A TRUE STORY. By Baz Salmon
Prologue:An explanation to what it means to awaken spiritually.To awaken spiritually means foremost to realize for yourself that there is a deeper dimension within you, than what you know of yourself as a person (your personality, your physical body, your mind and thoughts). This deeper dimension is the essence of who you are, as it is with every other physical form (matter) and this essence is what also encapsulates the entirety of everything as no thing.Baz Salmon 29.03.2022
It was July 2005 and I was living in a de-facto relationship with my then partner of 12 years. We had a 2-year-old son and my mother-in-law was also with us. It was a happy home, where we all loved and cared for each other. My mother-in-law came to live with us to care for our child, so my partner could return to work as a Primary School Teacher, after staying at home with our son for the first 2 years of his life. I was employed as a Grounds Manager at a local resort in Broome, Western Australia.
My mother-in-law was an avid reader of magazines and had many subscriptions to a variety of publications. There was always a stack of these magazines piled high on the kitchen benchtop.
I was not much of a reader of anything back then, so some of these magazines may have been there for months. I think it may have been a Sunday morning, I was just relaxing and I started to look through some of the magazines.
I don’t remember the magazine’s publication name, but inside was a small article on a Spiritual book called " The Power of Now " by Eckhart Tolle. There was an accompanying picture of the author and the author’s partner Kim Eng. I deeply resonated with something about the article, and the next day I went to a local Broome bookstore to buy a copy of this spiritual book.
I was not a spiritual seeker and had no formal religious beliefs. I was 44 years of age and had my fair share of ups and downs in life. I had experienced loss and gain, major tragedy and triumphs, had lived hard and worked hard, as was the general cultural expectancy in Australia and with my generation then.
Once I began to read this spiritual book I could not put it down. I did not understand the meaning behind the author’s words, but something within me just kept me engaged with the contents. After reading this spiritual book 5 times continuously, the words began to make sense, I was starting to awaken spiritually.
I continued to read this spiritual book, but not so fanatically, I also started to read other spiritual books by this author. Many changes began to take place in the way I lived. Old unhealthy habits stopped (smoking, excessive alcohol consumption). My eating habits changed to a healthier program. I had changed outwardly so much, people thought there was something wrong, but the more I tried to explain what was happening, the more unbelievable they found it. It was now February 2006 and this was the beginning of my greatest physical transformation. I received an invitation through the mail to attend a 2- hour workshop at a local Broome Art Gallery. In total 20 people took part in the workshop.
We were simply introduced to different paints (oils and acrylics), we didn’t paint anything, just blending the colours for effect. I was mesmerized, I just became one with the paints and before I knew it everybody had gone, except for myself, the Artist Instructor and the Gallery owner. These 2 lovely ladies said to me, ‘you have got something here, just continue painting’.
The next morning just before dawn I arrived at my work as was my practice to avoid the heat of the day. Gazing up into the star-filled night sky I had an experience that I find hard to put into words. I felt like I was at one with the entirety of the Universe I wasn’t separate from the Universe, I was the Universe. As the first light of dawn appeared I outlined sunrise over Roebuck Bay on the palm of my hand. I photocopied my palm in the front office/reception (I still have my colour blending paintings and the photocopy) and over the next 3 weeks, I created my first painting (which I also still have). By May 2006 I had left my job and dedicated myself to painting. At the time I had no explanation for my actions, it was just what I had to do. This course of action that I undertook caused some serious concern to my then partner and in hindsight, I completely understand why. At the time we had major financial commitments involving a large portfolio of investment properties and my decision to leave work to create art cancelled the provision of my income to help service our mortgage debts.
Over the next 18 months, I continued to paint and remained at home caring for our son during the day then working part-time as a night bus driver to help support ourselves and our debt commitments. As a couple, my partner and I were becoming less compatible with no real blame to attribute to the cause besides my spiritual awakening and the changes it caused in me. I was hoping that my partner would have the same experience as I did, if she would just read this spiritual book. To her credit, she did read the spiritual book but it did not have the same effect. In January 2008 we decided to live platonically and moved to an aboriginal community north of Broome where my partner could continue her work as a Primary School teacher. I also was able to work as an education assistant which I found very rewarding.
