Literature

7
groks

An Act of Creation - Winning Entry in Poetry Contest for Sensations Magazine

My piece on the Gnostic religion, entitled "An Act of Creation" has won best rhymed poem in the poetry contest hosted for Sensations Magazine Silver Anniversary Poetry Issue, Winter 2011

An Act of Creation

Who dares to claim the path to Gnosis
was the most prized of our Lord’s secret teaching
as alternate realms shall quickly infer

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Shawn Butler

About Me

Bio

A curious seeker who is interested in sharing, collaborating, and learning about the various realms of consciousness. I work with Body Mind Spirit Journeys Travel, create with multi-media collective/record label BNS Sessions, and play with performance art/experimental spiritual band Cyphered Threads/HOIST (Human Observations in Space Time).

Skills and talents
Professor (English, Language and Cultural Studies) Reiki (2nd Degree) Energy Healing Producer/Coordinator (Multimedia Events, Spiritual Travel)
Interests
Different Forms of Spirituality and Religion, Film, fine art, Installations, Literature, Meditation, Music, performance art, travel, video art
Websites I'm Into
Body Mind Spirit Journeys, BNS Sessions, HOIST, Golden Drum, Unitribe, Alan Watts, Eckhart Tolle, Maharishi Mahesh Yogi, Soul Dish, Cornel West

Education

College
SUNY New Paltz (B.A. Interpersonal/Intercultural Communication)

DorielleBrooke

About Me

Bio

Just another vessel in Ohr Ain Sof - holla!

Skills and talents
un-hatching metaphors for unseen reality in everyday life... mostly though the music of phish, the art of yoga, dance, song, and rituals involving the Hebrew roots system
Interests
Humor, Judaism, Light, Literature, Love, mind-expanding experiences, Music, Poetry, quantum physics, spirituality, Yoga
What I'm Reading
Courageous Dreaming: How Shamans Dream Their World Into Being, The Artist's Way: A Spiritual Path to Higher Creativity, Phish: The Biography, Ongoing: The Torah (five books of moses)
What I'm Listening To
Phish, Talking Heads, Regina Spektor, Grateful Dead, Jerry Garcia, Reb Shlomo Carlebach, Lauryn Hill, People Under the Stairs, Mickey Hart Band, Anything experimental in orchestral peaking sound, instrumental, jams, transcendent song, it's an ongoing exploration
Movies I've Seen Recently
2012: A Time For Change, Manifesting The Mind, Waste Land
Websites I'm Into
The Daily Love, Friends & Friends Collective, Mr. Miner's Phish Thoughts

Education

College
University of Denver
Additional study
studied at Ben Gurion University in Be'er Sheva, Israel... lived in the desert for five months, including the month of August - don't recommend that part, but the rest was pure divinity

Work

Position
Media Coordinator

Ariane

About Me

Bio

I am a published author, columnist and traveler.

Skills and talents
Writing, telling stories, cooking, languages
Interests
Literature, travel

Elizabeth Mahala

About Me

Bio

My main desire is to help progress evolution in human consciousness through exploring creativity, spirituality and promoting an awareness & love for the divine interconnection inside all beings and synchronicities of life. I am a painter, writer and often a late night philosopher currently living in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

Interests
astronomy, hiking, Literature, Meditation, Nature, Painting, rock climbing, Transcendentalism, writing, Zen
What I'm Reading
John Updike, Henry David Thoreau, Ralph Waldo Emerson, Walt Whitman

Education

College
Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts
2
groks

My review (and video) of 'Community Organizing: A Holistic Approach' book

I got excited when I heard about this book, both b/c I think that for people who are interested in creating social change, community is where to do it, and also I knew of the author's most recent work (founding director of MiningWatch Canada, an organization our local Indigenous solidarity group has worked with, and one that has taken on the huge challenge of challenging Canadian mining companies'

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Do Visionary Shamans Dream of VALIS?
Simon G. Powell

