We have traveled
the earth on a noble quest seeking unusual beauty, wisdom and inspired crafts.
Who are we?
Aarondell Livingstone, our intrepid hunter and gatherer, is the stuff of
legend. He was born into great wealth and nobility, but his ancestral dynasty was
racked with scandal. One night the house went up in flames and an old gypsy woman
swaddled the innocent babe in tea leaves and ascended to the highlands of Ceylon. At
the age of seven, he wandered into the jungle and was raised to manhood by a herd of wild
elephants. He learned to hunt with leopards and swing with monkeys; he spoke their
language. Aarondell's first job was attending the sacred white elephant at the
Temple of Tooth in Kandy. There at age eighteen he had a fortuitous meeting with
adventurers Alexandra David-Neal, and her companion the beloved swami, Paramahansa
Yogananda, who sponsored his education and first expeditions. He is credited with
translating the Rosetta Stone. Whilst cataloging ritual paraphernalia in the burial
chambers of Machu Picchu he discovered a fortune in Inca gold. His explorations of
Timbuktu, Sierra Tarahumara, Tana Toraja, Lake Titicaca, Transylvania, Burma, Hunza, India
and Ethiopia are enjoyed by millions on television. Although Dr. Livingstone likes
nothing better than tending to his vegetable garden, he is arguably one of the pillars for
our planetary civilization. He lives on the other side of the looking glass.
Dudley Levenson, Director of Inspired Planet, has been traveling the earth for
thirty-five years, exploring indigenous cultures and researching classical traditions.
He is a photographer, lecturer, artist, travel consultant and incurable
collector of art and handcraft which is shown around America and especially
at his gallery in the Berkshire Mountains of Western Massachusetts for
the last 22 years.
Brian raising a victory flag for the Caravan of Colors
Aarondell surveying an old Burmese Monastery
Dudley putting finishing touches on the Sun Portal specially made for the Caravan of Colors. Symbols
include Platonic Solids and our new Earth Rising/Heaven’s Blessing insignia.
We were delighted by the recent comparison of Inspired Planet with one of the great European Cabinet of Curiosity collections by Mr. C.L. Dodge:
“The Pitt Rivers Museum in Oxford runs a close second to the Dudley Emporium of ecstatic experience”
OneEarth
Gallery: a browsable public service directory recognizing
progressive organizations and companies working to improve our culture and environment
through their resources and actions.
Macrobiotics.org:
On these pages you'll find a wealth of
information including case histories, articles,
recipes, and much more.
Cultural Survival: a non-profit organization founded in 1972 to defend the human rights and
cultural autonomy of indigenous peoples and oppressed ethnic minorities.
Nicholas Roerich Museum: a center for the exhibition of Himalayan paintings by mystic, Nicholas Roerich, and makes available many reproductions of his art and numerous books about his life and work. The Museum is also a cultural center, presenting a broad program of concerts and poetry readings.
Tantra: resource for Tantra, Sacred Sexuality, and the Kama Sutra on the Net.
Discover a whole new world of Ecstatic Sex and Sacred Relationship!
Native Web: resources for indigenous cultures around the world.
Institute of Noetic Sciences: For 25 years, the Institute of Noetic Sciences has been at the forefront
of research and education in consciousness and human potential. From the beginning we have
pursued this inquiry through rigorous science.
Burning Man: resource for the Burning Man event in the Nevada desert.
SoulTube Records: The Housatonic Railroad Station, home of SoulTube Records, not far from
Inspired Planet. This is where Robby hangs out with his friends recording and producing.
Come on in and see for yourself...
TheMouth.org:
complete and searchable resource
for environmental information (Earth,
Air, Water) done artistically and thematically using the latest java
and DHTML techniques.
Lonely Planet: publishes the world's best guidebooks for independent travelers. Our
books are known worldwide for reliable, insightful, pull-no-punches travel information,
maps, photos, and background historical and cultural information.
Nancy Forrester's Secret Garden: a magnificent
sanctuary in the center of the urban island, Key West, with lush, exotic palms and dozens
of tropical birds. This is where Inspired Planet has a show every two years.
Kripalu: the largest center for yoga and holistic health in the US, serving people
of all backgrounds for more than 20 years. Only seven minutes from Inspired Planet.
Afropop
is representative of the immense and
richly varied landscape of contemporary African music.
www.ciolek.com:
This site keeps track of leading information
facilities in the fields of Buddhism and Buddhist studies.
Cross
Cultural Solutions.org: is a nonprofit organization that
employs humanitarian volunteer action to empower local communities, foster cultural
sensitivity and understanding, and further social progress in India, Ghana, Peru, Kosovo
and through the women's cultural tour of India, "Saheli".
