My Blog

The Fire:Between Within vol.2

Jeremy — Tue, 22 Apr 2008 01:19:36 GMT

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XP7vkOMOfGU watch, intake, process, ground, express, love, thanks. Jeremy

Breathe

Jeremy — Fri, 11 Apr 2008 00:53:40 GMT

Its funny how something that is an involuntary action can be forgotten or ignored. We take the breath for granted because it does flow naturally. How often do you take time out of your day to just breathe? 1 minute? 1 hour? 0 seconds? Just take a moment to think back upon your day and recollect this. And if you do take time to breath what do you notice that happens? Do you get warmer, calmer, more riled up, agitated? I daily practice of breathing in any capacity can help your body and mind on many levels. Take it to the source. People forget that breathing can be challenging especially if done methodically because who wants to do anything hard really? But its not challenging its effortless and just takes a little practice. I will share with you a practice that I find helpful that is also useful in meditation to help clear the mind of its incessant chatter. Find yourself a spot to sit and shut your eyes. Breathe for a second without trying to think about it. Begin to breath naturally and feel the natural rise and fall of your entire body. Let the breath come naturally and begin to flow if it feels tight or held. Feel it like smoke. When you feel ready inhale for one count and exhale for one count. Once you do that inhale for two counts and exhale for two counts. Three, four, five etc until you reach all the way up to 10. Take ten counts to inhale and ten counts to exhale. And once you have made your way to ten work your way back down to one. Sounds simple enough right? Well the key is to concentrate on the breath and also be aware of what you are doing. Its easy to get lost and forget what number you were on or follow a thought trail leading you to an embarrassing experience you had in third grade. In those moments you return to 1. Breathe one count in and one out. Be patient with yourself and give yourself grace during your trail period and remember that anything is possible. This has such a profound affect its beautiful. Breathing is our lifeblood in this form we inhabit. Many spiritual practices are developed around the breath and emphasize its positive attributes. But its funny how something so simple and possibly mundane can be forgotten and overlooked. For those who do know and don’t’ know yoga is a beautiful way to connect to your breathe, but if you do not have time for yoga be creative and think of your own breath exercises. I just read an article that talked about how people hold their breath when they read emails. And since for many their lives consist of sitting at a computer all day reading and composing emails this can be detrimental to our health and existence. When one holds their breath we deprive our body of flow and block our energy for moving and thus become stagnate. Breathing activates our organs and helps them function properly but when we hold on to it the exact opposite affect occurs. Our body has to compensate for the lack of life force entering and exiting the body so it freaks out, which causes more stress. There is already enough to stress about in life why add to it. When you are sitting at your computer, on the phone, in traffic, or anywhere remember the breath got you there and will be with you once you have moved beyond that space. Its pretty easy to get wrapped up in all the things on this dimension, but think that’s what you are doing to your heart and lungs. They are being bound. Give your body some loving and inhale and exhale. Let it go because who really needs to hold onto anything in a life on impermanence. The constant of this universe is movement and breath is not only movement in pure form it also creates movement. Since we are all made of space give your insides some space and feel the rise and fall of your chest for at least a few minutes daily. And when you do it actually feels pretty fucking good. Its transformative and transcendent. Take notice into those times when the breath feels held and breathe life into those moments without judgment because when we are able to float with love the breathe will come naturally. And until we can breathe through our skin like the little frogs in Borneo we must use our lungs to breathe in joy and exhale fear. Perhaps give yourself little notes because recognition is the first step to healing. Its easy just give it a try. I feel the space bounce all over the place and land in organized shells of life. Do not fear because all will become clear in a land of lost sunlight. When you are down be not down because air always rises to the surface. Just follow the bubbles up to the top to inhabit a new space of bliss untouched by demons who hold us. Loosen your grasp to all you know because all is empty with fullness. Deprive the snacks that feed the facts that bombard every sense of our being and crack open your heart and expose the heart to radiate for all to feel. Swim inside your hearts delight and pull out the jewels of lives long past. And form new memories that will not last but will touch ones who lay and wait in the infinite potential of space. Peace to the sky that flickers and dies but only exists in the now. Breathe. Life. Jeremy p.s. If you want to read the article here is the link: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/linda-stone/just-breathe-building-th_b_85651.html

