Temporality & my chocolate belly
Ok I know that’s a shocking photo (it’s from a family celebration for my sister’s engagement last night which makes it even worse)… but I think it’s worth a laugh. And I tell you what, the chocolate semi fredo I’m licking is the very best dessert in the world… and today I could tell…
I went to my first bikram yoga class tonight and in the 40+ degree heat I had a revelation.
Mirrors are commonplace in yoga studios but the nature of bikram leads one to strip off to bare essentials and in front of me I saw the consequence of last night’s dessert as well as what I can only assume is a result of last two years of full-on writing, not so much exercise, and too much indulging on my one true love (and brain food as I tell myself): chocolate. Ok it’s not an absolutely horrible tummy, and the ad hoc pilates classes I teach has ensured it is still in a reasonably toned condition but I tell you what – it’s a hell of a lot wider than the 60cm waistline it once was… That was NOT my revelation. I know I’ve put on a few kilos since I finished full time modeling, and I really don’t think my little body complaints are what you want to read or what I want to shout out to the world.
My revelation came as the yoga instructor told us to love everything ourselves and treat ourselves with love. I looked at my belly and thought, hmmm how can I love this? And then it came to me. I CAN love it. I can love it in this moment – accepting that this moment that it is a temporary state. ‘Bikram will going to change everything’ I tried to convince myself, also vowing to cut down on excessive indulgences in order to morph my body at least a little bit closer to my preferred measurements.
Ok I know this all a very superficial rant but there is a deeper message to come…
In the car I drove in silence and let my mind continue down this stream of thought: the temporal states from which we experience our lives. That is, the temporal state of mind – how in every moment we can learn something new and change everything we think. And a temporal state of body – our cells constantly regenerating and, depending on our lifestyle, our body constantly changes for good or bad.
Then I contemplated our soul. Does our soul change? I’m not so sure. Maybe this is the only non-temporal part of us?
Half asleep as I write (this yoga is fricking intense, dehydrating, and well maybe after my 10 day trial I can let you know if it’s worth it…) I googled ‘temporality’ because I thought it was a word but my spell checker was telling me it wasn’t. Anyway wikipedia informed me that temporality refers to philosophizing about time – be it linear, circular or other… and how a temporal morality (temporality for short) refers to a moral philosophy based in the belief that “the ultimate commodity any person has is their own time (i.e. their life, lifespan, their time in the present) and they are free to spend that time as they wish as long as their actions do not impinge on (harm) another person’s time (via injury, theft, lies, etc.).” I like this.
Life is a wave that our soul rides: our consciousness simultaneously creates and experiences and we morph like the rolling waters – living in the moment and knowing that one day arrive at the shore. We may long for the safety of the shore but I think that it is the day we get there that we will reminisce the open ocean, the excitement of the unknowns and the metamorphosis we were experiencing in fear.
Getting to the point. We can change our minds and bodies in whatever ways we want in the moments to come but seeing as they are the way they are in the present we may as well embrace them. It’s about the process, not the result. We can love ourselves as we are today and plan for what states we want to be in tomorrow. I guess that means I should love my chocolate belly right now and (hopefully) enjoy watching it shrink in those massive yoga mirrors… 
Empowering women & the role of men
Empowering women has been said to be the “silver bullet” to ending poverty.
Studies have shown that an increase in the income of women directly correlates with increases in the education and nutrition of children. These children will lead longer and more fulfilling lives, and an upward spiral will begin as they can provide better education and nutrition to their children.
Increases in the income of men have no correlation with children’s education and nutrition, but instead correlate with increases in spending on drugs and alcohol. This is a very sad picture to paint… and I wonder why this is the case?
I suppose the unchangeable fact that men can’t physically give birth could have something to do with it however I do not think this means that fathers are innately less caring about their children than mothers. A child is half the father and half the mother so it makes sense that both have a innate biologically desire for their genes to live on. This is what all life forms, from plants to insects to animals to birds want to do: survive. This is the essence of evolution. This is the essence of life.
It makes me consider what kind of societal conditioning may induce the destructive gender issues around our world today.
I once asked a male friend of mine why men get into fights. He told me it comes down to sexual frustration. That silenced me. What can solve this? Only women. And the more empowered women are the more expectations they have of the man they want to be with… I just hope this does not lead to more sexual frustration and more problems than there were to begin with.
Urgh! It’s so hard. Everything has a ripple effect. The best of intentions can lead to the most disastrous consequences.
Does this mean we should not bother empowering women?
Of course not. Empowering women to earn an income, to make their own choices and have an opinion that counts is extremely important. So too is empowering women to be involved in the top-end leadership of our world. But that’s not everything.
Men must be empowered too, but maybe in a different way to the way our society does today. Pressures on men to compete, to “provide for their families”, pressures to prove their masculinity, and to win the woman that will pass on their genes – these factors are evident in the animal world too. But humanity has developed the unique cabability of FORESIGHT. We can analyse our societal pressures and values, and adjust them in whatever way will allow our society to evolve into a better one.
I don’t really know what point I’m trying to make. I have never felt my femininity hold be back from anything… so all of this is a bit foreign to me. I guess as I learn about gender issues for the first time these issues are playing on my mind. You are reading the babble as my mind tries to make sense of it all.
There is one thing I know beyond doubt and that is that both the male and the female genders have intrinsic, inseparable and invaluable roles to play in life. I suppose it’s just now time to contemplate these roles and how we can structure society in a way that fosters both genders to maximize their potential and provide the most benefit for life on earth as a whole.
Unfortunately I’m sure that is much easier said than done…
PEACE: HOW DO WE FIND IT?
As I go through my studies, learning about the world and the peace and conflict that exists on different levels, and even as travel through my own life’s little challenges, I find I coming back to one question: HOW CAN I FIND PEACE?
Is peace something that CAN be “found”? Does it already exist, sitting there waiting to be uncovered? Or is it, like happiness, A CHOICE we must make? Is it a choice I can make myself, or do we ALL have to make it in order for me to experience it not only inside myself, but in the reality that I live inside?
In less than two months I will apparently be a “MASTER” of this Peace and Conflict stuff – so what next? How am I going to apply the things I’ve learned to help our conflict-ridden world?
One thing I have learned in my studies is that the conflict that occurs between nations is not so dissimilar to the conflict that occurs between individuals. Even the conflicts that occur within an individual: between different sides of our brains, or between our minds and bodies – conflict in itself surrounds us in every aspect of our existence. But is conflict a bad thing? NO – NOT AT ALL. It is actually a matter of conflict resolution that determines this normative aspect. A NON-VIOLENT resolution to conflict is all that really matters – that is, PREVENTING the VIOLENT CONSEQUENCES of conflict, not preventing the conflict itself.
BUT HOW?
My research and contemplation presently points towards a kind-of shift in perspective. A shift from seeing ourselves as beings isolated in our particular point in time – to seeing ourselves as part of a much bigger picture of the history of our universe. I feel like this is the first step to peace because it provides us a deeper level of understanding of ourselves and the purpose for our existence.
When you contemplate your location in the universe: a tiny little spec amongst an infinite space and infinite time, it is both humbling and empowering. We may be small, but we do exist, and we actually have an understanding of this existence. Even if it is a limited understanding, the technology that has allowed us to travel and research in outer space, and deep inside quantum atoms – we have a better understanding than any other species in any other recorded evidence of history.
No matter what your religion, culture, political ideology, job, or values – I think this perspective adds something to your life.
And from this perspective comes a recognition of two things:
1. Your connectedness with ALL OF HUMANITY – no matter how separated by geographical location our ancestors were in the past, and no matter how different the world-views they developed – we all exist today on the same planet and in the same snapshot in time. In the globalised state of our time, our coexistence is even more interdependent than ever before. We have the power to love or hate each other, to appreciate or despise our differences, and to create a world of harmony or blow each other up. I think a macro perspective entices us to comprehend each other’s worldviews in the context of their histories, see where the common roots exist, and how we can learn from each other’s journeys and cherish the evolution of such differences. It allows us to plan our future: what we want to do with our unique consciousness and awareness.
2. Your connectedness with OUR PLANET and OUR UNIVERSE / GOD – no matter what your religion, no matter how you define “God”, and the human characteristics you give “Him”, it is impossible to ignore the intrinsic connection between our existence and all life on earth and all the energies outside our earth from the atmosphere that protects us to our earth’s relationship with our sun, galaxy and universe.
What I think this makes us realise is that:
1. The happier and more peaceful we can help other humans to be, the happier and more peaceful world we will live in, and the happier and more peaceful our own lives will be. Finding a way to avoid a “Clash of Civilisations” is essential to the continuance of our species and for our children to live in a world of peace.
