Galactic Stillness

Revisiting Poetry

noreply@blogger.com (Liz Grover) — Thu, 17 May 2012 02:55:00 +0000

My first poem in a VERY LONG TIME:

You yearn to pick the rose that grows
behind the bulletproof glass.
I watch with the melancholic laugh,
as a garden flourishes behind you.

Kaleidoscope blankets of flora wait at your back,
but will you notice before summer has come to pass,
when the hand of time throws infinite petals to
wilt in browning grass?

My dear, that glass you will not crack...
Just turn around to see, everything of your dreams
is here right now. Forget the future and the past.

I Love My Mom.

noreply@blogger.com (Liz Grover) — Sun, 13 May 2012 09:18:00 +0000

My mom is a cool woman, with a wacky sense of humor and a heart of gold. She's spiritual and creative. As she says, "The coconut doesn't fall far from the tree", and it's true. I have her to thank for many of my qualities and sensibilities.

Last week, the approach of Mother's Day got me thinking about my favorite moments with my mom. I thought for a while about those times that made me love her so much. The list could go on, but these made the top of the list:

1. She taught me about the truth of Christopher Columbus and that he caused a genocide. In second grade, when asked on a test, "Who was Christopher Columbus?", I wrote, "A genocidal maniac." I got in trouble. The teacher marked my answer wrong and she called my mom into school. Mom stood up for me and told the teacher that she agreed with my answer. By the way, this wasn't the only time she had to do this :-)

2. She introduced me to Monty Python at an early age. I was about 11 when she bought me The Holy Grail and Life of Brian. It absolutely changed my world. These films expanded my mind and inspired me to explore humor in a way I never imagined before. Eventually, when I was 13, I wrote my own sketch comedy styled film. It was heavily influenced by Python, with satirical jabs aimed at politics and the Catholic church.

3. She gave me a copy of The Rocky Horror Picture Show when I was 11, which also exploded my mind into a new paradigm. I loved that movie and watched it so much (Tim Curry, what a genius!) that I broke the video cassette. Then I brought it to my friends houses. I thought it was the coolest thing, but the parents of my friends didn't agree. Again, I got in trouble by adults who didn't get me, and my mom stood up for me. Of course, I gave up on showing it to my friends for a while.

4. She didn't kill me when I told her that I lived in Afghanistan for two years--this was long after the fact. She just calmly said, "Good thing I didn't know. If I had known, I would have flown to Kabul just to drag you home". Yeah, she's great at loving me for who I am, even with all the crazy things I do. Maybe she doesn't understand everything that I do, but she loves me, no matter what.

5. She was completely understanding when I got kicked out of Sunday school class for telling the teacher that women have the freedom of choice when it comes to their reproductive health. She never made me go back after that. Thank God!

6. She's a great storyteller. There's never a lack of conversation when she's around. We always have interesting stories to share, and I know I got the gift of gab from her.

7. She makes the best eggplant parmesian. Hands down. I miss it all the time.

8. She has helped to preserve and educate me about our family's Irish heritage. She's preserved and found so much information about our family's lineage. I don't think everyone knows as much about their family tree--the woman even went to Ireland to research our deeper roots.

9. She's classy and cultured. She always took me to museums and gave me tons of books to read. She taught me how to appreciate the beautiful and more aesthetic things in life. She's a great interior decorator and showed me how to turn everything, even my bedroom, into art.

This is just a sliver of why my mom is so wonderful. I hope she realizes how much I love her and how grateful I am for what she has given me over the years.

noreply@blogger.com (Liz Grover) — Tue, 24 Apr 2012 05:14:00 +0000

Inner Butterfly

noreply@blogger.com (Liz Grover) — Mon, 23 Apr 2012 02:04:00 +0000

This year is phenomenal, and I know I'm transitioning into something more, something I've never experienced before. It's what I've been working for on all levels: spiritually, professionally, and geographically.

My psychic/spiritual growth is intense. I feel more than ever, and I have to say, it's a blessing, but it hurts. I don't know why I have this gift, but I do. Often times, I feel more than I want to feel from other people--especially the ones I care about the most. I guess it gives me more compassion, but it's hard on my heart and body. It often makes me want to just hide in a cave. I've come to the point where if a dear friend is in physical pain, I can physically feel it as well. If someone is having a bad day, I can feel that too-even if he or she is half way around the globe. Luckily, I know enough to understand when it's not my own stuff, but what to do with it? I wish I could find my Yoda to help me soon (Yoda, if you're reading this now, give a shout out!).

I'm working on some very significant films, feature-length and short. Some are serious. Some are hilarious. Their locations, like myself, span the globe. No surprise there. They address spirituality, yoga, human rights issues, war and intercultural understanding. I've been waiting for these projects for quite some time, and I'm grateful that they're all unfolding in this very moment.

I've been highly nomadic for the past year. My work and spirit has pulled me all around the world, between India, LA, New Mexico, Colorado and many stops in between. Everywhere I go, I meet reflections of myself. I stumble upon miracles, shamans, artists, and change makers every step of the way. Tis a blessed and adventurous journey.

Now here's the baffling part that I'm trying to wrap my head around...

