Rainbow Abound; Sedona warms my Heart :)

My time at the Tree of Life was complete at the end of April, my mom arrived to escort me home with my brand new bike- cycle. Leaving a lifestyle extreme, serene, beautiful light and challenging, I yearned to explore more, this time East of St. Louis and Kentucky to Appalachia and the District of our Nations capital. Back home in time to staff a warrior's initiation weekend with my brother Troy, then a brief visit with family and friends and off to ATX (austin) on an old school bus to Nashville for Cosmic Clearance via Little Rock. The medicine moves me and Shpongle grooves me, I'm off to Knoxville, then Asheville with Rusty Elaine Stevie, skateboards, rock gyms and "Chesber" our pet frisbee. The ride starts at Earthave as I reunite like lost lovers with Ryan and Mandy, we meditate, connect, and share our joy over diner with friends. Tours and tantrums, the wheels turn beneath our feet as our legs burn and storms roll in. North on the Blue Ridge Parkway, we visit Turtle Island with Eustace Conway and friends, Boone for a warmshowers stay, then to Shanon Farms, Woodfolk House, Twin Oaks and Chrysalis. DC for the Weekend and after many celebrations, and goodbyes our paths split again, and I hopped a Craigslist Ride share back to Asheville then to Bonnoaroo where miracles took me backstage and great music did not stop. Out of cash with $6 in my front pocket and a flat tire, I limp into the Farm in a station wagon, just in time for an evening with David Rovic and Cindy Shehan, good people, and good music. Work work work, play play play, and the mary go round spins day after day. From the farm to Nashville and Rainbow outside Sante Fe, my first National! Super excited, with a world of dreams at my fingers tips a giant loving and dysfunctional family! "Lovin You Guys!" From council to aucoustic dance parties, midnight pizza, pancakes and everpresent coffee. It always morning to someone, I forest that doesn't sleep, diner-drum circles, angle walks and Prayers for peace. Cold rain, mud fights, chocolate treats. Onward with Troy to Sedona town, we took the longest, most windy path we could find, but made it in perfect time.

An Earth Sky workshop with Drunvalo set the stage to dive right in, to our hearts that is. Of course I was scared and scarred, disbelieving and sceptical. But all in all, I made it through, my connection with spirit feels renewed and strong, vast and timeless. Sedona's power inspires me to write, hug and boogie. From here I'm not sure where? If you see me on the road pick me up, join this Rainbow Trail of Living Light, could be the most interesting ride you've ever known!

"Why Do I Run?" 4/10/2009

Why do I run, from Truth, Love, Now? I ask and ask and ask,
but do I listen for answers or leave premature?
I say "Give me Health, Happiness, Peace", but choose to bury my feelings, fear, and grief by eating, eating, eating unconsciously consuming the fist that feeds, choking myself with worry, self pity and doubt. I know so little about so much, when is enough enough?
Put down the book, take the headphones out, turn off the TV, start living, day by day, choice by choice, breath by breath. It takes a warrior to stop fighting and surrender, sit, still, silent, listen, learn, sacrifice simple empty pleasures for deep lasting fulfillment, purpose and joy.

Enter the Kingdom of Heaven , the doors are wide open, Love comes from within and is endless, trust your heart and see your beauty beyond your body, stand strong to your words, keep actions focused with intent. Building a castle starts brick by brick, enjoy the movements as they will last a lifetime and may never seem complete. The mountain may appear steep like a pyramid seems empty, but trust step by step and reach the top with little effort, let spirit elevate and guide go along for the ride no need to drive this vehicle knows more than you or I, with intuitive wisdom as vast as the ocean, we have all the pieces needed to frame our puzzle like a painting.

Problems like pretzels that twist and bend us blending together our faults and perfections.
The reflection of a rainbow in a oily puddle, a paradox and parody apparently wrapped in plastic and cardboard, a parrot in a cage watching the rain forest on DVD, laughing hysterically mocking grandma rocking nervously in her chair waiting for the children to get home from school. Smother us in kisses, spoil us with sweets, let us sweat as we play and fall asleep with sand in our sheets. I clean the dirt off my feet and comb my hair appearing pretty and neat brush my teeth and smile, starring eye to eye with myself, blinking blessings and prayers without shedding a tear, perking my ears as I blow my nose, its been raining for years and its time to Bloom. Spring is in the Air, Beauty in the Moon, Summer Sun Shines on the horizon illuminating the day. Stretch, dance, sing, that's all I have to say....

Spring is Here, Heading out East!

