Radiance Creative

EMU Proteus VX (to the rescue)

2010-10-21T10:57:00.000-07:00

I spoke to Jonathon over at L&M about tunable synths and was offered a few options. The 1st (and FREE) is the software version of emu's proteus X..the VX, virtual i suppose.

it has several tuning tables including Just C and C2 and C3 just intonation modified to accomedate certain chords. not editable unfortunately but also has 19 24 and 36 tone ET. also a varied offering of well tempers. Lots to explore but must get hooked up to midi controller (which is sitting in Edmonton).

This is sure to prove a welcome addition to my other just and hybrid instruments.

Tune that Harp in a Casket

2010-08-31T18:36:00.000-07:00

Ahhh, blogging. I remember when I first heard the term. ?? !! ?? !! It was the thing to do, so I started a blog...back in '05. Who's got time to write? Who take time to read? All too busy on facebook.

I never quite got it I guess, yet all this is here to mull over. My Journal.

My lonely adventures into the actual world of musical sound continue. Only now I'm doing the unthinkable. TUNING PIANOS !!

Aren't pianos the enemy? The reason for Temperament? Well it's not so much the system of hammers and dampers that keep the pure music from singing off those harps strings...it's simply the manner in which they have been mis - tuned.

I am experiencing JOY when I sit down at my Salvation Army special "JUST TUNED PIANO" organic, no preservatives!

What a difference a few cents here and there make!

If we start with the famous "C" on the piano forte and consider it to be "0 cents". We tune "G" to 700 cents. there are 1200 cents in the 12 T E T system. Here are the cent values for my MODERN JUST TUNING.

C= 0

F= 500

G= 700

C=1200

D=193

E= 386

A= 886

B = 1086

F#= 586

Eb=314

Ab= 814

Bb= 1014

Db= 214

IDEALLY an instrument which could produce 36 tones per octave would provide full and free movement.

12 TET @ 0 cents

12 TET @ +14 cents

12 TET @ -14 cents

If one could choose one of these with a piano key, then both purity in harmony and modulation would be easily achieved.

What this tuning provides harmonically is PURE C Major, PURE Ab Major, PURE C minor, G Major, with a narrow 2nd, F Major with a wider 4th, Eb Major with another unique feature. The list goes on...and the exciting thing is, every KEY is a little DIFFERENT. Fresh intervals that our ears are longing to hear. What it means is a piano that will stay "just tuned" for a lot longer.

I'll explore this in further detail in future posts.

take care

Strike the Harp

2009-10-23T20:17:00.000-07:00

I've been working with a "free harp" (piano harp) for over a year now. It's now located at the new studio at the 490 building. Somewhere along the line I settled on Eb as a tonal center...oh this is such a waste of time, the thought of trying to explain something like this. It is meant to be experienced! I've made a few recordings on my camera and cell phone but am getting ready to do some higher end stereo recordings.

So it's a Justly tuned freed piano harp and it sounds GREAT! One can hear the "modes" as they are meant to sound. The 3rds and 6ths SING! And more and more I'm finding it so PLAYABLE! I've got the JUNO 60 set up next to it with a self powered monitor. The Juno of course makes possible exploration into the harmonic series. The two instruments together (and analogue synth and an ancient harp) can and will achieve some amazing sounds.

Feel like blogging...let it b-e-E

2009-09-08T14:59:00.000-07:00

I know I've kinda let this blog rest in peace for some time now, but I have the urge to record some stuff here for what it's worth.

I spent over a year and a half experimenting with Just Intonation and experienced a major shift in both my hearing and my consciousness. I'm now back to straight frets again but have found a very simple solution to achieve pure 3rds and 6ths in "almost" standard tuning.

I'm calling it the "Let it Be" tuning or more accurately let it b-e-E, because it involves slight shifts in the b and e strings...both high e and low E. Seems like a lot of trouble I went through, ripping my frets off then glueing various curved wire on the fretboard. There was a deep and rich purity I found there but I had to admit some limitations in the modern setting. This new arrangement does require some selectivity in comparison to standard tuning but it does contain much familiar territory fingering wise while allowing pure (and very near pure) 3rds and 6ths round the "circle of 5ths"

I'm not sure if anyone reading this will even care (if there is anyone reading this) but I like the idea of having it recorded here and accessible. Need I go into how Equal Temperament is merely an approximation of Just Intervals? Need I point out that though the "4th" and "5th" in the tempered system are only 2% "off" that the other more emotional intervals are upwards to 15% off? I think for the musician seeking the truth in these matters that the harmonic world speaks for itself and should leave no further question in one's mind as to the reality of these natural tones.

What I've discovered is what could be termed a "hybrid". So I may as well just dive in.

Tune your A - D - and G as you normally would. (A4=440 is fine although I've been experimenting with A4=432) but that is another post. So we have 3 strings tuned in tempered 4ths from which we can derive the Root 5th of several (in not all) Major chords. Fine!

Now to tune (or should I say "tame" the dreaded B string! This is where we are going off the conventional rails of modern western intonation. Don't get the "B" from the 4th fret on the G! I say another way: The 4th fret of the G string is not a pure ratio of the G and therefore shall NOT be used to tune this pivotal string! We shall instead look to the natural harmonic world and struggle and strain to produce the 5/4 harmonic which is APPROXIMATELY found near the 4th fret, or 9th fret or any other location which divides the string in 5 parts. When we tune the "B" to this tone we are left with a B which is around 14% of a tempered semi tone lower than standard. So now when you play your D G and B strings together you will hear a pure major chord. This B string is now firstly devoted to being used as a pure 3rd in Major chords. We shall see how else it can be used shortly.

So we have a lower than usual B! what shall we do with the E? Well how be we tune it like usual to the B? Great! now between your G string and high E we have a just major 6th! OK now we have one more string to deal with and that is the low E. Well why don't we simply tune it to the high E?

So a way to check these freq. is to play the 4th fret harmonic an the A string and match it to the "C#" (2nd fret on B). Then play the 4th fret harmonic on the D String and match it to the "F#" (2nd fret on the high E). These harmonics are a lot easier to access than the G string because of their thickness. You can also match the harmonic on around the 3rd fret of the low E with the 12th fret harmonic of the B string. Voila! you are ready to play around the "circle of 5th" (because to the tempered "mid section" of A - D - G ) with the B - E - E which have been justified to reflect a more natural tone.

now if you play your low E with your G you will get a VERY close to pure minor 3rd. because the E is "lowered" it creates a wider interval (which is what we want for minor 3rds) - we want narrower intervals for major 3rds.

something to remember is that since we have dedicated the B - E - E to these tones we may not be able to use them as octaves or 5ths

Obviously it would be more effective to demonstrate these things on the guitar which is what I intend to do in the near future.

Just Muse Studios

2008-09-07T15:33:00.000-07:00

ANALEMMA

2008-04-21T15:17:00.000-07:00

Analemma

curiously a lot like x-88, infinity and the Metis flag huh?

Mosaic Voices

2008-04-09T08:11:00.000-07:00

I came across this site last night. It reminded me of some of the thoughts and ideas I had while I was still in Alberta, things that I have neglected to follow through on for a number of reasons I suppose. The great eastern move required far too much practicality. Here is a quote from Michael Meade and a link to his site.

"Mythic imagination is a primordial resource of the human heart that combines heart-felt intelligence with a reverence for life in its myriad forms. When times become tragic and dark with uncertainty, what is missing is the touch of eternity and a mythic sense of being woven within the ongoing story of the world."

from The Water of Life

by Michael Meade http://www.mosaicvoices.org/

Just Muse Studios

2008-03-18T06:51:00.000-07:00

Just - Pure, Natural "Just Intonation" but also - just - as in "don't take it too seriously, it's JUST music"

Muse - taking the "ic" out of music, one tone at a time. a focus on the mystical spiritual nature of sound field creation and capture.

Studios - Well here's where a few photos may help

"Think I'll go out to Alberta..."

2008-01-31T05:45:00.000-08:00

"...weather's about the same there in this cold snap"

Saskatoon Thursday January 31st

Debbie, Luke, David and I drove through to Saskatoon yesterday and on to Edmonton today. Roads are good, thankful for good conditions.

So I'm thinking about the new perspective that this trip to Alberta is going to afford us. It's been just over a month since we moved and though there are many exciting potentialities we haven't really done anything musically, (except of course just 'be' within the monophonic fabric that is creation) hehe. I believe that the month of February is going to be a significant and pivotal month for us, and one of more change with Rachy Rachel in our midst. With the art space coming along we can start actually playing with music. It's gonna be so cool to spend an evening at the Festival de Voyageur and head back to the "Seburn Warehouse Space" (as David called it in a video he put together recently) for music, song and celebration.

I just tried to post a link to facebook but this Ramada kiosk won't allow it. I should run anyways

January 25

2008-01-25T05:59:00.000-08:00

Hmm. One month from my 44th birthday. Could be my half way point...I'd be glad to make it to 88. 7 days till the beginning of February. Dad pointed out last week that February this year is the only month that begins and ends with the same day, Friday. Plus it's a leap year! It also is the month for the Festival De Voyageur, the new provincial holiday "Louis Riel Day" - Feb 18th, which coincides with Dad's Birthday, right in the heart of the Festival.

Things should be starting to hum along down at 416 Des Meurons by then, Rachel will have been out here a few weeks upping the art factor hugely, the studio jam space will be further along, probably with some rough recorded material already, perhaps some performance pieces ready to share, some cafe seating, library / meditation space. I don't know if we'll have the "mondo-chord" built by then, or the harps but you never know...hmm "mondo-chord" that just came to me and warrants another post altogether.

But before all that we are heading out to Alberta for Luke's Wrestling tournament and to bring Rachel home. It's gonna be a quick visit. David Issac is coming with us to help with the drive home and Debbie Luke and Rachel will be flying back.

looking so forward to the next month

Clear Intentions - time to journal again

2008-01-22T06:49:00.000-08:00

It's January 22nd 2008, really just over a month since we made the move to Manitoba. We've set up a house in Wolseley; 196 Evanson Street, and are settings up a creative space in St. Boniface; 416 Des Meurons. Each offer great creative and artisitc potential. Each space is requiring hours of time and money to make comfortable, useable, beautiful and viable.

Where we are right now is a result of our intentions. The "power of intention". I, however, have not always been great at making my intentions clear and have become muddled more than once. I want to choose this day to not shrink back from what I intend to do, but maybe more importantly and significantly, what is intended for me. That higher power, that Presence that moves and speaks, ever loving, ever promting, ever filling, endlessly creating! Creator of all may your intentions be fully met and fulfilled in this brief time that is my life. Really it's in the cultivating of that organic connection to creative energy that determines the results.

We are almost completely unpacked. Our back yard at Evanson is full of empty boxes. Even Des Meurons is getting there, but no matter how many physical boxes are emptied, the contents put in their place, there is so much unpacking to be done, so many dreams and intentions left to find their way to the surface and become usefull. hmm "useful" one L or two?

I'm thinking of Tim King down at "Presence" and his series of "Daily Downloads", a sort of live journal/teaching/meditative thing that gave voice to his intentions and heart. I remember how that touched me and gave me a sense of Presence throughout that leg of the journey. I suppose in my case, as a song writing musician it's more in the music in terms of communication, but I feel the need to raise my voice again in other ways, to try to make those intentions clear. Sort of the reason I began blogging a few years back. Some may argue that my blogging style is anything but clear...It's true I've felt so displaced and without a home for my ideas and my music that it often turns into talk. But as my zen guitar screen saver reminds me "Talk is one thing, Action is another". But in order to take proper action there must first be the proper words and language.

We're getting a "blower test" done today by Manitoba Hydro, we'll find out how to make this 100 year old house more energy effecient. Maybe that's what God is doing with me right now...blowing over my being to find out where I'm leaking so I can hold more of Him and be that intended blessing.

"Mean Tone" Guitar

2008-01-20T06:14:00.000-08:00

Found this on "you tube". Check out the frets on this guys guitar. Pure Major 3rds and almost pure minor thirds very cool!

