My Blog

Food and Nourishment of Spirit

GyPsy Raven — Tue, 03 Jun 2008 06:22:02 GMT

There's not much about food that I don't like! In it's purest form, it is simply a gift from the Creator in whichever form you see It. Taken from the approach of respect and honour, base ingredients are worked with to enhance and accent their best qualities in that moment. Flavours and textures get layered for subtlety and complexity that should never overshadow the overall result. Movement of cuts, stirring spirals, the flick of the wrist to send food from the pan into the air and back again over the flame, the timing of each individual item added.... it's all a dance that flows like water. Fast or slow. With or without music. Its all a dance, and it never ends when the food gets to the plate..... it continues with the enjoyment of the diner. Each completed meal/dance is remembered and becomes the base steps in future meals. future meals are an evolution of meals that came before. New exciting ingredients bring new dimensions to what has become familiar. Love for food is easy to see when the meal is good. Your passions and energies get married with the energies of the food like an emulsification. In the same way, love for another is also expressed through the dishes crafted. Flavours, colors, textures. Light, heavy; hot and spicy, sweet and decadent. Bold or subtle. Ahhhh.... food!

Entheos update

GyPsy Raven — Mon, 02 Jun 2008 21:14:45 GMT

We're getting close to time now, and things are really coming together. The whole event is going to be amazing and totally activated. Connections that we have together will go deeper and new ones will be formed. Music to dance to, movements to build or release energy will be performed, food will be shared with new friends and old while nourishing the bonds. Most of the details for the crew kitchen have now been worked out, and though I know all of you who have volunteered to be part of the team of nourishers, I would like to get final conformation from all of you so I can get my list to the core. With receiving conformation I will pass on more details to all of you to bring you up to speed. If anyone wants to go early to extend their adventure, I plan on flying to the coast the day before set up. I won't be needing help at that point, but welcome the company as part of my journey (and help would be appreciated even if not needed). Thank you all for the gifts, skills, time, energy, teachings, love. It is a blessing to take this on not just for, but with my clan. Much Love, many Blessings, and positive Manifestations, GypsyRaven

Temple Blessings from One who Feels Blessed

GyPsy Raven — Fri, 23 May 2008 23:45:25 GMT

It's now almost a week has passed, and I think I'm almost used to the world outside our sanctuary, our stage for Divine contact within us all, our site for connection with other beings of cuddly beautiful light.... our Temple of Dance! Any event where I get to dance and connect with amazing people is a sacred and blessed time for me. I've found a loving community of people, many of whom are family to me, and it's because of events like this one........ but never one that activated. On top of that, this event the brilliant organizers that pulled the whole thing together for us all had asked me to organize and supply the nourishment pod. It was a great honour for me to use my skills and passion with food to be able to provide for my community, my gypsy family! I take much joy in creating new food that is accessible to the broadest number of people as possible. There is much love energy put into what I do. I've been described by a couple of people as a culinary alchemist, but I walk the Green Path and don't push the energy. I simply work gently in layers, going with instinct, changing what I do as the ingredients/elements direct me, subtly bringing out the natural energies to express the love of/for the Divine in all its forms. I want to thank the organizers and pod leaders for putting on such a awesome nexus of light, sound, and bonding. I want to thank those that volunteered and helped make the event not only happen, but go soooooo smooooothly. I want to thank the djs and vjs for being such a vessel for our collective journey. I want to thank Luna for the dance ceremony facilitation. I want to thank Jenni Sphere for the opening circle to remind us of our connection to each other. I want to thank all those who travelled from out of town and those who live here for bringing your light and beauty to share space together. I want to thank the Divine in all Its forms for showing us that we are never alone in our journey. Many Blessings as I feel Blessed! GypsyRaven

