Authentic Voice and Healing Music

The Continuing Saga of Miriam's Drum

2012-02-05T08:09:00.000-08:00

Wow. What an amazing weekend. The trip to Miriam's well was amazing. We added in Mary Magdalene's well too since it was such a special day.

What I got was that the drum needs to stay in Israel! Miriam is not ready to go. She needs more grounding.

There was AMAZING STUFF that happened at the well. I understood that the drum needs to be present at the beginning of the two courses I am about to start here in Israel. The feminine voice of Israel must contribute to it's energy as well, such that you may well be the recipient of the drum after all :-)... This drum is not another item to add to a collection. This drum has special energy. It is not so special in terms of the physicality of it - it's a standard Syrian hand made drum. Its what this drum has been through, the energy it has imbibed and that it emits, that makes it so powerful. Sometimes, the simplest, smallest things end up having the biggest impact.

Here's what she looks like today, after her happy trip to the wells.

What might she be feeling in her heart? What do you say?

Song of the Sea - Authenticity of Ancient Israel in 2012

2012-02-02T14:11:00.000-08:00

This weekend marks the Song of the Sea a special part of the bible which describes the Israelites triumphant parting of the Red Sea.

The parting of the Red Sea, signifies freedom from slavery. In my last blog post I wrote about my own parting of the seas, and meeting my personal Armageddon only to meet the sweet waters of deep inner tranquility. In the few days since sending that mail out, my entire world is shifting around and it's so exciting!!!Frann Haykin wrote a wonderfully provocative response, and requested I write a blog post on Israel in 2012:

No better time than the present... it's a gift...What's my response about Israel 2012?I LOVE being where I am and living here 2012. The Jewish holiday of Tu BiShvat represents an older more ancient tradition steeped in the matriarchal traditions of the area.

Digging deep to revive these traditions keeps me so occupied that I have little time nor energy to worry about popular consensus of the mass media, which speaks of destruction. Truth is, I LIVE 20 minutes from the Armaggedon site. The media speaks of destruction. I agree. Destruction of what has been. What arises from there is a rebirth of the deeper feminine traditions of the Near East.

So I've decided to hold an auction of this majorly cool drum I ritually painted with natural Henna dye (the henna plant is still drying on the drum in the photo).This drum is one of a kind. It is the prototype for the drums we will use in the Ancient Israel - Healing and Transformational Music

Course which begins in late February here in Israel. Are you feeling disconnected, unfocused or out of energy?The motif on the drum is one of balance:1) The six pointed star - common to Ancient Israel, India and China, represents a balance between heaven and earth, male and female...2) The dots represent focus.3) The squiggles represent water - reminiscent of the parting of the seas and the emotions of life, most powerfully embodied by the feminine energy of life.

The drum is approximately 11 inches in diameter and approximately 3 inches in width. I write approximately because it is a hand made drum, brought to Israel from Syria. It's a living music peace drum. It's goat skin is all natural, which means that the drum head and the skin are EXTREMELY sensitive to weather. It's very much a LIVE drum. In wet weather, the drum needs to be heated in order for the skin to make it's wonderful sound. If you are interested in making peace within yourself, and with others, silencing once and for all, those inner critical voices, this may be just the thing for you.

Here's the thing...I am opening a 24 Hour Authenticity Auction beginning tonight at Midnight (Israel Time GMT +2).You can calculate the time difference here. 1) After travelling a long distance to purchase this hand picked frame drum, made in Syria, I sat in deep meditation to receive guidance for its ritual design. The design you see in the photo is focused upon Parting of the Seas and Transformation. The design is painted with henna, a healthy plant, long used in the middle east as a coloring dye, ritual object and aesthetic tool.2) On Saturday (Yes, on Shabbat),

I will travel to the Sea of Galilee, to visit Miriam's Well. There I will consecrate this drum to the highest bidder. If I receive a bid over $900, I will personally compose for you an ancient healing and transformational music piece - that I will record for you at the ancient site itself, and send electronically to you. I will use this drum in the recording, at Miriam's Well, on the shores of Galilee. It will be YOUR personal touch stone. 3) The drum will be personally shipped to you, anywhere in the world. 4) This has never been done before. The money exchanged will be used to revive this ancient form of healing and transformational music. Bidding starts at $180.

Leave your bid below, on my facebook page or email me: sodotmiriam at gmail.com

Why Am I Doing This?

It's authentically what I am feeling guided to do in response to Frann's generous posting. It shows how I am living in Israel in 2012. It is authentic expression expressing itself in the moment. It shows how creative you can be in any situation and find energy to move forward and feel good no matter what else is going on around you.

It is time for this ancient healing and transformational music form to be shared BIG TIME. SO many people are to be supported in their authentic expression. So many people are secretly feeling despondent and it is ok. There's a massive shift occuring. It's natural. There are simple practical solutions.

How about stopping and taking some time for yourself!

Yes, it might feel uncomfortable since you're so wrapped up in DOING. Yet it's Tu Bishevat, the time to stop and dig deeper, to get to the root of the issues most important to you. This is where you will find the bedrock of your inner strength.Are you longing to reconnect to that deep well of wisdom inside yourself so that you can access answers to your hearts most pressing questions?

No coach, no psychologist, no medium, no spiritual guide can truly help you here - as the answers you are looking for truly come from within. This Sabbath is the Song of the Sea. It is an auspicious time allowing for you to stop and part your own seas - freeing yourself from whatever may no longer be serving you. 2012 will not return again. NOW is the present time.

It is a gift. How are you giving yourself a gift of acknowledgment! WOW. It's so powerful to be authentic in this moment.

Nine hours later....

Here's a photo of the drum at 9:25 am Israel, Galilee Time:

The henna, when dried turns a green olive color. The longer the paste sits, the more the plant dye seeps into the skin underneath. The result is a deep red color (when the paste comes off).

I feel so excited. My tunny is tumbling and it feels so good to be alive, following my muse and following the flow of creation... updates here...

How Falling Apart Can Actually Help You Get It Together

2012-01-31T06:13:00.000-08:00

January 2012. I've been evaluating my work, my personal life and most importantly, my relationships. I am excited to be living in Israel in 2012. This is my year to come alive.

Do you know the experience of going through the motions of what used to give you energy, expecting to like it, only inside, it feels empty? I have been feeling like King Soloman in Eccelsiastes who laments: “Havel Havelim” which roughly translates to, “Nothing has meaning”, yet deep within, the deeper meaning is palpable, even if not yet expressible in language.

My business is authenticity, and I have felt anything but...

How embarrassing it has been to discover how I was projecting one face to the world...positive...”anything's possible”, meet difficulty with courage”... you know... “super woman”... while deep in the pit of my belly a darker face was lurked like a monster, secretly causing me sadness, pain, shame and fear.

Spiritual Awakening or Break-Down?

Quite sincerely, Im grateful to have experienced what we'd call in spiritually correct circles a “spiritual awakening”, yet in simpler language, let's call it a “ break-down”, my personal Armaggedon (which is actually located 20 minutes away from my home).

You're on your way to rediscovering your amazing strength!

The cool thing about burn out is, when everything seems to fall apart, and you allow yourself to dig down to your roots, you end up discovering a deep source of strength.

My purpose for sharing this with you is I want to know that if you are feeling exhausted, lost, confused and not sure what is going on in your life.... you're not alone...

