 From
the desk of the Senior Editor - Notice: Launch of Escapeartist NEW Publication
EscapeJourney - Spiritual Journeys for the Soul
- Dear Readers, I am honored to announce the launch of our new
magazine SPIRITUAL JOURNEYS.
The birth of this online publication arrives
perfectly timed for the advent of the year 2012. The year that has been
prophesied and spoken of as a turning point in humankind's evolution. The
ancient cultures of the Hopis and the Mayans, speak of the window of divinity
that opens for us now, a shift of the ages that will activate our deepest
potential. Life as we know it today, will never be the same again. It was
a memorable day when Tom McMurrain, the Global Business Development Director
of Escape Artist magazines invited me to to collaborate and produce an
online magazine that houses spiritual journeys from writers around the
world. |
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 The
Muse Awakens By Amoon - So strong was the
song, so brilliant and alive that I could not contain it. I could not hide
it. I had to share the music; the desire was born of something greater
then myself. To my absolute amazement, amidst all the tourists and commotion,
I walked on trembling legs to the center of the stage and closed my eyes.
At once the seemingly dense reality of this world gave way to the guidance
and truth of my inner sight. A profound knowing overcame me, and I was
transported to place within myself that fully remembered the bliss and
ecstasy of being ONE with all creation. A symphony
of the past, present and future came serenading through the channels of
my heart. In an instant I surrendered my small, ego identity to the expansive
unity and love of the Beloved. Knowing I was divinely supported I gave
myself completely to the calling, and I began to sing. |
 My
Hot Pink Suede Suitcase By Kylie DeMole -
I sunk into oblivion as the innocent Dugong calf swam and gently nibbled
around my feet. I felt a connection to the earth that I have never felt
before. No words can do justice to this experience. Not knowing what was
at my feet, paralyzed by what could possibly lay ahead of me and then in
the next instant realizing that it was a young dugong calf coming to let
me know I was going to be okay. I found myself in a magical place … in
the water swimming with the young calf and his mother. The internal healing
power and the power that came through them, nourished me. The magic of
their touch and their beauty filled me with a great love. I felt such gratitude
for what Mother Earth had given us all in that moment. She filled my heart
with joy for all the years I had forgotten so much of who I was. I liken
experiences like this to a sacred journey to a temple. People go to places
of worship to connect with and embrace that place within that is still
and quiet. It is in this place that freedom finds it’s meaning – that place
of quietness where I can sit and be still and have the freedom to be clear
of judgment and fear. That place that I came to understand myself and ALL
that I am. |
 My
Spiritual Journey – Adrianne Schmidt - The
Hawaiian shamans known as the Kahunas tell stories about how each island
is said to hold the balance of a different chakra. These stories tell the
tale of how each island also has its own reigning god and that the Island
of Maui is named after the Hawaiian Sun god. Since Maui is the center island,
it is known as the heart chakra island, connecting the vast Hawaiian Islands
chain at their core. According to the Kahunas the different islands each
held a different energy signature. Each island represented its crucial
part of the Hawaiian island chain. Since I lived on the island of Maui
its energy resonated to me personally. When a person is sensitive to these
energies decides to “visit” or “island hop” to another island in the Hawaiian
Island chain you can seriously FEEL the change of energy when you first
step down off the plane. When you first land on solid ground, you get the
feeling “That You Just Know”. That is the only way I can explain it. |
 Waking
up with Jessica By Jessica Savano - Now was
the beginning of a new life. When my transition was complete, I was ready
to tear through my cocoon. I felt like the caterpillar who finally became
a beautiful butterfly…and I was ready to fly…To fly far, far away and beyond
anything I could have ever dreamed. This was my time to shine. I had been
through HELL. With everything that I had gone through during my transition,
I began to view the world differently. It was a sad time. I saw how so
many could be downright evil to me, simply because I was different … and
because I was changing. Many just could not handle the change, even if
it had nothing to do with them. But I had always seen my transition as
something that I HAD to do … I remember thinking at one stage during my
darkest times, “Jessica either transition into who you really are or DIE…or
continue to live a lie.” These thoughts of the past wracked my mind. Even
though I was a new woman, I needed time to heal the past. I finally had
the face and body that I had always wanted and now I would make sure I
had the home and community and life that I yearned for. |
 You
Can’t Get There from Here By Joe Comer - My
life had turned into something I did not recognize: I was on antidepressants,
miserably living in a small apartment. I had quit drinking alcohol and
started smoking cigarettes. Basically, all I did was ride my bicycle, work
out and struggle throughout my day to day existence. Although I was in
shape physically (for the most part), spiritually I felt anemic.