Finally, a third verse (thanks Sarah)

2008-01-01T11:02:00.000-08:00

I'm coming from Athabasca
I've got my little black drum in hand
I bring it back from the River House
where it stayed 365 days

the drummers drummed the dancers danced
the piper played in true romance
got me thinkin' of Cypress hills
where humans have gathered for 7 thousand years

Manitou? could everything be Manitoba?

What have we done to Alberta?
"we scraped the earth to mine 'the sands' "
pump oil down to America
but there's no quenching the Imperial thirst

the rivers that once gave the children life
can't drink, can't fish, don't even wash your shirt
what are they gonna think in a hundred years
when they see our shame written in the dirt?

Manitou? could everything be Manitoba?
Manitou? could everything be Manitoba?

"Land where the Great Spirit Speaks and Moves"

Again I come from Athabasca
Sarah's got the drum in Kathmandu
well could you stop the noise long enough to hear
Little boys from nowhere make that drum sound clear

half way round the world I can hear the sound
but all you can smell is fossil fuel in the ground
Oh God could this be the year
when we wake up and so no to fear

Manitou? could everything be Manitoba?
Manitou? could everything be Manitoba?

"Land where the Great Spirit Speaks and Moves"

Spirited Energy

08 and so it begins again

2008-01-01T10:35:00.000-08:00

2008! begin again. infinite possibilities await us.

First "From the Center" post actually from the center

2007-12-24T10:34:00.000-08:00

Been in the Peg for almost a full week today. Last Monday we were in a convoy across Saskatchewan. Beautiful weather and driving conditions BTW. Debbie and I pulled over somewhere near Saskatoon and the star filled sky filled us with wonder. Very thankful there were no storms.

We didn't get into the house till Wednesday (a day late) which was actually good cause on Tuesday Debbie and I were just shot, really tired and both sick. We took the day to rest..since then it's been a whirlwind of boxes and cleaning. My Debbie is just amazing, she hardly stopped moving all week and the place looks great.

So here I am...at the center, and as you will see once I get around to posting some satellite images, we're lined up with the "eastern tine" of the tuning fork. hehe.

Well lots more to say but of course lots more to do. thanks to Chuck and Mack for dropping by. I haven't rescued any harps yet but in due time, in due time.

peace on earth, good will toward humans with whom God is well pleased

Piano = Harp in a Casket

2007-11-12T10:50:00.000-08:00

I hope this post isn't too subversive in nature. I realize that at this point I am probably in the minority as I take a stand against the effects on music by the modern piano. To be clear, I am not AGAINST the piano, I love to sit down at one and play, improvise and noodle around. I actually enjoy it but the method I use is not at all related to the program normally taught to students of the piano. I use an even easier version of my X-88 guitar paradigm.
More of a whole tone approach. 2 parrellel 6 tone whole tone scales. thought they don't exist in nature the illusions possible are pretty cool. The piano of course is designed with easy modulation and transposition in mind. With an awareness of the forced resolution of equally spaced notes I can change keys willy nilly till the cows come home, or even beyond "when the fat lady sings".

My beef with the piano is that the harp and strings have been shut up in a box so that I can't make contact with the actually music in the string. The harmonic potential and grace and nuance possible when the strings themselves can be touch and altered is a far more interesting journey to me than merely pressing a key and letting some machine within the box give me "the note". Again of the flexibility of an equally tempered piano and the illusions of music that can be created on it I have no quarrel, but there is so much more.

I recently was down at Grant MacEwan and piano venders had filled the entrance way with grand pianos for sale. I sat down at one and was pleased to play on a freshly "tuned" piano. The flexibility is unparrellelled...but the lack of purity is obvious. and for what? $40,000.00 ? ! ? I mean all one has to do is stike a "D", for instance, listen to the harmonic overtones (yes ANYONE can hear them) the pure 3rd can be heard - and then play the "F#"...YUCK. 14 cent's off the mark. Why? so that that "note" can be taken in any way the player or composer chooses. but it is not a pure 3rd, it is only an approximation. in fact ALL the "notes" in an Equal Tempered system are approximations. some (thankfully) a little closer than others (the IV and V) but others (3rds and 6ths) are seriously compromised. Such a modernly systematic assault on nature and God's infinite design.

I mean who said where those 12 perfectly evenly spaced notes are to be? In a recent email Ben suggests an imperialist origin. Just another symtom I suppose of "modern certainty", and the general tendency to accept it as the only standing reality.

At least in the case of a grand piano (like the one pictured above) one can stick their head in there and get to the damn strings. With uprights the casket is definately nailed shut....until we rescue them from their bondage! How many old pianos are sitting out there, church basements, halls, basement storage areas, all waiting to find release and given flight?

moveable bridges, pads for harmonics, electric pick ups, the possibilities, the possibilities.

Winnipeg studio stuff

2007-11-10T10:52:00.000-08:00

this is all stuff i am not presently using but with a little elbow grease could be making some sweet sounds

Old church sound board, may need some cleaning and tweaking but nice "british eq"

another old Church Soundboard...even noisier! (a little noise is good)

Old school patch bay. this could be part of a real cool acoustic / electronic sculpture/instrument. Perhaps parts of my "Justly intuned EX-Harp in a casket"

BTW "Harp in a Casket" is my new name for pianos

8 in 8 out c-port 24 / 96 . Mic inputs are shot but unbalanced ins and outs fine. XLR outs are good i think

alesis "Monitor Ones" good near field speakers in need of tweeters

various balanced cables

Kathleen's Place

2007-10-28T08:38:00.000-07:00

Evelyn at "Victory Lutheran"

2007-10-26T12:13:00.000-07:00

this is where I'm teaching guitar Wednesday night down in Devon

Achieving "Just Guitar"

2007-10-20T10:07:00.000-07:00

Well whoever is reading this has endured my writing about "Just Intonation" and the "Harmonic Code"...wait a minute, have I mentioned that? Anyways, I think I've made a breakthrough, (at least for now) with my 57 Martin.

For one I took the frets off a couple weeks ago and continued my harmonic tuning of the instrument. 1/1 , 3/2, 2/1, 5/6, 3/2, 2/1 . I think is how it would described in ratios but I may still be off on that here's an image of a diagram from Partch's book to demonstrate the obvious need for a paradigm shift to appreciate ratios in music:

Actually I can certainly say I am off on those ratios so I'll put it into standardized "music theory" language (Sorry Harry).

E String : Drop Db
A String : Ab (tuned to the "5th" harmonic on the low D) that's located roughly over the 7th fret
D String : Db up the "octave" match 5th fret and 12th fret harmonics
G String : F (matched with the harmonic 3rd found near the 4th and 9th frets
B String : Ab (up an octave from the low Ab)
E String : Db (up an octave from the middle Db)

This gives us a most beautiful "Major Chord" that is Justly Intuned. Monphonic in the sense that each open string is tuned to a naturallly occuring harmonic found on the 1/1 or the fundemental tone, in this case a Db. really the chord structure is the same as what is supposed to be heard when we pick up a standardly tuned guitar and strum a standard "E chord" on the guitar. (of course to be from the same fundemental you'd have to tuned your guitar down to Db)

The difference, however, between a justly tuned chord and a bastardized, distorted evil tampered chord is more than astonishing.

So now with a Just Chord to begin with and no frets to force the ratios out of wack, I can play with total freedom.

I'm going to try to take some pictures and maybe play a few samples for next time

Monophony is back

2007-10-16T19:13:00.000-07:00

huh! you mean "monopoly is back" like on all the McDonald's signs? No I mean monophonic music. Huh what you mean one speaker instead of two as in "stereo". No I mean the beautiful sounds that are possible within the "monophonic fabric".

mono = ONE. One word, one sound.

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

Jhn 1:2
The same was in the beginning with God.

Jhn 1:3
All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.

Jhn 1:4
In him was life; and the life was the light of men.

Jhn 1:5
And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not.

The word, the sound, the ONE.

From the Center

2007-10-02T09:15:00.000-07:00

In faith, I am now blogging from the center at (you guessed it!) From The Center
I've even changed my location, (as you may have noticed) to Winnipeg Manitoba.

I believe that "Winnipeg Man Can" in Winnipeg Man Can. I know the new abreviation is "MB" for Manitoba but whatever.

Manito = Manitou = Great Spirit
ba = speaks & moves

I believe this is the month that it's going to happen, I am thanking God for it now as if it is already an actuality.

2 years ago (2005) Lydia Penner (Winter) died. When I returned home there was an unconscious call "home". Last year Oct 2006 I was in Red Deer where I had a bit of a meltdown, but also met several Manitobans. It was shortly after that that Debbie and I made the decision to move to Manitoba. Sooooo....according to my "calculations" this is the appointed time.

So aside from dropping back in here at "radiance creative" to adjust or respond to various posts you can find me over at From the Center

see you there

Genesis of a Music, by Harry Partch

2007-10-02T08:36:00.000-07:00

I ended my last post with a mention of Harry Partch. 2oth century composer, author, instrument builder and theorist. I heard about him from a guy named Chris who I had met a couple times at La Tienda cigar shop. He (Chris) is a drummer and Tambora player. The first time I spoke with him one of the things he mentioned as important to the preservation of real soul music (corpereal) was "Untempered Tunings"of the Celts and other northern peoples. That was well over a year ago and at the time it didn't mean much to me and I continued on playing and instructing in ET (Evil Tampering) of music and the guitar in particular.

Anyways more recently I stopped by La Tienda (the reason being that I have a free specialty drink coupon) and I saw Chris there again. When I said that I have been exploring "Just Intonation" he immediately informed me of "Harry Partch" who in his opinion was one who brought more Justly intuned music and instruments into actuality than anyone else. I went (and so can you) to youtube and Wikopedia to find out more about him and of course began searching for his most significant book "Genesis of a Music".

News Flash, I can be a little Scottish at times and love a good deal. As such I do not own a Public Library card. I do, however, have a "Neos" card which I can use at several Libraries (King's Univeristy, Concordia, Taylor etc.) So one day I drop by King's to find the book. My library card is no longer valid but the sweet lady at the desk shows some kindness by extending it (FREE OF CHARGE!) I find that there is a copy of the book down at Taylor College and Cemetary...whoops I mean "seminary". So I go there on my way to Devon. So there is is sitting on the shelf! I turn to the back to see how many times it's been signed out...get this! ONCE! When you ask? Nov 23rd 1979. 4 years after the authors death. Of course my card has been updated but I just have the number. The lady there at the desk, rather annoyed with me at my lack of card with comments like "most people bring there library card with them when they come to the library" and "we are really not supposed to do this" "espesially to an outside borrower." Well after slapping me on the wrist a number of times and wagging her finger she finally gave me the "OK I'll do it this one time".

So here I am with this treasure of a book, delving into a whole new (to me) world of sonic potentiality and actuality. simple, simple, SIMPLE RATIOS.

The impact of this is far too great to sum up in a mere blog post like this and it's about a lot more than "music". In particular as a side bar, it's got me considering my personal journey from Abstraction to Actuality. and what better friend to meet with yesterday than Ben Tremblay. Of course the journey is far from over but I finally am conscious of the vast difference between the abstract and the actual. And at this juncture (work wise) I am having to deal with actuality after actuality as I support our families needs through carpentry work. There is nothing abstract about roofing a garage. Although roofing 93 year old, spiritual sage, Kathleen's garage has sure made room for some significant spiritual learning. This connection, (and several others as of late) have brought to my awareness so many things about our move to Manitoba.

More on that in my next post.

It's Just Intonation

2007-09-18T08:36:00.000-07:00

I went into the summer of 2007 pretty much entranced with harmonics. I knew the beauty of guitar harmonics and used them in my guitar instruction but i had never up to that point done what I began to do over the summer months.

I think it began while visiting Debbie's parents Henry and Mary Hanna in Quesnell British Columbia. BC always opens up creative paths in me. The beauty sweeps me off my feet.