one week before Temple and need more help then ever

GyPsy Raven — Sun, 11 May 2008 04:18:10 GMT

Well, here we are one week before Temple of Dance. I'm sure everyone's very excited. It's one of the most special events that go on in Victoria with our tribe. This one is extra special for me because I've been asked to take on a new role, management of nourishment. I, and my crew, will be providing beautifully crafted food of my own design that is both vegan (with a little unpasteurized honey and bee pollen one or two places) and wheat free. The only store-bought items that I plan on offering are water, tea, miso, ginsing, juice, and Emergn C. Like the music, visuals, and the decor, what I have planned to share with you all is a labour of love.... but I need help, desperately. Leading up to now, I have had several people asking if they could help, but the few who had confirmed have backed out to work other pods. I know that there are one or two that are interested in helping prepare the food, but that's the only thing I can do by myself! I know everyone wants to there on the dance floor or off connecting with beautiful people, but sometimes the best place to connect is around good food and I promise that the shifts won't be long. I would be happy to have people join me in my kitchen to co-create and learn from each other, but I can't count that as a crew shift (unless I get my full crew and I sponsor someone in financial need from my own pocket). Please spread the word, get in contact with me, one of the other pod leaders, or the lovely organizers. Hell.... send out signals to the stars! I need replies and confirmations by Tuesday so I can have my list in for the door. Thankyou and Many Blessings, James

Crew for Temple of Dance and Entheos needed.

GyPsy Raven — Tue, 06 May 2008 00:49:33 GMT

Hi everyone. Wanted to put it out there that I still have a few crew spots that I need to fill for both Temple of Dance and for Entheos. I still don't have internet access at home (soon, soon..... then we take over the world! bwa-ha ha ha), but I do get on-line at least once a day for a couple of minutes, and I can be reached at home at (250) 381-4508. Thank-you and many Blessings, James (GypsyRaven)

My latest big news coupled with a request

GyPsy Raven — Tue, 18 Mar 2008 23:17:42 GMT

Would like to announce my joy in recently being added to the ENTHEOS crew. I'll be in the kitchen providing love and nourishment for the bodies and spirits of crew and (possibly) event goers as well. It's very exciting for me to use my skills and training in service to my tribe. I see that the kitchen will be fun place to connect and so would like to ask any who may be interested iesn being part of this pod of magickal food alchemy and love, please contact me. The sooner people get in touch with me, the more input they will have in the development and planning (any recipe suggestions? connections with food sources that I may not have? thoughts on who may be into food donations? ect.). Blessings and much love, james

When the going gets weird, the weird turn pro.

GyPsy Raven — Tue, 11 Mar 2008 22:03:15 GMT

he he he.... don't really have anything else to say. Hunter S. Thompson has some great quotables.

No Longer Homeless!!!!!

GyPsy Raven — Wed, 20 Feb 2008 07:47:34 GMT

Yaaahahahaha.... excellent! Its all falling into place! [man with slightly mad gleam in eye, rubbing hands together] Yesterday, Red Robin stopped by the Den O'Three Christophers while I was about my search for housing on Craigslist. At that point, there were a few possibilities, but had been having trouble getting in contact with people..... including those I'd already been in contact with via e-mail and who had given their phone numbers to connect about viewing rooms. Robin had suggested a communal home in Fernwood (the area I most wanted to live) that she knew was losing a tenant. I thought it sounded good, planned on dropping by latter in the day, then went back on Craigslist only to find that they had posted while I had been talking to Robin. I then turned to Mr. Fuzzy Wuzzy and said, "hey, that's the place Robin was talking about." When Chris saw the pic, he realized that its the home of one of our tribe. Very good signs all around! Of course I sent off an immediate e-mail mentioning both Robin and Patrick. This morning there was an e-mail waiting for me when I got up with a phone number. After calling, talking to a potential new roommate, and having a cup of tea to start my day, I wondered over to meet Steve and see the house. We hit it off immediately, the bedroom is great with large windows and desk that is perfect for my needs, kitchen is warm and spacious (kitchens are Very important to me), there's a working fireplace that they use, and no carpets. All felt good and right for me, but still had to meet one more roommate. Latter ran into both of them at a coffee shop, and Steps' awesome too. We talked for a bit, hit it off well, and in a few minutes had a new home! yippee! I don't move in until the end of the month, but that's really really soon now, and I only just decided to make the move a couple of weeks ago. There are so many powerful things manifesting into my life now! I am blessed by the Universe and by my tribe that loves me. I appreciate all the help and positive energy offered to me by so many people that I love dearly, and the many wonderful new people in my life. Thank-you all for being the beings that you are.

