Imagine a NATION of Creative Artists!
Independence from the Status Quo…
A virtual global nation of “Creative Artists,United, in Transforming the World by
Transforming Entertainment, Arts and Media… from Within™”
You don’t need a passport - You’re a Creative - You’re a naturalized Citizen!
GATE has received interest and supportive communications from entertainment, arts and media
professionals in 70 nations. Many of them have expressed their desire to bring GATE to their home countries.
We intend establish GATE chapters in these locations, with local support, as we are able.
After all, where there’s . . .
"When in darkness introduce light. This is the principle of the Second Element.
Don’t fumble around in the darkness, just flip on the light switch and introduce light.
Our minds have a tendency to grope around in darkness trying to figure out a solution.
How do we bring light? Every artist is a light switch, but must be plugged into the
source and given the support to be that light in the darkness. Think of GATE NATION as a light source. It exists for the purpose of dispelling darkness and bringing light worldwide through entertainment, arts and media content that is created from a deeper level of consciousness.”
—John Raatz
GATE Nation is an online Global Country of “Creative Artists Transforming the World
by Transforming Entertainment, Arts and Media… from Within”
How do we bring light? Every artist is a light switch, but must be plugged into the source and given the support to be that light in the darkness.
Think of GATE NATION as a light source. It exists for the purpose of dispelling darkness and bringing light worldwide through entertainment,
arts and media content that is created from a deeper level of consciousness.
Across continents, cultures, and disciplines, creative artists are bound by a quiet truth: their needs are remarkably alike. Wherever creativity takes root, artists face the same questions, the same obstacles, the same search for time, space, support, and recognition.
And just as shared are their hopes. The hope to be heard. The dream to create work that matters, that resonates, that endures. Though the languages may differ and the stages may change, the creative spirit speaks with a common voice—driven by imagination, sustained by resilience, and united by the belief that art has the power to shape how we see the world, and ourselves.
GATEnation - A Platform for
Creative Professionals
In light of both history and the unfolding realities of our time, it has become undeniably clear: the way society treats and undervalues Creatives—those working in entertainment, the arts, and media—demands our attention, our voice, and our action. Creatives shape culture, spark imagination, and influence the collective consciousness. Yet, too often, their contributions are marginalized, their livelihoods compromised, and their creative integrity challenged.
This moment calls for a reawakening.
It is time for creative professionals to boldly reexamine and fundamentally reconsider the very conventions, assumptions, and inherited rules that have long shaped their business practices, professional relationships, and industry norms. These old models—rooted in exploitation, commodification, and short-term gain—no longer serve the well-being of Creatives, nor do they honor the profound role of creativity in human evolution.
We must envision and build a new paradigm—one grounded in mutual respect, transparency, sustainability, and the recognition that creative expression is not merely a product, but a vital force that enriches society, elevates culture, and nourishes the human spirit.
This platform invites Creatives everywhere to:
Reclaim agency over their work, their voice, and the value they bring.
Redefine business principles to reflect integrity, collaboration, and ethical stewardship.
Establish practices that protect creative freedom and ensure fair compensation.
Cultivate solidarity among creative professionals, supporting each other rather than competing within outdated systems.
Set new standards for how creativity is valued, protected, and exchanged in the world.
The time has come to reshape the creative economy—not from the outside, but from within—by those who imagine, express, and transform.
Let us lead with vision, courage, and conscience.
GATEnation - Two Pillars:
Economy and Distribution
For decades, I have walked alongside creative artists—sometimes as an advocate, sometimes as a quiet listener, and often as a trusted confidant. In rehearsal rooms, editing bays, studios, theaters, and late-night coffee shops where ideas are born, I have witnessed the inner landscape of the creative soul. The exhilaration of inspiration. The agony of doubt. The unwavering desire to create something meaningful. And the persistent, almost universal questions that sit at the heart of every creator’s journey.
Creators live in two worlds. One is internal—filled with vision, intuition, concepts, and forces they can barely name yet feel compelled to express. The other is external—the gritty terrain of contracts, budgets, platforms, audiences, markets, and gatekeepers. It is in the tension between these two worlds that the creative spirit both struggles and is forged.
Through countless conversations, I have seen the invisible, emotional architecture that shapes a creative life: ambition and vulnerability, passion and uncertainty, the thrill of possibility paired with the fear of invisibility. There is often a quiet ache beneath the surface—an ache to be seen, heard, valued, understood. Not merely for the work they produce, but for the meaning behind it.
And across generations, industries, and disciplines, two questions have remained constant, echoing in the minds and hearts of artists, writers, filmmakers, musicians, designers, and media makers alike:
How do I make money?
How can my work be seen, experienced, appreciated, and shared?
These two pillars—economy and distribution—are not merely logistical hurdles; they are emotional ones. They shape a creator’s sense of legitimacy, belonging, purpose, identity, and future. They are not just about survival—they are about resonance, impact, and legacy.
When a creative asks “How do I make money?,” what they often mean is, “How do I sustain this work I was born to do—without sacrificing its soul or abandoning my purpose?”And when they ask, “How can my work be seen?,” they are really asking, “Where does my voice belong in the world? Will it matter? Will anyone care?”
And when they ask, “How can my work be seen?,” they are really asking, “Where does my voice belong in the world? Will it matter? Will anyone care?”
Because for most creatives, it is not merely about commercial success. It is about connection. To be witnessed. To make something that moves another human being—in thought, in feeling, in spirit.
