Island Escape Update

Further to my previous blog here is a clip of the amazing Mr. Grimshaw from the programme ' Indian Ocean ' shown on BBC 2 a short while ago. Actually he is 86 not 81 as I thought. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-17857239
Do give it a look.

Island Escape

Here is a nice story. It is an antidote to my previous blog.

In 1972 Brendon Grimshaw from Yorkshire ( what a splendid Yorkshire name ) bought a small island in the Seyschelles called Moyenne for £8000.00.

When Brendon ( now 81 and still a picture of health ) bought the island it was so overgrown as to be impenetrable. Over the years he has transformed the island into a 22 acre nature reserve. He cleared the scrub, built a wooden house, planted Palm trees, Mango and Paw Paw. He piped water, electricity and phone line from the nearby island of Mahe. He introduced wildlife and has 120 giant Tortoises.

The island is now a national park so is protected when he dies. In addition to the tortoises the island has a range of wildlife and 40 species of Palm trees.

Brendon is not a recluse and welcomes day visitors from nearby Mahe for £10.00 a visit, but does not allow overnight stays. After his mother died his father came out from England and lived on the island until he died. Brendon says they had a wonderful few years together.

He is living the dream and will leave the world a better place.

The programme ' Indian Ocean ' ( BBC 2 on Sunday ) presented by Simon Reeves will feature Brendon.
( The programme has now been shown so here is a clip from it. Do give it a look.)  http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-17857239

The Dog of Democracy.

Am I alone in thinking that democracy in it's present form has had it's day?

Here in Scotland we are in the midst of local council elections. I am inundated by leaflets by candidates all promising to work hard to increase jobs and services, to make everyone's life better etc. No one has the honesty to say the limit of money that can be raised by taxes or borrowing was reached years ago and therefore we cannot promise a better standard of living.

The French election is producing a backlash from voters who feel betrayed by the promises made but depressingly only seem to be prepared to elect another president who is making unattainable promises.

Democratically elected governments have for years been promising more and more to get elected and then in trying to meet the expectations raised by spending more and more borrowed money. Now it is no longer possible to kick that can further down the road. Certainly banks were culpable in this crisis but governments connived in the recklessness as long as the tax on bank profits kept coming in.

We got the governments we deserved, they appealed to our greed and we too turned a blind eye, voting for the promises. Would we have elected governments promising reality as an alternative? I don't think so. We also have to ask the question; have we failed democracy? It is, in a way a reflection on us, the electorate, if politicians have to make unrealistic promises if that is the only way they will get elected!

So this has proved to be the fundamental flaw in modern democracy. It does seem to be approaching a death spiral ( at least in Europe ) and one can only hope it doesn't lead to a resurgence of totalitarianism of the right or left.

Does anyone have a solution ? I suppose the first step has to be a recognition that democracy as we know it has failed.

Ghost of Tomorrow

Another poem by Phil Cornelius from his book Shadowlands.

Ghost of tomorrow.

I am known here among the stones and bones of this soulless place.

I am the shiver in the wind; the tremble of panic in the wild bird's cry.

I am the silence when the mist rokes in; the shadows in a cloudless sky.

I am the shaft of light as the storm clouds clear.

The rustle in the heather that draws you near.

I am the smoke of past fires hung low on the breeze.

The sound of the ocean coming down from the trees.

I am the one behind who's never there,

Unseen echoes in the cold night air.

I am the spite in the rain when the East winds squall.

A glimpse of tomorrow through a hole in the wall.

To learn more about Phil Cornelius's work go to www.philcornelius.co.uk 

Living without money.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-17762033  This is a very interesting story about a man living without money since 2000. Could you do it too? Two questions though, he has a blog and seems to ride a rather nice bicycle. How does he pay for the internet and buy the bike? His story is being made into a book and while it is true he is not the author, maybe, just maybe, some money might flow his way.
However there is a message here, maybe the Buddha's middle way?

