I recently had a conversation with a friend who claimed that in her sitting meditation she had come across a sadness and a feeling that the earth was indeed dying. She claimed that when she let her mind go and just sat from a place in her heart she felt that the planet could indeed die at the hands of humankind and that the threat to her life was real.

I told her I felt that in even thinking that we are working to create it. But how do you balance hope and optimism with pure denial and ignorance. We have to look at and FEEL the reality of the situation we've created, we have to look at the utter and total destruction of the global ecosystem and understand it's ramifications.

But at the same time I DO believe in this idea of Creer Es Crear (to believe is to create) and what we believe is also of utter importance in this moment in history. While sitting with our hearts and eyes open, we also have to envision that for all the destruction and harm we're causing we still live and exist in a world of abundance and endless natural emergence. Life is blossoming up around us all the time. If we line up with nature's endless and ubiquitous power in an act of circular synergy rather than linear opposition, we will find ourselves wondering how we ever felt fear and scarcity.

But what I'm really talking about is Choice. How we choose to see our world has a direct correlation to the world we have created, are creating, and will create.

There's been so much hype about 2012 and the end of the world, there are people claiming that it's all coming down and that a big crash is imminent. I say 2012 isn't about the end of the world it's about choice, the choice we're facing. We can believe/create the end of the world, or we can step out of our lazy complacent and programmed selves to recognize that we can believe/create something else. Something that is abundant and beautiful.

A lot of people say that the dominating structural paradigm of capitalism etc won't let it happen and the only way forward is for it all to come crashing down in order to start anew. In fact I've said that in this very blog. I'm actually a big fan of the 'we all fall down' scenario, most of the time I agree that the only way things will shift is by major catalyst.

But I guess what I'm trying to say is that the world hasn't ended yet, and rather than us putting our energy into envisioning collapse, we should be redirecting that energy into WAKING ourselves UP, and once that's done WAKING UP those around us rather than giving up on it all and planning our doomsday options. Believe me I've done plenty of the latter. I currently have 3mths of food and water in my van and enough fuel to travel 1200 miles in any direction.

The truth is we live in a vast web of interconnectedness, not only in nature here on earth but in our entire living universe. What we think, feel, and act upon is directly manifest into reality, and the more of us who buy into collapse as the 'only' way, the faster our world is collapsing around us. How we see the world and how we see each other becomes our reality... so the question becomes, what are you buying into?

None of this is to say, sit back everything's fine... it's to say NOW is the time to realize our potential to affect the world in which we live, to get off our personal ego-trains and reach into the ripple of time and space, and to examine your personal choice and then stand up for what you still believe in.

peace,d

Yes... my life is hard. Got connected through my close friend Sarah with a spectacular place to spend the Xmas holidays and new year with Liz here in Puerto Vallarta. The place is beautiful and the owner Beverly has taken great pity on this vagabond drifter by renting it to us for practically nothing.

Liz arrived on the 12th and since then we've been working the transition back into sharing a space together. It's nice to love and be loved.

On the way down south I stopped in the small surf town of Sayulita for a night. There I met a beautiful B.C. couple who were also on a spiritual journey south to Peru where they wanted to connect with a Shaman they know through a friend of a friend back in B.C. Canada. All of us wandering gypsy souls out looking for ourselves, fundamental truth, values, and a new way of seeing. It gives me hope to be reminded that the world is filled with seekers, regardless of whether they are on the road or back at home.

After picking up Liz we headed back up to Sayulita since I was instantly clausterphobic in PV and felt the need to take entry to this tiny tourist city slowly. Back in Sayulita Liz and I swam in the waves, talked about my project with some folks looking for leads, and re-connected with my B.C. friends Ray and Natalie.

Back to PV, Ray and Natalie over for dinner the following eve, a day in PV touring around, then decided to hit the road with Ray and Nat for a couple days.

We headed down to the small town of Tenacatita where we did some snorkeling and had intense spiritual discussions about everything from finding your path, staying on your path, politics, war, shamanism, the list goes on and on.. in fact, it went on for days, us all resonating together sharing ideas and maybe affecting change in one anothers personal perspectives.