The Fire:Between Within

Jeremy — Thu, 10 Apr 2008 01:24:08 GMT

We bless the sky and curse the ground that keeps us from our true advance. I ask you this: Do you care? I ask me this: Do I care? And in the end we all share our own unique experience, filled with pain and with joy to be realized and transformed into inner light that boils to shoot out our eyes towards heaven. What turns your light off and what makes you beam so bright you can hardly breath? Surrender to both and you will see the truth that burns in you and in me.

What and why?

Jeremy — Tue, 11 Dec 2007 01:41:29 GMT

I want everyone to think for a moment. Really sit down with yourself and write or reflect on the aspects of this life right now that make you thankful to be alive. Not just that but why do you get up every morning? What is driving you? What do you hope to achieve? Are you coasting along this road, or riding atop a giant elephant or being flung full tilt behind the back of a boat. Where do the subtleties come in? Are you on an interstate or a backcountry road lined with the sweet pungent smell of pine? I want the reflection of yourself to be viewed by yourself in order to see the wonder of your soul. Feel the essence of yourself and what do you hope to add or take away? Say it out loud to feel its vibration shake your core. I can recall times where I felt that I could not breathe and yet I still kept going. Its was some driving force greater than comprehension. Its like the invisible wind pushing the velvet sails of the ship across the seas of the infinite. I still have much left to do, discover, and relearn. But what is it that really keeps me going everyday? I’m powered by myself but also by the universal cosmos of spectacular spiral essence. There are many things that fuel this organic vehicle. Art, nature, love to name a few. Its not just the thing itself it’s the feelings that come with it. The way my heart flutters when I get the news that I will be performing a piece I’ve poured so much energy into. My blurry eyes and drifting soul when I feel the love spark fire occur. The way that time and everything else melts away when I’m dancing. I live to dream and believe that everything imaginable is attainable. Joy. The warmth I feel when I’m wrapped up. To be given the chance to see something in a new way or from a new perspective. Feeling my love of creation and tearing back all the layers to find the core of radiant WOW. To get question what is real and communicate with the flowers. The freedom I feel when I fly over the world. Holding someone’s hand and sharing a moment. To look myself in the eyes and reach inside so deep into my unique matrix of sacred geometry to change and polish my mirror to all. The way my heart feels when a huge block is lifted and my breath rises towards the heavens. Having the opportunity to have my body be split wide open by observing the genius of others and their blissful willingness to share their vision with the world. I can feel them even if they aren’t’ present physically. Clouds of energy swoop down and permeate my receptors and make my hairs stand on end. Its like when you stand under a waterfall and feel the hydro force against your skull. But imagine the lid of your skull is unhinged and all these energy is poured into your directly from the source of magic. It dashes through all your cells and tickles the membranes and makes your organs dance and shift about. When your eyes open light pours out like the beams from the copy machine scanning all around and enveloping them including yourself. It’s the interactions with the divine that spring me into action. Not just that but my connection to the primal roots of our ancestors. I will run across the world powered by the awesome energy of all who have come before me and have lived this life and know its little secrets. The perfect. We hold a responsibility to stay truthful to ourselves. To love ourselves. To feel our paws, wings, tails, legs, hooves, claws, hair, eyes and all our parts that we have chosen ourselves for this life time and transfer all we can here because even though its all been done before it has never been done like this. I wake up to feel you. I wake up to dream. I wake up to see. I wake up to feel. I wake up to learn. I wake up to sleep. And to walk the lines between that which is dark and unseen to the light of the realm of peace we ride towards on the fire winged horse of passion. I wake to wake up to the fact that I am one part of all parts of One. I wake up to sing my heart out of my mouth and to the far reaches of the universe. I wake up to inspire. I wake up to love. I wake up to feel me. I am all you are one we are we. And as it was so shall be with light. Its all what we choose and choose what will strengthen the web of golden silk that stretches and expands simultaneously. When its pulled we all feel it. I can say more and will but now its your turn.