It was now December 2008 and we had returned to the Margaret River region in the South West of Western Australia, where I first lived 20 years previous. Parting ways amicably I began to live in various houses within the region before settling into a beautiful property (farmhouse) in a region called Rosa Brook. I shared the custody of my son with my ex-partner, who I am happy to say has remained my friend. I now began to read many and varied spiritual books/texts, with the first spiritual books words being the foundation of my spiritual awakening/self-realization. For the next 18 months, I painted continuously, inspired by the plants/flowers and trees around the property. It was a beautiful/intense experience to be so immersed in the moment of creating my paintings, with little else (besides my son) in my life.
It was now May 2011, I moved a few more times till I found a new home in another farming region within the Margaret River District. This place is called Forest Grove which is located 14 kilometers south of Margaret River. I’m renting another farmhouse and have lived here since March 2012.
My Art forms continue to evolve to reveal there true purpose. Through my art forms, I hope to express my awakening/self-realization story and inspire anyone ready to access their spiritual awakening.
In September 2012 I awoke one morning with a complete poem in my head. I had discovered another form of expressing a spiritual message. As I continued to paint I also began to combine poems and paintings with the same title. Over the next 9 years, I continued creating my paintings/poems and also began working with wood to create Chainsaw Sculptures with poems. In addition to this work, I also completed another 100 paintings/poems on Canvas (25), Matt board (25), Ceramic tiles (25) and Wood (25).I intend to release an introductory book/audio (Your True Self) to co-inside with an exhibition of the plants and flowers I painted while living in the Rosa Brook farmhouse, titled “ My time in Rosa Brook “. When the appropriate opportunity arrives I will also publish the 100 paintings/poems in a series of 4 books: 1 book of 25 paintings/poems for each medium. Over the past 13 years, I have managed to survive by living off my past investments and inheritance monies. It is now August 2021 and I intuitively felt it was time for me to take my work into the public arena. I had my eye on a particular building on the main street of Margaret River that looked ideal for an Art Gallery.
With enough funds left to see me through for a year, I took the plunge and leased the building from December 2021, laying it all on the line saying to myself “ it’s now or never ” and “ I won’t die wondering “.
I have created some unique offerings within my Art Gallery, besides the 70 plus works for sale, there is a Café attachment that provides Tea and Coffee accompanied with rustic wooden seating I made for inside and outside. My Art Gallery is a 2 story building and upstairs I have set aside what I call a “ Healing Chat Room “. “ The Healing Chat Room “provides an opportunity for any person to make an appointment to ask me questions about Spiritual Awakening and what that entails.
It is now May 2022 and I am informed by my landlords of the Forest Grove Farmhouse property that they wish me to leave, it was the end of my lease and they wanted to convert the property into a short term accommodation Farm Stay. At this point in time accommodation was hard to come by in the local region, to say the least. For the next 6 weeks I remained living in one half of the Farmhouse while the other half was being renovated by the owners.I still had 6 months left on my Art Gallery business lease and needed a place to live locally for at least the next 6 months. Back in 2011 I had what was termed a Winter lease in a beach house located in Prevelly. I contacted the owner and by chance I was able to attain another Winter lease which would end coinciding with the end of my Art Gallery lease in December 2022.
It was now December 2022 and decided to live of my Superannuation to continue on with my work. I had nowhere to live locally in Margaret River and my Art Gallery Business had come to an end. I placed all my house hold belongings and Art forms in storage and moved to live with one of my sisters in Perth to work out my next move. I said to my sister I will stay for a month while I find another place to live. After that month had passed we agreed to “ play it by ear “ 2 weeks at a time. During this time at my sisters I began to write a children’s book and paint each individual page. I was always trying to get back to live anywhere in the Southwest and after 14 months I received a phone call from my old neighbour next door to the Forest Grove Farmhouse.
