The Courtship of Tara

A few years ago I began telling a story to in-person audiences called “The Courtship of Tara.” I also developed it into a kind of story-board, intending to find a visionary artist to render it into a series of seven psychedelic-style drawings. At the beginning of this year I shared the story with two amazing artists, Myztico Campo and Damaris Vazquez; they loved it and agree to have a go.

Imagine my surprise when instead of a series of still paintings, they produced a lavish 8-minute film combining interpretive dance with visionary art and photography, Here it is:

I’ll copy the credits below and add an important note at the end, but first I want to say that this collaboration was entirely free of money. If you want to support this work, you can donate at the Venmo addresses listed after the credits.

Here is a bio from Myztico and Damaris:

Myztico campo is a unique visionary artist inspired by interdimensional, psychedelic, and prehistoric art who is also a filmmaker, musician, painter, digital artist, muralist, and black light curator. Damaris Vazquez is a fine art nude photographer, director, painter, filmmaker, digital artist, dancer and writer inspired by archetypes. Together they are "awakening the divine healing medicine in self and others thru the artistic process, and divine fun". Together as "Ultraviolet Alchemy" they are honored to collaborate with Charles Eisenstein. It was a joy to realize "The Courtship of Tara" with him, and they look forward to more!. Follow them on Instagram @myztico_campo, @damaris_vazquez_photography and check out their websites at myzticocampo.com, damarisvazquez.com. Also see their upstate "meow wolf style" interactive art work they are doing with a collective called Beyond which you can visit at seebeyond.art. They are available to tour and for private and communal commissions, mural, photo, video, performance, festivals etc in NY and Beyond. 607-227-0205 Contact us with any commissions, queries, or to schedule your bodypaint sessions.

And here are the credits:

Story & script: Charles Eisenstein (charleseisenstein.org)
Directed, filmed, edited, casted, sound design, body art, animation, and photography: Myztico Campo and Damaris Vazquez (aka Ultraviolet Alchemy)
Music: Dawoud Kringle "Arcane Messages" www.godsunrulyfriends.com
End music: WaveArt

Cast:
World Man: Armus GB (voice by Myztico)
Gaia: Santa Rose (voice by Libby Kirkpatrick)
Tara: Via @viacarpenter

To support our continuing work, you may donate at the following Venmo links: @MYZTICO-CAMPO
@QUEEN_SQUIX
@ Dawoud-Kringle
And at https://charleseisenstein.org/donate/

P.S. The Courtship of Tara is also the scaffolding story for the musical I’m collaborating on. The story came to me in a similar way that A Gathering of the Tribe and a few others have. It isn’t really made up. To me it feels like a true story. Because it doesn’t really come from me, I would like to put it into the public domain for anyone to illustrate, enact, or elaborate. Feel free to use or retell the story however you wish, no permission needed. The original script/storyboard is here.