ISE-NY
Newsletter
August 2005 Volume 1, Issue 8
The Institute for Spiritual Entertainment - NEW YORK: MISSION
ISE-NY (The Institute for Spiritual Entertainment- New York) is a collective of practical and artistic people from all corners of entertainment, film, theater, media, communication and innovative arts dedicated to envisioning and creating empowering, positive and spiritually nourishing entertainment
ISE-NY was formed to support media creators with networking opportunities, educational forums, practical support, fundraising services, audience outlets, film festivals, competitions and basically as many ways to empower its members to create excellent spiritual entertainment as possible or necessary.
ISE-NY monthly series offers networking opportunities and practical programs that are both informative and also provide hands-on-experience. Additionally, we offer a series of interactive seminars with knowledgeable media professionals, as well as screenings of films in various stages of completion. ISE-NY also invites producers and performers of live entertainment to participate and share their work.
ISE-NY MEETS MONTHLY every first Tuesday of the month 7PM-9:30PM. The next meeting, Tuesday, August 2, will take place @ Cafh Foundation - 2061 Broadway (between 71st and 72nd Streets) Second Floor
For further information, call 212 475-1875 or email Muriel@ISE-NY.org
BE INSPIRED, SHARE YOUR WORK, LEARN NEW SKILLS, MEET LIKE-MINDED MEDIA MAKERS!
The Director's Chair
Muriel Stockdale - Director & ISE-NY, Inc.'s Co-Founder and Spirit Leader
Greetings All,
If you wonder how ISE-NY might be of service to you in your mission and your career, let me share with you first my own personal progress. Since I invited the first group to join me in creating this vehicle (ISE-NY) for upliftment in entertainment in November of 2003 I have seen an amazing gathering and enthusiasm of people dedicated to this mission from all around the world. I have committed myself to this and now the amazing pay-offs are manifesting.
First I want you all to know that I will be in Ashland, Oregon for this entire fall creating the costumes for Stephen Simon's next film, "Conversations with God." This is a great privilege for me and creates a divine circle of my quarter century career as a costume designer, a career that I quit because I did not find it fulfilling. It is such a joy to think that I will be offering my skills to a project that falls exactly within my dream job list. I also want you to know that because of connections made through ISE-NY, I will be launching a new website ( www.SACREDCALENDAR.org ) this fall, which will be dedicated to providing information to the public for diverse spiritual events throughout New York City. I am also thrilled to say that we are much closer to acquiring the funding for my documentary feature film New York City Spirit (www.nycspirit.com)
Of course, I am not the only one reaping the benefits from my association with ISE-NY. I want you to know that Manuela Caputi, who came from Portugal in June to participate in ISE-NY's first film festival REVISIONING ENTERTAINMENT with Stephen Simon, is now working as the European representative for Spiritual Cinema Circle. When she and I spoke on the phone in May she asked me if coming all the way to New York for our festival would be of use to her. I told her that at least she would meet like-minded people in her field; at best she would leave with a new job. Simply because she showed up, she made the connection. Also, during the Pitchfest, Nick Krasnic pitched his film COSM about the artist Alex Grey. It turns out that panelist Vanessa Arteaga, of Wellspring Media, loves Alex Grey. Hence another beautiful connection was made.
I don't know of all the success stories in which ISE-NY has been instrumental; I encourage you to please share your experiences with us.
We are here for you, and all you need to do is show up.
Much love, many blessings and huge success to you,
Muriel
Upcoming ISE-NY Events
ISE-NY August Meeting
Tuesday, August 2, 2005
The Open Mic/Open Stage
Program Description:
The focus of this program is on YOU - to showcase your spiritual creativity manifested in a form that is in perfect completion or blissful progress. As we are both the "giver" (artist) and the "receiver" (audience), this is another opportunity for YOU to share your unique vision, and in turn, be inspired by that of others.
Join us as we open the stage to all -playwrights, poets, writers, actors, filmmakers/documentarians, musicians, and singers/songwriters, dancers - who endeavor to communicate by stirring the Heart.
Creativity is a gift- come share it!