I've been sharing my observations of the world, the places and the inspiring people I've met for years on this blog. I've had this very journalistic approach to my writing, but now it's time for something completely different. Even though I'm flying high above the moon with excitement for my work, I can't share it :-( I have to hold my tongue, because of the sensitive nature of my projects. I can't even mention locations. This is a first for me. That's ok though. It's pushing me in new directions, and I've come to the conclusion that I need to write more about my inner world. I have a hard time sharing myself, but it's what I have to do. So, expect something more "inner" from me and less of the outer. I won't post as many pictures or worldly observations for the rest of the year (and if I do, the places and people shall remain nameless) but I'll do my best to keep it funky and real. I guess this butterfly is going back into a cocoon phase. That's all for now. Butterfly love to all.

The Henderson House

noreply@blogger.com (Liz Grover) — Fri, 30 Mar 2012 01:13:00 +0000

Last summer I went to New Mexico to make a documentary short for the YWCA about the Henderson House, a home that was created to get homeless women veterans off the street and back into solid and secure lives.

I didn't know what to expect with my interviews, but speaking with these women changed my life. All the women veterans I spoke with have PTSD because of sexual abuse in the military. It's one thing to read about these stories, but to hear their stories in person was something else. I am so disgusted by how these women were treated by men in the military and how they weren't taken care of after serving for our country. Society and the government left them homeless. Most of it was painful for me to digest, but the light in the darkness was the Henderson House, which is really the first home of its kind in the country where these women can bounce back with all the love and support they need. There have been homeless shelters for women veterans in the states, but the women had to share the space with male veterans. Imagine how hard it is to trust a male veteran after experiencing sexual abuse in the military for years on end. And what's unique about the Henderson House is that it isn't just a shelter--it's a proper home.Watch the video below or see the longer version here.

Thoughts on Kony 2012

noreply@blogger.com (Liz Grover) — Wed, 21 Mar 2012 01:32:00 +0000

Disclaimer-

I don't have a lot of answers. This is a long rant so I'll sum it up here at the top.

1. I congratulate Invisible Children just as much as I question them. I hope they succeed in healing the wounds of child soldiers & trafficking in Uganda and beyond.

2. Let the majority of voices of the Kony Campaign come from the Ugandans.

3. Kony is not in Uganda--Invisible Children should have made this clear in the video.

4. I don't believe sending US troops is necessarily the best answer.

5. Look before you donate.

6. In the end, my opinions don't matter too much. The big question is, "What do the Ugandans want?"

My professional background makes me very interested in Kony 2012. I spent ten years working in international development, in war torn places like Cambodia, East Timor and a solid two-year stint in Kabul, Afghanistan.

Am I impressed with Kony 2012? Yes! Do I have issues with Kony 2012? Yes! And I'm grateful that it has evolved the way it has, because the world is discussing what it means to be sustainable in international development. In this Internet world where everything is so visible and where it's easy to donate with the click of a button, it's important to question as much as it is to praise this campaign. We have some lessons to learn, especially as we collectively address and move deeper into the healing of our global community.

What do I love about Kony 2012?

A group of guys with good intentions designed an intelligent and slick video campaign that reached countless people 'round the world and mobilized millions of youth in a heartbeat. People are now more conscious about child soldiers and trafficking in Africa. Maybe Kony will be caught and brought to justice. This is another fabulous example of how social media can be much more powerful than mainstream media.

What I question...

Failure to integrate local voices.

"In all its manifestations, overseas aid ultimately impacts on other people’s lives, and we therefore have a moral imperative to do more than merely “our best”. The prime directive should be to “do no harm” and to listen to the people we are trying to serve. The Kony 2012 video is a beautifully made and highly effective campaign tool. Hopefully the next campaign video will improve it, by basing it on what Ugandans, not outsiders, are asking for." From the Irish Times

"Invisible Children asked viewers to seek the engagement of American policymakers and celebrities, but – and this is a major red flag – it didn’t introduce them to the many Northern Ugandans already doing fantastic work both in their local communities and in the diaspora." From the Independent

I don't agree with the narration style of the video because most of it does not come from the Ugandan people. This may seem harmless to most, but it's a reflection of the biggest problem in international development; foreign aid organizations make many decisions on what they think is best for people. This can be disastrous. I admit that it would be great to capture Kony, but I think there's more than one way to do it. If Kony 2012 makes another video targeted towards westerners, I hope they let Ugandans narrate the story. I suggest that Kony 2012 goes more with the style of I Am Because We Are produced by Madonna. It's about children in Malawi who were orphaned by AIDS. Before watching it, I wondered if Madonna would tell the story herself, but most of the voices in the film were Malawian.

Of course, I believe in international aid, when one of the most important universal laws is obeyed: ask! Ask if the majority of Ugandans want our help. If so, great. Ask how they want our help. Imagine if the tables were turned. Imagine if a nonprofit in Uganda decided to address a social issue here in the states without asking us how to help. I think Americans would be pretty annoyed.

This topic reminds me of something I witnessed in Afghanistan...

A large and well known US funded organization spent a million dollars to deliver iPods with public health messages to Afghan tribes in the middle of nowhere Afghanistan. The iPods were delivered, but the locals who received them didn't have electricity. How would they recharge their iPods to listen to the important messages? A million dollars went down the drain. The problem was that this organization didn't do its homework--it didn't consult with local people.

Make the location clear.

"Awareness is great, but if you ask your kids, 'what do you think this video means?' and they say, 'we need to go to Northern Uganda,' which is the reaction I've seen thousands of times in the last 24 hours, that's factually incorrect," Wilkerson said. "Northern Uganda has been peaceful for six years. Kony and the remainder of the LRA weredriven out by the Ugandan military." Public Radio International

The video implies that Kony is in Uganda. He is not. Ugandans know this (even the Prime Minister has pointed this out). I watched one of the founders of Invisible Children in a TV interview say that he agrees that Kony is not in Uganda. So why wasn't it made clear in the video? Why did the Kony campaign convince the US to send US troops to Uganda? I have yet to see an answer that satisfies my question.