I am Blue Solar Eagle

GyPsy Raven — Tue, 19 Feb 2008 10:39:44 GMT

This week, a couple of people I know mentioned what they are according to the Mayan calender. I've never really looked to much at the Mayan calender stuff before, so when I was on Hipples profile tonight to send him a message and saw some links to Mayan sites, I thought I'd check it out. It turns out that I'm a Blue Solar Eagle. Was nice to read through the whole thing and see things I've worked on in the past to get to where I am now, and things that show me on my destined path. I would like to share a small part of what I read. Maybe I'll add bits and pieces here and there at latter times. Blue Eagle is my Conscious Self - who I am and who I am becoming. Blue Eagle reminds me to step powerfully into my commitment as a planetary server! My assignment includes whatever furthers my personal evolution and the evolution of global mind. I am an awakener, a transformer, an empowered global visionary. In my vision, I have compassion for others, and my decisions are made in the light of global consciousness. Ask yourself how you might experience compassion toward self, the Earth, and others. Be guided towards types of work, relationships, places to live, and projects that will benefit the Earth and her creatures. Allow your spirit to expand. Soar on your spreading wings and planetary perspective. Affirm: "Through you, Gaia, I am also transformed! I am awakening as the return of divine love and light. We are all one. Gaia, as you awaken, I heal myself. As I awaken, you are healed, and together our petals open ecstatically to the new Sun of Flowers." I am a member of the one global family, a planetary server and transformer. Blue Eagle asks you to join in lifting the collective mind. It is up to each one of us to hold a positive vision and affirmation, for the means by which this miracle will occur is through changes in the one affecting the greater whole. Imagine the profound impact your loving thoughts have on planetary mind. You do make a difference! As you connect individually with the larger crystal grid network, your power is multiplied exponentially. This galactic grid is also known as the Mayan cobweb. The greatest gift you can offer to the planet is to simply be the love. Believe in yourself and your dreams and visions! Remember your special gifts, your path of service on Earth, your promise to serve the light. Everything you are connects to the greater whole. You are starseeded! You have the vision of the eagle. Believe in your dreams. You are the hope and the vision revealed. Thank-you Jeremy for posting those links on your profile. much love.

victoria housing options?

GyPsy Raven — Thu, 07 Feb 2008 06:03:03 GMT

Well.... I think I'm done ranting and rambling back and forth. Been spending some time posting on Craig'slist and various Tribes about housing options. Guess that means I'm gonna be back in Vic for awhile again. Usually when I leave a place, I don't look back, and where ever I end up is home. When I left in september, Victoria was still home, and for the first time in my life, I found myself with two homes in my heart. I know that there's a place for me both on Lasqueti, and here in Victoria (I'm in town right now). At first, though I knew that I could leave the island to go back again at a latter date, I was very focused on the fact that I'm living there now and that I Want to be there. Lasqueti fits a long dream of homesteading. Well...... maybe through leaving for a while, I'll be able to put money down on land when I go back. At least next time I'll be going there with experience and will know what to expect from life in the woods! Sooooo. Now that my focus is shifting to my heart, and what it feels is best for my in this time, I'm looking at Victoria. The only thing holding me back now is that I still have to go back and take care of a few things, and know that there may be great tempting offers for housing waiting for me as I type this, and I don't want to close any doors. Well, any door that opens once, can open again, or led to new doors. Anyone have extra space, need a roommate, know of something good? Offers and suggestions appreciated!!! Thank-you, and Many Blessings. The Divine in me recognizes the Divine in you! -james

hmmmm.... move back to Victoria?