For most people, Philip K. Dick is best known through films like Blade Runner, Total Recall, Minority Report, and A Scanner Darkly, which were all based on his writings. Classic movies like The Matrix and Vanilla Sky also owe a great debt to PKD's work. What is not so well known is that he spent the last decade or so of his life struggling to come to terms with a series of visionary experiences

Anastacia Strots

About Me

Interests
Ayurveda, climbing things, environmentalism, healthy living, Literature, Music, opera, Yoga

Education

High school
Clayton High School
College
Mannes College of Music
4
groks

Ascending the spiral of conscious evolution: an analysis of Led Zeppelin’s Stairway to Heaven

Popular opinion declares Stairway to Heaven the greatest rock song of all time, though the meaning of the song's lyrics are far less agreed-upon. The following interpretation seeks common ground beneath this contradiction, identifying humankind's evolution of consciousness as this ballad's subject of shared appeal. The lyrics resonate with our deep-rooted desires to transcend the material world and return to the spiritual experience of oneness.

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David Duvall

About Me

Bio

I am the third child of four. I have an eldest sister, an older brother and a younger brother. My parents are still married (after 27 years), an increasingly rare feat in this day and age. My life thus far has been mainly a mixed tale of music, travel, drug use, mental exploration and spiritual contemplation.
As far as any of these go, music is my main mission. I started playing bass guitar at 8 years old, while I was living in Southern Maryland. I always had an affinity for percussion, but didn't get an opportunity to try it until I was about 10, after my family moved to Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. Next in line was guitar, which I began to pick up on roughly around the same time I started to indulge in Cannabis: age 11.
Naturally the shift from one school to the next, coupled with my recent psychotropic discovery and the onset of puberty, led me to become a very poor student, as well as a growing sense of estrangement from my "peers". That same year, my siblings and I started our first band, Little Wing, which followed largely the path of our father's classic rock cover band: a lot of Hendrix, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Black Sabbath, Rolling Stones and the like. But by the end of my middle school years, at age 13, the signs of deviation from that path were beginning to show, probably thanks in no small part to growing fascinations with LSD (facilitating a growing interest in reality) and more modern Metal acts like Pantera, System of a Down, Slayer and Rage Against the Machine.
By the time I made it to high school, Little Wing was all but dead. We still played under the name, but our sets were becoming more of an amalgamation between our Classic Rock upbringing, our personal influences with Grunge and Metal, and our own original music, which resembled more than anything, Angst-y Fight Metal.
Around 2001, we renamed the band Aftermath, and meanwhile, began a bit of a trip to the Dark Side when we were introduced to harder drugs like Cocaine and Methamphetamine, as well as a growing penchant for binge drinking.
When I was 16, I was given one of the best birthday gifts I've ever received, as well as one that I was least prepared to understand at the time: a hardback copy of Alex Grey's "Transfigurations". But nonetheless, I saw the importance in it, although I did a terrible job of taking care of my copy.
By the end of school, I started to see it for the system that it is - in design, and was able to graduate early without even really trying. I immediately went to work for my father, along with my older brother, doing construction and carpentry. I continued to do so steadily for the next four years, starting in 2004: using the money we were making to finance travels (a 5,000-mile road trip in 2005; playing St. Patrick's Day in Dublin, Ireland, a Southeast tour of the US, and a cross-country road trip - all in 2006, and going to the Bonnaroo Music and Arts Festival in 2007, followed by a week's vacation on our friend's land in New Hampshire).
But by the end of 2007, the family business had died down considerably, my brother's and my house had burned down and we found ourselves stuck in the same town we had been living in for 12 years with very little prospects.
Over the next couple years, we each worked whatever jobs we could to help out around and the house and meagerly finance our band - which seemed to be the only thing to benefit from our setbacks. Our sound was branching out noticeably, incorporating as many influences as we had discovered from our very beginning to our present. At this time, we decided that we needed to leave Aftermath where it belonged and create our new sounds under a new name - something all-encompassing, as we felt our music was becoming to ourselves. We decided to go under the name Of The Sun.
In the midst of a dying music scene in Myrtle Beach, we moved to Austin, Texas (a place we had never been to, where we knew no one) in August of 2010, to focus our energies more toward making our music what we do with our lives. Only now, a year later, is our effort beginning to show signs of coalescing.
And as far as drug use goes, I still indulge from time to time in hallucinogens and other, more natural, "highs". I also still like to drink alcohol, which I attribute mainly to a preternatural appreciation for literature and authors ;).

