Music is Magical

“Sacred music is a stirring, exalting, regenerating power, burning up strong souls that have courage and vision, that are able to stand unafraid and say “yes” to all sufferings and all tortures, because of having the inner power to resolve all contradictions and all pain into a higher Harmony.  Such music is the source of power, a kind of cosmic electricity.”
D. Rudhyar from the book Rudhyar Collection of Seed Ideas

Walking through the front room the other day I overheard “poets, geniuses, visionaries”, stopped and took notice.  Disney’s trailer for “Lemonade Mouth.”  With words like that, they sucked me in to be sure and I knew then that we would be watching it this Friday night.

This morning I had an email from the Disney Channel that invited me to “band together with Lemonade Mouth.”  I was able to listen to the soundtrack through Radio Disneyand it blew my mind!  It’s hard really for me to put into words just exactly how it made me feel.  Honestly, I was crying my eyes out!

On track  number 1, “Turn Up the Music,”  I didn’t even get half way through before crying, good tears!

Through some bizarre coincidences, aka Divine intervention, I ended up with “Rudhyar Collection of Seed Ideas” by D. Rudhyar, written in 1928.  I am believing more and more that I am not crazy, that  music is sent from the heavens above to unify us as the glorious ONE.  Although a dictionary is required for me to make sense out of much of what was written in this book, a guy way back in 1928 is telling me that I am not that crazy in my beliefs!  That rocks!  It also makes me realize I’m not the only one thinking music is where it’s at.  It’s heaven sent with the intention to bring Harmony to this world we find ourselves living in.

As I was reading the book the other day, “August Rush”, kept sneaking into my thoughts.  I had picked it up for $5 at the store because my friend Melissa had told me ions ago that I would really like it.  Love it is closer to the truth!  Not only that, it confirmed the things I was reading in the big yellow book of seed ideas!  One thing that really struck me is the sound of bumble bees toward the beginning of the movie.  We have lived in the same place for 15 years and have a beautiful tree that is full of white flowers in early spring.  I have passed that tree a bazillion times in 15 years and was struck the other day, prior to watching “August Rush”, with the sound of a bazillion happy bumble bees!  Awestruck!  That moment, that experience, made me understand how for the past 15 years I have used my ears to mostly listen to mind chatter.  Thank you God for the bumble bees,  the music of nature, moments of peace and open ears!

I apologize for rambling, off main topic none the less!  Back to “Lemonade Mouth.”  Through what I’ve been learning, and unfortunately I haven’t read the book of the same title as the movie, but ordered it from Amazon today, EXCITED, the writer’s of the music to this soundtrack have indeed struck some “cosmic electricity” within me and no doubt many many others!  MTV has an article in which the actors suggested buying the soundtrack ahead of time so you could sing along while watching the movie.  Amazing!  If you have a chance to listen to the soundtrack, just imagine the “cosmic electricity” some of these tunes could send out to the heavens when people sing the same tunes at the same time!  Magic!  The songs speak of unity, helping hands, learning to fly, and cacoon to butterfly stuff!  “We are alone, but we are ONE.” “Band together.” “Raise your voice.”  “Make some noise.”

Thank  you to every single person, place and thing involved in everything “Lemondade Mouth”, “August Rush” and D. Rudhyar. 

Until next time, Peace, Love, Unity and Beautiful Melodies to you and yours!

“If we didn’t believe the unbelievable, what would happen to faith?” -From the movie Love is a Many Splendored Thing

Justin Bieber:

Having a twelve year old daughter, Justin Bieber is a mainstay in our house to be sure and I dig it!  She gets embarrassed and upset with me at times when I break out singing “U Smile” to her, but that’s ok.  Fact is, I do smile when she smiles, and realize how tremendously I was blessed the day she was born and am blessed every day since then!  You can bet anytime Bieber is on television, my bff Anne, who refers to Anna as “little sister”, will call on the phone line with the alert so I can dvr the program!   We have a few recordings we haven’t watched yet though, maybe tonight!