Wow, one more year has come and gone, I am 23 years young, preparing for a journey out East to North Carolina and Virginia, to join friends Ryan and Mandy from the Within Reach Movie Project. They have been biking from Northern California since last April and are creating a documentary film about Sustainable and Intentional Communities all over the states, their goals are to visit over 100 communities and bike over 12,000 miles! I will ride with them for 1 month, 1,000 miles from Asheville, NC to Washington D.C. and back to Summertown, Tennessee, visiting 3 beautiful and amazing intentional communities, Earth Haven, Twin Oaks and The Farm. I am super excited having never been to the East Coast, participated in a multi-day bike tour, or feature film project.

I recently left the Tree of Life Rejuvenation Centre in Patagonia, Arizona, a Raw Vegan Spiritual Health Retreat and Community after working as Garden Assistant for 3 months. I learned a lot about myself (eating from pleasure and emotion, struggling to meditate, stretch, breathe fully and surrender to the desert). Also about nutrition, gardening and greenhouses while staying active outdoors and in the larger communities of Tucson, involving myself in the Mankind Project, Boys to Men, Acroyoga and lots of awesome hiking and climbing!

Since my last post in April of 08' I finished my 6 month garden internship at the Solar Living Institute in Hopland, California, enjoyed many adventures Earthday @ Iron Horse Winnery in Sonoma County, Memorial Day weekend with Alex in Yosemite, Harmony Festival, Yosemite 4th Of July with Lauren, Skylar, Hassan and Kristen, Reggae on the River with Dave and Marcelo on our way up to Dave's Land, Mt. Shasta and Ashland, Oregon, Santa Cruz with Marcelo, Rebecca, Skylar, Lauren, and ofcourse Solfest!

After the internship I moved in with Jini and family, learning tough lessons by "showing off to get attention, being lazy, loud and messy. " I worked with the Dr. Vapor crew: Ben, Chantal, Cliff, and OSHO, at Power to the Peacefull and Earthdance. Flew back to Lawrence to rode down to Eureka Springs, Arkansas with Troy to help create the Coalessence Festival, then back to Cali, road trip LA, Mammoth Lakes (hot springs), Yosemite, Santa Cruz, back to Mendo with friends, going through my New Warrior Training Adventure with Shankara, bought a VW van and started another roadtrip south to LA with Hassan, meeting up with Troy and Rebecca then Troy and I headed East through, J-Tree, Flagstaff, Sedona, Patagonia, Truth of Consequences, NM, Austin, Tx, back to Lawrence for X-mas. The van had a nervous meltdown, but we managed to rent a car day after christmas and drive to mexico with Walt, Colin and Ben just like old times staying at Homero's and climbing large in El Potrero Chico. For the New Year we drank mas cervesas and rode a mechanical bull with small sticks of explosives erupting under our feet as we danced to a mexican dj underneath the stars. Colin, Walt and I headed back to Larry-town where I thought I would get rest and a break from the rush of travels. However, Troy wakes me up at 3am to go skiing in Colorado on his expense, 3 hrs later on our way to Breckenridge with Randy, Skiied and Rode Breck, then Copper with Mom and Mike, I split and hitched up to Winter Park with Kristen, Ft. Collins, Denver with Lindsay, Ian, Sean, Hope and Mike, got the job offer at the Tree of Life and got a rideshare down to Sedona, the hitched the rest of the way to Patagonia.

Last week Mom picked me up in P-town, we drove up to Sedona for the closing ceremony of Return of the Ancestors with 120 elders from around the globe, them arrived in Lawrence Wednesday night, saw friends Lindsay, Walt and Clayton. Troy and I left to Staff the NWTA in Kansas City and were there untill Sunday evening, saw Dad and Terry and Tim, rested yesterday going to hear Bob Stevens present on conscious language. I have a ride down to Austin, Tx then Nashville and arriving in Asheville N.C. on Sunday to start yet another magical chapter in this book of Life.

Where Is My Mind? Wheere is-myy Mind?

Its been nearly two and a half months since my last post, i've taken some extra time to let my new environment settle within amongst the communal chatter, broken routines and last goodbye's to familiar family.

In short, the new internship at the Solar Living Institute in Hopland, CA is going well, I reccomend everyone that can or is into sustainability come visit!, I've been learning a lot in the garden about growing my own food from seed to harvest, a great experience mostly trial and error, very self motivated but fulfilling work. Pete the Intern and Garden manager is great, very conscious, organized and hardworking, sometime to a fault but all in all good company and jolly! The community of interns is here and there, all of us coming from different backgrounds and interests which makes it difficult at times and fun at others. We recently moved outside into tents so no longer are sleepy on top of one and other, but having tents within reaching distance provides little privacy for fooling around..., anywho, we'll cross that bridge when we get there... The situation is a little slanted as far as the dating game goes with 6 guys and 2 gals, safe to say there's a surplus of testosterone. The institute is nice though, there always loads happening on and off site, with workshops, community events and field trips. The funnest part has been checking out other cool sites in the area, some intentional communities, CSA's, and research gardens, not to mention the Biodynamic Conference rocked my socks off!