While I was not quite aimless, I did have the knowing that I was searching
for a deeper philosophical relationship. Still, I simply could not tap
into what it might be. I did not possess the key to unlock the inner source
of strength that I knew was always deep within me. It had to come
to this. It took losing everything as I knew it, everything I had come
to accept and see as ordinary and commonplace, every component I had created,
to finally see what had always been there. I now understand that my refusal
to give myself permission to have that relationship with Spirit was but
a chapter in my journey to self-acceptance. Just as all the other challenges
(disguised as opportunities) had been. |
 Love
Lost and Found By Eva Clay - The summer of
2010 led me out of the weeping, sobbing divorcee-den of my Los Angeles
apartment to a family reunion in Virginia (and trust me, this LA girl would
not have chosen Virginia as a vacation spot otherwise). The Clay
family has a long legacy of colonial and political life stemming from the
very first English settlement at Jamestown in 1607 where my forefather
John Clay was a resident. The reunion involved a tour of the archaeological
site, a clever outdoor exhibit of where the Powhatan Indians were settled
when European colonists arrived. The two groups were neighbors on
this land in tense cycles of trade and combat before warfare erupted, and
one thing felt eerily sure to me as I strolled the grounds – I had been
here before. I couldn’t explain it but this place felt so familiar,
in a way that my lifelong home of LA never had. Joining us that day was
a friend of the family – actually I think she’s the cousin of my former
uncle by marriage, or something. Anyway we’ll call her Marla (she’s asked
for her identity to be protected), she’s in her 60?s maybe, and she has
a glimmer of rebellion in her eye that only mystics and old-school hippies
have. Her hair is short and grey, she doesn’t wear a stitch of make-up,
and she drives a truck with a sticker on it that says something like “Save
the Whales”. I liked her immediately. |
 A
Walking Pilgrim By Christopher Staser - A
beautiful October sky followed us along the pathway, mostly along rivers
that emptied out towards the city of Pamplona—the city made famous by Hemingway
and the yearly Running of the Bulls. Ascending to the gates up the city,
where pilgrims have been welcomed for a millennia, I felt the excitement
to be in an urban center and all that it would have to offer. A small city
with a population of 190K, it was the first sign of a major population
center since the beginning of our walk. The road brings us an Irish man
today, who greets us with his gruff: “Hola, bonjour, hello, buen camino”
while passing. It would be weeks later that we’d encounter him yet again
as he was making his way back from the Camino. He was the first actual
pilgrim we’d encountered since the first day when we had passed a very
relaxed German couple. I was so curious to walk with this man and soon
learned of his athletic ambition—to complete the walk in about 14 days.
It was my first brush with the non-contemplative approach to the Camino
and it was provocative to think that someone would so rush through such
an opportunity. |
 Widening
Tides By Penny Dinn - During a meditation
in the woods with the question asked “Why am I here”, with my back supported
by a tree, I opened my eyes to see a mama deer and her two babies about
20 feet from me. I was so still that they did not see me. I watched in
quiet tears of calmness as she nuzzled her young ones. I took away the
clear message that I was here to love and be loved, to give, receive and
nurture. I have asked myself on occasion if I can constantly live
in the “Wheel” and still be me – the funny, sassy, sarcastic me.
Can I ride that edge? I can. Because that’s ME, and that’s
where, how and why I want to be. And no one – not anyone – not my
father, my brother, a stranger, a friend, a boyfriend, a lover or myself
would ever tell me different again. So is my best spiritual story the one
where I traveled the farthest in the world, or the one where I fell to
the ground and ate dirt the hardest? And I realize – it’s all of
it. It’s in everyday, in every single perfect little moment.
It’s in the taking it all in and then throwing it all up. It’s in
being told you’re not enough and in being hurt by that, and in by knowing
that you are, very enough, more than enough. |
 Finding
Peace in Prison By Thomas McMurrain - In prison
you become a number, you are no longer a member of society. Your clothes
are chosen for you as are your meals – the guards are bitter and no one
is paid to make your life easier – Prison is one of the worst places on
earth. In prison every one pretends to be someone they are not – As a side
note: before the ‘Crack” sentencing reduction bill that Congress
passed, everyone was a Kingpin drug dealer after the Bill was passed and
the ‘King Pins” realized they could get 24 months off their sentence
they all became petty crack dealers. – We used to make bets on who we would
see in the legal library tying up their motions. Snitches were hated, but
most were at the Camp because they got reduced sentences for snitching
out all their friends. If there was more than one person on your indictment
and you were at a camp, you were most likely a snitch. My indictment with
amendments was almost 80 pages long and I was the only person listed at
the top. In prison you learn the truth about human nature – you realize
that without self-awareness most human beings act no differently animals,
and in survival mode they are reduced to scavengers. In prison you see
the true essence of the ignorant man. |
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Tom
McMurrain had already created 10 online magazines with the Escapeartist
brand. He felt it was now time to deliver content that moved readers
on a spiritual level. He was passionate about acquiring freedom through
exploration and his large vision spoke to me at a deep level.
