I had an amazing trip to Austria to discover more about Light Attendance GMBH, the consciousness-bending company based in Innsbruck and to visit the developers of the Lucia No.3 in Kuffstein, Austria. It was so amazing that getting my feet back under me and writing this post has taken over a month.
Kuffstein, Austria
I had the distinct pleasure of meeting and staying with Sigrid Pearce, the delightfully fun, yet pragmatic, business intellectual guiding the company. Not only was she a wealth of insight regarding the company, it's actors, and actions; she shared valuable technical information that will allow me to identify and create more targeted light sessions. I also believe what she shared will help us to better understand the Lucid Light's capabilities and learn to optimize how we use it.
This is the scene that I awoke to my first morning in Innsbruck. I found myself on the porch in my pajamas, experiencing below freezing weather and very comfortable.
On top of all of the business insights and interactions; when I arrived, Sigrid treated me to an amazing vegetarian bed and breakfast experience and made me feel as if I was a family member visiting after a long journey.
Her tours in the next days took me through villages I'd only read about, into a chapel that is older than the United States.
Sigrid is a huge fan of nature and being outdoors and treated me to a hike up a mountain and back down on a sled. At the bottom of the mountain, I met Monika and Lorenz who welcomed me into their home like old friends and shared the warmth of their aesthetically amazing space and tasty traditional Austrian treats with me. The view from their home is one of the most lovely I've ever experienced.
Sigrid is a huge fan of nature and being outdoors and treated me to a hike up a mountain and back down on a sled. At the bottom of the mountain, I met Monika and Lorenz who welcomed me into their home like old friends and shared the warmth of their aesthetically amazing space and tasty traditional Austrian treats with me. The view from their home is one of the most lovely I've ever experienced.
Sigrid also introduced me to her daughter, Ruth, a talented photographer based in the picturesque village of Kampl, Tirol. Ruth has a heart for producing analog works and has an old school dark room in her studio. It gives me tingles to think of the trickling of the chemicals and the glow of the enlargers. She allowed me to page through her work; a growing body of performers, artists, philosophers, and eclectic individual. She has an easy, engaging, entertaining way about her. I am honored to know that I am one of the few she has published on her page with a beaming smile -- I couldn't help myself. I was in a studio I might have dreamt up for myself, away from any real responsibilities, being photographed by an amazing artist. I look forward to the opportunity to return the favor some day.
When the time came for the highlight of my trip, meeting with Dr. Engelbert Winkler and Dr. Dirk Proekl (the developers of the Lucia No.3), I knew little of what to expect. I was greeted first by Dirk, as Engelbert was approaching slowly. Dirk is a very approachable sunbeam sort of fellow who has the same comfortable way when he is speaking of neurology or of the beauty of nature. His interest into how the psychedelic experience of the light impacts our neurology and it's potential ramifications is exciting and and, I believe, groundbreaking.
As Engelbert approached, it became obvious that he was ill and it was an effort for him to be upright; he contracted the flu prior to my arrival. I was honored that he endured the obvious discomfort of his physiology to take the time and effort to be such a great host. He is well-read, intelligent, thinks out of the box, and his understandings regarding the study consciousness are intriguing and exciting. He, too, has a way of putting people at ease, even while discussing topics that might challenge them. I can see why he chose psychology as his career. He is also an artist and provided me with the great honor of touring his workshop/studio and allowing me to view some of his artwork, too.
As Engelbert approached, it became obvious that he was ill and it was an effort for him to be upright; he contracted the flu prior to my arrival. I was honored that he endured the obvious discomfort of his physiology to take the time and effort to be such a great host. He is well-read, intelligent, thinks out of the box, and his understandings regarding the study consciousness are intriguing and exciting. He, too, has a way of putting people at ease, even while discussing topics that might challenge them. I can see why he chose psychology as his career. He is also an artist and provided me with the great honor of touring his workshop/studio and allowing me to view some of his artwork, too.
Dr. Winkler's Workshop
I don't know that I've enjoyed an afternoon so much in many years. Each has very divergent and convergent views with/from the other and each has an intelligent, animated way of describing their views.
The way their ideas and energies swirl and dance together is an entertaining and informative experience. Although both are very familiar and adept operating within the contextual boxes our cultures impose, neither appear bound by such restrictions. Each is eager to challenge his understandings of science, humanity, and "reality" as they explore consciousness as it unfolds before them. This makes for discussions that can expand beyond expectations and the normal ego limitations placed on most conversations. This is not to say egos were removed, but they were in check in such a way as to allow the conversation an animated life of it's own.
The way their ideas and energies swirl and dance together is an entertaining and informative experience. Although both are very familiar and adept operating within the contextual boxes our cultures impose, neither appear bound by such restrictions. Each is eager to challenge his understandings of science, humanity, and "reality" as they explore consciousness as it unfolds before them. This makes for discussions that can expand beyond expectations and the normal ego limitations placed on most conversations. This is not to say egos were removed, but they were in check in such a way as to allow the conversation an animated life of it's own.
Dirk and Sigrid were kind enough (and cold enough) to take me on a hike around this lake as the sun was setting, then off to a fun conversation and a meal in Kufstein.
I had the opportunity to spend time in the next days touring some spots by myself. I stumbled across this fantastic graffiti in a tunnel in Innsbruck.
Unfortunately, I didn't discover the Vienna Academy of Visionary Art until the morning I was leaving. It will be one of my first stops upon my return.
My wanderings led me to all sorts of wonderful little places and gave me time to relax and do some reading. No trip to Austria to visit consciousness pioneers would be complete without a bit of brain candy reading. Anthony Peake was a perfect pick for my trip.
| | As the snowy landscape slid by, I found it more and more challenging to leave. There is so much more to see, so much more to learn, and I feel I found some long sought after people of my heart tribe. I recommend anyone interested in the Lucia No.3 and new understandings in consciousness, or in the beauty and wonder of the scenery and it's people to visit this amazing land. |
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