Anna received Justin Bieber’s cd “My Worlds Acoustic” for Christmas and I realized one day over break she hadn’t played it yet!  What’s going on here?  I asked her if we could listen to it and the answer was yes!  We were singing, she was getting embarrassed and upset with me, so I settled down.  Final track, “Pray”.  I was fixing dinner when it came on and I just shook my head and said, “I have to listen to this one again.”  I put away what I was doing and listened very carefully while the tears fell from my eyes.  Thank you Justin Bieber, in a good way.  My heart felt this song for sure.

Honestly, I have felt a connection with Biebers’ music since day 1 of his entrance into our lives.  Then a conversation Anna and I had caused me to wonder even more about this connection.  She told me that he got a tattoo and I wasn’t going to believe what it was.  A Seagul.  “Guess what Seagul mom?”  “Would it be Jonathan?” “Yep!” So, Jonathan Livingston Seagul.  My uncle took me to the drive in movie when I was a kid to see it and I never ever forgot about  it.  I currently have it on vhs, as well as the book.  Total fan of Richard Bach’s books. 

There I go rambling again!  Anyway, the other day I found something out while checking out some astrology.  Bieber is also a Pisces!  So this is where the strange connection I have been feeling originates from!  Rock on!  Of course I believe that we are all connected, but there is definitely something to be said for the sign we were born under!  Fun stuff!

As I was watching the video for Pray, I spied yet another plug for LOVE…I totally dig how they used “God is Love” on a piece of paper.  Of course LOVE is sprinkled all around in the video through smiles, hugs and giving.  Pretty awesome!  Thank you Justin Bieber!

Bon Jovi:

We had a school snow day the day Bon Jovi was on Oprah.  Anna said, “you better call Aunt Amber in case she isn’t working today.” Wouldn’t you know the phone rang.  Aunt Amber!  We have been going to their concerts together for years!  After watching Oprah, we are on a mission to go to the next concert!  Went to their website in search of concert dates and low and behold I was greeted with the song “What Do You Got.”  I listened to it over and over and had this picture in my mind of people holding hands, doing the ring around the rosy thing, smiling and giggling.  Beautiful flowers and colorful butterflies and rainbows all over the place.  Mostly, a wonderful feeling of love and unity, because everybody had somebody and a hand to hold, a lot of somebodies to love and be loved by.  Maybe, just maybe it can be that simple.  LOVE.  Like Bon Jovi, “Maybe I’m a dreamer, but I still believe, I believe in hope, I believe that change can get us off our knees.”  I most definitely believe in LOVE.  I can also sense Bon Jovi’s frustration in the lyric, “How many songs I gotta sing about it”.  What the heck do we have to do to shake things up around here kind of thing.  Yep.  I’m a dreamer, a romantic and an idealist. I pray that Bon Jovi will keep on writing songs and singing to the world that’s for sure.  Oh, also found out that Jon is a Pisces! Rock on!

Thank you Bon Jovi!

Love is a Many Splendored Thing:

Watched the movie yesterday.  Awesome movie!  So very thankful Jesus the Disc Jockey sent that tune my way yesterday.  I found myself shaking my head…a lot!  Amazing.  If that doesn’t sound like something I would say.  If that doesn’t look like something I’d think about.  There are pretty butterflies in this movie!  There are full moons in this movie!  Have you ever noticed or wondered why, when watching shows on tv or movies, if the moon is shown it is always full?  Yet another crazy thing I wonder about.  Anyway, the full moon in Love is a Many Splendored Thing is shown because they are talking about a full moon ritual.  That’s the video I picked out through youtube to share with you.  It’s a lovely movie full of talk about destiny, omens, cultures, adversity, faith and LOVE!   I hope you get a chance to watch it!

Thank you to the creators and actors of Love is a Many Splendored Thing!

A special thank you to you my friends and fellow travelers!  Thank you for reading my ramblings as I try to put together this puzzle called life with all it’s signs and wonders!  I hope you have plenty of signs and wonders to ponder in your life as well!  And especially…I WISH YOU LOTS OF LOVE!

