Stephanie Sorrell, author of Depression: Understanding the Black Dog

Stephanie was born in London and lived most of her life in the United Kingdom. When she was twelve she went to a Boarding School near Oxford where she stayed for four years. This was followed by nursing careers, one in orthopedics and the other working with people with learning difficulties in North Wales. But both these career directions were curtailed by major depressive illness. While living with her husband for sixteen years, she wrote for the romance market in the UK. However, Stephanie’s first love is poetry, many of which have been and still are published in gift books worldwide. She also contributed to Blue Mountain Arts cards in the USA.

In her mid thirties she was offered the editorship for a spiritually orientated publishing trust based on the pioneering work of Henry Thomas Hamblin, a retired Harley Street Optician who, after the sudden death of his ten year old son, left his successful practice in London to concentrate on changing people’s inner vision through positive thinking. In 1921, This was quite a radical philosophy at the time and his work inspired the American Ernest Holmes to founding Science of Mind journal in the States and which is still running today. He also worked closely with Joel Goldsmith, also an American, who became a close confidant and friend and founded the Infinite Way Movement.

While Stephanie was working as editor, she began her MA in Psychosynthesis Psychology at the London Institute for Psychosynthesis. She believed that with enough psychological and spiritual insight she would overcome her depression and help others to do the same. But this wasn’t the case, and it was through trial and error that she found, rather than overcoming depression, by drugs, psychology or psychotherapy, it actually was her journey. This became the subject of Stephanie’s thesis, The Light in the Darkness. Later, she expanded and modified this to become a book called Depression as a Spiritual Journey( O book 2009). This opened the door to leading workshops in both the UK and in Houston, Texas. She found this very humbling and a key part of her understanding of how other people coped with depression. She also wrote a Psychosynthesis Made Easy book (Psyche Books 2012) as she felt it needed to be more widely available.

Depression : Understanding the Black Dog emerged from all Stephanie’s experience and research. Because understanding how depression occurs and the various levels it manifests on is key to working with this incredibly misunderstood dis-ease of being.

Stephanie currently lives against a stunning backdrop of mountains with her partner and whippet, Oliver. She also works at a local hospital as a Clinical Support Worker.

Nicki Jack Music in conjunction with Full Circle Venice Presents

Rising Appalachia

With Masters of Ceremonies Filippo Voltaggio and Mark Laisure of The LIFE CHANGES Show.

A night of a vibrant group of friends, music, stories, and spirit… part listening party, part dance-off, part variety show, and all entertainment!

Featuring Rising Appalachia with opening performances by Josh Royse, Mustafa’s Word, Mystic Pete’s Cello, and late night dance party Imagika Om.

PERFORMERS:

Rising Appalachia – Hailing from New Orleans, sisters Leah and Chloe of Rising Appalachia Music bring their merry band of music makers to Los Angeles, including poetic harmonies, soul singing, banjos, fiddles, drums, kalimbas, washboard rants, groove, and community-building through SOUND.  ”The sibling harmonies are almost too beautiful to bear. Then, you’ve got banjo, acoustic guitar, upright bass, hand percussion, maybe some beatboxing. It’s a deep contemporary groove  pancultural, Modern Primitive, festival-friendly  closer to Afro-Cuban and hip-hop than Woody Guthrie, but of course Rising Appalachia’s hellbent on killing fascists, too.” MUST SEE NEW SCHOOLERS – SFWEEKLY 9/30

Josh Royse – marries bright indie folk rock and bluesy electric guitar with uplifting vocals. Josh’s lyrical talent is at once compelling, arresting, and groundbreaking.  The music of Josh Royse marries bright indie folk rock and bluesy electric guitar with uplifting vocals. Josh’s lyrical talent is at once compelling, arresting, and groundbreaking. Catch Josh’s performance of song’s from the new EP dropping Oct 9th. Catch a special performance of “Working Man” featuring Lacy Roskvak.

