Monday - a circle of men

A meeting with my circle of men. I had the honor to lead the men this week and although the meeting was structured, flow was present.

Being witnessed in authenticity and reflected through respect, wisdom and truth is beautiful.

I know, in my bones, that men have been doing this since the beginning of time... and being in this circle now is a legacy connecting us through eons of past and future.

Sunday - Packed

Danced 3 hours in the morning, at least an hour practicing surrender over and over again. Then at the photoshoot in the afternoon, just followed the beauty and recognized some impulses to shift things around.

Sat

Dance in the morning. Lots of sadness.

At the end spoke to Ana about tagging photo shoots at the end of Sunday class once a month so I can move Why We Dance forward. Glad I bought the domain name, too!

Fri - Yoga again

At home this time. Went outside to check out the moon -- the biggest full moon in a decade or so.

The moon is closer to earth than usual. No wonder I've been feeling so uptight.

Thu - Yoga

Yoga in the park.

Tonight

Spent some time supporting J in an intention of hers. Then Yoga in the park (got to pet three random dogs).

Capturing Rachel

Spent two hours with Rachel and her not yet born daughter.

Here's a picture:

Days off, days on

I took this weekend off. I am listing the events that coincided with my cosciously practicing surrender, discovery, curiosity.

Thu morning - an hour of dance, then a dinner with friends.

Fri - Indulged in a day of daily life. Read. Showered. Then a photoshoot with John and a log conversation with John and Lucky. Then dinner with John.

Sat - Dance in the morning, then took Julianne to the beach. Yoge for me, a book for her. After an hour she found me and we ran and danced and played. Then, at home, I edited and processed John's photos.

Today, Sunday. Dance in the morning, Then play with Tye and Matt and Craig. Lunch with Matt. Then the steamroom for an hour and dance again.

Yoga at the beach

Then worked on the photos from John's session.



Click for a larger view

Yoga and photoshop

An hour of Yoga preceded by about 30 minutes spent on a portrait session I did for a friend two weeks ago. The photos were long due and are now online. In the process I found a look I'd like to explore for male portraiture. It pulls out the subject's masculinity and raw presence to the forefront... Which is how I see the men in my men's circles. Hmm, that would be a nice project.

Here's an example (click photo for a larger version):

one hour

Yoga, then bought two domains with the intention to develop them

30 minutes

Some kalisthetics: push ups, pull ups, thent he little form (wing chun).

Resuming posting

Yesterday: 2 hours at dance. Co-created beautiful exhilarating dances.
Sunday, met a DJ friend and did a spontaneous photoshoot, photos soon. Also, as I was driving in Echo Park around sunset, felt a call to get out of the car and take some photographs. Here's one:



After a conversation with Clint, I realized that the one-hour-a-day requirement sometimes prevents me from even starting, as I don't have an hour every day.

I am resuming the practice, with variable time. This is a practice of spontaneous action with the intention of letting my highest purpose / self choosing the concrete actions. I am inspired to also add information of these actions' consequences, as in how I felt, and what resulted.

Behavioral Problems = Legitimate Conflict

A sentence from Unconditional Parenting:

Norman Kunc, who conducts workshops on inclusive education and noncoercive practices, points out that, "what we call "behavioral problems" are often situations of legitimate conflict; we just get to call them behavioral problems because we have more power" than children do.

This sentence encompasses the truth that for century humankind has been domesticating its young like wild animals, often believing that the docility signifying braking the animal's spirit is a sign of respect or appreciation.

Human children are born as warriors, living with their lives on the line from day one, commanding the universe to meet their needs and desires.

Dance day

Danced with openness to surprise, intention to surrender.

A long lunch with Tye

Knowing that this was the only time I'd have today, I set up the surrender clock when we sat around the table. What I said I did from my truth, no agenda and no predetermination. Noticed how easy it was. Spoke about intentions, about some experiences on Monday, listened, responded.

It is easy to do in the presence of some people and difficult with others.

Ultimately, the bottom line is the feeling of safety, as opposed to feeling the energy of judgment, pity, envy, cold observation (lack of connection).

Yoga

Today, it was an hour of Yoga. When I do yoga, I start seeing the artifacts of my mind not as content but as... artifacts of the mind. And realize that fixing the mind is is the trap, the thousand-headed hydra.

Letting it go rampant, just watching, realizing that it is just a phenomenon, observe it's lava-like boiling is an exciting new experience.

Yesterday, at the precise second I gave myself a moment of surrender, Mark sent the center of attention my way and I let the room shift, offering it as a space for creation.

The new dancers

Today I had the chance to co-create with two dancers from what I call the "new generation." Their approach to movement and dance comes organically, from the integration of their art, lives and bodies. Beauty radiates from their movement and presence, so easy to capture.

Here are a few photos from the shoot this evening:

A Dear Friend

Spent the evening with John, a dear friend of mine. John brings with himself space for deep awareness and learning.

Edited photos

Mainly because I wanted to see them.

