Doop made this INSPIRED animation of me with the Anybeat logo.

Last weekend was an AMAZING gathering for 1st Saturdays/ Help The Homeless! We had 85 volunteers, tons of donations, a wedding, and my mom even participated!

Here is a draft of the narrative we are submitting for 1stSaturday’s Non-profit status. Feedback welcome!
NARRATIVE: 1st Saturdays

On the 1st Saturday of February 2010, two high school classmates got together on a whim to provide clothing and toiletries to San Diego homeless. They had reunited at their 20 year High School reunion and, despite their vastly different religious backgrounds, realized that their beliefs overlapped in the area of service, community, & compassion.
They shared the rewarding experience via online social networks and quickly had dozens of friends and neighbors lining up to help volunteer. The group called itself “1st Saturdays” and was formed for exclusively charitable and educational purposes.

The goal of 1st Saturdays is to provide a non-religious service opportunity for the San Diego community while providing clothing, toiletries and other necessities to the local homeless population. Each monthly outing consists of 30-80 volunteers who first collect and organize clothing donations, create toiletry care packs, and then carpool to downtown San Diego locations where the need is greatest. Men’s and Women’s clothing is collected from the community all month. In recent months 1st Saturdays has met and organized donations by gender & clothing type at the downtown Prosperity Hive (www.prosperity-hive.com) before heading out into the streets. A row of folding tables is set up in parking lots or on the sidewalk so that the clothing is presented like a mobile “street boutique.” The goal is to create a dignified “shopping” experience and provide San Diego homeless with items they need.

The care packs consist of new toiletries, hygiene items like soap, toothpaste, Band-Aids, clean socks, and more. Most items are purchased in bulk from hotel supply stores and then assembled into care-packs by volunteers. Quantities of items provided vary based on what volunteers are able to purchase, but generally between 100 and 300 packs a month are distributed. Care packs are distributed alongside the clothing tables, or handed out via “drive-bys” to less mobile individuals.

According to the Regional Task Force on The Homeless for San Diego County, current numbers estimate that more 8500 people are Homeless in San Diego (http://www.rtfhsd.org). The needs among this group for warm clothes, basic hygiene products, and a friendly ear are massive. However, even small efforts have big impact among those helped…and those helping.
In addition to the physical transfer of donated goods, the goal of 1st Saturdays is to break down the cultural walls between economically distant local communities. The group provides outreach opportunities for San Diegans to meet, interact, and support their homeless brothers and sisters. Much care is taken to create an uplifting and community-building experience for both volunteers and homeless. Conversation, smiles, and words of connection are encouraged. While it is certainly nice to feed someone for a day, and even better to treat that person with dignity, it is the changes that happen in our volunteers that are perhaps the most significant. The food, clothes, and care-packs are in many ways simply the excuse we use to allow disparate San Diego communities to spend time together and be reminded of our connection as a human family. When someone starts to see themselves as “a person who helps,” it can be a transformative and world changing shift. We consider conversations as important as donations & hope to change the way volunteers see themselves in relation to the disadvantaged, and society.

What began as a 1-time whim has become a thriving monthly tradition entering its 3rd year. The number of volunteers continues to increase, and the organization is ready to move to the next level. With non-profit status, 1st Saturdays would seek additional funding through grants and additional donors. The organization hopes that it can grow in the number of volunteers we can support, homeless we can help, and goods we can distribute. By doing so we can reduce the burden on existing government programs while helping needy individuals and educating volunteers.

Supplemental Material:
OB Rag Article: “Socks for the Homeless” (http://obrag.org/?p=25663)
San Diego Citybeat Article: “Online Intimacy.” (http://www.sdcitybeat.com/sandiego/article-8644-online-intimacy.html)
Photos from Recent Outings.
Videos from Recent Outings. (online at www.1stsaturdays.org.)
Printout of recent “Facebook Event” for 1stSaturdays. (http://www.facebook.com/events/182532865179175/)
Facebook Organizing Page (online: http://www.Facebook.com/HelpTheHomeless.)