2. The only way to continue existence is to change our lifestyle to one that does not destroy our earth. In the last 100 years we have exploited our planet in horrific ways and created lifestyles that cannot be sustained if we want our children to continue to live on this planet. At the moment the more developed nations continue to live frivolous lifestyles and as China and India follow our example (as they have the right to do) we must realise that if we continue in this way we really are doomed. If we are going to find solutions, it starts with YOU AND ME – finding lifestyles that can be sustained in the future, investing in sustainable sources of energy, and investing all we can to think ahead, solve problems, and stop our destructive ways.
Solar energy may provide us with less energy than what we are used to but is it not possible to work a few less hours, value time instead of money and material consumption. Would it really be so bad to eat a little less and be a little skinnier? Would it be so bad to play guitar and sing songs by candlelight rather than watching so much TV???
THERE ARE SOLUTIONS – WE JUST HAVE TO THINK OUTSIDE THE SQUARE!
How do we truly grasp this MACRO and MICRO perspective of our existence? I think “BIG HISTORY” is one way – that is, mapping out history in a grand narrative of everything we know put on one time line. Combined with mapping the different perspectives, identifying the gaps, and being aware of the assumptions and limitations of this narrative. It’s kind of a combination of a Post-modernist perspective with the Modernist perspective it rejected. I think both are important. And I think this combination makes history exciting as it encourages us to engage with it – not take anything as a given, but constantly question everything.
Once again I’ve written far too long of a blog entry so probably no one will read it. Apparently we live in a headline society – if you can’t fit it into one line then noone will hear you. Anyway, I need to do this waffle to make it make sense in my own head so I don’t really care. I am thinking about doing a PhD on something to do with this stuff next year. But I also have ideas about “Pan-en-theism” ie “Everything-in-God” and Process Theology / Process Philosophy – which looks at the MEANING of this evolution process in a more spiritual way. But trying to decide whether the spiritual side should actually be my focus, or if I should dedicate my time just to the Big History side of things, working on an argument for why it should be taught in schools, and looking at ways this perspective can filter through into mainstream consciousness. If you read this I would really love your opinion on it and on what I should do…
Let me sum up what has become quite an essay:
PEACE is a CHOICE. And when you see your place in the big picture of the universe you see that peace is a state of being that starts inside EACH ONE OF US, and will filter out from there to create a WORLD AT PEACE.
God and fundamentalisms
This may sound strange but I LOVE our universe. I love that we are conscious of our selves, that we understand so much about our location in space and time, and I love that there is so much we don’t know – the mystery and intrigue keeps life exciting. It reminds you of the importance of the process, not the result. Dreaming and working to achieve your dreams so that when you make it you can dream a new dream. There’s always more to learn. There’s always new ways to create. The universe has infinite creative potential. This is God.
I love capturing beauty with my camera. I love thinking about the beautiful things I can see, hear, smell, taste – thinking about why I can see, hear, smell and taste them, and what gives me the ability to think about these things. The language that allows me to put feelings into thoughts and into words.
I love contemplating what this process of creation tells us about the nature “God”, about the nature of our expanding universe and the nature of ourselves and our role in this ongoing evolution. I love learning about religions and I try to keep an open and empathetic attitude to ideas and perspectives different to my own. Each perspective has come from somewhere, every person has a story, and every idea has its purpose and its place. Like people, perspectives and ideas, and like our universe and our understanding of God – CONSTANTLY CHANGE. We constantly know more. We will never know everything. And that in itself is what makes life so fantastic.
Today I went to St Matthews Church in Manly to listen to Ken Duncan, the famous landscape photographer, speak about Life’s Adventure, and the process of capturing the beauty and glory of God in these landscapes. I enjoyed this very much, until the end.
What I enjoyed was hearing the story behind the amazing panoramas. Each photo took patience and intuition – listening to that voice inside of you that Ken attributed to God. I do that too. And I find that listening to this voice is how I get my shots. It’s how I find the words. It’s how I live my life. Connecting myself with the all-power energy that surrounds us and connects all of life. To say no
Confronted with images from Mel Gibson’s movie The Passion – with the blood and guts of an Anglo-Saxon Jesus suffering “for me” on the cross – juxtaposed with his amazingly beautiful panoramas. I felt sick to the stomach.
“The only way to God is through Jesus Christ”
I’m sorry. I do not agree. I can not.
Why not?
a) People of other religions also connect with “God” (even if they speak another language and call this great force by another name like Allah or Jehovah – all the same MONOTHEISTIC god…) Who the heck would I be to say they are all deceived while the Western religion has magically got it right?
b) The power behind life I call “God” is more powerful than what this simple narrative makes out. What kind of God would REQUIRE a human incarnation of itself to suffer and die in order to have a relationship with me? Couldn’t an all-powerful God conquer death without requiring a death?
I’m still searching for answers. I’ll share more of my Christian journey when I get time to read through the writings I have done over the past few years. But there are just some times I have to speak up. This was one of those times, and I had to communicate these few points with Ken Duncan… so I wrote the above little essay on a feedback form and hope he gets in touch with me to discuss. If you are going to go out and tell everyone about Jesus, then maybe he has some answers. Those with exclusive perspectives of their own religion have a lot to answer for – not least the Clash of Civilisations predicted as a consequence of identities mixed up in such opposing exclusive views.
I do have to say though I was really impressed with Ken’s talk and I absolutely LOVE his work. And i loved his wonderful example of faith and listening to “God”. I relate to that. But when I see something that seems to me to be at the roots of world violence I can’t just sit back and watch. I have to say something.
Yes, a Jewish revolutionary was crucified 2000 years ago. Yes, this man changed the lives of many people – telling them to forget the church’s bureaucratic rules and instead follow his example and discover a personal direct relationship the divine power behind creation. He told them to be pacifists – to let your enemy slap the other cheek. The earliest Christians did this. Shame we don’t do it anymore, instead ignoring the Sermon on the Mount and focusing on the human theological interpretations of a narrative, mis-interpreting premodern writings in our modern paradigms. Focusing on rules, on separation, and on literal interpretations of myths.
Jesus said to forget the bullshit – life is not about obedience to autocratic rules. It’s about two things:
1. Love “God”.
2. Love your neighbour as yourself.
I find myself seeking the divine power behind our existence, connecting with it and allowing that connection to guide my life and help me pursue my unique role in the unveiling of the universe’s expansion. I am still debating whether or not I want to personify this power – it seems to have benefits of comfort and communication, but at the danger of tricking the mind to really think this power is actually a person. I don’t think anybody really believes God is a person, which is why I find the THEIST / ATHEIST debate so strange.
It seems to me it’s not a question of “is there a God?” but is actually question of “what is this power we call God?” and how can we best understand and connect with this power? Should we seek it through a deeper understanding quantum physics? Through looking at the major religions and identifying common elements – separating human-designed theologies from the original messages of the prophets? Or through seeking a deeper understanding of ourselves and our own potential to have a prophetic-like relationship with the divine.
Sometimes I find myself truly seeing other people and other forms of life as other expressions of myself. If i was born into their situation, I would be living and responding just as they do. This is why the concept of “sin” seems so foreign – most of the time these actions are derived from their life’s experience, and when you seek the cause of destructive behaviour, it is not something that the person had control over.
I love those moments where my separate identity disappears and I feel at one with the universe. Floating in the ocean allowing waves to carry your body up and down is one of the most meditative states that make me realise my separateness is a temporary condition – one I must enjoy each moment without fear of it’s inevitable end.
“But what do I know, I’m just a model”
And it’s late, I’m running on 5 hours sleep, my eyes are heavy so I’m going to post this, have a shower and go to bed.
The picture I used for this post is a meditation poster called Supreme Light from the Brahma Kumaris, a spiritual university – www.bkwsu.org
Shopping malls & traffic jams
Two entries in one day! Don’t know what’s gotten into me but I’ll probably be scaring off any readers if I have any… it won’t happen too often, I promise.
I just got home from Warringah Mall. I was standing in line waiting to return a digital frame to BigW (that said it played AVI files and MPEG4 files and after wasting much of my time creating such files decided it actually would not live up to its specifications) and I looked around to observe the commotion and busy lives of all the people surrounding me. Aisles full of bright coloured junk-foods, clothes, makeup, home-goods, and lines of people waiting to spend their hard-earned money on these things. I know shops play an important role in our lives, and that this “stuff” is what makes our world go round. But waiting there all the good feelings I took away from the pilates class I’d just taken seemed to disappear and my irritation with our capitalistic society began to build up. A pen and paper came out of my bag and I wrote a poem to express it. Random, i know.
