Healing Music Goes Prime Time

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Biblical Instruments on Jerusalem Day TV Special May 24

Galilee, Israel Apr 29, 2006 - Healing music expert Eliana Gilad will be performing at The Sultan's Pool in Jerusalem as part of a unique orchestra comprised of 15 musicians who specialize in musical instruments used in biblical times. The program will be broadcast on Channel Two "Keshet", Wednesday, May 24 at 8:45 p.m.

The concept for the television special is: Jerusalem of ancient times. Gilad was invited to participate in the production for her expertise in the ancient use of voice and rhythm as a natural healer; such was used in ancient times.
The special, "Jerusalem of the Heart" tells the story of Jerusalem and will include the President, Prime Minister, Mayor of Jerusalem, along with the best of Israel's performing artists. Gilad will perform with frame drums, described in the Old Testament as Miriam's Drum, and finger cymbals, described in the bible as "mitziltayim". Mitziltayim ranging from 3 – 10 cm, have been excavated in archeological digs throughout the North. These instruments were used in Ancient Egypt as well.

Ancient Use of Music Releases Stress

"Jerusalem Day celebrates the reunification of the city. For me, the deeper meaning of this holiday is reunification with our inner selves", says Gilad. "In biblical times, frame drums and cymbals were used in spiritual preparation for reaching the Temple Mount. Incorporating the ancient percussion into this television special will enable viewers to reconnect with their roots and to their inner sense of tranquility. I am pleased that a prime-time audience will become exposed to the natural rhythms of the ancients", adds Gilad.

About Eliana Gilad, Peacemaker and Founder of Voices of Eden.

Eliana Gilad, a composer influenced by classical and Mediterranean music, lectures and teaches workshops on the conscious use of voice and rhythm, as they were used in ancient times--for centering and healing. Her credits include presenting with Dr. Masaru Emoto of "What the Bleep Do We Know!?” fame. The results of his research conducted on water crystals exposed to her music appear in the popular 2005 film. She has performed at the United Nations and with the Andalusian Orchestra, and also has appeared onstage with American composer Bobby McFerrin. Gilad has produced five Voices of Eden CDs and a workbook. She lives in Amirim where she directs the Voices of Eden Healing Music Center.

Hear Gilad's Music on Website: http://www.VoicesofEden.com (English)
http://www.Koloteden.com Website (Hebrew)
Voices of Eden
Eliana Gilad
Founder
email: musicpeace@013.net
phone: 052-3890131 04-6990908

Sound of Silence

Sometimes the biggest moments of inspiration come by listening to the silence.

Sometimes the moments of deepest relaxation come when, in the midst of much activity, we stop for a moment and breathe.

So, today, in the midst of your daily busyness... stop for a moment, breathe and listen to the silence.

Archaeology and The Goddess

Yesterday was such a fun and inspiring day filled with education as well.

I attended an in service training at Kibbutz Shaar HaGolan, where the oldest pottery known to mankind has been discovered, along with very interesting clay Goddess figurines.

Five different presentations were given on The Feminine in PreHistoric art. Photos and slides from various archeological digs in Israel and the Mediterranean dated from the Iron and Bronze age through to the Hellenistic age were shared. The female figures had many similarities in common. The most interesting and unique figurines were of Ashdoda... a female goddess figure in the form of a chair.

In the late afternoon the museum was opened for all to visit and a ceremony given for the new art piece gracing the outside of the museum facing the fields where the pottery and figurines were found during the archeological digs.

I could just imagine the Yarmukians sitting by the river across from where we sat, making the clay pots from the mud at the banks.

The entire day was fun. It is so incredible to me that I live in a place where I can hop in the car and be at an ancient site where civilization well roamed more than 10,000 years ago. Makes me REALLY feel like part of the family... the human family.

Goddess in the Golan

This afternoon I will return to the Golan to attend an in service training regarding ancient art and the revival of the Goddess. There's a great Goddess museum of the Yarmukians at Kibbutz Shaar HaGolan: http://www.shaar-hagolan.co.il

An interesting article about this site appears in:
http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/pages/ShArt.jhtml?itemNo=319366

Inspiration from what you write

Today, I spent most of the day rereading my journal. I have written journals most of my life. Began at about eight years old. It has always been a way to keep in contact with my inner self and higher guide.

