Saturday, May 30, 2009

... Hout Bay part 2 - The Inside

A Space for Meditation, my own favorite design...
Chi windows in Gazebo

Here some more impressions in and outside the house in South Africa. A real refuge not only for the family. The community empowerment organization "IMAGINE Hout Bay" had their first meetings here and other creative healing workshops happened; from Biodanza, Reiki sessions, and brainstorming meetings for sustainable living, to "More To Life" support courses; I had a studio for KAHUNA massage therapy and sculpting (no picture boo hoo). A lot of great initiatives have been created right here....

a Casual Dining space with fireplace..
... the loooong Hallway to the bedrooms...
... and the Garden Room
Kitchen and Dining -

All open space concept... great for gatherings!! Less is more - was the motto for this space...

Living room Office...


Main Bath
and Master Bedroom

EXAMPLES OF MY WORK - Hout Bay South Africa

Before and After

One of my bigger projects was our own home in South Africa. I started off with a great solid house with tons of potentials, the most extravagant views and a marvellous position right under The Twelve Apostle mountains - an extension of Table Mountain.

To create a Sanctuary, all that was needed was the completion of the landscaping and garden architecture: a versatile pool, a fireplace, a gazebo, recreation and meditation area, and a meditation path through local vegetation.

"Hei ho, and off to work we go..."

Before and after



Just when everything was completed, friends, family and like minded Seekers have come for recreation, workshops and personal relaxation time and the first seasons had weathered this Sanctuary, people below decided to build the most outrageous building with three stories... so high, that it blocked not only our views, but also the flow of healthy energies...

It was such a painful experience. We had invited those new neighbours to see how our place feels like, we had shared with them our vision of the creation of a "Temple" for spiritual and non spiritual Beings; we trusted that they would be in harmony and never asked for the architectural plans - BECAUSE they promised to respect our needs...

The result: EGO before Essence. Already in the first 6 months living in this monstrous house, they started to feel uncomfortable... planted trees and blocked more views of people living higher up then them.... More separation... so sad.

EXAMPLES OF MY WORK - Valley View

Valley View, Ringoes NJ. This 10 acre equestrian property has a lovely bright house with 4 bedrooms and a separate suite, to be used as an office or guests. It was a fun job staging this place since all I needed is fabric and fantasy.... I had the chance to borrow furniture from the owner's home, friends and my own and pull it all together... Eight people worked for one week cleaning, painting, opening walls and staging. Here are some pictures of the results we created.


Friday, May 29, 2009

Rodrigo Pombeiro

There are hundreds of thousands of gifted sustainable builders out there... I hope! And there is ONE I have met. Totally self sufficiant. I even can sew his own clothes - Rodrigo. What a soul.
A true artist, care taker, creative handyman, and architect. All done with his own hands.

There is no such thing as a problem for him - solutions are what he is comfortable with. And they come with quality attached.

Rodrigo looked after my house in South Africa. And if he would not be so far away - he would be the one I would invite into my new business!

Natural Building Colloquium

What is an Interior without the Exterior? NOTHING...

The Universe must have gotten notice that I always wanted to become an architect... Too late? I don't think so... I have decided to learn from scratch ;-) July 26 - August 1 the Peace Weavers offer a Natural Building Colloquium - and I will be there!

From natural building and permaculture techniques to water and energy conservation . . . from alternative fuels to sourcing your food locally . . . this event is important for everyone concerned about how their lifestyle impacts our Earth.

It's the sixth year that the PeaceWeavers have hosted this family-friendly event at the Thunder Mountain Retreat Center near Bath, New York, offering very full days of teaching, learning, building, and networking. Top experts, authors, educators, innovators, designers, and builders offer hands-on experience and educational presentations with "close to the earth" building materials and lifestyle choices.

Interested?

Monday, May 18, 2009

Making a World of Difference


This article is a brief reflection on World Crafts and Arts - and the connection to my field of work.