GyPsy Raven — Wed, 06 Feb 2008 05:46:17 GMT

Been doing to much thinking lately. Some of my happiest times lately are when I can stop thinking and just 'be'. When I can just listen to and follow my heart, things just open up and flow. Need to stop thinking! Been thinking about how much I want to be on Lasqueti, but not looking enough at where my heart wants to be. Don't mind taking the hard road, and I love the country life..... is it giving me enough of what I need? I'm not sure anymore. Maybe good reasons why things haven't been coming together there. Still one of my homes, but may be time to leave for a bit, and go back for visits until the time is right to move there again. Still have no idea what I'm doing, and am trying to have patience, but now is time to hear my heart song. aghhh! @#@$$#$^%$@!

Spagirus

GyPsy Raven — Wed, 06 Feb 2008 02:19:03 GMT

Spagirus is a person who can separate the true from the false, the good from the bad, the pure from the impure, yet reject duality and cleave to unity. This is a new word for me, but fits soooo well as a goal for me. Right now life is in a chaotic flux that is mostly good, but Very uncertain! Mostly I feel Really good, strong, and healthy/happy, but sometimes/today I feel lost and confused. I love the home that is Lasqueti in general, but need a new place to lay my head and keep my stuff dry. It doesn't need to be 'the' place. It doesn't need to be long term. It just needs to be NOW so I can relax and figure things out. I still feel that Lasqueti is home, but no longer sure if its the place for me to be right now. Victoria is home too, and my gypsy-soul tells me that there are 'homes' for me all over the world. Lasqueti is REALLLY hard, full of major uncertainties, and feelings of isolation and a lack of support/help for those who are new in the community (as beautiful as the community is, feel people want you to prove something to them). Victoria I know has work, tribe, love, etc (which are also on Lasqueti, but hard to access/see). I feel very lost and confused today! I know there's a place for me where ever I choose to be, but there's so much growth and potential in both places that I don't know what I want anymore. Part of me wants both, and in a way, that's possible by living in one area and taking many many trips to the other. I'm doing that right now. I'm soooo tired! I'm frustrated by always trying to make things work with almost nothing to show for it. Yeah, yeah.... I know about the growth and other stuff that I've achieved over the last year, but it doesn't change the massively intense poverty, isolation, or the fact that I'm moving AGAIN. Does it count to call yourself a homesteader when you don't have a homestead and feel how all the work you do doesn't matter when life is sooooo transitory? I know I'm on my path, but wish I could see the next step in front of me. I have faith in the universe, but am tired of wearing a blindfold! Maybe I should follow some wisdom from Dr. H. Osmond, "To fathom hell or soar angelic, Take just a pinch of psychedelic."

Big changes on Lasqueti

GyPsy Raven — Fri, 18 Jan 2008 18:53:24 GMT

Life has moved sooooo quickly the last year. Almost a year ago Rejeanne and I fell in love, learned that we shared a common dream of homesteading, then a few months latter, with the kind offer and help of our friends Adam and Jenna, we moved to Lasqueti to start out on their land to get to know the community and learn what it takes to homestead. It's an incrediblly hard life in all the ways that I was expecting, and many ways that I wasn't, but I love it! One of the things that I wasn't expecting was to start looking for a new home for just myself. Lasqueti is home to both of us, and we both know that the right place for us is there somewhere, but we have to take care of ourselves right now and need space to do it. This isn't easy, but the life I want to live isn't easy. Maybe an important lesson to learn right now is how to do it on our own before we can homestead with a partner.There are other lessons, of course, and skills to learn. What's important to me right now is that we are still friends and that friendship is important to both of us.I don't know what Lasqueti has in store for me, I feel like the last few months have been a huge test to see if I can handle Lasqueti life and attaining my dream, but I know I'm going to keep moving toward that dream and work on attaining more of what I want and need for myself. I don't know when or if Rejeanne will read this, but I want to say that, "I love you dearly! You are my best friend and nobody anywhere knows me as well as you do. Tho we walk alone right now, you're still in my heart, and my heart is still with you." There's more, but I often use way to many words..... maybe silence is one of the things I need to work on (he he he) oh..... just thought of something. Don't know yet where on island I'll be living, but if I can swing it..... it may be the time for me to get a dog again. Someone big, silly, and lovey that can travel with me. No tiny fake dogs, but still of a size to be on the road with me. I plan on being on the road alot, with Lasqueti being my gypsy home camp. This posting doesn't feel done, and I don't know what else to say...... so maybe that's the way to do it. My path isn't finished, there's just nothing else to say, except: I love you all.

