Believe it or not – it took me a long time to land on “The Savage Shaman”.
I started with “The Civilized Shaman” as an homage to one of my favorite books by Professor Geoffrey Samuel, by the same name.
I’m actually basing my Masters by Research thesis proposal on this book…reviews coming soon!
But as it turns out, what’s needed in this world today, is NOT more civilization. It’s less.
Let me explain:
Since the 15th century, WHITE WESTERN EUROPEAN society has violently colonized the world, replacing INDIGENOUS, EARTH CENTERED, HOLISTIC, & RELATIONAL ways of knowing with BEUROCRATIC, MONOTHEISTIC, DUALISTIC, & FRAGMENTED ways of knowing (YES, I’m calling out my own Western European ancestry here)!
So what we think of as “civilized” is laced with a deadly cocktail of colonized beliefs:
Something in the depths of my soul rejects this perspective completely – and I had to turn toward that feeling, and lean into it, and ask it, “But WHY?!?”
BECAUSE “civilization” as I experience it is anything BUT “progress, enlightenment, people, community, culture, advancement…” NO!!! This “modern western European” iteration of civilization is:
suicidal
alienating
greedy
ego-centric
destructive
…shall I go on? Do you disagree? 😉
Hence, I started searching….
…for the ANTONYM to “civilized”:
…and since I’m naturally a fan of alliteration, “Savage Shaman” became the brand.
A new container
I needed a new container to hold all of my wildness, my art, my writing, my research, my dance, my music, the uncontrived expression of my highest potential and my uncompromising aspirations for the world. “The Savage Shaman” became the container that would hold all of that, and keep me accountable, honest, and creative.
But WHY…?!?
Why did I actually leave my successful 10 year career as a nonprofit Founder & Executive Director to start a new brand as an artist? Find out at tomorrow’s livestream at 3 pm MST exclusively available to paid subscribers and Patreon members. For the price of a cup of coffee you can be in on the conversation and ask me anything! Plus enjoy unlimited downloads, backstage passes, exclusive access, discounts, and MORE!