Glowing Flowers

Yesterday I worked in Findhorn Foundation's Cluny Garden.
It was quite cold with persistent rain but with spirits undampened I worked with three other gardeners cutting up tree branches.
As a volunteer I am offered a choice of jobs ( nothing is compulsory ) and then having chosen simply get on with it. I love this, as absolved from the responsibility of future planning, my mind is free and open.
Yesterday with this empty mind I was at one with the beauty of nature. The flowers were glowing with, throbbing with, life. The tree buds were celebrating the rain, seemingly opening before my eyes with joy at the nourishment falling from the sky. Blackbirds danced over the lawn to feed on the worms surfacing in the rain. I felt connected to this wonderful energy but at the same time was reminded of my own transience in all of this.

As True Today

Mahatma Gandhi is quoted as saying;

' Seven things in this world that lead to violence: Wealth without work, pleasure without conscience, knowledge without character, commerce without morality, science without humanity, worship without sacrifice and politics without principle.'

I am not sure it is entirely true to say sacrifice is essential for worship but I couldn't agree more with the other six.

Scottish Cycle Ride

I have just spent four days researching a route for The Gerry Active September Scottish ride. The weather was indifferent but the ride has everything, mountains, moor and coast. I have booked all the accommodation and am sure my comrades will enjoy it. There will be five of us.

Gate of Understanding

On Saturday I helped with the registration for a workshop entitled Christ Consciousness at the Findhorn Foundation. For this mornings work I was given a free pass to one session of this workshop.

The speaker for this session was Jeddha Mali and very inspiring it was too. She had studied in India with many spiritual masters including the Dalai Lama.

In essence her message was no matter how much you have studied, how many books you have read and how many hours you meditate, unless you connect with the power within you will never go through the gate to actual experience. Without this experience you will only have an intellectual understanding of spirit. This is but a pale shadow of the real thing.

By all means use the tools of teachers, books, meditations and exercise but don't give your power away.

Rock Star

Another painting dabble by me.

Can you guess who?

If not I suppose it's not so good.

Panda Panic

Who would want to be a male Panda? You spend 363 days a year peacefully chewing Bamboo and then suddenly you have little more than 24 hours to impregnate a female Panda!

Just imagine the pressure? After spending 363 days in solitary confinement suddenly you are pushed into a ' love tunnel ' with a girl you don't know. Not only that but there are photographers and zoo keepers watching!

Now I know some red blooded men may think it is a dream come true to be given ' a bride ' after a long period of abstinence, but come on, with the worlds press watching!

I am of course referring to the two Giant Pandas given to Edinburgh Zoo by China. Yang Guang (Sunshine ) and Tian Tian ( Sweetie ) are the Pandas in question. Tian Tian the female is ovulating right now ( it happens only once a year for two days ) and is said to be fired up for it. Yang Guang on the other hand has so far failed his task after a couple of attempts. Time is running out even though keepers are on hand with a long pole to move Tian Tian's tail to one side. Apparently this was a bit of a problem in an earlier attempt.

Come on Yang Guang just a few more hours, a little more effort and then you can go back to eating Bamboo. Remember all the men in the world are rooting for you.

India. Just a Minute.

Thank God for Radio 4.

A previous post giving thanks for Radio 4 recorded a very interesting talk on Shintoism and today while painting I listened to two fascinating talks.
One was about France with interviews with French people about how they thought other nations saw France.
This was illuminating but what really caught my attention was a programme on ' Just a Minute ' now 45 years old with the same host Nicholas Parsons. Nicholas was in India where Just a Minute has been taken up and adapted by Indians. Very striking was the enthusiasm, intelligence and humour of the people, mostly students taking part in the programme. Also the sheer energy of the new dynamic India came through and I was filled with admiration. We have much to learn from India.

P.S. In case anyone is not familiar with Just a Minute, players have to try to speak for just a minute without hesitation, deviation or repetition. Not as easy as it sounds.

