Adventures in Bliss

Adventures in Bliss

"You're Never too Old to Follow Your Bliss."

– me

I had a first career as a psychologist before “The Voice” let me know that it was time to change course. And I should take a camera with me. And share. And help endangered species.

So my second career began at age 50 as a wildlife documentary producer. And I lived my dream. My mission was to “honor the wild things and those who care for them.” My nature photography honors this mission as well.

I’ve recently discovered the title for who I am. I’m a Spiritual Ecologist, and I’ve become more politically active in efforts to protect the earth. And humanity.

I’ve written children’s books (and a couple are incubating now).

I’m ready for what’s next!

First Career -
Psychology

Me in a borrowed robe having some fun with my son taking high school graduation photos

About My Psychology Career

I wasn’t aware of The Voice when I started college or when I finished my doctoral program at the University of Iowa. But it was clear that my mission on the planet was to be a teacher and a healer. I was called to give back to others what had been given to me by my Unity counselor in high school.
 
I also discovered a love for statistics and research design in my undergraduate Psychology program, and ended up with a minor in the area in my doctoral program. Not for everyone, to be sure, but it was exciting for me.
 
I was also privileged to teach some of the first women’s studies classes in the country in the early 70s. My credentials to teach in this area: I had taken a class in it. THOSE were exciting times!
 

Over the years I worked in many areas of psychology, from university professor to private practice to community mental health to college administration. My last gig was curriculum development and supervising dissertation research.

My vita is here to download if you’re interested:  Avianna Jones Resume

Second Career -
Wildlife Documentary Production

“I say, follow your bliss and don’t be afraid, and doors will open
where you didn’t know they were going to be.
If you follow your bliss,
doors will open for you that wouldn’t have opened for anyone else.”

– JOSEPH CAMPBELL

Off to document barriers to Steelhead trout migration in Orange County, California. Note that the pilot had been kind enough to remove the door so I could get better shots. It was a wild ride!

The Voice and Career Change

So my son was off to college, following his Bliss in music, and it was time to figure out what I wanted to do next.
 
What was my Bliss? I knew it was bigger than supervising dissertation research. It had to be.
 
I always knew video was the most powerful medium on the planet. And I knew I was in love with the earth. And one day a voice (“The Voice”) said very clearly that I needed to produce videos to make a difference for endangered species.
 
I knew nothing about video production. Cameras, shooting, B-Rolls, editing, production details, marketing. Nada. Zilch. Zero. Nothing.
 

Turns out that Apple was just launching Final Cut Pro, and Sony had launched a broadcast quality video camera, the TRV-900. So I bit the bullet, followed my dream, clicked the “Buy” button online, and formed Swallow Creek Productions in 1999. Turned out a friend from high school, Bill Baker, knew about the video production business, and he joined me for awhile.

I had the gear. Now I needed to learn how to use it.

Find the Best Teachers

One thing I know for sure: When you want to learn something, find the best teachers.
 
It just so happened that Apple was offering training for Final Cut Pro, so I took all the workshops. I remember one workshop at AFI when I was literally sitting at the feet of Josh Mellicker, the trainer for Apple.
 

And it just so happened that ProMax in Orange County was offering training on all things video related.

Sign me up!

DV Revolutionaries

In those days, we called ourselves DV (Digital Video) Revolutionaries. It was a subversive act, to be sure. But with the advancement in technologies, for less than $10K, your voice could be heard and your message could get out.
 
Today everyone can shoot and edit videos with their phones and post them on YouTube for the world to see. It’s hard to remember back to the times when the control of video production was in the hands of the major television and film studios. If the pitch for your project wasn’t successful, your voice would never be heard.
 
And I hoped to be a voice for the planet.
 

Swallow Creek Productions

My first project was a documentary on the Swallows of Capistrano. They didn’t nest at Mission San Juan Capistrano anymore, and I discovered where they went: Saddleback College, just 4 miles up the creek.

It was a magical day. These little guys had just returned from their migration from South America and were feeding on insects in flight and dipping their beaks in the creek for a drink. And they were courting and pairing up for the season.

I had found my Bliss. Behind a camera, witnessing the lives of amazing beings on the planet. And sharing it with others.

When I finished shooting that day, I knew that I wanted to name the production company after that magical experience, and I chose the name Swallow Creek Productions.

A good friend’s son, Chris Posthuma, is an amazing graphic designer and created the logo to capture the swooping swallows over the creek. The shape of the swallow was inspired by a Hopi design. I still love it.


 

My Dream Come True

After the Swallows of Capistrano project, I did a fundraising video for the Orange County Bird of Prey Center (Second Chances), and somehow the Catalina Island Conservancy found out about it.
 
