This quote really spoke to me today.
How much happier and kinder the world would be if everyone was encouraged to find and sing their song. No one else’s.
Sing your song
The fortunate one
Tonight I’m reflecting on the meaning of the spiritual name that Swami Kriyananda blessed me with back in 2005.
It had been an exceptionally powerful weekend. For starters we were invited to celebrate our first anniversary at a small dinner with Swamiji and a few of the leaders of the Assisi community — amazing evening!
Then we were informed that Swamiji would be blessing us as ministers and giving us our spiritual names at the same time.
Whoa! Talk about a doozy of a day.
I share this to explain how it came about that — although Swamiji shared several aspects of what the name meant — I was so blissed out that the only part of his explanation that stuck in my mind was “the fortunate one”.
But after close to twenty years of being Bhagavati I’m beginning to think that it was no accident that I couldn’t retain the other information, because “the fortunate one” so perfectly describes my life and I’m very grateful to be reminded of it all the time.
Memories of Swamiji
Swami Kriyananda left his body nine years ago today.
We were living in Los Angeles at the time and when we got the news, I didn’t handle it very well. My immediate response was to say “NO!” — repeatedly and with strong emphasis.
A few days later we were on our way to Assisi, for Swamiji’s funeral. It was the shortest trip to Europe we’d ever made; four days total, if I remember correctly.
It’s now almost a decade later and I still miss him every day. And yet I also feel him with me every day as well. It’s kind of a paradox.
I hope with all my heart to accomplish all that I can in service to him through his music, and I feel him helping me to do so.
Thank you, dear Swamiji. 💗
Life Is Beautiful
I was in a craft store the other day and just had to take a picture when I saw this.
“Life Is Beautiful” is one of my favorites of Swami Kriyananda’s children’s songs.
Here’s a recording from a live performance (don’t know who, when, or where) and the lyrics are below. Enjoy!
Life is beautiful, life is gay,
When I give myself away;
When I live to please Thee, Lord,
Dancing in Thy ray.
Let me see Thee everywhere
Hear Thy melodies in the air.
Let me feel Thy strength in me.
Give me joy to share.
Oratorio, Oratorio, Oratorio
Tomorrow is our second “Exploring Ananda Music” monthly music satsang for Ananda’s Virtual Community and we’re looking forward to focusing on the Oratorio.
Starting with Swami Kriyananda’s original inspiration, we’ll also share how he went about writing it, the way it’s been received in performances around the world, and our personal experiences with this powerful and sacred music.
Of course, there will be a little bit of singing too.
It should be both fun and inspiring.
And, of course, it’s a great lead up to our LIVE Oratorio performance on Good Friday, April 15 at 7:00pm in the Temple of Light (yep, a shameless plug!). 😉
It’s Oratorio time!
I’ve got to keep this short in order to get ready for our first Oratorio rehearsal in the Temple of Light since March of 2020!
Yep, we got the go-ahead to have an actual choir. True, it has to be a very small one of less than twenty singers, but we’re still thrilled. It’s been way too long since we did the Oratorio.
Craving peace
Do you ever find yourself craving a particular song, because you need how it makes you feel? Well, that’s what I’ve been feeling today about Swami Kriyananda’s song, “Peace.”
We need it.
“Lord, make me an instrument of thy peace. Where there is hatred, let me sow love.”
–Saint Francis of Assisi
Wartime Lullaby
We did this song for Sunday service, but I felt a strong inner urge to do another video of it yesterday.
I learned a few things this past weekend, including the fact that I can reach a level of physical tiredness that actually impedes my singing. I thought I had rested sufficiently on Saturday, but Sunday morning showed me differently.
After sleeping 10 hours Sunday night, I was able to successfully bring energy to the song on Monday. I’m grateful for that, because it feels so important to share this vibration with the world that I just had to give it another shot.
Here’s how the video description starts out: “Wartime Lullaby is a song for world peace. It’s a sweet lullaby with a powerful message.”
Personally, I feel like it’s a lullaby that speaks more to adults than to babies. Well, perhaps it speaks to the inner child of all us grown-ups who are seeking a high consciousness and uplifted approach to dealing with the troubled and challenging times that seem to be multiplying all around us.
Hugs and blessings to all. 💖
LYRICS
Lullaby, my sweet baby, lullay, lullay,
Angel voices sing peace on the wind,
And though men cry with sorrows,
God’s silence within
Speaks of realms that no tears ever stained.
Beauty, men say, is a dream never known;
Shadow to them is a light.
But their gloom is a cry of a lost innocence,
Sleep sweetly with God through the night.
Lullaby, my sweet baby, lullay, lullay,
Mountain flow’rs are not frightened to bloom,
And though men spread destruction,
Life rises again
With a smile for the pull of the tomb.
Mercy still sings, though men’s leaders cry hate,
Peace is still loved, though they fight,
Bombs have never extinguished the candle of hope.
Sleep sweetly with God through the night.
Exciting news
I’m happy to give a shout out to The Expanding Light Retreat and Springtime at Ananda (in Crystal Hermitage Gardens), which are both reopening after being closed the past two years due to the pandemic.
There are two upcoming programs I want to mention in particular, because — surprise, surprise — there’s some wonderful music on offer!
First is an Easter weekend retreat, which will include our first performance of Swami Kriyananda’s Oratorio in the Temple of Light at Ananda Village. Although the choir will be small in numbers, it will still be a powerful experience!
The following weekend is a special Springtime at Ananda retreat, featuring the Joy Singers in a pre-dinner concert in the gardens.
If you’re looking for an uplifting, nurturing, spiritual weekend, I’d love to see you at one of these events!
Capturing a memory
I’ve been on a bit of a decluttering kick lately, but not in a major, turn-everything-inside-out kind of way. This packet of sugar is an excellent example.
It’s from a one week trip to Europe we made back in 2008 (I believe), when Swami Kriyananda had a book launch at the Teatro Valle in Rome.
We stayed at the Hotel San Valentino, along with pianist Todd (who flew over with us from California), and Italian cellist, Dhruva.
We went first to Assisi for some rehearsals, then drove to Rome with Bhaktan and Mantrini, and their little baby Sabina.
One of the funny things I remember is that on the day we arrived the hotel clerk complimented Ramesha on his Italian. Of course, Ramesha told him Italian was his mother tongue, but the guy wasn’t a very good listener because all week he continued to comment on it. It didn’t matter how many times Ramesha explained!
Well, I’ve been hanging onto this sugar packet because it brings back such lovely memories. But, seriously! I’m never going to use the sugar. Odds are the packet would eventually break and make a sugary mess in the kitchen drawer.
So, I decided to take a photo and feature it in this blog post. Memory captured, and now I can chuck the sugar!
