(drawing from 1990)
When I was 8 years old, I fell in love with Unicorns. It was after I saw the film “The Last Unicorn” (Peter Beagle) and thereafter, I could not stop thinking about the story and the mythology. For a “children’s film”, it had a very profound message that touched my soul with themes of transformation, unconditional love, integrity and the ability to see beyond form. It had a happy ending that was also a very bittersweet ending. Read more
This simple yet beautiful Sufi chant was taught in a sound healing workshop I took with Simon Heather (UK Sound Healers Association) around the year 2000… It was explained that in the Sufi tradition, all poetry and art is devotional and is thus dedicated to the great “Beloved”. This chant expresses the Sufi mystic’s sweet yearning for the Divine and sounds like a cosmic lullaby…
Words:
Jamil Allah
Ishq Allah Jamil
Translation #1:
Oh Divinity, I yearn for your beauty.
Translation #2:
Divine God, Appear my Beloved.
Art has always been a spiritual experience for me, allowing me to explore concepts, emotions and dreams that could not otherwise be examined.
…When there are no words, she offers us melodies to sing our heartache.
…When there are no melodies, she offers us colors to paint our joy.
…When there are no colors, she offers us the dance so our bodies may tell the story.
With Art, there will always be a way to share our visions and our stories. They need not be locked away in our hearts and innermost chambers. They can be revealed with authenticity, feeling and bold creativity. Read more
For a long time, I was haunted by the companion known as Betrayal. He was very active in my life throughout childhood and early adulthood. He managed to surprise me on many occasions, knocking on my door when I least expected it. Usually, he’d show up after I’d built a relationship. With one quick sweep of his hand, Betrayal would destroy everything that I had believed to be true and good. He made me feel like a fool for believing and his two brothers (Bitterness and Distrust) would squat in my emptied heart after he left. I tried to kick them out but they always found a way to sneak in through the back door.
So I fought with Betrayal for many years in hand to hand combat. The battle became more covert as I became more worldly: we had entered into a cold war. He kept denying having access to weapons of mass destruction but the hard blows were still landing on my tender heart. Finally one day, amidst our quiet hostilities, I managed to slip behind the bugger and yank off his evil mask. Like that monumental moment in a comic book where the villain’s true face is finally exposed, my heart jumped when I realized who he really was: Unconditional Love! Read more
In your current lifetime, you might have noticed a pattern of experiences that repeat even though the faces and locales are different. The names and stories might change but at the core of such experiences is the same familiar outcome or feeling. The ability to observe such energetic patterns and consciously digest their teachings is what I call “Spiritual Intelligence” or S.Q. (instead of intelligence quotient/I.Q. or emotional quotient/EQ.) If you have keenly noticed your own patterns, you are gifted with innate spiritual I.Q. or you have been relentlessly pounded upon the head by the same cosmic hammer.
Either way, consider yourself blessed because these recurring themes are part of your soul’s desired “Higher Education”. You may not realize it, but you actually designed your own curriculum and the Universe graciously granted you full scholarship. Just remember that you have all the time in the world to study because no one has ever finished this program. It keeps expanding so please enjoy your status as an eternal student.
xox little woo, April 29, 2009
The greatest teaching that we’ve all come to explore and understand is Unconditional Love. All experiences relate somehow to this Mother of all teachings. And all Teachers are here to help us get closer to this great Mother.
As we get into her sacred closet, we see that Unconditional Love wears many hats and comes in many forms. She’s a cross-dressing prankster with infinite intelligence and unfathomable wit. The most confusing costume I’ve seen her wear just happens to be her favorite: the guise of “Unattachment”. When she comes to teach you about Love through this particular outfit, the teachings can seem austere and harsh. Read more
In the last few years, I have co-created with over 14 cohesive communities. Community Building is an important aspect of my life, because I am having fun while being of service!
In my experience, here are 5 keys to successful Community Building:
1) Hold a collective VISION but celebrate DIVERSITY: Just as bio-diversity ensures the continuation of an eco-system, so does socio-diversity allow for the continuation of the “village”.
2) Create a village rich with CULTURE: Support artistic, spiritual and cultural diversity. Support community projects, events and spaces which nurture a village culture. examples: Festivals, celebrations, fairs, rituals, ceremonies, parties, performance venues and galleries. Read more
A few lifetimes ago, I ended up in a very troubled state because i did not know where to direct my energy. I had always been active and creative, yet i realized that the energy was simply not flowing anymore.
What happened to my passions and my desire to draw, sing, dance or write?
Sure, I was still able to appreciate other people’s art, but i was no longer expressing directly. The thought of making art was becoming a mere “idea” and no longer a reality. I was mired in a strange lethargy that was extremely hard to overcome. It made me feel truly impotent and I wondered if the condition was permanent. (please read “wondered” as actually “freaking out”.)
So how did i “lose” it anyway? Read more