I went to an AMAZING New Years Eve party that went well into New Years Day. Danyavaad & The Shimmy Sisters were in attendance and performed the next morning. *gratitude*

more pics

I like to take a moment each year to look back. (Here is my review from 2010 )

My 2011 Year In Review:
1. Turned 40 years old
2. Attended my 14th Burn & helped lead Pink Heart.

3. Gave a sermon at my childhood church.
4. Spoke at the Burning Man film fest, Soul Base dance event, & several Flow Temple events on Venice Beach.

5. Reached 1 million plays on YouTube.
6. Produced and performed in my first ever dance performance.
7. Produced a 30 minute film & submitted it to a festival.
8. Was subject of a 15 minute documentary.
9. Helped launch Anybeat.com.
10. Video blogged for BurningMan.com
11. Broadcast 100 Hug Nation shows.
12. Helped lead Help The Homeless each 1st Saturday.
13. Participated in an Occupy march.

14. Lots of great times with my nephews.

15. Supported and was inspired by my Mom’s breast cancer battle & recovery.
16. Feel deeper in love with Brandi.

17. Built a deeper relationship with Dmitry, plus many old & new friends.
18. Was on the news for National Hugging Day (& our sleeping bag drive.)

19. Profiled in CityBeat Magazine.
20. Got a Wikipedia entry.
21. Continued to develop peace & joy for myself, my community, and the planet.

Life just gets better and better.
The Now feels more and more miraculous.
My sense of Awe deepens.
My gratitude soars.
My heart continues to expand.
Thank you for being a part of the journey.
Love,
-john halcyon styn

1) Avoid goals that make you feel stressed or guilty.
2) Go towards things you want, not away from things you don’t.
3) Express it in present tense.
4) Make sure you believe it can happen.
5) Include things you are already doing.
6) Make sure it feels good!
7) Allow for magic outside your control.
8 ) Align it with your higher self.
9) Let go of attachments.

Happy New Year!
New Year’s Eve is pretty uneventful from space. There is no cosmic “click” when our calendars expire. The passing of Time is an allusion. Time simply is. We humans experience Time as a present moment streaming along an imaginary timeline, preceded by a past and with a future ahead of us. All we ever experience is the present moment, but our big ol’ brains allow us to remember and create elaborate stories of how we got here and where we are going.
That being said, it can still be helpful to use arbitrary times on the calendar as plotting points of a journey. Like longitude and latitude coordinates that – when a line is drawn between them – gives us a sense of space.
This space between calendar points is time.
So when the calendar notifies us of a milestone, it is fun to check in and see where you stand on your journey.
Are you on track? In alignment?
Are you uncovering the script inside you? Or following a script given to you?
Are you being pulled from your heart? Or pushed by your mind?
Are you making choices from Love? Or Fear?
As we analyze where we are come the end of December and where we want to be in the New Year, it can be tempting to make a list of Resolutions.
This instinct can be good… but it is critical that you craft your statements and sentiments with care.
And before we even get started, lets use be use the term resolutions lightly. Resolutions sound way too aggressive. NATO and the UN make resolutions. They are like barbed wire fences in idea form.

Here are 9 Tips to Creating Healthy, Happy New Year’s Goals

1) Avoid goals that make you feel stressed or guilty.
Resolutions are not your opportunity to chastise yourself for things you meant to do but didn’t.
People often list the things they wish they were doing better at. There is an element of guilt to things like “Hit the Gym at least 3 times a week.” If the idea makes you stressed, try reframing the idea with a similar intention like, “Honor my body’s ability to thrive and be active.”

2) Go towards things you want, not away from things you don’t.
That which you resist, persists. Mother Teresa said she would never attend an Anti-War rally, but would consider a peace rally. Going to war with something means all you attention is on that thing!
The key is to create a future that is warm and inviting and creates an emotional gravitational pull towards it.
Rather than marching away from your fat thighs, walk towards your strong legs.
Instead of
“Stop eating crap. “ Try, “Be conscious of how I fuel my body.”