2012 is the year of transformation, to living a full, juicy authentic life.

I've experienced my own inner Armageddon and dug deeper to discover a deep well of wisdom, power and tranquility within. The pain and confusion has been a pittance to pay for the gold treasure of sweet tranquil waters that cannot be disturbed by outer confusion.

I have dedicated my life to revive an ancient approach of using voice, rhythm and music as a means to connect with our inner wisdom so that we may express it more freely in the world, each contributing our own special song.

My dream has been to bring people back to the ancient sites, to experience this music at the location. There is special energy there. With technology evolving a breakneck speed, I am exploring how to share this material and music with you in various forms... virtual retreats, telecourses... applications...

Requests? Ideas? Needs?

Miriam's Secret is evolving into a virtual experience which really excites me. Since you will be able to visit the ancient sites without leaving your home, experiencing the healing and transformational power of these places that will reignite your own inner well of wisdom.

I am glad you are in my life. Thank you.

What challenges are you facing today in your own process of healing and transformation?

I am looking forward to hearing from you.

High Dive into the Deep Waters of Change in 2012

2011-12-29T09:31:00.000-08:00

Yup, we're all talking about it. And if we're not talking about it, we are feeling it...The end of another calendar year and the beginning of a new one.

Only this time, it's not just another year.

It's 2012. The time of change.

The time where so many predictions throughout the ages predict cataclysmic change. The most dire, is that of Armageddon - disaster city.

That energy hits particularly hard in my yard, since I LITERALLY LIVE 20 MINUTES from the physical site of Armageddon - what is known in Hebrew as Megiddo.

Yes, it's powerful. And scary. And exciting.

What if at the end of time there is something beyond?

What if whatever lies beyond is actually BETTER than what has been up until now?

Could you imagine that? It requires a willingness to let go of everything known.
That's what's so scary. And that's what is also so exciting.

It's a double edged sword.

The time has come to turn our swords into plowshares.
Tilling the soil is an inner job. I invite you to join me.

Enjoy this music video meditation recorded in the ancient well at Tel Dan in Northern Israel.

2012 - cataclysmic change which allows us to go beyond time and reconnect to eternal calm, which cannot be waivered by anything outside of ourselves.

We all deserve that. What do you think?

From Fake to Being Real - Coming out of hiding...

2011-12-07T09:48:00.000-08:00

Why is it so hard to be? What could be simpler. My teacher Lester Levenson used to ask: "How difficult is it to be who you already are?"

Why is it that the closer you get to your truth, the further away it seems to get.
It feels so scary just to write these words now. What is the purpose of my sharing?

Honest answer?

I just want to share who I am. I want to connect. Have a deep need. Is there anyone listening? Is it safe to express what's really so? Even when it seems silly or banal?

The scariest part... is meeting the chasm between "the show" of me, and the difference of how I truly feel inside. Inside, I am a ball of vulnerability. Raw. Unpolished. Unfinished. It got so painful the other day, that I just couldn't go on another moment being "productive". "Productive" felt violent.

So I got out of the house, out of the office and went north to the Tel Dan reserve, home of amazing water falls and ancient ruins, where sounds of healing music once were heard. I was inspired by the beauty and broke out into song. This is uncut, unrehearsed. It was so inspiring to sing here.

How does it fit in? Is there room for this part? How does this part fit into the scheme of life in the workaday world?

The chasm is a belief that this raw, unruly part of existence gets in the way of the orderly side of behavior, always in control - or at least pretending to be by being busy.

Being busy isn't the same thing as getting things done.

So, instead of spinning in my head, trying to figure it all out - which never works anyway... I post on this blog.

It's public. It's imperfect. Yup, it's raw.

And it's such a wonderful feeling to come out of hiding.

Where might you be hiding within? Where could you come out and play more directly in this amazing game of life?

How to Boost Your Energy During the Holidays

2011-11-30T05:33:00.000-08:00

Almost every one of us has, at one time or another, felt so fatigued and overwhelmed inside she just hit a wall. But for some high achievers, for many different reasons -- including working long hours, chronic stress, too little sleep, to name only a few -- fatigue is a constant, not an occasional, problem.

Boosting our energy through stimulants doesn't truly give us more energy, though many frazzled professionals turn to them when they feel too tired.

Stimulants create false energy, causing us at a deeper level to feel even more exhausted. Certainly, one more cup of java, one more Red Bull, one more jolt of anxiety increases energy - this is a given. Yet these choices also deplete our bones of their vital minerals, weaken our core energy, and prevent truly restful, restorative sleep. They push us way too hard and erode our long-term health.

Are there alternative ways to boost our energy that are effective and healthy? The ancient prophetesses of the Holy Land can provide us with some ideas, particularly during the exciting yet stressful holiday season.

When you are too weary for words you can boost your energy with jingle bells. Yes, jingle bells. Bells, have been known since time immemorial to energize, eliminate negative energy and relax, all at the same time.

Original Jingle Bells from Ancient Israel

I had the great pleasure and honor to meet again with Dr. Kurt Raveh, an amazingly multi-talented professional and lovely man who founded Marine Archeology in Israel. He discovered a 2000 year old jingle bell in an ancient Roman ship wreck off the Mediterranean coast. You can see it and hear it here:

Could the boat been on it's way to Santa?
What do you think? Leave a comment.

Then come by for a complimentary energy boosting course to turn your holiday stress into energizing holiday spirit.

Harp Makes Mystical Sound

2011-11-27T11:23:00.000-08:00

Recently my colleague and I travelled to perform a healing music concert in the Judean Desert. The photographer wanted a photo of us. The harp started singing as we walked to the point where he was to shoot the photos.

Listen to the harp playing a mysterious sound in the mystical Southern Judean desert of the Holy Land.

No one is playing it but the wind.

Is it spooky or soothing? What do you think? Leave a comment below.

Gratitude Well of Appreciation

2011-11-24T06:06:00.000-08:00

Happy Thanksgiving to friends around the entire world.

Although more than 20 years have passed since I left my native United States, I never tire of Thanksgiving –a visit to the Well of Gratitude – that energy that can soothe all the savage beasts (both inside and out)…

I love this holiday… an entire day dedicated to Gratitude. One of the things I have learned in my life is that the more I remember to tap into this energy of appreciation and gratitude, the more everything else in my life improves, personally, professionally and energetically.

The more I appreciate, the more energy I get. The more energy I have, the more I enjoy my life. The more I enjoy my life, with whatever is, the more I have to give. The more I give, the more I receive.

So simple…So easy to forget.

We are all human. Perhaps our imperfection is what in the end allows us appreciate the good we have in our life.

Gratitude and appreciation eases inner angst when you have no idea what's coming next.

One of the ways I deepen my gratitude is by practicing a few simple keys I discovered living in Israel, the Holy land. When I practice this, my mind gets quiet and attunes me to a higher frequency of joy and ease. I remember all the good in my life and this attracts more good.

If you are not aware of these simple keys yet, you might want to try adding quieting your mind, and adding simple appreciation into YOUR daily life. The impact is amazing. The holidays are a perfect time to practice.

One example of these keys is a simple ancient humming practice that's so intuitive to use. It instantly calms my inner anxiety when I am feeling stressed or overwhelmed with too much to do in too little time. It brings clarity and transforms doubt into fuel for achievement.

