Sun Dance by Paul Tokarski
Paul Tokarski makes his living in Las Vegas, Nevada as a professional photographer and fine artist working in resin art and polaroid emulsion manipulation. Here is his personal website: http://www.paultokarski.com/
There is a whole bunch of interesting stuff on display there and he also is permanently on show in a couple galleries in Las Vegas, so one website claims.
The following opinion both comes from and continues to form my experience.
First posted FRIDAY, JANUARY 30, 2009
I believe there is a temperament that leads to art, spirituality, and also perhaps extremes of character which under sad circumstances leads to certain forms of insanity. On one extreme end of all this may reside the people who tend to various manifestations of the paranormal, on the other extreme end are the people who are so creatively mad that they may burn themselves up creating great art or music or something but die early or go insane.
These people are also candidates for relationships with spirit power and lives dedicated to God in one way or another. A high percentage of these people when lost, at sea in themselves and the world also end up alcoholic. The First Nation peoples have a high degree of alcoholism mainly because they bred for shamans as well as warriors as a people in general. That was still going on among them when they encountered European trade liquor and simultaneously had their culture destroyed.
Asking Permission
I point my arrow
Of power straight at the place
Where my heart marks you,
Where I mean to change your life
With the magic rites I learned
From crows and foxes.
I would start the chant only
With your permission.
I am sorry Dave, but I cannot do that.
ReplyDeleteNo dave, I will not open the pod bay doors.
this mission is too important and I think *KABOOM!*
who the hell put H.A.L in charge anyway?
I always hated that dumb cold computeror
yell scream chant dance like banshee underneath the moon, for a spoon I'll sing you a tune
flight Christo4 you are cleared for take off, have a nice chanty-flight
kssssssscck--over
I'm gonna ride the bomb right on down, yeehaw!
ReplyDeleteHmmm. Sounds like you gave me permission. Oh shit. Now we're in for it...
ReplyDelete"I believe there is a temperament that leads to art, spirituality, and also perhaps extremes of character", here you have me wholeheartedly.
ReplyDeleteThis I read differently, "on the other extreme end are the people who are so creatively mad that they may burn themselves up creating great art or music or something but die early". I read die early as die eagerly.
And this, "The First Nation peoples have a high degree of alcoholism mainly because they bred for shamans as well as warriors as a people in general" I am uncomfortable with. To say that Native peoples drink because they are spiritually predisposed to it is too light for me. It feels like somehow we could be absolved from all of the wrongs we've imposed culturally on this diverse group of peoples. We have actually royally f*d them in a multitude of ways. In essence we've steam rolled the more romantic motivation to drink and instead drove the bottle right into their hand by cultural and economical decimation. And knowing you, Christopher, I know you don't mean to suggest anything negative. I know you that way, and your open heart. But I woke up today thinking about Native people. Someone close to me (more than one person, actually) expresses ignorant and hateful sentiments toward native peoples and I feel lost up against their ignorance, and so I am kind of bruisy today, not knowing how to help even those close to me see.
much love Christopher
xo
erin
Of course you understand I am shamed by the treatment the First Nations received at the hands of Europeans. This does not change the spiritual vulnerability with which the People received that ill treatment. As warriors they were often unsurpassed if woefully armed. As spiritual beings they were often totally unprepared for the malice that came their way.
ReplyDeleteIt was in the resulting atmosphere of spiritual despair that alcoholism could devastate them, but it remains true that alcoholism strikes the People at higher rates than it strikes whites. This is just statistically true.
I thought you were always chanting.
ReplyDeleteI think you should start and pretty much just not stop.
Well, you can eat and stuff, go to work and meetings but just don't stop.
It's gonna take lots of chanting and stuff.
Stuff stuff stuff.
good word, stuff,it encompasses much.
Just about every Medicine person I know was/is alcoholic, unless they were started young. There have been a few.
Too much to say about the whole subject really, but I agree with you.
'just keep chanting' 'just keep chanting' (to the tune of Dori the fish singing 'just keep swimming')
(Finding Nemo movie)
I chant only a little. Sort of like the steps. At least once a day when working.
ReplyDeleteThe poem refers to another thing though. My daily chants are not the spearpoint and shaft of the power chant which I would never perform aimed at another unless I have full permission to do so.
Hmmm, Thinks He's a Poet now thinks he's a shaman. Whudda joke!
Granted
ReplyDeleteHahaha{:D
ReplyDeleteThinks He's A Poet (there's a good name) thinks he's a shaman. Pffft.
You think the poem is about you. :D
Really?
鬼舞
ReplyDeleteHoly Joseph husband of Mary not the Father of Jeses.........
ReplyDeleteCourse it's about me.
I'm her and him and you, we are all related and besides I could use all the help I can get..O:D
Ghost Dansing, you sneak right in when the dance comes by. Was that you out there doing your thing? I've missed you, good friend.
ReplyDeleteMs. Zombie, I suggest you sharpen your prayers. Don't rely on old farts.