Parabola Magazine: an in-depth and enduring journal of the world's wisdom traditions. Join
us as we explore the sacred myths, symbols, rituals, and arts which have inspired people
in all times and places.
Essential
Information: a non-profit, tax-exempt organization
involved in a variety of projects to encourage citizens to become active and engaged in
their communities. They provide provocative information to the public on important topics
neglected by the mass media and policy makers
Arab.net: The most comprehensive online resource on Egypt and the Arab
world, primarily dealing with countries in the Middle East and North Africa.
Ultimate Descents International, adventure sport specialists, based in New
Zealand, offer an array of rafting adventures in Nepal. Check out their website
Rhythm is a world music magazine with lifestyle oriented coverage.
Published monthly, Rhythm is aimed at the growing segment of consumers that
are hip to the sounds & ideas of our changing global culture.
The Adventure Game Theatre (AGT) is an experience-based, personal growth
theater program that uses a unique combination of cooperative play and creative arts.
Institute of Transpersonal Psychology offer a unique oppertunity
for students to integrate mind, body, and spirit and to explore diverse cross-cultural modalities of learning, inquiry, and personal transformation.
Institute for Imago Relationship Therapy
is a resource to learn more about
Imago Relationship Therapy, the therapists who practice it, and how you may
benefit by it in your current relationship or in developing a new relationship.
The School of Energy Mastery
offers they opportunity for deep personal heeling and professional healer certification in a unique, spiritually
based program.
Phoenix Rising Yoga Therapy is a combination of classical Yoga and elements
of contemporary client-centered and body-mind psychology.
Touching Spirit Center
is an educational center in the science of energy medicine and the art of spiritual healing.
Vision Quest
assists individuals who seek to find their true nature in nature.
HubbleSite
is a web page with information and images from the Hubble Space Telescope.
Symbols.com
is the world's largest online encyclopedia of graphic symbols, ranging from ideograms carved in mammoth teeth by Cro-Magnon men, to hobo signs and subway graffiti.
Stevee.com
, The psychedelic cyberpod of visionary artist Stevee Postman.
Wisdom
informs, entertains and empowers by showcasing human values and the impact of the mind, body and spirit connection on individuals and the global community.
Caerdroia
is a site dedicated to the understanding and use of labyrinths in the classical and modern worlds.
World Government Institute
is presented as a Web Based Educational and
Informational Site dedicated to the concept of One World Government based
upon Human Rights and Peace for all of Humanity. You can also visit Garry Davis to find
out more about his campaign for "World President."
Whole Earth
is committed to a vision of what's needed to challenge
ingrained patterns and stale assumptions. Curiosity. Exploration.
Independence. Community. Living fearlessly. Principles. Tools and ideas
JobSube
Job Openings, Job Listings, Job Positions, Job in USA, India, UK FREE at JobSube.com -
Find Jobs and Search Resume, post resumes,
post jobs, apply Jobs, employment resources and career advice.
The Berkshire Museum,
recognized as one of the finest small Museums in the nation, is one of the few Museums where art,
history and the natural world are displayed in one place. "Wally" a 26-foot long, 10-foot high
stegosaurus welcomes visitors to the Museum.
Mass MoCA
is an extraordinary project to convert a 27-building historic mill complex in the
Berkshire mountains of Western Massachusetts into a multi-disciplinary center for
visual, performing and media arts.
ORION -
To heal the fractured relationship between people and nature by undertaking education programs
that integrate all aspects of the relationship: the physically immediate, the analytical
and scientific, the inspirational and creative.
Wise In Council presents
Northeast United States Workshops & Trainings in 2001 with African Healer and Shaman -- Malidoma Som้.
School of Wisdom Internet Classes.
Information and knowledge are easy to come by, too easy. Just run a search engine on anything and
you'll be over-whelmed. But how to make sense of it all? What does it really mean to you and your life?
Ah, that's the rub! That requires Wisdom.
Way of the Dreamer
-- Robert Moss. ACTIVE DREAMING is the bridge between dreamwork and shamanism. An original method
pioneered by Robert Moss, it provides powerful tools for understanding and exploring dreams, for
embarking on conscious dream journeys, and for bringing the energy and insight of dreams into waking life.
Science and Spirit Resources
Our vision, to restore life's balance, encourages the scientific and spiritual aspects of society
to work together to tackle vital issues where solutions have remained just out of reach.
World Heritage List.
The 690 properties which the World Heritage Committee has inscribed on the World Heritage List
(529 cultural, 138 natural and 23 mixed properties in 122 States Parties).
