(not necessarily in that order)
Lately I’ve been fantasizing about holing up for (at least) two to four days in a quiet, peaceful spot (near the ocean would be absolutely ideal) and reading books.
That used to be one of my favorite things to do as a child, as a teenager, and as a young adult. In fact, I can recall days when I would do nothing but read. It was very relaxing for me.
Now I sneak it in by reading while I’m doing something else. But it’s not the same. Not at all.
This is the studio where we’ve been spending many (many!) hours over the past few weeks with Mike Georgia, our recording engineer.
The project? Putting the finishing touches on our Oratorio performance from last April.
We’re excited to be seeing some light at the end of the tunnel!
I’m a step closer to moving forward with the wild and crazy “gratitude” idea that I mentioned the other day.
It feels “wild and crazy” to me because it’s absolutely the first time in my entire life that I’ve considered getting a tattoo!
I’m not quite there yet, but after researching various tattoo studios in our area, I found a place with which I resonate.
Here’s the caption that accompanied the above photo:
Sacred Space
We have created a sacred space to offer ritual tattoo and adornment in Nevada City, CA. Our vision is to inspire and empower you to adorn your body with the symbols that support you to step into your highest self. We believe tattoo is a birth rite. A sacred journey towards wholeness.
I can definitely get behind that.
There’s good and less good types of resistance. What I’ve been battling all day is definitely the less good kind.
The kind where you know what you need to do and you simply do not feel like doing it.
I’ve managed to get a few things done regardless, but it hasn’t been pretty.
I never knew such a thing existed, but it does! And a very beautiful symbol it is.
I looked it up because I’ve got a (for me, at least) wild and crazy “gratitude” idea that I’m mulling over. 🤔
Yes, I’m looking forward to seeing the latest Indiana Jones movie, but that isn’t really what’s got me thinking about whips.
No, it’s the fact that I’m finally hitting that “after the big event” slump, where I just don’t want to do anything…regardless of the fact that there are things I really do need to accomplish.
But when I say that maybe I’ll be able to “whip” myself into action tomorrow, what I’m really getting at is the need to “whip up” my energy!
Best idea ever? Most definitely marrying Ramesha…nineteen years ago today!
And it just keeps getting better and better.
Deep, deep gratitude for this wonderful man.
Sorry, couldn’t resist this musician’s joke! You see, the distance between these two notes is a fourth, and the interval is called a perfect fourth. Get it?!?
But seriously, I hope a perfect 4th of July was enjoyed by all those who celebrate it.
It was certainly a perfect 4th here at Ananda Village. We celebrated both America’s independence and Ananda’s 54th birthday with a parade, games, a delicious dinner, choir entertainment, contra dancing, and friends galore.
Out of a week full of deeply inspiring and uplifted moments, I believe the ultimate highlight for me was singing “O Master” on Sunday service.
It felt appropriate to skip the usual solo singer and invite everyone (choir and congregation) to sing the melody right from the beginning of the song. Then, as the full arrangement unfolded, the power of the song simply grew and grew.
The words are so heart opening and meaningful, but what really put it over the top for me was singing it together with at least 300 devotees, and feeling the lived reality of the lyrics that speak of “the truth that we’re all one“ (emphasis is mine).
On Sunday I was so caught up with the completion of Spiritual Renewal Week that I didn’t tune into the fact that Guru Purnima — a time to express gratitude towards one’s spiritual teacher (or Guru) — was the very next day. It wasn’t planned that way, but what a perfect divinely inspired time to be singing “O Master”!
Here’s the video of the choir singing it during Sunday service. There are even a few moments when the camera captures a few of the hundreds of people singing along with us.
O Master lyrics
O Master, may Thy joy fill our days.
O Master, may Thy wisdom guide our ways.
The time has come for us to see
That there’s but one reality
Upon the earth and high above:
The truth that all was made from love.
A love that calls to us to fly
Above the hills, above the sky,
Above the storms, above the pain:
A land where peace and laughter reign.
O Master, may Thy joy fill our days.
O Master, may thy wisdom guide our ways.
Guide all our hopes and all our dreams
Past every glow that only seems,
Into the light, the inner sun,
Into the truth that we’re all one.
Help us to find in every hour,
In every thought in every flower,
A joy that spans eternity,
The truth that makes us ever free.
O Master, may Thy joy fill our days.
O Master, may Thy wisdom guide our ways.