I question the use of American military force.

In the previously mentioned TV interview of one of the founders of Invisible Children, he states his belief in the involvement of the US military. I don't know if that's the best answer, and I encourage the Ugandan people to explore what the best answer is. If the majority of Ugandans want the US military's assistance, than so be it. I'm for free will of the people. If they don't want US involvement, than I have to respect that.

I understand how the military can be a positive force in dire situations. The US military did a fabulous job of providing the Afghans with secure voting stations on the day of the Presidential Election in 2005. I witnessed this first hand. The problem with the military is that some soldiers (the minority) make a bad name for everybody else and kill or hurt innocent people. In the situation of Afghanistan, the poor and sometimes deadly behavior of US soldiers has caused the majority of local people to resent all of the foreign military. It actually results in more fighting and terrorism. Many Afghans want to be left alone because they don't feel they're being helped by the foreign presence; a presence of military and international development that went to Afghanistan with good intentions.

This is a situation that has repeated itself throughout history, and it would be sad to see it in Uganda.

The Finances.

I can't judge the financial situation. It's not publicly clear, and it never will be. My good friend who is the founder of a successful international nonprofit told me that any nonprofit that has enough money can hire a good team of lawyers and accountants to make financial numbers and percentages look like anything so that the public believes that funding is being properly spent.

I am curious about who is behind the funding of the Invisible Children's past, but I don't expect that we'll ever know the whole story.

I did hear one of the Invisible Children founders say that 1/3rd of their funding reaches the people in Uganda. Anyone who is experienced in international development knows that this is not an impressive number. Nonprofits are always bragging much bigger numbers. I don't see how real development can be carried out in another country if most of the money is being spent in the USA. If people want to argue that Invisible Children needs to spend so much money on advocacy in the states, I have to disagree. With my experience in social media, I have a very tangible understanding of how little money it takes to spread awareness to the masses.

I also want to point out that the western world is good at throwing money to fix situations, but that doesn't always work. We saw the waste of donated money for the relief efforts for the tsunami of 2004 and more recently in Haiti. By the way, one of my friends who is deeply engrained in the Haiti crisis just informed me that there are still millions of publicly donated dollars that have yet to reach the ground. Pathetic. Let's hope that Invisible Children can result in a different story.

While on this note, I want to point out the amazing child development work of Hands to Hearts International, a model organization for international development. Please know that I will not recommend every nonprofit that I have worked for. HHI has one constant fulltime employee here in the states. The remaining majority of employees are local women in places like India and Uganda. I can say this organization is legit, because I know the founder Laura Peterson very well. I've also worked for HHI in the past. I once asked her, "Just imagine having a whole building for HHI's HQ!" She instantly responded with a gentle reality check, "I'd never want that--that's not the point." Laura understands the most effective development will build most of its staff of local leaders where the targeted issues are happening.

The dangers of a slick video campaign paired with a heart wrenching issue.

Kony 2012 made millions cry, including myself. I do not doubt the reality of the Ugandan boy who shared his story. The video was so well done, that many people didn't question the deeper information of the story before donating. In a world of advanced media and technology, I urge people to stop and research before donating. There have been many groups that use tear jerking issues to proselytize--this is not evident with the Kony 2012 campaign, but I won't cross it off the list of possibilities. All I'm saying is look before you leap with your pocket books.

I'm reminded of Afghanistan again. Several years ago, an Afghan woman whose nose was cut off was put on the cover of one of the USA's major magazines. I think it was TIME Magazine. When it happened, I heard many public figures from all points on the political spectrum say, "See! This is why we need to be in Afghanistan! We need to protect those women". I specifically remember Danny DeVito expressing the same. This cover helped to fuel a disastrous military campaign and didn't do much for the rights of Afghan women.

Some additional quotes/articles to ponder:

From Hands to Hearts International:

"The current challenges in the area are profound, the population used to live primarily on subsistence farming and after years in IDP camps they return to barely accessible roads, overgrown fields, no livestock, and eroded homes. There are too few: health clinics, health workers, medicines, schools, teachers, water pumps, and almost no ways to earn an income. While there is an overflow of: HIV/AIDS, and other diseases, malnutrition, food scarcity, PTSD trauma, alcoholism, and likely general depression. The people I have met here are smart, motivated and active in creating a better future for themselves and while they greatly appreciate international assistance, they would rather be able to provide for themselves and this is what they are working very hard on doing." From Laura Peterson of Hands to Hearts International

A Facebook post from a well respected intercultural communications professional:

So I watched the video and I was impressed by their ability to raise awareness and mobilize thousands of people for a good and righteous cause. Which makes it only more unfortunate that people believe they have been misled or misinformed by the organization. However, I was extremely disturbed by his presentation of this issue to his son and I'm curious what value he thought it added. Good intentions often result in Good things, but should not obscure the need for honesty, integrity and understanding the role of cultural self determination in social movements such as this.

"I would also recommend the Twitter feed of Laura Seay, who was moved to comment this morning that “[Solomme Lemma] is tweeting links to great community-based organizations working in Northern Uganda. Give there if you really want to help."

