The book and two movies Graeme was responsible for
I purchased Graeme Rattigan's bookThe Road to Success a few months ago, when I saw a review in an Australian magazine that I subscribe to calledConscious Living. To be honest, I wasn't expecting much with such an unoriginal title. But I was pleasantly surprised with what I read. It tells of the methods he used to raise the money for the two movies Graeme helped to produce, Paradise Roadand Under the Lighthouse Dancing. I had never seen them before, although I had heard of Paradise Road, but not Under the Lighthouse Dancing. His method is pretty much a meditation on the 23rd psalm, which I thought was unusual for a book like this, but it does seem to work. I am not the Bible reading type
(although I did read it once from cover to cover). But the 23rd psalm has always calmed me, especially when it is sung.
To me it is like aKeep Calm and Carry On type mantra. Where you are brought fully into the moment and told don't think about the past or future, just be in the present. Paradise Roadwas based on a real story about World War 2 prisoners caught by the Japanese after a sinking of a boat, and the women who try to keep their spirits up by organizing a choir in the camp. I bought the DVD after reading the success book, and I'm glad that I did. It is a movie well worth watching, and it was Cate Blanchett's first feature film.
Under the Lighthouse Dancingwas a movie he says, that was based on a true story involving him and some friends, that set off one weekend for a surprise wedding (for the guests, that is) between to long-term friends, one of which is dying of cancer. It is a very surprisingly good spiritual little movie.
If you find the 23rd psalm comforting, like I do, or if you just want to read it to read how these movies came into being, then you can buy it on e-book by following this link; http://shortstoppress.com/self-help/the-road-to-success I found it quite interesting, but I can see how it won't be everybody's cup of tea. But do yourself a favour and rent out the two movies, because they are worth viewing. You can also read a magazine review here; The Road to Success
THE LORD IS MY SHEPHERD
The Lord is my shepherd,
I shall not want;
He makes me lie down in green pastures.
He leads me beside still waters;
He restores my soul.
He leads me in paths of righteousness
for His name's sake.
Even though I walk through the valley
of the shadow of death,
I fear no evil;
for You are with me;
Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.
Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me
all the days of my life;
and I shall dwell in the house of the
Lord forever.
Psalm 23
Wednesday August 17th is a public holiday in my hometown ofBrisbane. It's called "Show Day", that's the day the carnival, or Ekka (Exhibition)shuts Brisbane down, so everyone gets a chance to go to the Show. I probably won't be going this year, but I went last year and took a whole heap of photos on my travels. Interestingly, Lisa Coleman(bornAugust 17, 1960)wrote the intro music for the TV showCarnival.
Is that really me??? Or should I try looking in some other mirrors, as well?
It's a time to reflect and celebrate life, face your fears, try to look past your own distortions on lifeand journey through a microcosm that reflects the macrocosm, that is life.
That clown holding a Mc Donald's happy meal looks scary to me;-)
I started watching a HBO television series called Carnival during my holiday break. I had bought season one a while back when someone mentioned (I think it was on Christopher Knowles's The Secret Sun blog ) how good the show was on a Jungian type level, which I'm finding out it is. If you're a fan of Jung, I don't think you will be disappointed viewing this show. I have only seen up to the show called "Pick a Number", so I can't really comment past that, but I like it so far. Which reminded me of a few syncs I should share. I went to the post office on Tuesday morning to pick up my mail. I had a parcel to collect, so I had to go into the post office and get in a line and wait to be served. I got bored waiting, so I started flicking though the amusing fridge magnets that were for sale and came across this one, below.