The Catalina Island Foxes were in danger of extinction. They were dying of canine distemper, probably transmitted by an infected dog visiting from the mainland.
 
And the foxes were dying due to predation by Golden Eagles who took over the island after the Bald Eagles disappeared. Their disappearance was due to the effects of DDT on the thickness of their eggshells. The Bald Eagles could not successfully reproduce and apparently, golden eagles like to eat island foxes.
 
In 2000, ninety percent of the foxes had perished. Less than 100 remained. Fortunately, the Conservancy was determined to save them, whatever it took.
 
The Conservancy wanted us to document the efforts to save the foxes from the brink of extinction. So in 2002, our documentary, “Tracks in the Sand: Saving the Catalina Island Fox” was completed.
 
Here’s an 11 minute version of the 30 minute documentary

The full 30 minute version is on the Swallow Creek Productions YouTube channel.

We won lots of awards for this video, including 2 Tellys.

Happy Endings

Actually the HAPPIEST of endings. The status of the Catalina Island Fox has been changed from endangered to threatened. This is due to the implementation of the Environmental Protection Act and the partnership of the National Park Service, The Nature Conservancy, Santa Catalina Island Conservancy and Institute for Wildlife Studies. Fox populations on three other channel islands have been delisted entirely, and the Catalina Island Foxes are hopefully on the way.

It was a dream come true to be part of this effort and in the company of these amazing beings, humans included.

Other Blissful Projects

Any and all videos in nature were pure Bliss. You’ll find them, and others, at the Swallow Creek Productions website and the Swallow Creek Productions YouTube channel.
 

I followed my Bliss and lived my dream. Dreams DO come true!

Swallow Creek Productions
 
Swallow Creek Productions YouTube Channel

The Present -
Spiritual Ecology

“The goal of life is living in agreement with Nature.”

– ZENO

Visiting the Ancient Oak in Idyllwild

The Voice Speaks Again

When The Voice makes itself known, it’s usually during some mundane activity. I had just returned from a conference and had heard Danny Sheehan speak. He is one of my heroes and works tirelessly as a civil rights attorney and activist. Hearing him speak left me feeling like a lazy, well educated, privileged white woman. I didn’t like it.

Bella and her friend Stavro witnessing enlightenment at the Dog Park

Then one day at the dog park, on my way to pick up the pooper scooper, I heard The Voice.

“Spiritual Ecology,” it said.

“What?” I said.

“Spiritual Ecology,” it said again.

It didn’t exactly say, “Look it up, dummy,” but I admit that I was a little confused. I was not familiar with the term.

I looked it up. It was who I am, and who I have been all along. Now there’s a classification for this way of being in the world. I’m a Spiritual Ecologist.

I believe that all things are conscious and sentient, and deserving of our respect, gratitude and protection. All life is connected. And all life is sacred. And EVERYTHING is alive.

And I’m happy to find out that not alone.

What to do now …

In the summer of 2019, deforestation of the Amazon was at a new high and the rainforest was burning out of control. After grieving the loss of life, it was time to take action. Contribute to organizations supporting the rainforest and its indigenous groups. Find kindred spirits. Show up and be counted. Rinse. Repeat.
Global Day of Action for the Amazon. Sept. 5, 2019

What Next?????

I’m getting some ideas for a children’s book to promote a deeper connection to nature. Hopefully, by seeing themselves in nature – and as a part of nature – children will develop more empathy and compassion for our companions on this beautiful planet. And we will be more kind to all living things. That’s the only thing that will save the planet that loves and supports us all. And the only thing that will save us.

 

“When all the trees have been cut down,

when all the animals have been hunted,

when all the waters are polluted,

when all the air is unsafe to breathe,

only then will you discover you cannot eat money.”

 

– CREE PROPHECY

About the Catalina Island Photo

I didn’t take this photo during the Catalina Island Fox project, but a few years later.

The mountain town of Big Bear was concerned about drought conditions that were killing the trees. Bark beetles were invading and the trees could not fend them off. A group of believers in energy medicine brought a Medicine Man to Big Bear to conduct a ceremony to repair the ley lines – conduits of energy that support the Earth.

A Medicine Wheel ceremony was created. With Big Bear at the center, spokes radiating out 150 miles in six directions were designated. At the appointed time, before dawn, the healing ceremonies began at all locations and lasted all day.

Within a week, an unexpected and unpredicted storm brought record amounts of snow to the mountain, filling mountain lakes and stranding unprepared motorists. A miracle, some said.

Soon after the ceremony we took a day to fly over the sites and document them. We made a stop on Catalina Island, and I was able to get an aerial shot of the foxes’ home and wish them well. A magical day.