La Ofrenda

Jeremy — Thu, 08 Nov 2007 00:39:03 GMT

Sunrise, downtown Los Angeles. What do you picture that scene to be? Every direction in which you face you get a different view of life. South lies the tall commercial buildings, north lies bridges and trains, east lies warehouses, and west is Chinatown. Tucked between all these structures lies a park with a long deep history. It has been many manifestations throughout the ages. Anything from the land to the Tongva, a cornfield, and now part manicured park and part wild habitat for native flora and fauna. Meg and I arrived before the sun even pierced the sky. As we entered the space there was the smell of incense and sage and a fire was glowing. An alter had be made and was filled with candles, marigolds, seashells and other objects. We gathered around it and watched the candles flicker in the morning dark. Descendants of the Tongva tribe were holding a ceremony this morning. This was the first time that the Tongva people are allowed to participate in their ancestral pole ceremony on the original village site of Yanga since 1863. They sang songs while we made offerings to the universe and all our past relations. We traveled on our beautiful walk to 4 different poles located in each direction. At each pole we sang and gave a pinch of tobacco as an offering to the ancestors. Each direction had a different message and intention. There were messages about our ancestors, ravens, mother earth and our universe. We completed our circle and returned back where we were given our final object of offering. One of the ladies explained how people of the tribe like to run because it involves something with the raising or energy. She told us about one of their runs to Alaska and said the elders have given her this small bag of sand. It actually wasn't sand but black rock ground into a fine powder. This black rock is now being exposed due to the melting of the ice in the north. The rock is falling into the sea and has some chemical makeup that is killing wildlife. She told us to take a bit of it and offer it back to the earth in hopes of our continued development and protection of our home in the cosmos. This was such a lovely experience. I got to share in a tradition of a group of people who would practice this ritual and honor their existence. I wish the world would see its beauty and honor all those than have come before and who are yet to come and realize how big an impact each individual really has on the world. And not just the individual but also the fact that we are all tapped into the greater consciousness, which ebbs and flows everyday. It is our responsibility to stay connected to our source and just take a moment to reflect. We live our lives as time goes by and might not see the changes happening but they are. Even the park where I was at this morning is entirely different than it was a few short months ago when I performed there. We are aging, the grass is growing, the population is booming, flowers are blooming, and we are evolving. Do you realize??? Honor all your relations.

Let Go

Jeremy — Thu, 11 Oct 2007 21:31:07 GMT

"A senior monk and a junior monk were traveling together. At one point, they came to a river with a strong current. As the monks were preparing to cross the river, they saw a very young and beautiful woman also attempting to cross. The young woman asked if they could help her. The senior monk carried this woman on his shoulder, forded the river and let her down on the other bank. The junior monk was very upset, but said nothing. They both were walking and senior monk noticed that his junior was suddenly silent and enquired “Is something the matter, you seem very upset?” The junior monk replied, “As monks, we are not permitted a woman, how could you then carry that woman on your shoulders?” The senior monk replied, “I left the woman a long time ago at the bank, however, you seem to be carrying her still.” This story could not have come at a more opportune time. I know its not spring anymore but it is a transitional time into a new season. I feel that one must shed their chrysalis and leave it behind in order to move forward. That space was so warm and comfortable and now to be exposed is the last thing one wants to do. It is time to let my wings bask in the sunlight and see what creature fully emerges from that shell. If I go back then I can never fully live. I’ll just be griping onto something that was past and gone. I honor my process and experiences. Let the love shine in and up and out. Teach me to let go.