“Find good-feeling thoughts and good-feeling manifestations must follow”
Abraham (Esther & Jerry Hicks)

3) Make it present tense.
Rather than set a list of rules that you need to follow, try to visualize a future that makes you happy.
See yourself in 6 months.
Jacob Glass teaches something he calls “The Lunch Game.” You agree with your lunch partner, in advance, to speak in the present tense as if it was 6 months from now. Don’t get caught up in the “how,” just speak as if obstacles have been resolved and decisions have been made.
What are you doing? Who are you spending time with? What is your job like?
Allow yourself to feel this future as if it was happening now.
This same technique is a great way to articulate goals.
Write your “resolutions” as joyful statements about your life.
“I am doing yoga most mornings and then going for a short walk. I make a point to appreciate the plants & flowers along my path.”
“I finished the 1st draft of my novel and am thrilled with the ideas that have emerged.”
“I am spending wonderful time with my family and enjoy the growing bond with my parents.”

4) Make sure it is something you believe could happen.
You don’t have to have any idea *how* it will happen. But you need to believe it is possible. Could you be living in a new amazing apartment in 6 months? Then visualize it! Could you be living on a space station in 6 months? Save that dream for another list.

5) Include things you are already doing.
Give yourself some credit! While it is nice to look at the year ahead, don’t be so quick to discard the year that just past. You have done a million wonderful things; take credit for a few and use the momentum of your path.
People like to use the phrase “Turn over a new leaf.” But you have a massive root network that deserves your respect.
Some examples:
“Continue habit of reading each night before bed.”
“Deepen my relationship with my parents.”

6) Make sure it feels good!
If a goal makes you feel bad, it will not create good results. More importantly, in terms of time spent, the path is 99.9%. Arrival at the destination is a fleeting moment. The way you feel while you are on the path is EVERYTHING.

As Abraham (Esther & Jerry Hicks) said, “The main event has never been the manifestation, the main event has always been the way you feel, moment by moment, because that’s what life is.”

If “Get fit for swimsuit season” makes you feel bad, try, “Feel good about my body at a pool party.” Or “Feel my body getting stronger.”

7) Allow the goals to contain magic beyond your control.
Some of the biggest accomplishments in the next year could be the result of serendipitous events beyond your will. Feel free to include things that you can’t actually make happen. Like, “Discover new hobby I become passionate about.”
This is helpful if there is a goal you find daunting.
For example if, “I have submitted my manuscript to 5 publishers” gives you a panic attack, try, “I have met several people who love my ideas and are helping me submit my manuscript.”

8 ) Align it with your higher self.
If your goals are in alignment with divine ideals, then you have the momentum of the Universe on your side.
“Get thin,” is ego driven. But “Increase my body’s health” is in service to the larger forces of thriving, nature & the cosmos.
If you can’t find a way to make the goal in alignment with higher ideals, drop it. And make room for goals that define you as a vessel of love and compassion.

9) Let go of attachments.

Set goals, then let go of your attachment to them.
Goals are just an excuse to get into motion. We use our best judgment and the above ideas to craft good goals, but we need to recognize that our perception is imperfect.
If you have an intention to get a job teaching, but once you start taking classes, discover that there is a more exciting opportunity, don’t be afraid to change direction to get in more direct alignment with your Flow.
Maybe you were confused about the intention of a goal, or maybe you were inspired towards a goal simply to get you to start down an unexpected path.
It could be a way for your higher self to trick you into going down a path you lacked clarity on before.
Remember when the Oracle told Neo he was not the One? He stopped trying to be the One, and so was able to act in intergirty and step into his role from heart, not mind.

Bottom line: Goals are enhancements, not fixes. Everything is perfect as is.
Resist the temptation to beat yourself up.
You are always mid-way on the path. The key is to celebrate the direction you are in and take tiny steps towards re-alignment with your truth.
Let the vision of your goals be an enticing treat with a gravitational pull that lures you towards it.
Make sure it feels good.
A joyful Now is the best map to a Joyful tomorrow.
As Abraham says, “You cannot have a happy ending to an unhappy journey.”