Until next time, Peace, Love, and Rock n Roll 

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LXUSaVw3Mvk&ob=av2el[/youtube]

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“Life is one big road with lots of signs. So when your riding through the ruts, don’t complicate your mind. Flee from hate, mischief and jealousy. Don’t bury your thoughts, put your vision to reality. Wake Up and Live!” Bob Marley

Today’s mantra, “so much to do, so little time!”  Yikes!  However, once again, I feel like I can’t get on with the doing, without first sharing the tunes and thoughts that have been sent my way since the 21st!

Saturday, January 22nd

I was cleaning our bathroom.  A still small voice says, “This is where the magic happens.”  Seriously?  I chuckled and thought “well ok!  Magic happens in our bathroom!  Yea!”  Next thing I know, I randomly begin singing “One Less Lonely Girl” by Justin Bieber.  I started thinking about the song and thought, hmm, what if every girl in the world listened to that song and pretended that it was Jesus singing to them?  Or whomever or whatever they believe in is singing to them?  I then went to  youtube, found the video and practiced pretending for myself and it was an empowering experience!  I hope you’ll give it a try!  I did chuckle when I saw they utilized signs in the video!  I love watching for signs and low and behold, I’ve seen and heard my fair share this past few days!  More on Justin Bieber in days to come!

Sunday, January 23:

Saturday night I was once again struggling within myself.  Uggh!  People tell that once you are determined to follow the light, your struggles begin!  I know that to be true from experience myself, that’s why I get so frustrated with myself.  So, I turn off the light feeling all kinds of defeated.  I woke up at 3:30 am with this in my head,

“I Am
When you think that no-one needs you
Sees you or believes you
No ones there to understand
I Am
I’ll be there to be that someone
When you think that no one, is there to hold your hand
I Am”

Where did that come from?  It’s a song isn’t it?  Who sings it?  I know who the Great I Am is!  Have to admit, I was freaked out.  Plain and simple.  I said Thank You to God and admitted straight up, You have to help me because I am freaking out here!  As I pondered this experience, I kept asking, who sings this song? Finally the answer.   Bon Jovi, “I Am”!  Gone youtubing again.  Once again, girls of the world, imagine the heavens above singing that to you!  Pretty empowering stuff!  More about Bon Jovi later on too!

January 24th

I found myself scratching my head while reading the below email I received from DailyOm as it resembled what I was trying to spit out in my January 21st blog entry!  Groovy!  Having fun now!  Thinking “this is where the magic happens!”

“January 24, 2011
Finding Our Own Paths
Entering Awareness 

Entering into our own spirituality is a private journey. Each of us will be drawn to a different gateway to begin on our personal path to awakening to a greater experience of ourselves. Even though we may be taught certain philosophies or beliefs as children, we still need to find our own way of understanding and applying them in our lives. For those who are raised without a spiritual framework, they may not even know their process as a form of spirituality. But at some stage in their lives, whether in youth or adulthood, they are likely to recognize the resonance of their beliefs, the ring of truth in their philosophy, and their dedication to their chosen purpose.

Our inner guidance will lead us, so that we will be drawn to the right doorway for us–a doorway that only we can recognize by the way it makes us feel inside. It could be a picture of an angel or the gift of a crystal. We may meet someone special who shares their experiences with us in a way that we find intriguing. While visiting the home of an admired friend, we may notice a book or statue of a diety, and ask why they chose those tools. Or a word or phrase may catch our attention in a song, or a lecture. For some they may find their way by walking through the experience of illness before they begin the search for what will help them to truly heal, while others may seek physical improvement and stumble across yoga or meditation–only to find that it leads them to an unexpected place beyond the body.

As we awaken to ourselves and to life, we will become more attuned to what is right for us. The universe speaks to all of us through infinite channels, but we each have our own frequency. Others may share what worked for them, but only we can decide what truly makes us feel inspired, awakened, connected, fully conscious, aware and alive. Whatever our path, it is perfect and is meant especially for us.

We all enter the arena of awareness differently, it doesn’t matter how we get there or how long it takes.”

 I hope that the email helps you in your journey!

