Tuesday, August 31, 2021

It's here!! Save on your pre-order of 'STICKS and STONES: Ten Canadian Short Stories' by MLHolton

Excited to announce the completion of a new short story collection - STICKS and STONES. Ten Canadian short stories have been compiled for your reading pleasure! Save by pre-ordering now! Formal Release and Launch is on October 16th when I am having my OPEN STUDIO as part of Canada Culture Days, 2021. Get it now! :) - Here's a teaser trailer ... Enjoy! And, please, leave your after-the-fact reviews on Amazon. - mlholton  

LINK > STICKS and STONES: Ten Canadian Short Stories 

Alternate links: APPLE BOOKS  or BARNES & NOBLE

Tuesday, August 24, 2021

Checking in: New Painting & News

Phew. It's WARM out there! ... 87F in the shade ...

 
 'Woodland', Acrylic on Primed Canvas, by MLHolton'
 
In response, I have taken cover in the studio. Recently finished this inviting woodland scene that BREATHES with soft light, soft colours and overall 'coolness'. Final image is 31" square, acrylic on primed canvas, entitled 'Woodlands'. It will be available AFTER my 'Open Studio' on October 16th during Canada Culture Days.( Please drop a line if interested to purchase: a deposit will be required.) 

In other news, I've been very busy with the edit on the up-coming short story collection, STICKS AND STONES, and the new musical CD, GROUP THINK. Not quite ready yet, but getting there ... More on both projects will be posted soon on my social media outlets -  Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and on here, my general work site. So, hold tight. -- They're a comin'! - (Follow along via your preferred social media!)

IN THE MEANTIME, hang in there ... Keep your cooooooool ...


Tuesday, June 15, 2021

Sadhguru: The Man, The Myth. A Very Brief Introduction ...

Early June, I was tumbling through Youtube when I stumbled upon an interview of 'Hindi Yogic Mystic', Sadhguru, with an anesthetist and a neurologist at Harvard Medical School. I didn't know who he was or why he'd be sitting with these medical scientists. I was intrigued. He was adamant at the onset that he was "uneducated", and then proceeded to enthrall them all with his perspective. It was an eye-opening discussion, for more reasons than one. Primarily though, as I listened, I was amazed at how he was evidently satiating a deep and nearly universal 'spiritual hunger '... Watch for yourself.

Link with Harvard 'scientists': https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w7irEcQHChw

From there I started to explore further: WHO is this man? Where did he come from, where is he going?-  And what has he done? - All this involved, to start, continued viewing of Youtube posts. 

Two popped up immediately that have been done within the last six months, each has had more than 1 million views as of today. He spoke with actor, Matthew MacConaughey @Matthew McConaughey, and the other, with a Youtube sensation, Logan Paul. The charisma that flowed between Matthew and Sadhguru was intriguing, satisfying and insightful. The latter, the one with Logan Paul, a 'super stud' air-head, with his posse, The Maverick Team, was equally as intriguing and insightful, primarily because Sadhguru was dealing with a collection of young American males who have no idea  that they are living, in many ways, Humanity's Best Life, yet are stunningly frivolous - and, as he pointedly notes, very un-"profound." 

Today, I caught up with a conversation that he's had with Vusi Thembekwayo, @Vusi Thembekwayo,  a popular and 'successful' South African business man. Each interview continues to illuminate and inspire. And yes, there is some repetition as he articulates his perspective, AGAIN and AGAIN.

Link with Matthew: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IAoffyn2xpM


Link with Logan Paul:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oINxyuIUYU4

 

 Link with:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yqnBq3UB9LM

 

I then did a Wikipedia search ... This man started with a relatively humble beginning in the south of India, where he completed a 'B.A. in English', that, after 30+ years, he subsequently established and expanded a "$25 million" empire for a 'not-for-profit' foundation "run by volunteers", the Isha Foundation. 

When I googled this, I fell onto a 12-hour video that celebrates the moon's cycle and the Hindu God - Shiva, aka #MahaShivRatri2021, Throughout this spectacle, aside from the potency of the temple, I was surprised and intrigued to see Sadhguru revered like a 'rock star', except that, throughout the spectacle, he did not gyrate or yell. Instead, he sang mantras, lead blessings and lead short meditations to the assembled thousands. He did walk slowly down a long illuminated platform engaging playfully with the audience while the music played. He did dance towards the end in a gentle, spirited jump-about. His calm demeanor was riveting. He also raised his concerns about the disintegrating Tamil temples that he is actively attempting to 'raise consciousness' about in order to re-claim them for devotees from the disengaged government before they disappear forever ... 

 LINK: (NB: 12 hours) -  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wvIbG6zMbME or on the Foundation website, complete with advertisers: https://isha.sadhguru.org/mahashivratri/live-webstream/

On Twitter, he has a following of over 7 million. From there, I learned that he posts #DailyQuotes of him generally standing outdoors speaking about 'knowledge, education, and higher consciousness'.

He's currently riding his motorcycle across America, exploring and talking to select 'celebrities' and educators who, by association, raise mutual profiles and 'influence'. (It's like seeing a grandpa-hippie on a road-trip!) He has spoken with many, many people, from all walks of life, as can be seen on his prolific Youtube station.

... Can I now joyfully admit, that regardless of what I still do not know about Sadhguru,as a man and as a myth (and there is plenty), I continue to be enthralled by the impact and teachings of this global teacher?  

In the following conversation, as example, with Sir Ken Robinson, he details what he means by bringing true KNOWING, INSPRATION and JOY back into a 'broken' Humanity.  It is wise. What more needs be said?

 -- It is WISDOM ... 

Watch, Listen and Learn ...

LINK with Sir Ken Robinson: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PAaWZTFRP9Q

 

Additional links for you to continue to explore on your own: 

Youtube: https://youtube.com/sadhguru or https://www.youtube.com/user/sadhguru, 

Facebook: https://facebook.com/sadhguru

Instagram: https://instagram/com/sadhguru

Twitter: htpps://twitter.com/SadhguruJV 

And yes, there is an app for that ... https://onelink.to/sadhguru_app