Program Notes:
Please note that we are no longer accepting requests to take to the stage, as all slots have been filled for the evening.
Please Bring:
An open Mind and gracious Feedback.
Promotional materials.
Program Date/Time:
Tuesday, August 2, 2005
7 -9:30 pm (Please be prompt as the front door must close no later than 7:30 pm)
Program Location: (*****NOTE LOCATION CHANGE)
We are grateful to Robert Tolz and the members of the Cafh (a path of spiritual unfolding) board for allowing ISE-NY the use of its sacred space.
Cafh Foundation - 2061 Broadway (between 71st and 72 nd Streets) Second Floor, New York City
Please Note: ISE-NY is not affiliated with Cafh.
Admission:
Gratis-All welcome
A $5 donation to support the work of ISE-NY is gratefully accepted.
For more information:
Please contact Guirlaine@ISE-NY.org
Related Programs of Interest
I.
Spiritual Cinema Screening in Brooklyn
SAVE THE DATE: Monday, August 8, 2005
Venue:
The Lucky Cat
245 Grand Street
Brooklyn, NY 11211
(718) 782-0437
Cross Street: Driggs Avenue and Roebling Street
Directions: L train to Bedford Ave
A Sampling of the Eveningâs Program:
NEW YORK CITY SPIRIT: Director Muriel Stockdale www.nycspirit.com
CoSM: Alex Grey & The Chapel of Sacred Mirrors: Director Nick Krasnic http://www.inspiredmindfilms.com
THE INSTRUMENT: Director Adam Nemett www.theinstrumentmovie.com
SCENES IN A MIND: Director Micheley Angelina
Selection from Spiritual Cinema Circle
More details to follow!
II.
A Special Screening of Shortcut to Nirvana for ISE-NY
Date: Thursday, August 18, 2005
Time: Screening begins @ 7 pm SHARP (Come early as admission price includes admission to the beautiful Rubin Museum of Art, which contains five floors of art from the Himalayas and surrounding regions.)
Venue:
The Rubin Museum of Art
150 West 17th Street, New York, NY
212-620-5000
Cost: $5 (Please mention your affiliation with ISE-NY at the door)
Program:
Screening: Shortcut to Nirvana
Guest Speaker: Director, Nick Day
ISE-NY extends deep gratitude to Nick Day, Mela Films, and the Rubin Museum of Art for this very special evening.
Please see Muriel's article about Short Cut to Nirvana @ http://www.ravesq.com/present_shortcut.html
III.
Jacques Tombazian: "Mystical Alchemy: The Path to Enlightenment"
Date: Thursday, August 22, 2005
Time: 6:45 - 9:30 pm
Presented By:
The Learning Annex
212 371 0280
Cost:
Please see www.jacquestombazian.com
or call The Learning Annex directly
212 371 0280 and ask for Jacques Tombazian's Seminar
Program:
In this seminar, Jacques Tombazian will:
-Present an introduction to his book: "Mystical Alchemy: The Path to Enlightenment"
-Explain the relationship of Enlightenment, Alchemy and the Philosopher's Stone,
-Demonstrate the importance of developing your 70 Major Chakras
-Offer the tools to develop and support your Enlightenment,
-Guide you through an inner journey to begin the development of the 24 major chakras and create an opportunity for you to set a self healing intention while Jacques holds the light towards what you would like to manifest in your life right now
Jacques Tombazian is an internationally renown Healer, Teacher, Alchemist, Publisher, Author of "Mystical Alchemy: The Path To Enlightenment", co- founder of the non profit Global Healing Foundation and co- founder of Jacques Tombazian's Institute for Energetic Medicine and Consciousness Studies.
IV.
For the Children: Bach to Rock
Bach To Rock is a 2 week rock music program where 10-16 year olds play in rock bands, gain skills on their instrument, enjoy great workshops, and have a blast laughing and playing theater improvisation and recreational games. Workshop topics include songwriting, multi-track recording (including a 2 hour recording session with each band), performance skills, music software, sound equipment, computer workstations with MIDI keyboards, percussion, and more. The program builds to a real rock concert at Mulcahy's, one of Long Island's top music clubs!