Boing-Boing African Voices Respond

From a professor of history at Swarthmore College

"If with its current resources and aid, in a simple or unobtrusive way, the Ugandan army and American advisors can catch or kill Kony, that’s great. Making this the singular, surpassing international demand by the world, making this the objective that launches a million postcards from American schoolchildren, pouring whatever resources might be available into that goal? Not only does it miss the forest for a single tree, it runs the serious risk of turning into precisely the kind of crusade that does more harm in the end than it does good. A very similar rhetorical logic was used to sell the war in Iraq: get Saddam Hussein at all costs. A similar logic drew the American military into a disastrously misconceived crusade to “get” Mohammed Farah Aidid in Somalia. Real life isn’t Roy Rogers, it’s Unforgiven. Going after the bad guy often makes more bad guys, or gives other bad guys a gold star and lets them pretend to be the sheriff." See blog here.

WJXT, Jacksonville

"But the media attention on Kony may actually hamper efforts to catch Kony, said Peter Pham of the Atlantic Council, a Washington think tank. The film comes after a regional -- and covert -- military operation that has been under way for several months. The attention could prompt Kony to go on the move again and may set back African and U.S. efforts to catch the warlord.

"All I can say is, it couldn't have happened at a more unhelpful moment when you look at it strategically and operationally,"said Pham, a civilian adviser to the military command that sent the U.S.troops."" News4Jax.com

From Public Radio International:

"Even under horrific circumstances, people are endlessly resourceful, and local actors understand their needs better than outsiders. It's good that Americans want to help, but ignoring the role and authority of local leaders and activists isn't just insulting and arrogant, it neglects the people who are the most likely to come up with a solution to the conflict. The LRA is a problem worth solving, but how to do so is a complicated question with no easy answers."
From Public Radio international

"Last year I went to Gulu, Uganda, where Invisible Children is based and interviewed over 50 locals. Every single person questioned Invisible Children's legitimacy and intention.

"Every single person. If anything, it seemed the people saw Invisible Children as a bigger threat than Joseph Kony at the time. Whyis it the very people you are trying to 'help' feel more offense than reliefwith your aid?" From the Acholi Times

"They spend 2/3 of their budget on advocacy and awareness raising in the United States," Wilkerson said. "A lot of that is film production, a lot of it is road shows where they take their 12 videos now on tours around the United States. They also have some traditional NGO-style education and other programs on the ground in Uganda, but it seems like they're trying to do a little bit of everything and are not necessarily great at anything except making the film and viralmarketing." From Public Radio International

Blow Bubbles: How to Have Fun in LA Traffic

noreply@blogger.com (Liz Grover) — Sat, 11 Feb 2012 03:52:00 +0000

Traffic in LA... It's a bitch sometimes! No, really. And I never swear on this blog, but I get to swear when it comes to talking 'bout traffic. Those of you who have braved driving here understand my agony and have plenty of profanities for it that I won't use on this blog. For those of you who have never driven here, I often find myself taking an hour to drive 10 miles. Ugh... Being tapped into one of the main pulses of western civilization comes with a price.

Today was different though. For about 20 minutes, I drove behind a man who was alone in his car. His bumper sticker read, "I love anthropology" and he was holding a bubble gun out the window! He was shooting a stream of constant bubbles, and he gave me a good laugh while creeping through traffic tonight.

Bubbles in traffic. Who knew? This guy deserves an award. Why? Because he made me laugh, and because I know he's not going to take life too seriously. He's a lesson to us all. Don't let traffic (or the man) get you down! Blow bubbles! Or do something equally silly (like fly a kite out the window, wear a clown nose at the wheel, or my favorite--which I've done in the past--fill the car with balloons, crack the window, and let the air blow them around the car. It looks really cool from the outside, and believe it or not, the balloons don't impair your driving vision). The world can get so serious and scary sometimes, but the key is to not let it get us down. This bubble guy is my hero of the day. Live it up!

Coming Out of the Mystic Closet...

noreply@blogger.com (Liz Grover) — Sun, 05 Feb 2012 05:54:00 +0000

I've spent the past 10 years of my life with the realization that I am of a mystic fabric. It hits me in waves, and my awareness has grown in leaps and bounds over time. I am not who I was even five years ago. My psychic sensitivity and my capacity to experience miracles is growing all the time.

It started out with strange "coincidences" and "synchronicities", which I now find hard to label as such--to label these events says that they're something out of the ordinary. The magic associated with these terms is my normal now--it's my every breath and my every moment.

There are some challenges that come with being a modern mystic in the USA--not everyone gets it. Actually, in my earlier days, I couldn't tell most of my friends about my alternative take on reality and about the psychic drum beat that I march to. I would test the waters with some of my friends and quickly be shut down like I was crazy. I was pushed to be a mystic hiding in the closet, but gradually, over time, I found more people who understood my unexplainable life because they were experiencing the same magic too.

It has taken time, but now everyone who is a part of my inner circle of friends is spiritual and psychically gifted to different extents. I only magnetize people who are spiritual and those who work on their personal growth. Anyone who doesn't fit into these categories is always somehow deflected from my field.

The best part is that people who I've known for years--the ones I've had to hide my mystic nature from--are starting to talk to me about synchronicity and magical, mystical happenings. It's thrilling, because I've had unexplainable stories that I've wanted to share with these friends for years. I've held back, because I knew they weren't ready to hear it. But now they want me to share these stories, and it's so exciting. They're somehow waking up to see the world in a new way, and I think my stories give them comfort so they don't think they're crazy for what they're starting to experience.

