DESCRIPTION:
"Shine on me" is a song written to the Creator. Many times in my life I have had hard times and never did I find any lasting comfort or happiness until I turned to the Creator. I think that this experience is not unique. This is a song of gratitude, devotion, and hope. There is no problem , sadness, anger or sickness that the Creator can not solve. That is my experience

The video has certain elements I would like to explain. Because I have had my own experience with alcohol/ and drug addiction. I chose to represent this by filming homeless people. This is not to say that all homeless are alcoholic and drug addicts but studies show that the majority of them are.I also think that the great majority a people suffer from depression ,anxiety and a general feeling of disconnectedness in some form. Positive elements like nature and people smiling , doing yoga and the positive spiritual imagery of the many beautiful murals around San Francisco represent a deeper underlying truth. That we are spiritual beings and we need to be connected with nature, one another, and the Creator in order for us to be happy. The meditating homeless person (Played by my good friend/brother Tonus Atkins) represents the peace we can have if we turn toward Spirit, no matter what our outer experience may be we can find inner peace. The Luchador (Mexican Wrestler, played by another friend/brother Tommy Barron ) who is taunting him represents the spirit of doubt that is always trying to Create separation. Some cultures refer to this as the ego, or thinking mind. In Native culture we refer to it in many different ways. Many tribes have a Creation story that has talks about Twins. One positive, one negative. In many ceremonies this spirit is acknowledged and symbolized as a disruptive element that is literally included into the ceremony on purpose. Its my belief that this is "bad spirit" is not external but internal and that we must make an effort to think and act positive in order to have peace.

This Video was shot on location in San Francisco by Nicole Landau, Thank you to Peter Bratt and Five Stick Films for contributing the stock footage, and to the San Francisco Arts Commission, Cultural equity grants for funding the video.