STRESSSSSED OUUUUUUT

GyPsy Raven — Wed, 22 Aug 2007 00:27:42 GMT

well....... we're over the half-way mark in our move now, but so much more to go!.. most of our stuff is now at the homestead...... just 'ave ta figure out how to get the last boxes, bags, rubber maid tubs, and furniture to the ferry in two trips (this weekend and the middle o'next week), and figure out how to deal with ol' stealthy (the van we don't have the money to spare fixing)... in the mean-time, i still have to work (in fact, i started work monday 15mins after gettn' back to the city from the latest Lasqueti run)... been wroking 5 days a week, running out the door fri afternoon to catch the last boat, then going right to work as soon as we get back all month... now i have to tell the chef that i can't work half of my last week so we can the last stuff over (ferry workers don't like too much cargo on weekends). FEEL LIKE LOSING MIND NOW almost done......... almost there......... can't be in my happy place yet....... we're moving to my happy place!......... almost there........... don't know how to handle what needs to be done.............. but almost there! gotta go........ have a pie in the oven and the timer just beeped. love and light, james

looking for a few things we soon need

GyPsy Raven — Wed, 18 Jul 2007 04:21:17 GMT

hello all you beautiful people... as some of you know, Rejeanne and I have some big important plans that we are working on for ourselves, but there are a few things that we are going to need to make them work... if anyone knows where we could get our hands on any of these items at a good price (or free), please pass on the important info on to us or anyone who can help. We will need: a good working generator and/or solar power system, a small chainsaw, insulation, a trailer for the van, a wood stove (ideally one that could be used for cooking as well as heat), a good sized roll or two of thick plastic, set of carpentry tools, garden tools There will undoubtedly be other things that will occur to me as we get closer, and our needs become more apparent, but I wanted to start focusing on manifestation by putting a few things out there. If any of you can help, in anyway possible, we would really appreciate it. Thankyou, and many Blessings. James

my favorite word

GyPsy Raven — Fri, 06 Jul 2007 18:01:02 GMT

Satori (悟 Korean oh; Japanese satori (from the verb satoru); Chinese: wù) is a Japanese Buddhist term for enlightenment. The word literally means "understanding". It is sometimes loosely used interchangeably with Kensho, but Kensho refers to the first perception of the Buddha-Nature or True-Nature, sometimes referred to as "awakening". Kensho is not a permanent state of enlightenment, but rather a clear glimpse of the true nature of creation. Satori on the other hand refers to "deep" or lasting enlightenment. According to D. T. Suzuki, "Satori is the raison d'etre of Zen, without which Zen is no Zen. Therefore every contrivance, disciplinary and doctrinal, is directed towards satori."[1] Satori can be found in every moment of life, it is wrapped in all daily activities, its goal to unwrap them to see satori. As an analogy, we may think of a baby when it first walks. After much effort, it stands upright, finds its balance and walks a few steps (kensho), then falls. After continued effort the child will one day find that it is able to walk all the time (satori). Once the True-Nature has been seen, it is customary to use satori when referring to the enlightenment of the Buddha and the Patriarchs, as their enlightenment was permanent. The Zen Buddhist experience commonly recognizes enlightenment as a transitory thing in life, almost synonymous with the English term epiphany, and satori is the realization of a state of epiphanic enlightenment. Because all things are transitory according to Zen philosophy, however, the transitory nature of satori is not regarded as limiting in the way that a transitory epiphany would be in Western understandings of enlightenment. DT Suzuki writes that "Samadhi alone is not enough, you must come out of that state, be awakened from it, and that awakening is Prajna. That movement of coming out of samadhi, and seeing it for what it is, that is satori" [2]