Gabriel Maharshi // Artist & Innovator // Exploring the Landscape of America

What would you do if you were totally free?

I needed to know the answer to this question. So I embarked on a journey across the western United States.

My journey started in Indiana, my homestate, when I left in late October with a friend headed straight west. After 3 days of driving in my motorhome we arrived in Denver, CO. My friend split off and took a rental straight west to family in California, and I went South to Arizona.

Exploring the Grand Canyon, AZ in November '15. This was just the beginning of my journey.

My next stop was in Quartzsite, AZ just off of I-10 near the boarder of California. Every winter thousands gather to form a seasonal hub of fleamarkets and gemshows. I stayed here in January before hopping onto Tucson for the International Gem and Mineral show in February. Here is a picture I took from atop a mountain after a hike!

(Lake Tahoe, CA in March '16)

After Tucson I ended up staying with a friend in Phoenix and we decided to go on an epic road trip around the west coast. This was an incredible tangent to this journey.

We made our way north to Las Vegas and then Reno before breaking into the Golden State. This was my first taste of what the Pacific Northwest was like. We spend the night camping on a lake.

When I met Oregon it was love at first sight. The lush greenery, the rolling hills and mountains. The fresh crisp air enveloped me. It was like I was in another world. This is one of the first places that I truly felt at home.

I had the pleasure of staying in Ashland for just over a week in the Spring of '16 and it was absolutely wonderful. I attended a Psychedelic Conference that was hosted at Southern Oregon University and it really opened my eyes to this aspect of our culture.

Ashland, OR in April '16

(View of a mountain from a lake in Portland, OR in May '16)

Portland is a strange and magical place. I ended up spending 2 and a half months in this mystical place and I am excited to find my way back there. Lots of magical souls inhabit this space.

Monday Funday at Coronel Summers Park in Portland Oregon in May '16

A participant driven party in the park every Monday.

San Fransisco is far too busy for my lifestyle...

I spent just over a week in San Fransisco and I felt like an ant in a maze. A people maze.

The drive home always seems so much faster than the drive there... Back down to Phoenix, AZ.

My journey continued on to take me to the Midwest for a Spiritual Gathering in Ohio in July. After 3 weeks of visiting I ended up in Indiana, my home state. I stayed with my mother there for a month. I ended up in Michigan for a week in September to connect with friends and help with projects.

Then the wind blew me westward for seasonal work on an orchard. This showed me the lush greenery of the pacific northwest once again. I spent about 2 months in California working and then another 3 weeks visiting with friends and relaxing. By chance I aligned a ride with a friend down to Phoenix once again, where I like to spend part of my winters, and stayed with a friend while exploring the city. I finished my winter between Quartzsite and Tucson. These are some of my favorite places to be for the winter. The weather attracts all sorts of folks in search of paradise.

After the gemshow I left for Colorado, where I am residing now. My journey will continue to take me back east, for a few events and to visit with friends and family. I don't have definite plans aside from pursuing further education in Horology (watchmaking) in 2018. I have learned a lot about myself and about others on this trip. It has been a year full of life changing experiences.

Visit my website gabrielmaharshi.net to view my current jewelry and crystal collection.