Anyway, here it is:
Shopping malls & traffic jams
Is there any worse place to be?
Consuming carbon waste
From trucks to lungs
From aisles to homes
Children in trolleys cry as I wait
I vow never to have more than one
Shopping clerks to scan my items
Swipe my card – more junk is mine
Where does it begin?
Where does it end?
Our addiction to buy
Drives the trucks to deliver
We want more capital
We want more wealth
Our love of things
But do we love our work?
Spend money
Work to earn more
Exploit our earth
Exploit the poor
The spiral of death
Want; Work; Buy; Want; Work; Buy;
Pollute our minds
But WHY? WHY?
What is the solution?
What can be done?
WANT LESS WORK LESS!!!
Enjoy what you have
Share what you’ve got
Love our earth;
Love one another;
Love yourself.
Juliet Bennett – 17 Sept 09
Meaning of life
Something sure to come up a lot on this blog is the question of meaning – why the f**k are we here on this planet??? It is something I contemplate regularly.
The human condition is a strange one - born no different from other animals we are educated into languages, enculturated into structures of thinking, sets of values, morals, dreams. We grow up and play out our roles in society, dedicating our life to our relationships, our religions, our jobs, the building up materialistic goods, searching for our identity, trying to achieve the world’s ideals, create a family, pay off our mortgages or work for whatever other causes we see as valuable. But WHY??? Only to blink and find ourselves retired then old and dying. We may travel, meet people, enjoy food, beautiful sites, other cultures… still what’s the purpose of it all?
I have come across a fantastic fantastic website that contains interviews with some of the most amazing minds in our world today. www.meaningoflife.tv.
So far I’ve watched Karen Armstrong (a scholar of religion) and John Polkinghorne (a Cambridge scholar of physics and Anglican priest), and I definitely recommend both. Each interview is long but well worthwhile
A guy’s point of view
Sorry about the photo. A bit rude. Rachel took it not me (I think) – one of the millions of photos we took of graffiti art in South America. This one was in Bariloche Argentina. I thought it was appropriate.
I never really read FWD’d emails but this one popped into my inbox from my 13 year old sister so I had to have a look. My art exhibition (launched very successfully yesterday) has left me exhausted so instead of writing tonight I’m going to share someone else’s and pose a question – is this really what boys think???
This is very cute! And even written by a
guy!
You might agree with it, but when it
actually happens 99% of girls don’t
realize it ’til it is too late
From a guys point of view: We don’t care if you talk to other guys.
We don’t care if you’re friends with other guys.
But when you’re sitting next to us, and some random guy walks into the room
It doesn’t help if you sit there and talk to him for ten minutes without even acknowledging the fact that we’re still there.We don’t care if a guy calls you, but at 2 in the morning we do get a little concerned.
Don’t tell us we’re wrong.We’ll stop trying to convince you.
The sexiest thing about a girl is confidence.
Yeah, you can quote me.
Don’t be mad when we hold the door open.
Take Advantage of the mood im in.
LET US PAY FOR YOU! DON’T ‘FEEL BAD’
We enjoy doing it.
It’s expected.
Smile and say ‘thank you.’
Kiss us when no one’s watching.
If you kiss us when you know somebody’s looking, we’ll be more impressed.
You don’t have to get dressed up for us.
If we’re going out with you in the first place, you don’t have to feel the
We like you for WHO you are and not WHAT you are.
Honestly, i think a girl looks more beautiful when she’s just in her pj’s.
Or my t-shirt and boxers, not all dolled up.Don’t take everything we say seriously.
Sarcasm is a beautiful thing.
See the beauty in it.
Don’t get angry easily.
Stop using magazines/media as your bible.
Don’t talk about how hot Morris Chesnutt, Brad Pitt, or Jesse McCartney is in front of us.
It’s boring, and we don’t care.
You have girlfriends for that.
Whatever happened to the word ‘handsome’/'beautiful’.
I’d be utterly stunned by a girl who greeted me with ‘Hey handsome!’ instead of ‘Hey baby/ stud/ cutie/ sexy’ or whatever else you can think of.
On the other hand im not sayin i wouldn’t like it either.
Girls: I cannot stress this enough: IF YOU AREN’T BEING TREATED RIGHT BY A GUY, DON’T WAIT FOR HIM TO CHANGE.> DITCH HIS SORRY DISGRACE-TO-THE-MALE-POPULATION ASS, AND FIND SOMEONE WHO WILL TREAT YOU WITH UTTER RESPECT
Someone who will honor your morals.
Someone who will make you smile when you’re at your lowest.
Someone who will care for you even when you make mistakes.
Someone who will love you, no matter how bad you make them feel.
Someone who will stop what theyre doing just to look you in the eyes….and say ‘i love you’ ……….AND ACTUALLY MEAN IT!
*****Give the nice guys a
> Girls : If you want to hold his hand, gently bump into it a couple of times.
> Guys : Grab it if it happens more than once.
> Cuddling-
> Girls : When you want to cuddle with him, tell him you’re cold.
> Guys : Automatically move closer to her.
> Movies-
> Girls : During a movie, if he puts his arm around you, tilt your head on his shoulder
> Guys : Lift her chin up and kiss her.
> Loving each other-
> Guys : When she tells you she loves you, look deep into her eyes, give her a peck on the lips, and tell her you love her too… And mean it.
My inspirations
“Good novels are written by people who are not frightened.” George Orwell.
Some of the most inspiring people in my life:
Leigh Stark
Blogger, photographer & the creator of this website. Thank you so much!
www.leighlo.com & www.sackboyliveshere.com
Emeritus Professor Stuart Rees
Director of Sydney Peace Foundation, Founder of the Centre of Peace and Conflict Studies at the University of Sydney, social commentator and dear friend.
Rachel Carroll
My South American travel amiga, great great friend, and VERY talented Australian artist. www.rachelcarroll.com.au
The Art Tree
All the artists of “The Art Tree” – a Sydney Northern Beaches art group Rachel Carroll runs. www.arttree.com.au
Chelsea Haywood
Author and my wonderful Canadian friend from Tokyo. Her first book “90-Day Geisha” was released 2008 in Australia, 2009 Holland and Dec 2009 will be released in New York – check it out – it rocks!!! www.90daygeisha.com
Ana Clara Veiga
Once my roommate in Japan, Ana Clara is a very successful Brazilian model now married to a beautiful Japanese boy and now with her own fashion label Guara in Japan. www.guarajapan.com
Sawan Yawnghwe
A very successful Canadian artist based in Panzano – Florence, Italy. My distant friend.
Dormice®
Rory O’Donoghue
My mum’s partner, a musician and actor. His most famous role was Skinny Arthur in the Aunty Jack Show – if you haven’t seen this then you MUST check it out on youtube – it is VERY creative and a lot of fun!
www.auntyjack.org & www.arvodavo.net
Not my close friends… but some great sources of inspiration – mainly through their words, auras, talent & beauty (inside & out):
Johan Galtung - an incredible thinker and one of the key founders of my discipline: Peace and Conflict Studies. AMAZING theories on politics, peace and transcending perceived limitations with a little creativity.
Shanteram is the best book I’ve ever read – and I’m only half way… (it is VERY long!)
Some parts a little indulgent, but on the whole very inspiring. My dream is for my book to be able to inspire others as Eat Pray Love has done for many women around the world.
Conversations with God made everything make sense to me. A FANTASTIC book for anyone confusted about life.
Deepak Chopra is so great. I love listening to his audio books – a break from tiresome uni readings.
Jason Mraz… ahhhh my favourite is I’m Yours… I don’t think I’ll ever get over it. And the lyrics for Life is Wonderful…. the greatest lyrics ever, in my opinion.
Alicia Keys - well… no words can describe. Superwoman again great lyrics… brings tears to my eyes but simultaneously makes me feel a strong power. Incredible girl.
Julie Delphy is one talented creation – singing, acting, directing, … she does everything and does it well. Inspirational to say the least. Before Sunrise is one of my fav movies ever.
I have a major crush on Jim Sturgess - ever since Across The Universe – and watching the behind the scenes intensified this crush. His voice. His smile. His humour. His spirit. His eyes……………. mmmmm mmmm.
The Beautiful Girls have some of the best lyrics out there – my favourite being Cash Money that says 
“It’s funny how many times they prove that the only true fortune you can save, is the Truth.” If you haven’t heard them get onto iTunes now!
And Johnny Depp. No explanation necessary.
