Wednesday, October 28, 2009
Location: Toas, New Mexico

How did I get back here? Well that's a bit of a story.

On October 8th after I finished my interview with Andy Lipkis I headed back east towards Tucson, Arizona with my brother Andre who flew into L.A. to take a ride with me and experience life in Veronica.

It was nice to have him with me as we headed out towards Joshua Tree National Park. I explained to him how I've spent most of my last three years on the road outside of cities in these spaces of nowhere that are so deep and penetrating to the soul. At least that's how I see it. To others they can be places of boredom and solitary insanity, but to me I find them peaceful and wonderfully open. I love solitude, there's no doubt about it.

The first night outside of L.A., just north of Joshua Tree, in searching for BLM land to camp on, we arrived at the Joshua Tree Music Festival totally by fluke. As it was getting late we pulled in to park the van and camp under the stars, bathed in music from the stage that lay beyond the campground and our ability to pay.

In a few moments we were settled in listening to the music. As Andre took Moses for a walk around the campground, I read by candlelight.. when all of a sudden a familiar tune rang out across the desert. Wow.. someone is doing Blue Rodeo covers... wait.. no way.. that's no cover, it's actually Blue Rodeo.

That's serendipity for ya, two wayfaring lost Canadian boys bumping along through the California desert stumble upon a festival featuring familiar music from back home. Too weird, but oh so comforting. It's moments like these that the universe displays itself as surreal, magical and somehow loving in it's nature. I gasp, shut my eyes and listen to the familiar, from a not so familiar place.

The next day we decide to head north to Flagstaff and the Grand Canyon, rather than trucking on to Tucson. We have a few days to kill before we both fly out to Denver to visit Liz. I've done all these Arizona roads before, but Andre hasn't and it's a good opportunity to do some shooting that a co-pilot affords me this time around. So off we go to some of my now familiar Arizona van dwelling grounds.

We hit the Grand Canyon and talk about the Wow factor of this universe. There are things that make you go wow, and things that make you go WOW.. and although the Grand Canyon is amazing, Andre and I both find ourselves reflecting on the places we've been inside ourselves and how some of the largest and most profound WOWs can come from within.

"Your vision will become clear only when you can look into your own heart. Who looks outside, dreams; who looks inside, awakes." - C.G. Jung

This is the realm of my bro and I... as our conversations are usually dominated by the deeply mystical and introspective processes. We've always been this way I think, as far back as I can remember. Andre has always been one to explore the inner/outer realms of reality that lay beyond the material fabric of this world. In that he has been one of my greatest teachers and inspirations on my path towards consciousness and/or awareness.

As we head south from the Grand Canyon these conversations continue as we discuss the importance of exploration while maintaining a foot in this reality. Of letting go while still holding on to some aspect of the ego or material realm. I was just reading Ram Dass this morning and I think he puts it quite well when he says that the ego never fully disappears but instead becomes a home base to work from and/or find refuge when needed. The key I think is to abandon the ego while still having it there in case you need to pay your bills, go to the gym, or comfort a loved one in the HERE and NOW.

Down in Sedona we explore an energy vortex and connect with the outside. I think the whole natural world is an energy vortex that we've grown disconnected from. I think immersing ourselves in nature is profound in and of itself. Vortex Smortex... just get outside and sit on a rock and hike a hill or mountain.. I guarantee you'll feel the energy vortex that is in all of us.

It was beautiful to spend time on the road with my brother and share the experience of living in a van with him. I'm grateful for my parents helping pay for his flight to Denver to meet Liz, and I'm grateful to everyone for being themselves in this world and following their inner Dharma (truth) regardless of where they are or where it is taking them. As Bill Hicks says after all, it's only just a ride.

I'm glad to have such groovy, insightful, fun & funny co-pilots!

peace,d

I'm getting to the point of how I arrived in Taos... stay tuned!