Being An Artist : From the Embers

As I write this, I recognize that this coming Sunday marks Super Bowl LIX, taking place in New Orleans, Louisiana, where the Kansas City Chiefs will face off against the Philadelphia Eagles. My preferred team, the Washington Commanders (formerly known as the ‘Redskins’), was eliminated by Philadelphia in the NFC Championship game a couple of weeks ago.

My name is Gene Jimenez, and I was born and raised in Orange County, California. For the past 24 years, I have been on a transformative journey. In the past, I would mention this journey with a sense of hesitation, as if it were something to be ashamed of, akin to admitting a personal failing or making an unconventional choice. However, in light of the current state of our nation—led by a former real estate mogul, reality TV personality and convicted felon—alongside the influence of the wealthiest individuals subverting our government, I find pride in declaring my life’s ongoing and wondrous journey. It feels appropriate to stand in solidarity with the potential of humanity itself.

Now, where was I? Ah yes, the Super Bowl! This annual event was like a national holiday in my household. My parents, Gabe and Mary, hosted one of the biggest and most well-known parties of the year. Everyone we knew would come, filling our home to the brim. It often became so lively that authorities would be called year after year, eventually becoming familiar with our celebratory gathering. It was absolute madness, a testament to how far my life’s journey has come. 

To truly understand my circumstances, however, I must delve into the stories of the generations that preceded me…

In 1908, in the mountainous town of Durango, Mexico, my great-grandfather, Martin Morales, was the 16th of 17 children working on a local farm. As he and his two remaining brothers grew older, opportunities for work dwindled. In search of a new life, he and his young wife, Maria Torres, decided to embark on a journey that many immigrants dreamt of. Together with his brothers, the 15th and 17th siblings, Martin and Maria set out on a remarkable 2,300-mile journey from Durango to what would become their new home in Orange County, California.

By 1909, they arrived in California, specifically in the immigrant barrio known as ‘Artesia Pilar’ in downtown Santa Ana. According to their green cards, Martin was 17, and Maria, holding their infant child, crossed the border at just 13 years old. That baby, cradled in her arms, was named ‘Genaro’ (he-nar-o), or ‘Gene’ (jeen) in English—after whom I am named.

Martin and Maria

Martin and Maria raised eight children, including Genaro, and the youngest of whom was my grandfather, José, or ‘Joe’. Joe was an industrious man who became a successful businessman in Orange County. Driven by his ambition, he sought to help his family assimilate into a community largely composed of successful Caucasian businessmen. As a third-generation Mexican-American, my family moved through a period where speaking Spanish was discouraged, as each of us worked to minimize our Hispanic accents. This was done in the hope of accessing greater opportunities in what is now referred to as a “white privileged” society. We attended private schools and were often among the darker-skinned children in our circles, forming lifelong friendships with these families.

Growing up in Orange County proved to be a beacon of opportunity. My parents instilled in us the values of hard work and enjoyment in life. They were both vibrant social butterflies, often organizing family and friends’ gatherings that filled our home with energy. As the fifth child in our family, I didn’t initially recognize the emotional toll this constant flow of visitors and strong personalities took on me. As the youngest of five and the last of three boys, I tended to be on the quieter side. My father was a popular high school football player before marrying my mother, and both my brothers excelled in football at the prestigious private school we attended. At less than half their weight and several years of being the tackling dummy, I realized football was not my forte, so I gravitated toward a less contact sport of long-distance running instead.

In hindsight, the systemic culture instilled in Orange County became my greatest challenge. The daily routine revolved around going to work, earning money, paying taxes, accumulating possessions, marrying, having children, buying more things, raising those children to secure jobs of their own, and repeating this cycle—work, tax, spend, enjoy, and repeat.

Fifth Child

Don’t get me wrong; there are many joys in this lifestyle. However, as the fifth child, I observed my older brothers, sisters and friends navigating this system of capitalism and classism, earning respectable incomes, yet witnessing their vibrant personal passions fade into sometimes smoldering embers. Every family has its story, and ours was no exception. I saw dreams pushed aside as we conformed to the comfortable, affluent lifestyle typical of the working class in Orange County. In another lifetime, this would be not only acceptable, but more than welcomed and a privilege to be a part of, and still is to a certain extent. 

Yet, deep within me, a small ember refused to extinguish or surrender to this seemingly non-opportunistic definition of ‘success.’ I believed there had to be more than just hosting grand parties, picking up remnants of clothing and misplaced beer cups from the yard the next morning, and then facing long hours of work, only to prepare for the next gathering. 

As the first in my family to attend college, I completed my degree and married my college sweetheart. However, upon the birth of our first child, I faced an uncomfortable realization: I was profoundly unhappy trying to fit into a lifestyle marked by consumerism and superficial connections, while witnessing the same dimming fire in those I cherished. 

It was perhaps a profound fear of my own fire extinguishing that prompted me to sit down with my best friend—at the time my wife—and choose to separate. It was as she embarked on her journey to create a new life, she participated in a life transformation workshop and invited me to join the next session. Having just navigated the challenges of 9/11, I accepted her invitation with open arms. 

On the first day of the workshop, I positioned myself in the front row, and when the trainer entered, she made eye contact with me, turning my world upside down. This remarkable woman would change my approach to life and is still the love of my life today. Somehow, I convinced her to marry me, and that was over 23 years ago. I could easily elaborate on the romantic aspects of my story and all the adventures we’ve shared, because it truly feels fantastical, almost like a movie script. However, I want to stay focused on the core of my journey.