I draw a lot of inspiration from the beauty of nature, and from my own crazy experiences. I am particularly inspired by the way that over and over again my seemingly most unlikely dreams have come true (modeling, photography, pilates, writing, travel…..) This gives me confidence about my new dreams – no matter how out-of-reach they might seem. The next one being the growth of this blog (please recommend to others if you like it), a PhD, a best-selling book… and world peace.
Finally, I can’t talk about inspiration without mentioning my mum, my dad, my sisters, extended family, and my friends through from school to uni to various jobs to travel and all the random encounters in between – you are my biggest inspiration. Thank you for your ongoing support and unconditional love.
Last but definitely not least, my late Opa who maintained his health and sense of humour right till the end. Ask him how he is and he would cheerfully sing, “STILL ALIVE!!!”
Life is a gift I too am eternally grateful for.
What did I learn most from Opa? That even living close to 100-years is over in a flash – so don’t waste a moment of it. If you’re unhappy then do something about it- the only place happiness is found is now. Seize opportunities, leave no space for regret.
As Hippocrates said, “Life is short, art long, opportunity fleeting, experience misleading, judgment difficult.”
So… enjoy this life you are experiencing, be thankful for each new day, and live each and every moment to its potential.
“Our separate fictions add up to joint reality.” Stanislaw Lec.
PS. This page is still in progress and will (hopefully) continue to be… as inspiring people continue to enter my life.
What is Beauty?
“Beauty is in the eyes of the beholder”
In Japan, people would look at me and gasp “Kirre!” “SagoiI!” “Chiisai!” (translation: “Beautiful! Wow! Small!”) as they motioned a small circle with their hands and touched the skin on their face. This was followed by broken English “Small head.” “Beeeeaaauuutiful.” The Japanese love small heads and are obsessed with pale skin – the mirror opposite of Hollywood’s chocolate lollypops with big heads and tanned bodies. I guess the grass is always greener on the other side.
What makes a person ‘beautiful’?
Is it their body shape: Thin? Curvy? Toned? Tall?
Their facial structure: Symmetrical? Angular jaw? High cheekbones?
Their eyes? Their smile? Their skin color and complexion?
Hair-style? Fashion sense? Grooming?
Or is it their personality? Their confidence? Sex appeal?
When you think about it, it’s really a combination of all of the above, and much more. And it changes – all the time!
I find it interesting to think about how our ideals of beauty and where they came from. Greeks and Romans praised and sculptured tall, muscular, long-legged men with a full head of thick hair, and a high wide forehead (a sign of intelligence), wide-set eyes, a strong brow, a perfect shaped nose, good profile, a smaller mouth, and a strong jaw line. The definition of a beautiful man doesn’t seem to have changed much.
Feminine beauty on the other hand seems to constantly change. From premodern times where large was beautiful (a sign of wealth), to the sylph-like early Victorian woman and later the Victorian hourglass, to the table tennis 20th century bouncing from voluptuous Marilyn Monroes to ‘boyish’ Twiggys, Glamazons to Kate Mosses, to the Hollywood over-toned bodies to alien-eyed stick-figure fashion models, and now it seems to depend on the mood of magazine editors when they decide the week’s headlines.
“It’s not what’s on the outside, but what’s the inside that counts.”
I do believe this. However I also think there is an intrinsic connection between what is seen on the outside and what is on the inside. I’m not saying just cause someone is beautiful on the outside means they are beautiful on the inside, however I do think that the connection between our outer appearance and our inner self is inseparable and important. We are happy when we look good and when we look good we feel happy – and a happy person is a desirable lover and a desirable friend.
When we are happy, a light shines from our eyes, our skin glows, we smile naturally, we stand taller, walk with confidence and radiate a positive energy. When we’re not happy, our eyes look downward, our face tenses up, and we slouch, and our mind is distracted and anywhere but the present. It is amazing how much your posture and facial expression reflect your state of happiness, and it’s even more amazing what a difference posture and facial expression make to your appearance. Next time you look at models in a photo or on the catwalk, look at the posture and the eyes. These two things models learn to control, and it is these that are the key to a good walk and a good photo.
Apparently there is a new form of discrimination called “lookism” – the better looking you are, the easier it is to get a job, get a raise, etc. It’s probably true – we are judged on our looks right from job interviews or sometimes even job applications (in Japan you send your photo with your resume). I read somewhere that more attractive criminals even get let off with lighter sentences than less attractive ones – it wouldn’t surprise me – no one, not even a judge, can resist a pretty face.
I truly believe everyone is beautiful, and actually I think anyone could be a model if they wanted to. Heck, if I could do it, anyone can… You may not think you are beautiful, but let me tell you something – you are. That’s my little bit of encouragement for those that have the self esteem I once had. I realize now that it’s up to each of us to find our inner and outer beauty – then to bring it out and let it shine.
I think the key to beauty is to feel good. If you don’t feel good, then figure out what will make you feel good, and do it. Take time to figure out who you are and who you want to be. Look at your appearance – does it reflect who you are? Is the person in the mirror who you want to be? If not, then it’s time to change. The major deterrent to becoming beautiful is the poor self-images we have of ourselves.
Grooming, lifestyle, food habits, sleeping habits, fashion, hair, and makeup – are all an indirect reflection of how someone feels inside. People that love themselves love their bodies and look after them: from eating right to exercising, to the little details of hair, nails and skin care. Sure, some things we are born with and can’t change, like our height and cheekbones – although even these things we can improve on with posture improvement and some facial exercises (a model once assured me chewing gum builds up facial muscles in the right places!)
Ok, that’s enough of my rant on beauty. I have so many pieces of writing laying about on my computer that I’m trying to pick one and edit it and post it… this website is a good way to reflect, and get my files organized. And if it is interesting to other people to read, then it’s a bonus. J
Photo: self-portrait
Lindt chocolate is NOT slave chocolate!
I emailed Lindt a year ago and pretty much got a ‘no comment’ response but I emailed them again today and got a response already and guess what?! They DO NOT GET THEIR COCOA BEANS FROM THE IVORY COAST!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! They do not use slave labour!!! Hip hip horray!!!
This is EXTREMELY good news seeing as I have boycotted my favourite chocolate for an entire year, and now I can go to the supermarket and get CHILLI DARK LINDT CHOCOLATE AGAIN! WAHOOOOOOO!!!!
I know this sounds over-the-top but for a chocaholic this is the better news than a HD!!!
FYI:
Thank you very much for your request concerning cocoa sourcing. It has been forwarded to us at the Lindt & Sprüngli Headquarters in Switzerland because the very important topic of sustainable cocoa sourcing is committing the whole Lindt & Sprüngli group and not only our 100% subsidiary in Australia.
In a general way, as far as our sourcing of raw materials for all our group companies is concerned, we kindly ask you to notice the following points:
Lindt & Sprüngli is one of the few chocolate makers that have complete control over every step of the production chain starting with the precise selection of the finest cocoa varieties from the best growing areas in the world right on through the careful and expert processing until ending with the elegant packaging. To safeguard the uniform and consistently high quality of all our chocolate products, all ingredients are thoroughly tested in our own laboratories before and after purchase, so that we can be sure that their quality constantly meets the highest standards.
While cocoa is currently traded at the commodity stock exchanges, superior grade cocoa beans (so called flavor beans or fine grade cocoa), as we utilize to a great extent for the manufacturing of our premium products, are purchased through traders at a substantial premium price over ordinary bulk cocoa. These finest grade cocoa beans (also called “Criollo” cocoa) can only be grown in specific geographical areas (Central and South America, Caribbean Area). While the fine grade cocoa production is a very small part of the world’s supply, it is exactly those (together with the Trinitario cocoa which is also considered as fine grade cocoa) for which Lindt & Sprüngli’s demand is very high. The remaining part of cocoa beans used by our company mainly for fillings, so called “Forastero” cocoa, are not sourced from Ivory Coast where most of the allegations about child labour originate, but from Ghana, where one of the top quality Forastero beans come from and where a premium price is paid for.
Lindt & Sprüngli is extremely concerned about possible practices of child labour and can assure you that we condemn any abusive practices. This is one of the reasons why we do not source cocoa beans from Ivory Coast. Prudent and conscientious relations with the environment and with the communities in which we live and work are important to us and enshrined in our Company Credo. In the procurement of our raw materials, great importance is therefore attached to compliance with the rules of sustainable conduct. This includes respect for social and societal aspects, such as working conditions and incomes of farmers in the growing countries, support and promotion of environmentally friendly production conditions, and payment of fair prices for raw materials which satisfy our stringent quality criteria.