WE TV
is a global television service, an international effort underway
since l996 to build a global television service - complemented by new media.
WETV promotes sustainable human development and celebrates our cultural
diversity in more than 50 countries world-wide.
Big Think
High quality video interviews and insight from the world's most influential experts in business, entertainment, education, religion and media.
Global Oneness project
The Global Oneness Project is exploring how the radically simple notion of interconnectedness can be lived in our increasingly complex world.
SpaceCollective
Where forward thinking terrestrials exchange ideas and information about the state of the species, their planet and the universe, living the lives of science fiction today.
Millennium Seed Bank
The Millennium Seed Bank is an international collaborative plant conservation initiative aiming to safeguard 24,000 plant species.
TED
A video archive of leading edge thinkers, scientists, cultural creatives. Great inspiration.
Aarondell in contemplation at The Great Mosque of Djenne where the Bani and
Niger rivers meet, south of the Sahara, not far from Timbuktu.
A message from the Bwana:
My esteemed patrons, fellow collectors and members of Geographic
Society...
You may be assured that new shipments of palace booty, temple treasures and
gravegoods have been sent from Africa, Asia and South America. You will find a
particularly rich haul from recent travels in the Andes and the Himalayas.
Our expeditions reached sub-Saharan Mali and the magical island of Bali. We
floated by cargo boat down the Irrawaddy in Burma and ventured from the birthplace of the
Inca on Lake Titicaca in Bolivia to the volcanic altar of Mount Bromo on Java. We
captured mystical moments on film and wisdom of the high lamas in our hearts. We
have reaped great troves of sacred and secular artifacts, ornaments and images.
Most thankfully, we have found tangible, cerebral and spiritual evidence of an inspired
planet.
Vines in full summer bloom at our Massachusetts location
Your faithful servant,
Aarondell Livingstone
Rangoon 1998
Inspired Planet Gallery You can come in and discover
a fascinating world within our charming old barn on Route 7 in the heart
of the Berkshires, in far-western Massachusetts. We're located 3 hours
north of New York City (via the Taconic Parkway, RT 22, or NY Thruway),
2 1/2 hours west of Boston (via the Mass Pike / Rt 90 exit 2), one hour
south of Vermont (via Rt 7) and one hour north of Connecticut (via Rt
7 or 91 and 90). From the Mass Pike, exit 2, take Route 20 (which becomes
Routes 7 & 20) seven miles north. Brushwood Farm sign is on the right,
with plenty of parking. Look for the black barn with the big window. We're
open every afternoon during the season, but it's always good to call first.
The gallery is situated conveniently in the center of the Berkshire Hills,
a region renowned for its New England charm, fresh air, nature trails
through the woods, lake swimming in the summer, leaf colors turning in
Autumn, and skiing in the winter. We are seven minutes from Tanglewood,
summer home of the Boston Symphony, eight minutes from Kripalu, the largest
yoga/health center in the country and six minutes from Canyon Ranch, the
prestigious spa resort.
Arts and entertainment are really impressive in the area with The Clark
Art Institute, The Norman Rockwell Museum, Shakespeare and Company, Berkshire
Theater Festival, Williamstown Theater, Jacob's Pillow Dance and the newly
opened Mass MOCA art museum just to name a few. There are historical attractions
including Hancock Shaker Village and the homes of Herman Melville and
Edith Wharton right up the road. The area has a variety of bed and breakfast
inns, state park campgrounds and good restaurants. We'd be happy to make
recommendations for you.
A trove of
fantasy furnishings.
Artifacts
inside The Main Chamber.
Hello- I am Didik Wahyudiadi, a freelance graphic designer living in the small village of of Canggu, on the island of Bali. Much appreciation for the trust Mr. Dudley gave me to update inspiredplanet.com"
Thanks for giving us a chance to serve you :-)
and thanks for sharing your wonderful & exciting experiences through inspiredplanet.com.
Hope to meet you again. ,
Aware Team.
Ralph van den Berg, the former Inspired Planet Web Guy:
Nice job so far Joe, now I'm making modifications and additions throughout this intricate web of a site. For more about me, visit RalphvandenBerg.com or i.am.ralphvandenberg.com.
A message from Joe Monte, a former Inspired Planet Web Guy:
Greetings, I would like to take this time to say hello and
tell you a little about myself. I am a college student majoring in Computer Science interested
in designing software for robotics, particularly with artificial intelligence. I am also part of the
Seti@Home project, a non-profit
organization set out to find signs of life in the vast reaches of the universe.
If you would like to contact me, you can do so by sending an email to
count218@hotmail.com. Enjoy the site.
