Grace, Abundance and Glas Gabhna

I have to admit, I am carefully fond of the concept of grace and am well aware that it becomes an easily cringe-worthy term when thrown about carelessly. But humor me and see if you can gain a new understanding of it with the help of an ancient story told by poet and philosopher, John O’Donohue. The story is called Glas Gabhna and goes as follows:

“In the mountains near Carron, there lived a smith who had a magical cow. When she was milked, she could fill any vessel. The smith knew how valuable she was. He had seven sons and one of them always ‘stood to her’, or in other words watched over her. Over a long period of time, she gave an endless supply of milk. Even today one can see in that landscape certain bare patches where nothing grows. These were the places the cow was said to have lain down. Her fame and magic spread everywhere. One day, while on his watch, one of the sons fell fatally asleep. An old woman came by and saw the magical cow unguarded. She had a sieve with her and began to milk the cow into the sieve. She milked and milked. The milk flowed endlessly onto the earth until the cow fell down. When the son awoke, he saw the ground white with milk beneath the fallen cow. He went to call help. When the father and sons returned, the cow had gone away. She was never heard of again. Then some time after she had departed, seven streams broke forth from the spot where she had been milked. These are to be seen there today, the Seven Streams of Taosca.”

Orange County's Glas Gabhna?!

 So what does grace have to do with it? The way I see it, it comes down to how you treat what is dear to you in this life. Do you take your gifts for granted, or do you treasure and pamper them? Neglect your gifts and you will always feel like there is never enough. Conversely, an attitude of gratefulness can circumvent the lure of greed.

The reason I’m sharing this story with you is because of its relevance to our lives today. The blatant display of corporate greed that has been in the public eye since the economic crisis began is certainly one level on which we are faced with an aspect of gluttony. We live in a country rich in beauty, resources, intelligence, you name it, yet so many people feel empty, anxious, and meaningless. Have we become numb due to information overload? Overwhelmed by the myriad of choices? Blind to our own abundance? It often seems like we can’t see the forest for the trees. I am not saying this to point fingers; -all too often I am in the overwhelm myself.  I am saying it because I feel like becoming grateful is the first step out of the haze. Wouldn’t it be nice if the solution to numbness was as easy as a mental shift from “I wish I had” to “I’m grateful for”? Well, I daresay it’s a start. By making the choice to see what we have, we choose to become aware, and by becoming aware, we can start to act with the grace our attitude inspires.

Additionally, seeing and being aware of our gift makes us care with a whole new level of intensity. Perhaps that is grace. Personally, my cherishing of nature’s beauty has me engaged in a pretty sincere way. I think twice about what I consume, I support those who are fighting to protect this beauty and I process it in my artwork with hopes of sparking other people’s wonder. In short, I won’t let an old hag ruin that what I love. Instead, I choose to take care of what I treasure to the best extent that I can.

Carolin

Why Art? Let the cave answer it!

Dear reader, be warned that this post is headed into brooding-thought territory. But, wait! Don’t turn away just yet, I promise to lead you to a light at the end of the tunnel. If you deem yourself an adventurous soul, grab a piece of chocolate to bite when the trail becomes sad or troubling, and let its sweetness help carry you until you see the light again.

Cave of Forgotten Dreams film poster

Ready to dig in?

A few weeks ago, I watched the documentary The Cave of Forgotten Dreams by Werner Herzog. In this film the German director, producer and film writer Herzog takes us into the nearly inaccessible Chauvet Cave in France, which houses the oldest cave art ever discovered.

Watching this film catapulted a question into my mind: Why art? For some reason, I am always answering this question for myself, to remind me of its value and validity. Let me tell you, there is nothing more draining than living with disenchantment and being surrounded with cynicism, especially for a soul who blossoms through beauty. It makes me want to curl up and check out. How can people bear to live in a self-imposed desert of the soul? I know I can’t. Maybe people who are more practically wired can get away without ever contemplating their need for beauty or meaning, but for me, life in our culture requires keeping the desert in check through things like yoga, therapy, meditation, and art. It can be a daily battle.

Chauvet Lion Panel 

I see the wasteland’s origin in the mental separation modern people have put between them and the life that surrounds them – animals, plants, landscape, natural forces, etc. While watching the cave video, it was impossible for me to ignore the wall’s whispers of profound belonging. When someone is able to capture the contour of a lion’s back in one perfect, informed stroke, it is evident that they have spent endless amounts of time contemplating their subject. As a figurative artist, I know this to be true. Only after hundreds of hours of looking and replicating do you achieve a “knowledgeable hand” like this. But we don’t just look very often, do we? If we don’t observe where we are and “with what” we are, we only become more and more alienated. This separation from the rest of the world is akin to cutting off an artery that brings essential oxygen and nutrients to the body. What is there to be gained from the separation we hold on to? What is there to be lost?

I vote for a “being-a-part-of-it” movement. Starting to relate through the touch, sight, smell, and sound that we live with. I write this as an allowance for myself; I write this as a reminder that I am not doing anything criminal by what the outside may perceive merely as idle sitting.