Skills and talents
I've been playing music for longer than I haven't. Mainly bass guitar, drums, guitar and vocals. I have a pretty good understanding of wood-working tools, and a basic understanding of automotive tools. I also trained in Judo as a kid, and later in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu around 18-19 years of age.
Interests
art, Film, Food and Drink., foreign languages, History, Literature, Martial Arts, One more time - Music
What I'm Reading
At the moment, I'm reading "Torture Garden" by Octave Mirbeau. I've enjoyed what I've read from Hunter Thompson, H.P. Lovecraft, Kahlil Gibran, Alex Grey, Chuck Palahnuik, Terence McKenna, Kurt Vonnegut, Herman Hesse, Jon Stewart, Henry Rollins, and The Onion News Network.
What I'm Listening To
Too many to list. Some all-time favorites would include Alice in Chains, Jimi Hendrix Experience, Opeth, Between the Buried and Me, Mr. Bungle and Soundgarden.
Movies I've Seen Recently
13 Assassins, Ip Man, American: The Bill Hicks Documentary, Martyrs and Attack The Block.
Websites I'm Into
CouchSurfing, DeviantArt

Roberto Bacci

About Me

Interests
bluegrass, consciousness, esotericism, guitar, Literature, Music, psychedelia, reading, writing

Education

College
Università di Bologna, Italy.
Graduate school
Brown University, Providence, RI.

Nadir Chacín

About Me

Bio

Anthropologist, editor, writer and community manager.
I invite you to read my blog: nadirchacin.com
I am the organizer of the Círculo Humano (means Human Circle), a civil society initiative that seeks to promote respectful dialogue, coexistence, participation, ownership of public spaces and reflection on individual and social dilemmas. We meet the last Saturday of each month at the Parque Mexico, Condesa, Mexico City. For more details: http://nadirchacin.com/circulo-humano/ and photos http://circulohumano.jalbum.net/

Skills and talents
Editing, Creative Writing, Social Media, Human Behavior in Crisis, Psycology, Ethics for management of network, Anthropological Theory, Anthropology and Conflict Resolution, Virtual Currency, Social Media Planning Strategy, Creative & Implementation, Social & Behavior Anthropology
Interests
Activism, Anthropology, Barcelona, editing, Information Technology, Literature, Mexico, Online Social Networking, social movements, Venezuela

Education

Additional study
Universidad Central de Venezuela, Escuela Nacional de Antropología e Historia, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México UNAM

Work

Employer
Territorio liberado, agency of creative services and publishing
Position
CEO

Barbara Ruth Saunders

About Me

Interests
Literature, the adventurous life

Education

High school
Rye Country Day School, NY
College
Stanford

Ben Christie

About Me

Bio

I work to develop renewable energy projects in Asia and Africa, and write and make films on development, human rights and culture. I have lived all over the world and consider myself a global citizen. Please get in touch as I love to share ideas and experiences, and hear about events any of you are organizing.

Skills and talents
Renewable energy project orgination and development. Photo-journalism and writing. Documentary filmmaking. Communications and public relations.
Interests
Anthropology, arts, consciousness, Energy, Film, Literature, Science, spirituality, travel
What I'm Reading
Websites I'm Into
Global Energy Network Institute, Global Basic Income Foundation, Global Commons Trust, Center for the Advancement of the Steady State Economy, Share the World's Resources

Patricia Walker

About Me

Bio

We should be thankful for the days that we have. Each day is a blessing and all we have to do is to cherish each day and give the best that we can to achieve our aspirations. No one knows what the future may bring but what is important is that you are fulfilled by the end of the day.

Interests
art, Books, business, internet surfing, Literature

A05_oliviascott

About Me

Bio

We tend to be stuck on the safe zone. We are afraid of facing the future and want the world can offer. Learn to be carefree. Do the things you want and be proud of yourself. You will never learn if you will not try.