Another example is acknowledging gratitude for the goodness of the universe.

This one is BIG.

Last week at a business networking event, I almost fell off my chair when the counselor who lead my youth group Israel, some 4o years ago. He and his wife recently moved from Los Angeles to Israel. A fountain of tears poured out as I publically expressed my gratitude for the difference his presence has made in my life. His appreciation of my gratitude added a ripple effect to the sea of positive energy.

I hope you get the idea – these are just a few examples of gratitude in my life…

So what song of gratitude do you have in your repertoire? What songs of gratitude can you write into your life?

Your Voice Reflects Your Spiritual Identity

2011-11-18T06:07:00.000-08:00

What does your voice reveal about you?

Alot.

There is so much more to understanding than the words you speak. It begins with the essence of your voice.

Your voice reflects your spiritual identity.

Is your voice hurting you or helping you?

Join me today on blog talk radio. Luciana Stiglich of Inner Healers Radio will be interviewing me about this subject. Leave your questions below and I will address them during the interview.

Here's the link to the radio program which will be live at 1pm EST

Does your identity help or hinder you?

2011-11-12T13:05:00.000-08:00

I've just returned from an inspiring weekend with my community of friends who practice The Work of Byron Katie. We meet once a month for focused self inquiry and enjoying the company of one another.

What is your "Identity"?

What do you identify yourself with? How do you describe yourself? Does this create a sense of stress or joy in your life?

We explored the various ways in which the roles, feelings and thoughts we identify with may be causing us undo stress. Funny how the most basic of identities e.g. "I am a woman", when consciously questioned, can bring up a mixed bag of feelings. Questioning thoughts, also allows for questioning feelings.

Are you really who you think you are?

Who is it who decides what you think? Parents? Society? Schools? Friends? Media? There are so many influences within which we are raised. We are influenced by those around us. Yet it is we who decide how we think.

Let's look at two children in the same household, who experience similar experiences. Each will interpret it differently. For example, my parents limited the amount of time that my brother and I could watch television. They gave us each one hour a week to choose the program we each wanted to watch. I was more of a book worm... one program a week was plenty for me. I never developed a heavy television habit. I actually threw my television out in the late 1980's preferring to live directly in life's drama.

My brother, on the other hand, went to the opposite direction. He wanted more television. In fact, he ended up going into television production on a professional basis.

Same household, same parents, same situation... two totally different outcomes.

Is your identity helping or hindering your progress?

As we inquired more deeply into these basic assumptions e.g. I am a woman, I am my parents daughter, my brother's sister etc... I unearthed a long held belief that "If I speak and live my truth, I will be nailed on the cross". I asked someone to ask me the four basic questions which helped me to take an objective look at a basic belief that has been running inside of me for what seems like a million lifetimes.

This deeply rooted fear has kept me from fully giving the gifts I have to give and hindered me from fully enjoying the fruits of my labor. When I turned the sentence around to look at it from a different perspective, I was astounded to see that: When I speak and live my truth, I will be safe and supported.

So, I am hereby publicly claim my intent to speak and live my truth. Writing this post is one example of that. Committing to make more music is another. It's time that I come out more fully. Expect to be hearing more from me in the near future. I have alot to share.

What about you? How does your identity help or hinder you? Leave a comment below...

Being more, doing less creates nice connections...

2011-10-15T08:44:00.001-07:00

Small daily joys add up to a harmonious life. We have a tendency to expect grandiose, spectacular results, before we admit to "success", yet I must say, that while in Hollywood, it was the small, undramatic events which unfolded, everyday that added up to a stellar visit in Southern California.

Less doing and more being creates nice connections... After many years of communicating through the internet and facebook, I finally had the chance to meet drummer Christine Stevens and Rowan Storm in LA. On my last day, we had a great jam session in my mother's beautiful back yard.

Can you believe that there is an ancient Pagoda in Southern California. I met up with my dear friend Angela Deger in San Pedro. We sat by the Pagoda, whose Korean frienship bell overlooks a 180 degree view of the Pacific ocean, Catalina and the Channel Islands. I defintely recommend a visit when you are next in Southern California.

The dear film director Simon Edery invited me to a wonderful film preview of the upcoming Anonymous, which explores the supposition that William Shakespeare did not pen all those famous sonnets and plays of his. It's a very interesting film, worth seeing.

I had the joy of participating in the Sacred Music Festival opening at Venice beach, which was both exciting and a true coming home for me. I used to hang out at this beach as a child. It was my summer hang out. Returning to this place with hundreds of others, making sacred music was a dream come true.

Tomorrow I invite you to help me widen the circle by joining in live At the Well Gathering - it's a free live music meditation, that you can call in free from skype or dial in through freeconferencecallhd.com.

The music I will compose, will be focused upon whatever muse you request on the Miriam's Secret facebook community. What's your muse?

Tashlich - Wipe Your Slate Clean the Israelite way

2011-10-06T08:46:00.001-07:00

The ten days between the Jewish New Year, Rosh HaShana and the day of Atonement, Yom Kippur is a powerful time. The new has been celebrated and ushered in with joy. The soul inventory of the Day of Atonement begins not on Yom Kippur itself, but in the in between time, through a sacred ritual called Tashlich.

Tashlich is a ceremony by which you cast your sins into the sea. The negativity gets washed away. You get to clean your slate and start all over again.

I am in my native Los Angeles, visiting my family for the holidays. This morning I will go with my mother to the beach and we will have our own Tashlich ceremony. You don't have to be Jewish to perform this ceremony. There is no right or wrong way to do it.

You can write whatever it is you are wanting to release, on a piece of paper, and tear it up. Go to the ocean, or to some body of water, and throw something symbolic into the water once you have determined to let it go. If you don't live by a body of water, take a glass of water, and sprinkle some drops outside, to represent throwing out whatever no longer serves you inside your beautiful soul.

When we cast off our heaviness, it allows for the brightness of our beauty to shine through. This is what I wish you for the New Year.

Marianne Williamson in Israel

2011-09-14T21:31:00.000-07:00

Marianne Williamson visited Israel this last week. I had the great fortune of reconnecting with her after thirty years of our first meeting in Los Angeles.

At that time, Marianne had just left her secretarial position and was risking her faith to give lectures about

A Course in Miracles. She would speak once a week at a church gathering in Santa Monica and in the living rooms of people who spontaneous organized gatherings to discuss the materials.

One evening in the small apartment living room of a then neighbor of mine in Marina del Rey, Marianne spilled her guts about her difficulties. It was neither polite nor politically correct, nor did it make her "look good".

Yet it was so honest, sincere, authentic and powerful that through the years of my own path of risking "looking good", leaving the conventional life of US and Europe behind to live in Israel to revive the sacred healing music practices of the of the ancient prophetesses.

On Sunday, September 11 she addressed a group of 200 conscious people who gathered to focus upon inner and outer peace. At the same time, I had been invited to present before a similar sized gathering celebrating women's empowerment. The event, organized by the Haifa mayor's office of female empowerment, intended to celebrate the new year, and acknowledge the great effort of the women who lead the large women's empowerment programs in Northern Israel.

Building on the constructive change transpiring through the grassroots demonstrations, I suggested that we join forces - and synchronize our meditation upon good together. This way, it grows.