In the documentary, Werner Herzog made a comment about how the cave paintings are engraved memories of the people that existed 30,000 years ago. In the face of the harsh living conditions of a hunter-gatherer’s world, maybe life became more bearable and less threatening through this manifestation of memories – rituals and ceremonies in the dark belly of the earth where you are able to consciously walk through your dreams. What rituals do we need to create to bring life back to our marooned spirits? What art will make us feel empowered, connected, and at ease?

The eco-philosopher Joanna Macy said that in the face of her husband’s death, she was able to weather and heal her loss by dipping herself into the beauty of Rainer Maria Rilke’s poetry. When will you dip yourself into beauty again? When will you allow yourself to idly watch the ocean’s waves? Please share with us when you do!

Carolin

Where does Community Commune?

As the dregs of Christmas lights come down and the New Year starts to set into our collective consciousness, I think back on the holiday happenings. About a month ago, our think tank group gathered at a local mall to collect our thoughts and witness first hand our community in action at its yearly height of consumer participation.

It was very strange. There we were, ThinkTank!, at Fashion Island in Newport Beach, Ca. We congregated there in order to focus our attentions and intentions on the community, which we then transferred our thoughts to Blogspot. We started our meeting that Saturday morning on comfy chairs below the mall’s HUGE Christmas tree while holiday shoppers sprung into action. Discussion abounded, thoughts transformed, and tangible evidence from our existing memories of past holiday traditions (or lack thereof) became the topic for further investigation.

It seemed to me (and it still does) that this is where people have their community center, malls. Towns used to have a center, or if your town still does, is it comfortable? Are there places to sit, congregate without spending money? What does community MEAN in the modern sense anyway? We have created a Consume-ocracy, a society dependent on spending money in order to connect with each other. Communication becomes important only in the case of advertising, which can take countless forms nowadays. Holiday traditions in this environment have the unnerving ability to become shallow and frenzied as we become capable of inadvertently rushing through the maze of holiday “Cheer”. In some cases our loved ones become a gift-giving quota to satisfy.

"What Box" original artwork by ©Katlin Evans

Now, when it comes to a creating particular kind of space, I draw a blank. There are a million kinds of spaces one could create a sense of community, yet I have a hard time visualizing it. I guess the place to begin adjusting our ways begins in the space of the mind. A change of perspective, how we function and think about spending our time and money is becoming more and more crucial.
It’s difficult to think of another container besides the box. That structured armature of our current existence is dissolving before our unconscious. Yet to fathom a new container when the old one (the box) hasn’t fully dissolved and still clings to every fiber of our being, change becomes increasingly difficult. In the strong current that surrounds our daily habits of functioning, just getting by is hard enough! Now we have to adjust our way of thinking as well? This is all too much. But it seems that this (change) will happen with or without us!

So, needless to say, I have started a small quest to see what kinds of community spaces are out there. What are people doing differently from the usual mall, bar, coffee shop kinds of places? We all know in order to perfect something so innovative as “change” there must be many attempts before one or many ideas take off and become ingrained in our most basic perspective and culture.
For example when texting first became a reality for communication we could not see how it would change our lives on a daily basis. To “Text” is now an action, a verb. So instead of calling someone, we “Text” them and calling is saved for the exceptional few and rare situations; close friends, an emergency, a scheduled conference call are all good examples. But I regress. Lets get back to envisioning alternative community spaces.

In my small amount of research, I have found, expressive arts organizations, art bars, and small business type art groups all trying to change the world! It’s all very exciting. But these experimental attempts to change our community vision and function are kind of exclusive in my opinion. Lets say you don’t like art, have no propensity towards it and all around don’t understand it. Then were do you go in this ever changing community vision, seminars? Hmm, doesn’t sound like tons of fun? But then again, fun and community don’t always go hand in hand, do they? All I am saying is that it’s a good idea to start this conversation and spring some thoughts into action. So cheers to a Happy New Year, thanks to 2011, and Hello 2012!!!!

Katlin

Meaning

Why meaning?
Because as The Box (you know, The Box – that thing we try so hard to think outside of) meets its last, as the container that held us so well for so long disintegrates into the cosmic hall of fame, we enter the Brave New World of 2012 – the year the ancient Mayans couldn’t see beyond, the beginning of the 5^th dimension, the world we get to co-create. And as we enter this world we have the opportunity to choose what we want to bring with us. And we want to bring meaning. We need to bring meaning.

The word “meaning” is defined as that which is intended; the purpose or significance of things, thoughts, and beliefs. Meaning encompasses both our commonality and individuality at the same time. Meaning is a reference of the heart that helps us to know and be known to one another. And somewhere along the line, it seems to have gotten lost.