So it’s April 2024 and I move into what I call my "Forest Grove Shack" I am so grateful to be back home in the South West of Western Australia. I am continuing to complete the paintings for my Children’s book and have discovered a new outlet to showcase my work in my local home town called Witchcliffe. On the last Friday night of each month a local Witchcliffe Art gallery called “The Marri Tree“ hold a Poetry recital night called “Witchy Words“ which has a segment called “Open Mike“ for anybody to read there poetry.It is now July 2024 and this is my journey so far. With absolute trust and faith I will continue on my path of what I am here to do. January 2025 I decided to take another chance and approach what could be considered the most prestigious Art Gallery within my region called the Boranup Gallery. I had just recently started a new form of painting style that I describe as Energy Paintings. I was inspired by the Kangaroos that live on my current rental property and took my first example to the owner of the Boranup Gallery. To my surprize he was not only impressed with the piece but suggested I paint a series of these paintings, thus making a bold statement of my work to be displayed in his gallery and as I am writing, I am currently creating these works. Another development to my connection with the Boranup Gallery, I have been made Artist of the Month. I am demonstrating and explaning the creative process of my Energy Paintings to patrons who visit the gallery and chose to chat with me while I work on the front verandah. “ Stay tuned “
Thank you,
Baz Salmon.
Footnote: Sometimes the Truth is the hardest thing to believe!
Prologue:An explanation to what it means to awaken spiritually.To awaken spiritually means foremost to realize for yourself that there is a deeper dimension within you, than what you know of yourself as a person (your personality, your physical body, your mind and thoughts). This deeper dimension is the essence of who you are, as it is with every other physical form (matter) and this essence is what also encapsulates the entirety of everything as no thing.Baz Salmon 29.03.2022
It was July 2005 and I was living in a de-facto relationship with my then partner of 12 years. We had a 2-year-old son and my mother-in-law was also with us. It was a happy home, where we all loved and cared for each other. My mother-in-law came to live with us to care for our child, so my partner could return to work as a Primary School Teacher, after staying at home with our son for the first 2 years of his life. I was employed as a Grounds Manager at a local resort in Broome, Western Australia.
My mother-in-law was an avid reader of magazines and had many subscriptions to a variety of publications. There was always a stack of these magazines piled high on the kitchen benchtop.
I was not much of a reader of anything back then, so some of these magazines may have been there for months. I think it may have been a Sunday morning, I was just relaxing and I started to look through some of the magazines.
I don’t remember the magazine’s publication name, but inside was a small article on a Spiritual book called " The Power of Now " by Eckhart Tolle. There was an accompanying picture of the author and the author’s partner Kim Eng. I deeply resonated with something about the article, and the next day I went to a local Broome bookstore to buy a copy of this spiritual book.
I was not a spiritual seeker and had no formal religious beliefs. I was 44 years of age and had my fair share of ups and downs in life. I had experienced loss and gain, major tragedy and triumphs, had lived hard and worked hard, as was the general cultural expectancy in Australia and with my generation then.
Once I began to read this spiritual book I could not put it down. I did not understand the meaning behind the author’s words, but something within me just kept me engaged with the contents. After reading this spiritual book 5 times continuously, the words began to make sense, I was starting to awaken spiritually.
I continued to read this spiritual book, but not so fanatically, I also started to read other spiritual books by this author. Many changes began to take place in the way I lived. Old unhealthy habits stopped (smoking, excessive alcohol consumption). My eating habits changed to a healthier program. I had changed outwardly so much, people thought there was something wrong, but the more I tried to explain what was happening, the more unbelievable they found it. It was now February 2006 and this was the beginning of my greatest physical transformation. I received an invitation through the mail to attend a 2- hour workshop at a local Broome Art Gallery. In total 20 people took part in the workshop.
We were simply introduced to different paints (oils and acrylics), we didn’t paint anything, just blending the colours for effect. I was mesmerized, I just became one with the paints and before I knew it everybody had gone, except for myself, the Artist Instructor and the Gallery owner. These 2 lovely ladies said to me, ‘you have got something here, just continue painting’.