The magnet that I bought Tuesday at the post office
I thought wow! It's my little "Green frog withthe Red Eyes" synchro magnet, but literally, this time. So, I just had to buy it. I looked in my wallet, and as I hadn't planned on buying anything at the shops, all I had was a five dollar note on me. I looked at the price of the magnet, and what do you know? $4.95!?! Well, if that's not a sign, what is? So, I collected my mail and payed for my new magnet. I had been drafting my post on the computer about my new pillow, that I had bought from Freedom Furniture, and my theory of using your intuition to pick lotto numbers; Freedom From the "Inside Out"??? and decided to watch another episode ofCarnival. I knew "Pick a Number" was the next in the series and that I was writing a post about lotto numbers, so that wasn't such a big deal to me. What was though is that right at the end of that episode a priest by the name of Brother Justin has lost his faith after his church is burned down by crooks, so he takes to the bottle and roaming the railways with the homeless (wandering in the wilderness), but a radio announcer who was looking for stories among the hobos broadcasts Brother Justin's tragic story across the airwaves, saying constantly "Where are you Brother Justin?"as he is seen walking aimlessly past"Perry's" garage. The mechanic inside is too busy listening to the broadcast to notice the preacher walking by. Now, while this is happening on the TV screen, my son is discussing with his mother the picture my son's friend "Justin" is going to do, to put on a memorial plaque which is going on my father-in-law's grave. Justin is a really good artist who happens to draw stuff for
Marvel Comics. If that wasn't a coincidence enough, there is a scene at the end where the little dwarf is looking into a window and sees a dead woman looking back at him through a window to the tune of I Only Have Eyes For You!?
Not only that, but the parcel I was picking up at the post office was The Living End's new CD which I had ordered over the internet, because you get a signed copy, plus the bonus comic book The Secret of Rock' N' Roll, which was a limited time offer.
The rabbit hole just keeps getting deeper as I read more. The Living End's main singer is a guy named Christopher John Cheney. On 22 September 2001 (one day before my birthday), he was involved in a serious car crash when he was hit in his 1977(the year of my OBE)Holden Kingswood by a car speeding in the wrong lane at 100 km/h. The impact of the collision ripped off the side of his vehicle, forced it off the road on a sharp turn along the Great Ocean Roadin Victoria and down an embankment. His right leg was crushed and required a rod and three pins to hold it together. He was confined to bed and later a walking stick(the dwarf in Carnivaluses a walking stick all the time in the show) for the next six months. He was unable to play the guitar until he was rehabilitated. He is the guitarist, main songwriter and lead vocalist in the Australianrock band. His trademarkguitar is a GretschWhite Falcon and he uses mainly distortion and modulation effects. Chris currently has his own signature series Gretsch guitars. The Living End started out in 1992 as The Runaway Boys, as a tribute to the Stray Cats, whose "Runaway Boys" album is Cheney's favourite of all time. It was formed by Cheney and childhood friend Scott Owen. They mostly covered songs by the Stray Cats and other '50s tracks. In 1994, the pair started to write their own material. The band went through a number of drummers before settling on Travis Dempsey. At that point they became known as The Living End. Cheney appears in the supergroup The Wrights who put out a re-recorded version of Stevie Wright's epic "Evie". . Also appearing in the supergroup were members of Grinspoon, Jet, Spiderbait and You Am I
Remember the song "Evie"(It is reportedly the only 11-minute song to chart at #1 anywhere in the world)as I will be coming back to it in a future post on the movie Red Dogas it is the opening song in the movie. In August 2009, Cheney took part in a series of concerts around Australia along with Tim Rogers, Phil Jamieson and Josh Pyke to celebrate The Beatles'sWhite Album, performing the album in its entirety.
In 2010, Chris and his wife Emma, along with his manager
Rae Harvey & Woody Annisonopened their own recording studio in Melbourne called RED DOORSOUNDS. And what was the name of the studio I bought my cups from at the Writers festival??? Follow Your He(art)!
"White Noise" is the first single from The Living End's fifth studio album, White Noise.
Released on 5 July 2008(my youngest son's birthday), after the "White Noise" track was the most added song on Australian radio in the weeks previous, it went on to top the Australian Airplay Chart.
The single has now been accredited platinum status in Australia. The song also won the 2009 Song of the Year at the APRA Awards.
The Ending Is Just the Beginning Repeating (album) Also in the mail, that the The Living EndCD came in, was my youngest son's school formal photos which we had been waiting for quite some time to arrive. Here is the "Red Back Spider" envelope that it came in, pictured below.
