Survey for upcoming project. Please partake.

Dear All,

I am conducting a survey for a project soon to be revealed and would appreciate you answering the following questions. You can leave your answers in the comments section below or email them to me using the link in the 'About Me' section in the side bar.

1. How do you feel when you open the mailbox and find personal mail from a loved one (i.e. not bill, bank statement or flyer, etc)?

2. When last did you receive a personal letter, card, gift, etc in the mail?

3. Do you send personal snail mail to loved ones? (If yes or no) Why? 

4. Would you like to receive more personal snail mail? (If yes or no) Why?

Are you comfortable with any or all of your answers being used online as part of the project? (N.B. It is a reputable and inspiring project with which I'm sure you would like to be associated. You will know what it is before your answer is used).

If yes, please let me know how you would like your name to be shown online (e.g. Sally Jones, Sally, S. Jones, S.J.)

Thanks.

Elspeth

50 Questions

A friend sent me this link today: http://tinyurl.com/yaxd7mt

I found the questions interesting. Pick one and answer it in the comments section below.

Will you do me a favour, sil vous plaît?

(I say s'il vous plaît in honour of the fact that French classes started back last night. I am now in Level 3A).

Click on the link (to the top of the side bar on the right) that says 'Click here to e-mail me' and send me a test e-mail.

I want to see if it works and to know what you see when you do it. Someone told me once they were trying to use it and every time they clicked, another female name would come up (e.g. Amanda) and they would actually get into Amanda's e-mail inbox.

Then recently someone said she was sending me an e-mail with some information and I never got it. When next we communicated I reminded her to send it and she said she had sent it, using the e-mail me link from the blog. But clearly it never got to me.

So I just want to know if (a) you see my name/email address popping up when you click on that link and (b) I want to see if your e-mail gets to me.

Thanks.

Whatever became of The Dream Tree?

Remember back in May when we placed a multitude of our dreams (which had been deposited in the Dream House window lamp) into a hole in the earth and planted a Flambouyant sapling (the Dream Tree) in that hole in this special tree planting ceremony?

Well, yesterday I went hiking back up to that spot with three friends: Wayne (who owns the estate), Nic and Simone ... to see how the Dream Tree and the other tree (which we had named the Protector) were doing.

I am happy to report that our dreams are alive, lush, vibrant, healthy and flourishing!
Interestingly, the Dream Tree is actually growing in the form of two trees (a forked tree) coming from one base stem. Harmony, togetherness, unity, balance, connection. As Nic or one of the others pointed out: "It is growing so well because of all the Love that went into it from all of us that day." Indeed, a lot of positive energy and healing vibes went into the planting of this special living monument to our dreams. As such, it has a fantastic energy to it. The kind of tree that you cannot resist hugging, touching and/or kissing. (For more photos from that auspicious May day of planting our dreams, see here).

Wayne stands next to the Dream Tree to show proportion. When we planted it in May it was just a few inches above our ankles. Note how lush the surrounding vegetation is with all the rain we've been having. When we planted the trees in May, that area was practically bare.
(l. to r.) Nic, Simone, Wayne, me.
N.B. The Dream Tree in the background between Simone and Wayne.
Perhaps because it was planted in a less moist area, the other tree (The Protector) is much smaller than the Dream Tree. Nevertheless, it is healthy and growing well, at its own pace.
This (which reminds me of a waterfall cascading down a sheer mountainside) is the wax that dripped from the candle we had lit (symbol of light for our dreams) when were planting the Dream Tree. Imagine about 2 - 3 months later the wax is still there on the moss, looking as fresh as if it had happened yesterday.

Where are you going now?

Jasper claims my suitcase. Ears back, eyes slightly flattened means he's not too pleased about my departure. "Where are you going now?" He thinks that if he sits on (or in) the suitcase I won't be able to go anywhere. I'll most likely return to find the usual welcome home gift of a dismembered animal carcass somewhere in my bedroom.
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Dear All,

From tomorrow (Sunday) through the next three weeks (to July 21st) I will be away. Not overseas, but inland and incommunicado. I was one of the (ten) writers from the Caribbean selected to be a part of this year's Cropper Foundation writers' retreat ... so that's where I'll be.