Slow Dancing

Jeremy — Sat, 29 Sep 2007 00:06:12 GMT

I love dancers. I really do. I had an opportunity to go see the Slow Dancing exhibit on its closing night this past week and I was blown away. Check out the link www.slowdancingfilms.com to find out more information on it. Basically the filmmaker decided to bring out a number of dancers from around the world and film them for 5 seconds each at a 1000 frames per second. From there he extended the 5 seconds of dancing into a ten minute cut of each unique dancer. There were dancers from all disciplines present in this exhibit. Modern, jazz, ballet, world dance it was all there. This was such a unique opportunity to see the human experience slowed down. I got to see each individual muscle fire when they would take leaps or engage their bodies to move in various ways. Being a dancer myself I love to observe movers. We are all movers weather we identify with it or not. These people chosen for this show were movers and shakers for sure. So inspiring to see people moving in ways that bring them pure joy and I could see their love radiating from all their faces through each segment. They had such passion for their art and had so much expression. Observing the dance at this speed allowed me to hone into each individual artist and discovered where they carried their light. Effortless effort. Some of these people were truly floating but all had a little something to share like we all do. It was like they were all underwater. I was watching a human lava lamp. Every detail, fold of flesh, crease in fabric, fall of hair, alignment of self were all pronounced. Each of us posses our own magical light that we radiate out into the universe daily. If we choose to slow down and observe own our unique movements we can see how beautiful we really are.

Bouquet of Life

Jeremy — Sun, 16 Sep 2007 05:35:40 GMT

Today was my Aunts wedding ceremony in Topanga Canyon. It was a very lovely gathering for a special day. During the event they talked about the bouquet of life. We were each handed a different flower before the wedding. Then the maids of honor gathered up the flowers given to us to make their own unique bouquets. This symbol got me thinking of my own bouquet of life. It gave me a reason to reflect on all the beautiful people I have in my life now and all the people who have come in and out along the way. I feel very lucky to have such great flowers in my life. ☺ I want to ask the readers of this to think who makes up your special bouquet of life? What people now and even what aspects of your life add color and magic all around you? What types of flowers make up your bouquet? What colors are in your bouquet right now? What colors have it been in the past? What colors may it be in the future? See all the different manifestations of the bouquet over the ebb and flow timeline of your life. Picture it now in your minds eye and visualize its energy. Is your bouquet all it could be? Could it use some new water? Or is it growing wild in the forest somewhere? Its really a gift to see how much color we have around us at all times. The more we notice the positivity in life the higher we can raise. That’s not saying that negativity won’t exist in life, but it means we can soar over it. And if we believe there is darkness we can realize what shifts we need to make in order to make our bouquet glow. All the excellent details of life that we take notice of give us strength and keep us going day after day. We are al part of something greater and it’s the compilation of all of us that create a vibrating field of wonder, color and delight.

A Dromedary

Jeremy — Mon, 20 Aug 2007 21:30:57 GMT

What is fiction but fact and what is fact but fiction. Why and how do we decipher between the two? Someone fiction is someone else’s fact and its all in the eye of the beholder. All things seeing are seen through others. A Dromedary She recalls the first time she had sex. It was with an orange fox. The fox thought he was cleaver in seducing the unknowing dromedary but she really let him. She wanted it. For her first time she had to lie down on her stomach because she was far too tall for the fox. Usually they stood up on all fours; well that is what she heard and saw once when she stumbled across the rich dromedaries partying at the oasis. As he mounted her, she couldn’t help but think about what she had for lunch that day, and stories of past lovers creped into her head. The fox began to pant. She wondered what the best pet would be. A hermit crab perhaps? She recalled her friend who had one as a pet. Her friend claimed one night that she and the hermit crab had a little “to much sangria” and ended up having intercourse. The combination of claws and hooves did not work and no one was turned on. The fox’s claws dug into her harder, which brought her back to the situation at hand but also made her wonder if she really did know anyone with a hermit crab at all. She suddenly felt as if she was swimming. Bang! It then dawned on her that she was having sex for the first time. The fox was still panting and now making deep guttural groans every so often. She wondered why he was making these noises because to be honest she wasn’t feeling anything from this exchange. Maybe she was just that hot. Pause. . . . . shift, unwind, she started to feel something deep down in her dromedary promise land. It was almost as if she couldn’t breathe but she was delighted. She wanted to scream but all she could muster up was a “meow”. The organs inside her began to spin as fluids and adrenaline tangoed in her blood stream. It felt like rain as liquid gathered. She tried to grab onto something. The birds were croaking and the fish were singing. Sensation was so strong. Sensation. SENsation. SENSATION!! Pounding, numbing, fantasy, justice, embracing, Power out. Power back on. On Off. On. She wanted this. We all want this. Saturn wants this. No one wants to be alone. White energy forming at the base of her climbs and heaves quickly and repeatedly. Bang! She is enveloped and feels dizzy as pain swells, as if she was just hit in the head. Now numerous points of sharp pain marched in rows up and down her neck like intense acupuncture. As her eyes gazed forward the features of her surroundings began to blend. Forms created new ideas and space reoriented itself into an undulating but concrete equation. Now humans surrounded her with their faces covered by masks. She could hear what sounded like soft breathing and moaning. One of the humans floated towards her and stroked her forehead with its hand that was inside a velvet glove. The touch felt soft and soothed her for a moment. She was hungry and wanted kelp, which she thought was queer. Her body went stiff and pupils dilated as something shinny flooded towards her as if she was exiting a tunnel. Blue light enveloped her eyes and all that was visible was what looked like a hurricane from space. The eye of the hurricane was black nothingness. The darkness dissipated and swirled out from deeper to lighter hues of blue until it became white. All was quite as it was spinning. The thin orb encaplsing it was reminiscent of the blue sky, but miniature and vast. It was an eye within an eye within an eye. Untold truths spin endlessly within the confines of an empty shell until broken by the light. *** http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dromedary http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/dromedary

