Paddy Crean - International Order of the Sword & Pen

May 17, 2019

In December I attended the Paddy Crean workshop in beautiful Banff, Canada. What a glorious experience to train and learn in the mountains of this beautiful town as I grapple with the death of my father. I even taught my first rope dart class!

It was a phenomenal & edifying reprieve to the loss that continues to weigh on my heart.

*Highly recommend. Two thumbs up. Do it.

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Paddy Crean Workshop

Ally Resources

I like to get my hands dirty

I'm an actress by trade but a curious human being at heart - so, I dabble. I dabble in anything interesting - which is relative, I know, but it keeps me out of the house learning new things. From stunt work to photography, & from martial arts to mentorship to tv appearances. I track the discoveries of my Life's Journey here!

Day 6 Every day, I will select an image from a day in the life of my career as a Performer/Artist - photos will be from a day in which I felt fierce or was particularly memorable for me on stage, on screen, or in performance. I will post it without a single explanation, then nominate someone else to join me in this challenge. That’s 10 days, 10 Performance photos, 10 nominations and 0 explanations. Be active, be positive, be passionate... Raise Awareness, & most of all, support the Arts. Today I nominate @chrischalk

Day 5 Every day, I will select an image from a day in the life of my career as a Performer/Artist - photos will be from a day in which I felt fierce or was particularly memorable for me on stage, on screen, or in performance. I will post it without a single explanation, then nominate someone else to join me in this challenge. That’s 10 days, 10 Performance photos, 10 nominations and 0 explanations. Be active, be positive, be passionate... Raise Awareness, & most of all, support the Arts. Today I nominate @dreswain

Day 4 Every day, I will select an image from a day in the life of my career as a Performer/Artist - photos will be from a day in which I felt fierce or was particularly memorable for me on stage, on screen, or in performance. I will post it without a single explanation, then nominate someone else to join me in this challenge. That’s 10 days, 10 Performance photos, 10 nominations and 0 explanations. Be active, be positive, be passionate... Raise Awareness, & most of all, support the Arts. Today I nominate @balemonjr

Day 3 Every day, I will select an image+ from a day in the life of my career as a Performer/Artist - photos will be from a day in which I felt fierce or was particularly memorable for me on stage, on screen, or in performance. I will post it without a single explanation, then nominate someone else to join me in this challenge. That’s 10 days, 10 Performance photos, 10 nominations and 0 explanations. Be active, be positive, be passionate... Raise Awareness, & most of all, support the Arts. Today I nominate @nataschahopkins

Day 2 Every day, I will select an image (or a few) from a day in the life of my career as a Performer/Artist - photos will be from an occasion in which I felt fierce or was particularly memorable for me on stage, on screen, or in performance. I will attempt to post it without a single explanation, then nominate someone else to join me in this challenge. That’s 10 days, 10 Performance photos, 10 nominations and 0 explanations. Be active, be positive, be passionate... Raise Awareness, & most of all, support the Arts. Today I nominate @dantebasco

With nominations from both @angelameryl & @ericalaurenortiz this is my first post of the 10-day Performer/Artist Challenge. I figured my birthday was an excellent occasion to participate in this retrospective. 😏 - - - Day 1 Every day, I will select an image from a day in the life of my career as a Performer/Artist - photos will be from a day in which I felt fierce or was particularly memorable for me on stage, on screen, or in performance. I will post it without a single explanation, then nominate someone else to join me in this challenge. That’s 10 days, 10 Performance photos, 10 nominations and 0 explanations. Be active, be positive, be passionate... Raise Awareness, & most of all, support the Arts. Today I nominate @ladybrettashley

Atlanta; P.S. I Love You! -a video series in 5 acts- 1. Set Life 2. Family Life -Part 1-Retirement Fete 3. Family Life -Part 2-Thanksgiving 4. A Gauntlet of Incorrigible Selfies 5. A Lofty Farewell. There are people who I spent a considerable amount of time with that never made it into my photo library. I’m still so enamored with you in my life. To everyone, thank you for making this east coast journey an indelible pleasure. ‘Twas truly rewarding! I learned a lot.

I found a way to spark the hearth fire of my soul again. I plan to stoke the flames indefinitely, as I illuminate the rooms within the head maze of my memories. Now, wherever you are - be it among the stars, in my dreams, from the 9th dimension, or simply residing within my genome - I know that you see my flame. I am, I remain, & will burn ever brighter with this incredible life that you gave me. LOVE. May fear be damned. LOVE!