I had dropped my D as I so often have done but instead of going into DADGAD I just tuned the A to the ACTUAL harmonic creating a "just" 5th. then tuned the D to the octave. then something happened that literally changed my life. I tuned the G down to the Major 3rd (F#) BUT! tuned to the ACTUAL harmonic on the low D sting. (This harmonic can be found on the 4th and 9th fret, you have to work a little harder but it's there.

This is possibliy the first time that I heard (coming from my own instrument) A "Just 3rd". why Just? because is was tuned to the very ratio that God and Nature provided. The sound is so rich and full and alive with possibilities that the 'ol '57 stayed tuned that way for months.

Sooo... this sent me off on a search to discover what this "just intonation" is all about, and the truth about Equal Temperment tuning (which has become the standard in western music).

During my training in the Grant MacEwan Jazz program I do remember just intonation being mentioned but never demonstrated. It was just a thing of antiquity and ET (equally tempered) was hailed as an improvement. I do however also remember Bobby Cairns stating very clearly that once you've adjusted your guitar to "standard tuning" it is still and always will be out of tune!

What I've discovered is that real music, is intrinsically connected to simple mathematical ratios.
1/1 , 2/1 , 3/2 etc. this can easily be verified with a single stringed instrument called a "mono chord". (I'll post some pictures of mine when I'm at home). The ratios (intervals) can be located either by ear, or with a measuring device. no modern decimal points no fudging the ratios "slighty here and slightly there" just exactly how it ACTUALLY is.

Well I wonder how "falling into one" (as I would like to call it) could have actual effect on the human body and soul. the trick of course is getting REAL music past our modern ears. When I hear sounds that really resonate of a deeper reality it affects all of me.

OK so in one corner we have ONE and in the other corner we have MANY, ahh let's call one : MONO and many POLY...Pauly? If you seriously explore what tones and intervals result from the NATURAL HARMONICS and RATIOS you will experience the "HARMONIC OVERTONE SERIES" What you will discover is that natural just music does not fit nicely into the World of ET. JI (just intonation) has things like the "pythagorean comma". Disheartning news to me recently is that there is no "circle of 5ths" found in the natural world. YIKES! There is however a "SPIRAL OF 5ths". What this means is that everything from BACH to MOZART and on has been an ABSTRACTION. Yay even COLTRANE TO THE BEATLES. Do I still love PAULYPHONIC music? Of course, I can't escape myself. What I DO have as a result of hearing actual music is an awareness of the difference, along with a desire to experience and experiment with this new world of sound.

More next time and the facinating life of Harry Partch

That drum has been around the world

2007-07-21T10:42:00.000-07:00

Verse 3 of Athabasca / Manitoba song

"I'm coming from Athabasca....

Sarah's got the drum in Kathmandu

blah blah blah blah blah blah blah

something that rhymes with Kathmandu"

names of children to follow, but that is my Sarah

not THAT kind of evolution

2007-07-11T23:21:00.000-07:00

Been watching some interesting tapes on Creation. I don't jive with all his "doctrine" but some facinating stuff on Creation. This guy, Dr. Hovind, is offering a quarter million dollars to anyone who can prove evolution.

Now here is an intereting site Evangelical Environmental Network

Infinite Evolution

2007-05-23T23:02:00.000-07:00

Guitar Recital for my Gibbons and Fort Saskatchewan guitar students was held tonight. May 23rd at 7:00 at the Dew Drop Inn. As I was setting up I happened to to place a number of my infinity X-88 fretboards against the piano. It's great to see how things evolve. The lowest one is the most recent yet it is the most simple.

When you find what you need, Isn't it beautiful?

Check out this nifty on line guitar tuner look up in the right hand corner of the web page, very cool

Drum and Mug

2007-05-22T11:37:00.001-07:00

drum_and_mug
Originally uploaded by radiancecreative.

By my daughter Rachel Seburn

Athabasca

2007-04-26T10:12:00.000-07:00

I'm coming from Athabasca

I've got my little black drum in hand

I bring it back from the river house
where it stayed 365 days

_______________________________________________

The drummers drummed,

the dancers danced.

the piper played in true romance

Got me thinking of cypress hills

where humans have gathered for 7 thousand years

Manitou? Could everything be Manitoba?

(Manitoba : "where the Great Spirit speaks and moves")

______________________________________________________________

What have we done to Alberta?

We scraped the earth to mine "the sands"

Pump Oil down to America

But there's no quenching the Imperial thrist

the rivers that once gave the children life,

can't drink, can't fish, don't even wash your shirt

what are they gonna think in a hundred years?

when they see our shame written in the dirt?

Manitou? Could everything be Manitoba?

Manitou? Could everywhere be Manitoba?
_________________________________________________________________________

Words, Music and image display by Paul Seburn

none of us are free..

2007-04-10T10:48:00.000-07:00

..if one of us is chained

none of us are free

song and flash

are we listening? will we do something?

Parousia by Kevin Beck

2007-03-19T17:54:00.001-07:00

Hope you don't mind Kevin but this really spoke to me.

Parousia
March 19, 2007
By Kevin A. Beck

Listen Closely

The heavens are telling the glory of God; and the firmament proclaims his handiwork. Day to day pours forth speech, and night to night declares knowledge. There is no speech, nor are there words; their voice is not heard; yet their voice goes out through all the earth, and their words to the end of the world.
--Psalm 19

The Psalmist looked at the world and did not see a fallen place in need of reclamation. He didn’t believe that the earth required remaking in order to announce the glory of God. Instead, David looked up and saw the hand of God in all things. He opened his ears and heard the voice of God in every sound. God had not left the building. God was intimately immanent everywhere.

From his perspective, the apostle Paul affirms this ancient Hebrew belief in his own way. He wrote that there “is one God and Father of all, who is above all and through all and in all” (Ephesians 4).

The belief that the world is an inherently corrupt place hinders us from recognizing our daily encounters with God. It causes us to turn our eyes away from the natural world and look for God elsewhere in an ethereal realm of our own creating. If you want to find God, we suppose, visit God in a building that we call the “house of God.” There you can hear God’s music and listen to someone speak God’s message in a twenty-minute sound bite. Maybe you can even greet someone with a holy handshake while you breathe in the aroma of artificially cooled or heated air.

It’s time that we went outside. You don’t have to be a druid to experience God in the crackling leaves. The crashing waves, rolling hills, and verdant flora all announce the presence of the divine.

I knew a woman named Jessie, and she loved to tend to her flower garden. She told me that touching the soil, seeing the plants, and smelling the aromas were the times she felt closest to God. You don’t have to grow a garden to know the outside world hymns God to our hearts. You’ve probably witnessed a sunset that brought tears to your eyes as the curtains were pulled back and you entered into the numinous.

Perhaps it is because we live in an ever-increasing urbanized world that we have lost a collective sense of natural holiness. Industrialization and the demands of the modern world force us indoors where we decorate with plastic plants. We plug in our lamps that provide artificial sunlight instead of going outside to feel God’s sun shine on the just and the unjust. We filter our water because of pollutants we’ve dumped into the streams. We take loads of allergy medications because of the particular matter we’ve pumped into the air. In losing our ecological heritage, we lose a deeper sense of God.

The fourteenth century English spiritual writer, Julian of Norwich, experienced God while contemplating something as small as a hazelnut. She observed: "In this vision he showed me a little thing, the size of a hazelnut, and it was round as a ball. I looked at it with the eye of my understanding and thought "What may this be?" And it was generally answered thus: "It is all that is made." I marveled how it might last, for it seemed it might suddenly have sunk into nothing because of its littleness. And I was answered in my understanding: "It lasts and ever shall, because God loves it."

To revitalize your spiritual connection to the planet, go outside. Visit a park, go on a hike, plant some greenery, or look up at night and view the stars. Feel the breeze, the sun, the water. Smell the blooming flowers or the changing leaves. Listen to the birdsong. In just a few days, the seasons will transform—to Spring in the northern hemisphere and to Autumn in the South. This brilliant time of year can be the perfect occasion for you to witness the glory of God, to view God’s handiwork, and to hear divine speech uttered through all the earth and beyond.

onrocks

2007-02-05T11:13:00.000-08:00

onrocks
Originally uploaded by radiancecreative.

nice catch, nice rocks

These Things That Move Me

2007-01-22T16:09:00.000-08:00

these things that move me

do you see the candle burning?
the way it draws you into darkness
can you feel the earth turning round in space

will i always have this burning?
soft light relected on your warm wet skin
can i touch you cause i'm yearning for a taste

these things that move me
they pass right through me
these things that move me
how do they choose me...choose me

do you see the sun rising
the way it touches everything here on earth?
do you ever marvel at your birth?

beneath our feet there's something rising
like a fountain but as sure as stone
liquid rock, but don't it feel like home?

these things that move me
they pass right through me
these things that move me
why do they choose me?

Paul Seburn 05-06

What am I?

2007-01-18T08:13:00.000-08:00

IT IS COMING FROM THE HEART

IT IS COMING FROM THE LAND

IT IS A SOUL INSTRUMENT

YOU FEEL IT.

IT IS THE SOUND OF MOTHER EARTH

GET THE TRACK HERE Rhymes with Fridge

In Winnipeg at Christmas

2006-12-24T07:17:00.000-08:00

Sunday morning, Christmas Eve Day 2006. We made it to Regina last night and stayed at the Ramada...very nice, hardly anyone in the hotel. We are continuing on to Winnipeg in about an hour. We should be there before supper time.

Manitou could everything be Manitoba?

Where the Great Spirit Speaks

Spirited Energy

Manitoba

just BEING centered

2006-11-28T15:54:00.000-08:00

Chuck posted recently about living in the moment, or at least his difficulty with living in the moment and the tendancy to look ahead to X Y Z. check it out.

As we look forward to centering in the Peg there is certainly a temptation to think that the outward change will bring about inward change, but in the words of "The Flaming Lips" song...

all we have is NOW
all we ever had is NOW
you and me were never meant to be part of the future.

Changing outward circumstances, the environment, people, vibe, even the government (I was always more NDP than Torie) can have an effect on one's way of being if it's the right place and the right time.

Manitoba's new image is "spirited energy" Hey I like it! there is a different kind of energy there. a more organic feel. When one can line themselves up with (align) with energies that are more condusive to spiritual growth it does make a difference. I think we also have stuff to offer as people, artists etc. that can make a difference in the vibration. We are taking the whole family there for Christmas so it will be very interesting to see what kind of "spirited energy" will be released! Still it comes down to centeredness. resisting the temptation to place "real life" or "important significant people" out there somewhere and just be fully available in the moment. Accept our place in the universe and BE all we can BE.

Spread the Love Vibration...uh huh

2006-11-19T08:49:00.000-08:00

Ah memories of the Festival de Voyageur! I was too young for the beer gardens but what a magical time it was. Bon fires, great food, ice sculptures. I look forward to 2008

I don't know exactly what it is about Coronation Park that entrigues me so much but as I was drifting off to sleep a few nights ago it was like I was drifting over a park that I remember from many a dream as a youth. Though it didn't look exactly like it (cause no doubt it's an amalgamation of several memories) there was something about it that triggered some recognition.

Anyways, I still am captivatied by the Metis Symbol, infinity and X88

Metis Flag and infinity

2006-11-16T10:05:00.000-08:00

I was driving up 124th Street yesterday and this symbol caught my eye. It was at a Metis Dance place. I went in and found out more. This was the 1st Canadian Flag which pre-dates the Maple Leaf by 150 years!

The guy I spoke to said it represents the mixing of blood but also relates to the infinity symbol.

This all leads me further to believe that the X-88 is very much something I have stumbled upon rather than "invented" and that there is a deep connection with the universe. The similarity IS striking.

