A Movie Creation: My Portfolio / Story

Alright! I mention in my last post that I have a lot of creativity brewing... and Creations to share!

This little video I completed a week or so ago. Its for my application for a Canada Council Grant. These grants are very prestigious here in Canada and notoriously hard to get. Grants in Canada are hard to get period. There's not nearly as much money for arts as there used to be and in comparison to other G8 and developed countries.

This will be my sixth time applying.

Normally an artist submits slides of their work. However, there's an option to submit videos also. So, I decide to get a little creative and make all my old slides into a video! I've applied for so many grants, that I have so many old slides. It took off from there.

A year ago, I had a stellar opportunity tot pick the mind of a former Canada Council panelist who reviewed applications. My video is designed with his comments and description of the process in mind. I try to tell my story and my project in one succinct three minute blast.

I cross my fingers. But whatever. I must now stifle any hope and start focusing other funding opportunities. Its all part of the game. At least, the core work of this video will be very useful for other 1Mandala videos and applications.

Creativity Brewing

My creativity is definitely returning. The stove is warming, the water is starting to boil, the pot starting to rattle! Creations are brewing. I have lots of exciting movies, writings and mandalas to post this coming week.

But, before I post any fancy-dancy art, I'd like to start simple. With a sentence. A sentence interestingly enough, I didn't create myself. A co-created sentence!

Oh... co-creation is so much more fun than solitary creation!

I have been discovering this over the last two years, (i.e. my collaborative mandala projects) and even more so in the last sixth months. Co-creation is especially wonderful when it involves oneself and one's beautiful lover.

Before I get to that sentence though, first some reflections on this idea of supra-sexual co-creation. I am feeling there's a lot to this. This is an important idea.

Barbara Marx-Hubbard coins the term. She writes that humanity is undergoing a shift in the way that sexual energy creates. For millions of years, sexual attraction has inspired pro-creation. Yet, as humanity hits a point where population is dangerously counter productive to the species and planet, a new way to channel this creativity is evolving. This energy can be harnessed to inspire lovers to new heights of personal discovery, brave new ways of harmonious living and brilliant new humanity-positive creations. The attraction between a couple inspires not only interest in the other, but in the self. The excitement arouses them to discover who they really are and what their personal passions are. 'Vocational arousal' Hubbarb calls it. Genius arousal! The "supra-sexual" creative energy is so strong that it helps the individuals transcend the old generational, cultural, and ideological patterns that have shackled humanity for so long in seperateness and division-- Patterns that would have otherwise hindered them from truelly embracing the call of their hearts, discovering their vocation, their calling, their life's purpose and... following it.

Am I a little overly ebulent? Perhaps! Maybe I am just excited to get to Paris and launch back in to following the call of my heart. Or maybe its because in this I too see "a way of transcending many of the premodern, modern, and postmodern notions of what it means to be a man and a woman." Something that points to "...a natural, unpremeditated, and spontaneous expression of a liberated masculinity and a liberated femininity." See the full interview text here.

So, back to that sentence!

Talking on skype, chatting, brainstorming simultaneously on web based spreadsheets and whiteboards, Abby (in Paris) and I (in Ottawa, planning to go to Paris) brainstormed out our ideas and dreams and passions. We've been apart three months now. Its been lots of time to simmer ideas. Now those ideas are coming to blossom as we co-intend for Paris in the coming months.

We came up with many ideas and one focused statement of intention for them all that resonates deeply with us both. Here it is:

"We dream of a stustainable and joyable and love-filled time together in Paris. We dream of co-creating a prosperous way of doing the things we love and fully enjoying Paris. We dream of being amazing partners so that we can maximize our health, our living, our consciousness, and our gift to the planet."

You can also read it on her blog too. How cool is that? We could give a lesson or two to The Secret people on manifesting-- the co-supra sexual way!

Brain storming and strategic planning on Google Docs.

To Shine

The following is a letter I have literally been working on for the last month. It was sent to my core 1Mandala team, and then to the general team. It is the culmination of two months of long walks, meditation, fasting and well... a long journey.

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Dear Friends,

The New Year is upon us!

As you know, I have been taking the last few months to reflect on the 1mandala project-- of which you have been invaluable part. It is the moment now to share with you where my heart is pointing.

First, I am healing. My energy is stabilizing and rising.

I am have come to a place of gratefullness for my stroke. These last two months have been nothing short of the opportunity of a lifetime to be with my family, face generational patterns, reflect and shift and heal. I have had my head down blindly for too long. I have been able to stop, take a deep breath and raise my head. I can not fathom any more powerful way to have gain the insights, the wholeness, and clarity that I now hold.