In 1996 I had the privilege to be invited to an official trip to Jordan, meeting Her Majesty Queen Noor. During this trip, I had an opportunity to learn about her community outreach program: http://www.nooralhusseinfoundation.org/ . I was introduced to a whole new world of craftswomenship and culture. Queen Noor and her team have developed a system to organize nomadic tribes and get their precious works sold through her Foundation. We learned about various forms of weaving, carpets, baskets, beet works and much more.

The Jordan Design and Trade Center (JDTC) was founded in 1990 with support from USAID to advance the goals of the National Handicraft Development Program. It soon established itself as a model for other local NGOs. Since its founding, NHF has introduced to Jordan and the region innovative, dynamic and sustainable development models that harness the potential in individuals to create a better life for themselves, their families and their communities. And it has grown ever since...

Later when living in South Africa I could work together with similar local organizations while being active in community outreach programs, such as IMAGINE. Just look at what the non profit http://www.lovingafrica.com has to offer.
Through craftwork women express their natural creativity and generate skills and income, nurturing their families and developing their communities. There are many community upliftment programs mostly small scale motivated by self upliftment of the local people. http://www.drakensberg-tourism.com/arts-crafts.html.
Or http://www.kwaze-kwasa.com, dedicated to the impoverished AIDS-impacted communities, and http://www.forlife-worldwide.com/africa-art-crafts.html, 100% of site revenue goes to supporting the children of Africa. Help Support African Children!!
I am still faszinated about the huge range of beautiful crafts I have found ever since then all over the world... like NOVICA, In association with National Geographic http://www.novica.com/. Just google "world arts and crafts" and you will get over 30 million hits...
Another intersting link: http://www.worldcraftsvillage.com/
WorldCrafts is nonprofit and imports handcrafts from countries around the world and markets them in the US. When you purchase WorldCrafts you:
Assist more than 60 artisan groups (women and men) around the world who live in poverty in providing for their families and support artisan groups while buying meaningful gifts for your family and friends. WorldCrafts abides by and requires all partnering artisan groups to abide by Fair Trade Federation guidelines.
More informationis available at the World Crafts Council International http://www.wccwis.cl/modulos/miembro/quees.php

Interconnectedness and Music (part 2)



This is an extraordinary excerpt from the following website http://www.starstuffs.com/physcon2/freqamp.html:

Music:

When we resonate, it can also be viewed as "musical notes" that represents a mode of vibration, a distinct resonance or particle. Michio Kaku a physicist and author of "Hyperspace" states, "Matter is nothing but the harmonies created by this vibrating string..The laws of physics can be compared to the laws of harmony allowed on the string. The universe itself, composed of countless vibrating strings, would then be comparable to the a symphony." "The energy of the heart, right down to our DNA is musical and rhythmic in nature. Geneticist, Susumu Ohno at the Beckman Research Institute of the City of Hope in Duarte, CA, has translated the 4 nucleotides on the strands of DNA. When performed, listeners compared it to Bach, Brahms and Chopin. Listeners were moved to tears." "The universe consists solely of waves of motion...There exists nothing other than vibration." relates Walter Russell in "A New Concept of the Universe".

In vibratory physics, the principles that make sound into harmonious music are the same principles that govern all associating vibrations throughout the universe - and that includes everything that there is.

Vibrations are dynamic things not unlike "living" things since they are in a mutual state of "harmony". When sound harmonics form direct harmonic relations the two vibrating sounds and their chords of vibration are said to be sympathetic to each other. In other words, resonance - like attracts like. This combined frequency dictates that what happens to one vibratorily happens to the other simultaneously in varying degrees of harmony or dissonance.


This is the Law of Cycles as presented by John W. Keely's "Law of Sympathetic Vibratory Physics". "Music is formless and is therefore the perfect expression of the formless."Innayat Khan Musical notes or sounds can be converted numerically as in the example in the previous section regarding the Fibonacci numbers found in nature. According to mathematics principles, a series of vibrations will multiply many times its own pitch, thus increasing harmonically all those that are near. This is the Law of Harmonic Pitch. This multiplication of frequency and amplitudes is thought of in relation to the Ascension process. All things are energy, thus our "energy bodies" are becoming more attuned, reaching a higher vibrational rate, to the dynamic energetic force of the Universe.