In our opinion and to our regret, the existing fair trade organizations cannot continually supply us with the essential quality or quantities required. That is the reason why we refrain from the purchasing of cocoas from such organizations and look for other means of advocating responsible and sustainable dealings with our most important raw material, cocoa. As a matter of fact, there are many ways to strive for sustainable and responsible cocoa sourcing practices. This can also include individual projects and purchasing methods.
May we in particular bring the following to your attention:
The control of the overall production process from the selection of the best cocoa beans to the ready-packed product is one of the important aspects for the guarantee of the reliable premium quality of LINDT products. Another very valuable aspect is the traceability of the processed cocoa beans. For this purpose Lindt & Sprüngli subscribed to a new sourcing model in Ghana. This new procurement system contains binding guidelines between local cocoa suppliers and Lindt & Sprüngli. Within the framework of this project, Lindt & Sprüngli not only guarantees stable prices for the farmers involved, but also best quality and traceability of cocoa beans sourced in Ghana. Furthermore, Lindt & Sprüngli pays an extra-fee for those beans, which is partly allocated in favour of a foundation in charge of target-oriented social projects, the development of regional infrastructure and the continuous improvement of cocoa quality (www.sourcetrust.org). The projects supported by this foundation will be controlled by an independent, international audit committee. Lindt & Sprüngli is convinced that this purchasing strategy is a crucial prerequisite to better control the buying process of cocoa beans while at the same time countervailing local grievances in producing regions such as child labour. With this self-contained purchasing concept, which will be fully effective from 2009 onwards, Lindt & Sprüngli makes a solid contribution to the promotion of social compatible and to fair economic conditions for the cocoa farmers in Ghana. Based on the first positive results from the Ghana project, Lindt & Sprüngli is considering to extend this purchasing concept to fine-flavour cocoa beans in Latin America.
Moreover, through membership and active participation in local branch associations or international non-profit organizations such as the WORLD COCOA FOUNDATION www.worldcocoafoundation.org we support the underlying idea of sustainable cocoa growing and provide financial contributions to that end. WCF is a partnership between the cocoa-processing industry and government agencies, international associations, trade organizations, and non-Governmental Organizations. The aim of this cooperation is to safeguard stable and secure cocoa supplies. This is done by taking measures to increase revenues and re-duce harvest losses, while also securing income conditions that enable cocoa farmers in Africa, Latin America, and Asia to lead a viable and worthwhile life.
But Lindt & Sprüngli’s commitment in the areas of cocoa production and sustainability is also strengthened by our direct support of other specific projects that bring direct benefits to the countries of origin. With that aim in mind, we support, for example, the Sustainable Tree Crop Program (STCP) in West Africa as well as research projects to secure and develop cocoa cultivation and processing with a view toward the supply of high-quality raw materials.
With a share of around 70% of world cocoa production, West Africa is the key region in this regard. Yields on the cultivation and sale of cocoa are the key to the survival of a high proportion of the local farming population. The STCP was started as a pilot project primarily to improve the cocoa economy, which is based on small farming structures in the West African countries of the Ivory Coast, Ghana, Nigeria and Cameroon. The aim of STCP is to improve the economic and social welfare of small farmers and their communities, accompanied by safeguards for ecological sustainability in agriculture. The main points of action are: promotion of production and distribution of high-quality cocoa, improvement of market access and of the incomes of the small producers, development of environmentally-friendly, socially responsible and economically sustainable systems of cocoa cultivation. The projects concentrate mainly on integrated cultivation and harvest management, control of insect damages, cocoa quality improvement, the development of organizational skills and tools and the awareness of social aspects, such as child labor and diseases like AIDS. This information is passed on to the cocoa farmers primarily at the “Farmer Field Schools”, a participative training and educational scheme.
Support for scientific projects in the area of external applied botanical research is another element in the promotion of a sustainable cocoa economy: Today, the collection of genotypes of the Trinitario plant population, which became known as the “Imperial College Selections”, is among the world’s most important reference collections of genetic cocoa resources. A systematic evaluation of quality features and sensory properties is now being conducted as part of a project of the “Cocoa Research Unit” at the University of the West Indies in Trinidad with a view to future cultivation projects. Lindt & Sprüngli supports this project. The group also participates in further projects concerning applied cocoa research in South America.
It is our hope that the foregoing answers your questions and emphasizes our commitment to help establish sustainable, long-term solutions for cocoa farmers.
Yours sincerely
Creativism – a philosophy for life
Creativism… the beginnings of a new philosophy, with positive implications on social, political and economic theories.
Ok – with that amazing very creative photograph that won “Portrait of the Year 2009” by Sydney photographer Pippin Schembri – I now divert your attention to something close to my heart – for now I’m calling it “Creativism”, but it seems that “Potentialism” also fills the bill. (Click here to see Potentialist version of below)
I think you’ll find there’s nothing really new about what you’re about to read … we are all so connected that I have this feeling when you finish reading this, you’ll feel like I’ve just typed out a transcript of your own mind. I may be wrong – all of the following may make no sense to anyone other than myself… Anyway, I hope you enjoy, and please post your thoughts!
Just to clarify – this is NOT to be confused with “Creationism” which refers to a belief in a 6-day creation 6000 years ago. NO. Creativism is about CREATIVITY and the role WE play in the ONGOING CREATION PROCESS of our universe. These ideas are a work-in-progress (that I wrote one year ago and haven’t touched since) hence I thought I’d put out there. Everything in life always seems to be a work-in-progress, so carpe diem…
Creativism: a philosophy for life
Discovering your ultimate creative potential: you as your individual conscious, you as your society and you as the universe – playing your role in the creation of a future reality you desire.
What is a Creativist?
A Creativist is someone who sees Creativity as the expression of the Divine Creator present in all life and the universe. Creativity is humanity’s source of greatest pleasure, satisfaction, and act of generosity. Creativity expresses your individual consciousness and shares it with others, simultaneously expressing the collective conscious and providing avenues for your individual conscious to learn.
Expressions of Creativity:
Creativity is not only for those left-brainers; creativity is for everyone. Analyse the sources of pleasure in your life, you will probably find they involve some form of creation that you contribute to. For example:
- art of any kind: photography, draw, write,
- in numbers, in science, in business: look for creative solutions to problems
- food and wine: play with life’s little pleasures
- breathe: take pleasure in every breath, it feeds your cells and contributes to the production of new ones
- look for improvement: in every aspect of your life, each little bit of creative expression adds value
- in interior and exterior of your house, fashion, self expression
- make babies: the most amazing creation a human can make
Syncretic paradigms:
1. The purpose of life is to discover and fulfil your creative potential in a way that brings the most benefit to others.
- This is the purpose of all life
- This is “living God’s will”
- This is expressing Who You Truly Are and Who You Want To Be
- This is discovering your inner being, your intuition, and listening to it
- As Shakespeare said, “Above all things, to thyself be true”
2. We are defined not only by our separate identity, but are in fact a collective identity of humanity, of living organisms and of the universe.
- In the same way that our body is not separate from the living micro atoms that make it up
- In the same way that science describes all matter, us included, as made of the same substance: atoms, which at quantum levels flash in and out of physical existence
- In the same way the Buddhists imagine God to be everything
- In the same way Christians describe God, as three forms: the father, the son and the Holy Spirit, yet one God; simultaneously omniscient, omnipotent, and omnipresent ie all-knowing, all-powerful and present everywhere.
- These ideas do not contradict – they complement. They are each other’s missing link – the way such abstract concepts maybe by physically actualised.
3. Peace is a state of harmony, when the body, mind and spirit are united
Key principles:
4. Listen to “God”
- Thoughts – ideas, images, and words that come into your mind
- Intuition – the deep feeling inside that says ‘yes’ or ‘no’
- Omens/signs – notice the things in the world around you that you are conscious of at each particular point in time
- Words of other people – be it in conversation, a religious, fiction or nonfiction text, or a song on the radio, everything that enters your world is God communicating with you
5. Minimize fear and maximize love
- Fear leads to insecurity, hate, and greed
- Love leads to security, generosity, and kindness
6. Commit to the process not the result –
- Creative potential is infinite and there is no end. An end means a beginning, and the circle of life continues.
- Living in the present – it’s a present, a gift from God, pre-sent to you as an accumulation of all your life experiences and thoughts.
7. Realise that all problems can be solved with:
- Will – desire to solve the problem
- Honesty – about everything
- Empathy – understanding where the other is coming from
- Creativity – finding solutions
Transform and transcend:
8. Equal care for self and others
- When we understand the inseparable connectedness between ourselves and others, we realise our happiness depends on the happiness of everyone else.