Our mission is to provide high-quality musical instruction and experiences in a fun, supportive place that builds confidence, frees creativity, and helps kids grow in positive ways that can make an impact for life. Past young rockers and parents have all given rave reviews!
The program is for kids of all ability levels and takes place from Aug 1-12, M-F 9-5 in Garden City, Long Island. The Mulcahy's concert is August 13 at 4:00.
Call 888-212-9834 or see our website - www.BachToRock.com - for more info and to view a short video.
V.
Master Jesse Teasley's Performance: World Culture Open 2004
Please take a look at the 15 minute video of the Performance Art piece, choreographed with original music by Master J. Teasley that was presented @ the World Culture Open in Seoul, Republic of Korea in September 2004.
To reach Master Teasley's performance art piece:
Go to www.worldcultureopen.org
Click on WCO 2004, then
Click on Korea Events, then
Click on box on right side of page which indicates you wish to see video of performances, then
Click on September 13 and scroll down page to martial arts and click on video of Wu Shu Performance Art
Enjoy!
Legal note: While ISE-NY supports all of the Spiritual Entertainment Community members, ISE-NY is not affiliated with the aforementioned individual projects and events. ISE-NY is providing a platform for the community to announce projects and events and to network with other members of the community and to be kept informed of other programs being offered in the NY area and throughout the Spiritual Entertainment Community. ISE-NY assumes no liability or responsibility for any third party project or event.
Featured Artist
John Barilla
Writer
John Barilla can be described as, among other things, an author, poet, and budding filmmaker, without admitting to being any "thing".
John holds an MA in Psychology, and the degree of Juris Doctor. He says that those things make a sort of developmental, rather than practical, sense in his case. When asked to describe or define "himself", he replied: "John is a locus of events."
John began having random "psychic" experiences at the age of eight years. - A certain woman, mysterious, a beneficent witch, or awakening angels perhaps, at a bus stop. Upon seeing her from afar, he knew that she would come to him, knew exactly what she would say, and precisely how he would reply. Even at that age, Barilla was thrilled and intrigued with such a different way, one of inner experience. Along with many others like events over the years, it proved to be a never-forgotten, valuable life-lesson in real intuitive, knowing. More importantly, it meant that there was something more, something beyond the ordinary.
As a young man Barilla was drawn to Zen and the Martial Arts, choosing to study Judo. His teacher was 5th dan, Black Belt, Takashi Tobaiyakowa, a master in his own right. On one occasion, the teacher had 15 students line up and do a headlong, diving, front-roll over the back of a metal chair that was folded open, one by one, over and over again. Slowly and deftly, the teacher removed students from the line until Barilla was the only one still diving - over and over again. Running now to make up the space, then diving - running and diving, running and diving. At a point, consciousness moved beyond the confines of the body. There was no sense of time, no sense of effort, only a pure sense of being, while the body continuously, as if it were a perpetual motion device, kept on running and diving, running and diving, over and over again. Suddenly there was a single clap of the teacher's hands in Barilla's face. The exercise was over. It was not repeated in the dojo again. There, again, was something more - beyond the ordinary.
Barilla has had many experiences of the extraordinary - the mystical. He remembers the view, floating out-of-body at the ceiling of a hospital emergency room, as his motionless physical frame lie on a gurney. It was amusing to see the hospital attendants rushing in action around and over the body. They seemed to be going at super-speed, and talking that way too. He recalls the sensation of being suddenly almost slammed back into the body; waking up within an unearthly coldness; slow, slurred speech coming from, him saying, "Slowww Dowwn"; the attending physician saying in relief, "I was sure we had lost you. You had no blood pressure!" Experience again - there was something more - beyond the ordinary - and there were things not yet done.
Barilla began his formal study, training, and practice of many forms of meditation more than thirty years ago. After the first fifteen of those years, he spent ten continuous years in contemplation in the Eastern Catskill Mountains, where he began personal writings on politics, on peace, on self-development, and on self-knowing discovery.
