If you breath in the aloha spirit you may feel it seeping into your soul. You may also find yourself sharing the breath of life in the kind words you speak and in your conscious actions. The calming aloha spirit slows people down so they can make time for themselves and others. When the world you live in is gentle and abundant, there is no hurry to fabricate or strive. It’s this aloha spirit, not just the comfortable tropical weather, which make Hawaii’s overall climate so beautiful and heart felt.

Hawaii is truly a world away from the hustle of the America mainland. It feels like another country. In fact, it was a sovereign country until being unjustly annexed by the United States of America about one hundred years ago. But the aloha culture lives on with a diverse mix of immigrants. The original immigrants traveled over two thousand miles in ocean going canoes from far away Polynesian islands. They arrived with their pigs, chickens and plants and thrived on this remote chain of formerly uninhabited volcanic islands.

In 1778 Captain Cook from England “discovered” the Hawaiian Islands and the settlement and commercialization of Hawaii began. The white settlers, called “Haole” by the original Hawaiians of Polynesian decent, were joined by immigrants from other nations such as the Philippines and Japan, who came to work in the sugar and fruit fields and start businesses. Today the islands are shared by its diverse residents and visitors from all over the world.

I hope the highlights below breath joy into your life and inspire you to come some day to this truly magical place and to share the breath of life. Aloha!

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The Old Testament claims that paradise was lost when Adam and Eve ate fruit from the forbidden tree of knowledge. Since then life has gotten more complicated with each generation. We children of Adam and Eve are now drowning in “knowledge” – books, media, manuals, posts, spam and twits from those who twitter.

But can paradise be rediscovered in these hectic times? Can we return this ill begotten knowledge and exchange it for paradise lost? I believe we can, if only for brief moments.

But to find “Heaven within” we must step off the treadmill of modern life and rediscover an inner silence that is free from the chatter and clutter of busy lives and over stimulated minds.

Such inner peace can be found on a noise street in Calcutta or a serene beach, once we know how to find it within ourselves. But for now, as a beginner, I’m practicing finding Heaven on the Big Island of Hawaii along a jungle covered stretch of ocean coast known as the Puna region.

In this remote area TVs are rare and cell phone coverage is sparse and developments are nearly non-existent, while yoga, healthy organic food, fresh air, vegetation, life, ecstatic dancing, volcanic lava flows and heartfelt community are abundant. The forces of life and energy are very powerful. It is hippie Heaven.

Hippie Heaven – the Puna Coast of the Hawaiian Big Island

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To see outstanding examples of the beauty of Hawaii, view Lino Laure’s exceptionally beautiful landscapes, seascapes and other art works in his online gallery.

Kalani Oceanside Retreat

At the center of the Puna coastal region is the Kalani Oceanside Retreat. Staffed largely by volunteers, this communal retreat is a social hub for the local community and sponsors workshops, yoga classes and open dance sessions. Accommodations range from tent camping to private tree houses. Guests are called to the communal dinning area by the bellowing sound of a conch shell. The food is healthy and delicious with ample fresh vegetables, fruits and fish and meat for those who are not vegetarians.

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On Sunday morning the community comes together for free style ecstatic dance. Everyone moves and flows freely in a sea of energy and vibrations as each individual expresses their inner spirit in motion. Following the dance many migrate to a nearby nudist black sand beach and wash away their sweat in the surging ocean waves, as drummers and musicians make music near acrobats and sunbathers.

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I stayed at Kalani for ten very relaxing days and nights until renting a house nearby. I made many new wonderful friends, including Pohaku, who turned me on to yoga and some beautiful serene places on the island.

My Yogi - Pohaku

Some times the Universe conspires and puts a teacher on our path who inspires and guides us in a new and positive direction. I met Pohaku (Peter) during dinner at Kalani. He spoke passionately about yoga and its transformative power.  Like me, he travels solo through life and views life as an ongoing journey of inner and outer discovery.

