It rained pretty good this morning, then cleared up enough in the afternoon that I was able to go for a nice walk.
When I got back home, the mist was rolling in and I ended up sitting on the patio just listening to the stillness, watching the changing view, and remembering how much I love this kind of weather (partly because it reminds me of foggy San Francisco).
I also found myself humming the beautiful song, “Mist,” by Swami Kriyananda (from the Mystic Harp CD). It was the perfect soundtrack to my afternoon.
No surprise that I started the morning feeling shocked and sad, struggling to understand, to even slightly comprehend.
But then I remembered reading a quote that said something along the lines of “when agitated turn to nature” and decided to go for a walk. I immediately found myself focusing on (and taking even more photos of) beautiful autumn-leaved trees.
And as I started breathing more deeply and relaxing just a little bit, what popped into my mind was a prayer I learned during the seven years I attended a Unity church. When I gave birth to a stillborn baby boy in 1995, this prayer was the lifeline that kept me from drowning in grief and repudiating God: There is only One Presence and One Power active in all the universe and in my life: God, the Good, Omnipotent.
I’m not saying that the situations are exactly comparable, only that I found it extremely helpful to remember this truth at this time.
As I continued my walk, I was thinking about the importance of living my dharma; of being a warrior of light in this world; and of how important it is to stay centered in love while keeping my energy high. And of how it’s all part of the Divine Lila (God’s play).
When I reached the midpoint of the walk and took yet another photo of a beautiful tree before I headed for home, I was surprised to find myself mentally singing one of my favorite Thanksgiving hymns from childhood: For the beauty of the earth, for the glory of the skies, for the love which from our birth over and around us lies; Lord of all, to thee we raise this our hymn of grateful praise.
But then I realized it was entirely appropriate to think about all that I still have to be thankful for, regardless of what is going on in the wider world. As the scripture says: “In every thing give thanks.” But note well that it says “in every thing,” not “for every thing.” HUGE difference.
For the rest of the way I sang Swami Kriyananda’s song, “I Live Without Fear” (lyrics below) and arrived home feeling much calmer and centered in myself.
After breakfast, Ramesha, Mike, and I gathered in the recording studio for the absolutely FINAL listen-through of the Christmas album. It felt like perfect timing because our dharma is to help get Swami Kriyananda’s music into as many ears as possible in order to raise the consciousness of the world, and I believe this album is really going to help make that happen.
And finally, as I left the studio I looked at and (for once) really saw the big old cedar trees across the road from where I was parked. Looking at how big around they were, and thinking about how long they’ve been there, made me think of the “Trees” verse from Swamiji’s song “Channels”: Trees, standing firm, hold the secret of inner pow’r. Give us, when tested, strength to endure.
What a great reminder to stand firm in our inner strength and power, so we can stay the course through the longer rhythms. 🙏
I LIVE WITHOUT FEAR Though green summer fade And winter draw near, My Lord, in Your presence I live without fear.
Through tempest, through snows, Through turbulent tide, The touch of Your hand Is my strength, and my guide.
I ask for no riches That death can destroy. I crave only Thee: Your love, and Your joy. (repeat)
The dancers will pass; The singing must end: I welcome the darkness With You for my friend.
We accomplished a lot in this afternoon’s music retreat, but a particularly powerful moment for me was answering the following question:
“In your heart of hearts, what do you want most to accomplish in the music or the Arts before you leave the planet?”
This was my answer:
” To help establish a really deep, really strong, absolutely clear and attuned core music leadership that will protect and carry forward Swami’s musical legacy far into the future, which will assure the future of Ananda as well.”
Beyond that, I’m just so grateful… to be part of such a dynamic team; for the blessing of our music; and for the meaning and purpose it gives to my life.
Swami Kriyananda left his body on April 21, 2013 — eleven years ago today.
I didn’t respond well when we learned that he had died. We were living in the Ananda LA ashram and it was late on Saturday night when the email arrived from Lakshman. Ramesha read it aloud and I immediately replied: “NO!” — then repeated it emphatically again and again.
I just couldn’t believe it was true.
I still miss him very much, but at the same time I have moments of knowing that he’s with me just as much — or even more — than before.
The challenge is to be more aware of his presence from moment to moment, especially when I’m feeling confused or struggling to understand my next steps. Because when I consciously tune in, he’s right there…guiding me.
In fact, as we celebrate his life on the anniversary of his passing, I’m reminded that one of my intentions while we’re in Lugano is to find (or more accurately, take) the time to get still and ask Swamiji to help me find clarity about the top priorities for Ananda’s music ministry.
I’m definitely feeling an increasing sense of urgency to understand and then accomplish that which is truly mine to do in support of this gift to the world with which we’ve been entrusted — Ananda Music.
It was heartening to see and hear young people who really get Swamiji’s music. They sang with great energy, devotion, and some really beautiful voices.
There’s a part of me that feels a wee bit envious as I try to imagine what it would have been like to know about Education for Lifeand be singing Ananda’s music in high school!
It’s fun to think about but I know better than to really go down that rabbit hole. 😊
P.S. You might notice a few familiar — and distinctly older than high school — faces in the choir. A few key students couldn’t make the trip, so Keshava recruited a few “ringers” from the Village.
I was surprised to realize 2021 was the last time I shared this video in honor of the vernal equinox!
It’s my all-time favorite springtime song. Why? Because it just makes me so happy every time I hear it!
The words are by Shakespeare; the music and the performance are by Swami Kriyananda.
Happy Spring!
It Was a Lover and His Lass It was a lover and his lass, With a hey, and a ho, and a hey nonino, That o’er the green corn field did pass, In spring time, the only pretty ring time, When birds do sing, hey ding a ding ding: Sweet lovers love the spring.
Between the acres of the rye, With a hey, and a ho, and a hey nonino, These pretty country folks would lie, In spring time, the only pretty ring time, When birds do sing, hey ding a ding ding: Sweet lovers love the spring.
This carol they began that hour, With a hey, and a ho, and a hey nonino, How that a life was but a flow’r In springtime, the only pretty ring time, When birds do sing, hey ding a ding ding: Sweet lovers love the spring.
And therefore take the present time, With a hey, and a ho, and a hey nonino, For love is crowned with the prime In spring time, the only pretty ring time, When birds do sing, hey ding a ding ding: Sweet lovers love the spring.
I had the incredible blessing of playing flute on Secrets of Love back when I was still very new to Ananda.
I hadn’t yet met Swami Kriyananda (who was living at Ananda Assisi at the time), but I spent three days and nights at Crystal Hermitage, playing his exquisite melodies for hours each day. By the end I felt very close to him.
Ananda was so much smaller then, and marketing and promotion were a very different story back in 2000. Word of the new album spread throughout the immediate Ananda World and then that was pretty much it, as far as I could see.
So, one of the goals of the music ministry’s collaboration with Crystal Clarity Publishers is to reintroduce the classic albums that might be unknown to newer Ananda members — hence, the relaunch!
And I must say, I absolutely love the amazing artwork of the new cover.