Then it was off to Malaque to a small RV camp they call the free camp because it only costs 4 USD a day. In Malaque we shared some more and tried new foods with the locals. Liz finally got to indulge her appetite for oysters while we all smiled on not sharing her unsatiable oyster desire. Ray who is working as a photographer and I talked about the fact that the coast traps you in a tourist frame of mind and how there is a strong urge to move inland into "the real" Mexico in search of images. They dropped the idea almost there and then of going all the way to Peru and instead opted to spend more time living and feeling Mexico and Guatemala. I think it is likely a wise choice as they only have 5 weeks and there is sooo much here.

Liz and I decided to head back to PV to regroup and enjoy 'not living in a van'.. since after 3 years it's nice to have a place to call home even if it's temporary. One the way back we got stopped at a military check-point where they searched the van and found one empty and one full shotgun shell on the dash. I picked these up off the ground in Utah as souvenirs.. just like the shells, bones, and other odds and ends adorning Veronica. The soldiers held them up and repeatedly asked me in Spanish "where are your guns!" while Liz with dictionary tried to explain to them that they were souvenirs that I had collected. I smiled said "no guns" and "Me Casa Tu Casa" gesturing to them that they were free to enter any part of my van. Finally they let us go.. offering me back the empty shells, to which I gestured that they better keep them.

It was back to smooth sailing down the highway, and deep metaphysical conversation with Liz, when out of the woods on the side of the highway lept two horses. I slammed on the brakes as they drifted across the highway, everything in slow motion, but too slow in reality it was, as I clipped the second horses back rump sending it flying into the woods. Plastic and pieces of my light flew in every direction, Liz and I looked at each other shaking as I pulled over in a pull-off. I was laughing to cope with the shock... "Holy shit, we just hit a fucking horse.. welcome to Mexico!" After assessing that the van wasn't going to explode and was fine, we walked up the dirt road to greet a rural worker who had watched the whole thing go down. "Was that your horse?" I asked in broken Spanish, "Is it ok?"... he said it wasn't his horse, that it was just a wild horse, and that this was Mexico and these things happen, and everything was ok... or somethign along those lines since it all gets lost in translation. The horse had taken off into the woods likely pumping with adrenaline to live out the rest of its life lame but alive.

We finally made it back to PV, Veronica is leaking some oil and needs a new light, but we're safe and feeling more alive than ever, grateful for the adventure and the teachings we're still left trying to comprehend.

peace,d

PS My digital camera has been on the fritz.. so pictures of the trip south to follow once I get them off Ray.. Here's some from yesterday in the market and one of V after encounter with Cabello Grande ;-)

Wednesday, December 9, 2009
Location: Teacapan, Mexico

I drove down here today after spending last night in Mazatlan. I decided to come to Teacapan because I heard about a 75ft tall pyramid built 4000 years ago and covered completely in sea shells. I searched the Internet for images and found none, but slowly narrowed the location down to this small fishing village on a peninsula jutting out into the ocean. As I asked around about this place in Mazatlan the locals all had different stories about where it is, and no one I talked to had ever seen it. Weird… but it IS here, I just talked to a woman that runs the restaurant I’m parked beside and she told me it’s here and it’s real. Now that I’m here I realize the reason no one has been to it is because it’s a boat ride and a hike away in the jungle somewhere. Tomorrow morning I’m going to try and go find it if I can… but it may not happen since I have to find a guide, make sure Moses is in a good place, and that the van is secure.

But let’s go back to the night before last.

I left Las Glorias and drove south four hours to dirt road on the side of the highway that leads through the small town of Chilacayota to Playas Labradas. Labradas (translated:worked) is so named because the beach is covered in petroglyphs chiseled away into the stone by Indians thousands of years ago.

I arrived at the small one room museum built out of woven branches and palapa style palm leaf roof about an hour and a half before sunset. There I encountered an old man laying in a hammock. As I pulled up and got out of the van he got up to greet me.