- Hence our goal: to maximise our collaborative creative potential – expressing our own creativity, and encouraging others to express theirs
9. Consequences of this paradigm:
- Selfishness transforms into selflessness – I want the best for me, and since you are me, I want the best for you.
- Greed becomes generosity – I want everyone else to have as much as they can, because everyone else is me.
- Jealousy and envy becomes pride and happiness for one another – others achievements are achievements of other expressions of myself
- The concept of hate disappears – we cannot hate what is you
- Self confidence increases, as we feel other’s trying to bring us up, not put us down
- We truly put into action Jesus teaching to “do unto others as you’d have them do to yourself” (check wording + add equivilant teaching from other religions)
10. Self-reflection and self-transcendence
- Breaking down defensiveness, building up confidence to critically evaluate one’s self and acknowledge our wrongs or harms we have done to others – allow us to repent and allow them to forgive
- Rid yourself of your own grievances and any desire for vengeance for injuries inflicted by others – through empathy with the Other, we learn to forgive and move on
11. Create your own happiness
- Make the decision to be happy – it is the biggest decision you will ever make in your life.
- Begin with gratefulness, for what you have, even if it is little
- Study the past, analyse different perspectives, take lessons from it and use it to expand your creative potential
- Don’t cultivate feelings of regrets, everything has happened for a reason, figure out what that reason is, and how the past can help you in your quest for creative potential.
- Bad decisions do not exist, that is judgement you make yet instead you can realise that this results may have led you to challenging times, from which you can now learn. These consequences were a small sacrifice, part of the process of discovering your creative potential.
- Do not cultivate feelings of guilt. Guilt is of no benefit for you nor for those around you. Forgive yourself and let it go. Learn from the past, but keep your mind in the present, and an eye on the future
12. Cultivating wisdom
- Facts are never static, but are the closest statement of the truth, at a particular point in time. If the data changes, facts also change. We must remain open to new data, ready to evaluate it in order to constantly progress towards a more truthful truth.
- Taoists belief “what is impossible today may become possible tomorrow, and what is good today may become evil tomorrow; what seems right from one point of view may from another view seem completely wrong.”
13. The pleasure of extremes, and joys of balance
- Life and death, hot and cold, love and hate, good and bad – you can’t have one without the other. This is the dualistic nature of life, and I wouldn’t have it any other way. I’d prefer a passionate love, even if it sometimes slips over to hate, than a mediocre love all the time. The extremes are much more fun. Ups and downs are what make life interesting. It’s the challenges that bring the most satisfaction.
- Happiness when pushed to the extreme becomes sickly and dull. Beauty overdone becomes ugly. Even too much chocolate makes feel sick…
14. Rid your life of fear
- In the same way that millions of skin cells die every day, and yet our human body continues to live
- Our consciousness is already connected, and will continue to be connected even when the separateness of our present memory no longer functions, our consciousness will continue to live on through others – that are ourselves
15. Cultivate faith
- Faith is about cultivating a state in your heart and mind whereby you give yourself to God* – not about conforming to a set of “beliefs”
- Don’t worry, don’t struggle, allow the will of God/ the Universe to be done
- Is not about belief in hocus pocus or confession to any kind of autocratic dogma – faith is about a state of heart and mind
- Even things that seem to have no reason whatsoever, in time, you will see how it expanded your, or another’s, creative potential
16. Get in-touch with your creative side
- We ALL have one, you just have to give it a go
- Try everything, don’t be afraid of anything
- Know that time and effort are what give results; if you are prepared to invest yourself in something, you can do whatever you want to do.
In order to maximise happiness in life:
17. Right investment
(a) Of your time
- Spend it with people who motivate and encourage
- In an occupation that allows you to learn and express your creativity
- Feelings of daily happiness are essential to stimulate your creative potential
- Expanding other’s creative potential, and the creative potential of other forms of life, including the planet
- In ways that will provide maximum benefit to the most people
- Spend some time in silence, connecting to your conscious and giving it room to create; meditation, walking, driving, prayer
(b) Of your money
- Money is in fact, a cumulation of time and effort, that you have expended, and can henceforth use in exchange for others’ time and effort
- In your purchases, buying what is good for yourself and good for others
- In your financial investments, in businesses that are helping life move toward it’s creative potential
18. Not no conflict but no violence
- No circumstance ever substantiates violence
- The ideology of Creativism must never be fought for – this is against the nature of creative potential. Fighting for an ideology destroys creativity, which may be trying to morph into new forms, in which case, this is it’s achievement of creative potential.
- Fighting against nature is fighting against the will of God, that is, fighting against the deepest drive of each of us,
- Creativism seeks organic expansion through love, it is never forced or forged, but is the result of a synergy between selfish and selfless – working together for the good of all-life itself, all which is God.
19. The power of the mind
- The universe operates through spontaneous creativity, and through patterned phenomena – your role may be to contribute to either
- Thoughts are powerful in ways we don’t yet understand. We do know they are measurable on wavelengths, like radio waves, but have not tapped in to harness them yet. Experiments have shown the incredible impact of positive thoughts on plants, water molecules, and even the nature of atoms.
- Harness this power. Dream, make goals, pray, meditate, make them reality.
20. The power for world peace lies with you
- Each of us have, together, the power to change the world
- All it takes is a vision: what do we want the world to look like?
- And then in each of us the will to reconnect with our life’s purpose and play out our roles in this transformation.
- It begins with finding the peace within ourselves.
- Anything is possible!
A brief note about the word “Creativism”:
I’m not sure how this term first came into my head but when I googled it I discovered it was a term being used by a few people to describe a similar concept of what I wanted to use it to describe. There is even a definition in the Urban Dictionary: Creativism = ‘The theory or practice of creation as a way to live and understand life’ and a Creativist = ‘someone who is attuned creatively to their surroundings; a person who understands and expresses their life through creative works or motifs.’
Anyway if you have got through this essay then I have to say I’m extremely impressed. Six pages of babbling… anyway I would really really really love to know what you think. So please make a comment or send me an email.
Thank you!!!
Juliet xxx
Love Is
“Love Is”
by Juliet Bennett
Love is
lost in eye’s oceans
butterflies
a deep breathe
unknowns potentials
innocent bliss
Love is
innate desire
a constant distraction
unexplainable energy
a potent seduction
soft lip’s tender kiss
Love is
beyond your control
the wish of “God”
ecstasy and utopia
never what you expect
always forever
My first blog
At the moment so much is happening every day that I feel like three days fit into one.
This morning I finish uploading the basics of this website and “took the next step” – announcing it on facebook. Facebook is interesting – with the click of a few buttons you can make a public announcement to almost everyone you know or have even randomly met somewhere along your life’s journeys.
My sister never changed her “status” to “in a relationship” until one week ago AFTER she got engaged. Her and her new man decided to “take the next step” and pronounce their love to their worlds. I’m still yet to try out twitter – I wonder if that will be as addictive as facebook…
I felt proud as I hit the SHARE button. Even if Mr Stark did all the hard yards with getting me a good theme, the widgets tools, and fixing errors. It may be a year later than originally promised, but this site is much better than it would have been a year ago. This did mean I didn’t blog my trip to South America although I think the adventures that culminated in that trip will be best captured in a travel novel I’m working on. 500 pages of random notes! It’s overwhelming but I do get so excited every time I sit down to write… sitting on my bed with my computer in my lap I can close my eyes and be exploring Inca ruins in Peru, back on the 4wd Bolivian salt-lake tour with five gorgeous Brazilian men, or laying on the beaches of Bahia eating the fruits of paradise. Mmmmm mmmm…. South America. I’m in LOVE!
Ok, I promised myself that after setting up the basics of this website I would get into my uni readings. I read the two shortest articles for the week (only 5 long ones to go) – and then I realised I needed to order business cards today or else I wouldn’t have them for my exhibition next Tuesday. Then some work for my Dad business, and on my way home I… NEARLY DIED. Literally – I’m not just making this up to add excitement to my first blog entry.
So I was turning right off a main road and judging the distance between the oncoming traffic I decided there was space to go. Suddenly there was a big white van approaching my right hand side at an alarming speed. I pressed down on the accelerator and swerved to my left. The driver saw me and slowed down and swerved to his left. We missed each other, and missed the traffic that was approaching. My heart skipped a beat and is now a couple of hours later, still beating faster than normal. Thank you my Guardian Angel – I owe you one – AGAIN…
With a renewed appreciation for life I got home and relived our travel tradition – cooked tuna in it’s tin. And since this is a photo blog and I have to upload a photo to each blog entry so that it works, I thought I’d upload a shot of my tuna and share this tip given to me by my Israeli friend Liran Katzir on the road from Pucon in Chile, to Bariloche in Argentina – two stunning lakes and mountains districts where I had so say goodbye to my Brazilian lover (for the time being) and hello to the long road south.