Other than that i'm trying to hold my self together physically, mentally, spiritually, emotionally, feeling a lack of deep connection to the Earth, Tribe, Family and Friends but realizing all is in due time, motivation ebbs and flows sometimes floods i try to direct it without building dams, reaching out without over extending myself is of high reguard, this last few days has been a true test and trip realizing the hard truths of life and death, saying Goodbye to my Grandpa Felix who's dying at the age of 80, he lived a good life and i'm happy to wish him well into the afterlife, trying hard not to let other's emotions get the best of me, while trying not to close the door on my own. Before the brief phone call ended he said "I hope
you have a great life... I'll see you on the otherside", i said " yeah Grandpa, you have a lot to look forward too, take care, i love you, i'll see you there too..." I think death should be as beautiful and celebrated as birth and although these thoughts are unconventional to the western mind, i think Grandpa would say so too. I thought a lot about this the other day, how i will keep his spirit alive when Felix is gone, i think i would like to plant a garden, or tend to the one that he used to keep when i was young. I got a place in mind in Lawrence, Kansas on the corner of KASOLD RD where few cows once roamed, where i spent my early years playing wiffle ball and chasing cousins, stuffing myself silly with grandpa and grandma's amazing food, and embracing familiar faces. All is not lost, memories remain and future ones wait to be created by in my grandfather's name i would like to dedicate some time to make his home my home and his garden my garden and to take care of the earth, be kind to visitors, work hard and share the surplus, because us Karlin's are hearty folk, here for the greater good to look for solutions not problems, to greet our neighbors and lend a hand when needed, I am proud of this name and proud of my history from Lawrence to Hayes to Russia and Germany, my ancestors fought hard to give me this wonderful opportunity at life and i will spend it wisely with all my heart and wit and charming personality, to be free, happy and grateful, that is all..... "I love you Grandpa and may you always come to visit"

For the Enlightenment of All Beings!

The New Year is upon me like a blanket, it comforts and surrounds me, makes me feel warm and happy about what is to come. The month of January was quite a trip, literally, my older brother Troy and I were determined to take a road trip together to explore the west, our human potential, and as possible Vision Quest. I personally was in search of fulfilling work and community, opportunities to learn and progressive projects to contribute to. Troy needed a break from work, I know that owning your own business can consume you, as it did with him, he was looking to expand his horizons, get centered and grounded looking for opportunity and vision to guide his future and the future of the company. With one day before our schedule departure I got my tags renewed on my car, insurance and picked it up from my Dad's where it had been siting in a garage for nearly a year, "I hope it runs?" Driving it back to Lawrence i realized something was wrong and needed to be fixed, luckily we know a sweet and efficient mechanic who doesn't mind working on Sunday with an incentive a some good beer. So 3oo dollars and a few hours later we were on our way, pushing into the sunset towards Colorado at 80 miles an hour!

We went skiing, saw friends, hiked, meditated daily, played lots of frisbee golf and eventually drank, watched sports and smoked pot. Not exactly off to the holistic start of the New Year I was intending, but exciting none the less. We rode with Clayton in Breckenridge, stayed at Mom's in Pagosa, slept at a friends in Santa Fe, meditated on the vortexes of Sedona, hung out with Eddie in Scottsdale, climbed in Joshua Tree, surfed in Santa Cruz, picked up Brent in Berkely, circled up with Hassan in Sebastapol, checked out the Solar Living Institute in Hopland, skied with Joel and ate lunch with Sara in Lake Tahoe, camped out in the snow of Mt. Shasta, went bouldering with Colin in Bend, played Frolf with Andy, Danced to the Alpaca Band w/ Dan and Rae, kicked it with Benji all in the rainy city of Portland, got stuck in a 3 hrs traffic jam on the way to Salt Lake City, had a 40hr epic drive back to Pagosa, where we skied, boarded, soaked our bones with Mom, Dan, Demitree and the Fam. and after the Superbowl in Southfork Mom, Dan and Troy drove back to Lawrence, and I up to Breck to see Clayton again, because the pass was closed indefinitely and i'm snowed in again! Wow, yes, yes Januaray was a trip and Febuary has proved action packed as well but more holistic for sure!