Since meeting her, I have transformed into a fine art painter, exhibiting and selling my work in galleries across the country. I became a self-publisher and creator of professional comic books, a published fine art nude photographer, and I have had the privilege of traveling the world and engaging in conversations with leaders dedicated to world peace. Additionally, I spent a decade teaching at the university level, and I am currently an emerging science-backed sound practitioner, at the forefront of the renaissance of sound as a scientifically supported form of medicine for humanity. Remarkably, all of this was not something I had planned until after my 55th birthday—except for the path of sound practitioner, which I didn’t even know existed until about five years ago. Until then, I had envisioned a modest career as a graphic designer.

The Super Bowl

This year, the Super Bowl will take place on February 9, 2025. The day after—February 10—I will celebrate my 54th birthday.

Throughout this lifelong journey, I have awakened to the realization that life is not about conforming to a system designed for convenience and uniformity. I do not view myself as a rebel or a ‘system bucker.’ Instead, I have come to understand that even those deeply embedded in the system possess small embers within themselves, yearning to be ignited. I consider myself fortunate to have encountered someone willing not only to fan my own ember but also to teach me how to nurture it myself. And every now and then, that ember flares into a fire, enabling me to accomplish things I once thought were impossible.

At this time, it is essential to give credit where credit is due. I previously alluded to the amazing trainer I met 23 years ago—my wife, Lynne. She is not only my partner but also my occasional muse and igniter of passion. Lynne is one of the last transformational trainers to conduct the original ‘Life Spring’ workshop, a profound multi-day experience that became popular in the late 1970s and early 1980s. While it was life-altering for many, it also faced backlash, leading to associations with mind control, cults, and other negative insinuations. In reality, it empowered individuals to recognize their personal power and had nothing to do with religion. Many participants, including those I’ve trained with on several occasions, have shared that their experiences with the workshop provided a more authentic connection to their understanding of God than anything in their upbringing.

Becoming a trainer for this particular workshop requires a significant commitment, discipline, and a lifestyle that elevates one’s personal standards. When Life Spring disbanded in the early 1980s, many trainers rebranded their work, leading to the emergence of various training companies and the wild-west landscape of today’s ‘life-coaching’ industry. Unfortunately, many modern life coaches market themselves based on ‘second-hand’ or ‘watered-down’ versions of those original, rigorous workshops. 

Lynne

Lynne, however, exemplifies authenticity. She embodies the principles she teaches, having been trained to deliver the original format of these workshops with integrity and purpose.

Being married to someone like Lynne has been a humbling honor, allowing me to continually work on myself—even when it feels uncomfortable, inconvenient, or unexpected. Part of our relationship is based on us supporting each-other’s personal growth, no matter what it may look like. She flies all over the world these days, training the workshop, waking people up to their greatness. When it works, we are in a workshop together, fanning eachothers flames, giving space for that fire to grow, while taking comfort in the warmth of each other’s dreams coming to fruition. 

Today, a word that frequently comes to mind is “supposed.” 

The dictionary defines it as: generally assumed or believed to be the case, but not necessarily so.

At this point in my life, I find myself reflecting on this word often.

• I was supposed to fit into the system. 
• I was supposed to follow the conventional path, secure a stable job, and avoid disruption.
• I was supposed to align with how my friends viewed life.
• I was supposed to wait another 23 years before pursuing my dreams, hoping that the fire of ambition would still be smoldering by the time I wrote this article.

Yet, perhaps I am simply 23 years ahead of my time in realizing my hopes and dreams. The fact that I do not engage in gainful employment on a day-to-day basis is not how it’s “supposed” to be.

Creative Life

In my journey, I have had the privilege of meeting people from all walks of life. I have shared myself and the bits of wisdom I’ve gleaned along the way, and I am eternally grateful for every moment and every soul I’ve had the opportunity to touch. I often receive calls from the parents of former students seeking advice about higher education or consulting on what it means to live a creative life as a working artist. People reach out to me for guidance on creativity or simply to absorb some of the energy I possess to help them find their own embers.

As I write this, I am on the brink of beginning production on a new series of work—my ‘opus’ of sorts, if you will—which I approach with excited and confident energy. I am also conducting frequent sound bath journeys to support my fellow humans navigating anxiety, depression, nervousness, and unsettled feelings. Sound is where science meets transformation. I couldn’t be more thrilled to be part of this re-emerging human technology that serves as humanity’s original self-care medicine.

So then, you might wonder, what am I doing here? Well, feel free to contact me if you:

– Want a picture painted? I’m a creative artist.

– Want a comic book produced? I’m a creative producer.

– Want your nude photo taken professionally? I’m a creative professional.

– Want to explore your own creativity? I’m a unique brainstormer.

– Want to discuss transforming your life? I’m space for possibilities.

– Want to attend a transformative sound journey? I’m self-taught in over 14 indigenous instruments and sacred science-sound technology.

– Want to rediscover your ember? Well, we can do that too.

But I must warn you—like my wife, I’m kind of a fire starter. I have 23+ years of reinvention under my belt. And, I come from ancestors who were willing to walk 2,300 miles on nothing but a dream… in search of embers. 

TAKE ACTION: If you’re interested in mentoring or creative explorations, feel free to contact me at www.artistgene.com. I work with individuals looking to jumpstart, restart and reignite their natural creative practices and make it a permanent part of their lives. Ready to reignite yours? Sometimes it just takes the first step and having someone in your corner always helps. It’s OK to attempt, it’s OK to fail and it’s OK to be discouraged. What’s not OK is to never do anything at all and ignore that creative fire that exists in all of us.