Ok, so here’s the best traveler’s trick of the book:
1. buy tuna IN OIL
2. cut a square of paper towel (toilet paper will also suffice if you can stomach that idea)
3. soak the square in the oil and light the corners
4. watch the flames for 20 minutes
5. remove the paper, take a fork and enjoy!!!
Also good for lazy nights. Tonight I teamed it with a raw carrot (while waiting – 20 min is a long time when you are hungry), sweet potato and broccoli and corn – all cooked very lazily in the microwave… and Bob’s your uncle – dinner is done. Ok it’s not so glamorous but it does the job. Don’t get me wrong – I love to cook. In fact I cook for my grandfather all the time. But seriously, this tuna tastes great. And well, the vegies are good for you and with a little salt and pepper it tastes pretty alright too.
People and Portraits
South Americans are different. There’s some powerful energy inside of them unlike any other people. The eyes of these children say it all.
“A Little Inspiration for a Big Idea”
The Art Tree Exhibition – my series is called “A Little Inspiration for a Big Idea”…
The little inspiration
The Theory of Evolution is a HUGE idea. But like all ideas, it starts with one thing: a little inspiration. Something happens to you: a feeling, a thought, divine inspiration? Over time this develops, culminating in an idea which if it’s a good one, can change the world forever.
Darwin took over twenty years to transform his thoughts into the massive idea unleashed into the world in The Origin of Species. The year 2009 is The Year of Darwin, the 150-year anniversary of his theory’s publication. This series explores the origins of Darwin’s idea to explore his greatest inspiration: The Galapagos Islands.
1JB – “My little friend” on Isabela.
I flew to this island in the front seat of a tiny seaplane and roamed the island for what felt like days but was only a few hours. Alone with nature. This island is heaven. Marine Iguanas were everywhere – but it was this little Lava Lizard, so colourful and curious, that won my heart.
2JB – “Anything is possible” on Isla Bartolome.
I was standing with the tour group at the top of a volcano when Rachel pointed and mouthed “LOOK B E H I N D YOU”. I turned, and there it was, sitting on the rail. I stood and stared. This Galapagos Eagle was BEAUTIFUL. I took one photo, ten, and as it flew away I caught this shot. Freedom.
3JB – “Family life” on San Cristobal.
We spent three days and nights hanging out with the locals – Ecuadorian boys, English teachers, and Galapagos Sea Lions. At the local beach they welcome you to join their family of countless females and babies and one token attention-seeking male boss. Just watching their family relationships you realize we really are not so different after all. 3000 people live on this San Cristobal. You can too if you marry a local… and people do!
4JB – “Cancerian decor” on Plazas Sur.
There nothing little about these Sally Lightfoot Crabs – at least relative to their body… just look at their giant claws and bulging eyes!!! These bright coloured creatures, also known as ‘Red Rock Crabs’ are scattered all over the seaside rocks like Christmas lights on a tree. Sometimes animated and full of life, and seemingly playing dead – much like the Cancers I know (I’m one of them.)
5JB – “Kiss and cuddles” on Santa Fe.
I used to think if I had to be a different animal I would be a dog, or maybe a bird. But now I know what I want to come back as in my next life. These Galapagos Sea Lions are the most affectionate creatures on this planet. Sure the have their family domestics, but they always make up with kisses and cuddles.
6JB – “Old souls” on Santa Cruz.
The Galapagos Giant Tortoise has the aura of a very old very wise man. These beautiful ancient reptiles move very slowly, eat slowly, sleep 16 hours a day, and live like this for more than 100 years (the oldest recorded age is 152 years.) These majestic creatures have a ‘mutual symbiotic relationship’ with the finch –stretching out their necks for the bird to eat off ticks – an easy meal for the bird and no more parasites for them.
8JB – “Happy as Larry” on Santa Fe.
Feeling like Alice in Wonderland I wandered down a little path to have lunch with Larry the Land Iguana. He was hungry. Just one, I said to myself, unable to resist. I “accidentally” plucked a flower and put it on the step in front of Larry. As if in slow motion first his eyes motioned to the yellow petals. His head followed, then one foot and then the next. He scooped down, his tongue popped out and LICK… the flower was gone. Then he lifted his head and smiled at me. I got this shot, and hurried along in a vain attempt to catch up to my group.
7JB – “Curiosity killed the cat” on Santa Fe.
I got in trouble for taking this photo. I was crouched in the bushes observing this little Darwin Finch hopping here and there, engaging with me curiously. Finally I stood only to find my friends and tour group were nowhere to be seen. Still able to see our boat I didn’t panic, instead wandered up a pathway. The search party found me… eventually.
9JB – “Contemplating life” on San Cristobal.
I relate to this baby Galapagos Sea Lion. He is tired. Who isn’t? Life can be tough. Learning to walk. Learning to think. Learning to eat. Leraning to do this, do that, but why? All this “stuff” that requires energy and effort. Sometimes we all have follow this baby’s example: pause, rest our chins on a rock and think, “what is this life really all about?”
So… Why Galapagos?
Galapagos formed 5million years ago by underwater volcanoes that rose to the surface creating 20 or so rocky islands and over 40 tiny islets. These islands are in Ecuador, located 1000km from the mainland (about a 1.5 hour flight). There are over 300 plant and animal species that are unique to the islands, and evidence of evolution can be seen everywhere with each island inhabited by plant and animal life different from the rest. Plants and animals began to evolve there 2-million years ago after seeds, insects and plant spores were carried over in the wind and with birds, while larger animals such as the iguanas are suspected to have arrived on floating vegetation. Because they have sent this time with no predators around them, the animals have no fear toward humans and they go about their day as if you were one of them.
Our connection to the animals
As I took these photographs, and at times when I sat on a beach simply observing their family life, eating habits and the ways they communicate with each other, I felt a sense of unity with them. I could understand why these animals would challenge any belief in human superiority above other forms of life. I found myself contemplating my relationship to the other creatures of this planet: are they just there for the benefit of humans – to admire and eat? Or is there something more?
Darwin’s finches
It was the variety of finches collected from the various islands that demonstrated natural selection in action. Darwin discovered that the bird’s beaks would evolve to be longer or shorter, weaker or stronger, thinner or thicker, depending on the food sources available on the island for example large hard seeds led to nature preferring birds with a long strong beak while small soft seeds gave preference to small more flexible beaks. Darwin analysed his specimens and noticed differences between different islands, asking himself: did God create these in 6 days, or had something else occurred?
Controversy
In the last 150 years, people in western societies have faced a confronting dilemma: do I believe in creation or do I believe in evolution? It’s often presented as if we have to make a choice: religion or science. Either: an all-powerful “God” created us, or we evolved from an empty void of nothing and there is no God.
This polarized debate distorts the real issue. If we were “created in God’s image” but also evolved from animals, then might we simply have to broaden our idea of what “God” actually looks like? Could science and religion be talking about the same energy behind life, but in different languages? Could the two in essence believe in the same thing, but be talking about it in different ways – some choosing to personify the energy, and others preferring to scientify it? Might “God” be a personification of the quantum energies that create themselves out of nothing? If this is so, then what part do we now have to play in the ongoing evolution of our species, our planet and our universe?
Check out the other twenty artists collaborating for this exhibition at: www.thearttree.com.au
Alchemy
Exhibiting at Manning Artspace, Sydney University – July 2009-December 2009.
The title of the series, Alchemy, was inspired by Paolo Cuelo’s The Alchemist; a four-part series taken over a three-month journey around South America. The first shot of the series was the one in Huacachina – sand dunes in the south of Peru. Not knowing yet quite what I was onto, I played around with the asana Urdhva Dhanurasana, also known as Chakrasana, Upward Bow, Wheel, Backbend or “The Crab” – which, seeing as my starsign is Cancer, is probably the most appropriate – in the salt-lakes of Bolivia, after a fashion shoot in Argentina and finally on the beaches of Brazil.
“Never stop dreaming”
Uyuni Salt Lakes, Bolivia
Standing on one cm of water on top of a lake of salt, these clouds surrounded me in every direction – it was the most breath-taking experience of my life. Levi Martins, one of the boys in my 4wd took this. I got a bit wet, slipping as I tried to stand up… but it was worth it. This shot represents to me the power of dreams, and the incredible way that everything you dream, everything you ask the universe for, will come true. Never stop dreaming.