This last notebook took me eight months to fill. The inspiration I receive from it, is that I paid attention to myself enough to spend the day rereading it. While it stirred me up at times, the overall feeling is of gained self esteem. I paid attention to myself and gave myself the time to listen to myself by rereading what I wrote.

It makes me feel important to myself.

What have you written that you have reread later on, that inspired you?

Ancient Past and a Brighter Future

I've been away from the computer for the last few days. AHHHHHHHHH vacation!

I was in Tel Aviv preparing for a Jerusalem Day television special... focused around Jerusalem of ancient times. The really cool thing is that I will be filmed playing ancient frame drums and instruments at various locations around the old city. That should be very fun.

Yesterday, I went to Haifa to visit the prehistoric museum. Because of the holiday, they opened all of the museums and the parks to the public for free. Along with me, seemed to be the rest of the population with their families.

Once I got past the throngs, and into the museum, I discovered that the oldest well in the world was found at Atlit - near Haifa. There were very cool figurenes of female goddesses - always my love... and skeletons of buried people who were found underneath the floors of houses, just like I saw in the ancient museums of Cyprus.

When looking at these ancient finds and contemplating their reality... it brought another dimension to my life today... more meaningful, more bright, wider and more expansive.

The Seder was Delicious

Nine people came to the Miriam Seder: 5 Israelis, 1 American, 3 German. We spoke in Hebrew, English and German.

The highlight was writing down those habits and attributes of our personality that keep us enslaved to our little selves, and then throwing them into the fire to be transformed.

Afterwards we drank from Miriam's Cup filled with water collected from sources all over the world, followed by a hand washing ceremony with water filled with flower essence and spring buds.

Dinner was delicious... everyone stayed until ten pm, with the stragglers leaving after 11 pm. I feel good about the evening.

mobile blogging

can't find the code to get in and get the telephone number, so I'll write later instead.

Passover Seder

I'm quickly blogging in before the guests arrive for our Miriam's Seder.

Eight people with guests from Germany and Switzerland.

It's gonna be really fun and DIFFERENT than your average seder. It's dedicated to
Miriam, Moses's sister - the bridge between the Pharoah and the Hebrews.

I'll call in later and you can hear us.

Happy Childhood - It's Never Too Late!

I woke up less than an hour ago. Went into the kitchen to make my morning coffee and suddenly, from deep within, the little girl inside of me woke up as well.

"Good morning", she greeted me cheerfully. "How are you?"

I laughed to myself... acknowledging that SHE is the answer. I had just been asking my inner self how to live in inner happiness all the time, not just in fits and spirts.

"You can ask this girl what she needs, and give it to her. This is how you will heal all of your wounds and get to your impeturbable happiness", the wise inner voice replied.

What a concept!!!! If I ask this inner child - the me of years ago - what she needs, I will be able to supply her with what she needs to grow up into a healthy and happy adult. This will fulfill me immensely and help me to succeed in my modern day endeavors.

"So, what do you need from me honey?", I asked. "Let me express myself. Listen to me, pay attention to what I say, give me the space and time. BE there with me".

And with that, I arose from the couch, came into the studio, opened the computer and went directly to blogger.com, to enter this post, and let HER voice be heard.

Lynn (name given to me at birth)asks you: How do YOU listen to yourSELF, such that it supports you? What do you say to yourself that inspires you to be your best?

We await your reply.

What are your words of inspiration?

The sun is peeking through the clouds as it descends it's way down to sleep.

I am wondering, what are your words for inspiration today?

What have you learned about yourself, that inspired you? If it inspired YOU, it will inspire OTHERS.

Yesterday I got inspired by the realization that my personality is MINE, but I am NOT my personality. Those kinks, following me like a lead ball and chain to the foot of my soul, are releasable. When I remember that I am NOT my personality, but that I HAVE a personality, I can choose to change it. It's inspiring me to change.

Where is Israel?

Do you know?

Have you ever been here?

Does it conjure up images of camels, desert or war?

There's alot more... Running springs, wild flowers...

When you haven't been to a place, it conjures up images in the mind.
What the mind focuses upon, increases.

What could you focus upon today, someplace (physical or emotional) where you have not yet been, that increasing focus upon it, would do you GOOD?

Let me know!!! I am interested in hearing.