Continuing as the seeker, one who had gained great insight, Barilla realized that, for him, the road to perfection next led into the heart of the ordinary world. He moved to the City of New York, continued his spiritual practice, and waited intuitively. When a sudden, and unexpected, opportunity to join in a tour of some of Southern India's most ancient and significant temples appeared on a moment's notice. Barilla went. And after then, once home again, there came new studies, a more expert practice, deeper insight, all of which blossomed into the simple realized bliss of knowing true freedom - Experience.
In September of 2004, John completed a manuscript of poems, stories, and essays, entitled: This Is Not Freedom: A Slaves Companion. While sharing many of the collections pieces with others, he has not yet sought publication for the manuscript.
Barilla; "I've realized that everything I do serves a "dream" in some way or other. This vision is the world of true freedom, and that is an extraordinary world. It does not lie in death, nor somewhere out in space. The planet, has, and will again, host the consciousness of the Buddha sitting 'neath the Bodhi tree, and will also host the murderer sitting up on one of its branches waiting to pounce. The worlds however, are reflections of consciousness that stream across the planet. This Is Not Freedom: A Slaves Companion speaks of transcendent, other worlds, because it recognizes that the ordinary world is a perfect world as it is and, thus, needs no saving or healing. And that gives rise to "the dream", a common dream really, whose seeds of _expression are flowering in great variety at this perfect moment."
Barilla offers these quotes as representative of the manuscript:
"There is One Mind of All, within which is the world mind, the ordinary mind, the analytical mind, our mind; indeed then, our world itself. True freedom cannot be "understood" in the ordinary mind's way of understanding. If we "understand" freedom, it is a sign we do not have it. The ordinary mind captures and confines all things to dead concept, here, in the ordinary world - our world.
Beyond everything you can think of, every limit you can imagine, every achievement your mind can conjure, there is more! There, beyond, is true freedom.
To come back to your own true freedom, to remember who you are, you need a few simple things. Among those are time, and the command of your own attention."
Barilla: "It has come to me that getting to extraordinary "worlds" might require some facilitating focus on the subtle workings - the simple assumptive phases, the "traps" in other words - of the ordinary world. So, before moving on publishing A Slave's Companion, my ordinary-world-play now can move into portraits of those things; and can do that in film, which is something I have always wanted to do, because while imagining and writing stories, I see them vividly."
Current projects?
Barilla: "Yes, I've been writing two scripts for short films in hopes of getting acquainted with the process, and in furtherance of playing with portraying features of the ordinary world. One of those is about a young woman, who is conditioned as a two year-old, to laugh at a common name. Her response becomes subconsciously programmed. Later she gets hooked-up with someone holding that very name and in the mix finds that things are as Georges Ohsawa noted in his traces of "The Order Of The Universe" - i.e. "Everything has a front and a Back." The other project is about V, who is an educated young mother, alone in New York with two children, who learns, in the most poignant, difficult, and tragic ways, the costs of earning one's daily bread. There's another project that I see as an animated film short, (I have a series of those in mind). In this one, there is a four year-old child, a boy who is in a high-tech video chamber, with images running backwards past his view, showing all the great images, seen and yet seen, relevant to him - the "messiah", the "creator", the "preserver", the "Buddha", the "monk", Siva the "transformer" . . . and when he comes out of the chamber, it's that last one that remains with him - the "Transformer"! So he gets himself to a place, a highly advanced technical center of change, where he asks a man, whose kindness is masked by a stern "teacher's" facade, "Can I use the torch?" . . . I also intend to develop one of the stories in A Slave's Companion into a Feature Film Script. That story's title is Fools and Masters; and for me the game goes on. - At least in the beauty of the dream worlds.
Previous Publications:
Magical Blend, a nationally distributed magazine, published Barilla's article entitled, Seeing God In India.
John Barilla's poetry was published in Fall 2003 issue of Nomad's Choir, a widely circulated poetry journal in the midst of New York City's large and vibrant poetry scene
* John can be reached at jbarilla@earthlink.net
** for samplers of John's work, you can click here