A message from Greg, Providence RI:
Hello Dudley,
Thought you might be interested in seeing the new home that the beautiful Burmese umbrella found. As you can see, I put it in the bedroom, paired with a Rajasthani puppet doll, a Balinese wooden bowl, and the quilt which I also bought in Rajasthan. The dog on the bed is Buster, who is irresitable but turns the place into a flop house.
I'm so glad we found your beautiful shop -- so many exciting, exotic things -- wish I had a bigger budget to spend! Thanks -- I'll think of our fun mini-trip and your shop every time I look at the umbrella.
-Greg, Providence RI
A message from Rebecca Sohn:
Dudley,
I want to thank you for the wonderful experience your gallery provided. The artifacts, jewelry, furnishing and art not only held their own beauty but collectively served as a reminder of how truly rich and fascinating our world can be. Subsequently, I have polished my ex-voto earrings and they look simply BEAUTIFUL! I can't wait to wear them.
Ironically, while traveling home, I was reading one of my not-so-boring business books and came across Burning Man. I was surprised (but shouldn't have been) that your website had a link to it. Have you ever attended this event?
In any case, you were delightful in many ways! I wish you continued success with your journey.
Warmest regards,
Rebecca Sohn
A message from Alek Shapiro, Quincy MA:
Your shop is such a beautiful, inspiring place, as the name indicates. One of the things that really strikes me is the natural lighting juxtaposed against the wooden background. I hope that your next trip, whatever that maybe, is great.
-Alek Shapiro, Quincy MA
A message from Cheryl, Waterbury, CT:
I would just like to thank you once again for sharing your treasures and knowledge with everyone. I
happened upon Inspired Planet very unexpectedly for the first time today, while on a mindless 3-hour car
ride that had no destination or direction. I was drawn to your store just by the sign, but knew I had found
something very special once I started to walk the path. The amazing energy and serenity alone upon
entering your shop was enough to help ease my soul. All that was weighing me down was released with
each passing artpiece and artifact I inspected. After slowly exploring your store many times over,
I was drawn to some truly magnificent pieces that have allowed me to feel the beauty of the hands that
made them. Dudley, you were so peaceful and inviting, and answers all of the many questions that I had
(which had fascinating answers by the way), that it made my whole experience that much more special. I
feel truly blessed that I was brought to your sanctuary, to experience all of the wonder you have collected
from your journeys.. I have now found my most favorite place that I have ever had the pleasure to shop
in, and look forward to my many returns to this sacred spot. Namaste, my new friends.
With Loving Kindness, Cheryl, Waterbury, CT
A letter from Laura West, M.Ed.:
Dear Dudley,
My husband and I have had the privilege of being in your store and met you a couple of times when we have
traveled out to the Berkshires. We found a lovely Balinese angel and tin carved candle holder, as well as
a walking Buddha amulet necklace the last few trips out to your store. The angel holds a place of blessing
and prominence in the center of our home.
I wanted to let you know also, that I have linked to your website on my links page of my healing arts business.
I feel like it has been a real honor to have been to your store and met you a couple of times over the years.
I know my husband and I shall be back to visit at some point! Thank you for all that you offer the world!
We'd love to receive writings, revelations, and
inspirations from you. If we can fit it in, we will publish your contribution here for the
whole Inspired Planet community to read.
McKendrickford meets Aarondell
in India
Sent in by author Bartholomew Barker. To view his site click here
The first time I laid eyes on Aarondell Livingstone he was
hovering at least ten feet off the ground with a most serene expression on his face.
I was visiting India for the second time, my first visit being while I was a wee bairn quite some years earlier, and
as a free citizen of the Empire with no discernable skills, I was traveling the sub-continent attempting to make my
inheritance last as long as possible, a pound going a good deal further there than in Glasgow.
It was midday and I was wandering through one of the many open-air markets of Madras, perusing the selection of local
teas when there was a great commotion ahead of me and I saw a man rising off the ramshackle roof of a merchant's stall.
As I ran forward I could see a beatific smile on his face as
he clutched a small metal bowl in one hand and a rope in the other. The rope, I later learned was being pulled from the
top of the neighboring building by an army of small children. Having swung out over the street, this man was
gently lowered to the ground, right in front of me.
This story was sent in by journalist Brian Scipione from Austin,
Texas. To view his site click here
The hills and trees of lovely Lenox spoke to me, as I
wandered through forests of green; my senses eating up the beauty of the natural world.
It's no wonder, I thought, the BSO can rediscover complex curves of musical harmony in
this landscape. The spicy smell of dry pine crept into my mind and distracted my thoughts
with images of adventure. So with the hearty notes of breaking twigs as my lone companion,
I took off through the trees.