The world has been trying lately. Trying our patience. Trying our resources. Trying to live up to our demands and desires. Trying to change, yet trying so hard not to change. As we tried so hard to make everything okay and let everybody win, we forgot the why of what we were doing--the meaning--and it left our amazing accomplishments empty, unsatisfying, and just plain overwhelming. Excitement gave way to impatience as we found that our New wasn’t New Enough. We became socially disconnected through technologies intended to make connection easy and available to everyone, while simultaneously becoming more globally connected than we ever knew possible. Throughout the many painful events of recent years, the Earth hurt and we hurt with it.

When humans get scared, really scared, they reach out for others. And thankfully it is in our human nature to reach back. When change happens fast it’s also natural to try and reach backwards, even as we’re being propelled forward. We tried to cling to The Box, hanging on to the sides while at the same time feeling them disintegrating in our grasp, unable to wrap our minds around the idea that “solid” things are only teeny tiny atoms and energy in constant motion making things appear to be.

So what do we do now? We need to remember, redefine, and make the choice to create or recreate the meaning of our lives and our world.

Clearly, I think too much. And believe me, not everybody can take too much of this rambling in daily conversation without excusing themselves before their heads explode. Through fate or synchronicity I noticed that more and more folks were struggling with some of these concepts and actually wanted to talk about them.

Christmas Tales from Another Land

Every year when December approaches I can’t help but tense up. Usually it’s the early-bird decorations that tease out my annual disgruntled growl. This year it was the announcement that stores would be open for shoppers ON Thanksgiving that sent me over the edge!!! If I were a bird you would have seen me indignantly ruffling my feathers. Since no one was there to listen at the time, I only threw an internal hissy fit. But I can no longer help myself, and simply have to share.

Coming from a country far, far away, I am tainted with a slightly different experience of “the Season”. First of all, in the depths of Bavaria, we call it “Advent” (the good ol’ Christian term to describe the four weeks before Christmas) and it is celebrated with a very clear structure. On the first weekend of Advent, you put up a wreath of evergreens, studded with four candles, and, depending on taste, some flourishes like pine cones, ornaments, etc. Once evening descends, the family gathers around the wreath, which usually sits either on the dining table (I know, remember those?) or a coffee table, and lights the first candle. My family used to enjoy a cup, or three, of Glühwein (mulled wine) or hot tea along with the first batch of Christmas cookies of the year. A note on the cookies - they were homemade (which is not an elitist thing in the old world, that’s just how things are done there), and were ONLY to be ingested during official Advent evening gatherings. With every subsequent Sunday one more candle gets lit, and more cookies and wine are had. Now, allow me to recite a poem of high literary esteem, which speaks to the specialness of Advent:

Advent, Advent a candle is burning. First one, then two, then three then four and then stands Christmas at your door.And when the fifths candle is lit, you have missed it!

Trust me, it sounds good in German.

But seriously, that tradition makes sense to me. Mother Nature gives us all of these cues to slow down -- no light after 4 p.m., no more extravagant foliage on trees, snow providing a muffled silence, etc. – and so we, too, slow down. Throw in some candles, sweets, and a hot beverage, and you have yourself a cozy evening, perfect for reconnecting with those you care about. Granted, if your family isn't down for this kind of thing, or you’d rather not “connect” with them, you can always make it a thing with friends.

Let’s revisit the decking-the-halls point. In thecountry far, far, away I’ve previously mentioned, the decorations that set the mood throughout those four weeks (note: FOUR! Not eight. No human is physically and emotionally capable of taking more than four), have a well-defined job to do: bring warm and fuzzy things to mind to create an atmosphere you just can’t help but relax in. Now, compare this to frantically blinking lights, gaudy figurines, and plastic trees covered in white chemical paste...well, I guess tastes differ... WIDELY!

So why do I harp on about Advent? Because after you've made it through the anticipation of the four weeks of Advent, your mind, body, and spirit are well-primed for the big night. You know what all the brouhaha is about and it is clear that Christmas Eve is the culmination of it all. The night when you celebrate all that is good in your life: family, friends, beauty, light, the circle of life, good food, and much more.

Sadly, I feel that I often get swallowed up in the mania that has come to surround during the last few weeks of the year. I forget the meaning of the Season and, instead, do the hamster wheel-thing -- run, run, run.

Whether you are religious or just a person who enjoys a dignified end to their year, this is worthwhile to reflect on: What do you want the end of the year to mean for you? What actions do you take to live these values?

Although my Catholic days are well past, and I find myself caught, just like anybody else, in the fast-paced life of the West, it is worth it to me to pull myself out of the rut, put a wreath on the table, and make an effort to sit down with my honey to reconnect over wine and maybe even some, dare I say, store bought snacks. I am grateful for the solid structure of ritual that’s been ingrained in me. It’s been adjusted and changed and I encourage you to create your own, or restyle a traditional way of honoring the end of a long, beautiful year.
Carolin

Now

Now

"Part of Something" original art work by ©Katlin Evans

We are currently wrapped in holiday season,
Totally enthralled by lack of direction,
Empty reason,

Meaning.

So lets stop, take notice, and
Relish what is in our space,
Collect our thoughts and
Truly embrace,

Meaning.


Katlin