Grey

A cold wind moves the grey pines

My heart whispers grey like the air

The illusion of independence vanishing

Crushed on the grey rocks of reality

The shattered dust of delusion
Reforming in glorious yellow

Oh Dear!

They say practise makes perfect!

However it is obvious I need more practise to get this painting right.

Ghosts of love

Ghosts of lovers past

Stalk my mind and dreams.

Golden haze of memories

Moments of passion.

Floating on clouds of infatuation

Dissolving into tender love.

Gratefully I carry my ghosts

With enduring love and gratitude.

Horse Wisdom

In the field next to our house there are three horses, a stallion and two mares. After my morning meditation I was watching them and words from Kahil Gibran's book The Prophet came to mind. The horses display affection to each other by licking and gentle pushing with their noses.

They also usually graze quite close to each other but when resting on the ground there is usually some comfortable space between them, although still close.

They reminded me of the words from the section on marriage." Let there be spaces in your togetherness. And let the winds of heaven dance between you. Love one another, but make not a bond of love: Let it rather be a moving sea between the shores of your souls "

Edinburgh Galleries and Botanic Gardens

Just spent a couple of days in Edinburgh. I had a good look round the galleries on Dundas street. I was amazed at the prices some galleries were charging for work that I didn't find very good and again how modest some prices were for excellent work. I know art is subjective but it did seem those artists with lots of letters and maybe an OBE behind their name could charge up to £36000.00 for a very ordinary splashy painting. I admit I don't have an educated eye but I know what I like as they say!
It was also my first visit to The Botanical Gardens and I wasn't disappointed. Again I do not know a lot about plants but I felt the wonderful energy of the trees and the whole beautiful garden with birds and squirels. Vibrant and bursting with life.
Edinburgh itself is full of little cafes, bars  restaurants, all full with no discernable lack of money.

So bright.So big. So small.

The stars here in Scotland are so bright tonight.Venus and Jupiter were so close around the thirteenth of March as shown. Tonight they are not so close but much much more brilliant, So brilliant in fact that at first I thought it was a plane coming into Inverness. Than I realised it was not moving!
The night is quiet with the faintest whisper of wind on my face as I stand transfixed, marvelling at the immensity of the universe and my insignificance in it.

I am humbled and all my worries drop away.

This dog agrees.

As I was driving home from my family visit on Sunday a discussion on radio 4 caught my attention. Various religious luminaries were talking about the importance of certain aspects of worship. Some were of the opinion that it was important to remain within the boundaries of orthodoxy and others felt the boundaries were merely guidelines. One comment from one participant summed up my view on the argument.

" When dogma overrules love, religion is dead "

Links of blood and love.

I have just returned from visiting my family in Norwich. My granddaughter Isla is nearly one now and is full of joy and smiles as is the loving family unit. I am so proud of  Julian and Vicky who are both hardworking and good parents to Ben, Jayden and Isla. Ben was away during my visit so I unfortunately missed him this trip.

I also caught up with my old friends John and Peter with whom I spent a laugh a minute evening in a local hostelry. I even had time to visit my ex wife and her partner Jeff. Jeff and I had a cycle ride together which was very good for me after so much car driving.
I had a walk and talk with Julian on a beautiful spring day. We both value the opportunity to talk and reaffirm our closeness.

Wrinkly Rocker Completed

Finished ( maybe ) this portrait of Mick Jagger today. See if you can spot the difference. The skin tone looks better on the paper than in this photo.

I may revisit this for a little detail improvement but probably not as I am looking forward to my next portrait, the even more wrinkly and interesting face of Keith Richards.

Unfinished Knight

Had a very enjoyable afternoon with my art group and started this painting of Sir Mick Jagger which I will probably finish tomorrow.