I have a great deal of respect for the Metis and am reminded once again of my interest in St. Boniface, what with Festival de Voyageur just around the corner. More on this over at From The Center

Emo Barn, God's Children and parcs francophone

2006-11-13T10:53:00.000-08:00

This is a painting by my Grandma, Lydia Penner, of Ducharme's Barn just outside of Emo. I think it was done in 1973 during one of her visits. Mark reminded me that on that day we all painted a version of the barn. This is by far the most memorable as it hung in our house for years. The barn was abandoned but a favorite hang out for Emo kids.

These are a few items I brought home from Lydia's apartment. 2 very old match books one from the Flin Flon Hotel, one of Wes Penner's paintings and a beautiful saying which graced the top right hand side of her fridge. Interestingly when I removed this from her fridge after her death, I learned that it had been placed there to cover up a dark blue sticker of some sort (which was presumably from the previous owner of the fridge). Just like Lydia to use her creativity to make something beautiful. Wise words from a wise woman.

"God knows no creed or color, they are all his children"

This is the South East entrance to Coronation Park in Old St. Boniface (actually Norwood). This is very near the area of Winnipeg where I'd like to settle. An easy walk to "The Forks".

From the Center - out and back again

2006-11-12T08:46:00.000-08:00

I just posted back at radiance creative about x 88, and I could have continued on the observation that it works from the center outwards and back again. finding balance, knowing where the center is...even when the center changes. Especially in JAZZ!

I suppose this space here is now somewhat focused on my return to the center geographically and what that means socially, spiritually and artistically. Though I'd hate to sound like I am compartimentalizing those things.

I blogged some time ago on the Northwest Trajectory that my Dad set for my life. I mused on the significance of all that, wondering if my destiny lay in moving up to Prince Rupert BC and then just falling off the edge of the world. Well I think some of Debbie's family have that covered with Paul and Lisa living way up there in Terrace. Our latest move here in Edmonton was Northeast. When I look at the pattern that creates its a little like when a horse's head is drawn back when one is trying to get it to go back to where it came from. I've practically circled around Edmonton twice perhaps building momentum for a leap back to the land of my ancestors, at least on my Mom's side. We will of course be much closer to Eastern Canada where Dad's family is from, and Debbie's sister Ruth is now located, of course that's where Joy and Kent, and Felicia also reside.

I know the news may be difficult for some here in Edmonton and for Debbie's folks who are now in Quesnell BC. who unless they happen to be reading this still do not know. we're "trying" to find the right time to tell individuals.

Changing centers.... It will take some getting used to.

"Home is where the heart is
Home is where you learn to love"

Not complicating something so beautiful

2006-11-12T08:14:00.000-08:00

when you find what you need
isn't it beautiful?
you can give and receive
a whole lot of love

when you finally see what it wants to be
when you find what you need
isn't it beautiful?

A few less questions like "why is this important?" or resignations like "that's confusing" or "I don't get it" and a lot more playfullness and adventurousness are required to find the beauty and simplicity of X 88. As the saying goes "this is not rocket science". It's more like smelling flowers than repairing small engines.

See the completness of eight. It's balanced. left to right, right to left. Most music we enjoy in the western world anyways is based on the 7 note "diatonic" system. 8 completes the path. returns you to home. You've heard of the octave right? Octave like Octagon or Octapus? Yes music involves some math but we ain't talking trigonometry here. Can you count to 12? Can you count to 7? Can you count to 3? can you count to 4? can you do all that in reverse? And finally can you see an eight pattern? Can you trace it in the air with your finger? can you make your feet walk in a figure eight? Can you reverse the direction of all the things we just talked about?

don't try to "comprehend it" or "analyse it to death" just play around with it and I promise you will find the music, or maybe better put the music will find you.

when you find what you need, isn't it beautiful?

Going Public in the Center

2006-11-07T15:23:00.000-08:00

So I suppose I can go public now. We are planning to move to Winnipeg! I was just there on the weekend for my mom's 70th Birthday. Since there is no doubt a limited number of people reading this blog I'm going to go for it.

I let everyone in the family know on the weekend. Of course the details will take some time to sort out but we intend to be moved out there before Sept (school year) 2007. I'm going to use this space to unpack some of the things which have led up to our decision.

Down in Red Deer 3 weeks ago now (as I mention in my other blog) I ran into so many kindred spirits from Manitoba that served as confirmation to the desire to make such a move. It was Debbie who initialized the conversation which is pretty amazing I think (since she has never lived there). Well actually she did move there for a short period of time before we were married but we remained here after the wedding. That goes back to a time when Mark and Carol were are Trinity Baptist. So much has happened since then it would be foolish of me to attempt recap.

Kinda funny my last post over at radiance is entitled "Music Biz". Music is a big reason behind moving to Winnipeg. Next to the Family connection of course. After sooo many years out here in Edmonton we are no further ahead career wise in music, it's been a very difficult journey. We are grateful for the many experiences and the many people who have shaped out music but Winnipeg has such a different feel which I believe will suit our musical pursuits much more.

I know that Mark didn't really take interest in adding to this blog (which was initially a "gift" to him, It's OK Mark I forgive you) but I think it's interesting that I entitled it "From the Center". Winnipeg really is central and we look forward to not only centering geographically but centering artisically and spiritually as well. Some of you have shown concern over many of my changing ideas and perspectives which in truth have been just as much a surprise to me as anyone. Many aspects of my consciousness are coming full circle as I learn to make peace with myself.

Centering, however, does not just mean "going back to the way I was" or somehow ignoring the many relationships and experiences which have lead to this my present state and adopting "the conventional". After being in Winnipeg for the weekend I suppose this is one of my biggest concerns: that I would begin to define myself based on others perceptions and conceptions of me rather than be true to myself. While I don't wish to be arrogant but rather live in a state of loving kindness, i also have no desire to nod and say "yes" when inside I have entirely different views. It's like what my friend Ben says about the differend between "being nice" and real "loving kindness". There is a real danger in returning to a place where i once lived to fall into conformity or perhaps the strain of particular expectations placed on me from others.

I picked up a book today at Concordia College entitled "Vital Lies and Simple Truth" all about "Self Deception". I think it's by an author that Stu has quoted (wrote "Emotional Intelligence")

I will return

Another Mystified Mystic

2006-11-02T07:54:00.000-08:00

FROM THE CENTER

Another Mystified Mystic

No shortage of regret for moments lost forever
the portage has been so hard and yet
there's still some hope to capture
to have lived so long so far from home,
disaster after disaster
what kind of ears will hear the groan?

just another mystified mystic

Many will say you ask for what you get
you get too old? - It's over
don't go chasing some childhood dream
there's plenty of 3 leaf clovers
But still a heart pounds in my chest
the feedback keeps me spinning
so impossible to rest, what's the game? what's winning?

just another mystified mystic

Visions known but never seen
so the same old views prevailing
prophets owned have always been
a thing of our own making
still there's a scrambled signal hanging in the air
and perhaps a few are listening
loose my tongue and I will dare
the light of love still glistening

just another mystified mystic

Music Biz

2006-10-13T13:47:00.000-07:00

card
Originally uploaded by radiancecreative.

I'm going to Red Deer tonight to play at the arts touring alliance annual thing. Will be playing at 8:00 p.m. Friday and Saturday at Red Deer College. You can view my "EPK" (Electronic Press Kit) here

Nice little October road trip.

Update: This was perhaps THE single worst "roving radicals" showcase EVER. I arrived late on Friday night, crashing into the Theatre Lobby dragging all my stuff. Saturday night I spent hours setting up only to play for 15 minutes for people as they wisked through the lobby only to later lose my wallet and remain stranded in Red Deer a day longer than I anticipated. "Roving Radicals" should mean that the radical can truely "rove" and basically play wherever and whenever he thinks he can make a splash. This business of having a 15 minute spot when presenter's attention is fleating is not a very good design.

Despite all that (realizing at 3:00 a.m. that my wallet was gone, retracing my steps and places I drove till 6:00 a.m. accepting the offer from a really strange stranger to stay at his place and leaving after becoming really freaked out, losing my cell phone at a diner on the way home and having to drive back adding an hour and a half to my trip, sleeping in the car, etc.) Having quite the little melt down over it all... yes despite all that there were some good moments and contacts made that I'm glad of...

...noteably:

Talking with Cam Penner about common roots in Manitoba, speaking with the guitar player playing for him that day, Tim ? (can't remember last name) and his little boy. Having lunch with the crew from Brooks, what warm beings. Hanging with Brian and Patsy who I never see except at these things but want to see more cause we're in the same town and it would be fun. Seeing my little guitar students, Billie and Mickie and their family, having them the first through the door where I was playing. Meeting Nathan Rogers and Amber, talking with them about Al Racketti, seeing their new yellow bird and more sharing of Manitoba, specifically Winnipeg Westend (Wolsley) where Marky lives (on the tuning fork). Jamming with the guys from The Dust Poets (more southern Manitobans) even though it all digressed so quickly. The kindness of Randall and Laura in sympathizing with my wallet woes and lending me 10 bucks each for gas. Having Jake Peters hear me and notice my ailing D-18 S Martin and offering to take it back to his shop for repair.

Step into the light and be transformed. (Or perhaps it's "fall into the darkness and be obscured")

regardless, now that I've "updated" this post perhaps I can move on to a new one.

X 88 Templates

2006-10-09T12:13:00.000-07:00

Hanging out and Hanging in

2006-10-08T15:04:00.000-07:00

This post refers back to "Falling into One" read it first

top down prevails
and the doughnut hole persists
since there's been no "falling in"
tell me who can then resist?

falling out

Stepping over the rim

once you're done the hymn

falling out and just drifting away

Ya it seems that you all
do so solemnly agree
and you're calling for others
to see just as you see

outside of that circle
we all have to go
and we know it's the same
so there's no need for show

falling out

stepping over the rim

once you're done with him

falling out

and just drifting away

I'm able somehow
to hang out and hang in
does that seem odd?
do we serve the same god?

since there are no more" seems":
there's no more coming apart
I'll just hang in and hang out
there you'll locate my heart

falling out

stepping over the rim

once I've finished the hymn

falling out and just drifting away

Paul Seburn Oct 6th 2006

Enter, Zen Guitar

2006-09-29T18:15:00.000-07:00

What timing. What a responsive Universe. A new student of mine (older in his 50's) lent me this book this week. Really good stuff.

Zen Guitar

I've already got the screen saver insalled on both puters.

DNA ? of NRG?

2006-09-21T12:04:00.000-07:00

guit_dna_smaller_dark
Originally uploaded by radiancecreative.

I bumped into Francis down at the galleria last Saturday and we had a talk (among other things like chi, energy and balancing left and right) about my X-88 guitar DNA.

He said (and I quote) "people are gonna think you're crazy". I've been thinking about this choice of the DNA to understand this way of playing the guitar and feeling that DNA is perhaps to complicated a concept. I have to admit that I am no scientist but when I start extending this simple pattern around the guitar it is reminiscent of DNA strands. There is I believe a parrellel to the "double helix".

Helix meaning six of something and there being 2 of them harmonizes perfectly with the "Whole Tone Zone" theory which is behind and supports the X-88 guitar view, system, mental model, whatever we want to call it. If DNA appears to be behind all life as we know it including the galaxies.

Now I'll be the first to admit that I am heavy on the right brain in my approach to music and life and spirituality for that matter and I'm trying my darndest to harness these concepts and "methods" (such a poor word to describe this) into a manageable form which can benefit others. Meditation, energy balancing, moving from left to right all play a part in having this make a difference to your view and practical application on an instrument.

What I realize is that there is no one or perfect analogy or metaphor for what I'm proposing so like Jesus parables describing the Kingdom of God I must use the many to describe the ONE.

Energy, Frequency, Vibration all come into play and must be sensed and entered into which lead this whole study naturally to Spirit, Gaia , earth community and a host of other realities.

That's all for now

2006-09-15T13:18:00.000-07:00

Evelyn at Capilano

Galleria of Crafters and Artisans

Reflections

I mean business!

But don't worry I like to have fun. Going through old clothes, found this "KornStock" shirt. hehehe

Photos posted by request for the "sexy beast".