“Everything in life is an omen”
Huacachina, Peru
As the sun was setting following an afternoon of sand boarding in dunes of Huacachina near Ica in the south of Peru, we dove off the mounds of sand, performing handstands, cartwheels and finally the driver of our buggy snapped this shot of me in what would soon become a signature pose. Looking for signs and following intuitions, allow us to connect to the thoughts and actions of ourselves and others’ past, present and future. These omens led me to Huacachina, and the omens uncovered in Huacachina, including this photo, had significant impacts on my trip and on my future. Everything in life is an omen.
“When you want something, all the universe conspires to help you achieve it.”
Buenos Aires, Argentina
Facilitated with an exchange of facebook details at a youth hostel, this shot followed a spontaneous fashion shoot with Columbian fashion photographer Gustavo Moreno. I stole the blue scarf from around my friend’s neck and inside the phonebook of a convenience store I created this fun little outfit and requested Gustavo to take this shot. Cars stopped (and tooted) and after many tries we got the shot (an my muscles ached for days!). This is my favourite of the series – I think because it was the most difficult to create. It is true that when you want something, anything, all the universe conspires to help you achieve it.
Photographer: © 2009 Gustavo Tomás Moreno T. (YACO)
“He had not a cent in his pocket, but he had faith.”
Florianapolis, Brazil
Words cannot describe the appreciation that the Brazilians have for life. They smile, they laugh, and in their bright coloured clothes they walk as if music is pumping through their veins. At the beach, whether wealthy or homeless, people share the pleasures of warmth, water and sand; together clapping and cheering the sun’s final glorious moments as it retires for the day. Brazilians live in a way that seems much more connected with “God”, or the “Universal Soul”, the mysterious unknowns behind life, than most people I know. By living in the moment rather than worrying about what the next day will bring (whether by choice or default) the Brazilians’ energy, attitude and lifestyle represented to me the most beautiful expression of real deep faith. They have not a cent in their pockets, but they have faith.
For the exhibition I printed them to 15 x 40 inch (381 x 1016mm), mounted them on 9mm craftwood with black melamine edging and finished them off with a cold satin lamination. Wanting to spread the love I priced them at $240, and happy to sell them over the internet for the same price + postage costs.
Sud Americana Landscapes
Galapagos is not the only awe-inspiring place in Latin America. Here are some of the most mind-blowing sights that with my camera I did it’s best to capture…
Uyuni Salt-Lakes, Bolivia 
Lake Titicaca, Bolivia
El Calefate, Patagonia
Iguazu Falls
Salvador, Brasil
Rio de Janeiro, Brasil
Early days
Some of my stuff from a few years back. Most of these are from Paris and London. I can’t hardly remember the feeling of having a shaved head… it was liberating, that’s for sure.
An Ethical Dilemma: Childhood Conversion in Christian Fundamentalism
My MA Dissertation completed in June 2009. I got a HD… pretty ridiculously stoked!!!
Abstract
The rise of religious fundamentalisms and the implications of the dividing polarity are a topic of increasing attention in scholarly literature. The induction of new generations into opposing world-views is a structural violence deeply embedded in widespread education and parenting systems. The implications of this phenomenon and in particular that the childhood conversion into fundamentalists’ paradigms, range from psychological abuse to global threats driven by religious-identity ideologies. This paper approaches the topic as a dilemma: the pure intentions and passionate beliefs of fundamentalists, with violent consequences on individuals, society, and the world.
Extensive religious and secular scholarship and Australian case studies provide a basis for analysis and evaluation of this ethical dilemma. Perspectives of children, parents, fundamentalist leaders, and society, are examined and theoretical and practical solutions explored. A breach of the Convention of the Rights of the Child is identified and ways of increasing education on religion and decreasing incidences of indoctrination are discussed. In order for a child to truly exercise their right to freedom of religion, it is the education of fundamentalist parents and leaders that is crucial. The paper concludes with an introduction to recent United Nations initiatives that look towards such solutions. Spreading awareness of the ethical dilemma is the first step to addressing this structural violence and its significant consequences.
Keywords: fundamentalism; evangelism; fundamentalist Christianity; childhood conversion; religious education; indoctrination; transmission of faith; spiritual abuse; independent Christian schools; interfaith dialogue; Convention of Rights of the Child; UNESCO; peace education; Global Agenda for Dialogue among Civilisations; Framework of Action on Education for Peace, Human Rights and Democracy.
Enchanted Isles
This show will be exhibited in Sydney in November 2009, as the “Year of Darwin” (the 150 year anniversary of Origin of Species and Darwin’s 200 year birthday), comes to a close.
Darwin was 26 years old when he undertook his paradigm shattering expedition in the Galapagos and around South America. I too was 26 when I followed Darwin’s footsteps on what would be my own paradigm shifting adventure….
University and the Universe
I wrote this poem just after I finished writing my dissertation. As you can see, it nearly killed me…
A short biography
This is a short summary of the twenty-seven years I have spent on this planet – giving you some background to where my philosophies and theories are coming from.
1982
I was born
at 630am on 6 July 1982 during the longest Luna Eclipse of the 20th century. That makes me a Cancer and a Dog, which do tend to describe me quite accurately, and the Luna Eclipse, 
well, I’m not sure if that has any significance but it’s pretty cool.
1982-1984
I spent my first two years in Jakarta, Indonesia and traveling the world. The adventurous nature of my Dutch mum and Aussie dad seeded in me a passion for travel and I think the lovely Indonesian ladies who looked after me as a baby probably seeded in me a love for people and cultures.
1984- 1999
Returning to Sydney my sister was born and I spent the next 15 years in a Northern Beaches suburb attending a small Christian school five minutes from my house. I excelled at my HSC (94 UAI!) but I don’t feel as if I learned all that much.
1999- 2002
At 17 (the youngest in my grade) I followed my Dad’s advice and went straight to the closest university to my house and for the next three years I completed by Bachelor of Business (Distinction!) but again, with majors in Marketing and IT, I really didn’t feel I learned that much.
2002- 2004
I was 20 when I finished uni and after a couple of years working and saving I left Australia to “see the world”.
2004-2005
After a short holiday in Thailand I landed in Japan where I stayed for the year and a half that followed. Here I taught English, “acted” in TV shows, short films & commercials, and did my first on-stage parade – in lingerie!
This was a dream come true. When hairdressers turned my hair yellow, green and purple I shaved it off and was surprised when this opened an opportunity to further my dreams – in PARIS!
2006
I modeled in Paris, Berlin, Vienna, Italy, Spain, and LA. And in-between jobs I traveled around, met wonderful people and gained a new perspective and appreciation for life.
Feeling homesick for family, mangoes, beaches and everything else that comes with the Australian summer I made a rash decision: I canceled my 1 year plans for Europe, canceled my return trip to Tokyo, and booked a ticket home, turning up on mum’s doorstep on Christmas Eve.
2007
With an apartment in Tokyo and modeling agencies awaiting my return in Europe, I had some decisions to make. My Dad was in my ear with the typical fatherly “time to get a real job” speech and approaching 25 years old I (nearing retirement age for models) I had a quarter-life crisis and thought for a moment he was right. Selling advertising space for fashion magazines sounded like a good job that involved both but at the interviewer it was one little comment the interviewer made that changed my life. He said, “And you know what the BEST thing about this job is? When you see the digits on your bank statement!!!” He said it with such enthusiasm. My insides curdled and I knew it wasn’t for me. But if not this, then what?
Photography? Fitness instructing? That would be a good life. My grandfather (91 years old) had a fall and I offered to move in as I “skilled up” as I called it. I assisted some fashion photographers, did part-time modeling in Sydney and became a qualified pilates instructor. I also got lost on wikipedia and in library books – teaching myself the things I’d either forgotten from my schooling, or never been taught. I was teaching myself a lot about science, history and religion – revisiting my childhood “faith” in the Christian doctrines, trying to reconcile it with my developing understanding and experience with the peoples and cultures of the world.
2008-2009
Realising I was never going to join the corporate world (much to my Dad’s disappointment) I took the time to go back to university and skill up more formally. Then I came across ”Peace and Conflict Studies” at Sydney Uni, applied for a MA which I did leisurely over the two years, making use of uni holidays to travel South America last Christmas, which I am using to write a book about travel, life, love and contemplating the future.
2010 and beyond
I love learning so much that I submitted a PhD proposal on the Narratology of Peace approved to start mid-year. Yeah, I might be a bit crazy. But you gotta aim for the stars!
Through this blog I hope to share this spiritual, mental and physical journey I continue along in my quest for peace and understanding about myself and my place in the universe – traveling, researching, thinking and creating. I thank you for sharing my journey and I hope to share your journey too.