Our group has been nicknamed SHAGS by Moray Art Centre where we meet. As we are all of a certain age we are not sure if this is entirely appropriate but on the whole we preferred it to the alternative WAGS. WAGS of course has association with wives and girlfriends ( of footballers ) even though in this case it stands for Wednesday Afternoon Group. In case you are wondering SHAGS stands for Self Help Art Group.



Did Yeats see Elementals?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NCSePtGLl8Y 

From the Waterboys new albumn ' An evening with Mr Yates ' Do listen. The title is ' The Faery's Last Song '  This albumn is Mike's homage to William Butler Yeats.

Monty Python Moment

I wonder if this parrot is stuffed* or just trusting?

* Only members of the Gerry Active club will remember the dead parrot sketch, a Monty Python classic.

Euro Dizzyland

Dizzy must be the feeling of those unfortunate southern Euro Zone countries after being bludgeoned by the austerity hammer.

Surely Euro Zone leaders know default and devaluation is the only cure for some countries no matter how unpredictable the consequences?

There must be some hidden grand plan behind the present policies which will suddenly be revealed?The present policies are just a gigantic smoke screen and the leaders will suddenly announce an imaginative and statesman like solution?

Bermuda Beach Party

A departure for me. Painted very quickly without much attention to detail. 

Hallucinagenic Mushrooms at Findhorn

The thought of spring must be going to people's heads or maybe they have been ingesting magic mushrooms! Please don't try it yourself.

Whatever the reason this is the seventh print sold this month along with four original paintings.

Perhaps I am becoming famous after all! Could this be time to invest in an early Chris Gaunt, get in at the ground floor perhaps? After all other investments are doing SO badly. Invest in one of my paintings and enter it at Christie's in ten years time. Could pay dividends perhaps! Meanwhile you may even like to put it on your wall! Do have a look at my paintings, they are still cheap. www.chrisgauntartist.co.uk   By the way the inspiration for this painting came from a Findhorn 1976 calendar back when I had longer hair, a fashionable moustache and wore even stranger clothes than I do now. I found it quite recently and kept it because I liked the photos and the quotes. I did not know anything about Findhorn when I was given the calendar and not until I met John Willoner in Yorkshire around 2000 did I connect the two. Then he moved back to The Field of Dreams and I came up to walk with John. Life is strange- or is it?

Called to The Source.

Near my house there is a small stand of Scots Pine. They grow on a small hillock in the middle of a large field. I have observed this copse for over two years from a distance and for some reason feel an affinity to those lonely trees. I too experience a sense of isolation even in the midst of the beauty with which I am surrounded. The reality is of course that we can never be really alone for we are all part of the same movement of atoms, forever manifesting and dissolving into the source.
Today I decided to climb over the fence into the field and go close to these magnificent trees. As you can see it was a clear winters day with a low sun and strong wind. The field, still covered by stubble from last years harvest, crackled and shimmered in the slanting light. As I drew closer my sense of separation became less and perhaps that of the trees also. For now, I was not alone in the middle of the universe, but sharing this space with the trees.

I retraced my steps, glad that I had at last visited and made friends with my former acquaintances.

Sometimes all it takes to be aware and at one with the universe is to break out of our habitual routine.

Next Incarnation

Here is yet another painting of chickens. I think this will be the last otherwise I will be reborn as a bird in my next life. I just realised that birds, in one form or other, have featured in my paintings, poems and postings.

There are two poems; 'Nomads' and 'The Rooks have gone', featuring Swallows, Pigeons and Rooks.There are two musings on Pigeons ( well I am fond of them ) and umpteen Chicken paintings plus Toucan Ted.

My last few painting are mostly fantasies. Will they bring me fame I wonder or do I need to cut off one of my ears! I must admit to feeling a little mad at the moment, especially today with a high wind blowing. I feel like a skittish horse and can't settle to anything.

Then there is this book I am reading ' The Occult Diaries of ROC ' with it's accounts of meetings with Pan, Nature Spirits and Fairies, it is all quite unsettling even exciting. I am an old sceptic really but---somehow it is not so easy to dismiss. Maybe I had better go back to painting landscapes, but wait, what is that strange figure with horns near that tree!

