Meet J. L. Robbins | Artist, Author and Craftsman

We had the good fortune of connecting with J. L. Robbins and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi J. L., why did you pursue a creative career?
I wouldn’t necessarily say that I pursued it as much as it pursued me. The need to create was something that has been with me for as long as I can remember. I’m sure many have had the same feeling with other lifelong passions, but the creative ones seem to be the most common. Perhaps it’s because as infants, our lives exist of nothing but imagination, curiosity and creativity. That is our pure and original state. As we get older though, existing in a culture that tends to encourage the scientific and empiric over works of the imagination, these things sadly often get suppressed. For me, no matter what paths I seemed to take, or other jobs and pursuits I found myself on, that “creative urge” would always find a way to rear its head in one form or another. And not always with the healthiest results.
Finally, I came to discover that it was probably best to make friends with this “thing”, and give it the attention it so desperately seemed to need.
As strange and magical as it is to create, and I do believe that it is one of the most powerful links between us and what we call the Divine, regarding choosing it as a career and the mystique that life often brings to mind, it’s not always pretty. I don’t know if I would recommend it unless that wolf really insists on being fed.
That being said, not everyone is meant for a life in “Fine Arts” (Painting, Music, and Dance). That doesn’t necessarily mean that one can’t be an artist. The way you communicate with others, the way you for care for others, a passion for things growing, for cooking, everything can be approached as an artistic expression. Even the Alchemists called the work that one does on oneself “The Ultimate Art.”

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
Well, I was born in Virginia Beach, Va. and moved to Los Angeles around the end of 97′. While growing up, I seemed to have developed an early appetite for art, folklore, superstitions and the esoteric. Not being aware that one could dedicate ones life to such endeavours, and frankly not having much if any external encouragement to pursue those passions, I of course moved on, was sent to military school, then went to work on tugboats running up and down the East Coast.
In the early 90s I attended The Art Institute of Pittsburgh, where I received an Associates in Industrial Design and a Specialized degree in Special Effects.
Once I moved to Los Angeles though things changed quite a bit. Quickly disenchanted with the Film Industry, its politics, its mindset, and the path it was on at the time (hasn’t gotten much better since), I decided to begin painting as profession. It was a creative medium that I had complete control over from beginning to end.
After about a decade and a half of painting and having international exhibits, winning awards, and having magazine articles written about my work, I found that the “Art Scene” had also left me with a really nasty feeling that was driving my creativity into ever darker and unhealthy realms.
For a few years after, I stopped everything creative. It was a trying time, a lot of anger, a lot of bitterness, a complete existential and identity crisis. It had gotten to the point of being quite debilitating. It was then that someone had mentioned to me “meditation”. What did I have to loose, right?
After I had gotten into meditation, all the folklore, all the mythology, and that hunger for the esoteric that I’d felt as a child returned in a powerful flood. I still didn’t know what I was going to with this “reawakening”, and soon found myself in what can only be referred to as a Dark Night of the Soul.
During this time though, an interesting event happened. One day I came across a Possum in the communal garden where I live. Now I found this meeting quite strange, especially being during the day. We actually did hang out for a while before he had to leave, a just sitting around and staring at each other kind of thing. I later then asked myself, why did I see him, what did that meeting mean? I came to the conclusion that when we think of a Possum, we think of it as being the animal that “plays dead”. Well the Possum doesn’t really play dead, it withdraws all its senses and lowers it heart rate when it finds itself in a “stressful” situation. Many other animals also have this ability. It’s called “Torpor”. Also, this is exactly what happens during meditation. The little grey fellow was telling me that I needed to go within.
Well, after that meeting I proceeded to draw a picture of that Possum with a hooded cloak, staff and lantern (kind of Hermit Tarot style) and thought nothing more of it until a friend suggested that I tell his tale in the form of a story for children. I must say, having never written a story, that didn’t sound like a pleasant venture. But a seed had somehow taken root, and I did eventually set forth to write the story. About 2 or 3 years ago I finished writing, illustrating and had “Tyrfell” published.
It tells the tale of a young orphaned Hedgehog, Hermin who crosses paths with an old shaman, a Possum named Grimson. Together they set out on an epic adventure to a holy mountain to preserve an ancient relic which contains all of the wisdom and magic of animal kind. It was written with the feeling of an Elder who was about to pass on and leave a book of magic, morals and wisdom to their child.
After that I made a deal with myself (and that creative force), if I was going to “seriously create” again, my motivations and intentions would have to be completely different. The inspiration would have to come from altogether different and more pure source. If I was going to make “Art” again it would have to heal. If it doesn’t heal or raise the consciousness of the participant in some way, it’s not Art.
Not long after releasing Tyrfell out into the world, I began looking for a traditional frame drum to deepen my own practices. Oddly enough, I was unable to find one anywhere nearby. I thought, really, in “Spiritual” LA, I can’t find one? So, after tracking down the raw materials and studying a bit of traditional drum making, I decided to give it a go.
Once my friends saw what I was now doing, they began wanting some for themselves and word got out I guess. Thus I started to making more drums, and began to experiment with various hides and sizes, finding each one to have its own unique sound and feel.
I later began adding hand-painted symbols and magical staves to the faces of the drums and making talismanic jewelry.
The rattles are also handcrafted, made of Deer or Elk hide and filled with different things to achieve their desired tones. Some are even trimmed with various furs to draw in the power of that specific animal.
One of the most interesting things about what I do is the rabbit hole I’ve found myself being led down. For instance, to learn that each animal contains its own energies, and how one can come to work with those energies. To realize how each drum sings a different song, and in its own way responds to the elements, being of the elements themselves: Wood frame and animal hide= Earth, The song of the drum= Air, and it is tuned by the balancing of Fire and Water.