The retreat is on the coast. I don't think we'll have internet access and, even if we do, I won't be using it. Neither will I be using my cellular phone. I'll use the opportunity for its intended purpose - simply to write, away from the everyday 'distractions' of the civilized world.

A snippet from Lily (haven't touched it in months)

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During this time I won't be blogging. Possibly the longest I've gone without it since starting. Sounds like some kind of drug fix. Maybe there will be some withdrawal symptoms ... but that's okay. The energy will go into whatever I am writing. Maybe I will continue and complete the refining of 'Lily' ... or maybe something completely new will grab me and sweep me away in a huge flood of inspiration. I will be open to whatever comes ...

My purchase at the market a few mornings ago. The only thing I didn't eat was the melongene.
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Cooked meals are being provided. So I told the organisers about the raw foodism and they were very understanding and accommodating. They said I can use their juicer and blender (rather than having to bring my own), fruits and vegetables will be provided with every meal and the 'House Mother' will go and buy extra fruits and veg for me as I need them. I will bring my extras: the nuts, seeds for sprouting, whatever supplements, etc. It will be my first time away from my home environment since being raw, so it could be challenging in ways ... but I may go with the flow and eat other things if I feel like. It's not Nazi Germany.

3 weeks of surrender, flexibility and openness.

Blogger has a feature (scheduled posts) which allows you to write posts ahead of time, set them at an intended date and they will be published automatically while you are away. I was thinking of using that feature, to keep the blog going while I am gone ... but I think I will leave it as is ... dormant for the time frame.

There's a lot here already and even more over at the original blog, Now is Wow. Feel free to stop by and explore any time you feel like.

So, my friends, until 21 July or thereabouts, keep well, be safe, be happy.

Elspeth

What makes you spring back to life?

Looking down into the backyard:
Ylang Ylang tree on left, orange tree on right, sapodilla tree (with dream catcher) to the back.
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This morning I looked down into the garden and was amazed at how green the ground looked. Just a few days ago when we were in the hammock, most of it was hard, brown and dry, from dry season. (See below shot).
The growth is natural, yet miraculous. With just the few days and nights of rain we've been having, the grass is eagerly springing back. The Earth was thirsty for rain and now it is receptive and responsive to each drop being given.

Even looking up to the hills, which often become brown and black (the combination of dryness and burnt out areas from bush & forest fires) ... they regenerate with amazing rapidity every year. From one day to the next the brown becomes a memory.

Something to think about. What makes humans ... us ... me ... you ... spring back like that?

What moves you?

Be still.
Breathe.
Move the world
Inside
Outside
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Location of video: The poui tree on the hill in the garden on a windy day
Director: The Wind
Soundtrack: My Breath
Inspiration: Moving beyond this question

What interests you?

A raw cookie, perhaps? Experimented further with the carob/tahini/honey paste by rolling in some raisins, sesame seeds and oats. Flattened the mixture into circles and dehydrated for 1 and 1/2 hours.
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The other day I asked my friend Nic what she thought people could ask instead of: "What's the next project?" ... or (upon meeting for the first time): "So, what do you do?" In other words, a question that focuses on the person, rather than on extraneous things like what they do or where they live.

She said: "How about - what interests you?"

Hmmmm. We thought about that for a while. What interests you isn't necessarily what you do for a living. Some people work in a bank but they are not interested in banking. They may be interested in anything from stamp collecting to ancient Mexican history to people watching to hydroponics.

I imagined someone asking me: "What interests you?" The first answer that came to mind was 'raw foods'. I am reading a lot about it, talking about it, blogging about it and literally eating it all up. It interests me because it's something new, something I want to know more about, something that fits with and reflects a lot of what I already do or am interested in (art, the environment/nature, yoga, meditation), it is something I can do alone or share with others, it impacts upon me positively, opening me up to an increasing consciousness of self and what my 'self' wants and doesn't want on all levels (physical, mental, emotional, spiritual).

'Self' is another interest of mine. I started this year saying it would be a 'me' year ... and, without even trying, it is turning out to be that way. If someone asked me 'What interests you?" I could truthfully answer: "I am interested in me." This is not vanity. I have to be interested in 'me' as much as you have to be interested in 'you'.

