An “automatic” scribble of twisting and interlacing lines permits the germ of an idea in the subconscious mind to express, or at least suggest itself to the consciousness. From this mass of procreative shapes, full of fallacy, a feeble embryo of idea may be selected and trained by the artist to full growth and power. By these means, may the profoundest depths of memory be drawn upon and the springs of instinct tapped.

Yet, let it not be thought that a person not an artist may by these means not become one: but those artists who are hampered in expression, who feel limited by the hard conventions of the day and wish for freedom but have not attained to it, these may find in it a power and a liberty elsewhere undiscoverable. thus writes Leonardo da Vinci:-”Among other things, I shall not scruple to discover a new method of assisting the invention; which though trifling in appearance, may yet be of considerable service in opening the mind and putting it upon the scent of new thoughts, and it is this: if you look at some old wall covered with dirt, or the odd appearance of some streaked stones, you may discover several things like landskips (sic), battles, clouds, uncommon attitude, draperies, etc. Out of this confused mass of objects the mind will be furnished with abundance of designs and subjects, perfectly new.”

The Hand must be trained to work freely and without control, by practise in making simple forms with a continuous involved line without afterthought, i.e. its intention should just escape consciousness. Drawings should be made by allowing the hand to run freely with the least possible deliberation. In time shapes will be found to evolve, suggesting conceptions, forms and ultimately having personal or individual style. The mind in a state of oblivion, without desire towards reflection or pursuit of materialistic intellectual suggestions, is in a condition to produce successful drawings of one’s personal ideas, symbolic in meaning and wisdom. By this means sensation may be visualized.

“We are all born brave, trusting and greedy, and most of us remain greedy.”  -Mignon McLaughlin

Hail men and women of the Lodge, it’s been time passed since we gathered. Hail to keeper of the Lodge Steven for having me here and for blessing the ground we walk on. I will be posting my thoughts and learnings on altered states of reality and its mode of perceptions.

As a starting point one of my personal main constructs of a stage in which I altered reality consisted of my head Moko, a re-appropriated moko design of a maori tribe chief. Heavily influenced by my partner in life Amanda S. whose roots lay in deep maori tribal ancestry.  “Ta Moko was like a history of a person’s achievements and represented their status in their tribe. It was like a resumé. It also served as a reminder to people about their responsibility in life.” I sought to re-interpret the energy and belief system within the Ta Moko and to make my own, I became a man the day I anointed my head with ink.