What am I most proud of?

Most? Well that’s a difficult one. A few sharable things do come to mind though.
I’m quite proud of “Tyrfell”. I still often tell people that it’s the best of me.
I’m very proud and equally humbled by the response and support Ravens’ Folk has received from serious practitioners who have taken it upon themselves to preserve and reawaken the Old Ways.
We happen to be walking this earth in some strange times where the wisdom, knowledge and beliefs of our forefathers is disappearing at an accelerated rate. Whether this is regular evolution or part of a larger plan, we’ll have to save that discussion for another time. But I do think of each of these practitioners as the ones carrying the large weight of preserving those ancient gifts. I’m so thankful that even if it’s in some minor way, I can assist them with their task.
I’d have to say that I’m pretty proud of the fact that I had always believed that a life well lived was when you have your “normal/ everyday/ trying to survive” life, your spiritual life and your creative life all working in harmony and aiding each other. I feel as though I’ve somewhat achieved that, or am on my way to having those different paths all braided together. That’s a good feeling.
Also, after resetting my artistic compass to healing, and within a year of launching Ravens’ Folk, my wife and I had the honor and privilege of being invited backstage with the band Heilung after one of their local rituals. There I was able to gift Annicke Shireen, one of group’s powerful feminine energies and singers, with a handmade rattle which she now uses on stage. What a humbling honor and strange turn of events. I changed my creative vision to one of healing, and with a year my work assists in bringing healing to the world through a band who’s name “Heilung” in German literally means Healing. I’m pretty proud of that. I believe that when you’re where you’re supposed to be and doing what you’re doing what you’re supposed to be doing, little signs will begin to appear to give you a bit of confirmation.

Was it easy?

No, of course not. It’s not supposed to be. If it had been a smooth road, it wouldn’t have been the right road. Even the seed must break its husk and fight in the darkness before it’s able to reach the light, right?
I never planned on starting or running my own business. It was the furthest thing from my mind. Ravens’ Folk initially came about from me wanting a drum, but not being able to find one.
That led to word getting out. Slowly more products then began to develop: more frame drums, drum beaters, rattles, jewelry, leather pouches, runes, etc. and I was then thrust into the 21st century kicking and screaming: getting my first mobile phone (at 49), getting Facebook, getting Instagram and starting a website.
It still feels quite surreal.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
Hiking the trails up to the Observatory is definitely worth the time.
The lectures by Dr. Stephan Hoeller at the Besant Lodge on Beachwood are always mind blowing.
But I’d have to say when I’m able to get out to the Sunset/ PCH area, I always try to make a stop by Lake Shire. That’s definitely one of the first places I’d take anyone who comes to visit. There is a level of peace and tranquillity there that I’ve found in very few other parts of the city.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
Don’t think I’ve ever given a “shout out” before. But, if I must, I’d like to direct it to all those who have sacrificed so much to pass down and preserve their wisdom, myth, and magic; an inheritance as precious as the air we breath.

Website: https://www.ravensfolk.com

Instagram: www.instagram/ravensfolk

Facebook: www.facebook/ravensfolk

Other: “Tyrfell” is available on Amazon and through most bookstores.

Image Credits
drums.jpg, jewelry.jpg, JL Robbins with drum.jpg Photo credit: Nelly Recchia

Annicke Shireen photo credit: Adam Colwell

Grimson and Hermin.jpg illustration: JL Robbins