From one existence to the next

Energy. What is it? Is it just a way of powering things? Cars, lights, toasters, electric toothbrushes etc etc blah blah. Or is it deeper? We all know we run on energy, and if we eat too much fuel we get fat, and if we exercise we burn that fat. It's a simple enough equation. Energy enters our body, then energy leaves our body... right? Each of us are a person created by two other people, so some of their energy went into making us. Ok, that seems fine... they combined their energy, and gave a little bit to us so we could exist. But what happens when we die? Is it simply a matter of gradually fading out, like a candle? Does our energy go somewhere when we finally die? I think energy is always travelling form one point to the next. That's how the universe works. When I die, I take comfort in knowing that my energy will eventually be a part of something else. I believe that we don't just die and that's it. It's a huge lifecycle that continuously balances itself out. It's just that in this instance, we are human and we have what's called a conscience. We can think about things, and interact with things in a different way. Once the energy has left our bodies though, it moves onto something else... balancing out the bigger picture. Passing from one existence to the next.

Interaction is subtraction

(25/09/2012)

Distortions of september

(09/2012)

Connecting the dots, does it make sense?

. = no sense

.. = no sense

… = no sense

…. = no sense

….. = no sense

…... = no sense

…... = no sense

….... = no sense

…..... = no sense

…...... = no sense

…....... = no sense

…........ = no sense

…......... = no sense

….......... = no sense

…........... = no sense

…............ = no sense

…............. = no sense

….............. = no sense

…............... = no sense

…................ = no sense

…................. = no sense

….................. = no sense

…................... = no sense

….................... = not connected but make perfect sense.

[con]clusion:[XXIII]: dots do not have to be connected to make sense. Let the dots 'be' from twenty-three.

Nature is in the machine

(09/12)

The Media tells you what to do

The internet, television, magazines, newspapers, radio... every conceivable media platform moulds the way you think, and consequently tells you what to do.

Consider it for a moment. You flick on the news at 7 in the morning whilst making your coffee. Depending on what news you view, it can affect your thought process. It can dig deep into your subconscious and affect your mood pattern... without you even realising it. This is the non-direct way of how the media affects your behaviour. But there is of course the more obvious form of media manipulation, namely advertising. Advertising doesn't simply inform you of the products benefits anymore, it also taps into your emotions and belief systems. It takes advantage of you, so you buy their product. We all know that this happens, but do any of us mind it? No, not really. We kind of accept it, and can see straight through it. As a matter of fact, it's ok... because at the end of the day we have a choice. We can choose to buy or not to buy. This is not the case however when it comes to political propaganda.

The Media can steer it's audience into one collective way of thinking. By Media, I am referring directly to the news we see on the TV and the internet etc. IE journalism. Over time, and if it's well designed... the Media can convince the majority of the population how to think, and therefore tell them what to do. It's a form of brainwashing. If you didn't watch the news, would your life change? Or is it just another form of control? The Media is a 'fear machine'. Go on, try it. Watch the news for a week and monitor your mood and behaviour. Then, the next week... don't watch it. How do you feel? Which do you prefer? How do we know what the Media is telling us is accurate? Once you realise this, you begin to question everything... as I have. I take snippets of information from various sources and try to paint a balanced picture.

So, advertising and propaganda. Two forms of media from two ends of the spectrum. One manipulates our senses, but we still have a choice. Where there other manipulates our choice and blinds our senses.

My mood becomes more positive when I make my own decisions about my life. When I think for myself. When I turn off the noise and actual consider what is best for me and my family. Don't get me wrong, I do like to keep informed with world events. I just don't let it affect my behaviour. It doesn’t tell me what to do...

Open up, let it out

Over the past few weeks I have experimented with some automatic writing and subconscious sketching... as you can see in my 'automatic excerpts' and 'subconscious studies' 1 through 3... oddly enough.

So, what are they all about? Well... nothing really. I've simply opened up my mind and have let out whatever words and images are in there. With the automatic writing, it's just a random blend of spontaneous words, sentences and mark making. Whereas the subconscious sketching is allowing my hand to explore the page without any preconceived ideas or notions. Both techniques allow me to open up and let out whatever I want... so anything goes. There is no right or wrong answer with this level of creativity, as it's completely introspective and self indulgent. It's a kind of therapy. This type of outlet enables me to then relax my creative mind so I can then focus on more specific creative projects, for example within my design management business. Within my business it's very specific and well planned... the complete opposite to what I do within my 'modern creative' headspace. My 'modern creative' outlet enables me to do better in my 'design management' job.

You can do this too! Open up and let it out. Try it with a blank piece of paper or notebook. Don't pressure yourself to get anything right. Don't listen to anything your brain tries to take control of! Let go. Allow yourself to make marks or express words without fear. It sounds easy doesn't it? Or is it?

See how you get on.

We're so governed by rules and set systems that it's difficult to 'let go'. Even drawing and writing is controlled by a set number of rules. You have to take a step away from this and say 'fuck it' I'm not going to let any rules or anyone else’s ideas interfere with the marks I make on this page... 'fuck off!'

That's why I consider it a great form of therapy. To allow yourself time to do whatever you want with words and images. I always feel calmer after a spout of automatic writing or subconscious sketching. It's my therapy. Is it yours? It's also a great way of opening up your creativity. If I'm having a bad day with a clients design brief, I'll stop and grab my sketch book and do some random stuff instead! You know that thing they call a 'block'? Writers call it a writing block. I suffer from 'creative blocks' which I resolve by indulging in some automatic and/or subconscious work. Then I'm all better and can tackle that commercial design brief head on.

So open up, let it out. It can improve your personal and working life.

Subconscious study no. 3

Subconscious study no. 3 (09/12)

Automatic excerpt no. 3