Two weeks is a long time!

As a Yoga teacher and someone with a physical 'job' I always get irrationally nervous about being out of both my regular Yoga routine and teaching schedule. Two weeks is a long time! It may seem crazy/obsessive/possessive even, the luxury of a actually being able to have the time to dedicate to Yoga (on the scale that I do) is almost greedily self-indulgent. Traveling is a pain (literally) in the arse for me, physically I find it extremely difficult to sit still let alone be inactive for extended periods of time.

Have I got my physical being to a state of almost addiction? where the idea of cold turkey (see what I did there) is creating a 'junky' esq reaction from me? or is it just a control issue in which I will be out of possession of my time? Either way I'm rattled about it.

Aparigraha: Nonattachment, non-possessiveness, non-greed, non-selfishness, non-acquisitiveness

'One who is not attached or possessive is secure.'
Yoga Sutra Ch. 2, v. 39

Can you see where I'm going here?

This is ambitious

A David Bowie tribute night featuring 'This Ambitious Orchestra' and Maria playing Piano at the Mercury Lounge last night.



Not the best of photos but it does capture some of the atmosphere, there are also about twelve videos (I just have to figure a quick way to get them online).

And like Magic here's one ready for you:

On the nail

This is so on the button for the 'real' state of the economy.

Just eat it

I found an interesting Buddha related story during the Thanksgiving holidays that I've been musing over for the last few days that I wanted to share. As a three year old vegetarian the story really shook home for me:

'Buddha, a vegetarian, went to a dinner in his honor and the centerpiece was a giant piece of dead flesh. He accepted it and ate it. The attendants were aghast. “You broke your vows,” they said. “It was a gift given with kindness of the heart,” he answered.'

To understand and take on the whole message from the teachings however I can't help but wonder if Buddha (in today's modern world) would not have two minds about the matter, if he could see just how unkind modern factory farming and the abuses that go with it are.

A few years ago my wife and I were in the (deep) US south attending a music festival and I was offered some Catfish which is a bit of a delicacy in the region. We stayed with an amazing couple at the time, but the similar situation left me feeling quite perplexed. As a newbie practicing vegetarian (and Yogi) the offer wasn't quite so straight forward for me. At least one year earlier for example I would have jumped at the chance to eat something so delicious. Should I turn down a gracious host who wants nothing more than to share a favourite meal with us or do I turn him down and let my ego/views spoil a fleeting moment and such a generous offer?

I accepted the meal and enjoyed it (ala Buddha). However the next day I had a terrible upset stomach and vowed never to eat meat again (again), I just can't do it anymore, I've got to a stage that I'm visualising the poor animal and the smell of meat just makes me want to barff. I appreciate Buddha's teachings but perhaps if more people followed the Eightfold Yogi path then something less violated might be served out of kindness.

PS: Turning down my grans Sunday dinners is the hardest

Source

Something to discuss....

I tend to choose not to 'repeat' information on my site as I feel that sources/information are always more than a little skewed and I would rather (and prefer) if people did their own research and made their own minds up.

This video however is very interesting with regards to the current economic situation and I feel (even if you don't agree) that the current state of affairs is pretty bad for all of us.

Lynch mob

I just have to post this amazing Yoga related link about David Lynch (That kind of rhymed)

David Lynch Joins Team Yogamentary with New Maharishi Mahesh Yogi Film

The Link headline speaks for itself, but in case you didn't know David Lynch has been practicing (and now promoting) Trans Meditation.

O CDed

It's been a while since I blogged, recently I've completed a CD cover design (with photo's to boot) for a good friend Erin Shields. The Cd should be available in the next few weeks (and I'll follow up with more information later).



So yeah pretty successful in the end. And that's it for my creative process of the year, I have one large painting to complete in the next few weeks and then we're off to Scotland for two weeks. It's quite nice to be in the position of relaxation creatively.

Whats in a name!

I recently discovered that the meaning of my (rather challenging to pronounce) first name in Gaelic is 'Man of the Sea'..... I find it somewhat appropriate. So much power in words and sounds it's quite unnerving at times..... don't get me started on numerology.

m

Photo's photo's.... and more photo's

Currently working on a photography commission, I hope to have some images up online in the next week or two, quite exciting really and the photo shoots have all gone well. Upgrading to a full digital 3200 ISO camera has been more challenging that I had previously anticipated. The new camera takes 12Mp images which sounds great (and it is) however the images are SO HUGE and so detailed that final images require a lot more alterations and filtering.... not something I like do do, I prefer a natural shot with high contrast and exposure.