I’m having fun not speaking Spanish… it can be stressful but I rather laugh and try to enjoy it. I asked this man in my broken Spanish if I could park here, and sleep there overnight in the pull off down a few meters down the road. He replied “si senor” with a warm smile. I asked him his name, which I’ve now forgotten, and if it was safe. He nodded emphatically and I knew I could trust him. Plus I was literally in the middle of nowhere and he was the only one who knew I was there… no other traffic… nothing. Just crashing waves and maybe some spirits.
I went down to the beach to investigate and then back to the van to eat something. After filling up on peanut butter, cookies and bread, I strapped on my film gear and went to shoot the petroglyphs by the evening light.

So many of them all over the beach.. I captured some beautiful images before heading back with Moses for a silent night of sleep.

The next morning I was up again and out on the beach filming at sunrise. I think I captured some real gems. The early light sliding across the rock defining the ancient images proved my timing right.

After filming all morning I headed back to the van, ate some granola, and changed into surf shorts to go have an ocean bath. I swam, I scrubbed with my biodegradable soap, and shaved as the waves crashed just offshore.

Being the genius that I am… I took my digital camera to capture some shots of me ocean bathing.. it all went well until I got daring and tried to get a shot of me sitting in the rocks with white wash all around me… CRASH.. as I was taking a picture a big wave grabbed me, camera in hand, and sent me head over heals!

Yes… my camera went for a swim…

I got back to the van, clean shaven and ready for the day, took the camera apart, blew it out with compressed air, and after saying thank you and goodbye to the old man, drove to Mazatlan with it hanging out the window to dry in the wind.

I’m still working on it… all hope is not lost yet… I think the camera may be toast, but I’m trying to get the images off the data card… In the meantime you can see some images here -> http://www.larosadelasbarras.com/id19.html

peace,d

I'm so grateful to Gustavo (owner) and the people of Mr. Moro's in Las Glorias. This place is much more than an RV resort and hotel to me! This place has been my gateway into Mexico. I have been treated with so much love and hospitality and the only thing I can say to describe this place is that it is a Family. The energy here speaks to the idea that it IS a Place of Light!

I look forward to staying in touch with these amazing, open, and wonderful people... and seeing how it all develops into the future! I believe that Gustavo is headed towards something beautiful in his open approach to understanding himself and the universe around him.

If you are traveling down Highway 15 into Mexico.. stop at this beautiful place and support the future vision of Gustavo, he's a beautiful man!

Peace, Love & Light,
d

I'm off now to Playa Las Labradas.. if I can find my directions ;-)

Sunday, December 6, 2009
Location: Las Glorias, Mexico

I’m slowly beginning to understand the Mexican phrase ‘manana’. It seems every time I have my plans firmly nailed down, things slip away into the future. I’m having flashbacks to the teachings I gathered while on the Piikani Reservation, of learning how to slow down and allow things to happen in their own time.

The only problem with this way of being in the world right now is that I actually do have a timeline. I am working towards finishing production in June of next spring, come hell or high water.

This brings me to a phrase I’ve been hearing down here from my current host and potential interview (if manana ever comes;-) Gustavo. He told me the other day this phrase, “Creer es Crear” which translates ‘to believe is to create’.

It’s a magical view of reality, one that I personally subscribe to in my own life. My time in this place is the perfect example. I arrived here alone and isolated in a new country. I was set to leave when I noticed a Native looking alter in hotel’s main palapa. I slept that night feeling deep intuition about this place, that there was something here for me to see or explore. However I needed to overcome my personal fears and anxieties and trust my heart rather than the fear-based chatter of my mind.

The next morning I awoke and firm in my new belief that I was here for a reason. I walked straight into the kitchen and began to speak with Horacio who had initially greeted me to this place. Since my arrival he and I had a few conversations about spirituality, energy, and ‘the way’ towards personal and societal transformation. He gave me the contact info for a Shaman in Chiapas, Mexico and encouraged me to go visit him on my travels. Bueno!

As I stood there for some reason almost shaking, I spoke to him about my film project, my journey and that I would like to interview him or get his advice if he had time. This conversation lasted an hour ending with him telling meI really needed to talk to Gustavo, the hotel proprietor who would likely be happy to do an on-camera dialog about all my topics. So, happily, I waited for him to arrive.

