My assignment was an interdimensional one, after a long time… I had to decline in taking this kind of assignments because of the energy drain that is caused to the photographic investigator by travelling to different dimensions and through time. But this one was very interesting -and I was feeling very strong and full of energy, after all. The portal was in the greek pavilion of the Venice Biennale -like so many are- and it was active only the last day of the Biennale. My task was to photographically investigate and follow a greek shadow that remained greek despite the nationality of the person who was casting it. It was taking their form, but not their nationality. Which, I guess was a tangible proof that nationality is not a real thing…
Read MoreMy assignment was to photographically investigate the latest incarnation of Zenobia, the beautiful, magnetic, powerful and rebel queen of Palmyra. She had assumed the identity of another legendary (but fictional) warrior woman, Xena (also known to TV watchers as Xena, the Warrior Princess). The choice of an alias, although sometimes unconscious, is never too far from the source and this proved to be of great assistance to me. The task of a photographic investigator is to uncover the unlimited, hidden and always powerful identity of her subjects, of which they usually have no memory. Fortunately, this is a temporary situation and the process is greatly speeded up after the resuming of the photographic investigation.
Read More“It’s a carma burner, a quantum mechanics vibration cleaner!” He could see the people who exited it completely or almost “clean”.
Read MoreThere is an infinite power, a universal consciousness that manifests herself as planets, worlds, people and cities and Venice comes right out of her radiant heart.
Read MoreMichelangelo said: “I saw the angel in the marble and carved until I set him free”. In the same way, a photographic investigator very often sees various angelic beings (in this case, an angelbird) in the people that she projects in her world and she photographs them until they are free.
Read MoreA photographic investigator often starts her day seeking inspiration and today was a Florence Scovel Shinn day. The quote that stuck to mind was the following: “The game of life is a game of boomerangs. Our thoughts, deeds and words return to us sooner or later with astounding accuracy.” Something to think about…
Read MoreI had in mind an Alan Watts lecture titled “Mind over mind”. A photographic investigator realises sooner or later that whenever the function or action of the mind is detected, a photographic investigation is impossible. And because trying to escape the mind is a function of the mind, ignoring it is the only way to go. This is really the measure of any fresh and original photographic investigation. The photographic investigator can’t dismiss the mind altogether, but the experienced one let it “think” it get’s it’s way, while the photographic investigation itself is about something else. Something ineffable, therefore untouched by the mind. Until it is published, of course…
Read MoreIt was the morning following a gloomy day and night, but it didn’t have to be. It could wonderfully be (and it was, actually) the first morning of an exciting new month. I remembered that Il Mister (a mysterious and gracious figure of Venice, a dear friend who is featuring regularly in my photographic investigations) said to me once that when he was down he was listening to the “L is for Lovers” album by Al Jarreau… Instant lift up. I put the CD on… and it worked. I didn’t have any fresh photographic investigation going on, so I decided to revisit an older one. There are always new things to see with a happier eye. I realised that, as Al says, “we’re in this love (and life) together”. Thank you Al, thank you Mister.
Read MoreKrishnamurti said: “Freedom is space and space is order”. In my photographic investigations I have realised that space is owned and cannot possibly be rented. But my assignment was to photographically investigate some art installations in the island of San Giorgio Maggiore in Venice, to find out first hand if there was any truth to that statement. As I was following my oblivious subject, what I thought that it was a mind-block proved to be totally liberating. In the complete silence of the installation I realised something else that Krishnamurti has said in The Book of Life: “Having already done everything possible to find the answer, the mind becomes spontaneously quiet. There is an awareness without choice, without any demand, an awareness in which there is no anxiety; and in that state of mind there is perception. It is this perception alone that will resolve all our problems”.
Read MoreMatsuo Basho, the great Japanese haiku master, said: “The temple bell stops -but the sound keeps coming out of the flowers”. In the same way, the award winning cocktail was long finished. But it’s taste kept coming out of my photographic investigation.