Today, January 25th:

 First tune in my brain, “Love is a Many Splendored Thing.”  Crazy!  Go youtubing, find a video, figure out it’s a movie and cued it up on Netflix.  As soon as I’m done here, I’m gonna go watch it!  I’ll share what I find later on, but for now, I just gotta say…

 All signs and songs are pointing to LOVE!  Try pretending the heavens are singing love songs to you!  You are loved!

Thank you Jesus!  Thank you Justin Bieber, Bon Jovi, DailyOm, Love is a Many Splendored Thing creators, and youtubers!  Thank you friends and readers! 

Until next time, Peace, LOVE, Rock n Roll to you and yours!

P.S.  Kid you not…Led Zeppelin’s “Rock and Roll” is on 70′s on 7, the song I used in yesterday’s blog post!

Also, I can’t figure out what happened with the type size here.  I can’t get it to change, so I’m sorry if it’s annoying to you!  I desire to be a spreader of love and peace, not an annoyance!  Peace!

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y3bcAKErY1U[/youtube]
“Come, Let us sing for joy to the Lord;
 let us shout aloud to the Rock of our salvation.
 Let us come before him with thanksgiving
 and extol him with music and song.” Psalm 95: 1,2

It certainly has been a long time since I’ve rock and rolled.  A long lonely time.  Dark night of the soul time.  The connection and relationship to my Disc Jockey vanished and I indeed felt lost and lonely, even though I was still surrounded by my friends and family and their love!  This darkness was my secret and I put on a pretty good face through it all.   Praise God, Jesus the Disc Jockey has returned!  He taught me a lesson.  Humility.

As my daughter made her New Years Resolution blog post, I was silently thinking about my own.   

The first thing I vowed to do was spend at least an hour each morning with God.  The only way out of the darkness was to seek the light and that’s what I determined to do with all I had within me!  So, I purchased a new journal.  I dug up my three “Power of Prayer” books by Stormie Omartian.  “The Power of a Praying Wife,” “The Power of a Praying Parent,” and “The Power of a Praying Woman”.  I also discovered in my digging, ”Spiritual Liberation”  by Michael Bernard Beckwith, so I added that book to my morning God time as well.

The second thing I vowed to do was once and for all get our home organized and looking good!  Like it looked good 10 years ago good!  For that project I dug out the books “Simplify Your Life” by Marcia Ramsland and “Organizing for the Creative Person” by Dorothy Lehmkuhl and Dolores Cotter Lamping.  By the way,  I am seriously digging through stuff when I use the word “dug”!  I also purchased a new calendar that works for my “creative” brain!  Yea!

The third thing I vowed to do was allow myself to enjoy time with my family.  Thankfully it has snowed a lot here, so I’ve had some practice playing with my family again.  However, it occurs to me that I need to practice The Michael Jackson Experience on the Wii because Anna really kicked me to the curb on that one!  Also, when and how does the game of Monopoly end anyway?

Finally, I vowed to let myself be creative again.  I have been working on some cross-stitch hearts and a crocheted blanket while watching our evening can not miss television shows!  Biggest Loser, American Idol and several Disney shows.  My show is Grey’s Anatomy and that hour is deemed mama’s time.  I also work on my projects while watching professional football and college basketball.  Anna knows how to cross-stitch too now, so there’s some more fun time for us to share!

So far, I’ve kept pretty much on top of my vows and I know that I am able because of how I start my day.  The days I haven’t been on top of things are the days where the journal page is empty, there is no Dear God letter on the page.  The books have not been opened and I have wandered around aimlessly.  “With God all things are possible.”  Without God…lost and lonely and wondering when I will ever learn. 

So, back to the lesson learned.  Humility.

Humble adj. 1.  Having or showing feelings of humility rather than of pride; aware of one’s shortcomings; modest; meek.  2.  Showing deferential respect.  e.  Lacking high station; lowly; unpretentious.

Humility n. 1. The quality or condition of being humble; lack of pride; modesty.  2. Usually plural.  An act of modesty, submission, or self-abasement.

When I started this blog, everything about it was fun.  I was eager every day to hear a tune in my ear from the heavens above.  Somewhere along the line I began to think I knew it all.  Somewhere along the line I thought I had all the answers.  Somewhere along the line I thought I had created all of this in my own imagination and I was a genius!  Finally, the music died. 