More prints sold.

 Sold these two prints today. Only earning pennies but am slowly raising awareness of my web site. I have a new exhibition at Nairn in March.

Garden Gnome and Pan

Although I work as a volunteer in the Findhorn Garden at Cluny ( see my previous post, Garden Gnome ) I have to confess to a certain scepticism regarding the common Findhorn belief about nature spirits, fairies and angels. I do however believe in a higher energy into which we sometimes come into contact with.
This week while working in the garden I had an interesting conversation with Nadia about the work of Robert Oglivie Crombie ( Roc ). She had been given something to read written by Roc by Brian Nobbs of Findhorn Pottery. John Willoner a friend of mine had mentioned Roc and his encounter with Pan in Edinburgh Botanical Gardens. At the time didn't think too much about it. I probably thought ' Oh yes! Another Findhorn story ' and forgot about it.

Also this week Pan ( the mythical Greek God born with Goat legs, feet and horns and a furry human upper body ) had featured in my thoughts via chapter seven of Wind in the Willows, The Waterboys songs ' The Pan within ' ' The Return of Pan ' Pink Floyds debut album ' Piper at the Gates of Dawn ' The latter being the title of that marvellous Wind in the Willows chapter. All this came together to make me curious so I looked up Pan and Roc on the Internet and came up with a fascinating account of Roc, Pan and even more fantastic things. Brian Nobbs had also been involved with all this and although the account was totally fantastic it had the ring of truth. Clearly Pan has a big influence, mythical or not, but how does a God leaving Olympus for Arcadia ( because other Gods laughed at him ) finish up appearing in Edinburgh?
Brian had a plausible explanation for the manifestation of energy into forms such as for example Elves, ( don't laugh ) which we could recognise as the only way evolved humans could see this energy at all.

Now while I have certainly been into contact with what for a better description I shall describe as higher energy I have never seen Pan, Elves, Angels or Fairies. I am obviously not a sufficiently evolved ( or mad ) human being to see more! I will however be keeping an open mind on all these things!

As a footnote I will say the Mike Scott/Waterboys songs about Pan make the hairs on the back of my neck stand up and the Piper at the Gates of Dawn from Wind in the Willows is extraordinarily profound and moving.

By the way, the message from Pan to Roc, was that we should co create with nature in a sympathetic non destructive way. Pan of course, when not chasing Nymphs, was a God of nature.

As a further footnote to this blog post which was written on the 19th February I attended a small informal group meeting in the main sanctuary last night 26th February. The group was meeting to listen to a recording of ROC speaking to the Findhorn Foundation in the early seventies and had been organised by Nadia. Listening to ROC's beautiful and sane voice my perceptions of all this is undergoing a sea change. Another meeting has been arranged for next Sunday. Well worth attending.

With thanks to Nadia for her enthusiasm and energy.

Do comment on this post if you feel so inclined and do look all this up on Google. It is all very interesting.

Garden Gnome

One of the highlights of my week is joining the Cluny College garden team for a voluntary shift in the garden. Cluny College is part of the Findhorn Foundation a Spiritual Community in the north of Scotland.

I get to work with some great ( if sometimes a little quirky ) people. I follow my shift with a free meal which I share with other great people who usually have something interesting to say and no doubt consider me a little quirky too.

I am the oldest member of the team which means I qualify for the title of Garden Gnome.

Sold these prints today

Toucan Ted

I attended the Wednesday art group today. Had no idea what to paint so just splashed around and came up with this fun painting.

Does anybody remember the Guiness adverts featuring a Toucan? Perhaps I subconciously wanted to go to the pub!

Ode on a Grecian Burn

Greece is in flames as there are protests on the streets of Athens and other cities. The austerity being forced on the Greek people is putting the country into a death spiral. Why? because the architects of the Euro refuse to recognise it will not work.