I'm on the Fifth day of the Master Cleanse fast, where i've been drinking a "spicy lemonade" concoction, meditating for about an hour a day, doing my "Sun Salutations" yoga practice and reading loads. At the moment I'm partially through about a half a dozen books, reading the Ancient Secret of the Flower of Life Vol 1., the Earth Users Guide to Permaculture, Scott Nearing's the Making of a Radical, Deepak Chopra's Book of Secrets, and just picked up Tom Brown Jr's The Quest which is absolutely fascinating! among reading intro's to about a half dozen more...

Yesterday I got home from Ice Climbing with Clayton and his friend Matt, I was pretty beat but read a few chapters in the Quest and had quite a breakthrough. the book is about TBJr's childhood from the ages 7-17 where he was taught by a great Native American elder, Grandpa Stalking Wolf with his boyhood friend Rick. Grandpa was telling them of the Four Big Prophecies of the destruction of Man and Grandpa is usually always right. Well two of those prophecies have already come to be and he says we only have time between now and the Third to make things right, by the Healing of Mother Earth and the Enlightenment of Man. Grandpa says:

"if a person is attuned to the world of the spirit, the world of vision, and working for things beyond his/herself, then the path and time to act becomes clear. Until then, allow the spirit of the Earth and the Creator to teach, and the Vision Quest to guide, and all else will become Reality" "Once the learning process of the spirit is over, however, (you) must make frequent journeys to into the world of Man to share that which is taught by the purity of the wilderness... All the Great Prophets and Holy Men have come from the Wilderness, for Wilderness is where their spiritual fires were born" pgs. 29 &84

After reading these pages I intuitively set the book down and started a meditation, first silent then using the sounds of Ahh, Omm, and the Sacred Vowels E, A, AH, O,U i put a call out to my ancestors, the spirit of the Earth and my Divine Self for the guidance and wisdom to live in service for the Healing of the Earth and Enlightenment of all Beings. Living in the moment and totally improvised this was one of the most powerful meditations i've ever had, after about 50 minutes I opened my eyes and the power of the apartment was out!, coincidence, who knows? A sign from the Universe, maybe? Anyways I wrote down the following statement in my journal and would like to share it.

"I choose to live a selfless life, powered and protected by love and spirit for the Enlightenment of all Beings and the healing of Mother Earth, Father Sky and the Divine Self. I am only part of the 'spirit-that-moves-in-all-things'. Great Spirit, Please Lead Me, Guide Me, Direct and Protect Me, I am in Service for the Greatest Good of All"

Its these moments that i feel complete, whole and in harmony with the universe, its then when i jump back on the track i was born to live! Thank You all, you are beautiful creatures made of Light, Love and Peace!

A Very Happy, Healthy and Peaceful New Year!

To utilize this change in our calendar, season, and lunar energies I am clearing and purifying my mind, heart, and spirit and preparing for a new day filled with Light, Love and Laughter! This year my new year resolution is partially an inward one to detoxify, clarify and focus my intentions through meditation, yoga, travel and work, and also to connect deeply to the earth, sun, universe and my own higher self and heart spirit. I've just learned a new Mer-ka-ba meditation technique to assist me on my journey to higher consciousness. I am very excited, optimistic and hopeful for 2008. I give my love and gratitude to all of my teachers past, present and future who have helped me to this point and will guide me along my path to live sustainably, self-sufficiently and successfully wherever I choose to go, live and play! I honor my own desire, will and courage to confront my fears and dissolve them with love to help humanity heal, transform and grow into the Beautiful Future ahead! I hope all of you are able to make personal commitments to healing yourselves and mother earth and spreading light, awareness and truth here and far! I honor you, accept you and encourage you to empower yourself and breathe deep :)

Am I Still in Kansas Toto?

Yes, Yes I do believe so, conflicted, confused and slightly amused, I sit at my computer and peck on hollow keys staring at a screen of mystery drawing my mind in like a fisherman. "I'm OLD GREG", lol, you tube that shit its funny and twisted, but life back in Kansas has me tied up in emotions, habits and fears. Searching for freedom and expression behind each corner, sometimes finding myself Sweating My Prayers out in a room full of beautiful people, dancing like a drunken hooligan but completely sober.

