Lisa Gerrard … when angels sing …

Lisa Gerrrard

Music is a place to take refuge; it’s a sanctuary

from mediocrity and boredom; it’s innocent and

it’s a place you can lose yourself in thoughts and

memories and intricacies.

Spider & Fly stumbled upon the angelic sounds of Lisa Gerrard while searching for music conducive to enlightenment during entheogenic explorations. The first track that caught our ears, minds, and souls, was One Perfect Sunrise , performed with Orbital, the electronic music band from England (read more concerning Orbital here: Wikipedia: Orbital). We lay on a stack of soft quilts … the light from candles, glowing through a potted hibiscus, casting images across the ceiling, of magical, merry dancing leaves … minds and spirits open … souls merged and soaring through realms of perfect bliss … lifted from consensual reality by the celestial sound of Lisa’s voice … and knew … that we were one …

We quickly found an abundance of Lisa’s recordings, due mostly to the popularity of her music included in at least fifteen movie sound tracks, including Gladiator, The Insider, Ali, Man On Fire, and Layer Cake.
Aside from her captivatingly beautiful voice, and her style of singing, the fact that Lisa does not use words when singing sets her apart from other performers.

She describes this aspect this way:

I do know intellect to be a point of analytical hindrance. In India people say ‘hello’ with their smile and their eyes. Why would we assume that the spoken word is our soul source of communication? If you tell your children that, they will become bored and uncertain. If you live and show sincerity in your actions, this strengthens their inner trust and exercises their ability to discern between strength and uncertainty.

As for her role in the spiritual journey, Lisa has this to say:

My spirituality leads me out of the world but it is an unselfish journey. It is the horror of the world that parallels its potential beauty. Spirituality is not an escape but a journey toward the within. I am here to bring clarity and open the pathways of the heart so that others may hear the truth when it is revealed to them. That is my greatest responsibility. To encourage sensitivity so that we can continue to feel not only for ourselves but for others that we have no way of ever meeting. We are all members of the human race and equally have a right to all be here. Let’s walk gently and intuitively so that those that come after us can find peace and safety.

Sanctuary – a portrait, by Clive Collier

Made over the course of a year, it is an intimate portrait of an artist who shares some of her deepest and most creative and emotional insights on all aspects of her life and career.
Based on Alchemy, the film illustrates Lisa’s connection with nature, but also the essence of her music and singing as strong spiritual expression.

For more information concerning this gifted songstress, visit her site:

Lisa Gerrard

Global Orgasm For Peace

December 21st, 2008

We’ve never been able to synchronize our schedules in order to participate, but we sure do like the theory!
One aspect of this organization that bothers me more than just a bit, is its apparent misandry. I think it’s great to be proud of feminine qualities and traits, and to use them to better the world. I don’t think it’s okay to denigrate masculinity in the process.
Despite this antagonistic approach, the concept – loving intention on a global scale – is fascinating, and deserves much attention.

What is that concept? For starters, it’s about “intention”.

It’s time for a new paradigm of partnership with each other and the Earth; of joy in life and love. An Evolutionary Revolution of Partnership and Fourth-Wave Feminism, with women guiding men towards loving mindfulness; women and men lowering the birth-rate to one child per woman; men learning from women new definitions of “progress”; less dependence on the ‘stuff’ we are told we need; of conscious intention for harmony between the sexes, the races and our species and the rest of the world we share.

From the Global Orgasm Site:

3 Reasons … for Global Orgasm

Peace
Orgasm and the sense of well-being it brings – how would the planet be if it felt that good? Could that be one definition of Peace? Practice visualizing the planet experiencing the afterglow of your Big Oh and ignoring the Govern-Men as they try to drum up support for their next invasion. As global population expands, we will all feel the pressures that They will manipulate to justify violent takeover of resources.

Use less, have fewer babies, live more simply and think outside the box that They would lock you in. Nations are made up of people like you and us, and we allow people like Them to act as if they run everything, just to keep Them out of our neighborhoods. It is an act and it can only become real if we allow it to. Visualize a world in which public servants serve the public.

Gender & Social Justice
Justice starts with compassionate understanding. Only when we can visualize ourselves in someone else’s place can we understand what drives them to behave the way they do. Empathy, compassion, love – these are the Feminine traits that all women and men are born with in varying ratios. When they are used in our interactions with others and with the other species, justice will prevail. Differences in gender, social status and race are not delineators of bad and good. We are all worthy of justice. To combine the energy of orgasm with a conscious empathy for all beings, human and otherwise, would be a powerful boost to the well-being of our planet and species. Visualize true partnership to heal the planet.

Global Warming
The planet needs a rest from all our other desires, so what better way to get us to take a rest from over-consumption than an orgasm? And if we can combine that energy with a resolution to be satisfied with less of everything (except orgasms, of course), perhaps the collective mindset will change. And since a major cause of global warming, peak oil, peak water, peak everything is overpopulation by humans, lets put in a collective request for fewer offspring. Every cute baby is another consumer. Let’s make children even more valued by making fewer of them, before the pressures of overpopulation drive our children to kill each other.

How does it work?