When somebody is an alcoholic the first essential step to recovery is to admit to being one, then steps can be taken towards recovery.

This is the stage we are at now with the Euro crisis. European leaders need to admit Greece cannot remain in the Euro. The burden is too high. Greece needs a devaluation. Years of grinding austerity to bring about an internal devaluation by wage cuts, job losses and business failures is simply too much. Yes the consequences of a return to the Drachma are unpredictable but nobody is going to invest in Greece while it has the Euro. The Euro is a wildly overvalued currency for Greece. Money has left the country already and will not flow back in until there is a devaluation. A devaluation would kick start the tourist industry and business in general.

We all know Greece should not have joined, that the books were cooked but everybody in the Euro project knew this so the fault is not that of Greece alone. This is the result of ideology overcoming common sense.

Wolfgang Schauble Germany's finance minister is living in cloud cuckoo land if he thinks the aim of getting Greek debt down to 120% of GDP by 2020 is possible by shrinking the economy year after year. In any case 120% is unsustainable. Yes countries should reduce debt burdens if it is possible but here it is just not possible without a default and the sooner politicians face up to it the better. It is just not possible to go down the present route in a democracy. Ordinary Greeks should not and will not go along with this much longer. The whole misalignment between countries using the Euro needs to be addressed otherwise we could see the very thing the European Union was intended to prevent, That is to say the rise of Fascism in Europe once again.
With apologies to John Keats.

Pigeon in amorous overdrive.

Why doesn't she want me?

A couple of posts ago I referred to the birds becoming restless as not withstanding the bitter cold they were sensing the energy of impending spring.

Today there was an abrupt rise in temperature and the pigeon I mentioned has gone into amorous overdrive. Even more puffed up ( y aun mas caliente) than before he is dedicating himself to the conquest of any female straying into his vicinity. I have to say so far the females don't seem to have caught spring fever so maybe he is being a bit too forward. Could it be that here in Scotland the Latin lover tactics are a little overwhelming for demure northern pigeons?

Blue Brothers. Sold from Blue Angel Exhibition.

My exhibition at The Blue Angel cafe finished today. I am very encouraged by the positive feedback. This original painting was sold to Belia, one of the resident potters at Findhorn Pottery. All three potters at Findhorn Pottery are very creative so I take this as a compliment.

I also sold Wild Carmargue Horses from this exhibition.

Thanks to Brian and Julie for hanging the paintings for me.

Thanks to everybody who took the trouble to view my work.

Mole Moment

I am feeling really restless again! It is bitterly cold with a cutting wind but first thing this morning the birds were singing and chirping away. They know each day is one day nearer spring and they are connecting with the energy currents. The forgotten urge to mate is exciting them and they are restless too. Outside on the roof a male pigeon is all puffed up and is strutting and bobbing as he tries to impress a female, calling in that vibrational tone only used on these occasions. He looks ridiculous but as pigeons can have several broods a year my view is not shared by the female of the species!

I too am restless, anxious to be done with winter. I am like mole in Wind in the Willows who in the midst of spring cleaning couldn't resist the siren call, smell and currents of spring. He emerges into the meadow and is intoxicated by the wide world above his dark home.

I too can wait no longer in my dark burrow and must also emerge to savour spring with all it's excitement and promises. I want to cast off the tiredness of winter and feel the youthful vigour of spring.