I pictured myself as a deer moving on sturdy legs through
even sturdier oaks, birches, and elms. My frolic lasted but ten minutes when suddenly,
like the abrupt flash that signifies the start of a movie, I found myself approaching the
rear of a shopping plaza. Getting back my breath I ambled passed all the little shops. I
had almost reached the main parking lot when my eyes were diverted by a quaint little barn
on my left The midday sun gleamed fiercely off one side that was constructed completely in
glass. Moving closer I came upon a herd of mighty elephants. They were harmless however,
being made of wood and intended only to display a sign of warning. Startled that a sign
was somehow necessary, I wondered where my adventure had led me.
Then from deep within the barn, the tranquil music of
some extraordinary stringed instrument slithered out to assure me, to entice me, and to
invite me in. The scents of candles, and incense, and pines, and mystery swirled about my
head; as my eyes tried to focus on stone statues, wooden sculptures, colorful rugs,
peculiar paintings, detailed jewelry, bizarre implements, or just the sun glinting of the
array of gongs. But there again was that music like I had never heard before right on top
of me; it seemed to radiate from the very objects that surrounded me. It seeped into me,
calming me, positioning me among an underlining beauty that inspired me to explore my
surroundings. My eyes were first attracted to a magnificent wooden horse with its
life-sized front leg drawn up as if ready to charge.
My eyes drifted below the thick, black hoof to the floor,
where a wooden, Thai-style Buddha rested in the lotus position. His eyes seemed to bore
through a friendly looking elephant marionette that swayed slightly in its twine bindings.
Teak wood cases stood forth and demanded my attention with their intricate hand-carvings
outside and plethora of treasures inside. I hungrily took in the sight of various shaped
magical amulets and attractive necklaces. Then the scent of a fine incense lured me deeper
into this exotic forest. I discovered a little closet-sized room, titled "The
Temple."; Even though I entered slowly, I was instantly consumed by the eyes of:
Mexican religious paintings, the Hindu Ganesh, a doll from the Day of the Dead, Japanese
and Chinese Buddha's, photographs of relatives, human-shaped altarpieces, and a countless
host of deities that had gathered together around the small flickering of two candles.
As softly as I crept in, I left the Temple. More objects
awaited my inspection along the shelves that littered the windows. My curiosity was piqued
as I approached them but I again found myself halted. This time by a solitary human voice
that expressed greetings. The shopkeeper had found me and wanted to know if I had any
questions. I did indeed.
Geography, Travelers' Tools and Travel Information. Click on an area of the map for information on that location.
Here are some comments from patrons:
"Everything apparently has arrived in good order
and we are very excited by our acquisitions." - Fulton Brylawski, Esq., Washington
D.C.
"Thanks for sending my statue - she looks and feels wonderful here." - Rose
Mersky, Port Chester, NY.
"Everything we've found in your wonderful establishment continues to bring us much
joy." - Michele Laut.
"I was extremely impressed with your collection." - Sarah, Carlsad, CA.
"Always a treat to see your exquisite artwork." - Carol Seans.
"Thanks for sending along the beautiful pieces. I'm really excited by them. And
thanks for taking the time to explain them." - FDP.
"Please find enclosed my check for ---. Needless to say it looks exquisite and will
bring an aura that words cannot describe." - Doug Levine, Englewood, NJ.
"The items we brought back with us now reside quite happily in the garden of our
little country home. The malevolent looking mask some how looks more benign and the water
spirit gourd serves a very useful purpose: rescuing honey bees who find themselves in our
little garden pool." - Jack and Elizabeth Worswick, Northumberland, England.
"I love the captions, so descriptive and tantalizing...it makes me want to
come in and shop....very impressive.....and of course your photography is
unparalleled..." - S. Clarkson, by email.
Dear Inspired Planet,
I received the singing bowl and it is fabulous! It has interesting
overtones and a very nice look and feel. My sister bought me new
tingshas (meditation chimes) for Christmas which are a very nice high
frequency complement to the antique bowl. I just wanted to thank you
again.
-Berni, Tucson, AZ
Another Satisfied Customer Dept.
"I bought a tiny amulet for marital
harmony and it saved my marriage.
We're not fighting anymore. Well,
you've got to fight a little, but we're
making up better...(laughter)... And
I owe it all to Inspired Planet."
-Katie in Washington, MA
We remembered the precious talisman
from Thailand, a small bronze man and
woman embracing, and were curious
how the amulet was actually used. She
gave it to her husband for Christmas
then they made a tradition--every New
Year's Eve the couple bakes a cake with
charms in it--a truly charming ritual
that puts the magic back in life.