Gustavo and I have since spent a lot of time together talking, shopping in town for hotel supplies, and planning a trip to this magical bay he keeps speaking about.

A one night stay has transformed into five and counting and although we have shared lots we have yet to do an on-camera dialog or go to the bay. This is as much my fault as his since I have also been busy with other filming opportunities and talking with my new friends from Oregon who picked up and moved to ‘retire’ in Mazatlan full time. Theirs is also an interesting story of ‘Creer es Crear’!

So now I sit waiting for Gustavo writing this blog under the big palapa at the hotels center. Gustavo was brought here to run this place by his own path of magic and spirituality. He speaks to me of learning not to ask the universe WHY but instead FOR WHAT? For him these days it seems the answer he's discovering is a dream to convert this place it into a place of not only relaxation and holiday but also of spirituality and personal growth. But he also says it will happen in its own time, it's a process, and in the here and now, it's already perfect. Everything is exactly where it needs to be... and everyone ;-) He told me when he first arrived he didn’t want to be here, but he saw a sign in nature that gave him hope, and he said to ‘God’… “OK, I get it, but hurry up.”

That’s how I feel here and now, I get it, there’s something to learn here, but hurry up! Or maybe it’s me who has to believe that Manana will come TODAY… since ‘Creer ES Crear!’

There are worse places to be held hostage by the universe ;-)

peace,d

After writing this blog, Gustavo and I ran into each other, sat down for a beautiful on-camera dialog, and then he invited me fishing with his son and some fisherman friends :-) Instead of a fishing rod I used a Tecate beer can wound with fishing line.. shrimp as bait.. I didn't catch anything.. but one can only be so blessed ;-) Here is a pic of his son Tavo and friends reeling in big ones! In a few hours they were grilled and served up with caramelized onions Sinaloa style.

Thurday, December 3, 2009
San Glorias, Sinaloa, Mex

Drove another seven hours the other day.. took some time to get headed in the right direction.

Everything is a little stressful down here, not because it actually is, but because I perceive it that way. My guard is way up, but I'm learning to relax and ease into laughing with the locals over my broken Spanish. Learning the little things like how to fill up my gas tank, how to get money from bank machines, how to avoid kids who are coming after you to wash your window for pesos... it's all new and unfamiliar, but beautiful.

I drove again until late afternoon slowly finding my way south through tolls and checkpoints. I'm finding the stress of driving really hard on my body. After a few wrong turns I arrived at Mr. Moro in Las Glorias. The place was pretty much deserted, but I was greeted with warmth by Horacio who is running the place. He gave me a sweet campspot right on the beach for an awesome deal and after taking Moses for a walk along the beach I crashed to the sound of the waves crashing against the shore.

Yesterday morning I got up early and went for a run.. the light is beautiful down here, the Mayas supposedly call this A Place of Light. As I ran along the beach I watched fishermen throw out their nets and the large shrimp boats in the distance collecting shuttles of crew.

I've been feeling guilty for being on the beach, feeling like it may appear that I'm on vacation. It is like a vacation although I'm lonely and always looking for content and the next shot. Here it was right before my eyes, people tied to the ocean as a source for life and economic well being. Images that tie in well with the fact that we're slowly overfishing most of the oceans around us, and filling them with trash. These images may have a place after all.

This morning I was set to leave, but the clouds are right today for what should be a mind-blowing sunset. I plan to capture film shots of the fishermen pulling in nets in the twilight as the shrimp boats unload the days catch.

To stay bust I've been fixing a couple cameras that have been acting wonky the last little while. Reading Ram Dass, Meditating, and researching the road south. Next stop Playas Labradas just north of Mazatlan to capture some images of rock petroglyphs and maybe speak with someone about the people that carved them. See preview HERE.

peace,d

They say a picture is worth a thousand words...
peace,d

Thought this was an interesting post from my friend Bill in Taos, NM.

peace,d

http://billbrownclimatesolutions.blogspot.com/