Read MoreI was photographically investigating subjects that were talking about their wishes, their suspicions and fears. And something that Napoleon Hill said came into my mind: “Your subconscious mind recognises and acts upon ONLY thoughts which have been well-mixed with emotion or feeling”. So, I guess, not only we should feel the emotions that our wishes would make us feel, but we should be careful as as well to not let through the emotions that our fears would make us feel… Some photographic investigations are pure studies of the law of life, that is for sure…
Read MoreA photographic investigator is always walking in space, although she knows that space is an illusion. But illusions have the ability to take beautiful forms and sometimes even magnificent forms like the illusion that is named Venice. Like all illusions, Venice is very personal. And I personally have to wonder how a photographic investigator who seeks loneliness and seclusion, creates illusions of places walked and lived by people and then photographically investigates mostly that people, rarely keeping her distance -unlike the present photographic investigation… Maybe the illusion called Venice is a purely 4th dimensional reality that reflects the preferences of a higher self . Like the Basilica di San Marco reflects itself in the acqua alta waters…
Read MoreUsually I discover the objective of my photographic investigations while investigating my subjects. I have some clues and the general story, but the things I discover by myself (and about myself) are much more valuable. This investigation coincided with my study of Ralph Waldo Emerson’s works and his words "What lies behind you and what lies in front of you, pales in comparison to what lies inside of you" seemed to fit perfectly to the occasion.
Read MoreI always felt that I was born in Hawaii and my heart belongs to this place. Hawaii is the heart of the world, shining with divine love. When I was little I was thinking that it would be very cool to be an astronomer and work in one of Mauna Kea’s telescopes. Much later I realised the impact of the telescopes on the islands… My last assignment send me back home at the time of the protests about the new gigantic telescope that was about to be build in Mauna Kea. An assignment in a sacred place at a time of such great importance seemed sacred itself. She was one of the protesters and she was the daughter of a great kahuna. The assignment was just a pretext to be in this magical place and breathe the love. Mauna Kea doesn’t really need any protectors but my love was not letting me leave. So I stayed.
Read MoreIt was the 15th of August and I was photographically investigating the usual suspects, while preparing myself for a long trip to Rio. I was reading Neville Goddard’s “Prayer: The art of believing” and I found myself reading the same excerpt again and again: “Subjectively, the object of your desire is never far off. Rather, it’s intense nearness makes it remote from the observation of the senses. It dwell’s in consciousness and consciousness is closer than breathing and nearer than your hands and your feet”. Exactly like the objects of my photographic investigations…
Read MoreA photographic investigator knows that the most extraordinary things happen in what most people call “ordinary moments”. But then, there are no ordinary moments - you have figured that out by now, haven’t you? So extraordinary is ordinary. And vise versa. And although my most prestigious and mysterious assignments take place in exotic or hidden or even mysterious places, in reality my best photographic investigations happen in between assignments…
Read MoreIn reality I am talking about this wonderful August, with it’s sudden cool breeze that made me feel like I was walking on the shore… My subjects were ready to depart for their summer holiday and although their bodies were still here, their thoughts were totally there. I wasn’t investigating anything in particular, it was just a lazy Sunday in between assignments and I was grateful for the summer, for life, the universe and everything…
Read MoreIt was another Venice assignment and my subject was an ethereal pianist that lived there. I was supposed to photographically investigate a magic light that was pouring out of her in these -not so rare- moments when the Muse possessed her. I investigated her luminous presence in Villa Heriot, in Giudecca and her light was the light of pure love. There is a great Law in the Universe, that like attracts like, and her case was the living proof. Her life was filled with harmony, poise, love, abundance and perfect self expression. And I must say that she has been one of my most beloved subjects.
Read MoreSince I had to leave the Caribbean to photographically investigate the Lina Ivers case (see previous blog post) I thought that I might as well take care of another assignment, about Vappulin, a new vibrational method that has the ability to help you re-magnetise -in case you have been de-magnetised- all the wonderful things that belong rightfully to you. it is so easy, most people find it impossible to practise. It works differently for everyone, in the sense that everyone has to find their own affirmation that “clicks” , energising in that way the magnetising vibration. My subject used the following: “I am harmonious, happy, healthy and radiant, free from the tyranny of fear. My happiness is built upon a rock”. She said it had miraculous results.
Read MoreI was on vacation, photographically investigating only the tropical scenery. I was in my beach house in Guadeloupe enjoying a beer in my veranda, eating a spicy carribean curry and watching with some friends a favourite film noir, “The strange love of Martha Ivers”. And then Mathieu, my faithful housekeeper, brought me the bottle. A bottle that was washed on the beach a few seconds ago, right in front of my house - a bottle with a message. My employers always know were to find me - because I let them of course. The message contained some clues about my next subject. One of them was her name, Lina. I was ready to send the bottle back to the Caribbean sea - I was on vacation after all! But some details of my subject’s description and the mystery that surrounded her caught my attention. And once that happens to a photographic investigator, there is no turning back. But I was going to stick to my plan for the night. I was going to call my assignment “The strange love of Lina Ivers” and that would only be the first part of her story. To be continued…
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