(not necessarily in that order)
I’m talking some serious overload!
This is pretty much how full I feel — mind, body, and spirit — after receiving four days of Inner Renewal Retreat inspiration (thanks to Jyotish, Devi, and today’s wonderful panel).
And…we now have two days of Kriyaban Retreat ahead of us — phew.
I love my life. š
It didn’t occur to me while I was in the store, but these cookies really are perfect for Ramesha and me–not because we’re sweethearts, but because we’re also vanilla and chocolate! š
In fact, the cookies brought to mind how we described ourselves when we first toured as the Harmony Duo back in 2006:
Bhagavati (Sharon) and Ramesha (Fabio) Nani are professional musicians who formed The Harmony Duo soon after their marriage. At that time they realized thatābeing of different races, from different countries and cultures, speaking different languages, but sharing spirituality and a deep love for musicāharmony was, and is, the foundation of their life together.
Their programs affirm and celebrate the underlying harmony of all races, nations and cultures. Although written by a single composer, the pieces reflect a diversity of countries, centuries, and moods. Throughout them all, however, one feels the universal thread of joy and inspiration.
So, yeah–we pretty much embody the principle of “harmony in diversity” and that’s why I got such a kick out of my unconscious cookie selection.
Something is shifting, and it feels like I’m more open to Divine Mother’s love than ever before.
What a wonderful sensation to be experiencing on today of all days.
So, heartfelt wishes to you for a Happy Valentine’s Day!
Oh, my goodness! I am humbled, moved, and in awe of the overwhelming response to my request for support.
To be honest, it has turned into something of a spiritual test for me. What I mean by that is that this process is challenging all my feelings of unworthiness while also pushing me way out of my āreceivingā comfort zone.
I keep wanting to say, āStop! Itās too much!ā But then I close my eyes, take a deep breath, and focus on relaxing my heart and opening to receive.
After all, can one have too much love? Too much sincere friendship? I donāt think so, but allowing this much loving friendship to flow to me and through me is most definitely stretching and changing me.
And what a beautiful, beautiful process it is.Ā I just wish I could find the words to express all that I feel.
Oh, well. āGratefulā will simply have to do.
P.S. There was a glitch with some of the mp3s. If you had problems opening or downloading, hereās the NEW LINK.
A friend came up to me after Sunday service today to share a request. She said how much she’s enjoyed reading about how I first came to Ananda, met Swamiji, and got involved in the music. But she wished I would write something about how I met Ramesha!
Well, as it turns out, I’ve already done so, although it starts things off sort of in the middle, so I’ll have to backtrack a bit tomorrow (or the next day).
Anyway, below is the story of the first concert Ramesha and I played together, which was really the start of “us”. I wrote it for our 15th anniversary and updated it just the other day (you can go HERE if you’re interested in hearing the recording of that concert).
Once upon a time a flutist-turned-singer from San Francisco moved to Italy to be part of a singing group. She met many wonderful people while she was there, including a young violinist-guitarist-singer from Lugano (Switzerland). They were acquaintances, whoāover the course of a yearābecame good friends.
It was 2003. Sharon (the flutist/singer) was hoping to go on pilgrimage to India and decided to organize a concert to help raise money for the trip. Fabio (the violinist/guitarist/singer), wanted an opportunity to get to know her better, and was already planning to spend that very week at Ananda Assisi (where she lived). This gave Sharon the great idea to ask Fabio if he would join her on the concert, which he did. They had one day to rehearse, of which perhaps one-fourth was dedicated to the music, while the other three-quarters was spent talking..and laughingā¦and talking some more!
This is a recording of that concert, which was amazingly well-received, though truly, the music seemed almost besides the point. More important was the birth of a collaboration which led, a day later, to an official āfirst dateā, followed within the year by a wedding and the forming of The Harmony Duo.
Now known as Bhagavati (Sharon) and Ramesha (Fabio) Nani, theyāll soon be celebrating the 19th anniversary of their marriage, and are still laughing and talking and making music together as music ministers and co-directors of Ananda Music Worldwide.
