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This morning, I was up early and spent some time reading, praying and meditating and doing some chi kung and yoga. As I spent time doing these ancient movements, many ideas kept arising and coming to me passing through my mind as clouds pass through the sky. As I became more and more serene and the distance between ‘The Observer’ and the thoughts became very distinct I began to wonder as I have many times before “Where do these ideas and thoughts come from? and what are they anyway?” Visions, pictures, emotions tied to the different images kept coming, ranging from inspiration to fear, and many in between. I stayed conscious of my connection to the earth and the wonderful experience of ‘being breathed’ as I did these movements.

I was then inspired by a thought of doing a little mini research project on this phenomenon which I will discuss briefly in this blog post. This research led into some interesting places connected to Freud, Nietzsche, Emerson and even the Buddha.

One of the first things I like to do when I go on one of these explorations is study the dictionary definition and the roots of the English words because they often help me see more deeply into whatever it is I am interested in at the time.

‘Inspiration’ from the Merriam Webster dictionary is:

1 a: a divine influence or action on a person believed to qualify him or her to receive and communicate sacred revelation b: the action or power of moving the intellect or emotions c: the act of influencing or suggesting opinions

‘Thought’ from the Merriam Webster dictionary is:

1 a: the action or process of thinking : cogitation b: serious consideration : regard carchaic : recollection, remembrance 2 a: reasoning power b: the power to imagine : conception 3: something that is thought: as a: an individual act or product of thinking b: a developed intention or plan c: something (as an opinion or belief) in the mind

Inspiro - is the latin for “To breathe upon.”

Tho - is as in ‘theo’ as in “from God”

If I was inspired before I was that much more interested in finding out more about this process and what some other people before me thought on the subject. The following are some quotes that I found on ‘Inspiration and Thought’.

“We should be taught not to wait for inspiration to start a thing. Action always generates inspiration. Inspiration seldom generates action.”

- Frank Tibolt

“Without inspiration the best powers of the mind remain dormant, they are a fuel in us which needs to be ignited with sparks.”

- Johann Gottfried Von Herder

“There never was a great soul that did not have some divine inspiration.”

- Marcus T. Cicero

“Thoughts are the shadows of our feelings - always darker, emptier and simpler.”

- Friedrich Nietzsche

Ralph Waldo Emerson seemed to have the most insightful ones on ‘Thought’ I could find:

“The ancestor of every action is a thought.”

- Ralph Waldo Emerson

“We do not yet trust the unknown power of thoughts”

- Ralph Waldo Emerson

“Some thoughts always find us young, and keep us so. Such a thought is the love of the universal and eternal beauty.”

- Ralph Waldo Emerson

and this gem from the Buddha:

“Let the wise guard their thoughts, which are difficult to perceive, extremely subtle, and wander at will. Thought which is well guarded is the bearer of happiness.”

- Buddha

After researching the definition, reading the roots of the words and reading different quotes I found on the subject, I realized how important it is for me to be grateful for these opportunities and experiences. I rarely feel like I have the time for such contemplation but as I type these words it is ever clear in my mind that without these experiences my life would be less, and I would have less to offer Life without them. Now I have a definite intention to aim at making more time and effort for the contemplation and exploration in my mind in relation to these and other such subjects.

I certainly was not expecting my research to come up with so many ‘divinely’ related pieces of information, it sure felt good to be so calm and unattached to the visions, thoughts and feelings as they passed by the ‘movie screen’ of my mind. However, in hindsight I am able to have a greater appreciation and reverence for this knowledge and experience.

It always amazes me that a little mental attention can go such a long and deep way into understanding anything that we shine the light of our attention and focus upon.

Bienvenidos a Miami…

We all live here in Florida now…

There’s a shiver in my bones just thinking about the weather…

So go the lyrics of the songs by Will Smith, Billy Joel and Natalie Merchant

The thunder has been booming, the winds blowing and limbs of trees falling and that’s just here on Long Island. I can’t help but think about weather words.

Floods in the Midwest, typhoons and tsunamis in other parts of the world and drought in still others.

Other the weekend the warm balmy breezes had me feeling like I was living in Miami or Hawaii, I don’t know if I should admit that they felt eerily good.

Watching the headlines on the news though sends a shiver through my bones - floods, tornadoes and more.

Remember the line from the movie “Badges, we don’t need no stink’n badges”

In 2008 the line is “Climate change, there’s no stink’n climate change”

I feel like I’m watching a movie trailer for a bad B movie and the music suggests to me I shouldn’t want to see the movie. But I’m drawn - Drawn to it like a moth to a flame…zap…my wing just got burned.