X 88 guitar DNA

2006-09-11T08:08:00.000-07:00

guit_dna_smaller
Originally uploaded by radiancecreative.

This is a cropping of the photo taken of "Evelyn". It's a pattern / symbol / mental model which I have drawn and explored many many times since December 2005. I find it very beautiful so I continue to pursue it. It has transformed my guitar playing and never ceases to amaze me in it's simplicity and it's "key like" quality to unlocking deep complexities.

Meditating and contemplating this image is not a complex procedure like pouring over heaps of school material to get ready for an exam. It is in fact a most natural process and one that is connected to universal energy.

In my quest to effectively pass this beauty and grace on to others I am working to create a learning environment for students to explore these realities. To begin the journey I am suggesting a 3 part structure for implementation. As you will see, this is "mmm, mmm good".

1. Mental Models (theory)

2. Muscle Memory (excercise)

3. Making Music (performance)

Faithful Evelyn

2006-09-09T08:38:00.000-07:00

HPIM0883
Originally uploaded by radiancecreative.

Here is a picture of my little Toyota Tercel, Evelyn. She found me 2 years ago this month. It bears a small plaque of dedication which reads:

"This fine Toyota was especially prepared for Evelyn Sept 29th 1984"

Evelyn was reportedly a school teacher who received the car as a gift and drove it for nearly 20 years. I have used it primarily in my offering of music education in Edmonton and surrounding area.

I purchased it with a cheque from Fred Penner dated Sept 29th 2004, for playing bass for him at a few Alberta concerts.

$500.00 and all ll I've had to do is put a starter in it! So a toast to Evelyn the faithful! May she continue to find favour with me.

As you can see I've placed an ad on the side with the URL radiance.ca which for now is forwarded to this blog which for now contains nothing pretaining to the ad

So if you are here at radiance.ca because you saw this car, don't fear, you are in the right place. This simple image and the mental models and theory behind it has revolutionized my experience on the guitar and this is the only place that I know of where you can learn more. So check back or send me an email

80

2006-08-12T20:38:00.000-07:00

80th post...so there!

Little Black Drum

2006-07-19T11:28:00.000-07:00

lit_blk_drm
Originally uploaded by radiancecreative.

Little Black Drum

Athabasca

2006-07-05T09:01:00.000-07:00

This is a song I began writing on the way back from Athabasca:

I'm coming from Athabasca
I've got my little black drum in hand
I bring it back from the river house
where it stayed three hundred sixty five days

The drummers drummed, the dancers danced
The piper played in true romance
got me thinkin' of Cypress Hills
where humans have gathered for seven thousand years

not sure of the chorus yet but it may go something like this...

Manitou, could everything be Manitoba?

Father - Creator , Mother - Earth

feeling loopy, feel like jammin' man

2006-05-29T14:20:00.000-07:00

Digitech's Jamman

cypress hills

2006-05-23T22:52:00.000-07:00

cypress hills
Originally uploaded by radiancecreative.

Sacred Site?

dragon cloud

2006-05-23T22:40:00.000-07:00

dragon cloud
Originally uploaded by radiancecreative.

Somewhere between Medicine Hat and Cypress Hills

Upcoming Gigs

2006-05-22T17:52:00.000-07:00

I've got a couple gigs coming up

I'll be playing at "Music in the Park" down in Brooks Alberta on Sunday June 4th

And at the River House in Athabasca June 9th. This will be my 3rd year of running "sound" at the Athabasca University's convocation

If you look at this town map the River House is just across the creek for River's Edge campground. That's where I will be with Andy, Tim and ?? friday night sometime

peace

Paul

Original Music Download Comments Welcome Encouraged Even Sought After By Expicit Request

2006-05-15T19:39:00.000-07:00

birdwing: 2006

describe some of the feelings, images or pictures that emerge as you listen. can you do other things while listening. does it irritate you or cause any sort of stress?

why did i name it birdwing?

god's holy land: 2005

what style would you describe this as? how does the repeated phrase, "no longer is there one stretch of territory that is the holy land....god's holy land.......the whole world is god's holy land" affect you.

why do you think I would choose this phrase spoken by Tom and build a track around it?

Do you mean Tom Wright? N.T. Wright?

who's playing those blasted bongos?

nothin' but you: 2000

nothin' but who?

lord of the poor: 2004

probably one of the last songs I wrote for public church singing, quite a nice slide show that goes with it.

wood carved frog

2006-05-10T10:26:00.000-07:00

wood carved frog
Originally uploaded by radiancecreative.

Coming soon to a yard near you

Ten Thousand Villages

2006-05-10T10:19:00.000-07:00

here we are, we're all here, we hear all

2006-05-09T10:46:00.000-07:00

pauls_stuff 015
Originally uploaded by radiancecreative.

I quit believing in coincidence
just too many to number
no longer worried what my history meant
i've gone from dumb to dumber

but here we are
we're all here
we hear all

I'm kinda wonderin' how the money's spent
you say what's it to ya
hey what's that rising through the cracks in your cement
it's cohen's hallelujah

but here we are
we're all here
we hear all

P.S. May 2006 Fort Saskatchewan

Saskatchewan

2006-05-07T11:23:00.000-07:00

paul 004
Originally uploaded by radiancecreative.

This is me in Saskatchewan, back in 1998 I think. It was a "prairie tour" or something. I love Saskatchewan, I love Manitoba, I love Alberta but I'm quite distressed over her right now. I've been here for 22 years now. Very angry about what we are doing to the land. Yeah, I'm talking about the "other" high price of oil. I saw it first in the Epoch Times and wept and now even the Edmonton Journal has written something on it.

It's a disgusting filthy shame! What a monstrous greed, what a disgrace!

Very angry and dismayed at the actions of the Israel / US crimes against humanity. For the blindness, numbness, selfishness of the West. For my own entrenchment in the mire of the Western world

Oh Great Spirit! Oh Great Intention behind all living and moving things. Stir up something fresh and alive, something with some raw prophetic imagination! Stir to the surface an alternative, a creative sustainable palpable Presence!

Awaken Energies, thoughts of peace and gratitude.

Happy Blogaversarie, Happy Blogaversarie

2006-05-01T19:06:00.000-07:00

May 01 2006,

Chuck recently celebrated his 100th post. congrats!

I realized today I've been blogging for a full year. whoopy!

I tried to record an audioblog today to speak in more detail on "the Andrews" but the server was too busy. I'll try again later.

peace and gratitude

Paul

Three Andrews in my life

2006-04-25T07:11:00.000-07:00

Andrew Brand
Andrew Smith and
Andrew Perriman

Andrew Brand is living and working as an actor / voice over artist in Korea. Here is a recent telephone call from him while in the subway system. Andrew #1

Andrew Smith is a great songwriter who's recent guitar work is dazzling folk clubs across Canada. Here's his EPK

Andrew Perriman hosts Open Source Theology and has recently released "The Coming of the Son of Man".

More on each of these Andrews in the next post.

peace and gratitude

Paul

Chesterton’s The Everlasting Man

2006-04-23T02:33:00.000-07:00

On the third day the friends of Christ coming at day-break to the place found the grave empty and the stone rolled away. In varying ways they realised the new wonder; but even they hardly realised that the world had died in the night. What they were looking at was the first day of a new creation, with a new heaven and a new earth; and in a semblance of the gardener God walked again, in the cool not of the evening but the dawn.

saw this quoted by Andrew over at Open Source...cool

Instrumental..

2006-04-18T10:29:00.000-07:00

Sorry about the broken link. Try this!

BIRD WING

pauls_stuff 017
Originally uploaded by radiancecreative.

...for your meditation / listening enjoyment...
Done entirely on the 1957 Martin and the Juno 60.