Interests
art, Books, business, internet surfing, Literature

Randall

About Me

Bio

Raised in Columbus, Ohio. African-American. Been divorced for 27 years. I've been a religious wanderer for many years; for a long time, now, I regard Christianity as my religious home-base but I still retain affinity for other, previous, doctrinaire religious home bases.

Skills and talents
20/20 hindsight, putting foot in mouth, finding myself out in left-field.
Interests
bicycling, FOSS, Literature
What I'm Reading
Robert Penn Warren's All The King's Men; Alicia (My Story) by Alicia Appleman-Jurman; How To Be Idle by Tom Hodgkinson; My Dad's A Punk (12 Stories About BOYS and Their FATHERS) by Tony Bradman
What I'm Listening To
Coloratura soprano Kathleen Battle's wonderful rendition of Johann Strauss's 1882 waltz "Voices of Spring," recorded in 1987 in Vienna, and conducted by Herbert von Karajan.
Movies I've Seen Recently
Baby Mama; pilot for Northern Exposure; pilot for Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles
Websites I'm Into
Linux Mint homepage, The SporePrint InfoShop

Education

High school
one semester at South High School, Columbus, Ohio
College
Ohio State University, Urbana (of Ohio) University
Graduate school
not yet
Additional study
several other other colleges & universities

Work

Employer
retired
Position
homebody

dakota dahms

About Me

Bio

artist/naturalist/psychonaut/writer/human who resides in the solitude of the woods of Maine. meow

Skills and talents
art, dimensional smuggling, creating music, poetry, and awkward moments.
Interests
altered states of consciousness..so on and so forth, Anthropology, Archeology, art, astronomy, ethnobotany, ethnopharmacology, human conciousness, Language, Literature, Nature, Quantum Mechanics, Shamanism, ufos
What I'm Reading
inner paths to outer space, tibetan book of the dead, zen and the art of motorcycle maintenance, many more.
What I'm Listening To
bright eyes, iron & wine, tool, muse, xaiver rudd,animal collective,the ocean collective,devendra banhart, the decemberists,henry nilsson,rhcp
Movies I've Seen Recently
PLANET EARTH,pulp fiction, fear and loathing

Education

Additional study
life

Work

Position
snowsports instructor

sydneyparker

About Me

Bio

In the presence of eternity, the mountains are as transient as the clouds. ~Robert Green Ingersoll

Happiness is what makes the world beautiful. What we make of our lives will determine the extent of the happiness that we have achieved. These are the times that we shared joy with our family, big laughs with our friends, smiles with strangers and love to all. Life is just wonderful and we have to savour every moments in our life

Interests
art, Books, business, internet surfing, Literature
Website I'm Into
Florida Personal injury Attorney

Bethany

About Me

Bio

-Indie
-Queer
-DIY project
-Gypsy

Interests
animal welfare, art, Atheism, bridges, Community, drawing, Equality, existentialism, fair trade, Feminism, Health, human rights, Literature, paganism, Painting, photography, Poetry, reading, Reiki, Sustainability, vegetarianism, Whole Foods, writing
What I'm Reading
Peter Pan, My Sister's Keeper, Pride and Prejudice, The Time Traveler's Wife, The Lord of the Rings, Sense and Sensibility, Harry Potter, The China Study, Losing Faith in Faith, Whipping Girl
What I'm Listening To
mewithoutYou, Straylight Run, Nirvana, Sigur Rós, Explosions in the Sky, Flyleaf, Kimya Dawson, Emery, Tegan and Sara, Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros , MGMT
Movies I've Seen Recently
Across the Universe Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, The Village The Corpse Bride
Websites I'm Into
Thread Banger, Rachel McKibbens Blog, Good Reads

SarahV

About Me

Bio

Mostly self educated, single parent, I want to get a Creative Writing/Literature degree however I am trying to avoid traditional schools. I have a passion for animals... so learning animal acupressure.

