To thy Self be True…

In a comment on a recent blog I wrote for Applied Esoterix about the challenge of letting people know who you are without resolving to platitudes and job titles, the recent drive toward turning your Self into a brand was pointed out as a dangerous reduction of our selves: “Reducing the complex, often contradictory and typically diverse nature of ‘who we are’ to a logo, a tag line, a sound bite or a twitter message is virtually impossible.” [thank you dangerousideas!]
Fine point. No brand could ever capture your Self, only a persona, a limited aspect of your Self. For it to be representative of your Self, that persona has to be infused with your essence, your values, but it is important to remember that it is not your Self.

(more…)

Continue ReadingTo thy Self be True…

The Metaphorical Mind

Picasso Bull

“Every child is born an artist, the problem is to remain one once they grow up.” – Pablo Picasso

One of my favorite art stories as a child came from a documentary about Picasso. It was showing his progression in understanding and communicating his reality. The documentary started with a water color he had made of a bullfight as a sixteen year old. It was beautiful and attempted to depict the bull, the audience, the vibrant colors with as much realism as possible.

(more…)

Continue ReadingThe Metaphorical Mind

Now that’s a fact!

factThe facts of life are everywhere surrounding us, immersing us in ever new media streams. Radio and TV are already becoming the slow media, even blogs are making way to a bombardment of 140 character factoids wrapped in status updates and riddled with abbreviations and code. If we are not consciously managing our media diet, we can easily get swallowed up in a never-ending barrage of expert opinions, evidence, “truths” created by this or that individual with the apparent proper credentials or endorsements.

(more…)

Continue ReadingNow that’s a fact!

A Multi-Solipsistic Manifesto

No matter which religious, spiritual, or materialistic idea ultimately holds true, the one and only thing I do know as a fact is that I seem to be here right now. With that, I acknowledge, that all my memories of the past and all my projections into the future are in my imagination. "I" seem(s) to be an immediate Point of Perception

Continue ReadingA Multi-Solipsistic Manifesto

What is a transformational business?

the world is in your handsThere is a lot of talk about change and transformation, but transformation is rarely defined. To me, transformation means willfully and creatively engaging with change. Change is inevitable. Nothing in this reality stays the same from moment to moment.

In a world of real-time global communications, change is accelerated through the memes, mediums and messaging available today… Providing evermore accelerated paths for transformation.

Shifting into new models

Business within this era has to – by default – be drastically different than before. While economics was beginning with the premise of scarcity, allowing for only two major models to evolve, we have come to a more advanced understanding where scarcity is limited to scarce systems, and where we can look to ecology and integrated systems to provide sustainable solutions – all within a global context.

(more…)

Continue ReadingWhat is a transformational business?

Persistence and Legacy

One of my wonderful artist friends just told me today that her life was feeling like a lot of ups and downs at the moment.

Crowley Tarot - Art

We do live in uncertain times, and uncertainty is gaining in momentum on a daily basis. The illusion of safety, the idea that we can continue to turn our back on the fragility of our lives is being eroded day by day (and we have to remind ourselves that living in a “Western” country is a most cushy experience to begin with compared to the rest of the world).

As artists and alchemists, our lives are about transmuting the muck, turning lead into gold: Using our personal experience and work as a platform for shared transformation, be it through our artifacts or teachings. And we do it as prototypes, so that others can do the same in their own lives. While she agreed, she said it was tough to persist sometimes, and to keep a long-term perspective. I absolutely agree with that, and I think the two are connected.

(more…)

Continue ReadingPersistence and Legacy