Monday, December 8, 2008

Thursday, December 4, 2008

The Pineal Gland 1

After researching Alex Grey, I started to look into something called the Pineal Gland...or The Third Eye. I wrote some notes on it in my sketchbook. So, this is me organizing these notes in an order that looks like I know what I'm talking about, meaning not much of this will be "my own words." I only have some of the sources because I wasn't worried about citing anything a el momento.

First off, I'll introduce you to the anatomy of the pineal gland, then later on I'll start talking about the supposed spiritual nature of the pineal gland as it is know as the third eye.

The pineal gland is located near the center of the brain behind/above the pituitary gland, which lies a little behind the root of the nose. It is about the size of a pea and is the shape of a pine cone (hence the name pineal...). It is large in children but begins to shrink in puberty. Medical dissection has revealed that the front section of the pineal gland is equipped with the complete structure of the human eye. (hmm)

Although scientists aren't sure exactly what it's purpose and capabilities are, there have been some proven studies... It is a photosensitive organ (activated by light), and controls the biorhythms of the body. It works in harmony with the hypothalamus gland, which directs the body's thirst, hunger, sexual desire, and biological clock that determines our aging process. Light reaches the pineal gland via a pathway from the retinas to the hypothalamus called the retinohypothalamatic tract, then they travel the pineal nerve (sympathetic nervous system) to the pineal gland. When light ceases, the production of melatonin begins. Melatonin and the pineal gland play a major role in sexual development, hibernation in animals, metabolism, and seasonal breeding. In humans, it effects circadian rhythms, sleep patterns, and is implicated in seasonal affective disorder.

The pineal gland has long been thought to have spiritual or magical powers. It has been mentioned by many philosophers and scholars throughout time. It is considered to be our "inner vision." Some believe that it is a link between the physical and spiritual worlds. The pineal gland is associated with the sixth chakra, also known as the Ajana chakra "center of command."

[in Hinduism, a chakra is any of 88,000 focal points in the human body where psychic forces and bodily functions can merge and interact. There are seven major chakras, each associated with color, shape, sense organ, natural element, deity, and mantra. They are situated on the denser physical body, but opposite certain body parts.]

Meditation is key in activating and utilizing the pineal gland. Just as the muscles of the eye can be strengthened through exercise to facilitate vision, so too the capabilities of the third eye be cultivated and thus its sensitivity and range of perception can be deepened, increased, and augmented. Meditation subsequently involves this strengthened eye watching itself watch itself watch itself, in order to stop identifying with the ego and to identify properly with the true essential reality of the self.

To activate the third eye and perceive higher dimensions, the pineal gland and the pituitary body must vibrate in unison, which is achieved through meditation and/or relaxation. When a correct relationship is established between personality, negative and positive forces interact and become strong enough to create the "light in the head." With this "light in the head" activated, astral projectors can withdraw themselves from he body, carrying the light with them.

I wanted write mainly what I've researched so far about the pineal gland. I know it kind of goes everywhere a little and its mostly just directly what I found from the internet. But. psh. it's okay. Now you know. I'm sure I'll continue to look into it and write more..specially on the chakras because I've already done some research in that area.


And I drew this at work yesterday::

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http://www.crystalinks.com/thirdeyepineal.html

http://www.strayreality.com/Lanis_Strayreality/thirdtyepinealgland.htm

http://www.answers.com/the%20pineal%20gland

Monday, November 24, 2008

2d Final

So, Fall Quarter is over and I'm through with my finals. I mentioned in the first post that my 2d final was based on...or inspired by hobos/vagabonds/etc. ..entitled "Hobo Couture" The assignment was based on color and we were given a choice of a color scheme or "problem" to follow...but it was all geared towards our major..aaandd... mine is fashion... I did a warm/cool color scheme with a saturation contrast.


These are some of the sketches I did. We had to have 50 thumbnails, I ended up drawing about 40 of these plus 4 variations on 3 and I worked out some of the colors kiinddd of...

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This is my final. There is a hair on the first one. oops. anndd the color looks kinda crap on the first one too. I guess its a bad picture, but I don't have it with me to retake.
oooh wellll.

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Aaannndd the weather has been amazing. I like taking pictures of what I see when I drive now.
and this is what I saw today. : )

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yay.

Sunday, November 16, 2008

Alex Grey

So... When I was first introduced to Alex Grey's work, I was a bit skeptical. I had mostly just seen his work on "The Sacred Mirrors"....I wasn't a huge fan of how perfectly anatomically correct and lean his figures were and how they looked so much like medical illustrations over all. (although I later found out that he studied at Harvard Medical School for 5 years working in the anatomy department...and used much of what he learned there on his figures) ...But I was brought back to him tonight while I was looking up artwork. I guess maybe tonight I was just more willing to sit down and really LOOK at all of his work (not just 1 here 1 there), READ what he has to say about his work, and LEARN about his concepts. To appreciate this artist's work, the viewer must know how Alex Grey feels about his work, what motivates and inspires him. The viewer has to understand that each piece is a part of a larger whole. Sure, its easy to acknowledge a piece of art as something visually pleasing without knowing anything about or behind it. It's easy to say "oh hey woah that looks awesome" But, for me at least, coming to understand why he's painting, what he's painting for, even just the titles of the pieces!...gives his work an even bigger "wow-factor." They suck me into this world of transcendence...of magical spiritual amazingness (I should get some new adjectives)... It's as though... If you were to close your eyes and envision what it would be like if you could see all of the energy and the feeling radiate from within you and out past you and then to others...that is Alex Grey's work. its amazing!

anyway
I stumbled on to what I think is an Artist's Statement about his work with "The Sacred Mirrors"
and I really like what he said...

