(not necessarily in that order)
I hate to admit it (Ramesha is going to have to bite his tongue to keep from saying “I told you so!”) but I’m just about ready to agree to turning off the wireless at 10:00 every night.
It’s extreme, but I think it might be the only way to keep from working long into the night…as I’m pretty much doing right now. 😕
I don’t know what I was thinking when I said I was going to “get comfortable” and read through this past year’s blog posts; I mean…that’s 365 posts!
So far I’m only up to October 1, but it’s been quite a process. Especially revisiting all the preparations and excitement of Ananda’s 50th anniversary and dedication of the Temple of Light!
I mean, talk about duality…
We’ve gone from the incredible high of joining together with hundreds and hundreds of devotees from around the globe, not to mention singing as a literal World Brotherhood Choir of over one hundred singers, to “sheltering-in-place” while maintaining physical distance even from fellow Village residents, with choir off limits indefinitely due to the fact that singing is a “super-spreading” activity.
The contrast is almost unfathomable in its intensity. But we’re finding our way in this new “landscape” and actually reaching more people than ever as Ananda throughout the world embraces the new online reality.
But yeah, this little trip down memory lane has been somewhat bittersweet.
I wrote my first “Music. Life. Joy” post on Swami’s birthday last year, so today marks the beginning of year #2. I can hardly believe it…but I wrote something every single day!
In other news, we honored Swamiji with a beautiful event in the Temple of Light, led by Jyotish and Devi. Ramesha and I got to sing! And there was an amazing rainbow!
Now I’m going to get comfortable and read through the past year’s posts.
I did it! 😊
This is what I’m discovering about our new Ananda Wiki (which is not so helpful when I’m trying to get to bed earlier)!
It’s just so much fun poking around, discovering new tricks, filling in bits of information, and exploring how to use it to establish better coordination and communication worldwide.
Super exciting stuff!
I’m feeling so proud of Ramesha tonight! He just released this amazing lyric video for the chant, Ever-New Joy, which is on his soon-to-be-released album: Breeze of Bliss.
It’s been a long hard slog, and a lot of work! But he’s hung in there and the end result is totally worth it!
💗💗💗
Today I continued broadening my understanding of just what’s possible musically in this time of pandemic. I was particularly inspired to find videos by public school music teachers, sharing how they’re working with their students; they’re doing impressive things!
But I also found some videos and comments that were quite negative in their attitude toward “virtual choir” videos in general. On the one hand, I “get it” that the average person has absolutely no idea what goes into “virtual choir” videos. No, it isn’t a bunch of singers meeting on Zoom and simply singing together! No, it’s not happening “live”, in real time.
It’s labor-intensive and time consuming. And, no, it’s not remotely the same as singing together in the same room, feeling our connection in the present moment!
But I think a lot of these critical-minded singers and choir directors are in danger of throwing the baby out with the bath water. Because, you know what? There’s still a power that happens when you get a group of people singing together. Despite being separated by time and distance there’s a magic that can still happen.
No, it’s not the same as the in-person performing we love and are used to, but it’s real and valid and legitimate. And I’m so grateful for having the possibility to still join together in this way.
My sister shared this video with me today and I was struck by the perfect timing! Because I can feel the connection and power that these singers are conveying through this song. It comes through loud and clear, regardless of being “virtual” and “produced.” I hope you feel as blessed by it as I did.
The Blessing
The Lord bless you and keep you
Make His face shine upon you
And be gracious to you
The Lord turn His face toward you
And give you peace
A – men
Amen, Amen
A – men
Amen, Amen
May His favor be upon you
And a thousand generations
And your family and your children
And their children and their children
May His presence go before you
And behind you and beside you
All around you and within you
He is with you he is with you
In the morning in the evening
In your coming and your going
In your weeping and rejoicing
He is for you He is for you
He is for you He is for you
He is for you He is for you
He is for you He is for you
He is for you He is for you
A – men
Amen, Amen
A – men
Amen, Amen
I’ve been impressed, inspired, and deeply moved by many of the “virtual” (multi-track) videos that have flooded the internet over the past couple of months.
I’ve also been surprised and amazed by how much people have loved our endeavors along those lines; week after week they share how powerful and inspiring they find it.
But the fact remains that we sort of jumped into all this feet first in response to the need of the moment — without any preparation and having virtually no idea what we were doing! That being the case, I guess it’s not surprising that we’re starting to hit up against our limitations.
So tonight I decided to actually research “virtual choirs” and — boy oh boy — is there an overwhelming amount of information out there! It’s pretty much all I did tonight; to be honest, I feel almost like I’m back in college, studying my brains out. Yikes!
On the one hand, I find myself chuckling as I reflect on what a great reminder this is to not take myself so seriously.
But on the other hand, it’s a little bit of an existential slap upside the head to the part of me that (I admit it) insists on believing that the universe really does revolve around me.
So, yeah. The stuff that looms soooo huge in my life maybe — just maybe — isn’t really that big.
Maybe it’s because I’m approaching the one year mark, but the fact is that I’m experiencing a resurgence of days/nights when I don’t feel particularly inspired to say anything.
What I have to guard against is an insidious inner voice that whispers, “You’ve done great so far! Is it really so bad if you skip just one day?!?”
The answer, of course, is that YES! It would be so bad. Because this is about seeing it through and honoring my promise to Swamiji.
It’s rather embarrassing to admit it, but tonight’s blog post is being kept short so that I can finally fold my laundry.
Yep, you read that right. My laundry has been sitting patiently, day after day, possibly week after week…I can’t even remember (that’s how long it’s been)!
Since we do Facebook Live broadcasts from our living room, I’ve been carting the laundry to the bedroom and then back to the living room when bedtime roles around. But enough….
…it’s time to fold it already!