Along with the study of the body went my desire to know what it truly means to be a human being, a person, and that raised the question what it means to create something that does not have a foundation, walls, or is essential for daily existence. What is it that compels a composer, a painter, a writer, a poet to create, not withstanding possible financial rewards or fame?

What do we, as individuals experience when we listen to music which transforms our mood, or when a novel or a poem transforms itself to a mirror of our soul? How come that people all over the world know about Mozart, Beethoven, Bach, or about Leonardo deVinci, Van Gogh, Modrian, Picasso, Rodin, Hoshigi, Michelangelo, Frank Lloyd Wright, Gaudi, Philip Johnson, Charles Eames, Frank Gehry, Kafka, Toystoyevski, Thomas Mann, James Joyce or Emily Bronte?

Nothing is and has been more fascinating to humans as humans themselves, their physical and spiritual components. Via art and science, far beyond the actual depiction of man, people today do their best to understand the meaning of life and though we recognize that death is the ultimate destiny, try to figure out what exactly happens after we take the last breath. I am no exception.

It is my personal belief that death is but a transitional phase that there are spirits, (frequently referred to as ghosts) with whom we can communicate. The concept that forms the foundation of this hypothesis is actually rather simple if you agree that you, I, and the six billion other inhabitants of the planet Earth are all part of and are connected with the Universe, the Cosmos, the All. For only one reason is this not obvious: we have been brainwashed to think otherwise.

I was born in 1942, while WWII was raging. I clearly remember the sound of air raid warning sirens, during which people flocked to bomb shelters, and I was among them. My native country, Austria was occupied by Allied troops and i recall vividly how prisoners of war were marched through the small village I grew up in, were abused by their captors and some of them were shot to death in front of my very eyes. To this day, I cannot bear to watch films that contain violence; I cannot pass a beggar without making a small offering. I’ve experienced what hunger and humiliation feels like and I will do whatever is in my power to contribute to those in need, in whatever form it may be.

In my opinion the work of artist of any kind, writers poets and inventors, contribute as much to the benefit of mankind as do doctors, lawyer, engineers, teachers, farmers, or truck drivers.

My thoughts about money are simple. It is simply means of paying for goods and services, for which barter is impossible. No matter how much money one has, one always wishes to have a bit more. A quote by Anais Nin, “Life shrinks or expands in proportion to one’s courage” is a motto I live by. I have spent my adult years in the passionate search of possibility.

Causes go deep below my skin and in pursuit of truth I have spent time in prison. Horrible as my existence behind bars was, I have no regrets. I have had my high moments in life as well. I learned to fly, and spent many an hour aloft, chasing clouds. I designed and built houses I enjoyed living in. My daughter and my son grew up and established their lives in such a way that I can be proud of them.

The words shone, spanghew, loyalty and widdershins are favorites in my vocabulary and gowpen, which describes two hands placed together to form a bowl, or the amount that can be contained in a pair of cupped hands, is descriptive of the state of mind, which I hope to achieve one day.