My heart is clear.

The 1Mandala is just too important and beautiful to abandon.

Our planet needs peace, harmony and oneness more than it ever has. The 1Mandala is not only all about oneness, it is this. It is a way for people everywhere to harmoniously co-create something beautiful. That very process is Oneness and is Peace. We’ve seen in each peace portrait how the project resonates with people across borders and cultures. Each of those peace portraits represents a thousand more that long to be made.

We are at such a fantastically unique moment for humanity. Not only would it be a shame to retire now, it would a shame to miss the opportunity of a lifetime to do something planetary grand. We are at a moment where there is a great tide of conscious energy that can be taped into like never before in human history. With this energy ideas can be manifested with incredible rapidity. I cannot imagine anything more beautiful to manifest. This is our chance to not only be part of the 2012 shift, but to be part of the push. The planet needs this. We need this.

I look in awe at all the synchronicities that have brought me here, that have connected me to you, and that have given me this moment to collect my energy and renew my focus. The most important work has yet to be done.

Yet, as I have this clarity, I also know that I am not ready to fully resume. I have major issues to deal with here with my family, finances and health. It is taking much of my energy. And indeed it should-- this is an essential part of my healing. And before I can do anything for anyone else, let alone the planet, that Oneness must integrated in me-- into the artist and leader that can truly manifest the 1Mandala vision.

On January 26th, I will be returning to Paris. There I will be with my love Abby. With her at my side, I will continue my healing and steadily organize and relaunch the 1Mandala. For the last 5000 years, humanity has been creating things the male way. I am realizing that part of my healing and the planet’s healing comes by accepting the feminine principle back into its rightful creative place. I am beginning to sense that male and female co-creating in harmony, with Love, is truly powerful stuff.

A vision keeps coming back to me: to pull together a harmonious team of twelve men and woman. The team would be focused using Barbara Marx Hubbard’s “Wheel of creation” mandala chart. Each would focus on their area and together we would manifest a charted, sustainable and funded vision.

Working through the winter, I envision pulling together this plan, this team, and co-creating a lucid budget to securing the funding to see the project sustainably and harmoniously flourish.

All that said, it has been a profoundly great pleasure working and getting to each of you over the last year. I am so grateful. What a journey!

I’d like to leave you with a quote that I just got from Playing for Change—musicians who are having fabulous success right this moment doing the musical equivalent of our project.

"Behind the storms of daily conflict, crisis and struggle, it is the artist, and the poet, and the musician that continues the quiet work of the centuries, building the bridges of experience between peoples, and reminding us the universality of our feelings, our desires, and despairs, and reminding us that the forces that unite are deeper than those that divide."

Now, imagine 10,000 peace portrait artists.

Because we are One.

Russell

Hockey Night in Canada

Yeah. Hockey! Its been such a long time since I played last-- on the ice that is.

There's a neighbourhood rink near where I am in Ottawa, in fact, I used to play there with my friends back when I was in highschool. Sick of math and algebra homework, we'd head off for a late night game.

I've gone the last few days. There are kids and adults always there hanging around, waiting for the inevitable pick up game. Now, back in the day, I used to play goalie. I also haven't squated in something like five years. But... I am happy to say, I still have the touch! It took me half an hour to warm up, but then I was deaking around, passing and defending against all these teenagers who are definitely on hockey teams!

Feels great! FUN. That's gotta be good for healing!

A New Year

What an absolutely spectacular year. What a grand adventure it has been getting to know so many of you all, and well… myself! And now that year has come to a close. Never, ever, could I have imagined it was going to be like this.

I have known the heights of love and the collapse of health. I have watched the sun rise on stonehenge and sighed as it set on Tuscany. I have pondered the stars in desolate fields, and have been blinded by the neon in great cities. I have danced holding hands with hundreds and toiled up mountains pedal by pedal alone.

Such blessings. With a little reflection, its clear to see that it was not the places, nor the towns and cities, it was the friends and moments shared with them that made it.

Almost exactly a year ago, I stood in a 1000 year old Welch Church and was overcome with a singular feeling: I was poised to have one of the most amazing years of my life. Indeed. That night, holding a beautiful hand, thousands and thousands of sparrows coursed across a sky as if to confirm the feeling.

I have another feeling. This is going to be one fabulous sequel.

As the slow falls softly, but surely here in Ottawa, as my energy and intention coalesce, I feel a year of prosperity, grand love and epic adventure on a planetary scale beckons. I hope to see you on the set!