WARNING: THE MOVIE TRAILER ABOVE CONTAINS BAD LANGUAGE, DO NOT VIEW IF EASILY OFFENDED. (Sorry, but it was the only trailer of the movie I could find) The movie trailer above is for a movie called Noise, starring Brendan Cowell andKatie Wall. Two of the authors I met at the Byron Bay Writers Festival. Katie's book I Say Tomato I have since read(It's quite good I thought). Brendan's book How It Feels, I've purchased, but have yet to read. Brendan is a lifelong supporter of the Cronulla Sharks Rugby League club, as am I. Katie Wall grew up in Byron Bay.
Sometimes you have to watch the wheels from a different angle?
Scott was part of a panel of speakers on a talk called, Animals as Healers and Totems in Literature, which I also attended. More about that talk in a later post. It was my favourite talk of the two days that I was there ... and there were some fantastic talks, but this one was the highlight of the festival for me.
I pulled out the book about a week after the festival was over and wondered if a Sacred Kingfisher would be in it, and more or less it was. There was an entry for the Kingfisher, so I decided to read just that entry without having read any of the book at that stage. And I didn't really expect to find any answers to my "bird that flew into the window" saga. Boy, was I wrong?! I'm going to reprint the entry for the Kingfisher here, and because this is only a small blog with no money being made off it, I hope Scott doesn't mind me doing it.
Kingfisher Halcyon Days Kingfishers have large heads and powerful bills. They feed mainly on small fish and aquatic creatures. They build their nests in tunnels dug into riverbanks and lay pure white eggs. Kookaburrasare the largest members of the Kingfisher family. Winter solstice, or 'midwinter'(December 21/22 in the Northern hemisphere; June 21/22 in the Southern),transpires as the shortest day and the longest night of the year. It literally marks the beginning of Winter. It is renowned as a festival of light and rebirth, where people gather together and engage in rituals and other celebrations. The seven days before and after the winter solstice are known poetically as the 'Halcyon Days'; days known to be both quiet and still. Legend has it that the Kingfisher, or Halcyon, builds its nest on the ocean during the seven days leading up to the Winter solstice, when the waters are serene, and incubates them during the seven days thereafter, after which time, it is said, they grow and develop, marking fourteen full days of tranquility. Kingfisher heralds a time of emotional peace and quiet, when clarity will be yours and answers to difficult problems will become obvious. The emotional pool of life will be stilled and light will be shed, affording time and opportunity to address tumultuous issues troubling your heart and mind. It gently prompts us to shed aspects that no longer serve and to literally start afresh. Kingfisher opens a fourteen day window of opportunity to peacefully handle emotional situations, to speak from the heart or to openly deal with grief, pain or suffering. Inspiring peace and gratitude, Kingfisher suggests taking time out to rest, celebrate and simplify life. Kingfisher rekindles memories of good times past, of childhood fun, old friendships and lost love. It brings to mind our own Halcyon Days, and provides solid reason to reminisce and speak fondly of the years gone by. In doing so, Kingfisher welcomes healing and closure, answers to questions never asked and old scores settled. It compels us to appreciate more deeply the beauty and innocence of our own children too, by reminding us that their time as little ones will pass too quickly and before we know it, they will be grown and gone forever. Kingfisher asks that we celebrate life - and do what we can to ensure we never look back with regret. It asks that we stop and smell the roses occasionally, to appreciate the little, magickal moments that only come once in a while. To find solace in the heaven-sent times of peace and tranquility, those times of stillness that only come about every so often, is to welcome the true meaning of 'Halcyon Days' and the wisdom of the Kingfisher.
The Sacred Kingfisher messenger from Sunday February 13th, 2011
The above entry in Scott's book hit me like a sledgehammer and re-reading the lines;"Kingfisher opens a fourteen-day window of opportunity to peacefully handle emotional situations, to speak from the heart or to openly deal with grief, pain or suffering.
Inspiring peace and gratitude, Kingfisher suggests taking time out to rest, celebrate and simplify life. Kingfisher rekindles memories of good times past, of childhood fun, old friendships and lost love. It brings to mind our own Halcyon Days, and provides solid reason to reminisce and speak fondly of the years gone by" The day the bird hit the window and I opened the door to see this stunned bird on the veranda, the first thought that came into my head was to wake my wife up and show her, but the next thought that came into my head was that I would rather wake a sleeping dragon than wake her up and put up with her flaming scorn. So I did the next best thing and took photos of it on my cell phone, so I could show her later when she was up and about, and less lethal (not by much, though;-).
