Guidance through an Illustrative Alphabet (Letter X)

We are all sensitive people, regardless of our resilience. Words hold immense power, and can cripple, uplift, deepen understanding, or provoke emotions strong enough to alter the course of someone’s life. Throughout history, words have been used to incite division or unify cultures, shaping agendas that either consolidate power or foster healing. The power of words is profound.  When used thoughtfully, they can bridge generations, preserving values and perspectives that future generations may carry forward in ways uniquely their own.

As a writer, storyteller, and creative, I have written countless essays and reflections where words form intricate webs, capturing my thoughts with clarity and intention. It is my responsibility to express myself in ways that cultivate a healthy connection with the reader. I also feel called to encourage, provoke thought, and offer a touch of wisdom born from my experiences. At times, I fall under the spell of my words, expressing things that feel urgent without fully considering their impact. As I learn and grow, I try to revise and adapt, understanding that words have weight, especially in the world we live in today.

I am a quiet, compassionate, empathetic person who prefers a low profile. My writing often explores human behavior in ways I hope may help others. Yet, I acknowledge that my words haven’t always landed without conflict. I’ve made mistakes. Recently had a moment when something I said or wrote led to misunderstandings, strained friendships, or distanced family relationships. I am accountable for my words, even when they arise from humor that didn’t translate as I intended. What I am not, however, is someone who wields-words to gain power over others.

The essays I write act as time capsules of my experiences and observations in this lifetime, reminding us that we are all cut from the same cloth, woven by the Great Spirit. As we move forward, we are entering a time where words will either separate us from the beauty, complexity, and rawness of life, or serve as the bridge that connects all perspectives, beliefs, and strengths. My hope is that our words become this connective tissue, and that someday, we can look back and say with pride, I was part of building that future.

Bracing For What’s to Come

 

The reality of my life revolves around getting by while being friendly to everyone I meet. I value this approach, having seen the downfall of those who lost their kindness. At times, I feel overwhelmed juggling community partnerships, youth activism, First Foods research, and art projects. Yet, the people I work with inspire me, they’re powerful individuals who fuel my passion for these causes.

Navigating the red tape required to bring attention to underserved communities can feel exhausting. Often, people don’t realize how rare it is to see immediate results from the issues we address. I think back to my youth when I was loyal to those who offered me patience and a listening ear. That sense of care is what we need now more than ever.

Unfortunately, I see manipulators exploiting the work of talented, dedicated individuals. The hard work of these people often goes unseen while gatekeepers turn meaningful contributions into profit-driven ventures. It’s disheartening to realize that organizations I once admired are driven by toxic agendas. They transform from pillars of leadership into embarrassments to the very communities they claim to serve.

I reflect on this as I watch good people in my circle suffer. They’re being dragged through the mud by the very associations they trusted. It’s heartbreaking to see their decades of work dismissed, with nothing to show for it. My hope is that they find the strength to navigate through these hard times.

As we approach the end of 2024 and the beginning of 2025, I sense we may face an upset as significant as 9/11 or COVID. Divisions over race, gender, and sexuality could come at a cost we can’t yet imagine. Despite this, I still find hope in children. It’s the adults who need a reset, maybe even jail time. The world is shifting, and we must hold on to our values while bracing for what’s to come.

Man's Ego vs. Immortality: Revisiting the Cycle of Life and Its Impact on Future Generations

 

There are many things to accomplish in the short span of individual consciousness. When my time in this stage is complete, I hope there will still be countless things left for me to do, as there are now. I have so many desires and pursuits. To do is, in essence, to be.
Live, lest you die without ever knowing the difference.
I love the rhythm of life: to be, to know, to understand.

They say the best things in life are free, and in a way, that's true. Everything comes at a cost, whether external or internal. However, it isn’t always necessary to pay with money or equivalent exchange for the good things in life. The key is recognizing what is truly good. For me, those things are faith, charity, hope, the Earth in all her moods, and the life force of the universe. What I value in humanity includes music, with its endless variations; our earnest attempts to understand and improve on nature; and our embarrassment at our failures.
True friendship and deep understanding (though imperfect) cannot be bought or traded. Life may or may not be an illusion of our egos. If it is, then at least make it a good illusion.

We fear as mortals yet desire as immortals. Humanity longs for truth, thirsts for it, and yet denies it time and again. We live in fear of death, though we begin to die the moment we are born. Fathers create life; mothers nourish it. We are born of two dying creatures, caught in the process of maturation and death. True life begins in the womb.
We are energy.

Energy that doesn't die but reappears, just as plants return from one season to the next. We call this rebirth a new generation. We are our children and our children's children.
What we usually recognize as life is ego, but ego is not life. When we die, all that dies is the ego. The body, too, is lost. It is simply a fortress that houses the mind and soul. We should not fear the temporary state of physical death, but we do. There are those who claim not to fear death, but I wonder if they speak truthfully.

Man, in his technical progress, has become so conceited that he wishes to carry his own ego into the next generation. Does this mean he feels he cannot be improved upon? Has he reached such brilliance that there is nothing left to learn?
It’s said that Walt Disney had his body frozen after death to be revived in the future. Did he feel so complete in knowledge that he deserved to contribute beyond his own time? I admire his accomplishments in this space and time. However, I doubt that his frozen body will offer anything to the future. The flesh is left behind; only the energy continues.