He has created a life of peace and beauty splitting his time between the big island of Hawaii and the island of Salt Springs near Vancouver Island in British Columbia, Canada. Life for this Zen George Clooney look alike is rich inside and out.

With his encouragement and guidance I’ve dived deeply into yoga, taking classes twice a day. I expect that Pohaku, yoga and this hippie Heaven in Hawaii will be in my life for many years to come.

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Love is a miracle. Love can transform people’s hearts and minds and heal old wounds that years of clinical psychoanalysis can barely diagnose. But love requires us to be open to giving and receiving it. If we hide behind our walls because we fear rejection, shame or vulnerability love will not pass through.

I’ve come to realize that I’ve spent many years hiding behind the protective walls that I built. But recently my walls have begun to crack and fall down (see Born Again Burner for a glimpse of this heart opening). In venturing out beyond my crumbling walls I’ve discovered that love is abundant when we are open to making and receiving it. There is no shortage of love when we create and share it. It is a truly abundant and renewable resource when we let it flow.

During the HAI “Love is a Miracle” workshop many walls cracked and crumbled. Love, forgiveness, compassion and empathy flooded the room like water let free from a breaking dam. Its powerful currents washed away the residue of old hurt, dissolved blocks, and smoothed away our sharp edges.

Love is a miracle. It’s priceless and far more valuable than any material gift. What we all gave and received in the “Room of Love” that weekend was the ultimate present – to be present for each other. We were the ultimate gift.

In the “Room of Love” there were no clocks and no rushing past each other to complete the next task. The frantic treadmill of modern life was checked some where outside the door. We were fully present for each other. Listening intently and sharing compassionately. Wow, to really listen and be heard. What a moving gift the miracle of love truly is.

Forty strangers entered the room of love on Friday night and by Sunday night we were transformed into heart felt friends. It began with sharing our heart and soul with one other person, then with a small group and ultimately with the entire room.

Like ripples moving outward, the love and intimacy we shared became more expansive. Could such love and empathy ripple out and envelope the whole world?

When will the “Room of Love” become the world of love? When will we slow down, stop and take the time to look into each other’s eyes and see that we are one? When will we stop judging and start loving? When is the time to “Be Love”? Could it be right now?

Yes, Love is a miracle.

To read what others have to say about the HAI Love, Intimacy and Sexuality workshops, click here.

Human Awareness Institute (HAI) Workshops are held in the San Francisco Bay area, Michigan, Massachusetts, Toronto, the UK, Germany and Australia. To learn more visit www.hai.org

But what did the Mayan’s actually predict would happen in 2012? What do today’s 2012 experts believe? Fortunately the truth may be far more hopeful than the Hollywood version.

While many see our present way of living and thinking coming to a head by 2012, some believe that we will move through this turbulent time and into an era of enlightened global human consciousness and a new harmonious world. How chaotic and traumatic this transition may be is not clear, even to 2012 experts. Some believe it depends on the willingness and ability of people to let go of the past and evolve a more enlightened consciousness that will transcend our past attachments and delusions.

Contrary to popular belief, December 21^st, 2012 does not mark the end of time in the advanced Mayan calendar. Rather this date is the end of the Mayan Calendar’s “Great Cycle” and the beginning of a new cycle that coincides with a galactic synchronization in which the earth and sun align with the center of our galaxy. Such a galactic alignment is confirmed by present day astronomy. Some “2012 experts” speculate that this galactic synchronization will have a powerful positive and evolutionary influence on human consciousness.

Is it possible that our modern era of ecological and human exploitation is fast approaching its day of reckoning? Are humans waking up to the idea of creating a new world in which love and connection push fear and greed into the shadows?

I suspect that most humans will not evolve past our current way of life until our current way of life is recognized as being unsustainable and bankrupt. But it appears to me that the veil on our unconscious illusions/delusions are being pulled back through out the world. Ultimately the choice is ours.

What are your thoughts about 2012 and beyond? Feel free to post your comments below.