I was never going to blog about this at all, I shunned the limelight like a vampire shuns the sunlight, and I still do to a degree, but I felt compelled to share this story with others out there who may need to hear it ... after all, hadn't I been reading the blogs of people that I felt had a ton of courage exposing themselves to public ridicule, and were even using their full names? So, about two weeks (14 days later) after much thought I decided to post the photos and write up the story on my blog for others to read. The Bird that Flew into the Window I was so new at doing posts that when I tried to add an extra photo in a re-edit, I somehow managed to lose the whole post. I was so frustrated with Blogger I was almost going to forget about it. But I knew I had to post it, because I thought there was a message in here somewhere of importance, if not for me then it was for someone who might read the post. Looking back now, although it wasn't obvious to me at the time. The message was for me and my family mainly, as well as for others.
February 14th, Valentines Day in Oz
I couldn't remember after about a fortnight which day the bird actually hit the window, whether it was the Saturday, or the Sunday, all I remembered is that it was the Valentine's Day weekend, because I remembered thinking how tough it would be for my mother-in-law being the first Valentine's Day without John, her husband. I forgot that it was also his birthday on February 15th, the day after Valentine's Day, which made it worse. I still had the photo on my phone of the Sacred Kingfisher, but I never had it date stamped, and not being real tech savvy I didn't know that you could track the date back of when it was taken on the phone, but my son showed me how to last weekend and I found out it was Sunday the 13th, the day before Valentine's Day, and two days before John's birthday. So, I've convinced myself this is another message from beyond related in some way to John. But I also think the Kingfisher is my totem animal (kinda), because I can really relate to it. Whereas whilst rainbow lorikeets, owls, kookaburras and magpies are nice birds to watch and feed, the only birds that I feel an affinity with arecrows, seagulls and now ... kingfishers. "Kingfisher opens a fourteen day window of opportunity..." It was after about 14 days later that I decided I would post any strange synchronicities I encountered in my life, whether they made much sense at the time or not, as a personal online journal that others could read along with, if they felt like doing so. And I would try and use photos to try and back up my words (if I could) for the people who might like a little proof. But at the end of the day, I don't care whether others believe my blog-posts or not, because it is primarily for me, so I can come back and try to piece them together, at a later date.
My oldest son Kevin, is born on June 20th and my youngest son Sean, is born on July 5th, so this passage strikes a cord with me; "Winter solstice, or 'midwinter' (December 21/22 in the Northern hemisphere;June 21/22 in the Southern hemisphere), transpires as the shortest day and the longest night of the year. It literally marks the beginning of Winter. It is renowned as a festival of light and rebirth, where people gather together and engage in rituals and other celebrations" We don't have Christmas to celebrate at this time of year in the Southern hemisphere, but as a family we do cerebrate those birthdays in that time period.
Another book I received this week in the mail was, The Healing Wisdom of Birds by Lesley Morrison. In the Kingfisher section, is written,"Kingfishers have very keen vision, both in the air and while swimming underwater, thus gaining a mastery of both realms . They are solitary birds, and will often tunnel into sand banks several feet deep. The medicine of the Kingfisher imparts a great need for personal space and the need to spend time with one's inner thoughts and emotions. As rapid divers, Kingfishers jump headlong into the waters to find prey. The person with a Kingfisher totem likewise will dive into the waters of life without fear or hesitation. This may be a lesson brought to you by a Kingfisher totem, and there will no doubt be many new experiences entering your life that will afford you the opportunity for uninhabited exploration. Connecting with Kingfisher Medicine For those with a kingfisher totem, the diving behavior of this bird will be very symbolic. In shamanic terms, the diving from the air to the underwater world represents the journey of the shaman from the upper worlds to the underworld and back again. Spending time in or around water is an important way of connecting with the powers of the Kingfisher."
When I turned Laszlo's photo upside-down it looked like the bird had caught a small white rabbit
So, the the little bird's visit has suddenly made a lot more sense to me in hindsight.