Gratitude

2006-04-09T23:01:00.000-07:00

check this out

Go Gratitude

Preterist interview with Brian McLauren

2006-04-08T23:33:00.000-07:00

Brian McLaren, author of several books, including A Generous Orthodoxy and A New Kind of Christian was kind enough to give up some of his precious time to answer some of my (our) questions. Brian has been indeed very generous towards us and allowed us to title our 2005 conference Preterism, A Generous Orthodoxy. Please join me in welcoming him to Planet Preterist. We are again very thankful for taking his time to share a slice of life and wisdom with us.Virgil Vaduva: Brian, thank you so much for this interview and for taking time to converse with us. Last year you graciously allowed us to title our yearly conference Preterism, A Generous Orthodoxy and we are very thankful for allowing us to also promote your books and communicate the same openness and understanding that you advocate. Have you seen the interest in a "generous orthodoxy" move beyond the boundaries of emergent circles since your first book came out?
Brian McLaren: Yes. I would say that part of what is happening is that emergent, as a conversation, has expanded to include mainline protestants, roman catholics, and others. I just heard the other day that the Archbishop of Canterbury has quoted the book affirmingly recently. I think a wide variety of people on both "sides" of the religious cold war between conservatives and liberals feel a desire for convergence and collaboration and mutual learning - rather than continuing polarization, attack and counterattack, reaction, and mutual criticism.
Virgil: Besides the immediate personal impact your work had on me, I think many Christians within the Preterist movement are being deeply affected by your work and by what Emergent is doing across the world. Why do you think that your message appeals to so many of us?
Brian: First, it's encouraging to hear you say that it does. Theologies work as systems, don't they ... and they have a beginning, and middle, and an end, and the three are integrated into a single system. I think many of us are realizing that if we have one part mixed up, it will affect our understandings of the other two parts. I didn't start with any interest in rethinking eschatology, but of course eventually I had to realize that if I rethink one area, it will lead to rethinking other areas. I think many of us are in this kind of rethinking process - some starting from the beginning part by rethinking, perhaps, the relation of faith and science in relation to evolution and young-earth creationism ... some starting from the middle, as they re-examine what the gospel of the kingdom of God is supposed to mean, or the idea of integral or holistic mission ... and some starting from the end, re-examining eschatology. Wherever you start, you end up looking into the other areas too, I think.
Virgil: Reading A Generous Orthodoxy brought me to tears several times, and it is evident you speak and write from your heart. Why do you care so much? Why did you choose to leave the comfort of modernism for the heavily critiqued, less-traveled and unfinished road of post-modernism?
Brian: Well, I am not that brave by nature. I would have stayed in my comfort zone if left to myself, I imagine. But as a pastor whose main calling is evangelism, I've had to encounter seekers and their questions, and some of their questions got me thinking, and rethinking. Their questions became my own, and then sparked new questions for me. As you know, the terms modernism and postmodernism are heavily contested, and many in the religious world have a very different understanding of the terms than I do. (On top of that, their understanding of what I am saying is very different from mine too!) So I prefer to talk about questioning a conventional understanding of the gospel and the Biblical narrative in search of a more Biblical understanding.
After I started writing, I had so many people contacting me, saying that they were grateful someone was opening up some of these questions. I can't tell you how many people have told me they would have left the faith entirely otherwise. It seems like many of us in the faith - and even in Christian leadership - aren't satisfied with the status quo, and we share a sense that "something more" is out there, or perhaps I should say "back there," or "in there," residing in the Scriptures and our primal stories of the faith.
Virgil: Are you confident that the dialogue (or perhaps stone throwing) between liberals and conservatives will ever get past the deconstructive stage and move into a phase of constructive exchange of ideas, both into the theological and political spheres?
Brian: Sometimes I'm more hopeful than others. In the last few days, a particularly nasty round of stone-throwing and name-calling has taken place, and at the moment I'm pretty disappointed in the way people behave who claim to be speaking with or for God. Lately, I sense a growing humility among liberals, and even though I disagree with traditional liberalism in many ways, one can't help but think that grace flows downhill to humility's low places. At the same time, so many conservatives are embarrassed and broken-hearted by the rather arrogant and unthinking behavior of some of their colleagues, so there's humility there too. I'm hopeful wherever there's humility.
Virgil: I was very excited to see a preteristic book coming out of the emergent thought, in Andrew Perriman's book, The Coming of the Son of Man. What do you think about Andrew's book?
Brian: I think it's very stimulating. What's especially important, I'd say, is that Andrew presents a painstakingly careful re-examination of the Scriptures. Some people accuse anyone who departs from conventional views as jettisoning the Scriptures - but Andrew shows that this is not the case at all. I think any conversation and re-appraisal takes time - especially in the world of theology, and I hope that people won't try to foreclose on dialogue with name-calling, harsh rhetoric, and that sort of thing until these explorations reach their "fullness of time." A lot is at stake in these conversations - and very literally, the lives of thousands of people hang in the balance because if the dominant religious group in the country with the most weapons of mass destruction embraces an eschatology that legitimates escalating violence ... well, I hate to think about it.
Virgil: Do you feel that placing the Parousia of Jesus and the terrible events of the Apocalypse in a first-century context is important to how Christians today approach the various aspects of life, such as economics, environmentalism and involvement in politics?
Brian: This is one reason why I feel these subjects need to be addressed, even though doing so is painful for so many people. An eschatology of abandonment, which is how I would characterize certain streams of the left-behind approach, has disastrous social consequences. Ecology is marginalized - something we can't afford to do in an age of global warming and species extinction and habitat destruction. The rights of Palestinians are ignored in favor of the Israeli state - as if God is happy to bless some people at the expense of others. Any project geared toward improving the world long term is seen as unfaithful, since we're supposed to assume that the world is getting worse and worse. If people get involved in the world's affairs at all, it is for compassion more than justice - but as Micah said, what God requires involves more than mercy: it also involves justice - and again, humility. An eschatology of domination, as you might find in some Reconstructionist circles, is similarly destructive and in my mind antithetical to the gospel's portrayal of how God exercises power. In a bizarre way, these two eschatologies can synergize - mixing abandonment and domination in a strange stew that is easily manipulated by imperialism.
So - I'm glad people are re-opening these issues. So much is at stake!
Virgil: Many Christians today are concluding that the message of Jesus was not as much about avoiding a future fiery existence (or spending eternity in heaven) but about the present, contemporary Kingdom of God, where we should and can live as God intends us to. What pressing societal issues you think Christians should tackle today with this context in mind?
Brian: This is very much what my current writing is focused on, so I'm so glad you're asking these questions. Let me mention the first key issues that come to mind ...
1. Ecology and stewardship of creation.
2. Consumerism and what has been called "theo-capitalism" - where personified abstractions like "the economy" or "free markets" are given god-like status.
3. Reconciliation between races and religions - so we can avoid a set of dangers including bland, mushy syncretism, violent fundamentalism (by both terrorists and super-powers), and a resurgence of secularism (in response to fundamentalism).
4. Extreme Poverty - which is all the more horrific when the means to end it are available to us.
5. Sexuality and family - I'm especially interested in the ways that advertising creates a sexualized culture that undermines family life and sexual sanity.
6. Nationalism, tribalism, militarism, and neo-colonialism - do we have a vision of a better world of plowshares and pruning hooks instead of swords and spears? What will we do to stop genocide?
Eschatology affects the way we approach all of these issues.
Virgil: I am puzzled by the uneasiness displayed towards you by some critics, including some in our own movement. You have been accused of heresy, universalism and relativism. If you were in a room full of critics today what one thing would you say to them to connect with them and encourage them to reconsider what your mission and your message is all about?
Brian: I'm not sure. If you have advice, I'd welcome it! Perhaps I'd say, "Let's pray together." Or perhaps, "Let's read 1 Corinthians 13 together." Or maybe I'd ask permission to share my story with them. But these days, I think that being in a room full of critics would require me not to say anything, but instead to listen and if possible, serve. So maybe I'd say, "Can I get you a cup of coffee? Can I hang up your coat for you? Can I make you a sandwich?"
Virgil: As we are also trying to also put a new face on our own movement and transform it into "a new kind of Preterism," and move beyond the theoretical fundamentalism into the practical, tangible aspects of Christianity and the realized presence of Christ, we are encountering the same friction and opposition that perhaps you have already encountered when dealing with a target audience that sees all things in black and white. Do you have any advice for us on how to better build bridges and construct better channels of communication with other believers?
Brian: Again, I wish I did. I think you are very perceptive to put the focus on "the realized presence of Christ," because that is key. I also think you're perceptive to identify the underlying problem not as mistaken eschatology but as "theoretical fundamentalism" and "black and white" thinking. Sometimes I think that people who are thoroughly indoctrinated and habituated into this kind of system will not be able to break free from it without experiencing both psychological and social dislocation and disorientation. Psychologically, if a person has built his or her entire life on a certain methodology, it would be incredibly hard to consider an alternative. And socially, many groups are so full of fear - the fear of being viciously attacked and discredited and disowned, the fear of being called "liberal" or whatever - that families and friendships would be shattered the moment anyone began to change. And families and friendships are precious things. (This may be the kind of thing Jesus was referring to when he spoke of bringing, not peace, but a sword.) I think the most compassionate thing is to simply love people, not push them to change, and not be intimidated by them either, and to bless them if they persecute you for failing to toe the party line.
The only way forward I can see is for a few people to be willing to have their reputations trashed and their names vilified. If they can survive that with a good spirit and with their faith, hope, and love intact, it will make it easier for others to step out in faith also. It's always hardest for the first few, and casualties are probably always high in the beginning. Through all of this, of course, you can only be sustained by maintaining primary spiritual disciplines - prayer, worship, tithing, meditation on Scripture, fellowship, etc.
Perhaps, as with the children of Israel in the desert, a new day will only come when a new generation rises up and comes of age.
Virgil: Thank you again for your gracious attitude Brian, and for your time. Do you have any other words of wisdom for your Preterist fans out there?
Brian: I think all of us are on a journey, all in process. It takes a long time to unlearn old habits and ways of seeing and to learn new ones. I'm grateful to people who have the courage to voice an alternative to the eschatologies of abandonment and of domination ... The more I get a glimpse of what Jesus meant by "the kingdom of God," the more inspired I am to live by that good, good, good news.
You mentioned "a new kind of Preterism" before. That's an interesting thought. I think a lot of Preterist thinking has, to this point, tried to get a new vision of the ending of the Biblical story without rethinking conventional ways of seeing the middle or beginning. And as you said, it has often maintained a kind of fundamentalist methodology and attitude. That's why people like Andrew Perriman and Tim King and N. T. Wright and others have a lot to offer at this juncture, in my opinion: they're rethinking eschatology, but they're doing so with a different tone - less strident, less polemical, more inspiring and holistic. That would probably be my advice to those seeking "a new kind of Preterism." Don't get stuck in small arguments about details, as important as arguments and details may be; step back and catch the big picture of the whole Biblical story - and try to convey the beauty that you see. The good news is truly good, and our world truly needs it!

Of course...

2006-03-28T13:20:00.000-08:00

I wasn't really "hired" to imagine, i was hired to implement. Thing is I suck at implementation cause I'm too busy imagining how it could be. So while it was assumed I was merely there (my last church leadership "position") to "build" worship teams I was asking questions that cut right to the heart of the worshipping community. It really makes one consider how little imagining is going on particularily when it comes to Church services and Christian gatherings.

How does one even begin implementation without the imagination of the community having been ignited and allowed to expand?

Instead of viewing my experience of spiritual leadership as a mistake, disaster, failure etc. (all of which it was and more) I chose to at least try to see it as a launch or spring pad to something new outside the walls of the church. You know, embrace the pain, wounded healer and all that. Having become aware of my own pain and disfunction, even mental instability yet imprinted with some significant touches of the Spirit which continue to speak prophetically albeit perhaps only between my own 2 ears now? (someone tell me it's not true)

Getting turned on to Nouwen and Peck by fellow minister Geoff John West is an experience that has helped in the transformation. and of course the hours of searching and interacting with emergent and transmil types. Yes many hours that I should've been "implementing" exactly what the community was expecting from me, instead spent obsessively digging through books, message boards, web sites...for the truth. All of my yahoo chats and emails with Tim King and Jay Gary.

Am I just now confused as to my purpose? Afterall I'm just a songwriter right? Is there yet any pastoral / spiritual leadership aspect to my existence? Will the prophetic aspect of my music simply flow into the world of pop music only to become diseminated in the postmodern ooze?

I was the 3rd boy in our family but "supposed to be a girl". Yes I would've been named "Gloria". When I was found to be a boy my parents sensed and had hopes of me being a pastor. During a devotional prayer time at my last visit to Winnipeg for Lydia's funeral, mom and dad seemed to find some sort of fulfillment in this "calling" when they considered my passions. No I am not on staff as a "pastor" anywhere and probably will never be. I just can't shake this desire to shepherd, to somehow catalyst community, to see spiritual renewal and revolution, transformation. Problem is: is there ANYWHERE where people want to "waste time" imagining a new reality? Way too many of the answers are filled in most places I look. I know I know I'm a bit like my name sake the apostle Paul in that "my letters are heavy but in person I'm weak and hard of speech".

Yes it's true I've invested my time and energy into future fantasizing. Waste of time? Foolish? I don't know but I've imagined some pretty amazing things and clumsily attempted to translate it to others. Words, words, words...so meaningless, so empty, so futile.

for now

paul

Alternative Community

2006-03-26T14:34:00.000-08:00

Hey,

Haven't blogged for a while. I'm sure my thousands of readers are wondering what happened to me.

I got my hands back on "The Prophetic Imagination" by Brueggemann. I had lent it out to my "four square Buddhist" friend "Ben". I'd like to get in touch with Steve (n) Martin who i met once at Second Cup with whom I'd like to explore Brueggemann's work and what it means to us today. A few quotes that have resonated with me as I consider the prophetic imagination at work in me. Perhaps some of you can identify.

"The task of prophetic ministry is to nurture, nourish, and evoke a consciousness and perception alternative to the consciousness and perception of the dominant culture around us"

" We need to ask not whether it is realistic or practical or viable but whether it is IMAGINABLE. We need to ask if our consciousness and imagination have been so assaulted and co-opted by the royal consciousness that we have been robbed of the courage or power to think an alternative thought."

"...a prophet in Israel is that of poetry and lyric. The prophet engages in futuring fantasy. The prophet does not ask if the vision can be implemented, for questions of implementation are of no consequence until the vision can be imagined. The imagination must come before implementation."

"Our culture is competent to implement almost anything and to imagine almost nothing."

Can we imagine together? what happened to me back at Calvary Baptist was a few of us were engaged in prophetically imagining something alternative to the "royal consciousness". Well to put it mildly, it didn't go over very well. Despite the energizing effect of embracing pathos and the significant moving of the spirit, it just didn't take. The numbing effect of the dominant consciousness proved the safe way out for many.

"The royal consciousness leads people to numbness, especially to numbness about death. It is the task of prophetic ministry and imagination to bring people to engage their experience of suffering and death."

"clearly the regime is interested not in what people experience but in their behavior, which can be managed."

peace

Paul

questions

2006-02-24T07:46:00.000-08:00

am i "not good enough to be famous" or "not famous enough to be good?"

does everything always have to "have a point" or would we hurt others less without such weapons?

how much risk and danger is involved in creating a truely "safe place"?

can our thinking and resulting life change the world or is the world dominated by a global elite and we can't do anything about it?

are "either or" questions even fair?

how much do you think about the universe and the earth community in particular as multi dimensional?

the scriptures speak of the "7th heaven", how many have you experienced?

where does love come from, and can we create more of it?

how key are these three things in how things work in this current vibrational manifestation:

fear?
guilt?
shame?

If the global elite and all the various secret societies and governments had less people living under fear, guilt and shame could there be a shift of power away from them and their "new world order"?

have you ever looked at the world and recognized that most of us are in a disconnected sort of trance?

have you sensed any shift in human consciousness in the past 10 years?

have you had any shifts in your awareness in the past 10 seconds?

if we continue to hold to a "they" mentality can we ever break free?

where is the love?

what percent of the planet has awakened to the spirit?

can music and art flow from the spirit realm and bring to this dimension a greater reality?

one filled with light, life and laughter?

if not through me and you then through who?

what are we waiting for?

why keep searching for the answers

2006-02-13T11:41:00.000-08:00

why keep searching for the answers
when the question moves you so?

why start waiting for the morning
when the moon's in magic flow

why act so forsaken?
like you're all alone?
like there's no way, no way home?

