Davin Skonberg calls himself a samurai of freedom, and has approached art as a spiritual practice. Through this meditative practice called "art", he has become a noted visionary filmmaker, graphic designer and information architect.
I recently ran across his blog and was attracted to his remarkable article, “Steps for Personal Transformation”. Here’s his first step: “It begins with the release of fear (We are constantly vibrating in a state of love or fear - and attracting these experiences/people that resonate with love/fear). From then on every action and interpretation comes from the eyes of fear or love. This is how we interpret and define everything.”
From this, I realized that he is actually sharing his way of seeing the world, through the eyes of love, through the eyes of a shaman. And so, I contacted him to do a quick interview and ask him to share what he sees through those eyes of his…
So Davin, tell me something about yourself. How did you become an artist?
I’ve been highly creative, rebellious and driven ever since I was a child. I’ve had this thirst, this passionate and unquenchable thirst to shift the mundane reality of consumer culture into one where the human potential is taken from my wild imagination and turned into something concrete and transformational to share.
Let’s start from the beginning, tell me a story from about your childhood that explains why you are who you are...
Well, here are a few: I was conceived by my parents in Tahiti. I begged them to take me to Cirque Du Soleil shows every year in Las Vegas (I told them that the shows were good for bringing creativity into their marriage). I had my first astral travel experience while at the age of 12 - I was an outfielder in a youth baseball league. I went to catch a flyball and lost it in the glare of the sun. The ball smacked me in the face, breaking my nose. But while I was knocked out for 20 seconds, something miraculous happened.
What? What happened?
Next time. I’ll tell you next time.
Okay, fine. So what are you working on these days? What's your next big project?
I just released my third conscious revolution film: "Birth of the New World". This groundbreaking, revolutionary film, features a profound look into the birth journey of the cosmos, natural human birth, and ultimately the birth of humanity’s new found freedom, creativity and potential (It features the shamanic water birth of world reknown tantric educator Miss Jaiya’s beautiful son).
Also, I am finishing up the Australian book: Heart of the Flower - the Book of Yonis. It is a beautiful large full color book about women's relationship to their Yoni's in birth, sexuality and recovering from social abuse of the feminine. It includes great works of art, photography, poetry and real stories. I also have 3 of my own books in the works and several free e-books on my website. My freelance design company is once again open for any amazing clients out there.
Why do you make art? I mean, at an existential level?
I make art to co-create with the infinite potential and to reflect the nature that created us to begin with. Humans brains and hearts are the greatest technology in the known Universe. It's a shame that most humans only use about 25% of our brains, lungs & DNA capacity. Beyond this tragedy lies great hope. That's why I exist, and that's what I am passionate about. I work in 10 different mediums as an artist, on top of being a tantric shamanic teacher and a life coach.
Plus, I love to help people by being an inspiration and being in service to our human growth and blossoming.
Have you read Kadinsky's Concerning the Spiritual in Art?
Oh yes, in college. And have you all read Alex Grey's The Mission of Art?
No, I haven’t. Great suggestion, I love his work. I'll read it and we can continue this interview and you can tell us what happened when the baseball hit your nose! Okay, next question. Let’s see… tell me a story about how your art changed someone's perspective or even their life?
I see it every day. Art brings the spiritual into the context of the physical. We are so much more then our language barriers, culture and media. These are barriers, often their prisons. Art gives people the power to breakthough and see how complex and magical we are.
What are the basic principles of your work?
Well, there is a set of tools and refined skills. But in the end, it's a channel of dialogue with the universe of creation and evolution that has been building in our consciousness for a very long time - it's the science of biology, cosmology, alchemy and true tantra - weaving spirit with the power of the body as a vehicle to experience the divine.
Do you meditate? Tell me about your daily practice.
I meditate in the sun after consuming spirulina. I go on 10 day silent Vipassana retreats. I listen to theta brain wave enhancing music. I visit a float tank center occasionally. And I have a regular Tai Chi practice. But creating art is always a meditation on what magic I can pull off next!
What about tantra? What's your definition of tantra?
Yes, I am a certified practitioner of the great teaching of Tantra. For me true tantra is weaving spirit with the power of the body as a vehicle to experience the divine. But I have seen a lot of manipulative & watered down tantra. This is because sexuality does play a role in its essence; but even some teachers still have a lot of unconscious wounds and areas of their Shadow that are still keeping the modern practice from being truly celebrated and taking off as a gift to our growth.
Please leave our readers with some spiritual advice about life!
Breathe deep... and just let go of everything that you are clinching on to. The storm of this planetary shift will take you back to the source of awareness if we just trust in our potential. Create beauty, express love, and realize that everything is a lesson from the greatest teacher - ourselves and our fellow humans. The power is within and is expressed in being in service to all of life's creation. Everything is known. Everything is forever. We are ONE.
Oh, and please feel free to visit my web site - www.shamaneyes.net - to view my art, films, or to learn more about my services as a graphic designer and transformational life coach.
Take care on your journey, Davin Infinity
Editor Note: I simply have to share with you Davin’s 19th and 20th Steps for Personal Transformation, which are incredibly beautiful:
19.) After evolving into and merging with higher forms of space, awareness and feelings, you develop a bridge back to the normal reality that humans live in as the "social norm". This is the world where 90% of our life is unconscious (unaware). This is when you develop the ways of explaining, sharing and communicated these gifts of wisdom. Atheists now see a bigger picture of God, Fundamentalists now see their extreme religious duality, the Logical now discover the intuitive-creative impulse that they have been missing. You bring back the information from the other side of the veils and you bring it to the people with compassion and in service to the healing and growth of humanity. This is shamanism in the 21st Century.
20.) We become comfortable with all that is. We become reborn as an entirely new person. Society becomes more in tune with its interconnected matrix of thoughts and action. Your responsibility elevates you into the seat as a World Teacher. We rise to the position as teacher and student, constantly expanding our humbleness for the depths of the Great Mystery of Life. Some may look upon you as a Leader, others as a Fool. But these are just labels that can not be placed on the individual who has merged with the Eternal One Source of Life. Creation and Destruction are just seen as cycles of time and evolution. All comes and goes, returning to its source. You become comfortable with knowing and not knowing, learning and forgetting, dying and being born.
All I gotta say is wow!
