The Formation of Five Lives
It’s taken five lives to arrive at The Tetrad. A tangible sign in a world of compelling symbolism that Capricorns, like me, mature well and reach their stride with time.
My first life was a bumpy, post war journey from the horrors of the blitz, which my parents had endured, to a London of the swinging sixties. My father, a respected watchmaker, ran his own shop in the suburbs, whilst I, by all accounts, was a challenging child and a constant source of embarrassment to my elder brother.
As an eleven year old my second life began when a theatrical agent placed me on a magic carpet ride to being a successful child actor. Paying my way through drama school with back-to-back television and theatre appearances was the upside of those bright lights. But then there was the shadow world, filled with predatory characters, painted faces, and the dark, concealed motives of otherwise ‘beautiful people’.
My third life started to glow when the stage lights dimmed and youthful fortune gave way to the unknown. That’s when a deep insecurity yearned for firmer ground; the ‘real world’ beckoned. During this third life, from 18 years to my early twenties, I travelled and backpacked across Europe, the Caribbean, and eventually India. But another, more fundamental exploration had taken hold and I embarked upon what was to be a much deeper, inner journey. Avid readings, and tales of the road, were my lessons in the University of Life.
I met the woman who was to become the mother of my first two boys retuning from Morocco. Down to my last $50, and far from home, she introduced me to the magical glyph that is the Tree of Life. Emerging from a month cocooned in the Theosophical library I designed, and later published, my first Kabbalah poster. Thirty years, and over 12,000 copies later, it remains a firm favorite with both students and teachers. Mandala designs, geometric forms, and magical knots followed. I had discovered the inspiring and mesmerizing language of symbols.
Upon reflection the essence of my third life has remained with me to this day, those ancient symbols metamorphosed and central to an extensive portfolio of images. My early attempts to arrange and scribe those esoteric systems (see Alchemical Star and Golden Tree Print) led to commissions of design and interpretation.
Meeting my wife and the birth of our son, now 18, heralded the start of life four and a commitment to sharing the resplendent images I had discovered. The Photocards, Photoshop and early internet projects allowed an edginess to creep into my interpretations, and I developed a repertoire of design projects for an eclectic client base.
The circle has turned and in this, my fifth life, I discover that my early passion for three-dimensional geometry and the Tree of Life have merged and been reinvigorated. 2008 sees the publication of The Tetrad™, a unique meditation tool born from my desire to express the Tree of Life glyph as a three dimensional model; something to hold, feel, sense and explore. The manifestation of five lives.
Of course, all of life’s essential lessons – those that keep each of us on track with purpose and ambition - have been learnt through the love of my wonderful family, and friends. Each has anchored my journey in the ‘real world’ enabling my attention to explore other worldly designs that are there for all to see, through the wonder of nature and the very real language of symbolism.