Finally! I feel like I can be more open about who I am. There are enough people around me who call the paranormal their normal. I can now officially say that I've come out of my mystic closet. I feel safe to publicly speak this identity in deeper ways, and I feel like I'm a part of the mystic majority. I wonder if there are others who feel this too.

Make Em' Laugh

noreply@blogger.com (Liz Grover) — Wed, 11 Jan 2012 04:09:00 +0000

I was recently in a conversation with someone who distributes spiritual films, and asked, "What is missing in spiritual cinema?" I asked because I want to make entertaining films that are spiritually uplifting and I need to know my market. She said, "Humor!" and went on to tell me how she has seen way too many talking-head documentaries that are trying to recreate The Secret or similar films.

It's true. People need to laugh, especially in these transitional and challenging times on the planet. Personally, I've done so much work with depressing subjects, like sexual abuse of women, war and child trafficking. I'm aware of what's happening out there, and now I need to be uplifted. I'm not going to forget the suffering and social injustice that I've seen in the world, but gosh, it's time for me to laugh and to do it on a regular basis.

In this vein, I'm now wondering how I can make spiritual films that will make you laugh so hard that you'll almost pee your yoga pants. I think this generation of filmmakers needs to take making fun of ourselves and our spiritual practices to the next level. Images of Monty Python's Life of Brian are now sparking ideas in my head...

If you have some spiritually humorous videos to share, please post the link(s) on my Facebook page. In the meantime, these are some of the sidesplitting spiritual videos that I know about. If you are reading this blog in the email subscription format, please click through to my blog, because the videos below will not embed into your email. Don't ask me why--it's a Blogger thing that's beyond my capability.

My Trip to Ganeshpuri, India

noreply@blogger.com (Liz Grover) — Wed, 28 Dec 2011 05:22:00 +0000

Meet Nityanda.

The shiniest jewel of my recent India adventure was my stealthy pilgrimage to Ganeshpuri, a small jungle village about 90-minutes north of Mumbai. I went to see the former home of Nityananda who is one of my greatest spiritual teachers; I've felt his presence around me for years, and his teachings just make sense to me. Nityananda built his last ashram there and took mahasamadhi (or mystically kicked the bucket) in 1961. This place has been on my to-do list for about 9 years! Check that one off!

But you need some back-story before I share the sweetness from that day. I will share my own experience of Nityananda, rather than make a poor attempt at retelling people's accounts of his mysterious nature.

In April of 2006, I was en route to Cambodia for a job. I went to interview survivors of the Khmer Rouge and to write about sex trafficking and different community development projects in the tribal countryside. I went only four months after a two-year living stint in Kabul. I was operating on emotional fumes, and the physical/post traumatic burnout that comes with living in a war zone; it's because of this that I doubted my decision to go. Could I really handle another adventure?

I boarded the plane in Portland, Oregon to fly to LA for the night. The plan was to fly to Bangkok two days later. My nerves tied my stomach into a knot as the plane ascended into misty cloud fluff. I was worried, and I did something I had never done before--I talked to Nityananda in my head. I said, "Nityananda, if you can hear me--and I think you can--please show me a sign that Cambodia is part of my path. Please bring me to someone who loves you as much as I love you. That'll be my sign!"

Kali on the dashboard!

Two hours later, my friend Katrina greeted me at LAX. As we drove on, I noticed a postcard of Kali on her dashboard. I asked, "Is this yours?" She said, "No, it belongs to my friend Greg. We're going to meet him right now, before we go back to my place." We rolled on to meet Greg. The weather was overcast, but warm. The smell of Pacific salt was thick in the air as we pulled up to his place that overlooked the Santa Monica coastline. Katrina and I approached his door. My pulse quickened, and I didn't know why. Something inside let me know that meeting Greg wouldn't be an average experience.

Greg opened the door, and I felt an undeniable and explosive connection to him the instant our eyes met. He was something like a brother from another mother, or a long lost love from an almost forgotten time. Yet this was the first time I saw him. How strange... As he welcomed us inside, I saw pictures of Nityananda and Kali all over the place. All over, in almost every room! And that was it--the immediate response to my silent in-flight request. Here was the one I asked Nityananda for on the plane that day--the one who loves him as much as I do.

Our deep conversations carried us into the evening, and so Katrina and I chose to stay. I rested alone in the night glow of Greg's meditation room, just below a picture of Nityananda that watched over me as I surrendered to my dreams. The appearance of Greg--the sign I requested--confirmed that Cambodia would treat me right, and it did. A story for another time...

The market at Ganeshpuri

Cut back to Ganeshpuri last month...

The driver turned a corner in poofs of sparkling dust. An 80-something year old woman stood no more than five feet tall in the middle of the dirt road and hailed our car. The wrinkles in her face spelled out an ancient calm and strong presence. We opened the passenger door, and, like a ninja, she effortlessly catapulted herself into the car. Surprising for someone who looked so tiny and frail.

I felt the energy of the car shift to a higher frequency as she situated herself. It was something that could be felt, like a subtle warm breeze on the skin. The silent sparkles of joy in her eyes touched my heart. She spoke in Hindi, which I don't speak, but something intuitive told me what she said. After she finished, I asked the driver to confirm that she told a story of how Nityananda used to materialize money out of nowhere to pay the day workers who built his ashram. He said yes, and, "How did you know???" "Lucky guess" I said with a minimal grin.

She also mentioned how her husband ran the first cafeteria at Nityananda's ashram and how she talked to him when he was still alive. She said that she has visited the ashram everyday for nearly 60 years.

