.

And there are various ways to conquer this monotonous metropolis,

my stubbornness is bottomless,

my fearlessness is talking shit

and I'm wide awake and I'm taking names.

I am not a leader, just a creature.

Seeking the features of a teacher.

Whether you follow or whether you lead

All mysterious ways of nature and I'm into it.

I'm into it.

Changing management.

And there are various ways to conquer this monotonous metropolis,

my stubbornness is bottomless,

my fearlessness is talking shit

and I am wide awake.

And I'm taking names.

And there are various ways to conquer this monotonous metropolis,

my stubbornness is bottomless,

my fearlessness is talking shit,

and I'm wide awake and I'm taking names.

Do you speak to me like you speak to God?

All of the love and understanding between the father and the son?

Do you believe in the perfectness of where you are?

These are my people, these are my children,

this is the land that I would fight for.

My solidarity is telling me to patiently

be moving the musical medicine around the planet in a hurry,

Cuz there's no time to waste.

Got to wake up the people time to stand up and say,

we know what we are for

and how we became so informed.

Bodies of info, performing such miracles.

I am a miracle, made up of particles

and in this existence,

I'll stay persistent

and I'll make a difference

and I will have lived it. ........

Aloha, Aloha Ke Akua, Ke Akua,

Aloha, Aloha, Kuleana, Kuleana.

Aloha, Aloha Ke Akua, Ke Akua,

Aloha, Aloha, Kuleana, Kuleana.

Each day that I wake,

I will praise, I will praise.

Each day that I wake,

I give thanks, I give thanks.

Each day that I wake,

I will praise, I will praise.

Each day that I wake,

I give thanks, I give thanks.

And the day that I don't wake up 

and transcend the holy make-up,

I am capable, I am powerful.

And the day that I don't wake up 

and transcend the holy make-up,

I am on my way to a different place!

Aloha, Aloha Ke Akua, Ke Akua,

Aloha, Aloha, Kuleana, Kuleana.

Hooping at the Giant's Causeway in Ireland

Hooping with Revolva, Valentina, Gail, Tiana and Harlequin

When I go for a drive I like to pull off to the side

Of the road, turn out the lights, get out and look up at the sky

And I do this to remind me that I'm really, really tiny

In the grand scheme of things and sometimes this terrifies me

But it's only really scary cause it makes me feel serene

In a way I never thought I'd be because I've never been

So grounded, and so humbled, and so one with everything

I am grounded, I am humbled, I am one with everything

Rock and roll is fun but if you ever hear someone

Say you are huge, look at the moon, look at the stars, look at the sun

Look at the ocean and the desert and the mountains and the sky

Say I am just a speck of dust inside a giant's eye

I am just a speck of dust inside a giant's eye

When I saw Geneviève I really liked it when she said

What she said about the giant and the lemmings on the cliff

She said 'I like giants

Especially girl giants

Cause all girls feel too big sometimes

Regardless of their size'

When I go for a drive I like to pull off to the side

Of the road and run and jump into the ocean in my clothes

*I'm smaller than a poppyseed inside a great big bowl

And the ocean is a giant that can swallow me whole

So I swim for all salvation and I swim to save my soul

But my soul is just a whisper trapped inside a tornado

So I flip to my back and I float and I sing

I am grounded, I am humbled, I am one with everything

I am grounded, I am humbled, I am one with everything

So I talked to Geneviève and almost cried when she said

That the giant on the cliff wished that she was dead

And the lemmings on the cliff wished that they were dead

So the giant told the lemmings why they ought to live instead

When she thought up all those reasons that they ought to live instead

It made her reconsider all the sad thoughts in her head

So thank you Geneviève, cause you take what is in your head

And you make things that are so beautiful and share them with your friends

We all become important when we realize our goal

Should be to figure out our role within the context of the whole

And yeah, rock and roll is fun, but if you ever hear someone

Say you are huge, look at the moon, look at the stars, look at the sun

Look at the ocean and the desert and the mountains and the sky

Say I am just a speck of dust inside a giant's eye

I am just a speck of dust inside a giant's eye

I am just a speck of dust inside a giant's eye

And I don't wanna make her cry

Cause I like giants

Frost Princess

This is a beautiful project by lovely artists in my community:

Model - Devin Willow 

Body paint & Styling - Mirabai Wagner

Photography & Video - Kurt Lawson

The video below is a behind-the-scenes look 

at the making of the Frost Princess Series:

Update Jan7, 2012:
I had to remove the video because I could not get it not to auto-play.  You can view the video here:  http://vimeo.com/52051023

I am looking forward to seeing the series in it's entirety.

We have so many wonderful, creative, loving individuals in the Austin artists community.  I feel honored to know just a portion of them.  Please research and hire local artists in your area or feel free to support the ones in mine.  

Leslie Cochran's Memorial

Sweet, stubborn, passionate, loved, loving and a willing Austin icon...

You will be missed.

You will be remembered.

You are loved.

Welcome 2012 SXSW Music Festival Visitors

SXSW visitors will, not only, appreciate the music in Austin; but our visual artists as well.    The creativity, diversity, beauty and special nature of Austin fire flow artists (also known as fire dancers) is inspiring.  I've tried to include photos in this post that I haven't shared until this week.  You will find that, although, many performers are completely booked during the festival, some still have availability. 

I look forward to having a public showing of a series of our local fire artists.  Feel free to let me know which ones you like best. 

Firepower

From Within a Cimerian Shade

Effulgence from deep within a

Cimerian shade of my own creation

Peering out, looking in, imploding... 

Exploding alignment! Components

Forming beauty greater than before

In the darkness of these moments

Synaptic symphonies replace silence

Songs of peace, comfort and light

Colorfully fill the reality of my now

My BEing alight; bursting forward

Illuminated bubbles appear before me

Filled with past, present and future

Undulating iridescent capsules

Of factuality brighten my now

Bringing a promise of a new way

I choose to listen.

Tiptoeing at Sunset

Tiptoeing at sunset, cataloguing

Life's odd placements and pitfalls

Attempting recall with each step

Fumbling through darkness fallen

Searching for unimpeded paths

Stepping lightly, retracting quickly

Each step met with jagged surprises
Nothing in place, nothing the same

Knowing it never shall be again

Is It Time You Climb?

100% One Tribe - One People Flash Mob

Tinariwen

"Listening to Tinariwen is like dropping a bucket into a deep well."

~Robert Plant

Tinariwen's website is here.

Tai Chi In Zilker Park on 11/11/11

Fire within manifest

For all to witness

Breath, depth, silence

Hands ignite in healing

Sky-connected breath

Metaphysical winds whip

Flags of harmony, waving

In the winds of change

Depth, breath, silence

Healing touch, embodied

Embraced and administered

Anticipating life's gifts

Chi held, Chi delivered

Each in it's own time

Silence, depth, breath

Nudged via universal encouragement

I journey to explore the world external

Activating the world internal

A Dryadian whisper

Over here, look over here

Over here, look over here

Prior to my eyes

attaining their destination

A familiarity filled me

Considering quiet correlations

Of surprising susurrations spilled

Astride mountaintop efflations

Forest skin tattooed by lovers

In my now, I see her eyes

And replay our last embrace

My eyes light on the arborous appendage

An uncommon treasure, assuredly

Clutched, kissed, blessed,cherished

I Wanted This To Be Different

I have been very busy following and photographing Occupy Austin although I haven't been sharing much on my blog.  I planned to share some of the beauty I had witnessed  and commend Chief Acevedo and APD for being respectful of the rights of Americans.  Instead, this takes precedence:


A Marine from Wisconsin, Scott Olsen (24), was shot in the head by a projectile fired by Oakland police. When people ran to his aid, an officer threw a flash grenade at the limp body and the would-be rescuers.  As police watched, the critically injured veteran was eventually swept up and carried away by human beings.