WOW.

The harmony of those moments was palpable. Silence which rang with such a force that it's echoes still reverberate within my heart. What most impressed me was the power of the softness. That is true divine femininity at it's best. Marianne wrote a beautiful post about femininity on her blog, which reflects my own experience to a "T".

Living outside of the US and experiencing the appreciation of feminine expression in France and the Middle East (YES, the Middle East! Will write a whole post about this), allowed me to heal the deep wound I experienced, shutting off my nurturing qualities in the name of "equality".

The gift in this healing is the gift of being the midwife to the revival of this powerful musical way of the prophetesses of ancient Israel. I will be going to Los Angeles next week. I look forward to providing a music meditation of this powerful music at one of the Monday night gatherings, honoring the entire community for it's part in helping me, the doctors, and countless others in the Middle East to revive of the healing power of the divine feminine.

I look forward to hugging my mother and honoring the huge role she has played in my own life.

Where ever you are, whatever you happen to be doing, please take a moment to honor yourself.

Action through Non-Action

2011-09-02T02:36:00.000-07:00

So much change happening. Summer has offcially ended here in Israel. Children have returned to school. The weather is giving signals of fall in the cooling air. I recently received an email from Alison Roberts, author of Hathor Rising, who sent the most beautiful quote from Carl Jung in his commentary on the alchemical work known as the "Secret of the Golden Flower".

Here's what he wrote:

The art of letting things happen, action through non-action, letting go of oneself, as taught by Meister Eckhart, became for me the key opening the door to the Way. We must be able to let things happen in the psyche. For us, this actually is an art of which few people know anything. Consciousness is forever interfering, helping, correcting and negating, and never leaving the simple growth of the psychic processes in peace'.

By the Well Gathering

Looking forward to our next By the Well Gathering!! Now is time to mark your calendar for Thursday, September 8 at noon EST (US Time), 19:00 Israel Time, 17:00 GMT.

If you weren’t with us LIVE for the last call, you’ll want to listen to
the recording right away. On the call, we covered how
to go beneath the inner and outer chaos so typifying life today, and draw sustenance from your inner well of wisdom.

I shared my story of meeting the fear of death, daily, which brought clarity and confidence regarding my path and uncovered a secret about the relationship of bells to opening the shut chambers of your heart, and a very soothing healing music meditation to soothe yourself while going through change! It was a very moving call… great questions were asked!

You can listen to it here.

Please join us on September 8th. Call in instructions are here. Please send me your questions, issues or subjects that you feel inspired to have covered on the call. Leave a note below. Our call and the music composed for it, will be focused around the issues YOU raise. Look forward to hearing from you!!!!

A Seeker's Thoughts: Bells and Chimes (As Symbols)

2011-08-28T00:06:00.000-07:00

In writing an entry for Miriam's Secret about the symbolism of bells, I came across this insightful entry written by a seeker who to me, clearly connects to his inner well of wisdom, as clear as a bell :-)...

What do you think?

A Seeker's Thoughts: Bells and Chimes (As Symbols): joe8338@cox.net

Self Compassion and Forgiveness

2011-08-19T09:45:00.000-07:00

If you are ever wondering how come you may keep releasing and releasing, yet never get to the bottom of situations which keep you stuck, or in the hole... here is a beautiful blog post written by author Suzanne O'Keeffe to help you flag that sore spot and compassionately set it free.

Lessons from Under the Sea - Desert Bell Lullaby

2011-08-17T08:41:00.001-07:00

I am still reveling in the wonder of the past week spent in heaven in the Sinai desert. A week of relaxation, writing, swimming and snorkeling every day brought quiet connection to inner wisdom...lessons from under the sea... plus a fresh flowing bell lullaby composed just for you and your inner wisdom...

The water is so soft and smooth.

I am amazed by the amount of different fish in the sea.
I learn about abundance from the ocean. There are large fish, and small.

A school of minnows streamed ahead of me. I was swimming in the middle of what were thousands and thousands of small minnows. We were all swimming in the same direction. There were thousands in front of me, to the sides of me and behind me. I felt like a head of state, with an army of supporters to guide me. I could get used to this, I thought to myself.

As I continued, juxtaposed with the battalion of small minnow, was a huge sting ray gracing the bottom of the ocean floor. I felt safe in it’s midst even though a hint of worry entered my tummy. Having just finished writing about going with the flow, I impulsively sent love his way, as I marveled at this wonder of nature.

How many different shapes and colors are there under the sea! It’s stunning. Isn’t it wonderful to think about the creator of all those shapes!? I ponder that same creator who created me and all the two legged fish who walk above the sea, on land.

I kept swimming out to sea, even though it was already past sunset. The panoply of color and the quiet below the sea had me mesmerized. Being my last afternoon in Sinai, I wanted to take full advantage of the swim. On the way back, a heavy wind started to blow. I noticed that I was alone in the sea. I kept swimming yet the shore was a long way off.

“Shouldn’t you be worried”?, a voice of alarm began to chime.

I remembered what I had just been thinking, about the creator of all those fish. I surrendered to the benign creator of the universe. The voice chimed in again. Instead of ignoring it “bravely”, this time I met the voice of fear straight on, allowing it to share its. Instead of scaring me, I sent it love just like I sent to the sting ray at the bottom of the ocean. Not only did it stop bothering me, I also felt such a wave of compassion for my vulnerability.

Compassion gave way to courage as I decided to surrender to the unknown. If discovering new worlds like I have been doing this week under the sea is so pleasant, what might await me at home when I return to that world with an attitude of wonder?

I open the door to new vistas. I choose to learn new never experienced before…choosing to experience the wonder of ever renewing life. Choosing to love.

So I offer you this bell lullaby clip, recorded authentically, unedited, in under the blue dome of this luxurious Nubian palace, reminiscent of ancient times…

While you listen, please ponder within your own heart…

Where can you be compassionate with yourself? What new vistas do you choose to learn?

Share below or on facebook page.

Voices of Change - By The Well

2011-08-06T08:02:00.000-07:00

As I type these words, hundreds and thousands of people in Israel prepare to turn off their television sets this evening, taking their power back, by going out into the streets, in social protest. The protest is to lower the gap between the “haves” and the “have nots”, and to lower extremely high costs of living relative to the average salary.

Change is in the air.
It is powerful. It is awesome.

Students have set up tent cities in every town, including my own. You may be wondering, isn’t it scary? The sense is not of negativity, rather, that of an invisible oceanic power, stirring beneath the ground upon which the tents are pitched.

I recognize this as the power of the divine mother. This is the power of divine providence. A mass awakening is occurring. A collective voice of authenticity is resuscitating the collective baby we threw out with the bathwater…

The roots of the ancient Israel are being watered with social responsibility taken by each and every citizen, one by one. It is quite amazing.

Where am I in all of this?

I am on my way to the Sinai desert, scorching hot in the middle of the August heat. And yet, it is the place I most want to be. I’m returning to the spot where, four years ago, I had a vision of a band of prophetesses high up on the mountains, carrying water, which excited me to my very core. “Oh, this is where we once were”, a deep sense of remembrance shook me to my very roots. This vision let me know it was time to write Miriam’s Secret. When I left, I knew that I would one day return.

Now it’s time to complete Miriam’s Secret.

