November 19, 2003
Ojai, California, USA
8:54am. Last night I started a new page called "Seeking... I found!" ...that shares the best of what I've found in books, movies, through listening to people and anything else. It's the solomax digest of the stuff I didn't author. There are as many truths as there are people. These ring true for me.
I'm a quarter through Ishmael, a classic novel by Daniel Quinn, published in 1992. At J-tree, two other climbers were reading it as well. Or, correction, one of them was reading "My Ishmael" which is basically the same story, just shared differently I'm told. Lynne gave me this copy. Alice passed My Ishmael to Carol. It's that type of book; people who read it are keen to pass it on. The below paragraph sums up what I've read from Ishmael thus far:
"What have people been told that keeps them from becoming excited, that keeps them relatively calm when they view the catastrophic damage they're inflicting on this planet?"
"I don't know."
"They've been told an explaining story. They've been given and explanation of how things came to be this way, and this stills their alarm. This explanation covers everything including the deterioration of the ozone layer, the pollution of the oceans, the destruction of the rain forests, and even human extinction-and it satisfies them. Or perhaps it would be more accurate to say that it pacifies them. They put their shoulders to the wheel during the day, stupefy themselves with drugs and television at night, and try not to think too searchingly about the world they're leaving their children to cope with."
On that note... I'm starting to learn more about permaculture, which is just a fancy word for good design... taking into account the environment and living within it sustainably.
As a child, walking beside the grocery kart down the Co-op isle, I asked for Frosted Flakes and Apple Jacks... but mom never bought them. We ate whole grains. Dad grew a large garden. I was lucky, but I didn't think so being force to finish soggy greens so many nights at the table after dark, thinking of ways to seek them out the window. We always composted and passed around hand-me-downs. Buying co-op, living off the land, recycling, being creative--- these are all permacuture too I suppose.
We didn't have a TV for a long time; not until I was in second grade. I played outside, taking long walks on the beach, miles away from home. I'd return home for supper and nobody would ever know the huge adventure I'd experience. My parents never said, "Don't go past the end of the driveway." Even as a little kid, like five or six years old, I was free roaming the forest. I grew up without fear of what was "out there." I had space. I felt safe. Mine was a much different world than that for a kid in the inner city. What would permaculture mean for them?
This past weekend was eventful. Friday night I attended a Seeds of Peace workshop at Monica Ros School, hosted by Catherine Amondi Ayieko Clark, who founded Heal House. She used a lot of dolls, and taught songs and games. It was a room full of ladies, with just one other man in his late 60's. A couple weeks ago, I attended a social worker craft workshop, was the only male.
These are quotes I picked up at the Teaching Peace workshop:
The art of teaching is the art of discovery. The teacher is the one who points the way to wisdom. The use of imagination is absolute power. - J. Krishnamurti
Imagination is evidence of the divine. - William Blake
All learning happens beyond unexplored territories. - Nelson Mandela
All that we are is a result of what we have thought. - Buddha
Saturday, I tripped with a crew of farmies down to LA to hook-up with the Sustainable Solutions Caravan, a mobile educational and information exchange regarding issues of sustainability, responsible technologies, organic farming, and ecological preservation. They have two fully outfitted school buses running on vegetable oil headed to Costa Rica and the goal is to create networks to share experiences and ideas. Steve, who organized the trip, owns Punta Mona center in Costa Rica, which is like what I have in mind for The FAR OUT School in Mexico.
We partied hard core that night at an artist squat in Topanga Canyon. It was Daisy's birthday. She was a laugh, singing crazy drunken songs. I got some funny-ass video of her giving a young friend advice. She and her man James open their art studio, had a fire pit outside and a DJ dance scene in front of a fireplace in an abandon house. It was hot. Those people rocked. It was down home country-style, but with LA just over the hill. They've been there a long time, but the place is being bulldozed and taken by the parks service. Several of us Farmies crashed in a bed together, and then in the morning walked Venice Beach vendor scene and had lunch at Mao's Kitchen.