The Global Consciousness Project, located in Princeton, New Jersey, runs a network of Random Event Generators around the world which record changes in their randomness during global events. The results show that human consciousness can be measured to have a global effect on matter and energy during widely-watched events such as the collapse of the World Trade Center towers, large antiwar protests, natural catastrophes, acts of war and mass meditations. Concentrated consciousness has measurable effects.

Our minds influence Matter and Quantum Energy fields, so by concentrating our thoughts during and after The Big O on peace and partnership, the combination of high orgasmic energy combined with mindful intention for peace could reduce global levels of violence, hatred and fear.

The world is full of men with axes to grind and weapons to fire in displays of their superiority over others. It is time to spare the planet from Alpha Male concepts of ‘progress’, ‘growth’ and Manifest Destiny, which are endangering all of us. True partnership between the Masculine and Feminine that is within all women and men may enable our species to survive in relative harmony. The Global Orgasm for Peace is one attempt to begin that process, and is just one enjoyable part of the Evolutionary Revolution movement, which begins with women recognizing the awesome biological power of seduction they all possess.

Move Over Alex Grey …

… the next great psychedelic artist has arrived, and his name is Andy Thomas.

Andy Thomas (Android) is an Australian artist and independent
designer from Melbourne, specializing in digital organic visualization
of nature and technology.

From Andy’s web site, Android:

Android is the continuing project by artist Andy Thomas, using computer generated imagery, painting and photography to create detailed montages of organic and mechanical forms.

Android is interested in all things visual, in particular the intrinsic relationship between technology and the natural world. This website presents a visual study exploring the notion of technology as an inevitable extension of evolution.

Dissecting the idea that sound and imagery are unavoidably linked, the Android project has now begun to analyze the concept of visual sound.

A sampling of some of my favourite Andy Thomas works … I hope Santa is keeping track here … although I doubt I would be able to select just one …

Cylathorn

Freak Of Nature

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Visit Andy’s site and browse his
creations … they are … captivating …

Psychonautic Explorations

Psilocybin Cubensis

I tripped off the edge of reality, and found
the Universe was liquid, molecules
are illusion, time is a hologram,
and we are God.

The SpiderFly journey has included, on occasion, the use of entheogens (psilocybin) for spiritual enhancement and to facilitate enlightenment.
Although the experience and the perception of our unique connection does not rely on entheogenic influence in any way, we feel that the careful and judicious use of these substances has brought very positive and discernable perceptions, and broadened our awareness of realms beyond consensual reality.
Psychonaut is a modern term used to describe one who uses trance technologies and, more specifically mind-altering substances, more for their ability to act as entheogens than for their inebriating (or social) effect. In effect, they are used as a means to achieve states of mind in which different perceptions, unhindered by everyday mental filters and processes, can arise.
Psychonauts believe that when a mind-altering substance is used with this intent, its effects can be life altering and are not mere hallucinations.
An alternate description is that while some aspects of the experience may be hallucinatory, the realizations caused by those hallucinations and the mental, emotional and long term impact of the experience are real, usually positive, and enduring. The term is often associated with neoshamanic practices; however, many distinguish between the mental exploration of the psychonaut and healing-oriented shamanic practice.
An entheogen, in the strictest sense, is a psychoactive substance used in a religious or shamanic (or entheogenic) context. Entheogens generally come from plant sources which contain molecules closely related to endogenous neurochemicals. They occur in a wide variety of psychedelics of various religious rites and have been shown to directly provoke what users perceive as spiritual or mystical experiences (see Good Friday Experiment).
These chemicals, whose use predate written language, are the essence of the entheogens. Entheogens are molecules which induce alterations of consciousness identical in many ways to those documented for ritual ingestion of traditional shamanic inebriants. Entheogens have been safely utilized in a ritualized context for thousands of years. Examples are far reaching ancient sources predating the modern era: such as Greek: kykeon; African: Iboga; Vedic: Soma, Amrit.

This view concerning spiritual enhancement via psychedelics is not held only by we who dwell within the web … official documentation has recently been issued by Roland Griffiths, at Johns Hopkins University:

Rigorous study hailed as landmark

In the study, more than 60 percent of subjects described the effects of psilocybin in ways that met criteria for a “full mystical experience” as measured by established psychological scales. One third said the experience was the single most spiritually significant of their lifetimes; and more than two-thirds rated it among their five most meaningful and spiritually significant. Griffiths says subjects liken it to the importance of the birth of their first child or the death of a parent.

To read the full article from Johns Hopkins Media Relations and Public Affairs representative, Eric Vohr, please follow the link below:

Hopkins scientists show hallucinogen in mushrooms (Psilocybin Cubensis) creates universal “mystycal” experience

A follow-up study, conducted 14 months after the original experiment, shows little or no decrease in the participant’s experience. The original papers can be read here:

Mystical-type experiences occccasioned by psilocybin mediate the attribution of personal meaning and spiritual significance 14 months later.