Imagika Om – is a sonic alchemist & electronic artist for more than a decade. Whether she is creating tracks full of earthy beats & cosmic layers sparking ancient remembrances, or live remixing & spontaneously activating the space with her potent blend of exotic world-fusion rhythms, deep dakini devotional dub, & resonant kundalini-raising bass, Imagika creates the innovative & unique sound that she is known for, OMstep! Her acclaimed album, Cosmic Sutras was released by Merkaba Music this year.

Mystic Pete – is an author, radio host, cellist, music and video producer, spiritual teacher, aphorist, and father of two. He has taught and organized events internationally connecting spirituality and the arts (music, dance, storytelling, and writing). He hosts a popular radio show, “In A Dream,” one of the only broadcast shows on the West Coast featuring the DJ community, on KXLU, 88.9 fm, Los Angeles, Saturday nights at midnight PT. Along with his music and videos a free download of Mystic Pete’s humorous book “Mystic Pete Chronicles – Book 1: Sex & Mysticism” is available on his website. 

Mustafa “Effortless” Shakir – Poet, Musician, Actor.  Poetry came naturally to Mustafa who has used the written word to process his emotional impressions growing up. I’ve been writing since I can remember being able to hold a pen, my mother was always writing something so I guess I took suite.” Poetry led to rapping and three albums to date HolyWar, Chameleon, and DIEMIND: god the carbon copy; plus partnership with Candice Anitra and the Love Machine project. (new ep released 11/14) Currently his writing’s taken the shape of a one-man experience called, “XII: SpokenYouniverse;” a multi-character spoken word journey through consciousness, which is being produced by Russell Simmons for All Def Digital’s poetry Vertical.

Shylah Ray Sushine – originally from Canada, is an Ojai-based singer/songwriter and musician, merging the balance of music and mothering together in a fusion of love for life. She began singing as a form of therapy from a young age and is self taught both vocally and on piano, bringing to life the sounds of a young woman’s journey of strength in healing. Her angelic voice and uplifting songs are medicine for the soul, bringing a new genre of music to the stage with deeply rooted feminine wisdom and power. Shylah will be performing alongside India Arie and Common in early 2015, also releasing her long-awaited debut album.

Elise Woodward was a three sport athlete at North Eugene High School in Eugene, Oregon.  She earned all-state honors as a goalie in soccer, a guard in basketball, and a shortstop in fastpitch.  She was nationally recruited, and has lived in Seattle ever since the University of Washington offered her a full-ride scholarship to play basketball.  

Woodward was team captain as a Senior.  One of her biggest thrills on the court, was playing in the NCAA Tournament.  In her Sophomore year, she helped the Lady Huskies make it to the Sweet 16.  

After college, Woodward went to work at FOX Sports Net in Seattle.  She was a reporter covering the Seahawks, Mariners, and Huskies.  She left FSN to work as the Seattle Supersonics courtside reporter, and to join the Seattle Storm radio broadcast team as an analyst.  Woodward was on the call in 2004 when the Storm won the WNBA Championship.  

From 2002-2014 Woodward was a sports talk host at Sports Radio 950 KJR in Seattle.

Woodward currently is the Sideline Reporter for Husky football broadcasts, and an analyst for Lady Husky baskteball. 

Robert McDowell is a poet, performer, social activist for the advancement of women and women’s rights, storyteller, public speaker, educator, editor, and author of 16 books, including Poetry as Spiritual Practice (Free Press/Simon and Schuster). His most recent book, The World Next to This One (poetry), was published in 2014 by Salmon Press, Ireland.



He is also the coauthor of two volumes of literary theory, co-translator of a collection of stories by Ota Pavel in the Eastern European Penguin Classics Series, and editor of three anthologies.



McDowell’s poems, stories, nonfiction, blog content, essays, and reviews have appeared in hundreds of anthologies and periodicals around the world, including Best American Poetry, Poetry, The New Criterion, London Magazine, Sewanee Review, Poets & Writers, and The Hudson Review.



McDowell cofounded (with Lysa McDowell and Mark Jarman) and served as publisher of Story Line Press for 22 years, and he coedited (with Mark Jarman) The Reaper magazine for a decade.



