The only hurdle that gets in the way of a human being moving from mediocre to monumental is mastering his or her survival process. To become efficient enough in this arena to create the space & time to attend to what life has to offer beyond the obstacle. If you pay close attention to the blockades of yourself & others close to you, you will see everyone’s being interrupted by some aspect of attending to survival. Otherwise, we would be attending to what resonates with our higher faculties such as searching for truth, connection, & fulfillment without breaks in focus. Most people become so occupied with their process of survival, arranging their lives to where it takes up the majority, that the thought of even planning for a life where it takes up the minority doesn’t occur. 

What changes the position & course of one’s societal life is one: developing the being to initiate new conversations with self through imagination & with others through articulation. & two: taking the moment's action to bring the intention into reality. Repetition of this at greater levels of skill is the key to greater levels of access within civilized nations. 

Where there is an attempt to manipulate another, there is also the compulsion of envy that cannot tolerate the freedom it observes. The constant reminder of its own self generated prison. Instead of using one’s energy to transcend, the one possessed by envy uses it to destroy the other to its own level of awareness, to feel once again like an insider: emotionally safe from unfamiliarity that sparks their mind to question about the nature of their life beyond the uniform they conform to. So the one who is committed to finding their full expression, even amongst a land where most are not, one must have the emotional stability gifted by the skill of introspection to continue the journey; because there will be attempts for their freedom to be brought to halt.

The current of money is located at the transaction: the exchange of buying & selling. Master the art of transacting, actively participate in its dance, & you will acquire more than enough money to do whatever is possible in society. The origin of the word transaction means “to settle.” Meaning both parties involved come to an agreement that produces mutual emotional stability, which ultimately grants everyone access to a closer position towards their ideal experience. Towards a higher standard / stable platform of living. This is the only reason people engage with the market: either to maintain or elevate their living standards which requires constant energy & resource input to uphold. & this continuous flow of rising again, the origin of the word resource, is the byproduct of successful transactions facilitated over & over again throughout the course of one’s life.

As you know, absolutely everything in our solar system depends upon the unrelenting warmth, light, & power of the sun. It is the ancient engine of all life on Earth. In my experience, I have noticed a direct correlation to my wellbeing & me improving my relationship with our star (enhanced mood, sharper eyesight, greater ability to concentrate / think, better sleep, & a sense of being included). The desire to intentionally commune with it began from my deteriorating psychological & bodily health. On my path of building a business, I decided to use the stability of a typical 9-5 corporate job to fuel my dreams. For many people, these situations can be soul crushing, which it was for a time, until I began to understand the mechanics of how to optimize my health through trusting my sensitivity as opposed to running from the pain. 

Before the age of IOUs & paper based currency, there was a man who amassed a great fortune through arduous effort. His money was entirely made of gold coins. At his older age, he had earned & saved enough to receive his net worth from the bank, & retire. From his home, filled with pride, he strutted through town & boldly requested his money in full; upon which he received a large burlap sack of gold. His treasure was heavy, but somehow felt light atop his shoulders as he reminisced on the past era of hard work which translated into opening the new chapter he entered on this day.

The nature of what flows through your experience depends upon where you are standing in all aspects. Physically, socially, psychologically, chronologically, energetically, etc; any position you hold dictates the contents of your reception. Where you decide to place yourself incan determine whether or not your life plays out as mediocre, or monumental. Picture sitting in a fluorescent lit office, as opposed to a sunlit alp. Imagine how extraordinarily different these experiences would be; but how the stillness of your body is the same. In the former setting, you will most likely hear the clicks of keyboards, see the grays of mundane interior design, & feel the isolation of your cubicle which is conveniently placed away from windows to “help you focus on what matters”. In the latter, you may hear subtle songs of the wind grazing against forest leaves, see the mountain lake’s glitter as the sun kisses its surface, & feel the connection of being intune with elemental life. These are two polar opposites of human experience, but the sitting itself in both circumstances is the same, simple posture. 