For a more optimistic view of 2012 see below:

When I was in my early twenties during the 1980’s era of Ronald Reagan, AIDS, “Peace Keeper Missiles”, and preppy conservative kids – I wondered what happened to “Woodstock Nation”. What happened to this great wave of peace and love that was going to wash the whole world clean of war, hate and poverty? What happened to the nearly half a million young people who celebrated love, peace and music near Woodstock, NY during 1969?

Had it been merely a fad that fell out of fashion like bell-bottom jeans and day glow? Or does Woodstock still impact us today?

I now believe that love – the very glue that holds us together – is a classic that never completely goes out of fashion. Love and the spirit of Woodstock certainly made a strong come back at “West Fest” the 40 year anniversary celebration in San Francisco’s Golden Gate Park. This free event drew over 70,000 people who came to listen to speakers and the 42 bands that played on 3 stages.

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The Magic Love Bus –

Some of the sweetest moments for me were on top of the Magic Love Bus, while basking in the sun surrounded by lovely people and an intimate birds eye view of one of the main music stages.

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Scotty, the Magic Bus Tripmiester, waved the flag of peace and love above the sea of people and invited others to also wave the flag.

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On this day of celebration, love and peace reigned supreme and the spirit of Woodstock could be heard in the park and seen on the faces of those who came to reincarnate Woodstock Nation.

Peace Out.

Now for a Woodstock Flashback Video –

Going back to the “default world” of traffic jams, strangers and the hustle and bustle can be a shock after living for a week in a utopia of human creativity and acceptance during the Burning Man Festival. To ease the shock many burners attend “decompression” parties a few weeks after the Burning Man Festival in various cities to get a one day fix of Burning Man creativity and culture.

While it’s not the full on Burning Man community that lives and thrives in the Black Rock Desert in Nevada for a week each year, it’s enough of a fix to keep most burners from spiraling into withdrawal.

The culture and spirit of Burning Man live on before and after this annual one week event. A “Burner” is still a Burner, even when returned to the “default world”. Most take the spirit of creativity and unconditional acceptance they experienced home with them when they leave the Burning Man Festival. Burning Man is far more than a one week festival. It’s a cultural phenomenon.

For those who want to tune in and get their fix of life in the Black Rock Desert, we’ve created Black Rock TV.org. This webcast will be feeding the good news from Black Rock worldwide through out the year. Highlights from Black Rock TV were projected during this years San Francisco Decompression party.

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Check it out at www.BlackRockTv.org, subscribe for updates and consider joining the Black Rock TV news team in the desert during next years Burn.

Be Well and Burn Bright!

Photos from the 2009 San Francisco Decompression Party

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Will love conquer fear, despair and greed? I don’t know. But I know in my heart that only love can. In the long struggle between love and fear I want to serve on the side of love.

So on the morning of the Love Parade I marched off to the parade wearing a “Love Army” uniform. I had sewn a “Love” patch over the words “U.S.”, while below the words “Airborne” I sewed a blue butterfly patch. I believe the “Love Army” is the only army that will ever bring lasting peace. It’s the only army I care to serve in.

I climbed on to the “Magic Love Bus” that was to lead the love parade and reported for duty with the man at the wheel leading the charge – Scotty Miller the Magic Bus Tripmaster. It’s easy to follow and serve with those you love and respect. The military has its parades. Today was ours.

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I was joined by a few beautiful loving friends and surrounded by those I’d love to know as friends. With great joy, humor and love Scotty put the Love Bus in gear and we flowed through San Francisco on a river of love.

“Lovelution” – let’s hope this revolution over turns greed, violence and fear with love. Climb aboard brothers and sisters and take the ride! But watch out for the Love Security (see below

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See images from the 2008 Love Parade.

I realize that, like myself, many were not born free. We have had to struggle to liberate ourselves from limiting religions, ideas and expectations. Many never achieve true liberation and the beautiful state of freedom that these love children are born into.