Extending and expanding vibrational rates happens in nature and we are merely a part of nature, so we should too, in theory, be capable of "ascension" as dense physical material beings. Sound: "He made the whole world an instrument of sound, and an instrument for carrying messages, resounding praise to the Creator of all.

Frank Waters - The Book of the Hopi , There is something called the Sacred Sound Current which correlates to the spiritual Hindu "OM" and the Sufi "HU", and the Sant Mat "Shabd". This Music of the Spheres, Logos or Word as called in mystical teachings, goes beyond our limited spoken language. Such ethereal music is referred to also as the Sound of God or the Breath of God since the sound permeates all things. And as we know, all things are composed of energy.

This all pervading sound in the current of the Ocean of Consciousness is believed to be the connecting link between God and man. The divine currents are always playing a symphony of ethereal music, however, it does not become audible until we have progressed spiritually enough to hear with the inner ear. Additionally, many mystics, ancient and modern, have reported seeing various colors with the inner eye(s) while in meditation.

As physics deems, all is in a vibrational state, and thus can be converted into mathematical renditions, musical notes and color frequencies. Shabd is believed to be the pinnacle point of all the powers of nature in which, according to scriptures, is the method in which God creates. "I dwell in undefiled Light and a Thought revealed itself perceptibly through the great Sound...And it is a Word by virtue of the Sound; it was sent to illumine those who dwell in darkness...I am a Light that illuminates the All. I am the Light..."

Trimorphic Protennoia - Nag Hammadi Light and Sound is also viewed as synonymous with each other in the ancient scriptures. This has been mentioned in various contexts within this site as well. They are Interconnected and part of the Whole within the wave/particle duality. We can parallel the holographic universe concept with what Philo of Alexandria's wrote circa 40 CE, "The whole creation, this entire world perceived by our senses is a copy of the Divine Image...But the shadow of God is his Word which he used like an instrument when he was making the world. And this shadow, and, as it were, model, is the archetype of other things.."

We can also note the similarity to Carl Jung's archetypes within the collective unconscious. "The musician is very close to mysticism, far closer than the philosopher...because music is meaningful without any words; it is meaningful simply because it rings some bells in your heart..creates a synchronicity between you and itself, when your heart starts resonating in the same way, when you start pulsating in the same way."

Osho, Philosophia Ultima Frequency: There are known quantitative frequencies that have been measured that illustrate the body and energy connections with comparative measurements to the world around us:note:^ = means to the power of 10^-8, 10 the minus 8 power
Gamma Rays
10^18 to 10^26hz
X rays
10^16 to 10^20hz
Ultraviolet Light (UV)
10^15 to 10^17hz
Visible Light
10^4.7 to 10^15hz
Infrared Rays
10^11 to 10^4.7hz
Radar Waves
10^9.5 to 10^11.5hz
Microwaves
10^8 to 10^9.5hz
Television Waves
10^6 to 10^8hz
Radio Waves
10^1to 10^6.5hz
Elf Waves
10^1hzEarths Ionosphere Cavity Resonance - Schuman Field ranges from 1 Hz to 30 Hz - Radiation Spectrum
Audio20
20,000 Hz
Ultrasonic
20,000 Hz - 100-kHz - 10 MHz
Radiofrequency
150KHz-1.5 MHz
High Radio Frequency RF
1.5MHz-40 MHz
Very High Radio Frequency VHF
40MHz-100MHz
Ultrahigh Radio Frequency UH
over 100MHz
Brain:
Alpha
8-13 cycles/sec - relaxed alert
Beta
14-30 -intense mental concentration, agitation
Theta
4-7 Hypnogogic
Delta
5-3.5 Sleeping
Human Tolerances to sinusodal vibration
Head Pain
13-30Hz
Impaired Speech
13-20Hz
Jaw Pain
6-8Hz
Chest Pain
5-7Hz
Abdominal Pain
4.5 - 10 Hz
Human Body Cell
1,520,000 to 9,460,000 Hz
Upper Limit of Human Hearing
15,000 Hz
Molds, viruses, bacteria, worms, mites range from 77 KHz to 900KHz
Warts
400-430Kz
Tapeworms
420-450Khz
Mites
640KHz - 850KHz
Ant
1000 to 1200KHz
Goldfish
900 to 1500Khz
Chameleon
1000 to 6000KHz
Cat
1500 to 8000Khz