Would you rather climax with excitement & fall back towards the bottom, or gradually rise to new heights without ever hitting the ground? Your answer for this question, & search for either choice, has a profound effect on the quality of your life. One begets instability & addiction, while the other slowly enhances your being. & the primary difference in outputs between the two is the timeline of gratification. If you simply learn how to wait between the time you begin a process & the experience of its payoff when it’s complete, without removing attention, you will see the greatness of your potential unfold into reality. The key to this is building not for the pursuit of pleasure, but from the seat of joy. So, if you are to realize any blueprint of value, its operation must be a flow you appreciate. Otherwise the power of focus to break through barriers & reach the next platform will be unattainable.

What is chaos other than order you cannot see? If people throughout time & space have discovered through spirituality & science the universe is constructed with an intelligent design from the minute to the massive, how would phenomena in between be disordered? Cellular structures, all the way to solar systems, & galaxies have been identified to move within patterns. It is my observation as well, that all of life exists within organized forms. Therefore, I am inclined to determine that the nature of chaos is imaginary: a psychological creation concocted by a misuse of human creativity, or lack of discernment. If you observe your experience, without filtering it through a predetermined script as all of us do, the mind relaxes into a mirror-like state which reveals life as it is, not as you confuse it to be. Confusion can only exist within the human mind which attempts to grasp, but never holds reality with its limited capability to only create symbols for social & intrapersonal comprehension. Confusion's original meaning was "overthrow, [or] ruin". I interpret this as one's thought process & / or actions are attempting to rebel against reality, probably unknowingly, to fabricate their own sense of how life is. This is an effort to impose one's limited beliefs upon the already established design of the universe: a contest no one can win.

What you can perceive is far greater than what you could ever express, though popular culture has convinced many of us that the enhancement of one’s life arises from the latter. We have been conditioned to believe in the value of action before deep observation. This is the source of detrimental outcomes because it gives the illusion that you can act intelligently through confidence instead of clarity. At birth, we know nothing, so we become absolutely attentive to everything. If you watch an infant, you will see nothing in their eyes but a piercing wonder. They are in a constant state of looking, of listening, of meditation because that is how the universe designed us to be not only at our home state, but to learn effectively. In my experience, I have noticed infants have a longer attention span than most of the adult population; & the cause of this is simply information overload. Education, which literally means to bring out, has been distorted to growing one’s intelligence through collecting the memory of others experiences & insights. This trend has become so drastic to the point where we trust data from the past over our sacred access to this present moment where all relevancy lies. Our ability to respond to the phenomena of life in a unique way according to our abilities can only be accessed through being attentive to the now. 

Once you are able to fully see there is both the light of knowledge & the darkness of ignorance in your mind, you will have access to a profoundly useful flow of information. If you have convinced yourself that the data you have within your limited thought process is enough to navigate this ever changing world, the enrichment of your life will be over. It is the reception of dynamics which brings fulfillment, not the acquisitions that truly only add up to stagnation. The wind that passes through your hair on a hot day. The mystical aroma of your favorite dish amongst the laughter of friends. The gradual transition of orange to purple hues during a spectacular sunset morphing into twilight. The influx of emotion from gazing into the eyes of a lover. All of these in common, cannot be brought to a halt & contained for safe keeping. They are the seemingly immaterial magic of living that comes & goes like a whisper. It is this hide & seek act of life, this impeccably subtle game of existential novelty, that keeps us engaged. An experience of perpetual refreshment is open to the one who knows he or she does not know.