May you continue to spread your light and recognize the gift you are to the world. Thank you for being YOU.
Happy New Year!

Namaste.
-John
Dec. 27. 2011

This topic was discussed during the Hug Nation brodacats on Dec. 27. 2011.

Silly video I made from Anybeat press clips.

Lots of great family & nephew time.

FULL SET

Technology gives us so much. But what does it take away? (Inspired by Turkish memories.)

Turkish Mountaintop Story (April 2010) re-shared at the end of the broadcast.

Hug Nation broadcast about “Why Pink?”

And a blog entry about the same thing:

Taken in 2000. Featured in "The People of Burning Man" book http://thepeopleofburningman.com

“Why pink?”

It is the question I get asked most often, after, “What are you doing in the women’s bathroom?”

I first embraced pink as an intentional confrontation of male stereotypes. It was an anti-macho statement to reject defined gender roles. It was an attempt to chip away at the ridiculous notion that you can judge a book by its cover.

It began with pink clothing at Burning Man, but seeped into my default world, and eventually the color of my hair. I’ve been some degree of flamboyantly pink for over 10 years.

Pink at SXSW 1999

Because of the pink, I also get asked alot, “are you gay?”
I have a few ways I like to respond, but none give a straight answer. (pun intended.)

If it is an honest question, I usually say, “I don’t like to box myself into a category of straight or gay or bisexual. I’m just ‘sexy to the core.’ And I’ll sleep with whomever I feel a connection with.”

The reality is that 99% of the time it is women who give my shivers and tickle my insides. But politically, I’m bisexual.

When someone asks in a more attacking way, I say, “I’m very flattered, but I’m not available right now. I’m in a wonderful relationship. And unless we’re potentially going to hook-up, I can’t see how my sexuality is relevant.”

When the attacks are meaner, I have to bit my tongue and not share the sexual escapades that this “faggot” has been privileged enough to experience… in many ways *because* of his comfort with his feminine side. I just practice being defenseless.

Pink has been good to me.

I can still remember the fear I had when I was a kid. The thought of being called “gay” was terrifying. I would have said anything, worn anything, and acted in any way to make certain that my sexuality wasn’t questioned.

Shazbot!

It is for this reason that I avoid answering “Are you gay?” with the quick dismissive, “no way!” that I practiced as a child. Nobody should feel like answering an honest question about who they are is a admission of something negative. There should be no “right” answer to that question.

Who could possibly think this stud was gay?

Through the years, pink took on much more meaning for me. Pink has all the love and affection connotations of red, with none of the aggression. This makes it a perfect color to represent hugs, and so it became the theme color of Hug Nation.

During a talk about Pink with my grandpa one day, I also realized another unifying aspect of this color: We are all pink on the inside.

Just this week I learned a NEW reason to love pink. I was shown this cool little video explaining that there is actually no such thing as pink light. It is a combination of a little red and a little blue. The color spectrum ends on one end at infa-red and the other at ultra-violet. The place where pink might go is actually the band between the colors that contain ALL the other waves of the universe: Gamma waves, microwaves, etc.

So all this time pink has also been representative of all things unseeable in the universe. Wow.

Having pink hair had another unplanned effect: It became a moat. Without speaking my appearance would instantly repel or attract people. I wasted no time with people who were close-minded or uninterested in connecting with someone outside-the-box. At the time it drew people in that were bolder or different.

It instantly labeled me as someone without a traditional job or mainstream values. It became a filter – or walking ice breaker.

(You can find Splat! in Walgreens & Walmart)

People sometimes think the pink hair is evidence of my social nature, but often the opposite is true. I use it as a crutch to hide my shyness. It protects me from having to approach people, and shelters me from rejection. By the time you have crossed my pink moat, I usually know that you are outgoing and accepting.

The last 2 years I have shaved my head and gone brown (my natural color) for several months. The experiences have been powerful. The switch has allowed me to step back into using the color as a tool instead of a crutch. A cape instead of a mask.

during a pink-break

And as festival season has now finished, I’m ready to be brunette again.