One question persists: if I live a good life, will I live again? I believe I will. But if someone’s life is filled with evil, will that person also live again? I believe so.
Yet, if both good and evil are reborn, what is the point of striving for good to triumph over evil? I believe the difference lies in the type of life that follows. Good progresses and reaps its benefits; evil merely repeats itself. One leads to enlightenment, while the other is doomed to stagnation. Evil is the base, the primitive foundation of humanity. Good serves as the vanguard, the promise of something greater. Good is the soul of man, while evil is his ego. Neither can be destroyed, but we must strive to balance the two within ourselves.

While immortality may seem desirable, it is also the essence of true evolution. The only thing standing between mankind and immortality is our inability to fully obey nature and our tendency to separate from it without understanding. We do not know how to surrender to our inner selves. Humanity remains an enigma to itself and will not evolve further until it accepts what it already knows.
Generally, people today view immortality as the survival of the individual ego. But gradually, we are accepting another kind of immortality: that life is energy, returning again and again in different forms and at different times. This continual rebirth happens because of the need for further evolution of this collective energy. Only when energy has fully evolved is it ready for the next step, its ultimate purpose.

A Dream Within A Dream (white man’s conquest)

INDIGENOUS PEOPLES DAY (2024) 

With all the science and experiments that have brought destruction to our planet, humanity has a chance to make better choices for future generations. Yet, we must never forget the values colonialism imposed upon us. The mentality that claimed power over everything and everyone. 

When the white man arrived in the “New World,” he sought to destroy what he didn’t understand: our cultures, heritage, and the lives of First Nations Peoples. We were not “civilized” enough for him. Thousands of years of tradition were disregarded in his quest for conquest. Today, we are still marginalized, our identities often reduced by those in power. Our strength is rising, shifting in our favor. But must we forget that we are all one nation, bound to Mother Earth? Must we forget that violence breeds more division, more bloodshed, unless we take steps to heal one another? 

Mother Earth is all we have. We are of the land. We are from the earth. 

The desire to leave this planet is a testament to our failures. It reflects our species’ willingness to pollute the very soil we depend on and destroy future generations by robbing them of harmony with one another and the planet. The white man’s dream, built on conquering lands and spreading disease, now turns to the sky. Rockets are launched in pursuit of escape, as though fleeing to another planet will let them forget the horrors created here. But this dream is an illusion, one that brings devastating consequences. I do not want to leave. I love this planet. It is my home. It is our home. 

Indigenous knowledge, rooted in the earth, has always had a place here. To sever ourselves from Mother Earth’s embrace would sever that connection. And for those who leave, they will become new immigrants, drifting without ties to their true birthright, forgetting where they came from because they never truly had a home. 

”Invisible Problems Well Documented” Essay by ©Ramon Shiloh 2024 (Indigenous Peoples Day) 

©Art by: “1986 FORENINGEN BIG MOUNTAIN” DAN MARK

Ramon Shiloh Featured in Bold Magazine

 

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Ramon Shiloh Debuts the 2025 Poster for the Skagit River Bald Eagle Interpretive Center

Artist Statement

Survival demands sacrifice, guided by intricate disciplines. It is the relentless struggle to understand that hunger fuels our deepest instincts, driving us to reconnect with our primal spirit. It requires mastering our emotions as we capture the very elements that sustain us.

My latest poster for the 2025 Annual Retreat at the Skagit River Bald Eagle Interpretive Center in Rockport Washington, embodies the raw power of survival, with the Eagle standing as the ultimate victor.

©Ramon Shiloh 2024/2025

Medium: Prismacolor Pencils, Charcoal, Sumi Ink, Iwata Airbrush on Cold Press toned Bristol Paper and Digital Placement

ARTIST REFLECTION on Ms. Jane’s Fine Dining

Ms. Janes Fine Dining in Fife Washington, is where culinary excellence meets cultural inspiration. Drawing from the rich landscapes and traditions of Coast Salish culture, their exquisite menu features premium steaks, seafood, pasta, and a curated wine list that promises a remarkable dining experience.

As we celebrate the grand opening on August 22nd, this event is more than just a milestone for delicious food—it’s a tribute to the hard work and dedication of Bertha Jane Turnipseed (94). Her legacy has paved the way for countless individuals, creating opportunities that will continue to flourish at Ms. Jane’s Fine Dining.

Artists like Paige Pettibon and I are proud to honor Bertha Jane’s legacy through our murals, which serve as a bridge to the heritage and traditions she cherished. Paige, a Tacoma artist whose work dances between acrylics, oils, and fiber art, brings her Black, White, and Salish roots into each piece. From the Tacoma Art Museum to the Smithsonian, her art weaves stories of truth and environmental heritage, with her Plain to Sea jewelry cherished by collectors nationwide. Paige doesn’t just create art; she conjures magic.

As we launch our art in this special space, I am honored to share this journey with Paige, and together we amplify the restaurant’s values. Our work will forever be present, inspiring future artists and culinary artisans who will find solace in the legacy of Ms. Jane.

Please make a reservation and immerse yourself in the artistry of the seasonal menus curated by Executive Chef Josh Turnipseed, as well as the enduring legacy of Bertha Jane Turnipseed.

Very proud of this endeavor

©Ramon Shiloh/August 2024