"Biological systems are influenced by the terrestrial electrical environment. This environment includes electric fields, magnetic fields, field modulations, and aerion(positive and negative) concentrations, and biological waves. Nature ordains harmonious variations of these factors. The human organism exhibits revealing electrical characteristics.Electromagnetic brain waves (0.1 to 30hz) occur at frequencies paralleling those of terrestrial sferics and the Schuman resonance. Decision making abilities are subordinate to alpha, beta, gamma(.01-5hz), theta(4 - 7hz), and delta(0.1-4hz) brain rhythms with their related states of consciousness."

Symposium on Biological Effects and Measurement of Biofrequency/Microwaves, Department of Health, Education, and Welfare, FDA - Critical Aspects of Human Versus Terrestrial Electromagnetic Symbiosis, E. Stanton Maxey, M.D. , 1977

Interconnectedness and Music


It was in the year 2000, when I studied the power of color healing called Aura Soma. My question at the time was if color has wave lengths, how would they translate into sound or musical frequencies? I did not find an instant answer. BUT - the movie industry provided a door with the block buster "Mission to Mars". It still is one of my favorite films; a science fiction movie directed by Brian de Palma about a rescue mission to Mars following a disaster during the first manned voyage to the planet.


"When the rescue crew arrive on the red planet, they find Luke, the captain of the first team, still alive. He has built a greenhouse and been living on its produce, including oxygen. He tells the rescuers about his crew's find... He had spent the time alone attempting to learn the secrets of a mysterious structure. He shows the rescue team his most significant clue: a recording of the noise heard in the area of the formation. He had found that the sound was a map of human DNA, in XYZ coordinates. Together, they discover that the mysterious signals are actually a prompt, requiring a return radio signal to input of one missing pair of chromosomes which would complete human DNA." (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mission_to_Mars)


The sound bites are mind blowing. At least they were for me.


In the meantime I had the opportunity to research more and found many people who are on the same quest. Not that I am a musician or composer, but the idea that we are interconnected with sound bites and that we can perhaps heal and harmonize our four walls with sound is magical....


Yogis practice this since thousands of years, as did other representatives of sacred music, which emerged during the evolution of mankind. If you are interested start reading http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Religious_music!


Today there are new pioneers who align their music to the waves of chakras, colors or biological structures... Just take M. A. Clark and John Dunn, with their Life Music: Improvisation on Genetic Themes http://whozoo.org/mac/Music/CD.htm...

Another artist/scientist is artist Peter Gena and medical geneticist Charles Strom, who presented their work demonstrating the translation of DNA sequences into music at the Sixth Symposium on Electronic Arts. Gena and Strom use a sophisticated algorithm for converting the DNA sequences to music.


The Festival of World Sacred Music (Festival des Musiques Sacrées du Monde) brings together performers from every corner of our planet for a week of artistic show in Fes, Morocco's ancient holy city. The festival intends to represent the spiritual heart of Islam – peaceful, pluralistic, generous and cheerful, honouring all the world's spiritual traditions and dissolving musical boundaries. http://www.afropop.org/multi/feature/ID/383/Fes+World+Sacred+Music+Festival+Report:+2004



The World Festival of Sacred Music-Los Angeles is the largest citywide festival that takes place in Los Angeles once every three years. It is a sixteen-day celebration of the rich sacred music and movement traditions of the people of Los Angeles, with 40 events produced in 40 diverse venues ranging from the city's major stages to intimate places of worship. http://www.festivalpreview.com/tags/gospel


Or take the Society for Universal Sacred Music, which is "to foster the creation and performance of music that celebrates God's unconditional and eternal love for us all, and to archive such music to make it available worldwide." http://www.universalsacredmusic.org/


Fascinating.


While I was working for Klaus J. Jahn in 1980s, a pioneer in the field of urban design on his project Antropolis, my part was to be playful and research possibilities to design living spaces which can adapt to the needs of a human being; eg. wall colors change to nurture the individual psychologically, perfect matching sounds can be applied to harmonize the environment. Today this concept is still very alive in me - and I am working on how to integrate what is available into my workshops Grace your Place....