At least the bizarre 65 one day - 30 the next - back up to 75 temperatures seems to have settled down (very bizarre wearing 4 layers of close in the morning and only one 12 hours later) the sky is a bit clearer and the light a bit kinder. So the outside shoot later today should go well.

m

Exhibitions, CD's and classes

Been a bit busy recently, finished an exhibition with a new gallery in Manhattan called Chelsea 32, and am currently exhibiting with Pro-arts in down town Jersey City till the 23rd of October, feel free to pop along (please double check the opening hours). This exhibit seems to be going well and I've had a lot of positive feedback from the opening party, hopefully the new direction my work is going in will be accepted.

I've decided to work with Inks as well as Acrylics, very interesting medium.... very interesting indeed. The change actually came from a discussion I had with a fellow artist John Howe, I was lucky enough to have had the privilege of meeting him last year and was moved by his use of Inks. Having always been a huge fan of his (and influenced by his work) I decided to follow suit and try them out.
I've discovered (with great wonder) that the inks actually don't get along, they tend to do what ever they like, whenever they like. Getting the right mix of colours to work together feels more like a science experiment than a painting, mostly it's a small scale skirmish but towards the end it can turn into World War 3... hard work, but as ever worthy work and I'm looking forward to getting on with the next one.

Also working towards another CD cover and photo shoot (will post more details later) and have been teaching more and more classes, (my online calender should also be up to date), I'll also add sub-class (if I get the dates in time). All n' all doing pretty well.

PS: I joined twitter... pointless exercise... totally totally pointless!

Up on the wall....

This is a last minute painting for the Pro-Arts members show. I had actually been working on a larger painting all summer, which turned out to be 8 inches too large for display. This one was really a last minute ordeal, but I think it worked out for the best. The photo isn't so hot but you get the idea, it's called 'Catching the last of the light' and will be on sale and on exhibit till the 23rd of October 2009. If your in Jersey City please feel free to pop along, the details have been listed in the a previous blog but also email if you have any questions.

love

m

October exhibit

I will be participating in the always fun Pro Arts annual show, please feel free to come along and see.

BAck injury and painting

So I hurt myself, doing something really silly Yoga wise. I will probably blog about that later. I just wanted to add the latest painting I'm working on. As ever it is unfinished (I hope to have it completed by the end of the week).

Event... but old now

I forgot to add this before (it was during my recent .com sabbatical) but I wanted to add the information as it involved a painting being sold. The event is entitled 'Tulips and Pansies and is hosted by my roommate Beth-ann as part of a fund raising event for the non-profit she works for, Village Care. Although I didn't attend the event (teaching at the time) I hear all was well and money was raised and a painting was sold.

Tulips and Pansies 2009

Yoga and the Ocean

clipping an interesting article which is an interview with Yoga Journal contributor Jaimal Yogis.

Reclaimed .com

moraywatson.com is back online and back in action. Yep I have ditched the charges, reclaimed the domain and hopped into bed with Google. I would also highly recommend it. I discovered that the web services I previously payed for were actually free and (more efficient) from other sources.

Firstly to explain the purpose of the site, I am not here to make money (cliche I know but it's true). I am here to present the paintings that I paint and the Yoga that I teach as a matter of interest. (hence the need for a free site) Self promotion has never been my strong point and (now I'm old enough) I can safely say it never will be.

Secondly, the site is a blog (cunningly disguised as a website) most of my information will be presented via the blog feed. The reason for the blog approach is to make the transfer of information as approachable/twittery/facebookery/moderny as possible.

Thirdly, this site will be for both Yoga and art. Please don't be disappointed if I spend more time talking about one subject rather than the other.

Finally, I have not and I never have been the late TV actor known as Moray Watson, my apologies if that's who you are looking for. You may want to check out IMDB for more information on this fine actor.

Only human

after breaking in the new(ish) website with an art related blog, it’s now time for a Yoga one.

So what have I been up, well I have actually been really busy, today is the second day off after a 26 day long stint of subs-private classes and my regulars. How did it go?, well, interesting really, when you have so little time to process every single class (which I tend to like to do and over analyse) while at the same time process my own practice....... intense is a good word for it. I think I spent most of the time high on adrenaline and the rest of the time sitting in a dark corner nursing my hay-fever, twitching only slightly to check my emails.