I look forward to disconnecting from the internet for a week in order to replenish my own well and to reconnect with the well of wisdom lying within my soul, waiting to be freed. It moves me just to think about it.

When I return, we will meet with bells on (literally and figuratively) in Jerusalem, on August 18th for the Ancient Healing and Transformational Music Workshop. How exciting to sound our collective voices in harmony as we each rediscover and reconnect to our inner voice of wisdom.

For those of you who cannot physically join us in Jerusalem, you may join us:
By the Well on Sunday, August 21st at 1PM EST, 6PM GMT, 20:00 Israel time.

You can dial in free through skype or telephone in, whichever is more comfortable for you. The intent of this call is for us to reconnect and empower one another through our collective wisdom. I will be recording music live in the Sinai desert – composing a special music meditation which will be broadcast during this call. Please invite your friends, through facebook, twitter, telephone, email, word of mouth…

Imagine yourself free.
Imagine yourself in harmony.

Please join me.

Hebrew Sabbath Prayer - Lecha Dodi

2011-07-21T06:29:00.001-07:00

When it comes to the end of the week, especially during the hot summer months, and particularly during these times of tumultuous change, the approach of the weekend is such an appealing event...

One of the things I love about living in Israel is that the sabbath is still observed. A day of rest. It's such a simple concert. In these times, so needed. In these times, such a challenge for us to actually stop and DO nothing.

Lecha Dodi, is an ancient Hebrew prayer, sung to the beloved. When we sing to the beloved, we are calling to our higher selves. It provides us a chance to dive into the well of silence.

Still waters run deep. Here is a recording of the prayer, recorded live in Israel. I hope that you will take a few moments and rest... you deserve it.

How will you spend your weekend?

If you would like to give yourself a real rest and join by the well with others who have decided to do the same, come join us on Sunday - July 24th at noon EST. It's a simple gathering by the well - to share in good. I will compose a well song for those who attend. There is no cost, except for a phone call to the bridge line.

My intention is to support the growth of ease. I want to provide support for stopping for a moment and reconnecting to your inner well of wisdom. That is the point of this call. We will have ample time to share what we individually and collectively discover.

To receive the call in instructions, enter your name here, and they will be sent immediately...

Invitation to the Well: Grounding yourself when there's no ground to stand on.

2011-07-14T08:13:00.000-07:00

How do you ground yourself when it feels like there's no ground beneath your feet to stand upon?

Perhaps you have planned on something, which hasn't come through. Or you have been so deliberate in your creation, and you also release and feel so great, YES, things are finally opening up. The energy is beginning to flow. It feels so good to grow, to release....

And then.... boom.... everything collapses.

The rug gets pulled from under your feet.

It's so disappointing. So painful. What can you do?

Nothing. Really.

Nothing is the best thing you can actually do.

Instead of running to get away from the discomfort, dare to stop and connect with yourself.
Remember when you were a child and you fell and bruised your knee. It hurt. You cried.

If you received a nurturing hug from an adult or parent, the hurt still hurt, yet eventually you calmed down and felt safe again. After a short while, the hurt passed and you'd gingerly get up again and continue with your play.

Today, you can be a mother to that tender part inside of yourself. Try acknowledging it, instead of pushing it away. When we are in a place of making change, moving forward, yet feeling tender, we need support. This helps us strengthen our wings to fly.

In ancient times, the healers, the women, would wait by the well, and provide soothing balm to women who would come to be consoled. I feel motivated today to invite you to a well gathering - where you can come to hang out for an hour - and be supported. This is not a course, it's not a "three steps to...." anything...

It is a place to connect. It is a place to be supported in your growth. I invite you to join me by the well. I will come with bells on (literally :-).... I will compose special music at the gathering, just for those who will be there.

When: Sunday, July 24th, 2011

Time: Noon EST USA time 9 am PST

Fee; FREE

Enter your name and address below to immediately receive call in instructions:

Together we will discover good.

Feel the peace inside of your own heart.

Email Marketing You Can Trust

How to break the fear of being direct without going in circles...

2011-06-30T00:48:00.000-07:00

A colleague provided me with some constructive criticism yesterday. He said I need to be more direct and to the point. Speak in short sentences…Period.

His feedback came as no surprise, since I am meeting myself more honestly lately, especially those scary parts which lay hidden from my conscious acceptance.

During my writing session this morning, I decided to explore the issue of direct, honest communication. I’d ask an open question to my higher self, listen for the answer and write it down.

Direct honest communication is a basic element to being assertive…

Yet avalanches of butterflies flutter their wings in my stomach. I had no idea that being direct could bring up such stage fright…What is so scary about being direct? As one of my clients put it…

“Being whipped…being burned on the cross for speaking my truth when the consensus insisted upon the “truth” of the opposite direction. If they cannot see my truth, they will laugh at me. They’ll say I am lying. I’ll be humiliated in public.”

How can you assert your truth when you can’t see it? Or prove it physically? Can you relate? Here I am writing about the subject and feel like I’m running in circles. I can certainly relate. What’s going on?

Fear of receiving.

It’s scary to stop and do nothing. Especially if like me, you’re addicted to “doing”.

What’s so scary about receiving?

Maybe nothing will happen. I’ll be exposed and vulnerable to attack. Not knowing can be really scary. My thoughts scare me the most. Don’t want to really meet them.

What are the scariest ones?

The critical voices hurt the most: “You are stupid. Who do you think you are to own who you are. I am lord over you.” It reminds me of a stern father figure, forcing me to obey.

It’s also scary to meet anger. It feels like there is no place to safely express it. If I express it to that father figure, I will just get knocked down. Of course, I don’t want to knock myself down.

It’s easier to just keep power to myself. This way I can preserve my power. On the other hand, it doesn’t go anywhere. This is a sure ticket to depression. It feels greedy. There must be another way. What is that way?

Be willing to be different. Do it differently.

When we are focused upon the result we have no enjoyment of the process. The process is where all the fun lies. When you are so focused upon the results, it can also feel really lonely. That’s no fun. So how can we break the debilitating reactions to our fear?

1) Accept that it is there. Owning it seems to minimize its power.

2) Take responsibility. While it can feel embarrassing to own responsibility for creating your reality, is also empowering. You can then choose differently or change your mind.

3) Don’t say or do anything. You might wonder, “Isn’t that just the opposite of what you were writing about? I mean, I thought you said that you need to be direct?” What I mean is that if something is not clear… sometimes it’s better not to do anything. Something deeper may be lurking underneath the surface. If you give this time and space, it can come to the surface to provide you with more wisdom.

4) Meet the fear of death. For example, if you hold off doing something and it brings up fear, allow yourself to meet it.

The Hebrew word for fear is: PACHAD.

פחד

If you turn around the Hebrew root of the word fear, you get: DACHAF

דחף

This is the root for the word propeller or push, as in signifying the movement forward of something. When we can meet our fear with compassion, it can melt.

Be willing to die to the fear, and there you will find your eternal peace, which lies just beyond the fear of death.

Direct, and to the point.

Easy to write about, but the proof is in the pudding. Don’t believe what I write. It’s not worth anything. Try it for yourself and see what happens.

What is the scariest thing for you to be direct and to the point?

