February 1998
Hello Creators;
The World Wide Web continues to astound me as I manage our web site. The variety and
number of visitors to the site, and the recipients on this list has grown so dramatically
in the past months. The newsletter mailing has doubled in fact each month for the
past several months and writing to this expanding diversity become steadily more
daunting. I thank you all for your interest, and especially thank those of you who
have told others about us. We seem to be turning up in more and more links and
contests every week.
The discussion forum is now working fine and several of you have visited. I hope the
comments and questions will continue to grow. I especially hope many of you will
answer the questions posed by others and really get the discourse going. Comment on
VQ, the articles on site, or this newsletter as you wish. Now on with the
newsletter.
Magic and Miracles:
The past few weeks I have watched performances by various ice skaters and athletes
preparing for the Winter Olympic Games. The term "magical" appeared in
many descriptions as performers dazzled us with their skill and grace. The term
"miracle" described the triumph over struggles so many have endured in their
achievement. The comments influenced me to consider these notions a bit further, just how
these terms are qualities of the creative processes. A process that embodies skill
and grace, and that also embraces magic and miracles.
It's magic! It's a miracle! The phrases often describe wonder-filled
events. Yet, despite how commonly we use these terms, few words so quickly polarize
us when we consider their real meaning. Used in this way, they conjure images that
hurriedly wade into the depths of our individual belief systems. They evoke our
acceptance and our denial, our hope and our fear. They evoke images of the internal
tension between our survival oriented personality, and our evolving soul that struggles to
re-create us.
Magic, as Merlin allegedly may have practiced it, is the result of perfecting
skills. After years in apprenticeship, learning rituals and potions, slowly, from a
young mage, the adept emerges. In some ways it is the power of the personality made
greatly potent. While Merlin may be mythical, the development process remains the
same for shaman in indigenous cultures around the world today. It is the slow
acquisition and mastery of knowledge about their environment. The skill to apply
that knowledge to specific situations is the key to their accomplishment. If their counsel
is useful, and their healing effective, the shaman lives a long life of service to their
community. Should they prove to be ineffective, well.....their life as shaman may
not be so long. Harsh, but undeniable "verification" of their success or
failer as creators.
In modern societies we have dispersed the once singular role of
"wise-healer-spiritual-leader" across many professions. Perhaps this is
because of the volume of information one must now master. However, along with this
delegation of authority has come another split in our being. Once alluded to as the
bicameral nature of the mind, it is a split between cognitive function and our
spiritual/intuitive selves. Now Teachers dispense knowledge, Doctors heal,
Psychologists counsel, Judges decide disputes all using primarily cognitive functions.
Inspiration and intuition are largely left to artists who must inspire, and Rabbis,
Priests, and Pastors who minister to the spirit. Yet, even these now heavily defer
to cognitive abilities.
So, what of miracles now?
Miracles are said to an occurence that cannot be explained by the laws of nature. In the
example that follows I have purposely left out the names to protect the privacy of these
individual. Is it a miracle? It defies my ability to explain it with natural
law though some may argue otherwise.
A few years ago I sat in a small cafeteria at a university in Brazil with several other
researchers. We were there meeting with healers from various traditions. Many
of these experiences are described in the essay "Creativity, Healing, and
Shamanism" on the site. From the moment we landed I can only say we were in the
presence of one "paradigm shifting" event after the next. Then this day as we
lunched, sitting about four feet in front of me was a middle aged Brazilian man of Islamic
decent. (He was in discussion with Stanley Krippner the head of our group.)
Suddenly the palms of his hands burst open and began to bleed. He was exhibiting
stigmata. We spent the next few days with him during which a host of wondrous events
occurred. Though I knew of stigmata, I had never imagined I would witness it in my
life. Then a couple of years ago in a hotel room here in California I was present
again as stigmata appeared, this time manifested in a close friend of mine.
I wish to say that neither event had anything to do with me. I was merely a
witness. Of importance here is that both individuals indicated that they also felt
they had nothing to do with it. It was something that came through them by grace and
in so doing re-created them. The prevading sense of peace and love affected all of
us present. I can only say, it was being in the presence of individuals who were
open and willing to receive a miracle.
Creating at the edge of magic. Accepting on the verge of miracles.
So, why did ice skating span these thoughts? What's the connection to
creativity? The creative process is often modeled linearly as "preparation
-> incubation -> inspiration -> verification." It might also be
thought of as "invocation -> yearning -> acceptance -> giving".
In this admittedly simplistic model the first two stages are in a sense magic. They
involve the acquisition and mastery of knowledge and the application of these skills.
The great creative works and performances certainly require these first stages, however to
achieve greatness they must move beyond them. The yearning must finally subside into
acceptance. I use acceptance rather than inspiration because, in the intense act of
cognition, it is possible simply not to accept inspiration. Many a great work has
died an early death because it was judged too soon. We must be willing to receive.
Then, with acceptance, the inspired gift can be polished and finally given again to the
world.
Tonight the skaters again return to the ice. They have acquired their skill and
raised it to the highest form possible. In their midst a few will go beyond the skill,
beyond technique, beyond the hours of practice. They will open themselves to
something more. In those few moments on the ice, a few will accept something more,
accept a moment of inspiration that sets them apart from the others. They will
receive to give, and in so doing, they will pass along their gift and in turn inspire us
all. So with this thought complete, I cease this writing and open myself to their
inspiration that I too may receive to give.
Newsletter administration;
Due to the rapid increase in size of this mailing I thought it wise to discuss a couple of
matters about this newsletter and the monthly drawing.
1) If you are receiving this writing, it is because you have signed our Guest Book,
purchased our product, or communicated with us in some other way. There are a few
exceptions whose names have been added along with others from some mailing we share in
common. These are not "bulk collected" email addresses and mailing.
The list is also maintained by hand, thus any multiple copies you received result from
either my error, or you have entered your name multiple times in our drawing and I have
failed to catch it. I apologize for any inconvenience and hope you will continue to
participate.
2) As I said, 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. But please
don't sign up each month and then repeatedly ask to be removed from the list. It's
too much work. I repeat, I want to build a community of creative folks, not make
"email enemies."
For those who do not know, I hold the drawing from the previous months Guest Book entries
about the 1st. of each month. The winner receives a free copy of our latest
release. YES, you can enter again each month, and many of you have, 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.
Users Comments:
This month I received more user comments than I can to include. They were wonderful
and I will catch up with them soon for next month focusing on healing. Thank you all
for your comments on the site, cooperation, and your participation.
And The January Winners Are:
There was a big increase in international visitors this month. Wonderful! There were
so many in fact I decided to give two prizes, one for the US which had the majority, and
one for the international visitors. I hope you folks across the world will tell your
friends so I can continue an international prize. So here are the winners.
International:
Mrs. Marlies Cohen
Saint John, NB
Canada
US:
Ms. Vernice Duncan
Ft. Washington, MD
USA
Congratulation Marlies and Vernice. Vernice is proof that its worth entering each
month. Her persistence paid off.
That's it for this month folks.
Why not do some dreamin? You're not afraid to try!
With warm regard,
Carlisle
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02/02/04