Interconnectedness and Architecture


The Discovery of the Inner Sanctuary and the Creation of an Outer Sanctuary is my work. I truly holistic work. It all starts in nature itself. In what IS already. Michelangelo reinforced the idea of bodily proportions. He called architects "figural artists" because of the way that the symmetry and apertures of buildings imitate the form and proportions of the human body.
The concept of architecture has been around since the first building was erected and its practice one of man's most universal and elementary activities. The prefix, archi-, in fact, signifies earlier, or primitive. The actual term architecture (or its Latin counterpart) first appeared in Vitruvius' "De Architectura" in the first century BCE. The Oxford English Dictionary defines architecture as "1) The art or science of building or constructing edifices of any kind for human use" or more artistically speaking, "4) The special method of 'style' in accordance with which the details of the structure and ornamentation of a building are arranged." When Vitruvius first posited the concept of architecture in writing, he did so by outlining the three essential elements of architecture which are still known and used today: firmitas (structural soundness), utilitas (function), and venustas (beauty). Clearly, there is a general distinction made between the use value and the aesthetic values of architecture. (http://csmt.uchicago.edu/glossary2004/architecture.htm)
According to Marshall McLuhan in "Understanding Media", the "translation into new dwelling spaces occurs only when men have learned to practice specialization of their senses, and fragmentation of their work skills." This provides an explanation of what prompts an individual to move from a round to a square house. As in McLuhan's example, "the square room or house speaks the language of the sedentary specialist, while the round hut or igloo, like the comical wigwam, tells of the integral nomadic ways of food gathering communities." Thus we see how building and structure work as a medium for a community's specific persona, as well as a reflection of individual or community identity.
Since I am not trained as an architect (missed that education unfortunately), my studies in Art History and Design, and later Metaphysical Science gave me enough inspiration to combine all knowledge into my own hands-on business of co-creating safe and nurturing spaces. A "Spiral Dance" into a new Being. Mankind is in transition - no doubt. Mankind needs new resources and safety for The Process. That's basic need. This is my inspiration and fascination. My purpose.
Let us explore together the Vitruvian Being in times of Quantum Evolution. Let us Grace our Places with the intention to provide what is needed to take the next steps with the support of a safe home and workplace.

Interconnectedness and HAKOMI


Just coming back from another deepening block in my HAKOMI studies. I am exhausted and inspired at the same time. The more I am "getting" my Self and let go of unnecessary clutter, like limiting behaviours or old patterns, the closer I get to my personal Inner Sanctuary. It is amazing how we have learned and managed to float through life - but really only on the surface. There is sooo much more to IT.


And there are soooo many people/organizations and institutes out there offering services for us to get IT. More then ever. We are shifting - that's for sure.


Integrating the HAKOMI methods to my work is key. “Hakomi” is a Hopi Indian word that means “who are you” or “how do you stand in relation to these many realms.” Who we are and how we relate to the world can be partly understood through our “core material.” Core material consists of the memories, feelings, and beliefs that shape our perceptions, attitudes and behaviors. Our core material develops during our formative years. It reflects our experiences of childhood and our coping strategies. We all have core material around major themes:


Safety and Belonging
Support, Love and Appreciation
Freedom and Responsibility
Openness and Honesty
Control, Power, Sexuality, Membership, and the Social and Cultural Rules


Core material may not be conscious until we intentionally explore it. It influenced how we functioned in our families and childhoods. It forms a blueprint for our creating similar relationships and experiences in adulthood. Often it limits the expression of our authentic being. And authenticity is fundamental to physical, emotional and spiritual well-being.


Through self-study, core material may be discovered and processed for the purpose of transformation. When core material becomes conscious, we can make new choices and have new experiences. We can change how we experience both the world and others. The Hakomi Method uses an experimental attitude to explore experience and meaning. It is slow, gentle and supportive. Awareness deepens and understanding unfolds in a climate of trust and curiosity. Healing is accomplished through non-judgmental discovery, compassionate contact, and intuitive integration.