Buddist Sound Healing

2011-06-25T11:19:00.000-07:00

Buddist sound healing is very closely linked to Ancient healing and transformational music. The elements are connected from the ancient traditions of the east.

Here's a very interesting article about Buddist Sound Healing Research

From Self Destruction to Self Acceptance

2011-06-23T09:07:00.001-07:00

Last week I wrote about my experimentation with bells - and how the friction created between the receptive casing and clanging of the clapper are catalysts for harmonious creation.

This week, I was delighted to receive an invitation from the founder of Israel's marine archaeology to provide my ancient healing and transformational music for the 25 year anniversary of the Ancient Galilee boat discovery at the shores of Galilee. But the museum has no budget. So I said no. It's painful. I was so happy that the archaeologist "got" the connection between the music and the percussion instruments found along with the boat.

This music would provide a sublimely powerful experience for that event. So convinced, I requested funding from the tourist board yesterday. It's too short notice. They said no. And honestly, harmony requires a two way flow.

It would be self destructive to putting my own needs in secondary place to the "larger good" of bringing back this ancient healing music form. Been there. Done that.

What is so scary about being bold, saying yes to ourselves, especially when it requires us saying no to the things we love?

Well, for one, we don't know what the outcome will be. It brings up self doubt. Maybe we made mistake? It's uncomfortable and can feel lonely living in that "not knowing" space.

Last night, I watched the film Agora. A friend lent it to me several months ago. Set in ancient Egypt under Roman rule, the brilliant and beautiful astronomer Hypatia leads a group of disciples fighting to save the wisdom of the Ancient World, as violent religious upheaval spills into the streets of Alexandria. I resisted watching it, knowing that there would be difficult scenes to observe. Last night, I felt compelled to watch, sensing that the film would support me.

Hypatia courageously stands for her freedom, walking the walk, even in the face of extreme challenge. In the end she gets stoned to death. Nothing and no one can stop it.

The film stirred up a visceral yet ancient terror of being ostracized and burnt on the cross for daring to live my deep inner truth in public, even if it is not understood by others and not following popular culture and consensus.

As disturbing as it ended, it helped to watch the film - to identify the root of inner fear and doubts which have created what seems like lifetimes of self recrimination. In the face of this scary place, I am shaking the bell on my wrist bracelet. This helps me to shift my consciousness by providing a nurturing response to scary inner voices by remembering that harmony is created through friction.

Can you relate? If so, how?

Here's a soothing mini music spa minute to quiet whatever voice may be creating friction in your inner world. Enjoy, and then share what you experienced, below or on the facebook page

Harmonious way to free unwanted habits. Ring a bell?

2011-06-17T07:57:00.000-07:00

Yesterday there was a lunar eclipse… in Gemini. I am not one who usually responds to astrological events, though yesterday, somehow I felt pulled by the force of the moon. Something about soft luminescent light, lighting up darkness spoke to me. I was informed that this particular eclipse allows an opportunity for us to release subconscious habits.

It happened to be the seventeen year anniversary of my moving to Israel and I’d been invited to give an ancient healing and transformational music program to a Kabbalist meditation group. In celebration, I decided to focus upon connecting to the Divine feminine spirit represented by the moon energy. I asked the participants to choose something in their subconscious over which they feel a lack of control, a habit they would like to be freed of.

I would compose music, focusing upon the moon, singing wordlessly to help us access a deeper state of consciousness.

Bells came immediately to mind. In biblical times, the Levites would sew bells onto the fringes of their robes and one would hear them as they walked in procession towards the holy temple. In the temples of the even earlier ancient world, priestesses would use bells and shakers to evoke a deep state of conscious awareness. The round shape of the bell casing, juxtaposed with the clang of the clapper or round pellet inside, creates a balance of masculine and feminine energies.

Something deep inside of me stirred. I noticed a water element stirring as the small metal balls rolled slowly within their round casings. My body slithered and swayed. I felt like a temple priestess in the middle of a sacred ceremony. I allowed the inner movement to guide my outer performance. It was mesmerizing. All the people had their eyes closed in meditation. This freed me to feel more at ease to connect to that feminine place, deep within the womb and allow it to express itself through the music being played on the bells.

The shaking of the bell allows for the vibratory rate of your consciousness to be shifted. Music is activated by the silent flow, whose sound gets generated from the receptivity of the outside form of the bell, meeting with the friction caused by the clapper.

The result is harmony. How does this relate to transformation?

Harmony is actually created by friction. Without the friction, there can be no sound. Friction is the power which provides the necessary combustion for great movement forward. Imagine the amount of power of a rocket ship – the amount of fire and heat required to provide the combustion allowing for the rocket to be propelled into space. When we avoid it – we hold ourselves back and stay stuck.

The fire and the friction are feminine forces of nature. They are not to be feared. They are to be harnessed. When we acknowledge their existence and allow for their power, we allow for them to transform self destructiveness into self actualization.

In that in between space, within that space which you cannot see, you can create miracles. All it requires is a willingness to connect to the space and meet it without wanting to affect a result. The result will come of its own accord without your having to do a thing.

Healing and transformational music helps quiet the mind so that you can stay there longer. Let’s conduct an experiment… Choose a habit that you want to free yourself of. Listen to this piece of bell music, from the healing music - meditation program Sepphoris recorded in an ancient water well which will allow you to connect to that deeper level of awareness. Imagine yourself free.

What did you experience? Leave a note and let us know? Leave a message below or on Miriam's Secret facebook page...

How do you express that which is unexpressable?

2011-06-08T05:27:00.000-07:00

Milky white, nurturance, nourishment, mother's milk...Safety, serenity. This is the essence of the holiday Shavuot. Actually, this is the feminine divine power, behind the ten commandments, for which this Hebrew holiday commemorates.

Without feminine energy, the ten commandments can seem severe and punative. With the unseen power behind them, they can provide us with a sense of personal power.

How do you express that which is unexpressable (is that a word :-)... The essence of feminine power is BEHIND that which is seen, it is beyond cognitive understanding. Just because you can't see it doesn't mean it doesn't exist.

Watch these lovely girls dancing during a traditional celebration:

Their innocence can remind us of our true power. Power that lies behind activity. Power which lies in the creative womb of the universe.

Where do you find yourself trying to express that which is unexpressable within you? Where does it appear in your life? In what situations?

Reclaiming the baby from the bathwater...

2011-06-02T14:02:00.000-07:00

In the name of progress, we humans seem to have a habit, of shutting off the past when we are moving forward towards a new direction. It's like throwing the baby out with the bathwater. In doing so, we are able to focus exclusively upon the direction we have chosen to follow. Yet we also pay the price of shutting off other precious parts of our humanity.

Last Saturday I lead an ancient healing and transformational music workshop at the ancient site of Tel Dor, an ancient Phoenician port where the ancient priestesses wove their vocal sounds and rhythms for physical, spiritual and mental health.
We received the gift of a stupendous tour from the renowned archeologist Kurt Raveh, a man who founded the entire marine archaeology of Israel.

Amongst his finds are percussion instruments and thousands of female statuettes. I am so happy that he agreed to help me locate the finds in the archaeology warehouse. He did show us a 2700 year old bell. I almost fainted when he showed us, as it was the exact same shape as the bells I had brought to the site, for us to use in one of our musical exercises.