Kundalini Splendor

Not long ago, we felt a decided surge in energy … a distinct change that caused us both to stop and muse … “something is afoot … the evolution is upon us … “. Not to be confused with the inane ramblings of tormented and deranged religious zealots … although our private discussions might generate just such an image – our spiritual discussions run the gamut, from intensely profound and meaningful, to the bizarre and ludicrous, as we wander along this spiritual route of unchartered territory, attempting to understand what is happening to us … and searching for others to whom the same spontaneous and indescribable storm of bliss has occurred.
In this search for meaning, answers, and kindred spirits, we found Dorothy. Dorothy Walters is a writer and poet by trade. Her work has been devoted to spiritual expressions of her kundalini awakening for many years, and her style is filled with warmth, truth, and the inner knowing of those of us who have experienced the ineffable … kundalini splendor.

As is often the case when we feel a significant change in the nature of the energy, we consulted Dorothy’s blog. Not surprisingly, on the date that we had perceived a significant enough shift in energy that we discussed the possible meaning of this latest change, Dorothy’s blog reflected the same sentiment – i.e., a sense that an acceleration in spiritual evolution was taking place.
Synchronicity plays a major role in our experiences.

Dorothy Walters

Although our experience cannot be attributed to kundalini alone, we find enough similarities and parallels in the writings of those who have experienced kundalini awakening, to feel that this phenomenon is involved significantly.
The following, is an excerpt from one of Dorothy’s Books, called A Cloth of Fine Gold.

WHAT IS IT?

Not a sexual explosion
rocking the flesh.

Nor a spasm of longing
triggering the blood.
More like perfume
suffusing a room
filled with daffodils.

Or the barely heard sound
of a distant wind chime
resonating all your bones
to bliss.

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To read Dorothy’s blog, review her books, or communicate with her, click on the following link:
Kunalini Splendor

2012: The Return of Quetzalcoatl

The encroaching festive season is upon us, and reunion opportunities are becoming more and more scarce. This has been the trend for the past two christmas seasons for us.

Amidst the rush and chaos, we find less and less time for spiderfly spiritual pursuits, contenting ourselves with the snippets of time together … brief but oh-so-wonderful energy generating activities … and uniting in mind, body, and soul. During these prolonged periods of lull in web activities, we resort to solitary pursuits of enlightenment … i.e., reading, researching.
I purchased the latest book by Daniel Pinchbeck – 2012 The Return Of Quetzalcoatl – last summer, to bring along on a camping trip to the northern woods. I’ve read only the first five chapters, but have been thoroughly captivated by what I’ve read so far.
Daniel is a fellow psychonaut (see here for definition: psychonaut), having explored his own spirituality, and that of shaman and their tribes in several countries over the past few decades, with most of his exploration enhanced by entheogens.

Daniel Pinchbeck

The book addresses the upcoming 2012 phenomena. This date is familiar to anyone who finds non-traditional spirituality of interest, and yet we have very little information concerning it’s meaning. I hope to find time to delve much more deeply into this publication, in order to acquire a better understanding of this event … hopefully, before it arrives.

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You can visit the official 2012 The Return of Quetzalcoatl
web site by clicking on the following link:
2012 The Book

Coping With Bliss

Spider and Fly journey together through realms of bliss, during periods of lesser obligation to family, and work. These periods are dubbed ‘reunions’, and are interspersed with bouts of consensual reality, called “lulls”. The lulls are not tedious, boring, or lacking in interest or pleasure and amusement … but in spiderfly realm, they are a pause in the intense interaction between the spider and the fly.

Occasionally, entheogens enhance and amplify perceptions … always, unconditional love forms unbreakable bonds … unwavering trust provides a solid foundation … profound gratitude pervades every holy moment of this connection.

Within the veiled boundaries of this magical, mystical spiderfly realm, Spider and Fly attempt to grasp the meaning of the date ‘June 6th’, dark and ominous autumn months that bring chaos and turmoil like clockwork, a propensity for biting the sides of thumbnails during times of stress, among other mysteries.
The web denizens interact with a host of paired characters that occur spontaneously then take roost appearing frequently, each bringing their own unique set of traits and personality, colouring this adventure with much warmth, and many smiles … and each steeped in meaning and nostalgia … Jeb and Lillabel … Eugene and Daisy … Grin and Drool … Puff and Blow … to name just a few.
The magic began on April 8th, 2006, when, during a twist of fate, the fly enticed the spider to meet for a drink at a sports bar half way between The Outpost (Fly’s home) and The Web (Spider’s home). A fate that was set in motion a lifetime ago, was realized at this meeting … and twin souls reunited. What ensued over the subsequent days and weeks mystified and puzzled and awed the pair, as overwhelming sensations of having found one’s way home after a long and arduous journey … of reaching a long-sought destination of supreme bliss and comfort … of uncomprehensible unity of mind, body, and soul … became increasingly and overwhelmingly profound.
Ineffable as the experience has been, we continue to reach out to the rest of humanity … searching for answers and for knowledge … searching for kindred souls – pairs who are wandering through the same twin soul kundalini voyage and spiritual adventure … all the while, coping with bliss to the best of our ability.

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blissful

encounters brought

oxygen through our lungs

when time froze and energy surged,

entwined forward and in rewind which makes

risks worth taking with you priceless

this lifetime and beyond;

each thought of us

blissful