It is unfortunate that many officers have yet to understand that most in the Occupations support police, the difficulties and stresses they face and their wage/benefits challenges.  

The following is Oakland Mayor Jean Quan's response:


Taken from her Facebook Page
October 25, 2011
7:30 am

Many Oaklanders support the goals of the national Occupy Wall Street movement. We maintained daily communication with the protestors in Oakland.

However, over the last week it was apparent that neither the demonstrators nor the City could maintain safe or sanitary conditions, or control the ongoing vandalism. Frank Ogawa Plaza will continue to be open as a free speech area from 6 am to 10 pm.

We want to thank the police, fire, public works and other employees who worked over the last week to peacefully close the encampment. We also thank the majority of the protestors who peacefully complied with city officials.

I commend Chief Jordan for a generally peaceful resolution to a situation that deteriorated and concerned our community. His leadership was critical in the successful execution of this operation. City Administrator Deanna Santana developed the plan and secured mutual aid from other departments and the State of California. She will direct departmental teams, including safety, public works, communications, to restore conditions at the Plaza so that it is available for public use.

The City welcomes all Oaklanders to continue to use the Plaza during daylight hours for peaceful protest.


~Mayor Jean Quan


Apparently, 1st Amendment rights expire at sunset.


At the time of this post, there were 9,854 comments on the above Facebook profile post.  I read about 200 and found only one comment supporting her.  The post has been shared 848 times and when I linked my blog to the post.  Apparently, her e-mail address (jeanquan4@gmail.com) has been disabled.

Carlos Miller reported that the mainstream news turned a blind eye as police attacked an unarmed crowd of people exercising their 1st Amendment rights.


What are you going to do about this?

Goodbye Sweet Franzi

We met Franziska Bader shortly after we returned from tour back in 2002.  She greeted us with big hugs, fed us fantastic food and asked questions that made our brains hurt.  She became a close friend and client who we stayed with each visit to or through Dallas.  

We will miss you so much.  Thank you for all you taught us. Thank you for all of your love, generosity and integrity.  Thank you for your BEing.

It is with a heavy heart that I share that she passed away while on a journey to see her parents in Switzerland.  

Our friend Franzi was an artist, friend, teacher, student, seeker and a lover of life.

Thank you to Shane for sharing her final adventure and providing the comfort she needed to find that final smirk.  

Sorry For The Inconvenience...

This was sent to me this morning.

We Hold These Truths To Be Self-Evident That All Skaters Are Created Equal

(click on picture to enlarge)

Darned home schooling!!!


If it's been a while, click below to view each:
Declaration of Independence

Constitution of the United States 

Bill of Rights

Power-washing City Hall During Occupy Austin

I received a call that the Austin City Council made the decision to have the mall in front of City Hall power-washed between 2 a.m. and 6 a.m. The requirement was for all signage, equipment, tents, etc. be removed so that the city could clean.  Occupants were told they would be allowed to return after the cleaning.

Officers and occupiers were respectful and communicated with little confrontation throughout the process.  Occupiers were told that they should move across the street, which most complied with. 

 A lone occupier stays until the last moments.

 

The power-washing begins.

Initially, police had advised everyone that no one would be allowed on the sidewalks in front of City Hall. 

After discussions with occupiers, the police advised the crowd that they could be on the sidewalk as long as they did not impede traffic.

Four occupiers refused to vacate and were arrested without incident.  But not without some good humor.

 

  Of course, not all arrested were in such high spirits.

 All in all, the actions of the occupiers and the police made me proud to live in Austin. 

Occupy Austin Band

I will try to post updates with pictures and videos from City Hall in Austin, TX.

Here's a quick clip from a group that contributed their efforts toward the occupation:

Video Footage from NYPD HQ Plaza - 30th September 2011