Here is a video clip from the day, thanks to the generous photos of Dorit Kaplansky. Talk about recovering the baby with the bathwater, the song which accompanies the clip is called "Water". Those of you who know me, know that Voices of Eden music model is wordless. This song with lyrics, I wrote back in 1997. It reached a final round in a British song writing contest, which brought me to London.

Thanks to Bob Miller, a music professional who approached me after one of my concerts there, I got up the courage to speak to him of my dream of reviving the ancient use of singing and rhythm for healing purposes. His support gave me the courage to dare approach the neonatal ward of my local hospital to suggest testing this music approach. The rest is history.

There's no drum in this music. Just voice and guitar with lyrics in Hebrew and English.

Where have you thrown the baby out with the bathwater? Where might you reclaim it? What benefit would it serve? Leave a note below! Then come for a visit on facebook.

Speaking Up - Creating Waves

2011-05-19T01:03:00.000-07:00

It has been more than a month's hiatus, since I wrote my last newsletter. Breaking the routine of newsletter communication consensus felt scary... not wanting to let other people down, not wanting to let myself down.... It stirred up the fear of abandonment; If I "break the consensus", I'll be punished, banished from the tribe.

The experience provided inspiration for the chapter on Creating Waves - Speaking Up in my upcoming book "Miriam's Secret - Midwiving the Birth of Your Inner Transformation". The prophetess Miriam spoke up against the accepted consensus. She was connected to her inner truth, and she expressed it.

Given the powerful tides of change occuring during those times, her feminine voice was silenced to make way for another masculine agenda to dominate. As punishment, Miriam was distanced from the tribe and banished to the leper colony.

What did she go through during that time of disconnection? I wonder how she spoke to herself? Was her inner power so clear that she went with the flow, even though this masculine God sent her away? Did she even accept that power? Did she rebel inside? Was she angry? What were the tools she used to deal with her situation? I wonder how she sang and drummed? Or did she refrain from singing and drumming during that time?

It must have felt uncomfortable to be set aside for expressing her honest opinion. Yet Miriam, being aware of her power, was also aware of the changes occurring during this time.

What if she were to have used this time to become even more rooted in her own power? What if she were to have used her time of isolation to creatively preserve the divine feminine power through the conscious use of her voice?

Perhaps with music like this?

What do you think? How do you reconnect when you've disconnected?

Leave a comment here or at Miriam's Secret facebook page.

Getting Stuff Done? Change Resistance.

2011-05-15T01:29:00.000-07:00

Are you getting stuff done to the degree that it really satisfies you? If your answer is no, perhaps resistance is getting in your way?

I am getting back on track after a month long hiatus from writing. I have been putting into practice the principals of what I am addressing in Miriam's Secret... namely.... "Less can sometimes be more" and "Slow can be the fastest, most direct route to any destination..."

If you'd like to melt resistance to getting done whatever is most important to you, this mini-spa music meditation will help you on your way:

Where can less be more and slow be fast in your life? Leave a comment below or visit the Miriam's Secret page on facebook where you can download free chapters.

Inhibited to Sing? Brain Research Overcomes It

2011-04-25T01:26:00.000-07:00

Do you find yourself inhibited to sing in public? If so, you are not alone. Most people find themselves meeting up with inner fear and inhibition when they go to sing before others.

Why is that? Brain researcher and musician Dr. Dan Levitin of McGill University is conducting very interesting work on the effect of sound upon our brain.

Nuria Escude, director of Music Therapy at Barcelona University, posted this interesting video clip of his work. It seems that people who suffer from the rare disease of William's Syndrome, have alot to teach us about overcoming our inhibitions to singing.

How does inhibition stop you from singing?

Taking the risk to be real

2011-03-31T23:15:00.000-07:00

Do you know that experience of feeling pushed inside, no motivation to do what your mind says you "should" be doing? Yet you're a responsible person, so you go ahead and "do it" anyway.

I have noticed that this behavior inside of me, is self violating. It is violence. If I am about creating peace, then, like Gandhi said, it must begin with me.

For me, this translates to taking a break from writing my regular newsletter - when I am not clear of it's intention. I will not write, then feel angry, then pretend, I am not. It's inauthentic. You'll feel it. That'll embarrass me even more... and I won't be truly connecting with you.

So, it's time to take some time out and reconnect to my good.

Here's a short music clip to open to your own good:

Can you relate to this? What's your experience?

Your Voice Matters - Free Teleconference 3/27

2011-03-17T15:59:00.000-07:00

To explore this issue of "Your Voice Matters" more, I’ve scheduled a free teleseminar for March 27th at 1pm EST – 18:00 GMT. Please note that the original date was March 20. The date has been rescheduled, pushed back a week.

We'll explore:

1) How we can exercise our self-esteem by being honest with others and with ourselves.

2) How to become the midwives of our own inner transformation.

What changes are you in the midst of?
Where are your biggest challenges to show up for yourself?

Leave a response below. I will use your responses to build the content for the conference call.

I will also be composing special live music for whoever will be on the call.

Sign up for to receive call in details.

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Accessing Your Subconscious with a Well Song

2011-03-10T03:40:00.001-08:00

.

What is a Well Song?

A well song is a sort of crooning or lullaby that you can create for yourself to address or access a deep level of your unconscious.

What does it address?The well song addresses the need to deeply connect to hidden crevices of your psyche, parts which lay hidden beneath the level of our conscious awareness. In situations where you suffer confusion, you don’t know what to do, may feel out of sorts and at odds with yourself, a well song can permit natural healing.

How does it work?
When you vocalize, without words, the sound reverberates at the cellular level. Remember that vibration and sound is the essence of all matter. Everything vibrates. When you use sound at this level, it is precognitive, and access very deep levels of your consciousness.

When you consciously sing to yourself you permit empathy with your suffering. You are like a mother singing to her baby to soothe her suffering. This permits the suffering to birth a new solution to whatever confusion, worry or pain may be befuddling you.

Wordless sound works in its own way, in its own time.

The Well Song can be a way to bridge those gaps between the known and the unknown.

Here is an example of a well song that I created at an important juncture of my life. It’s unedited, unrehearsed, unplanned. I allowed the unknown spontaneity of the moment to move me. I was making huge strides forward in my abundance and prosperity mentality. I was working through a deeply embedded habit of self abnegation and self deprivation and consciously taking bold steps to get my music out into the world through.

The mortgage was due, and I did not know from where it would come. Having been through this dynamic before, I chose to create a well song for myself to anchor my state of receptivity, acknowledging the wisdom and power in the deep well of my being, that feminine place, which my mind cannot understand. Like Innana, I surrendered to the process, trusting that all would be well.

To my surprise and delight, the tune came out, bouncy, playful, without slow long single notes. Go figure! It truly opened up my attitude which brought abundant good, which only continues to grow.

What does the music do for you? Leave a post. Next time, I will show you how you can create your own healing well song.

The Courage to be Different

2011-03-03T13:26:00.000-08:00

In one of the chapters of my upcoming book, Miriam’s Secret: Midwiving the Birth of Your Inner Transformation, entitled, “Your Voice Matters”, I write about the literal birth process and the role of midwife in it, to explore how we can begin to support ourselves as if we were midwives, in giving birth to our inner transformation.

To learn more from the first hand perspective of a professional midwife, a few days ago I met with Mindy Levy, who has assisted over 1500 births, within both a hospital environment and also within a home birthing setting.