This time I have a new reason for shedding the moat. I want to connect more. I want to be the change I want to see in the world in a more personal way.
I want to look more people in the eyes more. I want to smile at more strangers. I want to be a stronger force of love in the world in my day to day life and my interactions with fellow human beings.

I set out on this task and realized that I felt a bit confrontational at times. Perhaps having a pink mohawk is not the best uniform for this task. Not everyone wants to make eye contact with someone who has intentionally cultivated an “outsider” appearance.

Perhaps it is time to look more “monk” than “punk.”

taken during a pink break in 2009

I have some fear about loosing my plumage. I like feeling different. I like making a statement before I say a word.

But hopefully I’ll make a statement now with my loving eyes and friendly smile.

I’m sure I’ll be pink again in the future. But occasionally you have to turn off the porch light so that you – and others – can see the stars.

-Halcyon
Oct 25, 2011

taken Jan 2010

What is god? Who are we? And what is the experience of life? All filtered through Alan Watts, Joseph Campbell, Seth, Emmanuelle, Abraham, Emmanuelle, Bashar…and little ol’ me.

Discussion on Anybeat

Testing RSS for itunes page: http://itunes.apple.com/gb/podcast/lifestudent/id471963863

I am heading to the Occupy San Diego march tomorrow.
I was asked by some people, “Why?”

I am not naive enough to think life is fair and I am not smart enough to understand politics. I recognize that there is no simple solution you can write on a sign. But even if it will never change, I still think it is good to discuss these ideas and question “the way things are.” I vote joyfully. I donate money happily. And now I will march with Love.

I have made some good decisions. And I have worked hard. But I have also been blessed. I spent some time reading through the posts on this site: wearethe99percent.tumblr.com and tried to put myself in some of the tighter fitting shoes. They may not all understand wall street. But their frustration is real…and justified.

The irony is that I don’t really believe in protests. Or that any meaningful change happens by trying to change the exterior world. But I do believe that many people coming together can help change each other. (And then the world will reflect that change.)

Besides, I know my grandpa would be there.

p.s. I have been engaged in conversations about #Occupy on Anybeat. I invite you to join me there.

For our new community, we are encouraging people to do a heartfelt intro – modeled after the way our Burning Man camp does it. Answer WHO you are, not just WHAT you do. Here is what I posted.

My name is Halcyon.
I used to want to be famous. Now I want to spread Love.
More and more my life has become about being of service. This is a much more complicated path than simply working at a soup kitchen. To me, it means putting my talents and energy to promote ideals and values greater than myself. For me, those values are Love, Connection, & Harmony.

I believe the world is perfect and our path is less about achievement, and more about appreciation & gratitude. “Float more, steer less.”

I have been going to Burning Man for 14 years and it plays a huge part in my life.
I’ve hosted a weekly online video show about Love for 10 years. For 3 of those years, I co-hosted with my retired minister grandfather. That chapter with him was also hugely influential on me.

I’ve worked for the last 15 years on the Internet – using my passion for digital intimacy to start small companies and consult for massive ones.

I took depression medication for over 10 years, but finally got off it 2 years ago. I’m now happier than I’ve ever been. I attribute my change in brain chemistry to a spiritual practice of positive thinking and refocussing towards service. So much of what is important to me is hard to express in words – but that doesn’t stop me from talking about it ALOT. Be wary about giving me a microphone. (Me spewing my views on the universe: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E1SRXbJJJj4)

I believe that being vulnerable and supporting others as they do the same is supremely important. I believe there is nothing more beautiful than our raw, honest selves. I believe this community can be an important tool for self-growth and global healing.

I know this adventure will be amazing…and I’m honored to share it with you.

More thoughts when the dust settles…

Want to understand why I am so proud to work with Dmitry Shapiro? Read the first comment thread.

I’ve known Dmitry for over 10 years. I knew him as he walked the entrepreneur path of “success.” And I know the person that has emerged from a cocoon as a different being. Still a genius. Still with the same near-mystical ability to forecast trends and motivate teams. Still with all the skills & brains. But connected to the Universe in a profound way.