Over the course of his career, he has selected and guided into print more than 300 books by Pulitzer Prize winners, A Nobel Laureate, five U.S. Poet Laureates, and intermediate and beginning writers. As a lifelong mentor of emerging poets and writers, McDowell especially champions women in print, literacy, and women’s rights.



A two-year Woolrich Fellow at Columbia University, Walter E. Dakin Fellow at the Sewanee Writers’ Conference, and finalist for the Oregon Book Award, McDowell co-created The Poets’ Prize and the Rural Readers Project.



McDowell has taught in Bennington College’s MFA program, which he collaborated on the creation of; the University of Southern Indiana; UC Santa Cruz; and writers’ conferences such as the Taos Writers’ Conference and Donegal Festival.



He has led retreats and workshops at Esalen, Kripalu, Pine Manor Retreat Center, Sewanee Writers Conference, Mendocino Coast Writers Conference, West Chester Conference on Form and Narrative, Killybegs Festival in Ireland, and California Poets-in-the-Schools.



A dynamic keynote speaker and workshop leader, McDowell delivers talks on topics ranging from the hero’s journey to the spirit horse to neurotheology to career transformation. He has addressed many interfaith communities, and he recently performed with Dr. Rama Mani at the library of the United Nations in Geneva, Swtizerland.

Rupert is a South African based in the city of Polokwane, and has had a keen interest in nature in general from childhood, inspired by his father. He started focussing on arachnology (specifically spiders) in his teens, which has become his hobby. He studied tour guiding, becoming a guide and tour planner in the late '90s and has been active ever since, planning tours with an emphasis on a balanced experience between both iconic South African experiences and the awesome nature this country has to offer. He is also a self taught pianist; part of a duo, performing on a semi-professional basis.

BIO:  FRANK FITZPATRICK

Frank Fitzpatrick has proven himself to be a creative visionary and committed advocate for transforming the human spirit through music and film. As a multi­-platinum selling record producer, Grammy-­nominated songwriter, social entrepreneur and award-­winning filmmaker, he has created the soundtracks for over two-­dozen films, produced countless programs and sold over six million albums. At the heart of his work is the mastery of creativity and maximizing engagement through the technologies of emotion.

A delegate to the Skoll World Forum on Social Entrepreneurship and columnist for the Huffington Post, Fitzpatrick believes it is essential to build a bridge between the worlds of technology, media, and the arts to address humanity’s grand challenges, especially in the areas of education, health and cultural diplomacy. He has presented numerous talks and programs, including keynotes at TEDxSDSU, Singularity University, Shanghai Film Academy, Berlin Film Festival, SXSWedu and TEDxFIAP in Sao Paulo, Brazil. Fitzpatrick was recently honored as a 2013 Ciudad de las Ideas Gifted Citizen for creating the WHY Music Initiative.

As Founder and Director of the non-profit EarthTones, Fitzpatrick focuses on creating programs that make a positive contribution to our world. His experience across the business, social and entertainment sectors allows him to provide organizations with creative solutions and integrated strategies for impacting large audiences. Current EarthTones projects include Amazing – a film partnership between the NBA and Shanghai Film Group with an audience of over 50 million people across China, and WHY Music – a multi-platform social venture designed to help people more effectively harness the power of music to improve learning, creativity and well-being.

In addition to his work with Hollywood successes such as Friday, Jump In!, The Larry Sanders Show, Pirates of Silicon Valley and the billion-­dollar Scary Movie franchise, Detroit-­born Fitzpatrick has worked extensively in the nonprofit sector and healing arts. His work with musical pioneers like Miles Davis, Herbie Hancock, K’Naan and Ziggy Marley, as well as other global thought leaders, has further strengthened his commitment to using music and creativity as catalysts for cultivating higher levels of intelligence, adaptability and compassion in the world.

Mustafa “Effortless” Shakir

Spoken Word Poet, Artist, Singer, Songwriter.