Mike Scott. Waterboys. W B Yeats

Here is beautiful track from Mike Scott's latest album. An Appointment with Mr. Yeats. The title is ' Before the world was made ' ( To Jackie ) Very moving. Connected straight to my emotions.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dtyrgAgaGDM  

Martin Scorsese's Film of the life of George Harrison

My neighbour David dropped in Yesterday and noticing that I had been listening to George's album All Things Must Pass and said that he had recently bought the DVD of the film Living in the Material World and would I like to borrow it. This two disc set follows Georges life up to his death.
This is a fantastic tribute to George's amazing life journey. There were interviews with Eric Clapton, Ravi Shankar, Jackie Stewart, Phil Spector, George Martin, Ringo, Paul and Yoko.
What was truly inspiring was the effect he had on the people around him, seemingly coursing them to think more deeply about what is really important in life.
His wife Olivia gave a moving account of their life together and said when he left his body the room lit up. I was moved to tears and urge you to beg, borrow or buy this film by Martin Scorsese. There is so much in it which will coincide with your own life journey. It was remarkable to see him grow in stature and power as his spirituality became deeper and to witness the growing wisdom featured in the many interviews he gave over the years. A truly spiritual and humble man.

George Harrison and Snowdrops. All things must pass.

I have been listening to more music lately as I find it hurts my recently laser ed eye to look at the computer, read or paint for long. There is always a silver lining in everything. I have reconnected with some of my really old music with delight. In particular I have been listening to George Harrison's All Things Must Pass album. This amazing and spiritual 1970 set issued just after The Beatles broke up showcased his repressed talents which had partly been overshadowed by the Lennon/McCartney song writing partnership. I also listened to his last album Brainwashed which was produced when he knew he was dying. This was not his best work ( perhaps the excellent Cloud Nine was ) and had an uncomfortable sadness about it. I could not listen to it all as the CD developed a fault half way through. Was this George reminding me that things are not permanent and all things must indeed pass?

I have also been taking long gentle walks and today the weather was fantastic, crisp and clear with amazing clarity of light. I noticed the Snowdrops and even some first yellow Celandines ( I think ) and was reminded that things pass but also come again. Winter turning to Spring. The world passing away and reforming, a reminder of impermanence a constant parade of beauty.

Chicken and Tomato Fantasy. Finished.

I am really happy to have finished this one. It was started before my laser surgery and finished four days afterwards. We are so lucky to have access to such medical expertise. My eye is still sore and a little cloudy but hey I can still paint. It has been framed and can be seen in my exhibition at The Blue Angel Cafe, Findhorn.

I have been dreaming a lot lately and this seems to be finding expression in my ' unrealistic and dreamlike paintings ' The dreams do have a message for me I am sure, if I can only work it out! Perhaps I am going to be coming back as a blue chicken, or even a tomato! Who knows? 

Wild Horses. Dream or Nightmare? Sold.

Sold a framed print of this painting of Wild Carmaque Horses Galloping through mud and sand. These horses were clearly spooked by something. If they came to you in a dream would it be a nightmare and what would it mean. Would they symbolise your desire to run away from everything that is stifling you?

Anyway sold three pictures this week and I am happy to say my laser eye treatment seems to be a success. Fingers crossed! I hope to resume painting tomorrow and will finish Chicken and Tomatoes in that case.

Chicken and Tomato Fantasy

While working on Ten Tomatoes I thought I would like to combine an earlier painting with tomatoes. So this is Blue Chicken among tomatoes. It is obviously not meant to be reality but merely a bit of a fantasy, a dream or simply a colourful fun painting which would cheer up an empty wall, maybe in the kitchen. This is the progress so far. I hope to complete it when my eye permits. It will be 40cm x 31cm 

Love is the Master. By Jalaluddin Rumi

Love is the One who masters all things;
I am mastered totally by Love.
By my passion of love for Love
I have ground sweet as sugar.
O furious Wind, I am only a straw before you;
How could I know where I will be blown next?
Whoever claims to have made a pact with Destiny
Reveals himself a liar and a fool;
What is any of us but a straw in a storm?
How could anyone make a pact with a hurricane?
God is working everywhere his massive Resurrection;
How can we pretend to act on our own?
In the hand of Love I am like a cat in a sack;
Sometimes Love hoists me into the air,
Sometimes Love flings me into the air,
Love swings me round and round His head;
I have no peace, in this world or any other.
The lovers of God have fallen in a furious river;
They have surrendered themselves to Love's commands.
Like mill wheels they turn, day and night, day and night,
Constantly turning and turning, and crying out.

