Lost in Germany

     The summer of 2006 I went to Turin, in northern Italy, to audit an art class through the Wisdom University in San Francisco. I really wanted to go because the class was taught by my favorite artist of all time, Alex Grey. I am on Alex Grey's email list through his website. When I was notified he was teaching a class in Italy in conjunction with the Wisdom University, I knew I had to seize the opportunity and go. The Wisdom University is a "trip". It is usually for people that have already got their Master's, BA, or doctorate. The Wisdom University believes that the best way to learn instead from books in a classroom, is to actually, physically, go to the location from which you are trying to learn from. They believe that certain places and locations hold energy and it is possible to tap into that energy and be transformed through learning. I think they're method of learning is awesome, they have trips to Notre Dame, the pyramids, some in the U.S., basically all over the world. The classes taught around the world are often taught be renowned teachers or artists and the classes that span over a month's time are called intensives or pilgrimages. The types of degrees that the Wisdom University offers are more on the esoteric side, like Doctor of Philosophy, Doctor or Ministry, and Master of Art and Wisdom Studies, to name a few. From their website, they are known for "Providing learning experiences that catalyze the enlargement of the soul and inspire resilient learning communities to thrive". Feel free to read more about them, just search, Wisdom University and it will pop up first.
     Perhaps next email I will talk about my experience during my intensive art class with Alex Grey in Turin, Italy.
     This blog I wanted to speak about what happened after the trip to Turin, when I was on my way back to  Oahu. I had rescheduled my ticket right before I left home, so I had forgotten that I had a very long lay over in Germany. From Turin, Italy, I went to Frankfurt, Germany, then from Germany, I went to San Franciso, and from there finally Honolulu. Any way, after leaving Turin, I am in Frankfurt and it is early evening, around dinner time, the day is just getting dark. In Frankfurt, I find to my surprise, because I forgot, that my plane doesn't leave till tomorrow morning at 7am. I thought gee, I don't want to wait around the air port all night, why don't I check in my bags and catch the train into town to find a place where I could get a drink and listen to some music! So I check in my bags and ask the girl at the counter who helped me where I can go to listen to music and maybe dance? She said it was very easy and close, just get on the train and get off at somewhere I forgot, and walk close to the train station. So I get on the train and am on my way. Let me just mention I am also at this time, down to my last euros, only just enough for two train rides and one drink.
     On the train, I look around and there are young couples here and there, groups of friends who look like they're going out for the night. I think to myself, should I ask them where to get off? Then I think to myself, Nah! I'm going to use my instinct! and see what I find!" So when the train gets to a stop, I feel like this is a good stop to get off on, so I do... The train station is lovely, lot's of brown and golds and kind of crowded but not too crowded. I walk outside and get approached by an Italian man. Just for your information, Italian men, are very very forward! They literally will grab you and pull you to them while walking, and say in broken English "come, you are with me now!" and after saying no thank you for a few times they take the answer as no, finally and be off on their merry way. So this man that approached me did just what I described. Finally I was on my way again, walking further reaching the first block and the second, I find I am in the Red Light District!.... Every other bar is a strip club or peep show, or the three story dominatrix store. I wasn't ready for this!...... (tune in to the next blog to hear what happens and how I find a club and How I get back to the airport!) xoxo

Memoirs of a club kid

One of my favorite gatherings that friends and I put together was called "Future Primitive". We called our selves as a group L.U.V. acronyms for local underground vibe. It was around one hundred fifty or so people that were there, we decided not to make it too large because as Alicia said, if the rave gets too large it looses a sense of intimacy and community. This gathering/rave was more than a party, it was an adventure full of love and community. It was held at the top of the mountain in Ewa where camp Timberline is. The rave was for the weekend. On Friday the music went till 2am. and on Saturday the music went to dawn. It was during the weekend of a full moon and all the dj sounds were out doors in the large open field underneath the beautiful night sky. As music played and was dj'd by Dan mainly, and others, the full moon rose right before us on that mountain top. And as I danced I felt somehow like people have done this, dancing under the full moon, all through out time. It was connecting to the Earth and one another in a very special and true way. We had built all kinds of tents for fun and pleasure. A tent of black light. A tent for body painting (run by me). A massage tent. Art pieces for prayers, you could write your prayer on flags and it would wave in the wind. You could even walk through the forest for we had put up christmas lights in the forest and it was enchanting indeed. It is very hard to describe in words all of the events and emotions that this night evoked in me. It is truly an awesome feeling to be a part of a group and community that comes together for a purpose and accomplishes it for one, and for two makes it a memorable evening for a lifetime. But let me just say that the credit must go to the entire coordinator and instigator, Alicia. She was from New York, and a couple years after Future Primitive she moved to San Francisco. Maybe I'll tell you a little more of what happened at this party or somewhere else next time. Until then... X