While reading through The Power of Prayer books I shed a lot of tears.  Tears of joy and thanksgiving!  I don’t know what year I bought these books.  I found a reference to the year 2007, but I’m certain I’ve had them a lot longer than that.  I had written one of my niece’s names in one of the books and that would have been in 2000 or 2001 when I was her babysitter.  I guess that’s neither here nor there!  What is essential is that I am able to see, just from the notes I had written on those pages, how far God has taken this family.  How  many ups and downs He has brought us through.  He did it.  Praise be to Him!

Two things in “The Power of the Praying Woman” book dropped me to my knees, literally. 

“Where I can be an instrument of reconciliation between other family members who have broken or strained relationships, enable me to do that.” pg. 51 of the book.  There is a blog post I did with the Jason Mraz song, “I’m Yours.”  Reading it today, boy was I full of myself.  What I didn’t write about was how I felt a certain death grip on me.  How I felt like I couldn’t go on with anything else in my life until I spoke out about my feelings.  How I would sit and cry out, “God help me to say what I gotta say.”   How I would then turn around the next day, drag my feet, make excuses, on and on.  I believe without a doubt, God heard a prayer many many many years ago, He heard me when I was crying out, He has been filling me up with heartfelt desire for love and unity and peace for many a year!  Then He spoke to me in a language I understood and gave me everything I needed, including the shove past my fears to show my family how much I truly love them and how precious our time on this earth is, not because of me, but because of how much He loves us!  Praise and Glory be Yours God!

I know He speaks to me in a language I understand because on pg. 76 of the same book, “Show me where I have filled my head with anything ungodly.  Help me resist doing that and instead fill my mind with thoughts, words, music and images that are glorifying to You.”  God heard my prayer many many years ago and gave me Jesus the Disc Jockey!  It’s all on Him and I am deeply grateful!  

I wish He would give me some words right now because I feel like I’m being it a know it all again!  God speaks to everyone in a way each person will understand.  This is simply how He chooses to speak to me.  If you happen to feel lost and lonely, call out to Him.  Look through old books and journals and find some answered prayers of your own.  Know in your heart that He is there, by your side, constantly working things in you, for your good and the good of others, even when you feel like He isn’t hanging out with you!  Definitely, sing Him a song!

Thank you God!  Thank you Jesus the Disc Jockey!  Thank You Led Zeppelin for your song “Rock and Roll”!  Thank you youtube person! Thank you Stormie Omartian, Michael Bernard Beckwith, Marcia Ramsland, Dorothy Lehmkuhl, and Dolores Cotter Lamping for sharing your wisdom and love with the world!  Thank you family and friends!

Until next time, Peace, Love, Rock n Roll!

Stormie Omartian website

Michael Bernard Beckwith website

Marcia Ramsland website

O.K., so last night I watched a Disney movie called “Full-Court Miracle”.  It was a great movie in my perspective.  Well the movie is about a group of Jewish boys who love the sport of basketball but can’t really play very well.  Actually they had not won a game in two years.  Until they meet a guy at the park shooting hoops.  They called him their Judah Maccabee.  Then the team starts paying the man to coach them at the park because their old coach was an algebra teacher who had never played basketball in his life and he never held a practice.  They went through alot of ups and downs, but they finally won a game and went to the tournament.  They went farther than a team that was undefeated thought they would go.  I would suggest this movie to all people who love the sport of basketball or believe in dreams coming true.  I’m going to go watch it for a second time!

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CG2irStCt_g[/youtube] 

There are six steps to having a good resolution. 

First, you need to plan on what you’re gonna make your resolution.  What is something you really would like to do but be careful on what you choose because later through the year you might change your mind and we don’t want that.  Choose from a few different resolutions maybe there will be one you really like.  Maybe your resolution would be a skill you would like to learn this year. 

Second, you might wanna get a jar or something to save money in because there might be some stuff for your resolution that you need to buy.  I keep my money in a snickers candy tin.  So really you can keep you money anywhere in anything but I would prefer a container with a lid.