He approached
me as I was already a successful player in the creative field, having produced
numerous award winning and nominated films as well as a reality TV show,
in its second season, that is currently airing on FUEL TV. I have also
been a journalist for over a decade and the Chief Editor of a health magazine
in South East Asia.
I heard
his vision, loved what I was hearing and then took it a step further. I
began to see SPIRITUAL JOURNEYS as a magazine that would only accept the
most compelling stories. My aim is to create a standard, a mark of distinction,
showcasing journeys with moving and heartfelt tales. These will be rare,
sacred experiences that have the ability to shift our audience to leap
into a journey of their own. To be featured in SPIRITUAL JOURNEYS is a
testament of literary prowess, for the ability to trigger a transformation
through one's writing alone is a true talent.
Our writers
will also be rewarded with accolades and prizes. Details will be revealed
in future editions.
Spiritual
Journeys Video Series
In addition
to its powerful literature, SPIRITUAL JOURNEYS will host a dynamic online
community with diverse media offerings. Look forward to a compelling web
series of interviews with inspiring authors, speakers and personalities.
I will
be hosting interviews with prolific individuals from around the globe,
unraveling their journeys and their inspirations. I'm thrilled to have
this opportunity to connect with
individuals whom
I deeply admire.
Meet the
Writers
In
gratitude to our writers, we will also be featuring interviews with our
contributors whose stories gain popularity with our global subscriber base.
You have poured your hearts through your writing, and now we invite you
to deepen your story-telling with your eyes, your hands, your voice, and
allow yourself to speak through the lens of the camera.
There is
a reason why this magazine must be produced
We have
a powerful chapter ahead of us, for this we must be ready. Shared stories
of bravery, courage and adventure from our community will feed and support
us to persevere on our paths. Despite the challenges that we may face,
we must continue to heed the call to explore, to connect and to always
celebrate the beauty that avails us.
There
will be those times of drought when we thirst to hear the achievements
of our fellow explorers, they inspire us to rise and remain buoyant, keeping
our own journeys brilliantly alive. Tales that remind us how abundant this
planet can be for those who risk.
About Our
Writers
The writers
we select, have demonstrated the possession of rare minds and hearts. They
have heard the voice of guidance. Despite challenges and the unusual nature
of each journey that has led to foreign lands and very foreign circumstances
, they have obeyed their Call. They have conquered mountains, they have
walked treacherous paths, they have sat with shamans, drinking brews that
revealed both their humanhood and their Godhood. Some have given up everything
to follow their heart's desires.
What is
the Spiritual Journey ?
Arriving
on foreign soil, perspectives change and new thoughts are entertained.
Perceptions that are so novel, they have the potential to redirect the
entire course of one's life.
New sights
are seen and celebrated. Beauty is revealed like never before and nature,
our gracious host is most willing to joyfully dance for it's curious visitor.
This performance in all its vivid colors is nothing short of spectacular.
Oftentimes
our deepest fears may bubble to the surface. But always, in the treading
of this noble path, a blessing is gifted to the Seeker.
Remember
who you are
Step
out of the current Paradigm. Break the Trance.
We have
allowed the limitations of society to create lifestyles that are restrictive
and limiting. A traditional weekday job, the 'security' of endless projects,
time filled with busyness and efficiency. Our host of stresses are not
only unhealthy, they are against our very nature.
Surely,
we have arrived at a moment where we pay heed to the cries of our bodies
craving the bosom of Mother Nature. And the guidance that whispers revelations
that our lives can be, must be so much grander than this ?
Becoming
truly spiritual means being a Warrior . Why would I make such a statement
? Because stepping into one's heart and then choosing to live from this
realm, demands great strength.
It means
that we must act based on divine guidance. This is not always easy to do.
Having the gall to move forth, trusting upon what is heard takes a fearlessness,
not possessed by the ordinary man or woman. But there is great beauty to
be savored that arrives only for those who journey beyond a limited existence
.
SPIRITUAL JOURNEYS
is a collection of writings and media content designed to remind the masses
to return to living as warriors.
We are
noble, we are connected.
Our destinies
are tied with each other and we must traverse this globe to experience
a larger sense of connection. Only then will we receive the limitless gifts
that with bated breath, have long awaited our reception.
I hope
you enjoy SPIRITUAL JOURNEYS.
Peace
and Love,
Mahira
Amir Khan
PS. You
are invited to join our community, visit us often, drink abundantly from
our wells and share with us your own adventures. Let us support each other
to return to celebrating our lives as the warriors and explorers we were
designed to be. To Submit a Story Please E-mail: escapejourney@escapeartist.com
or fill out the form below:
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