In a cosmos of billions of galaxies,
In a galaxy of billions of stars,
There's a Planet with billions of people-
The only one we know of-
And every breath we breathe is a miracle.
Our hearts pump.
We see.
We feel.
We taste.
We touch our world.
And sometimes we forget the pure wonder of our brief journey on the earth.
My life is committed to making artwork that wakes people up to the miracle of life,
the value of being human,
and the transformative power of love.
There are moments when we see hehind the opaque curtain of life, when the infinite One shines through the skin of the beloved and we recognize the game we are in, the journey we are on, the powerful beings that we are and the truth that is worth living for.


Click this link: http://www.sacredmirrors.org/flash/sm_full.html to see the Sacred Mirrors.

And now I'll show some of my favorite pieces, but I encourage everyone to go to his website www.alexgrey.com and view his work in bulk as a full concept.

PRAYING
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VISION CRYSTAL
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PAINTING
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KISSING
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I mean...do you see how completely amazing this is?


TANTRA
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ONE
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BEAUTIFUUUUUUL

So yeah, I just thought I'd share my new appretiation for Alex Grey.

:)

Friday, November 14, 2008

The Begining

SO.
I contemplated on weather or not to start a blog.
But I want to.
So I am.

I don't know if anyone will ever read it...but okay.

I plan to post things that I get interested in from day to day.

For example:
I get really excited about certain music I get introduced to.
One week I was pretty into researching things about Sisyphus.
Yesterday I discovered this culture of people.. or unorganized organization of people called "The Rainbow Family"
etc etc etc.

Plus, I wanted a place to display any art that I make or sewing tid-bits that I create. (woop rhyme)

although.. I do have a deviantart account, Artbistro account, craftster account.
okay but that's all besides the point some how.

Well, I'd like to start this blog off with the Rainbow Family.

When the earth is ravaged and the animals are dying, a new tribe of people shall come unto the earth from many colors, classes, creeds, and who by their actions and deeds shall make the earth green again. They will be known as the warriors of the Rainbow -- Old Native American Prophecy

I stumbled upon this while researching for my 2d design final. (I'm getting inspiration for clothes designs from hobos, bohemians, vagabonds..etc) and I remembered my NOCCA photo teacher telling me that she called the kids that lived on the streets and hung around the river walk, "rainbow people." So, when I typed that in on Google. vualah!

The Rainbow Family is supposedly the "largest non-organization of non-members in the world. [they] have no leaders, and no organization." Although the rainbow family means different things to different people, most can be considered non violent people who believe strongly in love and peace. Any and all races are welcome. Most borrow traditions from Native American tribes.

Each year they travel to some national park (July 1-7)to gather together and pray for world peace. (This year they are going to New Mexico.) According to tribalmessenger.org "The struggle to grow as a family and live in a world that forces you to choose between temptations and living your values is a challenge. The annual international gatherings are a way to regain our values and regenerate our love for ourselves, and our world. Faith in humanity and human esteem are essential if we are to survive as humans; faith in humanity is restored at Rainbow Gatherings." Everyone is welcome and it is free, but camping supplies and supplies for a kitchen are recommended. They provide food for everyone, which is handed out in soup kitchens in bulk. Donations are accepted and that's how things are paid for. Nothing is to be bought or sold at the gatherings. Only traded.

It started out to be a small gathering of people in Colorado in 1972, but has now grown to be 20000 strong. Although the main focus is spiritual, one member of the family, Carla, says that "In the past few years, the spiritual focus has been less obvious, due to the huge influx of people who may not realize the central purpose of the gatherings. These folks may come to party, to hang out, to find like-minded people, to gain support for their political causes, or whatever."

Now, I have never met any of the Rainbow Family or experienced anything that deals with this "organization." I've only just stumbled upon this and have been researching a little... and although it may look like 'just a bunch of hippies gathering together and smoking a bunch of pot and dropping acid,' I personally don't believe that's what it's all about. (oh im sure it happens) but I belive its definitley more...I'm very intrigued by these people, and how spiritual they seem and it makes me really happy.

"Picture twenty thousand people in a sunlit meadow, standing silent in prayer, holding hands in one huge, unbroken circle. Picture a parade of children approaching, singing songs, their countenances bright with enthusiasm and face paint, baloons and banners waving in the breeze. Picture the breaking of the silence with a cheer from the circle, then the silence returning once again, to grow slowly into a thrum of voices united in a single OM reverberating through the valley and on to the hills beyond. Hold the OM in your mind. Let it spread through and around and in you. Feel it pass from hand to hand and heart to heart." - Carla

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Source Links:
http://www.starsrainbowrideboard.org/welcomehome_mirror/rainbow/

http://hearingvoices.com/webwork/golding/rainbow/

http://www.tribalmessenger.org/rainbow/the-family.htm


So yeah.