Cultivating Compassion and Creativity | Siva Fiske
Concept of Peace: Siva discusses peace as a profound state of consciousness that goes beyond the absence of conflict. It involves a sense of awe and connection with the beauty of creation and the presence of the divine in the world. Path to Peace and Creativity: Siva shares that his journey to inner peace began in childhood through imaginative play. As an adult, he continues to achieve this state through creative endeavors such as music, art, and writing, viewing life itself as an art form. Illusions and Materialism: He talks about the illusions of the material world (Maya) and how they can be distracting and distressing. Engaging in creative activities helps transcend these illusions and connect with a deeper reality. Spiritual Practices: Emphasizing non-violence (Ahimsa), Siva highlights the importance of cultivating love, kindness, and compassion. He also discusses the need to understand different perspectives and resolve conflicts through reconciliation and understanding. Role of Music and Nature: Siva reflects on how music and nature have been central to his life and well-being. Immersing oneself in nature and creative pursuits helps maintain balance and counter the disturbances of modern, materialistic life. -- Stephen (Siva) Longfellow Fiske Born into a musical and artistic family in New York City, Stephen was a natural in singing and acting, and performed in school plays and musicals from elementary school through college. He wrote poems and songs in his head and on paper before becoming a self-taught guitarist at the High School of Music and Art during the folkmusic era of the 60’s. After attending Civil Rights Marches in New York City, Stephen travelled to Washington DC in August, 1963, to take part in the Great March on Washington where Martin Luther King Jr. gave the “I Have A Dream” Speech which greatly impacted Stephen towards his peace and justice activism. Greatly influenced by the songs of freedom and equality and the call for social justice of the Civil Rights Movement, Stephen developed his own unique folk music style, and while in college, did his first public performances in the Greenwich Village coffee houses, such as Gerde’s Folk City and the Bitter End. After college, he travelled to San Francisco where he became the lead singer and writer with an acid-rock band, “The Bycycle.” The Bycycle became booked by a major agency and performed with such acts as Crosby, Stills, Nash, and Young, Taj Mahal, Canned Heat, and Jimi Hendrix. When the band broke up, Stephen began his solo career and over the years has written hundreds of songs and produced a dozen albums of his music. He has performed widely across the U.S. and overseas, has sung and done voice-overs on commercials, and his music has been in films and video soundtracks. An award-winning songwriter, his songs have been covered by such well known artists as Jose Feliciano and Luther Vandross. Stephen has been primarily an independent artist selling his products directly to his audiences and keeping a contact list. He is an engaging performer who loves to interact with his audiences and encourages people to sing-along. Accompanying himself on acoustic guitar, he is a peace and environmental activist whose timely message in song, stories, and poetry have made him a popular performer, always warmly and enthusiastically received by his audiences. -- Jerusalem Prayer Project Stephen Fiske Music Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