Why keep telling same old stories?
all been done it stays the same
while we're looking through those glasses
never guess how much the skyline's changed

it used to be so easy
just follow all the rules

but there are some things we cannot see
with the microscpoe or telescope or any other kind of scope that
we might learn to build for ourselves so we can feel in control

why keep searching for the answers
when the question moves you so?

why start waiting for the morning
when the moon's in magic flow?

Thoughts on the way to the Fort

2006-02-13T08:50:00.000-08:00

light aircraft, tilts and circles round oil land
scattered textured clouds give human eye sense of distance round this sphere

two swallows bounce and glide
through dust smudged passenger window

why not join them for a while?

seven eights afternoon moon
is it waxing? waning? watching? waiting?

Can you picture the presence of the wireless cage like net we've drawn?
So what? so 5 tp 10 % of us can be "entertained" while riding a bike or shitting down the toilet?

I pod, you pod we all scream for *$&^#ING ICE CREAM...god!!

We've achieved the speed of light but it's not through savagely consuming fossil fuel
Do you really need to blast through our precious, gracious blue with an obscene orgy of carbon emission?
Man I touch the moon every night - It's really not that far you know.

7/8 afternoon moon
is it waxing? waning? watching? waiting?

So much awareness now and less and less room for pleading ignorance.
Is it all just another way of "having fun"
or could we really get it done?

7/8 afternoon moon
waxing, waning, watching, waiting, wanting, wishing...

Doctrine set straight

2006-02-03T08:22:00.000-08:00

Ah, someone finally managed to set my doctrine straight. some reading this may REJOICE.

When me, Terry, Mathew and Harold had our first practice for last Sunday's morning gathering
I wasn't sure what would happen except that I would have the great honor of playing the drum with my brothers.

I was handed a CD by Michael Jacobs. "They Come Dancing"

I scanned the CD package and noticed a name, Roy Salmond, cool. Also I noticed a track entitled

"The End of The World"

So here I am, in an FCE church being handed a CD by a well known gospel producer. My immediate reaction was to dig into the lyrics to discover michael's view on eschatology. You gotta understand the last couple Western Canadian Christian CD's were like brimstone in leather tights and lights.

What an absolute change of context when I read the lyric and see it's a song about an eastern boy being on the West Coast looking out onto the "end of the world". WOW

So then Terry goes over his vision of the morning, smudge, sweet grass, songs, the 4 directions thingy, the snake dance etc. AND Terry's talk on the importance of having "Right Doctrine" and that right thinking leads to right actions etc.

I thought to myself "What the hell? THAT's what you want to speak on?" What about the incredible energy to be released, the gathering in, I'm thinking of all the deep mysteries and significance of this syncronicity" ?????

So I was thoroughly pumped about participating but from that point on I was carrying something with me. What doctrine is he gonna focus on? All those neo post evangelical fears start rising up. I'm thinking what if some of my theories about the coming of Christ seap back into the conversation? yikes!

So i called Terry on his cell Saturday night just to find out what time he wanted me there in the morning. There was so much I wanted to say, so many others in my circle and in my consciousness who are somehow also already connected to what's being grown here....but the call went kind of like this.

Hello Terry here,

Hi Terry, paul here I called home and got your cell,

ya,

hey what time do you want me there in the morning?

8 o'clock

OK see ya at eight

bye

Well I have to say hearing Terry's talk on Sunday was equally and further surprising and full of epiphanies as Michael' song.

So after all this time. all the theologies and doctrines and interpretations. After all the christian culture of very particular laws and commonly held "views" of reality, I've finally found a doctrinal statement I can believe in. But it's not something from a book. It's already written on the hearts of humankind. Intuition, creativity, syncronicity, peace, love, respect, trust, humility, honesty and courage.

Hey i should add a few links here this Michael's site SACRED NATION

And where I'm gonna go from now on to keep my doctine straight TIPI TALES

for now...

Seven Sacred Teachings

2006-01-30T11:38:00.000-08:00

THE 7 SACRED TEACHINGS

The traditional concepts of respect and sharing that form the foundation of the Aboriginal way of life are built around the seven natural laws, or sacred teachings. Each teaching honours one of the basic virtues intrinsic to a full and healthy life.
Each law is embodied by an animal to underscore the point that all actions and decisions made by man are manifest on a physical plain. The animal world taught man how to live close to the earth, and the connection that has been established between the animal world and that of man has instilled a respect for all life in those who follow the traditional Aboriginal way.

LOVE - EAGLE

To feel true love is to know the Creator. Therefore, it is expected that one's first love is to be the Great Spirit. He is considered the father of all children, and the giver of human life. Love given to the Great Spirit is expressed through love of oneself, and it is understood that if one cannot love oneself, it is impossible to love anyone else.
The Eagle was chosen by the Great Spirit to represent this law, as the Eagle can reach the highest out of all the creatures in bringing pure vision to the seeker. Though the purveyor of the greatest and most powerful medicine, love can also be the most elusive of the teachings, as it depends upon a world that acknowledges the importance of spirituality.

RESPECT - BUFFALO

The Buffalo, through giving it's life and sharing every part of it's being, showed the deep respect it had for the people. No animal was more important to the existence of Indigenous families than this animal, and it's gift provided shelter, clothing and utensils for daily living. Native people believed themselves to be true caretakers of the great herds, and developed a sustainable relationship with the Buffalo resulting in a relationship that was a true expression of respect..
COURAGE - BEAR
The Bear provides many lessons in the way it lives, but courage is the most important teaching it offers. Though gentle by nature, the ferociousness of a mother Bear when one of her cubs is approached is the true definition of courage. To have the mental and moral strength to overcome fears that prevent us from living our true spirit as human beings is a great challenge that must be met with the same vigour and intensity as a mother Bear protecting her cub. Living of the heart and living of the spirit is difficult, but the Bear's example shows us how to face any danger to achieve these goals.

HONESTY - SABE

Long ago, there was a giant called Kitch-Sabe. Kitch-sabe walked among the people to remind them to be honest to the laws of the creator and honest to each other. The highest honour that could be bestowed upon an individual was the saying "There walks an honest man. He can be trusted." To be truly honest was to keep the promises one made to the Creator, to others and to oneself. The Elders would say, "Never try to be someone else; live true to your spirit, be honest to yourself and accept who you are the way the Creator made you."

WISDOM - BEAVER

The building of a community is entirely dependent on gifts given to each member by the creator and how these gifts are used. The Beaver's example of using his sharp teeth for cutting trees and branches to build his dams and lodges expresses this teaching. If he did not use his teeth, the teeth would continue to grow until they became useless, ultimately making it impossible for him to sustain himself. The same can be said for human beings. One's spirit will grow weak if it is not fulfilling its use. When used properly however, these gifts contribute to the development of a peaceful and healthy community.

HUMILITY - WOLF

Recognizing and acknowledging that there is a higher power than man and it is known as the Creator is to be deemed truly humble. To express deference or submission to the Creator through the acceptance that all beings are equal is to capture the spirit of humility. The expression of this humility is manifested through the consideration of others before ourselves. In this way, the Wolf became the teacher of this lesson. He bows his head in the presence of others out of deference, and once hunted, will not take of the food until it can be shared with the pack. His lack of arrogance and respect for his community is a hard lesson, but integral in the Aboriginal way.

TRUTH - TURTLE

To know truth is to know and understand all of the original laws as given by the Creator- and to remain faithful to them. It is said that in the beginning, when the Creator made man and gave him the seven sacred laws, the Grandmother Turtle was present to ensure that the laws would never be lost or forgotten. On the back of a Turtle are the 13 moon, each representing the truth of one cycle of the Earth's rotations around the sun. The 28 markings on her back represent the cycle of the moon and of a woman's body. The shell of the Turtle represents the body real events as created by the Higher Power, and serves as a reminder of the Creator's will and teachings.

if a baptist is into meditation does that make him a zen baptist?

2006-01-19T11:20:00.001-08:00

are we or aren't we in a new age?

2006-01-19T11:18:00.002-08:00

cosmic consciousness

2006-01-19T11:18:00.001-08:00

epiphany

2006-01-13T17:05:00.000-08:00

06

2006-01-13T12:08:00.000-08:00

Almost 42 years old.... I've read tons of blogs and spent way more time than I should have at message boards and forums around the web. google my name Paul Seburn and you'll see me scattered about. when I click my bookmark tab (in Netscape BTW) it naturally fills my 17" monitor. to get to the latest bookmark I point the mouse at the little arrow at the bottom and go for coffee. of course there is no coffee in the house cause I forgot to let my partner know were out. me without coffee..not so good.

bottom line is I've been searching, scanning, absorbing and compressing for some time now. i've often thought about starrting a blog but i wanted it to be big right away cause...well as bruce cockburn says "you get bigger as you go" "bails of memory like boats in tow". ya I've got one shit load of memory, but memories are meaningless without moments.

"living in the moment and the memory, each one a sacred destination"

...start a blog, to give back to the world over this digital canvas. you know it's like we are all neighbors now, this thing being a glorified version of a wire and tin cans. I had a web site once, it was pretty good and i enjoyed the feeling of creating a space to share songs, stories, pictures etc. that was back in the late 90's.

this is my place to "de-compress" and i'm just not gonna think too hard about the effect that may have cause that's what i always do. i have something to share, i project into the future (with my pea sized brain) what could or should happen, get scared or nervous or whatever and then do nothing. so here we go, there are some local bloggers who i want to alert to this decompression of mine. radiance creative.

paul seburn

big poppa

2006-01-08T17:30:00.000-08:00

big_papa
Originally uploaded by radiancecreative.

can anyone positively identify the man in this photo?

Think Green

2006-01-03T22:49:00.000-08:00

Green Party of Canada

falling into one

2005-12-31T08:19:00.000-08:00

you pour out your heart...pour out your heart.

I unload my mind...unload my mind.

I was always taught there were two of me

so a battle rages on

if i can't even live with myself? how can you and i agree but we're

Falling into one, falling into one

will those arms catch me? will they embrace me?

i'm so afraid of falling into one

i pour out my heart...pour out my heart

you unload your mind...unload your mind

have you ever felt like you're cut in half?

like your really not complete?

these arms will more than catch you jack!

they'll hold you "Dan la nuit" and we're

Falling into ONE, falling into ONE
those arms will catch you, they will embrace you

Falling into ONE, falling into ONE

these arms will catch you and they will embrace you

don't be afraid of falling, it's better than this crawling

don't be afraid of falling into ONE

landing epiphanies

2005-12-28T23:12:00.000-08:00

scen-steeprock-wtower-fromtrk-1415
Originally uploaded by radiancecreative.

3 full weeks since my last entry. Recent pilgrimage to Manitoba has left me a little spread out. I'm just now starting to "land".

I've been "out" for a year now. All the epiphanies of wonder and oneness now set backdrop for new and intense awareness of smallness and seperateness. I read a quote in a book recently that went something like "one man's epiphany is another man's triviality"

Hmm, did a search of Epiphany and discovered an ancient Christian Feast which I was unaware of and it's not too late to celebrate it.

1. Epiphany
a. A Christian feast celebrating the manifestation of the divine nature of Jesus to the Gentiles as represented by the Magi.

....Jesus gave us the example: we are not called to summon the media, to advertise the coming attractions, to be the next big thing. We are called to do this as Jesus did it: in smallness and hiddenness, in weakness and brokenness, in humility and trust, in faith, hope and love.