Skills and talents
Warmth and Empathy, communicate well, outreach, photography, I am starting to write again.
Interests
a communal and sustainable future, dancing, fair trade, Horses, Literature, Poetry, reading
What I'm Reading
A wise Heart, Everday Grace, Toward 2012, and Harry Potter with my daughter, 5th Sacred Thing
What I'm Listening To
Any Classical, Enya, Cold Play, Rage Against the Machine, Sting, U2
Movies I've Seen Recently
Avatar, Harry Potter Deathly Hallows, Wake Up, Food Inc.,

Education

High school
Richards
College
Arcturus Waldorf Teacher Training
Additional study
Currently enrolled in the Tallgrass Animal Acupressure Institute

Work

Employer
looking
Position
Anything that is not part of the current corporate system that is destroying the planet. I have also worked as a nanny in the past

tshapiro

About Me

Bio

Promoting North Atlantic Books' titles and authors in alternative health, raw food, spirituality, and bodywork. I also co-manage the NAB Communities.

Interests
art, Healthy Eating, Literature, outdoor recreation, travel, Yoga
What I'm Reading
Rawlicious by Peter and Beryn Daniel, Green Medicine by Dr. Larry Malerba, Heart Yoga by Andrew Harvey and Karuna Erickson, Pronoia by Rob Brezsny, Endless Path by Rafe Martin, Sacred Economics by Charles Eisenstein, Overcoming Trauma through Yoga by David Emerson and Elizabeth Hopper

Education

College
University of California, Santa Cruz - BA Business Management Economics

Work

Employer
North Atlantic Books
Position
Community Outreach & Communications Lead

Sarah

About Me

Bio

I am a writer. I earned a Master of Fine Arts degree in Creative Writing/Poetry from Chatham University, and have been published in Babelfruit, Plainspoke, The Pittsburgh Quarterly Online, and Istanbul Literature Review. I write a blog on current events where i try to draw from multiple sources across a span of time to provide the fullest picture possible. I volunteer with The Western Pennsylvania Humane Society, Pittsburgh Food Bank, and the Greater Pittsburgh Literacy Council. I have a black belt in Karate and enjoy skateboarding. I also like to play my guitar, clarinet, and bodhran. I have three cats.

Skills and talents
HTML, social media, computer instruction, WordPress, RFQs, WYSISWG layout tools, non-profits, copy writing, transcription, creative writing
Interests
Current events, Literature, Martial Arts, Skateboarding, travel, writing
What I'm Reading
Lucid Dreaming by Robert Waggoner
Movies I've Seen Recently
Exit Through the Gift Shop, True Grit
Websites I'm Into
Drew Curtis' FARK, The Rumpus

Education

High school
Beaver Local High School
College
University of Mount Union
Graduate school
Chatham University
Additional study
Mercyhurst College, Kent State University

Work

Employer
I currently work providing professional development opportunities to adult education practitioners in a seven-county region, as a coordinator for the Southwest Professional Development Center at the Greater Pittsburgh Literacy Council.I also run my own consulting business, drawing on my diverse experiences and accumulated knowledge to help small businesses, non-profits, and individuals at less expense.
Position
Consultant
0
groks

The Vale of Happiness: Book One by makalani nosakhere (snippet)

“…Hope Street, South Williamsburg, Brooklyn, NY. 1950’s

Managing to exchange identities, Mother became Esmeralda Rivera, avoiding suspicion by Dominican custom officials, and persecution upon our arrival in America.

The plan was for her to sow our family’s seed of redemption (me) where the beast would least likely look.

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franmiller

About Me

Bio

Keep love in your heart. A life without it is like a sunless garden when the flowers are dead. The consciousness of loving and being loved brings a warmth and richness to life that nothing else can bring. --Oscar Wilde

We need to show our love and care to all the people that we are with. With our simple gestures, we are making them happy and feel loved. We all need to be loved and I guess we can make our world a better place to live if we all learn to love each other. Love your family, your friends, your peers, yourself....

Personal Injury Attorney Sarasota

Interests
art, Books, business, internet surfing, Literature
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