Nazareth in My Home

Open House again at the Voices of Eden Peace Garden. I do this the first Friday of every month as a practical next step towards realizing my inner marching orders to found a self-realization garden and healing music center in the Galilee... in a green place where one sees blue. Amirim, where I live, certainly fits the bill.

Israel Dvir, a lovely man from a neighboring kibbutz, called to say his wife released him from Friday night dinner, and he was excited to come... "Can I offer any help?", he asked. "Now that you mention it," I replied, "Yes. My friend Kamel from Nazareth wants to attend, but his daughter needs to use the car. Would you mind giving him a ride?" I wasn't sure of his response, because Nazareth is in the totally opposite direction from the path leading from his home to mine.

"Sure", he suprised me with his response. "Where is he, in Nazareth Ilite (the Jewish part of Nazareth). "No", I replied, "in the Arab part"... now waiting to see if he would change his mind. "Ok, give me his number and I will set it up". What a blessing. I immediately called Kamel and gave him the good news.

Not only did Israel and Kamel arrive together, but Kamel invited Asrar a beautiful woman who lives not far from him, who makes herbal remedies. Amongst other guests was another British woman who came for a visit to the Galilee three years ago, and never left.

I love it that each month, I have NO CLUE as to who will show up. It's pot-luck vegetarian (I live in a vegetarian health village):

Please come visit: First Friday of Every Month. Try it, you'll like it!

Israel Travel Tip

Israel Travel Tip - Off the Beaten Path

For those of you visiting the Galilee, you will not want to miss a visit to Pek'in. Pek'in, since ancient times, has been home to Jews, Christians, Druze and Moslems.

For an acceptional treat, go to Savta Jamila Soap shop. Grandma Jamila has been making olive oil medicinal soaps for close to thirty years. The ingredients are all natural, and mixed with fresh herbs and essence, according to the Druze tradition.

On the premises, you can see how the soap is made. Jamila tells the story, and on the walls are pasted numerous stories from satisfied customers. I am one of them.

Since I purchased my first bar a few years ago, I stopped buying shampoo. The olive oil soap does a better job. Last time I visited the store, Jamila's son told me you can use it for toothpaste as well. It tastes awful, but it's great for gum treatment.

Moses, Miriam, Passover and Beyond

Moses, Miriam, Passover and Beyond


I have been thinking a lot about Miriam and her role in the story of Exodus. Usually, we think of the Passover holiday as commemorating the Jews freedom from slavery in Egypt. In the Hebrew language, the holiday is called "Hag HaHeirut" – the freedom holiday. The Hebrew word for Egypt is "Mitzrayim". It shares the same root with "Meitzar", which means "narrow", or "constricting". If we look at the meaning of this holiday from a wider lens, it provides us an opportunity to free ourselves from our narrow-mindedness and personal slavery, the kind that keeps us from having, doing or being whatever it is that would serve our best and highest good.

Miriam the prophetess, sister of Moses, provides us with hidden secrets that can help us reach our own promised lands. Little is spoken of Miriam in the bible, although she is a major figure. It is Miriam who saves Moses from Pharoah's decree to destroy all the Hebrew males. It is through her Divine guidance, that Pharoah's wife takes him in and raises him as a son. He becomes a prince of Egypt.

It is Miriam who watches over Moses through the journey out of Egypt through the desert. Miriam speaks directly to God. She needs no intermediary. Who is this strong and powerful woman? Could she be the hand of the Shechina, presence of the Feminine Divine? I would answer, "Yes, and more…"

I invite you to remember that the Hebrew's lived in Egypt for over 500 years. They lived in practice with the Egyptian culture grounded in the Divine Feminine; such was worshipped hundreds of thousands of years ago. We can date the source of this back to The Archeulian Goddess discovered in the mid-1980s at Berekhat Ram in the Golan Heights. This divine feminine statue is dated between 250,000 to 800,000 years old.

I live in the Galilee, which is about an hour's drive from the Golan. Last week I hopped in the car to visit this ancient site. It was a cloudy day, weather closer to winter, than the approach of spring. Never mind, sitting at the shores of this lake, I couldn't help but notice the connection to the feminine archetype of water – like the womb, and the connection to Miriam and the well, and the fact that she hid Moses in the banks of the River. I also thought about the parting of the Red Sea which allowed the Hebrews to cross, unharmed. What other power could this be than the guidance of the Divine Feminine? Miriam and the women came out in song and dance, a practice common in the sacred temples of Egypt, where they had lived and prayed for many hundreds of years.