The next morning just before dawn I arrived at my work as was my practice to avoid the heat of the day. Gazing up into the star-filled night sky I had an experience that I find hard to put into words. I felt like I was at one with the entirety of the Universe I wasn’t separate from the Universe, I was the Universe. As the first light of dawn appeared I outlined sunrise over Roebuck Bay on the palm of my hand. I photocopied my palm in the front office/reception (I still have my colour blending paintings and the photocopy) and over the next 3 weeks, I created my first painting (which I also still have). By May 2006 I had left my job and dedicated myself to painting. At the time I had no explanation for my actions, it was just what I had to do. This course of action that I undertook caused some serious concern to my then partner and in hindsight, I completely understand why. At the time we had major financial commitments involving a large portfolio of investment properties and my decision to leave work to create art cancelled the provision of my income to help service our mortgage debts.
Over the next 18 months, I continued to paint and remained at home caring for our son during the day then working part-time as a night bus driver to help support ourselves and our debt commitments. As a couple, my partner and I were becoming less compatible with no real blame to attribute to the cause besides my spiritual awakening and the changes it caused in me. I was hoping that my partner would have the same experience as I did, if she would just read this spiritual book. To her credit, she did read the spiritual book but it did not have the same effect. In January 2008 we decided to live platonically and moved to an aboriginal community north of Broome where my partner could continue her work as a Primary School teacher. I also was able to work as an education assistant which I found very rewarding.
It was now December 2008 and we had returned to the Margaret River region in the South West of Western Australia, where I first lived 20 years previous. Parting ways amicably I began to live in various houses within the region before settling into a beautiful property (farmhouse) in a region called Rosa Brook. I shared the custody of my son with my ex-partner, who I am happy to say has remained my friend. I now began to read many and varied spiritual books/texts, with the first spiritual books words being the foundation of my spiritual awakening/self-realization. For the next 18 months, I painted continuously, inspired by the plants/flowers and trees around the property. It was a beautiful/intense experience to be so immersed in the moment of creating my paintings, with little else (besides my son) in my life.
It was now May 2011, I moved a few more times till I found a new home in another farming region within the Margaret River District. This place is called Forest Grove which is located 14 kilometers south of Margaret River. I’m renting another farmhouse and have lived here since March 2012.
My Art forms continue to evolve to reveal there true purpose. Through my art forms, I hope to express my awakening/self-realization story and inspire anyone ready to access their spiritual awakening.
In September 2012 I awoke one morning with a complete poem in my head. I had discovered another form of expressing a spiritual message. As I continued to paint I also began to combine poems and paintings with the same title. Over the next 9 years, I continued creating my paintings/poems and also began working with wood to create Chainsaw Sculptures with poems. In addition to this work, I also completed another 100 paintings/poems on Canvas (25), Matt board (25), Ceramic tiles (25) and Wood (25).I intend to release an introductory book/audio (Your True Self) to co-inside with an exhibition of the plants and flowers I painted while living in the Rosa Brook farmhouse, titled “ My time in Rosa Brook “. When the appropriate opportunity arrives I will also publish the 100 paintings/poems in a series of 4 books: 1 book of 25 paintings/poems for each medium. Over the past 13 years, I have managed to survive by living off my past investments and inheritance monies. It is now August 2021 and I intuitively felt it was time for me to take my work into the public arena. I had my eye on a particular building on the main street of Margaret River that looked ideal for an Art Gallery.
With enough funds left to see me through for a year, I took the plunge and leased the building from December 2021, laying it all on the line saying to myself “ it’s now or never ” and “ I won’t die wondering “.
I have created some unique offerings within my Art Gallery, besides the 70 plus works for sale, there is a Café attachment that provides Tea and Coffee accompanied with rustic wooden seating I made for inside and outside. My Art Gallery is a 2 story building and upstairs I have set aside what I call a “ Healing Chat Room “. “ The Healing Chat Room “provides an opportunity for any person to make an appointment to ask me questions about Spiritual Awakening and what that entails.