John O'Donohue. Divine Beauty

My son Julian bought me a book recently. It is titled Divine Beauty ( The Invisible Embrace ) and is by John O'Donohue the author of Anam Cara.

In an earlier post I referred to the universality of Spirit or higher and more beautiful energies. A quote from this book says it more eloquently than my post but it is exactly what I was alluding to.

Beyond the veils of language and the noise of activity, the most profound events in our lives take place in those fleeting moments where something else shines through, something that can never be fixed in language, something given as quietly as the gift of your next breath. Days and nights unfold in the confidence and continuity of sequence. Most days take no notice of us; but then every so often there is moment when time seems to crystallise. A voice changes tone and a deeper music becomes audible. A gaze holds and a hidden presence is glimpsed.

If like me you are drawn to a book that you can pick up, read a few paragraphs and then spend time thinking about the profundity of those paragraphs, then I recommend this book to you.

Meditating on Spirit

Waiting to have my eye laser treatment has given me lots of time to think. I am meditating more and generally being less physically active.

When we meditate we THINK we go inside and connect with whatever our particular belief system calls spirit, be it God, Nirvana, Shiva, Allah,The Beloved etc etc.What we actually do is open up to subtle energies that are neither within us nor outside us. These energies are everywhere but because our normal external and internal input is on a gross level we are only aware of them when the mind is still and able to turn away from the gross energies. Whatever our belief system or non we are all accessing the same thing. The tragedy throughout humanities existence is that we take charge of this spirit, call it something different depending on our religion and then claim it is unique and only through our religion is it true. We then package it in ritual, systems and doctrines which we go to war to defend or impose on others. Actually and obviously this higher energy does not have a name, I am just calling it Spirit for convenience. That one religion has unique access to Spirit is quite incredible to believe when you actually stop and think about it but we are programmed not to. It would be nice if we could take the religion out of spirit and put the spirit back in religion.

The painting is one of my more meditative paintings. It is called Rhapsody in Blue. The original is sold but prints are available.

Short sighted old git

To all the kind folk who wished me luck or expressed concern about todays laser eye surgery, heartfelt thanks.

However after seeing the specialist today he decided to carry out this proceedure next Thursday the 26th January. The prognosis  nevertheless is very good so should be back painting within a week or two.

Another sketch painted

As I wait for my eye operation I was thinking of seeing with awareness. When we sit and sketch or paint a scene that work will instantly connect you with that place in a way no photograph can. This is because we look with focused awareness. I have some ( very bad ) paintings I did in Chile twenty years ago and when I look at them I can remember the place name and the families who were having a picnic nearby. However when I look at a photo of the trip I can't remember where they were taken even though there are some memories. So being able to see is different to really seeing with full awareness. Obviously I am now very aware what a wonderful gift sight is and using it to paint and really see is a double blessing.This is another sketch from the Gerry Active 2011 Tour de France. I painted over the sketch just before the Ten Tomatoes work. As with my other sketches and paintings from that trip they are not my best work. BUT they are lovely reminders of the place and time. This is another nice little corner of St. Enemie sur Tarn.

Ponytails in La Gomera

While on holiday in La Gomera I was intrigued by the extraordinary number of men wearing their hair in Ponytails. Most of the tourists in La Gomera are German and it seemed they fell into two distinct types. First the Ponytail set. All ages, all shapes, laid back and obviously feeling it was cool to wear their hair long. Secondly the athletic types, out jogging early and late or setting out for a hike with boots and trekking poles. Non of the second type favoured Ponytails. A third sub tribe, a minority, favoured afro type or long hairstyles and could be found sleeping on the beach or sitting around the little church near the La Playa end of Valle Gran Rey. I never did find out the reason for so many Ponytails but all three tribes were pleasant as was this lovely island.