Coincidence: In the Footsteps of Jose Silva
By: Diana M. Oulahan
I was on a trip to Mexico where I was a guest of ART MILES, an UNESCO program to promote global harmony through art. Art Miles assists children across the world develop their appreciation and passion for peace, love and the protection of the environment through the murals that they paint. The occasion, sponsored by the Mexican government, took place in Teotihuacan, site of important Indian ruins, on the vernal equinox that marks the beginning of spring. This is a most appropriate time for capturing energy; and those present, dressed in white, stood in the open air with their arms extended towards the sky to receive this abundant flow of energy. On this occasion, 1,500 Mexican school children were present at the foot of the famous pyramids to paint 72 canvas murals that will be part of the largest continual mural in the world. ART MILES expects this worldwide effort to become part of the Guinness Book of Records.
The US delegation worked with a select group of Mexicans, comprised of painters, anthropologist, sociologists, historians, people who love art and, of course, all the excited children. During our stay in Teotihuacan, we were guests of a Mexican philanthropist who offered us his “hacienda” (farm). He has psychic capabilities that he uses to help cure people in need.
The “hacienda” offered an atmosphere of peace and harmony; and its owner took care of us as if we were royalty. In my conversation with him, I identified myself as a Silva Method instructor; and to my surprise, our host told me a very interesting story.
When he was a child and this area was nothing more than fields, Jose Silva used to visit. The place has always been known as an active center of energy. It is believed that this is the reason why the Indians built the pyramids here. Jose helped heal people in this area and taught our host, a boy of 9, to work with mental projection to detect illnesses and help others recuperate their health. Jose also taught him the need to create a better world and to extend a helping hand to others in need. As a result of these encounters, he himself became a healer and a father to 80 adopted children, along with three of his own. At this moment he has built accommodations for 250 needy children with a goal to take in a total of 640.
In the meeting with the Art Miles group our host shared these experiences with Jose. What a moving experience it was to not only hear but to feel, through the power of his personality, this story.
On the next day (March 20th) we all met at the Teotihuacan Museum where 1,500 enthusiastic children, under the guidance of 72 Mexican and American artists, painted 72 canvases murals ( 12’ x 5’).
The children presented one of the artists, the American Laurel Burch, a special appreciation award, one of their canvases. She uses Mexican art for her inspiration. Laurel says: “ The purpose of my art is to inspire living from the heart. I want to create in a way that celebrates life in the most intimate and precious way possible, for ourselves and for each other”. Indeed, the children painted from the heart in a way that celebrates their lives and the Mexico around them.