It is now May 2022 and I am informed by my landlords of the Forest Grove Farmhouse property that they wish me to leave, it was the end of my lease and they wanted to convert the property into a short term accommodation Farm Stay. At this point in time accommodation was hard to come by in the local region, to say the least. For the next 6 weeks I remained living in one half of the Farmhouse while the other half was being renovated by the owners.I still had 6 months left on my Art Gallery business lease and needed a place to live locally for at least the next 6 months. Back in 2011 I had what was termed a Winter lease in a beach house located in Prevelly. I contacted the owner and by chance I was able to attain another Winter lease which would end coinciding with the end of my Art Gallery lease in December 2022.
It was now December 2022 and decided to live of my Superannuation to continue on with my work. I had nowhere to live locally in Margaret River and my Art Gallery Business had come to an end. I placed all my house hold belongings and Art forms in storage and moved to live with one of my sisters in Perth to work out my next move. I said to my sister I will stay for a month while I find another place to live. After that month had passed we agreed to “ play it by ear “ 2 weeks at a time. During this time at my sisters I began to write a children’s book and paint each individual page. I was always trying to get back to live anywhere in the Southwest and after 14 months I received a phone call from my old neighbour next door to the Forest Grove Farmhouse.
So it’s April 2024 and I move into what I call my "Forest Grove Shack" I am so grateful to be back home in the South West of Western Australia. I am continuing to complete the paintings for my Children’s book and have discovered a new outlet to showcase my work in my local home town called Witchcliffe. On the last Friday night of each month a local Witchcliffe Art gallery called “The Marri Tree“ hold a Poetry recital night called “Witchy Words“ which has a segment called “Open Mike“ for anybody to read there poetry.It is now July 2024 and this is my journey so far. With absolute trust and faith I will continue on my path of what I am here to do. January 2025 I decided to take another chance and approach what could be considered the most prestigious Art Gallery within my region called the Boranup Gallery. I had just recently started a new form of painting style that I describe as Energy Paintings. I was inspired by the Kangaroos that live on my current rental property and took my first example to the owner of the Boranup Gallery. To my surprize he was not only impressed with the piece but suggested I paint a series of these paintings, thus making a bold statement of my work to be displayed in his gallery and as I am writing, I am currently creating these works. Another development to my connection with the Boranup Gallery, I have been made Artist of the Month. I am demonstrating and explaning the creative process of my Energy Paintings to patrons who visit the gallery and chose to chat with me while I work on the front verandah. “ Stay tuned “
Thank you,
Baz Salmon.
Footnote: Sometimes the Truth is the hardest thing to believe!
P.S. Completed Childrens book! Called " Seven " 09.10.2024
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Forest Grove Shack (above/below)
Prevelly House (below)
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Forest Grove Farm House (below)
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Witchcliffe Art Studio 2012 (below)
Your True Self
Your true self,what do these words mean?To understand your true self,means going beyond what’s seen.
When we think of self,the thought becomes a trap.Because your true selfis devoid of any map.
Your true selfis beyond all and any thing.It does not exist,In or out the body, as some thing.
When you discover your true self,again it’s not a tangible act.It’s beyond all that’s physical,your true self is no thing in fact.
The self we know,is of this material place.This is the self that is,your true self is within, as empty space.
Your true selfis of the eternal source.That expresses itself in form,then returns as no thing of course.
Another way to explain this truth;Where did every thing come from at first?From the beginning of the Universe,that just happened with a big burst.
What was there before the burst?Well there was absolutely no thing,and this no thing is your true self,that is as no thing, within every thing.
To know yourself as no thingis the destiny of all humankind.And when we all realize this truth,life on Earth will become refined.
Baz Salmon 09.01.13
Your true self,what do these words mean?To understand your true self,means going beyond what’s seen.
When we think of self,the thought becomes a trap.Because your true selfis devoid of any map.
