cannot for instance see my own back. Their vision extends, just as mine does, into the external world and into that which cannot be seen but can be felt and understood. My friends are those people I trust to tell me about myself and share their journeys with me, and I with them. Finally, having other people around means that I/we can share the beauty in the world and find comfort in difficult times.
Shinju - So that's the function that they have for your life, I was more meaning what role or function you play in theirs? Traditionally the Shaman was a valued member of the Tribe and I was wondering what niche in the world you now take up?
Richard - I believe that the tribe concept has expanded, it can be considered that "community" and "tribe" label an identical concept.
Shinju - Fine by me.
Richard - In the modern world that community is fast becoming global. My work with that community generally centers on expressing what my world contains (sharing), communicating what I see (observing others and communicating it to them) (enlightening), and hugs and comfort in times of distress (healing).
Shinju - Ok, I'd now like to move onto the subject of Shamanic Artwork.
Richard - Ok.
Shinju - Could you guess at what makes a piece of artwork a piece of Shamanic artwork?
Richard - All artwork is shamanic in that it expresses the artist. Though Shamanistic artwork also (in my opinion) communicates something of the technique or experience necessary for the observer to understand the world around them as well.
Shinju - Doesn't that then become a redundant term? Since all art expresses something of the artist and the techniques that they have encountered.
Richard - Kind of, but shamanic art also unfolds some of the techniques that the shamen uses to be able to have the perspective that he is expressing. It's like the artwork is expressing the artist, the world and also gifting the ability to be a shamen.
Shinju - So shamanic art is simply art done by a shaman?
Richard - Shamanic art allows for the techniques used to be passed to the observer. It's kind of like teaching through example and experience. It actually expands the mind, vision, heart of the observer to allow them to consider possibilities which they may not have considered or dreamt of before.
Shinju - What about iconography and symbolism, where do those enter the

equation?
Richard - An example would be drawing an aura of someone round a person in such a way that the public start to understand and learn that auras can be seen and roughly what they might look like if they were drawn in reality. I don't know the word iconography, but symbolism conveys systems through which knowledge is formed.
Shinju - Iconography is about the meaning of icons.
Richard - In many cases the experiences of being outside of learned culture can be quite a shock to the mind if it has no way of being able to formulate and understand the experiences presented to it, symbology helps with this step.
Shinju - How do the symbols help?
Richard - It provides a way of expressing concepts that do not have an easy language translation and allows for systems of symbols to 'interlock' with each other to provide a kind of new language. Language or word itself can be considered to be symbolic in that...My name is Rich but that doesn't tell you who I am, it just allows you to point at me and say that's Rich, or point at someone or something else and say that's like Rich. Much of the art of language has been lost in the modern world but it is being revived through art and symbology so that people who understand this new language can communicate very subtle and profound experiences to one another.
Shinju - Ok well thank you very much for your help and your agreement to do this interview. it is much appreciated.
Richard - You're very welcome, it has been a very good and interesting journey. It's an honour to share it with you.
Shinju - Peace, Love, Unity and Respect.
Richard - Light Love and Life.