Rest and sleep (lots of it).
Increased meditation (8 or 10 times more).
Silence. Stillness. Watching the sunrise.
Moving my body more (a lot more).
Beauty. And the time and space to appreciate it.
Seclusion realities
Choices
Considering that I spent a total of almost three hours driving to and from Roseville for last night’s sleep study…
….and that I’ll be spending all day tomorrow sitting in a car on the way to Los Angeles for Yogananda Fest…
…I’m choosing to keep this short so I can fit in a short walk before it gets too late. My body needs to move a little!
All the World Is My Friend
There was a community meeting in the Temple of Light this evening. The entire audience singing all together is still off limits, but our small group really didn’t want to just sing at the community; instead, we felt strongly about finding a way for everyone to participate as a community.
We had been exploring the idea of incorporating movement for some time, but tonight’s meeting nudged us into actually doing it. And it was wonderful!
As Pavani, our resident dancer, put it: “When we move in unison together, it’s unifying.”
And I believe we all got to experience the truth of that tonight.
Feeling unsettled
Not sure why.
Maybe it’s because I’m experiencing movement and developments in so many areas of life right now.
I’m pretty sure it’s all good; just a little disconcerting.
On the verge?
A lot of things in the world of Ananda (and thus of Ananda Music) are shifting and moving and evolving. It’s rather disorienting, especially since some of it is big and involves other departments, which means months worth of development and implementation to get it right, while also figuring out the best way to function in the meantime.
For years we’ve been stretched (way) out of our comfort zones as directors and managers, and now I feel (fear?) it’s about to ratchet up another few notches. We’re getting into so many projects that involve ever-increasing knowledge of technology, finances, marketing, global issues, etc…seemingly ad infinitum!
On the one hand I believe we may very well be on the verge of absolutely amazing new things for Ananda Music. But on the other hand, I’m beginning to feel like I’m reaching the limits of what my musically-trained, flute-player’s brain can cope with.
Someday?
During our three years with Ananda in Los Angeles, we tried everything we could think of to get Ananda Music in front of more people. Swami Kriyananda was there for part of that time as well, pushing us to put out more energy, get out of our comfort zones, and perform more.
One idea we had was to create a movement focused on the power of uplifting music to help people. We called it…
Music Can…
…the choice is yours!
…and we listed all the ways music can be “good” for you.
Discover how music can:
• Make you healthier
• Strengthen your immune system
• Decrease your stress
• Help you feel more relaxed
• Improve your sleep
• Increase your optimism
• Help you through hard times
• Raise your consciousness
• Strengthen your determination
• Help you cope
• Build your faith
• Ignite your motivation
• Open your heart
• Uplift you
• Inspire you
• Energize you
• Comfort you
• Heal your life
• Help you find joy & peace within
• And much, much more!
Now that I think about it, we actually did quite a bit with this, including the creation of a “Positive Music pledge” and a musical program called “The Positive Music Experience”. Then our marching orders changed and we ended up moving back to Ananda Village.
But who knows? Maybe someday the “Music Can” movement will sweep the globe!