Human beings have been creating visual art for tens of thousands of years. For the intelligence of our race to continually revisit this practice of illustration, there must be significance beyond it just being pleasing to the eye. Superficial trends of behavior, which aren’t actually useful to our society, wax & wane with the times. But themes which repeat themselves across great stretches of history indicate not a luxurious & whimsical want, but a primal need that must be met. A desire to be fulfilled or else unfavorable consequences will occur. When I reflect on the psychological guidelines of our wellbeing, I find myself remembering the famous & accurate Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs. A roadmap of stepping stones towards our ultimate destination. If you reference this map, which is in itself a piece of visual art (I will touch on this later), alongside human action throughout history, you will see that although we are an intelligent race of beings, we are predictable in nature. Every one of us, even if it appears different in style upon the surface, follows the same structure of development from wanting safety to transcendence & everything in between. This article is an effort to explain the impact of visual art & our tendency to rely upon it, at each level of this hierarchy of which no person is exempt. Before this dive, you must know there are various lenses to view the world. One can perceive life as a physicist, a biologist, a philosopher, etc. Of the universe’s influence, I have always seen this experience as an incredible mosaic. So I refer to everything as a work of art. Hence my interest & interpretation of the subject at hand. Now, let’s begin. 

Today, the desire to be seen is perhaps of the greatest volume in human history. There are people on every corner of the planet revealing snippets of their lifestyles with aspirations of spreading wisdom, self aggrandizement, providing entertainment, & so much more. With relatively easy access to the globally connected web filled with an abundance of customs & creeds, it is easier than ever to join this cocktail of mass expression. Much has been said about the dangers of wanting to attain a sense of fame, a word built from the same prefix as family, of which we are all aware. So instead, I’ve decided to illustrate the personal & public benefits of striving to be known (because there are two sides to every coin); as well as where I believe this desire comes from. As a natural introvert who releases from others attention to recharge my energy, this is something I had not understood for a long time. In fact, I actually found it to be quite a waste of time. But as I grow older in years, in my understanding of how society operates, & its interconnectedness to human development, I’m beginning to perceive its significance. 

Peace is a nebulous experience we cannot see or hold, but it is a sense we all desire. People across the world have their own innumerable ways of achieving this coveted state, just as the universe has created endless expressions of humanity. Its pathway & meaning are as varied as we can imagine. All unique rivers navigating through the flow of life towards the ocean of serenity. Along my journey of sharpening my vision of aesthetics & meditation, I’ve discovered that for me, peace is among one of the greatest empowerments in the world as it releases compulsion: the destructive nature of the mind which causes all disorientation & suffering. When one is free of this reactionary heat, they have gained the ability to choose wisely. To observe a scene with options before them & decide on whatever promotes their own & others wellbeing. 

Because of the long lasting value a classic work provides to the human spirit. I experienced this fully for the first time during an unforgettable visit to the National Gallery of Art in Washington, DC. There was an enormous piece on an isolated wall created by the fantastic landscape painter Albert Bierstadt. The painting was so large, there was couch in front of it as if the curator understood it would grab people’s attention for prolonged periods of time like it gripped mine. The incredible detail & story telling of this natural scene filled with waterfalls, trees, animals, clouds, sunshine, everything; was just magical. So magnificent to the point I forgot I was looking at a painting, & that it was created by a human being. I was utterly lost in the awe inspiring composition. I must have been sitting there for at least 30-45 minutes as people came & left around me. Each minute I became more & more impressed by the masterpiece’s aesthetics. But what I noticed which I found to be more important than that, was this object somehow pulled my being into a zen state giving me similar sensations I would experience during meditation. In that moment after my mind’s thoughts returned from its stillness of observing this beautifully crafted scene, I fully understood what my offering to the world would be: artworks that put others in a state of meditation; even if they were aware of it or not. I’m naturally drawn to natural places such as the one painted, so I decided I will bring a high end camera with me to share their wealth of serenity without them having to take the journey themselves. Not many people venture off into these scenes which I perceive as sacred, or even have the antenna to find one, then visually capture its essence. I believe I’ve been blessed with the gift to do so, & I intend to share it with as many fellow human beings that are willing to accept them.