"What's the point of all this?" you may ask. The idea is that by inviting the sacred feminine back into our lives, we free ourselves to make peace with our inner dichotomies, thus allowing for an expanded sense of freedom and happiness.

Passover in the Galilee

I just got back from the marketplace. Next week is Passover, which in Israel, is akin to Christmas in the United States and Europe... it's BIG... Holiday season...

I love to shop at the Sheevook supermarket because it provides me with a visceral experience of the tapestry known as the Galilee. Christian Arab cashiers dotted with Russian immigrant faces, religious Jews and a mixed sea of different colors and sizes of people mingle between the isles of this neighborhood store.

Today the lines were especially long as families stock up for the holiday season.

I had already bought most of my groceries earlier and was picking up a few forgotten items. I was outnumbered by overflowing baskets. Fortunately, I remembered the fast lane for up to ten items. The man in front of me sported a bulging basket.
Politely, I approached the cashier and asked her if this was the express lane? With her beautiful and distinct Arab accent she replied, "most days yes, but during the holiday, there is no express lane". I shut my mouth, quietly returned to the line to patiently await my turn.

As is a frequent occurence in this postage stamp sized country, I turned to see how long the line was, a discovered that standing behind me were my realtor and a colleague of mine. We spent the rest of our time in line engaged in lively discussion. The time passed quickly.

Hearing Inspiration

Jesus and a car in Galilee

Well, I still haven't taken my car into the garage. Yesterday, the electricity was being fixed on the car lift. This morning when I called, Eihab said it would be more convenient for him tomorrow. OK. Part of living a peace filled life, is going with the flow.

I like Eihab. We met when my car had stalled and I he came to my rescue through the road service. He repaired the problem on the spot. I hired him to fix the front bearings and replace the tires. He gave me an estimate, took my car to the garage and returned it to my home. I didn't have to lift a finger. In addition, he told me it cost LESS than he had expected.

That did it... he won a long time customer. Jesus would be proud of him!

Last month Eihab's wife gave birth to their first child - a beautiful daughter. I gave them one of NOAM - the healing lullaby music cd I composed that Dr. Emoto researched. (The water crystal appears in the film. You can see it on http://www.voicesofeden.com.) He told me that the cd stays on all day and night now - they all are relaxed by it... and my car has won an honest repairman for life...

5 Inspirational Tips for Women's Fitness

Here are the Top Five Tips for Women's Fitness, not only physically, but spiritually and emotionally:

1) Do something kind for yourself today... You deserve it! Take time out at least once during the day to stop and appreciate yourself.

2) Breathe. When the going gets rough - take a few long breaths instead of rushing to take care of the next action or putting out the next fire.

3) Take a break and walk outside - walk around the block - even if you can't leave your office, walk around the office in a different direction than you are used to. It will awaken your brain cells to respond more effectively in the present moment, instead of out of habit.

4) Eat Fresh Foods. Fresh fruit - an apple, orange or banana instead of a fruit cup or power bar. Nature has it's way of nuturing our health and the fibers in natural food helps our digestive system, cutting out unwanted fat.

5) Turn off the TV. Stop living life vicariously and dare to take one step NOW, towards your secret dreams - even if that dream seems impossible to you.

Fitness starts from within. You have it within you to be just the beautiful being that you've always dreamt of being.

Start NOW.

Garden of Eden

"What will be my subject for this morning's blog?", I wondered to myself.

The telephone suddenly rang. On the other end of the line I heard a lovely British voice say, "I've called about your open house this Friday. A friend of mine told me that the first Friday of each month there is a special gathering. Could you tell me about it?"

Of course... I will tell you too... On the first Friday of every month, the Voices of Eden peace garden and healing music center are open free to the public to come enjoy the beauty in silence. The center is dedicated to Good. At 6:30 p.m. we sit together in silence and at 7:30 p.m. we share a potluck vegetarian dinner together.

It is cool. Everytime there are different people from different places and different walks of life... Jews, Arabs - Moslem, Christian, Druze, young, old, men, women, whomever is interested in sharing in the Source of Good is welcome.

Gotta go take my car to the mechanic in Rama - a predominantly Christian village in the foothills below my own village. In my next post, I'll tell you where the impetus for the open house comes from. If the photo editor will work (it is stuck right now), I will upload a photo too.