The VQ Newsletter Archive
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Creativity,
Healing
& Shamanism: Workshop
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Summer Quarter 1999Hello Creatives; Here we are at the 13th. newsletter and I am later than usual getting it out. Many exciting things have been happening which caused my delay. Without worrying about the number 13 I trust this will be a lucky one. When Thunder Shakes the Heart A couple of evenings ago I gazed in awe at a pillar of mist rising above in the eastern sky. The thunderhead grew heavenward from a single cloud that had just passed over. It showed a narrow swath of soggy soil and accented it with golf ball size hail. It was remarkable that one bantam billow could unleash such force. I could still hear the hail stones miles away trampling roofs, crops, and cars to the chagrin of many an insurer I am sure. As the tempest slipped away, the sunset tinted the ascending column with sidelight like a Maxfield Parrish painting and beauty emerged from the beast. Spring has been especially stormy here somewhere under the rainbow. I often marvel watching the sky change. Through this observation the living system of our planet becomes more accessible to me. It dramatically demonstrates the idea of holism and systems theory right before my eyes. In systems as vast as a living planet, change often happens over years, centuries, or eons, but in a boiling sky one can watch transformation take place quickly. Within minutes a single squall can spring from a sunny day firing off a reaction that may spread across many states. However, there is a different sort of storm present this spring. A storm that first appeared to be an isolated occurrence but then chain-reacted across the land. It has grown soul deep and its thunder shakes the heart. It is the storm of violence that has erupted from our human collective. Jonesborough, Paduca, Littleton, and Kosovo all have are branded in our minds. Several weeks ago Chris Heinen, a musician colleague of mine from earlier days, wrote me with some telling questions after hearing a troubling news story in Phoenix. His thoughts came to mind again as I watched the story unfold in Littleton, CO and thus I include them here. Chris wrote: "As creative people, we aspire to the finer, more 'noble' things which life has to offer. Some enhance their intellect with writing, composing, etc., others strive for physical dexterity playing an instrument, singing, etc., some may be at another level, and be trying develop a higher 'state of being' in anticipation of the future. But when faced with news such as the above, I believe that there is potential for conflict with those goals. For those of us who are trying to be more sensitive, compassionate, caring, and in the case of this group, more creative, how are we reacting to news such as this?" Its easy to talk about holism in the language of "love and light." We all want to be included in the brighter side of our humanity. Its easier still to talk about "us and them" when the darker side shows. In linear thinking, when an "effect" is evident we assume there is a "cause." We seek it out to purge it. We assign the blame and somehow feel safer. Such a search often leads us deeper and deeper into separation. We end up trading our friendly smile for a stronger lock, our desire to help for a bigger jail. We pound our plow shears into better swords. We surrender our freedom hoping to gain a few inches of distance from our fears. Its easier to talk "us and them" when the darker side shows. In a systems perspective the effect and the cause are interdependent, and both are interdependent with other factors that may not be apparent. It is like a mobile hanging in balance, when one piece moves the whole system changes. Cause is system wide as is the effect. To restore balance in a system all the parts must relocate or force the rogue segment back to its original place. In a dynamic system most parts are in constant flux. Returning to the example of the storm, the singular squall is the point where the energy flow exceeded the stable limits (flux equilibrium) of the atmosphere and the whole system changed. Now broaden this idea to a living system such as we humans, add instinct, intellect, emotion, and free will to the mix and whew. How do we cope with holism where there is only "us" and there is no "them"? So, how does all this tie in with creativity, and what of this storm in the human collective? The creative process involves merging energy and matter with new information. For example, paint on a canvas becomes a work of art as the colors and brush strokes are put in some order based on the information in the artist's imagination. The artist did not create the packets of energy/matter (paint, canvas, etc.), she merely reordered them with new information. Thus from a systems perspective creative individuals, work at critical point. They "in-form" energy and matter in the creative process. Energy/matter follows thought. Oh, but it doesn't stop there. A created work, whether sonnet, soup, or song, becomes more than the sum of its parts. Once created, the work inspires or "in-forms" other works. It provokes ideas in those who experience it. Thought follows energy. Creative acts perpetuate themselves far beyond the view of the original artist. Energy follows thought, follows energy ad infinitum. The dilemma is what is the nature of the thought that started this chain reaction must surly color the process. Just like programming a computer, "garbage in yields garbage out." What goes in when you create? So, how do we do as creative individuals "aspire to the finer, more 'noble' things which life has to offer" as Chris questions? Well, I suggest we create as if we are making a good soup, one we would feed to those we love and eat ourselves. If we perform each creative act with that simple care its effects will join with others and spread no matter how small the effort seems. The creative act is the most accessible form of magic; it moves energy and information. It changes those it touches. Handle with care, and give it with love. Ultimately we do not create for our aspirations but we receive inspiration to give it again to all of "us," and there is no "them." So when thunder shakes the heart, each of us in our niche of a creative whole can "take out the garbage" and help beauty emerge from the beast. --------- Company News: We have been fortunate that internet exposure has introduced us to many friends and customers. Like any company we want our product to be readily available to everyone who finds it useful. I am very pleased this month to announce three new dealers where Vantage Quest will be available. South African customers can now purchase Vantage Quest from: Greennovation Mr. Haroun Kola Tel. #: +27 (0) 11 854 6516 Mobile Cell : +27 (0) 82 374 4424 haroun@icon.co.za http://haroun.www.icon.co.za In Singapore and Malaysia: Mr. T K S Varma THAMIM Enterprises Pte Ltd. 67 High Street #02-08A Satnam House Tel. # 65-339 9545 Singapore 179431 In the United States: American Media Group, a direct response marketing firm, will present Vantage Quest on television. This campaign will begin this weekend in San Francisco and if successful roll out around the country. So, don't be surprised if you see me grinning at you from your TV and please tell your friends you know that guy. We are grateful and excited to be part of these ventures and wish them every success in helping spread the hum heard around the world. Thank you all. --------- Newsletter Administration; Please remember. This not a "bulk email" mailing. If you are receiving this writing, it is because you have signed our Guest Book, bought our product, are our link partners, a good friend, or have communicated with us in some other way. Any multiple copies you received result from my error. I apologize for any inconvenience. I still do this the old fashioned way -- by hand! If you don't want to receive our newsletter, just send me a note and I will groom the list. YES, you can enter again each month, and many of you do, but ONLY ONCE PER MONTH. Please let me know in the comments that you already receive this mailing so I don't bombard you with multiple copies of this newsletter. The goal here is to build a community of creative folks, not make "email enemies." Also, I am in the chat room on Tuesday Nights from 9 PM (US Central Time) to answer questions about Vantage Quest. AND THE MAY WINNERS ARE: International: Ong Don Siew Singapore US: Rev. Kat Steingraber Montgomery, AL Congratulation Kat and Ong! Your CD's are in the mail. Enjoy them. Sorry no referral winner this month. That's it for now. Winners will be announced monthly. The next full newsletter will be sent in Sept. Have a great summer! Why not do some dreaming! Regards, Carlisle Return to VQ Newsletter Archives |
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