hey Cory, i'll call you Max if you prefer. My name's Chris John (chrisjohn.org). A guy in Portland,Me. i bumped into about a month ago mentioned you and told me about your website. it's very impressive, congratulations on doing "it". i don't want to build up any suspense. i'm not some millionaire who wants to make a movie about your life, unfortunately. i just thought if our paths cross someday it would be cool to hang out. i try to check my email and keep a weekly update of my whereabouts on my website (it's nowhere near as slick as yours) and if your interested i'll check your site once in a while and see if we're in the same area. i've been traveling "solo" for about the last 7 years. right now, me and my four-legged side-kick, Job, are headed for the northern coast of Florida, via my thumb just until we get out of the New England winter from there we're walking to L.A. we'll probably get there sometime next spring. take care, be safe, and live, bro. peace, CJ and Job
Maximo-- How are you? I read through your site this morning- Loved, Loved, Loved the path of possessions! What a crazily endearing and inspiring concept! I dig the dragonfly workshop- you mentioned that last time you cruised through Austin- Is it prospering? I also like the new look on the site front page- As always you're changing and it's good! I had the pleasure of reading your journal entry on The Lazy Man Guide to Enlightenment- Wayne passed it around to several people. It provided the right inspiration and rememberance at exactly the right time for me.
We are all very well- I'm still enjoying the life of being home with my children and slowly moving towards the challenge of balancing work to pay the bills and being with my children as much as possible. Ryan went back to Colorado a few months ago because he just couldn't enjoy the Austin scene. We've (Logan, Bodhi, and I) moved into a nicer and cheaper apartment that has every element I wrote down that I wanted! Life is generous to me as always. Being a single mom of two is twice as challenging but infintely rewarding. I've had much time and desire to contemplate the state of our world since I had Bodhi and the most important conclusion I've reached is that my purpose for this life is to advocate for a better life for all mothers, fathers, and children (which ultimately includes every being walking this earth). I am very disturbed that in the most "abundant" country on earth, with the greatest potential, our society and government has conditioned us to believe that the best way to educate a person, is to send the mother back to work 5 weeks after birth, so that she spends on average 50 hours a week, away from her children, pays someone else on average, half of what she makes to take care of them, the other half barely covering basic needs and leaving no money or time leftover for furthering education, or playing with her children-- doing this for 18 years, at which time and sadly, often much sooner than 18 now, the parents, teachers, congressmen, and preachers all turn their fingers on each other and say "What happened? We gave him/her everything and look at who s/he is? It's YOUR fault!!!" Fuck that man!!! There's no Fault- only an incredible opportunity to do something so amazingly special and important that it can no longer be dismissed as merely "Well, that's just the way it is." I don't and won't subscribe to this philosophy. I am staying home and raising my children and preparing them to embark on their own exciting jouneys one day. And I am committed to doing whatever it takes to do this.
I know you've met many single moms/parents on your journeys. There are so many of us out there- We are living the most profound human experience, that of creating life, and agreeing to love, serve, honor, protect, and guide these amazing souls on the beginning of their journey here on earth. Why is this not revered in our society? What can be done to raise awareness about parenting? And also implement the necessary changes to create consistent positive growing moments (as we are all striving to live in the NOW)for our beautiful children?
I'm telling you this for a few reasons. To let you know what's going on with me- To share information because often when talking to inspiring people, revelations abound. To request a shout out for my latest project. I've decided, and you've told me this many times, that one of the best ways to provide for my children and be with them as many moments as possible, is to be the writer I've been hiding from all my life. But you know me, I'm a true Gemini, and just being a writer will not satisfy or keep the curious twins from boredom very long. I also have to feed the humanitarian, artist, designer, teacher, mage, student, mother, healer, woman, angel and the project I want to do integrates all these roles quite smoothly for me. I'm working with a web designer for a two part website dedicated to empowerment and manifestation- What I want to do is compile various manifestation methods and issue a challenge to people to try one or many, and then send me their story about what happened after making a conscious choice to live their realities instead of surviving them. I'm looking for action not reaction, and as your friend stated, evolutionaries instead of revolutionaries! As cliche as it is, I want to hear people's hopes and fears, laughs and tears, and create a forum to share our dreams and successes. I want the second part to be dedicated entirely to single parents and their stories, struggles, and accomplishments. Then I want to somehow, turn this all into a book. And along the way, see what the journey teaches me. (and hopefully, eventually gifts me!)