On my way back here from across seas, space and time, I was not sure what I would find or even what I was looking for. Opportunity, Love, Connection, Freedom, and encouragement were probably on my subconscious list among others and what I've found is challenge, concern and questions. These are good for me and society and necessary for growth, real problems, real people. I think this is the creative friction that Andrew Cohen writes about as important in the evolution of consciousness which I seek intensely. These last 4 months in the US have shaken, disturbed, even saddened me, but its nothing that I can't rise above, transform, and direct for the benefit of all. Because I am a truth seeker, a peaceful warrior, and active member of the community working for the greater good, I chose to step over and through these obstacles in my mind and my personal reality. I chose to create a reality that I can honor, respect and enjoy. So I keep searching for inspiration, balance, understanding, enlightenment, health, happiness and abundance in my life. I am driven from the light within my being, my heart, my spirit and am in communion with the earth, sky and infinite source of the universe.

I work on manifesting these qualities, experiences, and opportunities into my life so that I can dwell in unlimited peace, joy, and satisfaction. I keep asking myself what I'm doing here or there, what is my purpose or duty, and what I have to offer this community. And the more I think about it the more I realize my presence is what I offer, my being, body, mind and time. As long as i continue to care for myself through exercise, nutrition and rest, I will continue rising to the challenge and opportunity that the day provides. I will honor the 4 agreements, 1. Be Impeccable with your word! 2. Don't take things personally 3. Don't make assumptions 4. Always try your Best! The rest will fall in its place making history out of thoughts and actions, the movement of light is a beautiful thing:)

Conversations With Friends!

So, I've been telling my friends about some inspiring films, books, and people I've come across on this journey, in hopes of giving them a different perspective then they're used to, this is a responce from one friend: creative friction? maybe...

"I have to say that I laughed out loud when they talked about the Indians not seeing the ships, which is of course, complete nonsense. There is no basis, reason or evidence to believe anything presented in the film, which is convenient because its hard to get anything out of it because of the way it is edited. Because you recommend it so much, I had to let you know that I really hope you are not basing any of your views on the information provided in the movie because it is a horrible source. Also, in my opinion you are doing people a disservice by recommending it because it is sooooooo corny and bad! Man, it was a fight to sit through the freakin thing! Had to speak out on that one, but that's about it! =) Talk to you later."

Here is my Responce...

"right on dude, i honor your opinions and am glad you did some
research, the reason i reccomend people movies like this is to get
them to think, question, and fuckin wake up man!, i see so many people
walking like zombies, toataly unispired, disempowered and depressed!
this sucks, cancer, disease, polution, consumption, religion, are all
distroying our world, ourselves, most people know the world is toataly
fucked but don't know how to help "unfuck" it. Bottom line this movie
empowers people to take action into there own hands and "create" the
world they want to live in actively and reactively. I watched, talked
to and read countless perspectives on "laws of the universe" which is
all quantum physics is, i'm talkin about reading books from many
different cultures, classes, time periods, and as far as i know
reputable, considering i haven't heard anything disclaiming their
views, but realizing they are human, not perfect, its about
perspective and understanding for me not about knowledge, this is why
a try my best to get a variety of sources from each angle, Books like,
Ageless Body, Timeless Mind by Deepak Chopra, Sleeping Prophet of
Edgar Casey, Waiting to Love by David Deida,Talking Jaquar by Martin
Pretchel, The Ancient Secrets of the Flower of Life & Living in the
Heart by Drunvalo Melchezedic, Falling Cedars by Vladimir Migre, Food
of the Gods by Terrance Mekenna, The World Peace Diet by Will Tutle,
Peace in Every Step by Thich Nhat Hahn, Manhood by Stephen
Rect...Movies like Zeitgeist, One Giant Leap, The New Biology,
EndGame, Go Further, Inspiration w/ Wayne Dyer, I know I'm not Alone,
Scared Sacred, Suzuki Speaks, Global Swindle, ect....

I'm just trying to help widen people perspectives, work in harmony
with the universe, peacefully and productively, I learn from those who
inspire me, through reading or watching movies, but mostly people that
i have met and talked to face to face, because i relate to these
people, they live admirable lives unlike most of the people i know
here, and that is what i aspired to do, i am leaving mediocrity
behind, i'm stiriving to expand and evolve my consciousness, and live
through love, from the heart! I want balance in my life of the male
and female energies and believe that in most societies of the world
are almost completely male dominated, energetically! they are totally
disconnected to their femine power,

you can doubt it, defend it, argue about it, all i ask you to do brad
is go after what inspires you, fills you with love and happiness, if
this isn't it, fine, but don't stop educating yourself, through
experience, feel it, touch it, taste it, hear it, smell it, don't just
read it dude, talk to real people!,

I love you man, and I honor and respect who you are, keep up the good
work, (are we working for the same things here? the Greater Good? to
save the planet? is there room for everything that is helping us Wake
Up, and Evolve!)

Peace, and Easy Cheese,"