Mustafa “Effortless” Shakir says that the term “renaissance man” is passé and that we should all refer to him as a “polymath,” the consummate hyphenate artist extraordinaire. Raised in Harlem during the 80’s and 90’s, he found himself drawn to the many art forms around him, pooling inspiration from hip hop, dance, culture, film, photography, fashion, philosophy etc. “I’ve been writing since I can remember being able to hold a pen, my mother was always writing something so I guess I took suite.” Poetry came naturally to Mustafa who has used the written word to process his emotional impressions growing up. Poetry led to rapping and three albums to date HolyWar, Chameleon, and DIEMIND: god the carbon copy; plus partnership with Candice Anitra and the Love Machine project. (new ep released 11/14)

Mustafa’s written work also includes narrative script writing, he’s written, directed, and starred in a sitcom pilot presentation called, “HollyWeird Fitness” as well as a short film entitled, “Untitled Symphony” that has won some accolades on the festival circuit. Currently his writing’s taken the shape of a one-man experience called, “XII: SpokenYouniverse;” a multi-character spoken word journey through consciousness, which is being produced by Russell Simmons for All Def Digital’s poetry Vertical.

Mustafa has been popping up here and there on the big and small screen, with “Record/Play” which was shortlisted for the Oscars in 2013 but most recently on NCIS: Los Angeles, Shameless, and slated to shoot in November a HBO mini series titled, “Crime” helmed by John Turturro.

What is closet to his heart is The Love Mob, an organization he founded with two other lights, whose goal is the reconnect 3.7 billions people to the power of love and community through Organized Acts of Love. Founded in 2012 TLM has been involved in initiatives ranging from flash mobs for a purpose to campaign support for Marianne Williamson’s bid for congress. “We are the ones we’ve been waiting for.”

An album, a sitcom, a web-series, an organization dedicated to spreading love, a short in pre-production, and a touring one man show he is certainly living up to his name “Effortless” and his claim. “….with God anything is possible.”

Jon Rappoport has worked as a free-lance investigative reporter for over 35 years and most recently his blog at: https://nomorefakenews.com has been fundamental in bringing sanity to the Coronavirus fear mongering.  

He is the author of three explosive collections, http://marketplace.mybigcommerce.com/the-matrix-revealed/, EXIT FROM THE MATRIX, and POWER OUTSIDE THE MATRIX.

He has written articles on politics, health, media, culture and art for LA Weekly, Spin Magazine, Stern, Village Voice, Nexus, CBS Healthwatch, and other newspapers and magazines in the US and Europe.

In 1982, the LA Weekly submitted his name for a Pulitzer prize, for his interview with the president of El Salvador University, where the military had taken over the campus.

Jon has hosted, produced, and written radio programs and segments in Los Angeles and Las Vegas (KPFK, KLAV). He has appeared as a guest on over 200 radio and television programs, including ABC's Nightline, Tony Brown's Journal (PBS), and Hard Copy.

In 1994, Jon ran for a seat in the US Congress from the 29th district in Los Angeles.  After six months of campaigning, on a very small budget, he garnered 20 percent of the vote running against an incumbent who had occupied his seat for 20 years.

In 1996, Jon started The Great Boycott, against eight corporate chemical giants: Monsanto, Dow, Du Pont, Bayer, Hoechst, Rhone-Poulenc, Imperial Chemical Industries, and Ciba-Geigy.  The Boycott continues to operate today.

Jon has lectured extensively all over the US on the question: Who runs the world and what can we do about it?

Since 2000, Jon has operated largely away from the mainstream because, as he puts it, "My research was not friendly to the conventional media."

Over the last 30 years, Jon's independent research has encompassed such areas as: deep politics, conspiracies, alternative health, the potential of the human imagination, mind control, the medical cartel, symbology, and solutions to the takeover of the planet by hidden elites.

He maintains a consulting practice for private clients, the purpose of which is the expansion of personal creative power.

A painter, Jon's work has been shown in galleries in Los Angeles and New York. His poetry has been published by The Massachusetts Review.

He is a graduate of Amherst College (BA, Philosophy), and lives with his wife, Dr. Laura Thompson, in San Diego.