SILENCE

I have been thinking of silence lately and how it is an integral part of the creative process.   I've realized that the more I am able to create time and space in my life, even in small intervals to integrate silence into my being, the more I am able to connect with what I sense as my creative source.  Silence is an interesting thing because it requires more effort than one might think.  In my life I have spent long periods of time on various quests where I go to be alone and quiet, to connect with the source.  During these times I have come to realize that the act of sitting alone and being quiet doesn't constitute silence.  It is the ability to quiet our ever chattering minds that is the real goal.  I have discovered that for me it all begins with allowing myself the time, space and solitude, without the guilt of feeling that I'm lying around wasting my time being lazy or doing nothing that is most important.

We are all so conscious of developing our minds, our careers, our relationships, that we often overlook that in order to have success in any of these pursuits we need to develop what is inside ourselves..  First we must look inside, sometimes at things we have buried and don't want to look at,  We must slowly and gently approach those aspects of ourselves that so often we deny.  All growth begins with self realization and all creative leaps are rooted in that very space.   Silence is the tool to uncover our hidden resources.   We need to create the balance our creative beings thirst for by giving ourselves the space inside ourselves to connect to a different voice. We are always surrounded by people and voices not just around us, but as we attempt to be quiet,, their voices both past and present continue their incessant dialogue inside our minds. 

As full spiritual beings, we have been given powerful tools by which to grow and develop the unique abilities we each have.  Through the years, we have forgotten the simple but most powerful gifts at our disposal.  The ability to create SILENCE is the most powerful of all, and a large reason for our inability to access it, is our divorce from nature.  The power in standing barefoot on earth, or breathing in a cool wind, or sitting resting against a tree, or napping in the grass has been forgotten.  Find a patch of earth, in a park, backyard or garden and sit, open up and feel something that we have forgotten.  Remembering what we once knew is the key for our rebirth into something which we have yet to experience...........Silence is the key.......and the most amazing thing is that as we reconnect with SILENCE, we reconnect with each other and the world around us in a deeper and more authentic way.  And we reconnect to the source of our creative inspiration.

When I forget the lessons of a quiet mind and spirit ,I seem to aimlessly struggle though my life and my creative endeavors with frustration and bitterness.  I am always amazed at how effortlessly that seems to fade away when I rediscover my greatest friend and muse..........SILENCE!

A New Round Table

Every couple of weeks I sit down in Astoria with a group of friends.  It's a crazy group of individuals and independent thinkers; my good friend and film maker Bishop Christodoulos,  Peter a history professor, Joe, a director, Pete a teacher and all around tradesman, and some other guests who show up on occasion.  The conversation is always thought provoking,  sometimes a bit heated, but always interesting and always coming from a place of critical thinking, thinking outside the box, not tied to any one view point, and more often than not, ideas change as well as points of view.  I always leave, with thoughts I haven't pondered before, or with insights or interesting historical facts I previously was unaware of.  Through the years, I've taken these meetings for granted, but recently I am realizing how unique and fulfilling they are.

I think somewhere deep inside, we are all searching for community, for a community which accepts you without judgment and which openly hears and discusses the thoughts you enter into the discussion.  Art and artists at their best, should be capable of this, but more often than not, ego and narcissism take over.  I often read about the round table discussion at the Algonquin, when the great thinkers of the day would get together and explore different ideas and long for that type of community.........but now I realize, I am a part of an Astoria round table..........as a writer and a film maker, it broadens my perspectives and deepens my connection to people of all stations.  I think it is important that as artists, we begin to break the barriers of who we surround ourselves with and begin to realize the depth of insight and wisdom in all human beings and be open to what they can bring to the table.  In the old days, alot of writers, actors, directors,  considered themselves craftsmen, just doing another job, not better than anyone else.  Their backgrounds were varied and often involved years of physical labor in a variety of different enterprises.   There were no colleges for acting or directing, but their education was from life itself.  Their life experiences informed every part of their artistic output and made them more empathetic to the plight of all individuals...........so as I put together projects, I now look for, in addition to talent, people with varied backgrounds, experiences, struggles and life circumstances, people who can open me up to a new and unexpected way of seeing, to different and exciting points of view.........so as I continue to create, I continue to establish a larger and larger round table.......I'm looking forward to meeting more people who will challenge me to expand my philosophy and point of view. Thanks to all of you and to all who are yet to come...................Sal