Daytime Photos of Flowstorm 2013

Just returned from the Flowstorm 2013 Festival held just outside Austin in Cedar Creek, TX.

There were seminars on flow arts (staff, poi, hula-hoop, juggling, etc.), ecology, mycology, dance, acro yoga, alternative healing, fire walking, philosophy, permaculture and the like.  It was an amazing and eclectic group and a powerful and inspiring experience.  I met old and new friends and hope participate again.

Click on any image below to enlarge.

I know it's a lot of photos, but it was a big experience. 

Tonight is the last night I plan on mourning the death of my mother.  I am stating this in the hope that doing so will help me to gain some closure and momentum in my own life.

(Click here to read my father's obituary for my mother)

She has been my protector, provider, teacher, inspiration & guide and I will always miss her.  But I cannot continue to mourn the way I have.  It has impacted each day since she left very profoundly.  Tonight, I'll drink a few beers; withdraw for a while and allow myself time to say goodbye.  I am not setting her aside, but restarting my life.

I will always love you, Mom.  Thank you for letting me spend your last night with you.  It meant so much.

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.

Ravi Shankar, Transitions at 92

The world has been forever-impacted by this talented, passionate, daring, loving spirit.  His music is considered by many, including me, a conduit.  The mathematical beauty of his music is inspirational and healing.

He introduced North America to Hindustani music; a true sitar virtuoso.  He is survived by his wife Sukanya and his daughters, Norah Jones (singer) & Anoushka Shankar Wright (sitarist) with her husband, Joe Wright; 3 grandchildren, and 4 great-grandchildren.  You can read a lovely obituary and tribute here.

When I did a news search on him, these were the first 3 healines to appear:

USA Today: Indian sitar virtuoso Ravi Shankar dies

CNN: Sitar legend Ravi Shankar, father of Norah Jones, dies at 92

WashingtonPost:  Ravi Shankar, Grammy-winning Indian sitar virtuoso, dies at 92

Ravi and his daughter, Anoushka:

George Harrison and Ravi during a sitar lesson:

 

I will always consider you in high regard, sir. Thank you for your contributions and your beauty. You will always have a special place in my life & my heart and the lives & hearts of many I know and don't know.

Namaste guru.

Sigh No More

Love; it will not betray you

Dismay or enslave you

It will set you free

Be more like the man 

You were made to be

There is a design

An alignment, a cry

Of my heart to see

The beauty of love

As it was made to be

May love set us all free!!!


If you have difficulty viewing on my site, click here to watch on YouTube. 

Mumford & Sons

Listening at the Gate

Stifled...  Within and without

Opening my mouth to roar

Jumbled silence bursts out

So much to say, so much I feel

Inside, I push, I shove, I shout

Outside, I just kneel

Cogitations form communications

Breathed through space and time 

Demanding no vocal vibrations 

I sit stone-still and silently await

Your screaming soul whispering secrets

At this dimension's gate

Is It Time You Climb?

It's Raining.

Quietly, clouds and darkness approach

Winds whip, rain pounds, and lightning strikes

Seeking shelter from the storm to no avail

Indomitable power, hiding cannot help

The storm will do what the storm will do

Resolved to confront that which I fear

The tempest dwindles and drops diminish

A longing for recovery, repair and new growth

Emerge, displacing fears of destruction 

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.  

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. 

MedMob at Barton Springs - Memorial Day Weekend

Join us for the Memorial Day Weekend MedMob event (Sunday May 29th). We will gather for a silent meditation on the South Hill of Barton Springs. Sit anywhere you wish, remembering to be courteous not to block any public pathways. Feel free to spread out so that more are able to participate in the experience. We will gather in the center of the hill for an 11 minute sound bath at 1pm. There is no requirement to attend the entire meditation or sound bath. Join in and leave as you are lead. Many arrive early to visit before the meditation. The Intent: To create an environment for people from all walks of life to come together in meditation.  To expose people to meditation through direct contact in locations common to all. To gather as a community, sending positive intentions into the world. Remember... There is more than one way to meditate!

Visit MedMob.org for more details on this event or to set up an event in your city.

Austin MedMob Gathering on April, 24 2011