Let us contemplate the smallness and hiddenness of the first epiphany and be ready in our hearts to imitate it in all of the tiny, insignificant interactions of our lives. Let us pray to be true to the meaning of Christ’s infancy, to be protected from the Herods of this world, and to accomplish our mission that we received in the Lord at our Baptism. AMEN.

article

St Paul's

I'll take that as a word, perhaps you will too

peace be with you

Land

2005-12-07T09:39:00.000-08:00

A lone island
A wash of pain, a gain of none
Alone is land
Awash again

Chuck Elves 2005

Jerusalem

2005-11-25T06:49:00.000-08:00

On my way to fort Saskatchewan yesterday afternoon I dusted off an old Don Maclean cassette and popped it in. randomly i heard the last few bars of "Love Hurts" (a painful cover) and this Jem of a revelation of the New Jerusalem....WOW. He's got it dead on as to the REALITY of the NJ which is here to stay. Anyone who reads these word and thinks it's talking about the old Jerusalem or the present day city of Jerusalem will miss it. That's how I heard it back in 1981 when this song came out. Now it's in a totally new light. See my post on "heaven is here to stay".

Jerusalem, Jerusalem all roads lead to you.
Jerusalem, Jerusalem your light is shinning through.
And you will show, show the way, to all who see it shine,
That we can live, in peace, in Jerusalem this time.
The walls will keep you in, the walls will keep you out.
The gates are calling those, who know what it's about.
Jerusalem, Jerusalem all roads lead to you.
Jerusalem, Jerusalem your light is shinning through.
And you will show (you will show), show the way (show the way), to all who see it shine,
That we can live, in peace, in Jerusalem this time.
Jerusalem is old, Jerusalem is new,
Jerusalem can hold, Moslem, Christian, Jew.
In Jerusalem, Jerusalem all roads lead to you.
Jerusalem, Jerusalem your light is shinning through.
And you will show (you will show), show the way (show the way), to all who see it shine,
That we can live, in peace, in Jerusalem this time.
(Bridge)
The markets and the alleys, the temples and the tombs.
A place for all believers, it has so many rooms.
In Jerusalem, Jerusalem all roads lead to you.
Jerusalem, Jerusalem your light is shinning through.
And you will show (you will show), show the way (show the way), to all who see it shine,
That we can live, in peace, in Jerusalem this time.
Yes, we can live, in peace, in Jerusalem this time.

emerging or receding?

2005-11-13T14:22:00.000-08:00

water_receding
Originally uploaded by radiancecreative.

there are many who would agree that there is something new "emerging" in our world. "

i've been a part of "the conversation" for a few years now and my personal history dates back 40 years within the evangelical community. What biblical narrative captures and lends maps for this time in human evolution and history? For me, Noah comes to mind. If something truly is emerging then there must be a receding to expose new land.

Even after the rain there was a time of waiting for the waters to recede. 2 years ago I felt like I had connected with several other "ministries" (for lack of a better word) who didn't seem to have any apparant connection with oneanother. It was as if they were on different islands with gulfs of doctrine, belief structures between them. Now it seems there has appeared some dry land where ideas, theologies, etc are now able to be shared. this is encouraging to me because it opens up vistas of possibilities within my human circles.

Could it be the recent floods and storms and the following "emergence" are being mirrored in our social / spiritual consciousness? If there is a better day coming it's time we realize it emerges where we live. Perhaps is also time we realize and actualize that we are all in this together. The old rational for seperation from one another have been washed away leaving a mess, but a mess from which can and must spring a renewed and tranformed vision of what's really important.

My hairline, however, is NOT receding...that picture from 1973 proves it. I've just always had a large forehead.

Heaven is Here to Stay

2005-11-13T09:53:00.000-08:00

A must listen about now would be Tim King's talks from Nov 12 and 13th. the archive is here

I listened to that right after playing this....a song I wrote about a year ago.

Here in this dry and thirsty land
Not much grows here just miles of sand
that stretch toward the horizon to an empty sky
Here in this dry and thirsty land

Where did that river come from?
I'm desperate for water but how can I get some
with this broken bottle I carry along?
Where is that river coming from?

I walk upstream for a while
I meet a young boy wearing a smile
across a face that is shining
like headlights in NOVEMBER
"where did that river come from?"

(he said) It's coming from the city of the
great and mighty king
no palace, church or temple there
but you should hear everybody sing
It's open to the public now 24 hours a day
it's colour is filling all this grey
heaven is here to stay

I asked him "How can these things be?"
It doesn't sound like anything I've ever seen
through this window I'm holding that Grandfather gave me
I asked him "How can these things be?"

He said "If you'll just look outside that frame."
You just might discover there's no one to blame
and we're all in the same circle in the arms of the Father
"If you'll just look outside that frame."

(he said) and then you'll see the city of the
great and mighty king
no palace, church or temple there
but you should hear everybody sing
It's open to the public now 24 hours a day
it's colour is filling all this grey
heaven is here to stay

The Journey of Paul

2005-11-11T14:53:00.000-08:00

walking the rail
Originally uploaded by radiancecreative.

As promised....having now come to a blog near YOU. Part one in an endless series and cycle, from my earliest consciousness.

The Journey of Paul

February 25, 1964

I was born...

whoops..got to go!

Hey I am so excited by some good friends who have recently started blogs. Kevin, Stew and Doug.

I hope you all get to know each other.

peace

Love Vibration

2005-11-04T08:52:00.000-08:00

"I realized after a while that the good of the one is in the good of the whole and nothing else. That is when I realized how Love is more powerful than hatred. It is a simple matter of perspective. If an individual wants to make self, or a group, better than the rest of humanity, hatred is the only route. However, if an individual can allow their sense of well-being to include the well-being of all others, hatred has no use whatsoever. Since that discovery, Love has been the central theme of my investigation.

A study of Love can begin a long way from “liking people”, but it ends up there. It is not necessary to comprehend “unconditional Love” in order to explore it. It is only necessary to acknowledge its existence, and begin to identify with it. Identifying with Love is sane because it identifies with reality and dispels illusion. Love is the canvas and the pigment of all we can perceive, think or imagine. Any individual risks nothing in the exploration of that hypothesis. But the gains are amazing."

copied from a forum discussion at UCS

Came across this today, and was thinking of Josh Rouse's song "Love Vibration" again yesterday.

"Step out into the sun
Step out into the world and love someone
Save yourself from hate
Save yourself from hate and all the hassle

(Chorus)
And you people all know what I'm talkin' about
Yeah you people all know what he's talkin' about
(repeat 1x)

Spread the love vibration...uh huh
Spread the love vibration

Now everbody's scared
Scared of being lonely and abandoned
Find someone who cares
Find someone to love and understand you

(Chorus 2x)
(instrumental)
(Chorus 3x)

Spread the love vibration...uh huh
Spread the love vibration...uh huh
Spread the love vibration"

DEEP GREEN

2005-10-31T11:45:00.000-08:00

030906-produce-crop
Originally uploaded by radiancecreative.

I'm going to be playing weekly down at the farmer's market at Capilano Mall. If you go in the doors next to safeway you'll see a large vegatable stand. Just north of the greens is a galleria for artisans. This is where I will be between 10:30 and 12:30 every Saturday. Not only can you get your veggies but you can check out the huge selection of art, paintings, crafts, scultpture, carvings, drums, rocks, etc. (too much to list).

This is just one more step toward an organic immersive musical experience.

I've been enjoying one or two of the cable stations that we have now (special of 20 bucks a month cause I'm such a "valued long term shaw customer"). Music documentary/concert footage. A couple that have struck me were the special on George Clinton (Father of Funk) , and the Grateful Dead (Gerry Garcia,"the dead") of course for the extended improvisation and community aspect. The Funkadelic culture...well it's just facinating (and disturbing) to observe. Especially the "mother ship" descending...ha ha.

When I consider what kind of textures (fixtures, costumes props etc.) which I see developing around my music it's much more of an organic nature. Instead of stepping out of a space ship with massive sunglasses and glittery top coat I can see growing up from a lower earthy place in the room. hard to explain with out the help of an artist so I'll just leave it at that.

Anyways for organic tunes: saturday mornings / capliano mall / 10:30 to 12:30 . will be available for coffee / hanging somewhere in the middle of all that.

peace

The Ecozoic Era

2005-10-25T09:50:00.000-07:00

"The first condition is to understand the universe is a communion of subjects, not a collection of objects. Every being has it's own inner forms, its own spontaneity, it's own voice, it's ability to declare itself and to be present to other components of the universe in a subject to subject relationship. Whereas this is true of every being in the universe, it is especially true of each component member of the Earth community. Each component of the Earth is integral with every other component. This is also true of the living beings of the Earth in relation with one another."

You can find the 9 page .pdf file here....
The Ecozoic Era

I found the link in one of Jay's recent articles at his website

Audio Blogging

2005-10-24T09:46:00.000-07:00

Archived Audio Blog

2005-10-24T08:24:00.000-07:00

Well I finally got my FTP client sorted out. I'm using "xp lite" to strip uneeded crap off my computer but i guess I went a little too far. Now I can access my files there and create links.
These were recorded on the road in my little Tercel earlier this year. These are .wav files that seem to require some decoding. I'd be interested to hear how they work for you.

thoughts after O'byrnes

I just listened to this and I encourage you to listen to it right to the end. It's pretty entertaining when I continue to audio blog even after picking up my 17 year old daughter and her boyfriend.

thoughts on sharing
thoughts on recharging

deeper places / living spaces / Rest a While

2005-10-17T11:21:00.000-07:00

hazelton 026
Originally uploaded by radiancecreative.

what does it mean when you say

you don't know me ?

what can i do to show you that i care?

what are the costs involved?

will i regret it?

when we open the treasure

is there nothing there?

or could it lead us to deeper places?

could we then create living spaces?

is there a way to see you as my brother?

what kind of eyes does it take to know?

what about hassles could we overcome them?

is there one spirit that holds us now?

and could it lead us to deeper places?

could we then create living spaces?

REST A WHILE WE WILL SEE

THATS THE WAY IT WANTS TO BE

REST A WHILE AND WE WILL KNOW

THATS THE WAY IT WANTS TO GROW

baby i'd love to throw my arms around you

draw you in and hold you through the night

its you that shines when the hydro fails me

together we can make some light

to lead us to deeper places

to then create living spaces

Paul Seburn 2005

Twin Falls

2005-10-05T08:40:00.000-07:00

hazelton 013
Originally uploaded by radiancecreative.

WOW

On another note, check out Tim's Webcast on Sin Righteousness and Judgement

Oh, Oh! and THIS ONE !!! on The World, Hate & Religion

The Journeys of Paul

2005-10-05T08:17:00.000-07:00

walking the rail
Originally uploaded by radiancecreative.

A new series coming soon to a Blog near you!

Get Thee Hither to the GAZEEBO

2005-09-06T21:02:00.000-07:00

Hey what`s up with that last post. doesn`t anyone else want to offer how they imagine the passing of time (question mark) my keyboard is doing this `É`for question marks. i know not why except maybe that i`ve been trying to install a blue tooth wireless keyboard.

Anyways...last Sunday afternoon I stopped by the Gazeebo to enjoy my Wendy`s chili. To me surprise and delight I encountered a drum circle emanating from yon gazeebo. I doth entered the circle and didst make my presence known by doing what any good citizen would do and that is to pound on a drum myself. oh the divine appointedness of it all.

I met some `young people ` kind of ``matt and chuck`s age. In light of recent digereedoo episodes I made a bold offer to return hither the next Sunday. So Yeah Chucky, Macky, Matty and all house types...let`s do it!

After the drumming I went for coffee with the old mystic among them. 10 years my senior is he and an experience indeed it twas. kindred spirit, who challenged my tendency to abstraction. concrete and grounded his mantra remained ringing in my ears.

So Sept. 11 3:00 p.m. Gazeebo at 83 ave and Gateway Blvd. Be there. Seriously. this could be very cool

Lower Right to Upper Left

2005-08-31T11:22:00.000-07:00

SouthEast to NorthWest. I just realized after reading the last post that this is how i envision the passing of time. When I see a time line in minds eye it begins to the right, downward angle and behind me. The future direction is to the left, upwards and forwards.

Anyways