Within my experience of twenty six years on this planet observing myself & others, I have noticed a direct correlation to the quality of what one consumes & its impact on one's ability to deeply pay attention. This consequently effects the quality of one’s moment by moment experience. Primarily, I believe there is phenomena one can consume with their mind, physical, or energetic body which introduces inflammation across the system. It replaces the air, the natural lubrication, the silence within with a compulsive tightness that can only be resolved by abstinence over time. I've seen innumerable human beings that live in a state of constant anxiety & tension because they have been administering themselves doses of poison for long enough to where it becomes their new baseline & there is complete ignorance of the feeling of health. & one cannot understand their consumption which causes chronic multidimensional comfort because this unskillful consumption, which is influenced totally by their environment, slowly destroys their ability to pay attention because attention requires a certain level of stillness which inflammation does not allow. I find this to be the most insidious offering of society that allows human beings who are unaware of this dark rabbit hole to gain access to their slow deaths of mind, body, & energy. & I've seen the effects of this within myself.

As human beings, we exist with multidimensional avenues of desire. Inspired by what appears to be the mind, body, & personality’s unceasing aspiration to become greater than their current state, every craving arises along with the yearning to expand. This continuous flow of desire is inherent not only within humanity, but to the universe itself: the unending system of pure intelligence which creates & contains everything. The primary influence of any piece is the atmosphere which pervades it. As you may perceive yourself now, as an individual, you are a piece in relation to the larger environment which surrounds you. Like the soil automatically transforms a planted seed into its eventual maturity, the universe is a natural incubator for our evolution, & every other life form within it. We are children of the cosmos; intertwined with its’ character. Therefore, we are inevitably demanded & affected by its whims to grow. Any futile attempts to resist, or become ignorant of this primordial drive will result in the ubiquitous sensation of suffering: a discomforting tension impossible to neglect. This is not to be confused with the unavoidable fact of pain whose touch is outside of our control. Suffering is created through our own ignorance of how the natural system, the omnipresent opening, functions.

Photography as an art form, as opposed to documentation resonated with my heart from the  beginning of my image design journey. Even before interacting with the world through a camera, I perceived experience as a cosmic mosaic crafted by an intelligence beyond understanding. Just as infants stare at the world & everything within it with a sense of speechless awe, I too do the same even after 25 years of living. I still have no clue exactly what I’m looking at, or what is the purpose of it all. However, I do know that what I see is beautiful by the blissful responses I receive in my nervous system. A certain chemistry of joy rushes through my mind & body when I am in the presence of visual magnificence which I desire to capture & share.

Photography simulates the physical attributes of a subject to a desired, or unsuspecting audience & allows for the mass dissemination of its qualities. It grants an opportunity for the stock broker of Wall Street living amongst the never ending movement of metal & concrete to interpret & wonder at the monochromatic mystery of Sahara Desert’s sand dunes. For the ominously elegant Northern Lights gliding above Iceland to be visually illustrated to the fisherman of Andaman Islands. The engineering feats of Dubai’s cosmopolitan Mecca can begin to be unriddled by the Peruvian farmer who lives simply amongst Earth’s elevated planes. A Japanese toddler or adolescent can observe with awe at the facial structure & complexion of a Sudanese adult. A sense of being included within a diverse global community can develop within the mind of one observing a photo.

Human experience is largely based in our eyesight. For me, being a Highly Sensitive Person, the sensation of vision has captivated my attention for as long as I can remember. The color, shades, tones, & textures of life all appear to my eyes in a vividness & subtle ecstasy impossible to illustrate with words. Naturally, I’ve spent many years attempting to capture the awe-inspiring beauty around me through photography as it is a medium which transcends words & logic. I began like most do with an iPhone: slowly understanding the principles of composition, lighting, shadows, & color of what creates a quality photograph. I progressively understood that the combination of these elements in a specific order creates a unique emotional experience. I desired to dive deeper into the art form beyond the distractions & flat rendering of iPhone photographs to develop a more focused process of creating images with a dedicated camera.