It takes a whole village to raise such beautiful children. What an amazing tribal village Earth Dance is during its three days. Populated by loving children of all ages, music, dance and metaphorical puppets.

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The prayer ceremony for the children honors the hope and beauty that the children represent. The festival’s prayer for peace is synchronized worldwide at the same moment with gatherings in 50 other countries. Let’s hope that this prayer envelops the entire globe and transforms our world.

Peace, love and magic are alive and well when you look in the right places.

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Our 2009 Camp

This year our little tribe of Digital Vagabonds camped with our close cousins the TechNomads. Like me, these vagabonds at heart use telecommunication technology to make the world their office and playground. This year they even hosted a very well attended workshop on how to become a Techno Nomad. For those who want to learn how technology can enable them to be “location independent” visit http://www.technomadia.com/links/links. I look forward to crossing paths with these Nomads on and offline.

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Roads Scholars Graduation Party

This year we hosted a graduation ceremony for the first annual “Roads Scholars“. This past spring four talented writers were awarded “Roads Scholarships” to road trip North America during the summer and share their journeys online at Matador Travel.com and DigitalVagabonding.com. Their road trips converged at Burning Man where they “graduated” from Vagabond U.

The author of Vagabonding in America, Ed Buryn, acted as our honorary dean. Ed was appropriately attired in a tuxedo T shirt and briefs reading “Why am I God”? Video footage of this zany graduation will be available on this page soon.

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Outdoor Movies at Burning Man

On Tuesday night during Bat Country’s “Hunter S. Tuesday” celebration, we sponsored “Gonzo Movie Night” with screenings of “Fear and Loathing” and “Gonzo – The Life and Times of Hunter S. Thompson”.  Scotty – the “Magic Bus Tripsmaster” and myself stirred up some live audience participation by re-enacting the insanity of Hunter S. and Dr. Gonzo. The Bats flocked to the screen and the insanity.

Wednesday night was “Evolution Cinema” in honor of this year’s evolution theme (see “The Evolution Trip” for more info). We showed cult classics that question our evolution as humans, including a new and challenging movie, Fierce Light – When spirit meets action, by acclaimed filmmaker Velcrow Ripper. In Fierce Light Velcrow Ripper, filmmaker and spiritual seeker, journeys through the world exploring what Martin Luther King called “Love in Action” and Gandhi called “Soul Force”.

Prior to screening Fierce Light – When spirit meets action, we screened “Humanity Ascending” with Barbara Marx Hubbard. This documentary features author and futurist Barbara Marx Hubbard and offers a vision toward our birth as a new humanity – Homo Spiritus.

After screening Fierce Light we showed Zeitgeist – the underground classic the banks don’t want you to see. Unfortunately it’s not your imagination or the drugs, the shadow government and banking system are really out to own you and the world.

After all this burning intensity in the desert we did some serious soaking. Right after Burning Man some of our vagabond tribe made it to the nearby Sierra Hot Springs to soak, unwind and relax after an intense burn. I’m a big fan of their brother/sister place at Harbin Hot Springs, which I wrote about as “Human Soup“.

We hope to see you out on the playa next year.

Be Well and Live Large, Pat the DV.

Now a word from Jack Kerouac who was apparently a Burner before Burning Man -

“The only people for me are the mad ones, the ones who are mad to live, mad to talk, mad to be saved, desirous of everything at the same time, the ones who never yawn or say a commonplace thing, but burn, burn, burn like fabulous yellow roman candles exploding like spiders across the stars…” - On the Road

As if traveling America and living out of a car isn’t ballsy enough, now our Roads Scholar Kyle Smith is doing stand up comedy. Now I remember why I picked him to be the lead 2009 “Roads Scholar”. He’s not only educational but entertaining and even inspiring. I have a feeling his trip is just gathering momentum.

Kyle was recently in his old stomping grounds of San Diego and got up on stage to try out some untested comedy bits. What can I say, this kid’s got loads of talent – see below. To follow his ongoing road trip visit his blog.