Making a Mandala with my Church

I have an exciting mandala commission with my old family Church here in Ottawa! Above is the begining of the project. It will blossom over the next week as I work on it. What a way to heal. I hope to write more on this.

Here's the text from the Church bulletin:

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This December, the parish council has endorsed an exciting Church art project. Russell Maier, a long time parishioner and professional artist, is in town for the next two months. He wishes to fulfill a dream of involving Epiphany in building a grand mosaic mandala out of photos of everyone in the Church.


Mandalas are an ancient tool for healing and restoration. Russell, back from Europe for health reasons, realizes that community is also important for healing. Over the holidays there are many others in our Church seeking healing. As we embark on this art project together we ask for your prayers for all those individuals and families in need of healing and restoration in our Church community. The project is a beautiful way for us to come together as a family and shine our love, acceptance and prayers for all those experiencing trials amongst us.


"Two years ago, I stood in the Church that I have been a part of for 15 years and marvelled at the tapestry of generations around me-a weaving of threads that I am a part of and that I have watched grow and evolve. I thought to myself, if only I could capture this artistically. My work is with mandalas-- an ancient spiritual art form that weaves shapes and symbols together into visual prayers. You see them in all religious traditions- including grand rose windows in Catholic and Protestant cathedrals. The mandalas I make are mosaics of collaboration. I invite people to contribute their piece to make the whole. The image you see on the front of the bulletin is a co-creation with hundreds of people from around the world who have sent in photos of themselves beaming peace."


With so many of us flowing through the Church over Christmas it's the perfect time to get everyone involved in making a mandala that captures our community. Over the next three Sundays leading up to Epiphany we invite you to pose after Church for your picture. Everyone is invited. Join us as a couple, as a family or alone. All we ask is that you send your love! All these photos will then be assembled into a mandala of the church community-- a reflection of the body of Christ here at Epiphany.



To make the project viable we are selling a limited edition of fine

art mandala prints. The full colour 16 x 20 prints will be 65$, 55$

before Christmas and 45$ for a second print.

Thanks for the Stroke

Photo: A road in Italy-- Out of the Shadows towards the sun...
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Ok... That's seems a crazy thing to write. Two months ago, as I agonized over having to return to Canada I had next to no gratitude for what was happening to me. Half of my body was numb, and I was being wrested away from my art, my career and my love. I was forced to abandon all and return to Canada-- to my parent’s house.

Being here has hardly been easy. I’ve been dealing with some major issues. These dark areas of my living go way back. Putting them to light with them here has involved massive amounts of stress and inner work/conflict. Talk about intense.

But truly good things seldom are easy are they?

And of course if you really want to heal and to shift from decades of encrusted life patterns, well, you need a major shake-up to do so. Only a week before my mini-stroke I actually thought I was super healthy. I was completely oblivious to the massive life force drain I was imposing on my body.

Let me emphasize that: Completely oblivious and ignorant.

This is where my gratitude begins. The stroke was my wakeup. Looking back, I can't think of any other way that I could have woken up from my arrogant oblivious ignorance to my deleterious ways of living-- regarding everything from my ways of eating, sex and money. Ways that I actually thought of as healthy all my life.

Now, with some distance, I see how crazy fortunate I was to have this trans-continental incident happen to me. It unfolded as I traveled across Italy, France and England in a web of crazy beautiful connections with people who guided me on a true road to healing and integration. That healing road led me back to Ottawa.

I've now had two months now with my Mum and Dad here in Ottawa. I am really thankful for not only their help to return, but for this time with them. I have had a chance to get to know them in a whole new way. A time to bake cookies with my mum, go for walks with my dad, to tell old stories, find out more about my family and just share how the day went. And like any healthy family dynamic it has also involved tension, arguments, and sadness. Perhaps, I am most thankful for this. As a kid, I had a bad habit of walling myself off to exchanging emotions. Being so close to my parents has compelled me to face personal shortcomings/issues that I would rather never deal with. I am thankful for this.

It’s also been a restful place to consolidate my furious learning, my health, and my dreams. I’ve been reading and researching and implementing like crazy. Not only is my energy stabilizing and my health returning, but so too is my release of the old fears and patterns. My fingers and tongue still are a bit numb, but if anything it’s a reminder to keep pressing forward laying down my new healthy patterns, and stay away from the old ones.

Wow. I am so grateful to be able to shift. These three fears of Blood, Sex and Money that I have been writing about would have easily and subconsciounsly persisted for the rest of my life. They would have cut short my life expectancy by a decade or two or three. They would have undermined everything I did. I would have passed them on unconsciously to those close to me and to my children.