Third, buy your supplies that you need when you need them. Don’t buy them all at the same time because you might find out that you don’t need them, you just want them. 

Fourth, you need to set deadlines which they need to be realistic.  Not like finish this in two hours unless its something you know you can finish in two hours.  Maybe even buy a calendar to write down when you think you can get one thing done. 

Fifth, each time you get something finished give yourself a little reward. Not something huge like a shopping spree. Something more like treating yourself to ice cream or a doughnut. But once the year is over you can treat yourself to something big.

Last but not least, have fun doing it.  Maybe if your resolution is to clean the house maybe dance around while doing it.

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“You don’t need anybody to tell you who you are or what you are. You are what you are!”
John Lennon

A friend at GratitudeLog posted this wonderful writing, which is so awesome I had to share it with you!  Just going to let the music and the words speak for themselves today!  Enjoy! 

As You Go Through Life

“Set your own pace …
When someone is pushing you, it’s ok to tell them they’re pushing.

Take nothing for granted …
Watch water flow, the corn grow, the leaves blow, your neighbors mow.
Allow yourself time to be lazy and unproductive …
Rest isn’t a luxury, it’s a necessity.

Listen to the wind blow …
It carries a message of yesterday and tomorrow … And now … Now counts.
Rest on your laurels …
They bring comfort whatever their size, age or condition.

Talk slower. Talk less. Don’t talk.
Communication isn’t measured by words.

Give yourself permission to be late sometimes …
Life is for living, not scheduling.

Listen to the song of a bird …The complete song.
Music and nature are gifts, but only if you are willing to receive them.
Slow down.

God is still in heaven …
You are not responsible for doing it all yourself … right now.
Remember a happy, peaceful time in your past … Rest there.
Each moment has a richness that takes a lifetime to savor.

Quit planning how you’re going to use what you know, learn or possess …
God’s gifts just are. Be grateful and their purpose will be clear.

When you walk with someone, don’t think about what you’ll say next …
Thoughts will spring up naturally if you let them.

Talk and play with children …
It will bring out the unhurried little person inside you.
Create a place in your home … At your work … in your heart …
where you can go for quiet and recollection.
You deserve it.

Take time to think …
Action is good and necessary, but it’s fruitful only if we muse, ponder and mull.
Make time for play … The things you like to do.
Whatever your age, your inner child needs re-creation.

Watch and listen to the night sky … It speaks.
Listen to the words you speak … Especially in prayer.
Learn to stand back and let others take their turn as leaders …
There will always be new opportunities for you to step out in front again.

Divide big jobs into little jobs …
If God took six days to create the universe, can you do any better?
Direct your life with purposeful choices, not with speed and efficiency …
The best musician is one who plays with expression and meaning,
not the one who finishes first.

Take a day off alone … Make a retreat.
You can learn from monks and hermits without becoming one.

Pet a furry friend … You will give and get the gift of now.
Work with your hands … It frees the mind.
Take time to wonder … Without wonder, life is merely an existence.
Sit in the dark … it will treat you to see and hear, taste and smell.

Once in awhile … Turn down the lights, The throttle, The invitations.
Less really can be more.

Let go …
Nothing is usually the hardest thing to do … but often it is the best.

Taste your food … God gave it to delight as well as nourish.

Notice the sun and the moon as they rise and set …
They are remarkable for their steady pattern of movement, not their speed.

And as you ramble on thru life my dearest friend …
Keep your eye upon the doughnut, which is everything you have …
and not upon the hole … the small part missing.

“AND SLOWLY COUNT YOUR BLESSINGS ONE AT A TIME”"

Author Unknown

Thank you Mary J Blige for sharing your heart, soul and music with the world!  Thank you for your song “Just Fine”!   Thank you youtube person!  Thank you to the soul that wrote “As You Go Through Life.”  “Thank you to all of the grateful hearts at GratitudeLog! 

Thank you reader and friend!  May your days be filled with wonder, quiet moments and all kinds of music!  Most importantly, may you realize you are awesome just as you are!

Until next time, Peace, Love and Musical Magic