I’m honored to be a colleague & friend.

Sign on my childhood church:

notice in the local paper:

my talk:

Talking to my childhood church on June 25, 2011. (My “first sermon” said someone in attendance.)

More on Pronoia, see Rob Brezneys’ (freewillastrology.com). Huge thanks to Grandpa (GrandpaCaleb.com) & Jacob (JacobGlass.com) who inspired big parts of the talk.

“Leave No Trace” is one of the 10 Principles of Burning Man. It seems pretty simple. But the LNT mentality can be a significant jump in consciousness for people ingrained with a consumer mindset. In this video I discuss “Leave No Trace” in the wake of my experience at Lightning In a Bottle and ponder the spiritual implications of the practice. We gotta do pour part AND educate those around us. Thankfully, the payoff is spectacular!

(This is more of a “Philosophical” tip. For more on the “How” of Leaving No Trace, consult BurningMan.com & The Survival Guide.)

**NOTE: I AM NOT AN OFFICIAL REPRESENTATIVE OF BURNING MAN. I am merely a 13-year Participant with a passion for the event, people, and principles of Burning Man. Views expressed aren’t necessarily those of the Burning Man organization.” **

Here’s an example of a newsletter I used to write for ******** Affiliate Program.

I was in a bathhouse yesterday when American Idol finalist Bo Bice sat down next to me and started massaging my neck.
He quietly started singing an unfamiliar song in my ear…
“When it comes to booze, we all love tonic and gin 
And when it comes to payouts, we all love the new Win-Win
But I’ll tell you pink haired fellow, the pop-ups have taken their toll… 
When will ***********launch WIN WIN No Console????”
I spun around, told him he wasn’t my type, and then sang back in my best Bruce Dickinson voice,
“We’re Rocking the Win-Win Classic… 
We’re Rocking the Win Win Classic…
$50 per conversion, $5 per failed conversion, Yeah! 
And No Consoles, baby..No Consoles Baby, No Consoles, Yeahhhhhh
Just Tons of Cash as we rock the Win Win Classic!”
Okay, truth be told, * most* of that story is made up.
I’ve never met Bo Bice.
But ************did* just launch a no-console version of the Win-Win payout.
And yes, I *am* rocking the Win-Win Classic.
*cue guitar solo*
Now, what’s new in ***********land…

A crew from the “Blast” Girls Soccer Team joined us this month!

I’ve got a new gig.
Co-founded a new company, actually.

It’s called, “Altly” and it has the modest aim of providing an alternative to Facebook.

The CEO and visionary of Altly is my best friend and frequent collaborator, Dmitry Shapiro.
We met at CollegeClub.com over 10 years ago. Back then we helped build a 4 million member social network for college kids. Basically it was Facebook, but WAY too early.
We’ve both spent the last 10 years pushing the digital envelope in different directions – exploring the potential of the web.
In some ways, the social network-connected world of today is the realization of a dream we’ve been brainstorming for a decade. But the current system misses the mark in many critical ways.
It is too early for me to talk about details. But I promise it will be awesome.
Stay tuned…
(& get notified of launch: http://www.Altly.com/)

-Halcyon
Chief Morality Officer, Altly, Inc.

I was called “Hippie” last week a couple times as a derogatory term. It is too bad that it has become an insult, since the definition seems to fit me pretty well.

“Both the words “hip” and “hep” came from Black culture and denote awareness. To say “I’m hip to the situation” means “I am aware of the situation.” Thus the word “hippie” means “one who is aware,” and expanded awareness was a goal of the movement. Some created their own social groups and communities, listened to psychedelic rock, opposed War, embraced the sexual revolution, and used drugs such as marijuana, LSD and magic mushrooms to explore alternative states of consciousness.”

A short THANK YOU video regarding 1 million views on http://www.youtube.com/user/halcyonstyn

Music Video showing the fun Venice Beach Flow Temple vibe: