(not necessarily in that order)
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!
Today I’m remembering being twenty-five years old and trying to wrap my mind around the fact that I had been alive for a quarter of a century! It felt like such a milestone.
A quarter of a century…!
Well, twenty-five years ago today, I gave birth to a stillborn baby boy — Liam Andrew Brooks O’Donnell. And I find myself reflecting on the fact that, if he had lived, he would be the one trying to wrap his mind around having reached that milestone.
A quarter of a century…!
I’m also reflecting on the saying, “time heals”, which I have found to be true. It takes years and years, but the gut wrenching anguish does lessen and the apparently random breakdowns come less and less frequently. Life really does go on, despite your conviction that it couldn’t possibly.
True, there may always be a little something — a wistfulness, a hint of sadness — but a whole lot of other experiences — painful, joyful, and everything in-between — tend to pile up in twenty-five years of living. Until, in my experience at least, you can hardly remember who that person was that you were.
A quarter of a century…indeed!
I can’t seem to get enough of this young woman, Alma Deutscher. I find her inspiring on so many levels…and I think Swami Kriyananda would have found her as delightful as I do.
In fact, I think Swamiji would consider her a kindred spirit when it comes to her perspective on the purpose and meaning of music. If you haven’t listened to this video yet, I’ve cued up the section where Alma introduces the Siren Sounds Waltz by explaining her commitment to writing beautiful music.
And here’s what she had to say after receiving the European Culture Prize last October: “Until now, I have always composed melodies and harmonies just as they pour out from my heart. But I have often been told: ‘as a modern composer, you’ll soon have to forget your melodies, and concentrate on dissonance, as befits our modern age.’ But maybe this award today means that a more tolerant age is dawning, when melody and beauty will once again be permitted. Perhaps this is a message that there is more to European Culture than just dissonance. Perhaps there is also a place in European Culture for harmony. And how beautiful it would be if this message could go out into the world from Vienna, from the city of music.”
The Star of Hope. The Choir of Hope. A passion for expressing beauty in melody and harmony. A charming manner and droll sense of humor. Articulate and very intelligent. What’s not to love?!?
You can thank me later…