P.S. Bhagavatiās music duties in Assisi kept her from going on the pilgrimage to India that year, but when they reached their 15th anniversary (four years ago already!) they decided to once again make this CD available (on a donation basis) to celebrate that pivotal event in their relationship. And now theyāre offering it again, in support of Bhagavatiās health goals. They hope you enjoy it!
Dear friend,
I thought my November 2 health update would be the very last, but it turns out another is needed.
First of all, there are still a number of people asking me, āHow are you?ā with a great deal of concern in their eyes. Iām very happy to report that I really am doing extremely well — Iāve been off disability since the beginning of the year and back to working full-time; Iām singing every week; and Iām feeling energized by new visions and potential projects for the music.
On the other hand, although Iām through with the major medical part of my health journey, I feel like Iām still sort of āpicking up the piecesā of my life. And while itās true that Iām completely back to normal, itās also true that my ānormalā relationship with my body and overall well-being hasn’t been all that healthy for much of my adult life.
In fact, this has been one of the biggest lessons of my cancer journey. As a result, Iām feeling guided to dedicate time and energy to focusing on detoxing from the high dose chemo; rejuvenating from the stress of the last year; and deeply resting from the trauma of the bone marrow transplant process.
So, in early March Iām going to do a one-week Panchakarma program at an ayurvedic retreat thatās located near my home in Nevada County. But because itās a holistic healing modality instead of a medical procedure, Ramesha and I have to come up with $4500 to cover the cost on our own.
When weāve needed to raise funds in the past (for music-related travel expenses, for example) we would often give a concert. But since there isn’t the time or the bandwidth to pull a concert together at this time, weāve decided to take two little known albums of mine and offer them on a donation basis as digital downloads.
One album is a compilation of classical flute pieces from various recitals and concerts from when I was still a working flutist, while the other is from the very first concert Ramesha and I did together in 2003, before we were even a couple.
To learn more about the albums or to find the link to donate, click here (also, keep in mind that if youāre not able to donate money, youāre totally welcome to the music in gratitude for your continued prayers).Ā
Finally (and I apologize if Iām beginning to sound repetitive), THANK YOU — again and again and again — for all your loving support.Ā
It’s been a week of high peaks and low valleys. Big challenges and bigger blessings. Joyous fun and deep discouragement.
I’m grateful for all of it…and also grateful the week is over.
Yeah, it’s been a going, going, going kind of day. All good stuff (especially tonight’s rehearsal!), but I’ve simply got to call a STOP.
Good night.
Most weeks since 1999 I’ve listened to the Festival of Light as part of Ananda’s Sunday service.
In the Festival Swami Kriyananda condensed the central message of Ananda into ceremonial form, expressed in way that is moving and inspiring.
Over the years I’ve known a few fellow devotees who don’t enjoy the Festival, finding it boring and repetitive. I’ve always loved it, actually, but today the Festival came alive for me in a way that I would never have anticipated. And now I appreciate it on a deeper level than ever before.
Basically, it was one of those mornings when the to-do list seemed so overwhelming that I was tempted to skip meditation and just start “getting things done!” And although I successfully resisted that temptation, I had a hard time keeping my mind from treating my meditation as a planning session.
But then, it happened! I had a huge “aha” moment of getting it that none of what I ever do or have ever done is by my own power — everything is done through God’s infinite power acting through me.
And these words from the Festival of Light came to my mind:
Hours passed, and night fell. The little bird grew afraid. āHow,ā it cried, ācan I fly in this darkness?ā And the night whispered, āFear not. For lo! peace awaits you in the unknown. Surrender to me, and your strength will be renewed.ā And after a time the tiny rebel surrendered, and found the nightās counsel true.
And rain, and sky, and grassy fields all sang: āBehold, your very strength to fly has never been your own. Look to the source of all power, if you would conquer fear and weakness.ā
And the bird asked, āWhere can I find that source?ā
And they answered, āSeek it in the farthest depths of Being, in your own Self.ā
And I realized in the core of my being that the only way to truly resolve the issues I struggle with is through looking to the “source of all power” in order to conquer the fears that keep me bound to attitudes and behaviors that don’t serve me.
All in all, it was an emotional but remarkably freeing meditation.
Monday and Tuesday have been so intense that it feels like a full week already.
Here’s hoping for a relatively chill Wednesday.