We arrived to the ashram five minutes later. I watch our new cosmic grandma hop down from the car and scurry to the temple where she made floral offerings, probably just like she has everyday for 60 years. Meeting her was much more satisfying than seeing the ashram. She was a living, breathing record of my teacher and of a time long gone. She was my precious moment in India. I will love the memory of her for years to come.

My Radio Interview With Dr. Meg Blackburn Losey

noreply@blogger.com (Liz Grover) — Thu, 22 Dec 2011 20:48:00 +0000

Click here if you'd like to listen to my interview from last night on Dr. Meg Blackburn Losey's radio show Cosmic Particles. Meg is wonderful and I'm grateful that I had the chance to connect with such a spiritually aware woman. You can visit her site if you're interested in following her weekly show on things of all spiritual topics.

Back From India

noreply@blogger.com (Liz Grover) — Wed, 21 Dec 2011 04:04:00 +0000

(So long, and thanks for all the fish! "Fish?!?" you say! This could be fish from anywhere in the world, but I must use it to represent my trip to India. I stayed in an ocean town and ate a lot of fish while I was there. I smelled a lot of fish, often times when I didn't want to. People kept talking to me about fish. I even met some fishy people. It was a theme that I'm still deciphering)

I'm fresh off the plane from India. Yep, I was out of the country for most of November. I wasn't a good pilgrim--I traded in my Thanksgiving Turkey for curried chicken and basmati rice. I haven't been home for too long, and most of you are like, "Whaaa???? You didn't tell me you were going to India!" Well, that's usual for this butterfly spirit. I'm always going on a surprise adventure at the last minute. I had no idea that I was going to India until one week before, back in early November of this year. My friend and filmmaking partner Peter Bussian asked me to represent the film we're working on--Scarlet Poppy--at something called the Indian Film Bazaar in Goa, India.

A friend recently said to me, "Your life sounds so exciting, but I couldn't stand being you..."

And I totally understand why, when I have stories like this. Sometimes it's challenging to be me! I learned of my trip to India only one week before leaving, so I had to drive from LA at 1am to reach San Francisco the next morning to get my Indian visa. Trust me, if I could have done it any other way, I would have. I just didn't have the luxury of going at any other time. No complaints-I'm all for whatever it takes to embark on a new adventure, I just find it funny. I've had many moments like this--from asking the Afghan Embassy for a tourist visa at the last minute to hitchhiking with Cambodians who didn't speak my language, to commuting in a tractor towing sheep in the Himalayas. And regardless of the chosen vehicle and the lack of sleep, I ALWAYS get to my destination on time :-)

It was exhilarating, another butterfly adventure where I got to network with likeminded creatives, dreamers, movers and shakers. I met filmmakers from all around the planet: Indians (of course), Australians, Europeans and even Los Angelenos. My Indian and global network expanded in incalculable ways, and I'm ever so grateful.

I didn't have much time for tourism, but that's ok. I prefer travel for work. It gives me purpose and it satisfies my soul. I did visit Ganeshpuri--it was the shining jewel of my time in India--but I will share that experience in my next blog entry.

Now I'm resting, regrouping, and manifesting the next adventures for 2012. I don't know what's coming, but I predict even more curry, Indians, films, last minute travels, and hopefully not too much smelly fish in my near future. Stay tuned folks.

Images of India, 2011

noreply@blogger.com (Liz Grover) — Thu, 08 Dec 2011 23:19:00 +0000

I spent the end of 2011 in India, representing a film that I'm producing called Scarlet Poppy. It was accepted into the Indian Film Bazaar in Goa, India. These pictures are from my trip. So much to say, too jet lagged to write.

Blow My Mind, Again!!!

noreply@blogger.com (Liz Grover) — Tue, 15 Nov 2011 00:21:00 +0000

Two weeks ago I took this photo below--I was in Silver Lake, Los Angeles on a butterfly business trip. It's was divine timing and perfect lighting for this photo. I was so happy, especially because photographing graffiti is one of my hobbies. Days later, I went to my friend's house in Mendocino California. I walked past her office, and this photo below was on her computer screen. And yes, "Blow My Mind" is exactly what happened to me. I asked her how she got it, and she said it was being spread around the Internet-she didn't know it was my photo. :-) HA HA HA :-) I love it! Pure synchronicity reflecting and telling me "Yes lady, you are on your path. Keep flapping those butterfly wings." I love confirmations in the material world, especially when it comes in the form of spreading beautiful images along the way. So have you seen this photo running around the Internet lately? ;-)

Reading the Mise-En-Scene of My Life: Film Geeks & Mystics Are Welcome

noreply@blogger.com (Liz Grover) — Sun, 06 Nov 2011 06:54:00 +0000

My life is like a movie. No, really--it is. And I'm sure you agree with me if you've been following the stories of this blog. One of my favorite activities in my life movie is to be highly aware of my surroundings. How does it all look? What is my environment trying to tell me? How do the colors and arrangement of objects effect and reflect my being? Some may call this feng shui--especially when someone decorates their home. Others may call it awareness or the universal mirror because you can always, somehow, see yourself in the world and the people you attract.

Now I want to talk about this thing called Mise-En-Scene that I learned about last year in my film appreciation class. And yes, this will all tie together in a pretty little bow at the end. Brace yourself...

"Mise-en-scène (French pronunciation: [mizɑ̃sɛn] "placing on stage") is an expression used to describe the design aspects of a theatre or film production, which essentially means "visual theme" or "telling a story"—both in visually artful ways... For some, it refers to all elements of visual style—that is, both elements on the set and aspects of the camera. For others, such as U.S. film critic Andrew Sarris, it takes on mystical meanings related to the emotional tone of a film."-Wikipedia.