Greg and Sharon are inspiring beyond words. The space they create is magical, just like their lives. I know it takes one to recognize one... here's what I'm talking about:







And the other Greg:

Yesterday and today: Rest

Sundays are the day for surrender and listening.

Today is the day to jumpstart the week at work and meet with my men, then sleep.

Reflecting Light

Today I spent a few hours with a couple, photographing them being together, being in love.

I think my call as a photographer is to reflect the light I see in people. Literally and spiritually.

Went into the shoot with some performance anxiety and then chose to just follow. Follow the intention to capture their connection and the core of their relationship, the moments where the man and woman met, connected, felt.

Photos soon.

Cleaning again

I hate cleaning and tidying. When I *have to do it* I get very anxious and uncomfortable, and my mind serves dozens of better options.

Tonight I set the timer to one hour and waited for an impulse. I felt the need to tidy and simplify my stuff. Moved one of my two guitars to its case, with the intention to take it to the shop for nut replacement (buzzing issue) tomorrow, and then sell it. Posted a bunch of crap I never use on craigslist for free and already got one response.

I feel energized. Listening to Jarret's Koln concert.

The man walked in, sat at the grand piano and just played for a couple of hours, imagine that.

I feel I need space. Space as in less clutter, both object- and commitment-wise. Simplify, so I can hear what's next.

This was me doing my practice as intended.

People to connect with

I saw some old friends tonight. People I am fortunate to have in my life, their presence feels like a breath of fresh, cleansing air.

John, Greg, Bill, Brynn... Bill and Brynn's music is pure magic, these two can improvise for hours.

I feel re-aligned with my commitments, back on my feet. Clear and focused.

Wed - the evening course

What are the qualities of a teacher?
What are the qualities of a facilitator?
Parenting from the inside out - an amazing book.

Tue night: Reading

I'm continuing my reading. Tonight: Parenting from the inside out.

Monday: my men

Spent my time with my men's circle. Mentors, brothers, mirrors. Wish everyone had a place like that.

Dance Day

With my tribe.

Photographs all mine, more available at www.TheDancePhotographer.com - Dance and Yoga photography in Los Angeles.

Full day class

Full day class today (11am - 9pm), lots of reading yesterday.

Another 3 Hours of Reading on Nonviolence

Lots of examples, including very difficult situations during Nazi Germany.

My issue is that current armies are being trained via brainwashing, and current military operations can easily be led from great distance, with long-range weaponry and even unmanned/robotic weapons. It's impossible to influence an automated machine gun with nonviolence.

This is an extreme, example, but it should be taken in consideration.

And in the break, this:



Enthusiasm is so refreshing!

Martin Luther, Nonviolence and Riding the Tiger

I read three essays on nonviolence.

The first was by Martin Luther King Jr., "My pilgrimage to nonviolence." The most valuable aspect for me was following along the history of his education, his discovery of various schools of thought and beliefs in the works of many philosophers, from Plato and Aristotle, to Nietsche, Marx, Lenin, Hegel. And with each of them he would say "all these masters stimulated my thinking ... and while I found things to question in each of them, I nevertheless learned learned a great deal..." It is humbling to see how this man was learning, examining the works of these titans of thought, still trusting his critical mind, never forgetting thheir humanity, and never judging them.

Then, "The violence in ourselves" by Dorothy T Samuel, distinguishing between anger and violence. Anger towards a situation is different from anger against a person. The former gives much needed strength to face challenging circumstances while the latter contains the seeds of violence. Learning to "ride" one's anger, to channel it towards the resolution of a given situation, is a useful skill. Suppressing the anger, on the other hand, is self-destructive, and violent, and ultimately leads to violence.

The third essay is a homage to Ghandi's work, distinguishing between pacifism and passivity. Mentions the need to create peace within one's heart first, and then relate to the world from that space. Emphasizes the fact that each of us, given the circustances, is capable of both the most terrible and cruel crimes, and the highest sacrifice.

Chop wood, carry water

I set the kitchen timer to one hour so I don't have to worry about looking at a clock and thinking about the time. Then I found myself looking at the in box in my office, overflowing with papers I haven't filed. I picked up the top one, a receipt for a rental from Samy's camera. Thrashed it. Then shredded a credit card offer. THen filed all model releases, emptied a couple of folders, found an article from a martial artist about learning and read it.

The last page of the article contained the gem. In a few paragraphs it explained the principles of learning refined in music practice, which may be applied in learning a martial art and other kind of training.

I stopped reading the paper, filed it an started looking at some old shoots on my backup hard drive. Exported and posted two sets of photos - one for a dance client and one for a friend.

The timer rang, and I continued the flow of actions.

Stumbled upon three photographs from an old shoot, retouched them and posted them on flickr.

An image flashed through my mind and I spent 10 minutes creating it.

Here it is: (click to view a larger version)

The Practice

The practice is simple: For one hour a day, I listen to and act from the wisdom of my higher purpose, fully aligned with my integrity.

This is my diary.