I had an amazing time at Oakland’s monthly Art Murmur. It has become quite the event drawing throngs of supporters out to see the exploding local art scene. It’s feel grateful that my surrounding culture so deeply appreciates and serves the arts! And it was a super fun Gemini Sun start to the gathering and cavorting energy of the Summer!
On my walk home as I cruised down the last street of art galleries I was riveted by one last painting. This painting depicted a handful of monkeys surfing on tsunami-sized waves as a volcano erupted in the background.
The image immediately reminded me of a talk I heard back in February by Liu Ming on the Year of the Dragon. He described our current Dragon Year as a year of limitless possibility. Yet, contrary to my first impression, he explained that limitless isn’t always good. Limitless energy comes in the form of tsunami’s – it can be overwhelming and if we don’t work with it well it can be quite overwhelming.
However he explained that one of the archetypes that thrives in a tsunami-type year was the Monkey! Monkeys are clever, they see big waves as a chance to surf and play. They know how to ride it out! They can climb to the top of a tree, jump on the back of a floating piece of cargo and surf, they know just when to slip out before things get uncomfortable and they know how to read the signs. (more…)