I wanna grip the arms on my chair like the first time I saw Halloween or the Poseidon Adventure as a kid. Except this time there’s no one in the booth shutting the projector off when it ends and I can’t exit the theater at my own will to go to the bathroom and catch my breath.

Serenity now…Serenity now

Tom Pellicane – Publisher, canvas Magazine

Community-sponsored agriculture seems like a solid next step in our evolution. While the individuals who inhabit our home are all at different stages of personal and global awareness, we the parents have tried to encourage our kids to think before they consume. I imagine every family takes the easy steps first, as we’ve done. The clothesline, compost pile, and compact fluorescent bulbs have been around our house for years. Recycling paper, plastic, and glass has always been part of our routine. More recently, we’ve installed a low-flow showerhead and non-PVC liner, eliminated all plastic water bottles (disposable and reusable), and replaced our cleaning products with safer ones. I want us to keep moving forward, no matter how small the steps.

So, subscribing to purchase produce from a local organic farm this season seemed like a good way to keep the momentum going. As the Mom/Head Chef, I’ve put the carnivores and fast-food lovers in the house on notice: “Lucky you! This summer, you will be provided the opportunity to consume more real food grown by almost-neighbors. Your body and the local economy and Earth will all benefit! Feel free to help with the preparation of the beautiful fruits and vegetables at any time.”

–Maria Brandis
Maria Brandis teaches English in middle school and is always looking for a new food adventure.

One of the fundamental goals of our company Footprint Media, and publishers of canvas, is to help thread the community of LOHAS minded people together on Long Island. We envisioned four legs on a stool as the way to do this: the magazine, website, events and seminars.

The first step in this building process was the printed magazine and canvasli.com website. The second step was select events through the canvas gallery, with the help of Cherie Via of Ripe are, to showcase local art talent. Beyond the gallery we started the canvas Open Mic, suggested by one of our staffers Liza, and canvas food/wine events which began in June 2007 to further our efforts there. The last step was canvas presents seminars, which we launched this month, with Peter Reiss entitled “Discover the World of Feng Shui.”

Through theses efforts we are experiencing the reality of what we, Matt and I, envisioned more than two years ago. As we get ready for our last event in June tonight, Greendrinks Long Island, I though about how amazing it is to see what’s been accomplished and the community we’re bringing together.

At the canvas cocktails event we hosted at Red Restaurant I was asked “What’s the purpose of tonight?” I answered, “To bring the canvas community together, so they can get to know each other.” The person replied “I get it, that’s really cool.”

As anyone can imagine, creating the finished product for the magazine, website, events and seminars is a challenging task to say the least. Because of the finished products we present, most people don’t realize how small and fragile a business we are. They are surprised to learn that for the most part there’s no one behind the curtain. Just a few of us who really care about what we’re doing and the support of those who get it.

But is this all necessary? Yes Why? Because canvasesque people on Long Island need venues like these and others to gather, to meet, to talk, to learn, to do business. To know they are part of the whole not just a part of the sum.

As we prep today for tonite’s event I can see the effects on our team. I see in Matt, through his walk, the aches and pains he describes, and I know the effects on me, aches, pains, heavy coffee in take and the big desire for rest.

I know we’ll look back on this June as one of the most satisfying months in our history. It also happened that this month one of our newer advertisers said to me “only cool people read canvas.” The coolness comes from their mindset, because we’ve been fortunate to enjoy the company of people of all ages, races, ethnicities, genders and preferences at our events.

Who would have thought this would be possible on Long Island – We did and we were right!

Join the canvas community at a future event and experience it for yourself

Tom Pellicane – Publisher, canvas Magazine

Last night we held our June Open Mic here at the canvas gallery.

WOW!!!

We are continually blown away by the level of talent, enthusiasm and support we receive. On a warm June evening we saw many of our familiar faces and we’re excited to see new faces as well. They are now part of the canvas community and we appreciate them joining us. There are other friends who don’t perform, but come out to the events for enjoyment and we thank them for being part of it.

The evening had a great mix of spoken word from readers such as Kempton, Pete, Marcy, Mike, Kate, Vik and Robert to the musical performers Jordan, Melissa (a first time performer who blew us away), Eliza (singing Celtic), Sherry, Rorie and our featured performer Individual Unity.

Our MC for the evening Joe Iadanza makes these nites that much more special. If you have been to a canvas Open Mic, you got check one out! This is unbelievable talent assembled in one place, creating community.

I hope you enjoy the photos from Alex Wolf Photography and we want to thank Whole Foods Market, especially Chris and Karen for providing the treats and beverages, everyone loved the Tazo Lemon Ginger Iced Tea.

Thanks everyone for being part of the nite and we’ll see you in July with Rorie Miller as our featured performer.

Tom Pellicane – Publisher, canvas Magazine