In short, Mise-en-scene, as described by my professor, means the look and feel of the film. Within the look and feel, there are visual elements that can point to the feelings and events of the film. The visuals tell a story. I like to call it film feng shui. The arrangement of everything visual can create a certain feel or energy. The look and feel can reflect who a character is.

For example, a director may reflect a character's chaotic emotions by designing a scene in a house where everything is messy and out of place. In a hypothetical scene, let's say that a man is hiding something from his wife--the director always shows the man in the shadows when he's on camera. When the man comes clean with his wife, the truth is reflected in the mise-en-scene because he is well-lit and surrounded in light.

Mise-en-scene can also be used to foreshadow events. The Shining is one of my favorite examples of this, in the scene (watch if you dare) where Halloran talks to Danny about his psychic abilities. Halloran starts to prod Danny about what he sees in the future of the Overlook Hotel. The scene is erie, and it's obvious that whatever is coming won't be pretty. When Danny asks "Halloran, are you scared of this place?" the knives appear above his head--notice the knives above Danny's head in the picture below. They foreshadow the horror that is to come, and one of those knives will be used later in the story.

And this is how mise-en-scene happens in my life...

One of the best examples of this was when I was on vacation in Nepal. I was living in Afghanistan at the time and I took a monthlong break. Everywhere I went in Kathmandu, I saw billboards that said, "Inspire Your World". It happened everyday, and all the time--it was like someone slipped me a psychedelic (as my friend Greg says, "I don't need to take acid, because I am acid!"). Because I saw this phrase everywhere, I knew that something would happen. There was a foreshadowing taking place.

And wouldn't ya' know it--two days after I returned to Kabul from my Himalayan vacation--I learned what "Inspire Your World" was all about :-) I received an email from a journalist who wrote for an American magazine called, "Inspire Your World" and he asked me to write an article about being an aid worker in Kabul. This was my first-ever article in an American magazine. Universal perfection, I tell ya... This is the beauty of my life. Does this happen to you? I'm sure you have a similar story, somewhere in the vault.

Fast forward to that moment when I first learned about mise-en-scene in my film class, and HOT DAMN!!! What a crazy mystic and spiritual moment that was. My teacher explained the meaning of mise-en-scene (scroll up the page if you forgot already :-) , and I thought, "Wait a minute!!!! That's how I look at life! This is how it looks to me! I get messages about people, how they're feeling, how I'm feeling, and what is to come just by observing my surroundings. My environment is an oracle, and the story appears before all of us. We just have to look closely.

So do you think the way I look at life will help me to be a good director one day? I sure hope so, because it's what I'm aiming for. I am surrounded by many amazing award-winning filmmakers these days--they fill the backdrop and foreground of my environment. So maybe...just maybe. We will see.

For the Love of Graffiti

noreply@blogger.com (Liz Grover) — Sat, 05 Nov 2011 20:11:00 +0000

So I have something that I haven't mentioned on my blog before. I LOVE Graffiti. It's one of my favorite art forms. I look for it everywhere in the world. I think I'm attracted to it because it's the art of the people--it's something that typically isn't trying to win prestige or money. It makes political, social, conscious and spiritual statements. I think a part of my passion for it comes from the fact that I spent a chunk of my childhood in New York, where graffiti is wonderfully rampant. I remember seeing it as a small child--especially on the side of the tracks, factories, and broken down train cars when I would ride on the Long Island Railroad.

Right now I'm on a work trip to LA and it's one of my favorite places for street art. I recently took some great shots here:

Sandpipers

noreply@blogger.com (Liz Grover) — Mon, 31 Oct 2011 19:50:00 +0000

My friend Stahsha and I were on the beach last night when nature showed her heart to us. She gifted a fiery sunset and sandpipers that danced with the subtle lapping waves:

To Freak or Not to Freak, That is the Question.

noreply@blogger.com (Liz Grover) — Sun, 23 Oct 2011 05:02:00 +0000

Fear based cultures make me giggle, and on a recent flight I was reminded of the fear culture that I live in. Sometimes I forget.

The flight was happy and smooth. Time whizzed by as I read my new book. Cotton ball clouds dotted the cerulean sky out the window.

Landing was about 45 minutes out and the loud blaring, pinched nose tone of the captain cut the crisp stale air of the cabin. He said in an urgent voice, "We're going to hit medium to high turbulence in about five minutes. Please prepare!"

The collective pulse and breath of the air passengers quickened. The tension built around me--I could see stress on people's faces--yet I chose another path. I chose calm. I told myself that we would have a smooth flight, and that I would not allow my fear mind to prepare myself for turbulence that was not guaranteed to happen.

Twenty minutes passed and nothing happened. Forty minutes passed, and still, nothing happened. We landed on the runway without experiencing any turbulence. The smooth flight that I prepared for played out. :-)

This is a microcosmic example of a collective bracing for the worst. But why bother, unless the worst happens? Yeah, it's good to buckle up, on an airplane, or in life. Yes, I tie my shoes so I don't trip when I walk down the street. But please everyone, don't freak out! What do we really need to fear?

(disclaimer-yes, I've been afraid of flying in the past, and a moment like this could have freaked me out too. Somehow, I've been able to get over it. I guess you could say it was a choice :-)

"I Am Not Moving"

noreply@blogger.com (Liz Grover) — Sun, 16 Oct 2011 20:27:00 +0000

This is a well done video short on what's happening with Occupy Wall Street and the overall picture of the world and the current state of global politics and injustice. It definitely brought a tear to my eye.