The Temple of Direction I made a pilgrimage to Black Rock City with the expressed intent to make my parents sacred. With their gift of Life I’ve chosen to imbue mine with every novel experience I can manifest. So, I found myself in The Temple of Direction. On a blazing hot day I sojourned into the dust with my totems, their ashes, & proof of their existence. Below an incomplete painting of a young woman indisputably declaring “I was here” I built an alter in honor of my creators. I held their belongings, read aloud their words, & thanked the earth for welcoming them back home. I cried for what will never be while simultaneously praising what was. I said farewell to my parents, I honored my grandmothers, & transformed my soul in the Temple of Direction as I donned an embroidered African dress that was my mother’s. I chose to leave renewed. Remaining Alexandria; ever Marshall & wholly Brown. The following night, I joined thousands all sitting in reverent silence as the building burned. All through the week many came & left their remembrances of loved ones now gone. As the wood charred & the smoke rose, we all saw our prayers & well wishes lifted to the heavens. We then howled our lamentations to the moon, keening & embracing the transformation we were experiencing in our hearts. As the building crackled in the crisp evening air, tornados would walk out of the flames dancing into tall lithe spires. From the fallen wooden structure, burning embers would descend from the sky like mystical snowflaked stars. We marveled at this event, our faces hot from the flames yet still wet with our tears, & we knew that our lost loved ones chose to answer our offerings with Beauty. It is in this way that I knew I was blessed, as I honored my sacred parents. - “The Temple of Direction” by Geordie Van Der Bosch is inspired by the torii gates at Fushimi Inari Shrine in Japan. ⛩ The Temple forms a physical and metaphorical passage reflecting the transmutation of life from beginning, middle, & end. #TempleofDirection #GeordieVanDerBosch #burningman #burningman2019 #sacred #parents #raymond #victoria #cynthia #maelois #emmuel #me #progeny #legacy 📸 @jamenpercy

My first Burning Man. This place is the greatest & purest example of humanity’s ability to build Glory from the dust. It is like nothing I’ve ever experienced. 1. The desert will kill you - if you let it. So, dress for the occasion. Hydrate. 2/6. The Flowmies in @campkinetic gave me so much to be grateful for. 3-5. Discovering the art installations & architectural structures of the playa is the most creative & enriching game of hide and seek. #maripositabm19 by @chriscarnabuci #firekethedral by @rearedinsteel #thephoenixandthebutterfly by @swigmiller 7. Yes, there was a Thunder Dome. No, I did not compete. 8. My fave art car was a gesticulating fire blowing metal octopus bumping the sickest beats. #elpulpomechanico. Nuff said. 9. The Man burns. The Man unites. The Man personifies. 10. Black Rock City, looking like a solar system in the night. 📸 @mr_nightshade @jamenpercy @curiousjosh

I had a stellar time reliving high school in this dystopian madmaxian coming of age story. Who knew I’d be evading a cadre of ravenous Santas? Watch Daybreak! Now on Netflix.

An article from @orangecoastmag : Actress Alex Marshall-Brown originated the role of Vi Moradi, one of the main characters at Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge! 🌌✨⠀ ⠀ “It’s been fascinating to see people’s posts on social media about how she’s made their day or drawn them into the story. It’s great to see people’s imaginations run away with them. I saw a post where someone made their own Vi Lego figure! The fact that little girls who look like her can see themselves in Vi and be part of that world is amazing.”⠀ ⠀ Head to their homepage (link in bio) for more from our Q&A! 📸 @selashiloni

Eddie Murphy stars in Dolemite Is My Name & you can catch him & half of black Hollywood on Netflix on Oct 25. BIG thanks to @1williamwashington & @stuntterrence for bringing me in & giving me the chance to deck @iamtherealrichie with a kick to the chest. I had a blast working with so many talented friends. It really is a unique experience to bond, joke, & work in an environment among so many people who look like you.

On the road again, doing big things in far off places.

August was a whirlwind of activity & adventure. September introduced new life experiences. I’ve been super busy since the summer and there’s so much to share with you all. But before I get into all that, care to guess where I am?

Happy Born Day, Pop! You live on in so many ways. ✨

Vi Moradi is the droid alkaloid, la persistance de la Resistance, the never-quitter-knitter! Learn more about General Leia Organa's 'Magpie', the Starling at the edge of the galaxy. Get a few more insights into this compassionate survivor who is sharp as a tack and infinitely resourceful and cunning. Art by #genevabowers

Happy Born Day, Ma. ¡Viva Victoria!

@Batuu_R3X has gone nova as The Cantina’s resident DJ!! Get out the house & support your friendsss!!!