We all need to be self-centered. Not in a vain, selfish, egocentric way (as definitions of the word imply) ... but by literally being centered in self ... the position from which we can increasingly know and be who we truly are.

I thought further about that question: "What interests you?" and took it deeper. I'll share that one in another post.

Person or Project?

My friends know me, the person ... with or without 'the projects'.

But most other people, whenever they see me (especially after not having seen me for a long time), say: "So ... what project are you working on now?" or "So ... what's your latest project?" or "So ... I saw such and such that you did. Are you working on any other exciting projects now?" or "So ... I saw you in the papers and on TV. What's that project you're working on now?"

Maybe some of them are genuinely interested in knowing. Maybe some of them don't know what else to ask or say to me. Maybe they are filling a space. Maybe people only feel comfortable asking about what they think they already know. They know that I am 'a multimedia artist' and I am prolific, always doing 'something'. Perhaps it appears that my life is a long series of projects.

Or is it that life itself is one long project?

The what-project-are-you-working-on-now question is one I sometimes dread. There are times when I just give simple, automatic answers: "Oh, this and that" ... or "Nothing much, really" ... or "Lots of different things" ... or "The usual." Don't get me wrong. I'm very thankful and very moved when someone feels and understands what I am doing, but very rarely do I go on at length about 'what I'm working on' unless I sense that the person is genuinely interested.

The other day someone asked me what project I am working on and I said: "Myself."

What would it be like if people met me after not having seen me for a long time ... or even met me for the first time ... and asked me about me? Not about things, not about work, not about projects, but about me ... the person.

Interaction ... or inaction?

The Red Earth organizers chose this little wooden house (part of the set of the Merchant Ivory movie: 'Mystic Masseur") as the Red Earth exhibition space.

I packaged Greetings on Behalf of Our Environment very simply and tacked them up on a wall in the verandah of the house.

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If a tree falls in the forest and no-one hears it, has the tree fallen?

If a piece is interactive and no-one interacts, is the piece interactive?

Unfortunately there will be no messages on behalf of our Environment going to the Minister, as no-one purchased any of the cards. Admittedly I was somewhat disappointed at first, as it would have been great to see people's heartfelt messages going out ... but as one who has been doing interactive work for years, I have come to understand and accept that people are not always into interacting. Many are generally more willing to watch than to 'do' or take part in an activity that they may not necessarily understand or see the point of.

Even though what I do may seem like 'fun' and is presented so simply, I take it seriously. I believe in what I do or I wouldn't do it.

I kept hearing "Great idea!" ... but as I kept saying in response: "Thanks, but it's not about an idea. It's something that must be done in order to work." Without the action, it remains a series of images, which on their own, do not really 'do' anything but fill a space.

People had said they would buy cards and send messages, but then again, one can't depend on words. Many things (intentional or unintentional, avoidable or unavoidable, internal or external, expected or unexpected) come in the way of words. What is said and what is intended as the final action don't always connect.

Sadly, there is a general apathy among Trinidadians, especially in light of wanting the much-desired, much-needed 'change': their feeling that it doesn't make sense to do anything because nothing will happen and no-one will listen, so why waste energy trying. The feeling of waiting for someone else to do it. In this case, maybe even the feeling of "Why should I spend my $20 to send a card to the Minister?" The feeling of "The Minister can't and won't do anything anyway, so why bother?" So many feelings, so many words and no action.

Are people afraid?

Do they not believe?

Have they nothing to say?

No, they have lots to say. Lots to complain about to each other when chatting in groups, lots to discuss in 'online forums', lots to scream about on radio talk shows.

At the same time, don't get me wrong. I do acknowledge that there are people who have good minds and hearts and intentions, who do do things for change and betterment and who never give up despite apathy and adversity ... and I also acknowledge that there are so many 'causes' out there across the entire globe and not everyone can feel the same way about each one or have the time, money or energy to give to every singe one that comes along requesting support.

I will think of something else to do with the cards. Or if any of you have ideas, feel free to share.

Thanks.