Your true selfis beyond all and any thing.It does not exist,In or out the body, as some thing.
When you discover your true self,again it’s not a tangible act.It’s beyond all that’s physical,your true self is no thing in fact.
The self we know,is of this material place.This is the self that is,your true self is within, as empty space.
Your true selfis of the eternal source.That expresses itself in form,then returns as no thing of course.
Another way to explain this truth;Where did every thing come from at first?From the beginning of the Universe,that just happened with a big burst.
What was there before the burst?Well there was absolutely no thing,and this no thing is your true self,that is as no thing, within every thing.
To know yourself as no thingis the destiny of all humankind.And when we all realize this truth,life on Earth will become refined.
Baz Salmon 09.01.13
My Art Gallery in Margaret River December 2021- December 2022 (below)
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The Great Unknown
What is the great unknown to which I refer to my dear inquisitive reader?and as with all my suggestions please realize there not meant to be personal.You may be a complete spiritual novice or a knowledgeable spiritual seeker,but the absolute truth is the great unknown is beyond our thought carousel.
Let me take you back to 2005 when I had my first glimpse of the great unknown,that came to me in the form of a spiritual text/book called “ The Power of Now “.Up to this point I was totally unaware spiritually just another mind driven clone,and this seems to be quite a common human phenomenon until we discover how.
There is a vast array of spiritual teachings and practises that point to the unknowable,but they will only be of significant benefit if you recognise it is not what you think.Beyond thought is the unknowable and once you realise this anything is possible,and to realise this in and for yourself is the next essential human evolutionary link.
Every person will continue to have there own individual life experience regardless,with or with out this realization or when and where it’s possibilities can take you.We are destined to eventually know the great unknown I most confidently suggest,and when you are ready you will recognize what I am suggesting is absolutely true.
Connecting with the great unknown can lead you down a completely new life path,or you continue to do what you do but in a different way that can feel brand new.The deeper you delve into this new way of being brings acceptance of the aftermath,and accepting the aftermath can be quite a challenge but it is designed just for you.
Choices will need to be made as you continue with everyday life and it’s challengers,plus these challengers are necessary for you by trusting in not knowing the outcome.What I am suggesting here is to be fearless and back yourself against all the doubters,and no matter what happens you must always dance to the beat of your own drum.
In my own life experience the great unknown has led me to this art gallery for now,and provided me with another situation to share the absolute truth through my art.The great unknown will provide what you require in all forms of abundance and how,and all you have to do is trust in what is being expressed openly through your heart.
Baz Salmon 18.01.2022
Let me take you back to 2005 when I had my first glimpse of the great unknown,that came to me in the form of a spiritual text/book called “ The Power of Now “.Up to this point I was totally unaware spiritually just another mind driven clone,and this seems to be quite a common human phenomenon until we discover how.
There is a vast array of spiritual teachings and practises that point to the unknowable,but they will only be of significant benefit if you recognise it is not what you think.Beyond thought is the unknowable and once you realise this anything is possible,and to realise this in and for yourself is the next essential human evolutionary link.
Every person will continue to have there own individual life experience regardless,with or with out this realization or when and where it’s possibilities can take you.We are destined to eventually know the great unknown I most confidently suggest,and when you are ready you will recognize what I am suggesting is absolutely true.
Connecting with the great unknown can lead you down a completely new life path,or you continue to do what you do but in a different way that can feel brand new.The deeper you delve into this new way of being brings acceptance of the aftermath,and accepting the aftermath can be quite a challenge but it is designed just for you.
Choices will need to be made as you continue with everyday life and it’s challengers,plus these challengers are necessary for you by trusting in not knowing the outcome.What I am suggesting here is to be fearless and back yourself against all the doubters,and no matter what happens you must always dance to the beat of your own drum.
In my own life experience the great unknown has led me to this art gallery for now,and provided me with another situation to share the absolute truth through my art.The great unknown will provide what you require in all forms of abundance and how,and all you have to do is trust in what is being expressed openly through your heart.
Baz Salmon 18.01.2022
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