”What you get by achieving your goals is not as important as what you become by achieving your goals.”

~Henry David Thoreau

extreme point/counter balance… LOTS of tension, Very high and narrow center of gravity… extremely precise angles required ♥

worked on this balance for at least an hour with gloves on… unsuccessful… then, gloves came off, and balance was realized within 5 minutes :) heightened sensitivity required.. :)

This last weekend was quite interesting… lat week I was contacted by a Japanese film crew requesting to have me teach their show host how to balance rocks… the show is an adventure travel tv show in Japan, and the host is in the process of “training” for a final climb of mount Everest..

The team was very busy visiting various locations so they flew me out to Las Vegas and had me rendezvous with them in Utah and Arizona for filming.. My job was to teach the host how to balance rocks in hopes of finding a stillness in herself to better prepare for the Everest climb.  Anyway, we met up outside Zion National Park at a small RV park next to a river that had some good rocks to balance..

I was totally nervous with the new experience, but being thrown outside my comfort zone is the best way to learn… So I went along for the ride… all expenses paid…what’s the worst that can happen..? :D  much of my nervousness stemmed from the trouble I new it had always been to plan balance times… the nature of balancing rocks as an art form is notoriously resistant to any kind of planning…and instead stubbornly exists only in the moment.

I drove most of the morning from Las Vegas to meet up with the crew… driving through relentless wind the whole way down I-15… it was even windy by the time I got to the crew at the gate of Zion National Park, Utah.  But everything changed with the moment, once we began to improvise.

about 10 minutes back on the highway I had noticed a small portion of river with plentiful rock variety, next to a small RV park… So I suggested they follow me back to the spot, still skeptical of the wind.. Sunset approaching… As luck would have it, the river and time of day could not have worked out more in our favor… as soon as we reached the river, the wind seemed to disappear to more suitable balance conditions… and the Sun quickly approached the horizon.. We had JUST enough time to shoot the footage they needed in the best light of the day.. :)

it all came together perfectly…to my complete surprise :)  I taught the show host how to balance (with help from the translator) And she did VERY well, managing to achieve a narrow point balance on a bit larger balance below… something I’ve rarely seen a beginner learn quickly.. “Divine Alignment” and smiles :)

Pictured above is the main balance that I built quickly for the camera recording :)

Each balance is possible because there is a definite, but fine line between equilibrium and collapse.  I found these rocks and conceptualized the balance on a previous day, the wind was too strong to realize it.  So I went back the next day during a freakish spring snow storm. A somewhat regular occurrence during springtime in Boulder, Colorado.  Maybe you can tell from the most previous posts, that the weather has been warm until now.. then… BOOM.. at least a foot of fluffy spring snow.  But the only weather that really stops me from playing with rocks is wind.  I LOVE snow. :)

Snow normally adds an interesting element to the experience. something different. human traffic dies off.. leaving me along in the creek with the rocks.. the silence grows LOUD in these conditions.. and I love it.  This balance required a bit of extra persistence, taking an estimated 1.5 hours to realize.. nearly gave up once or twice… but I KNEW it was possible… I had FELT the still points several times. it was simply a matter of lining up the angles correctly for the extreme point/counter-balance.  The high center of gravity compounded the challenge as all the rocks had to be extremely precise to achieve the intended “S” curve. The rocks Slipped easily with the constant wet snowfall… but once the balance is found, slipping does not happen. Although intensely precarious, the definitive line of balance carried enough inertia to withstand a lot of snowfall.. assuming no lateral wind.

these pictures are from the morning… more from the evening will follow…..after snowing all day :)

“The Universe is saying: Allow me to flow through you unrestricted, and you will see the greatest magic you have ever seen.” – Klaus Joehle

estimated time for realization: 1.5 hours
air temperature: -5(ish) C
payoff: infinite
observed magic: infinite
happy feeling: infinite :)

“Love that is not madness… is not Love.”

No this is NOT my quote. No it is not a universal expression of “Love”. Yes, it applies to a certain context of love.. please do not over analyze or try to “one-up” my use of it. I have included it to highlight the difference between following the heart and keeping it wide open, versus remaining closed and following the rational, calculating side of the mind.  Sometimes I feel like I lead too much with my heart.. “on the sleeve”…  but maybe not…

Point being, I feel completely in Love…not only with my art, but also another person (romantically, and universally for that matter)…  and although there is much uncertainty, it feels amazing.. but along with an open heart there is a slightly torturous vulnerability.. some are quick to take advantage of my vulnerability.  But I don’t care anymore! that is their problem, not mine… I would rather lead with an honest, open heart, than remain closed and untouched like many people out there..

This art is my life and passion, and i refuse to make concessions of heArt to please close-minded people.. This image is included to highlight this madness.. the uncontrollable throbbing of passion and “insanity” is responsible for such precarious arrangements in life.. But this is all part of the thrill.  the priceless nature of my art is in the FEELING and surprise it spurs with every realization of extreme balance.  vulnerable to the slightest wind, yet standing proud in its own divinity is something rarely experienced by the masses (unfortunately). Just imagine what the world would be like if every person could open up and break through their barriers of fear… the barriers imposed by mind and ego.. I fall victim to my own worries at times.  but then I experience an extreme love that NO-ONE can break.  because I’ve learned to handle the risk of collapse. Or at least i hope..

I could DIE tomorrow and lose EVERYTHING I’ve been hoping for in my future.. but this hope is senseless if i am not engaged in the moment with all heart and passion.

Keeping an open heart is also about pushing the limits of our own creation.  There must be a contentment with potential loss in order to move forward and GROW.  highlighted here is the practice of pushing limits.  One step at a time. Few successes happen instantly.  by starting small, we can gradually realize a fuller potential.. although there is the uncertainty principle to all existence.. LOVE feels fucking amazing!! it is never too late crack open that shell.  if you don’t, death will. <3

no words…

”Love of beauty is taste. The creation of beauty is art.”
Ralph Waldo Emerson

As many may have noticed… I LOVE RED!! :) especially the deeper reds I find in many creek rocks here in Colorado.. mix that red with an intriguing shape… and we have perfection.. (in my mind) :)  Here is yet another example of a BEAUTIFUL red rock I stumbled across recently in one of my favorite spots on the creek.. upon discovery, I instantly found the perfect balance point, as if the rock itself was screaming “balance me” :D

To add to the magic and enchantment, the time of day had created a such a calm feeling in the air as the sun slowly set behind the mountains.. I wouldn’t trade these moments for anything!  Crossed with creating a difficult balance with a beautiful red rock, the moments pictured here were pure magic… sometimes i just can’t help but take continuous pictures, in order to capture all the subtle changes.. Then upon later examination of the photos, all the beautiful details begin to emerge from the sequence of glimpses.. :)  GRATEFUL for yet another day’s end.. :)