The idea of the artist shaman has intrigued me lately. As world culture becomes increasingly more and more main stream, the outsider perspective is more relevant than ever. The shaman has always been in tune with knowledge and understanding that was beyond the grasp of the common people. As our world experiences greater upheavals and increased confusion, its left up the shaman to guide and enlighten the people. As artists that's exactly what we do. We enlighten and guide people through realities unseen. It used to be really heavy, spirit journeys intensified by the use of powerful plant teachers. Now it's honest, and hard critiques, or observations, reinforced by intense ideas. Modern culture has killed the old shaman. Now its up to the artist to enlighten, and guide the masses. Our institutions certainly are not holding up their end of the bargain, so it's no surprise that neither does the mainstream media. Artists seem to be the only ones left, who are truly honest, the only ones left who are courageous enough to explore uncharted territory without the need to classify, conquer, capitalize, convert, kill.