Rempel's Last Dance: The Magic & Mysticism Behind Lotus & Nelson Ledges
Words by Zachary Andrew Franck | Photos by B. Hockensmith
Rempel’s last dance encapsulated the magic and mysticism behind Lotus and Nelson Ledges with divine sensibility. These words have been racing around my mind all week as I fight to decide whether to chase them or wait for them to slow down. These emotions have been bleeding from my heart as I shift from applying pressure to licking my wounds. To say that Lotus, Mike Rempel, Nelson Ledges, and Summerdance as a whole have had a profound impact on my life would be a gross understatement. The lessons, love, and perspective that I’ve gained through these shared experiences are priceless, and although I haven’t been able to practice and apply all of them on a consistent basis just yet, I have faith that they’ll be waiting for me once I am ready.
My fifth Summerdance may not have gone exactly how I originally envisioned it, but maybe it unfolded exactly how I needed it to. One of the main themes of the weekend was change; when it was announced that founding member and lead guitarist Mike Rempel was officially departing Lotus after twenty years and that Summerdance would be his final shows, I knew in my heart that an incredibly impactful chapter of my life would be coming to a close. Over the course of the weekend, it became more and more apparent – it was intense, it was emotional, it was sad, it was scary, it was beautiful. It captured the reality of life in all its pain and glory, the light of those sunny afternoons swimming in the quarry and the darkness of those nights spent lost in the woods intertwined with imperfect synchronicity that only a power greater than ourselves can fully understand.
The self-mastery that Rempel has spent his entire life working on and sharing through various mediums is rooted in many themes, but his ability to surrender is awe-inspiring. I never saw him fighting for control of the music (songwriting or improvisation), his bandmates, or his fanbase. For somebody in that position to possess that poise… I’d imagine that it takes a lot of quiet work to constantly display it with genuine authenticity. He went with the flow even when he may have been fearful of it at times, but was courageous enough to walk away when it no longer served him and he could no longer serve it with poise and the genuine authenticity in his heart. It’s time for him to surrender to the flow so his creek can carve out a new path in the stone that’s buried in the earth around him.
It’s true, Nelson Ledges Quarry Park is a place that’s rooted in magic and mysticism. It can be enchanting or spooky depending on distinct moments and certain situations. The Ledges hold many life lessons for human beings with hearts and minds of all shapes and sizes: quiet communication, deep listening, patience for ourselves and the ones around us, and respect for the earth and our surroundings. It’s up to us to be honest, open, and willing to hear, feel, and see these life lessons then accept them and utilize them for the good of ourselves, the people around us, and the strangers that may need us most. While actions will always speak louder than words, words are pretty damn powerful, so we must be conscious of this when we speak and when we listen. Please remember that all of us have the ability to make mistakes, even in a setting as special as Summerdance – do not beat yourself up or beat up on the ones you love. Last but certainly not least, do your best to clean up after yourself while stepping forth to do service when others are unable to - this is a key element to enriching the human experience.
While some fans are excited about the future, many are afraid of what is coming - a lot of them don’t fully understand it, and I don’t blame them. To these people, I say this, the sound and style of Lotus has continuously changed while never fully detaching from their roots for the past two decades – it’s vital that we look at the bigger picture and come to this realization for ourselves, so each of us can truly live life on life’s terms. Rempel is the soul, Luke is the mind, Jesse is the heartbeat, Chuck and Greenfield are the backbone… Tim will be the adrenaline that pushes them in the marathon from this point forward;
and always remember, the soul never truly leaves.
It’s been a pleasure writing about this band’s music and I’m grateful for every single one of you that has read my words, shared my posts, and sent me messages of support over the years. Thank you to Michael Rempel for leading by example. Thank you to Mike Greenfield for always looking out. Most of all, thank you to Lotus. The next incarnation of The Passion Collective is coming once my heart, mind, and spirit are in sync.
Goodbye for now,
Zachary Andrew Franck