What do you think? Can you help? Can you mention it on your website? Until I have a site up and going, I just want general stories pertaining to the above thoughts sent to my email address: empoweredliving@yahoo.com
or home address: Samantha @ 2901 Barton Skyway #1509, Austin, TX 78746
Once I have enough material, the website will appear and Goddess willing this will be some big fun! I'm already thinking that in a forum dedicated to manifestation of dreams, the energy of all the people working together will produce some amazing results. I recently had the epiphany that it is necessary to have help, if only one more person, manifesting your desires. A few of my girlfriends and I tried it out on the lunar eclipse, full moon the other night- We all voiced out loud our intentions together, and affirmed each other and things are already happening in less than a week! My world is magical and I'm in love with it!
Well MAX, I have so much to tell you but this is a lot already! Let me know what you think- Much love to you and wopila from my heart for not only following your personal legend but inspiring others to as well.... *NAMASTE* Samantha* one more thing- i finally got my angel wings on All Saints Day this year! see the picture below- and Bodhi- well he's just more beautiful every day
ps again- Samantha's Soapbox of the Week- a man recently told me he wanted to marry me and wanted to know what sort of diamond I wanted to which I replied- "The man that I choose to marry knows that I will never accept a diamond" and here's why- if you haven't read about the diamond mines yet take a minute to do so-
In the photographs below (http://www.sparkle.plus.com/children.html) you can see children working in two different kinds of Indian workshops. The one on the sight was a large factory like building - the one on the left is the more typical. They sit on the floor by their diamond cutting wheels, legs next to fast spinning belts and wheels. As half a diamond may be ground away during the cutting and polishing process, everything gets covered in black diamond dust - and the workers breathe it in. Hardly any machines were fitted with dust filters - or with guards to protect from the machinery. India classifies diamond cutting as one of its most hazardous occupations.
They are paid so badly that they have to borrow from the workshop owner to visit home. They then are not allowed to change jobs until the debt is repaid - so they have to pay whatever pay they are offered - and they are not offered enough to repay their debt. They are trapped. They have fallen into "debt bondage" , a UN recognised form of slavery. In 2002 they were paid on average just 25c American per diamond cut and polished. They cut on average about 4 to 6 diamonds a day. About 90% of the world's gem diamonds are cut in India - many in workshops employing these children.
Yet they have cost on average about 25c to be cut and polished - and from $2 to $12 for every 1/10th of a gram (a carat) to be mined.
This is one of the buildings in which they live inside De Beers security perimeter. Its floor was so rotten that bed legs went through it - forcing the miners to put their matresses on the floor.
The miners complained to me that many of them did not even have matresses - this diamond miner was using sheets of cardboard. This was at a mine owned by Canadians.
Winds blow dust storms into the mine down these tunnels, sometimes miners cannot see more than a yard ahead. Their shop stewards told me they are given a "nosebag", a piece of tissue with loops to go around the ears. This gets black with dust in about 20 minutes - but they have to wait a year until they can get a replacement. Unfortunately for the miners, asbestos ore naturally occurs inside diamond mines. Diamonds are sometimes found sitting in asbestos - and deadly asbestos dust is everywhere. The mine's ventilation system has frequently broken down - all with disasterous long term consequences for the health of De Beers's diamond mineworkers. For too long diamonds have been sold to us as tokens of human love
By an Industry that employs as Diamond Cutters Children working in dangerous conditions, often in debt bondage; That gravely endangers the lives of thousands of African miners; That buys "blood diamonds" that fund wars; that fixes the prices of cheap diamonds at sky high levels; In which this beautiful crystal has become tainted. Join the campaign to purify diamonds and make them worthy of being our engagement stones! by Author Janine F. Roberts at http://www.sparkle.plus.com/koffie2.html