Over the years, I have seen how profoundly these two questions shape the creative body, mind, and spirit. They influence confidence, motivation, and even identity. They can fuel purpose—or erode it.
Yet I have also seen something extraordinary: when creatives are given the support, systems, tools, and community to address these two questions—not superficially, but intelligently, ethically, and sustainably—their work flourishes. Their voices amplify. Their confidence deepens. And their creativity becomes not just expressive, but transformative.
• This is the future of creative life.
• Where artistry and sustainability are not
adversaries.
• Where distribution becomes not just exposure,
but expansion.
• Where making money is not a compromise—but
a continuation of purpose.
• Where the creative voice is not only heard,
but honored.
And perhaps most importantly:
Where the creative no longer feels alone in the journey.
—John Raatz
Does geography matter
for creatives?
For creatives—artists, writers, filmmakers, designers, musicians, storytellers—the question of place is often underestimated.
We talk about passion, discipline, inspiration, technology, networking… but seldom do we ask: Does geography matter?
The answer: Absolutely. Geography affects mindset, opportunity, access, perception, energy, and even creative identity.
Where you live—and what surrounds you—can either nourish your creative spirit or slowly drain it.
“It’s our duty as men and women to proceed as though the limits to our
abilities do not exist.
We are collaborators in creation…
The Future of the earth is in our hands”
—PIERRE TEIHARD DE CHARDIN
Geography matters for creatives, but not in a single, fixed way. It shapes opportunity, community, pace, access, and inspiration—but it no longer wholly defines them. In the contemporary creative life, outer geography and inner geography interact. The landscape you live in influences what you make, and the landscape you cultivate within determines how, why, and at what depth you create.
Below is a way to understand both—and a guide to building an “inner studio” that travels with you wherever you go.
1. Outer Geography: How Place Shapes the Creative Path
Access and Infrastructure
Some places provide dense networks of collaborators, patrons, institutions, and distribution channels. Major creative cities—Los Angeles, New York, London, Berlin—offer proximity to industry and other creators. This can accelerate learning, broaden exposure, and open doors that might otherwise take years to find.
Community and Culture
Creative expression thrives in environments where imagination is socially supported. Cities, towns, or scenes with vibrant artistic cultures generate friction, conversation, and inspiration. The presence—or absence—of a creative tribe influences resilience and momentum.
Cost and Lifestyle
Some environments offer affordability, time, and mental space; others provide energy but demand financial sacrifice. The conditions of daily life matter because creativity grows through sustained practice. Geography can either enable or drain that practice.
Nature, Rhythm, and Sensory Input
Landscape imprints itself on the creative system. Mountains, ocean, desert, forest, density, quiet—all subtly affect perception, imagination, and emotional tone. Many creatives rely on their surroundings to regulate stress, spark insights, or shift perspective.
2. Inner Geography: What You Carry Into Every Place
External geography reaches only so far. Creative development ultimately depends on the quality of the inner environment: focus, perception, curiosity, spaciousness, and emotional stability. These determine whether you make meaning—or get lost in noise.
Creatives who flourish across different environments usually cultivate:
Portable discipline – the ability to work anywhere
Inner spaciousness – room within for ideas to arrive
Self-directed inspiration – not waiting for the perfect surroundings
Resilience – thriving even when the outer world is chaotic
Attunement – the ability to perceive nuance and relevance in any setting
This inner geography is not dependent on location. It is developed by practice.
3. The Inner Studio: A Guide for Creatives Who Want to Carry Their Practice Everywhere
The “inner studio” is a psychological, emotional, and perceptual space where you can create regardless of external conditions—whether you’re in a crowded city, a remote cabin, or a temporary hotel room.
Build the Foundation
1. A Clear Creative Intention
Identify what your creative life is fundamentally about. This becomes the anchor you carry into every environment.
2. A Personal Rhythm
Develop a daily creative ritual—morning writing, evening sketching, midday reflection—that doesn’t rely on place.
3. A Mind That Knows How to Settle
Train your attention through meditation, embodiment practices, or mindful observation. A quiet mind becomes a mobile workspace.Furnish the Space
4. A Portable Toolkit
Curate the minimal set of tools—physical or digital—that allow you to begin creating instantly.
5. A Repertoire of Creative Triggers
Sounds, quotes, questions, images, or practices that reliably activate your creative mode.
6. An Inner Library
Memory, experience, craft knowledge, and emotional intelligence that you can draw from anywhere.
Open the Windows
7. Perceptual Sensitivity
Train yourself to draw inspiration from whatever surrounds you: the rhythm of a city, the quiet of dawn, a fleeting expression on a stranger’s face.
8. Emotional Range and Presence
Creativity thrives on feeling. Your inner studio should be a place where emotions are allowed to inform—not overwhelm—your work.
Protect the Studio
9. Boundaries With Chaos
Know how to withdraw attention from environments that overwhelm, distract, or distort your creative channel.
10. Recovery Practices
Rest, reflection, and nourishment keep the inner studio open and functional.
4. How Inner and Outer Geography Work Together
When creatives cultivate an inner studio, geography becomes a collaborator rather than a dictator. You can draw from places without being dominated by them. You can relocate, travel, or shift circumstances without losing momentum. Outer environments may influence tone, subject, and energy—but your central creative force remains intact and portable.
In Essence
Geography matters. But what matters more is the inner geography—the self-created ecosystem of attention, perception, meaning, and craft. With an inner studio, the world becomes a collection of temporary outer rooms. You can enter and leave them freely while your deepest creative work continues uninterrupted.
Creative hands make the world go ‘round!