ITCH 4 writing (record our efforts)

Jeremy — Thu, 24 May 2007 00:52:37 GMT

"itch is an evolving art project in the form of a journal that aspires to serve the community of dancers and other artists of the Los Angeles area and beyond. Practice participation in the developing LA dance culture: insert your thoughts, your body, your voice. help itch grow should you be enhanced by it...-submit-volunteer-donate-distribute" I feel that not everyone has heard of or seen Itch. I wanted to share. Here was my response (How would you respond?) to the prompt below. How might we record our efforts, in a way that might inspire new ways of thinking about art, or living in general? Dance/live performance is art shown in the present moment of time. Unless an individual was there to experience a show, trying to recapture it will never be true to the piece. For example, when someone tells a story and it's not understood we say, "well I guess you just had to be there." It's along those lines; you just had to be there. Knowing that dance is performed and then completed, the idea of trying to capture its essence is questionable. It would be like trying to catch the remains of energy left by the performers. Being a graphic designer and visual artist as well as dancer and chorographer, I create art that is tangible. It can be held, touched, put on a wall to hang, or even sent over the Internet to others. Having tangible art means you can always have it with you, and possibly all the feelings that go along with it. Performance so far has been reliant on the memory of people or video to recall the ideas that were shown at the performance. Since we cannot hang dance on the wall, we must rely on our mind's eye to take snapshots of the piece, or moments and concepts that stood out, because no one can remember every detail. When dance is recalled by the mind, we can tap into the feelings and thoughts that were experienced, more than the actual physical series of movement. Thinking of other artistic mediums can help us in recording dance. The use of postcards, flyers or other collateral used to inform individuals of upcoming work is important. It gives people a glimpse into what the dance may be like. I feel design for dance is overlooked. The collateral work becomes advertising and a selling point instead of a work of art (granted it is used to convey pertinent information as well as being compelling). If taken further, these images might become art in their own right, and used to convey their own emotions and ideas. Photography and design are mediums that can be used as their own interpretations of performance. By adding photography and design to a work it begins a melding of mediums to create a new hybrid form of expression, communication and energy. Photography could be used as a part of the piece itself or in the form of documentation to make a dance more accessible. When dance is remembered, dialogues are created between individuals and energy is dispersed into society; this can be used to provoke new modes of thinking that inspire others not just in art but also in life. I think that the beauty of performance is its impermanence -nothing is left behind. It changes and evolves as humans do. The idea of trying to capture that is like trying to capture a wild animal. It cannot be trapped or contained but can merely be observed and documented in our minds to remember, use, or get lost in our subconscious.