It makes me think of a conversation that I had with a stranger in a coffee shop recently. The stranger told me that he hates the government and the police and that he wants to leave the country because of them. He said he's a Republican.

I said how I'm inspired to see what's happening with Occupy Wall Street, and he said that they shouldn't be out there protesting and that they deserve to be beaten up and maced by the police. Are you as confused as me? Peaceful protest is our right as Americans, and how could this person--after stating his distaste for the government and police--say that people deserve to be beaten for sharing their voice. I find humans to be so confusing sometimes.

End Chapter.

noreply@blogger.com (Liz Grover) — Sun, 16 Oct 2011 01:18:00 +0000

From my time in Timor-Leste

I just finished the initial edits on my homeless women veterans documentary. I'm relieved it's almost done, and I need a break so I can mentally recharge.

It's interesting. I keeping interviewing people who have survived different forms of trauma, over and over again, without even trying. I'm magnetized to this work.

Over the past 10 years I've interviewed and worked alongside...

War survivors in Afghanistan
Afghan and Tibetan Refugees
Genocide survivors in Cambodia
Genocide survivors in Timor-Leste
Homeless people on Skid Row
Homeless US veterans
Rape victims
Homeless Children in Cambodia

I love my work, and I've learned so much from it. I wouldn't trade it for anything in the world. It's humbled me and made me more appreciative of what I have. I'm curious to see where all of this work and all of these lessons learned will lead me to next. To be continued...

Editing Has Begun...

noreply@blogger.com (Liz Grover) — Wed, 05 Oct 2011 21:05:00 +0000

I'm now editing my documentary on homeless women veterans. It's tough, sad & inspiring. The hard part about editing these stories is that a part of me lives the sadness & emotions every time I hear it. In editing, I have to listen to stories over and over again; these stories are all about rape, abuse and homelessness. The one thing that I've learned from this is that I'll never join the military. Well, ok... I've already known that much for quite some time, but these women's stories reinforce my feelings. Every woman I interviewed for this documentary was raped by male colleagues while serving in the US Military. I'm starting to wonder if there are any women who haven't been raped while serving. I'm sure they're out there, but I haven't met any of them yet.

I met some women veterans when I worked in the peace movement back in 06' & 07', and my experience was the same; every woman I met experienced rape in the military.

From Balloon Fest, With Love!

noreply@blogger.com (Liz Grover) — Sat, 01 Oct 2011 14:49:00 +0000

I'm almost done with my work in New Mexico. Today is my last interview for my documentary. Luckily, the Albuquerque Balloon Festival started this morning and I got to check it out. This is one of the many things on my lifelong to-do list. Check! Done.

Oh, and while I'm at it...

I also got to visit Abiquiu, New Mexico where Georgia O'Keeffe once lived. I visited what she called The White Place, one of her favorite places to paint.

Here's my picture:

Here's Georgia's painting:

Petrified Forest National Park

noreply@blogger.com (Liz Grover) — Thu, 15 Sep 2011 05:38:00 +0000

This is footage that I shot today at the Petrified Forest National Park. Thanks to my wonderful husband for the camera.

Walk In Their Shoes

noreply@blogger.com (Liz Grover) — Wed, 31 Aug 2011 20:28:00 +0000

With the help of some awesome peace activists & volunteers, I designed and did the sleepless dirty work to make this art installation happen back in 2007 on the Washington National Mall. Each pair of shoes represented an Iraqi who died in the war. Each shoe had a name tag with the name of an Iraqi, how he or she died, and his or her age. I only had one month to do this, from start to finish. I also had a zero dollar budget to gather the shoes with. I used Internet social networking to get people from all around the USA to send their old dirty shoes to Washington DC. It worked, and by the time I got to DC ( I organized this from LA) there were about 10,000 smelly used shoes waiting for me! It was like Christmas! Again, I only had a month to do this! The display got picture of the week in the New York Times. It made it to the Washington Post and even made it into a major newspaper in India. I never posted it on my blog, and lately people have asked me about it. So here it is. This is the picture of the final project.

Southwest, Summer 2011

noreply@blogger.com (Liz Grover) — Wed, 24 Aug 2011 03:12:00 +0000

From my stop at Mesa Verde National Park

Ok, so here I am in New Mexico. Last week I drove from Portland, Oregon where it felt like the beginning of fall. I stormed the length of Oregon, Idaho, Utah north to south, the southeastern edge of Colorado, and finally 100 degree+ New Mexico--five states and two seasons over the course of two days. Phew, I'm tired just from typing such a list. I wonder if I'd make a good trucker. Hmmm...

I'm here in New Mexico producing a documentary about homeless women veterans. It's an intense subject, but this is the work I'm most passionate about. Today I conducted my first interview, and the physical sensation of the buzz and warmth of my open heart helped me to remember something after it was done; I'm most alive when I'm helping people who have experienced trauma to share their stories. It's when I really feel that I'm fulfilling my life's work.

Voicing stories is the beginning of healing, and I've facilitated this type of healing for nearly a decade. I just haven't realized how it's been the majority of my work until now. I have helped victims of war--especially women--to voice their stories around the world: from Cambodia, Afghanistan, Nepal, East Timor and even here in my own country.

I don't know where all this work is leading, but I now fully own the identity of Story Healer. Yep, that's what I am.