I usually like to add something to each class from my own practice however by the end of the stint every class/personal practice seemed to meld into one, resulting in a hodgepodge of ideas and Asana. Which can be fun but not always coherent or practical.

What was interesting though is the thought of Yoga as a ‘career’ seemed to fly straight out of the window and the experience of ‘sharing’ really started to ring true, in a way that I haven’t experienced before. The separation of student/teacher blurs becoming an even more rewarding experience. I think I became so used to being in the studios that any kind of apprehension became a waste of time and energy. However at the same time I mixed up classes and dates, missed trains, 2 flat tires and was a little for a class. AND had no energy to paint.

I have to ask what can I learn from this that isn't painfully obvious...

Up top

Nice one, I have been asked to teach ‘roof top’ Yoga at the Visionare and am really looking forward it. I would highly recommend it if you ever get the opportunity / or if you are interested, it's one of THE most exhilarating and mind blowing New Yorky things you can do!

Currently

I'm currently working on a rather large painting, here it is at about 45% complete, it's for an exhibition in October, but I am trying to complete it within the next week, my hope is that if I see it on the website ALL the time then it will inspire to completion. The image of the boat is there and so is the paint style/wave movements. Again still very early.

Why am I here

ok, so the main reason for the move and name change is due to Yahoo. Yahoo decided to ramp up my domain name subscription charge 350% in one year, which (during our current financial position) seemed a tad draconian. I also felt that the web space was underutilised (also I have no need for a 5th email address) and not worthy of the new costs.

lately with Blogger, Twitter, etc... I find that the structure and purpose of my original site had become redundant as well as extremely slow and clumsy to work therefore I have stripped away all that is unneeded and concentrated on simplicity. Clearing out the old and making way for the new can always be recommended.

So here we are all shiny and simply new.

New, so NEW

Ok coming soon the site your now looking at, I am hoping to update and explain why I'm here in the next day of two.

m

Media control and falling for it!

is concerned about he systematic media destruction of both Gordon Brown/the Labour party and the GOP (neither of which I’m a fan of) and is beginning to feel like a patsy. Everything seems a little too orchestrated and I agree with it a little too much. I don’t trust the media at the best of times why should I trust them now?

Best job ad ever (copied and pasted for that extra spelling mistake joy):

Arrange word lists into similar categories - You can Work From Home

Reply to: job-knxuj-1093397192@craigslist.org
Date: 2009-03-26, 4:20PM
Hello everyone,
I am a marketing consultant for many online businesses and I am looking to hire someone with a good grasp of english.
The job is very simple yet can be a bit tedious. However, it can be a good source of income since there is a lot of work for someone diligent and the best part is we can send the work to your email and you can work from home.
What the job entails:
To understand the job you have to first understand what pay per click marketing is. Have you ever performed a search on google? Did you ever notice the ads on the side?
They are called Sponsored Ads. Businesses advertise their products through keywords.
For example, if I sold a product for Diarrhea, I would advertise for keywords like: stomach ache, pain in stomach, dirrhea, cramps, etc.
For each keyword I advertise my product for, google allows me to have a specific title and description for that little ad you see in their searches.
Now most businesses advertise for thousands of keywords and simply put one ad for all of them. This is not how good marketing works.
Someone typing stomach cramps might want to see an Ad that says "Relieve your stomach cramps" instead of "Relieve your diarrhea"
So you have to make different ads for different types of keywords. However, this is simply not possible when you have 10,000 keywords in your campaign.
So the next best thing is to group the keywords into similar categories, such as "stomach cramps" "cramps in stomach" "Crampy pain in abdomen" -- these can have a similar ad while "diarrhea" "loose diarrhea" "runny diarrhea" can be in a separate category.
This is where you come in:
We will provide you will keyword lists for products that are between 5000 and 10,000 words. Your job is to group them into similar categories.
You will be paid per keyword. We will email you these lists and all you have to do is start grouping them into smaller similar categories.
Simple! Payments can be made by check or paypal.
Please reply with why you are well suited for this job.
Thank You,
Trevor



Compensation: $500-$2000/week
Telecommuting is ok.
This is a part-time job.
OK to highlight this job opening for persons with disabilities
Principals only. Recruiters, please don't contact this job poster.
Please, no phone calls about this job!
Please do not contact job poster about other services, products or commercial interests.
Original URL:http://newyork.craigslist.org/mnh/etc/1093397192.html