In Hakomi, present experience is studied in “mindfulness.” This is a quiet state of consciousness that allows us to observe internal experiences. In mindfulness, core material is evoked through statements, movements, touch, and other kinds of little experiments. Emotions, core beliefs and memories often emerge. Once conscious, we can work with our core material and change how we organize our experiences.


Through Hakomi, we bring to light what has been hidden, and as we do, we free ourselves from the limitations of the past.


The Hakomi Method is deeply influenced by Buddhism and is guided by five principles:


Mindfulness: Mindfulness allows us to see beyond habitual thoughts and behaviors to deeper truths within us. Mindfulness helps us uncover our compassion, wisdom, and authentic presence.


Unity: Each of us is a whole living system comprised of essential parts. We each participate in larger systems. All parts and systems are connected, interdependent and rely on communication. Hakomi helps to improve that essential communication.


Organicity: Each living “system is self-directing and self-correcting.” We have inner wisdom and freedom of choice. Hakomi therapists trust the natural unfolding process of an individual’s inner work.


Mind-Body Holism: Our minds and bodies “reflect the beliefs we hold about ourselves and about the world.” Our beliefs determine how we perceive or organize our experiences. Recognizing our beliefs is the first step in transformative change.


Non-Violence: Safety is essential for self-exploration. When defenses or resistance appear, they indicate a need for greater safety. Through respecting and appreciating their wisdom, defenses actually support the healing process.


For more information, go to http://www.hakomiinstitute.com/.

Thursday, April 30, 2009

Sacred Geometrie - Light Design


Programmable LED tiles.
These 2ft. by 2ft. tiles contain 144 individually addressable, tri-color nodes (432 LEDs).
Made by Color Kinetics, morphing color waves, animated objects, logos, emblems and patterns are enabled by their new
Chromasic chip technology.
To be seen at Lightfair 2009 in NYC May 5-7, Jacob K. Javits Convention Center http://www.lightfair.com/lightfair/V40/





A twisting strand of 216 LEDs suspended by a thin wire, that is Robin Carpenter's Spiralight.
1st prize winner at Lights of the Future 2006 awarded by the German Design Council.
Says Robin, “Often chandeliers appear like clusters of lights similar to galaxies but rather than concentrating many lights in an object I wanted to direct the perception of the object with light.
With Spiralight your eyes are bound to roll with the small light-spots created by the many leds. It's the effect of follow-me as if one was looking for something specific -
like tracing a shooting star.".
Made for residential use, it can be used in living rooms or entrances.
http://www.robincarpenter.com/

Milky Way - a Spiral Galaxy

BY THE WAY -
Could it be that spirals are fascinating to us,
because we live in a giant spiral galaxy, the Milky Way??
Any thoughts and comments wellcome!!!
Just for info: M.W. a Galaxy of 100,000 light years diameter
and a mass of roughly a trillion solar masses....

Sacred Geometry - The Spiral in Interiors 4



... a coffee table, a lamp and a mouse pad .... and there is much much more...



Sacred Geometry - The Spiral in Interiors 3


There are endless ideas and creations out there - and they keep on growing!
I selected some to present an idea of possibilities...
And here is more.
Ever want a wine cellar but don’t have the space or money to build one? The Spiral Cellars design/build firm will dig a hole right in whatever room you want your cellar in and haul the dirt right out the front door. In the remaining void they infill a highly functionally and visually dazzling spiral-staircase wine cellar.

Sacred Geometry - The Spiral in Interiors 2


This shower was created by Benedini Associates for Agape Design

Water follows the coriolis effect and spirals into the drain on its own - this clever sink design just helps it along and accentuates the proecess in a dynamic and elegant way. Shaped like the imprint of the shell, the curves of this sleek sink are at once organic and clearly the product of design.

The splash patterns while the water is flowing and after it is turned off become a part of the design, ever-changing with the speed and duration of the flow. All in all, this sink could itself be the centerpiece of an interior design rather than an afterthought as so many wash basin designs are. http://dornob.com/brilliant-spiral-sink-and-wash-basin-design/