I asked Mindy, “Through all the births you have assisted in, how do you relate birth and transformation?” Her response was direct and to the point:

Transformation is birth. Birth is transformation.

“I’ve never seen a woman give birth without being transformed. The transformation is the birth of a new self, a changed person, a changed being - someone who has been willing to die in order to be born. It may sound overly simplistic, but every woman I’ve ever witnessed or participated in her birth has always undergone some form of transformation. You have to go into hell, then come out and find heaven. If that is not transformation, what is?”

Touchee… Do you know the sense of going through change… you get to a point where you think you’re going to die?

You can’t go on and you can’t do it any more. When that moment comes, it’s like the saying goes:

The darkest hour comes just before the dawn.

Can you see a correlation to your life? I certainly can. Yesterday, excited about receiving the response as to who moves up to round two in the Next Top Self Help Author’s Contest, I opened the email to discover that my name was not on the list. Big ICK! My immediate response was that old familiar voice of the victim, “It’s not fair; I should be on the list! No matter what I do, it’s notr good enough for them.” Butterflies churned in my stomach.

Levy describes: “There are contractions. There’s pain. And then there’s a rest. There is this movement going on. It gets more and more painful all the time. Yet with it, the capacity to deal with the pain increases as well.

While the pain is stronger, the hormones that the body releases are stronger and they help the woman deal with the pain. As the observing midwife, when a woman says she can’t go on, I say to myself “oh good” the baby’s on the way. That’s when I know that she is about to give birth.

I remembered her words as I dealt with the pain. I allowed the butterflies to be there, along with the voice of victim, yet I chose to choose a different response to the old pain. It wasn’t comfortable, but then, who said birth is comfortable?

"When you control your thoughts and emotions you can actually being going around in circles, not moving ahead.", Levy noted, “When the movement becomes more chaotic there is more opportunity for something to break out. From that breaking out, something new can happen. Something new can come in. That is when the transformation comes."

I appreciate every one who cast your vote for the book. Thank you. I feel empowered to keep writing when I remember that the discomfort is part of the birthing process. Babies need families to connect with. Miriam’s Secret will be published because her voice matters. Your voice and my voice matter.

To explore this issue of "Your Voice Matters" more, I’ve scheduled a free teleseminar for March 20th at 1pm EST – 18:00 GMT. We'll explore:

1) How we can exercise our self-esteem by being honest with others and with ourselves.

2) How to become the midwives of our own inner transformation.

What changes are you in the midst of? Where are your biggest challenges to show up for yourself? I will use your responses to build the content for the conference call. I will also compose special live music for whoever will be on the call.

Sign up for to receive call in details.

Email Marketing You Can Trust

Petition for More Positive News

2011-02-27T11:02:00.000-08:00

Petition for More Positive News. It's a petition through facebook for more solution oriented reporting in the media. Why bother?

Positive news gives people hope. It fills people will inspiration and uplifts them. This is good for the economy. When people feel good, they want to share more. They give more of themselves. They miss less work due to sick days, and the companies save money on insurance expenses.

When people feel good, they spend more and this generates flow into the economy.
When people cooperate, it creates goodwill and peace. For example, last year I wrote an article on Israeli and Palestinian mothers creating peace through healing lullaby music. The article was written for Common Ground newswire service. Common Ground is a wonderful wire service that reports good news from the Middle East.

The story was picked up all over the world, including the by Israel and Arab country media. Need I say more. Read the article and then leave your comment how you think peace can continue to be birthed...

Your Voice Creates Transformation. Here's How...

2011-02-26T13:16:00.000-08:00

I've just spent a wonderful day writing the next chapter of my upcoming book Miriam's Secret. The subject is: Your Voice Matters

Your Voice Creates Transformation. Here's How...

Remembering that vibration is the essence of all matter, we can see that every single atom and molecule in this universe vibrates at some level. It has some sort of voice. Think about it for a moment; the crashing of the waves, the sound of the first drops of water when the rain begins to fall, the booming sound of thunder, the cry of a newborn baby, the chirping of the birds, and the roar of a lion.

There are no two voices alike. Every voice matters.

Sound is vibratory. Sound waves can be sculpted, even though we cannot see them. Sound is the most intimate form of creation, the first transformational manifestation from the spiritual realm into the physical realm. Thoughts and feelings speak very loudly and they affect us even though not one word may be spoken out loud.

I believe that this is why people have so many issues surrounding the issue of their voices. It’s said that after the fear of death, the number one fear of human beings is the fear of public speaking. Why do you suppose that is?

If we each have a unique imprint to make with our voices, why do we find it so hard to express it in the world?

Think about it. Every thing has a voice or sound connected to it. Drop a pebble into a pond. What do you hear? “Plink” the sound created as the pebble meets and penetrates below the water’s surface. The ripple effect, though we do not hear it, is nonetheless powerful as well.

The ripple effect of your voice is truly powerful.

1) When you vote for Miriam's Secret by Feb. 28th, you help us move to Round Two. It is impossible without you, alone.

2) When you leave a comment below or visit Miriams facebook page , your voice gets heard and is empowered for good.

3) When you send to ten friends (more is ok too :-) the email template below (edit as you wish), you empower others to express their voice as well.

All of this creates a ripple effect of good. Here's the email template:

Dear X,

My friend, author, musician and healing music composer Eliana
Gilad entered the Next Top Self Help Author contest sponsored by
Conari Press: Miriam's Secret - Midwiving the Birth of
Your Inner Transformation.

The winner will receive a publishing contract by Conari Press and help marketing the book.

The top 10% will move on to round two. February 28th is the voting deadline.

"I can't stop listening to this music. Still waters run deep!" V.
Avital

She's made a soothing, inspirational book trailer to help get the word out. She's also giving a powerful gift of five day healing sound course and two
chapters of the book: http://nexttopauthor.com/profile.cfm?aid=146.

Please help us spread the good word. Watch the video, vote, and send
this email to ten of your friends and ask them to send to ten or
more of theirs, post on facebook, twitter etc....

Registration & confirmation takes less than one minute - you'll return to Eliana Gilad's author page. Simply click the "Vote" button and you'll receive the confirmation link for the free chapters and five day online stress release course.

All the best,
(Your name)

Your voice makes a difference in my life. Thanks.

Spices, Scents, Music and Heaven

2011-02-09T22:02:00.000-08:00

My trip to China to work with Easeland Music Spa was so inspiring, particularly to discover how advanced the Chinese are in the healing application of music.

The spa has seven floors, five for treatments, one for haute couture design and beauty salon, top floor for administrative offices and the conference hall (in the photo) where I led one workshop for clientele and invited guests of the CEO, another for doctors, professors and music therapists.

Here's what inspired me most:

1) Lua Chom Pei the CEO (she's in the middle of the photo with me and Avital Gamliel from the Israeli Embassy), an amazing business woman whose femininity is the bedrock of her business acumen combined with creative ingenuity.

Her company has developed a technology and equipment to provide a music spa treatment. I have never experienced anything quite like it. Her grace and power and humility are a blend I have never experienced before either. She truly inspired me.

She is a model for inspiration.

2) Though we did not share any spoken language in common, I felt "understood" by the people I worked with. Ancient Israel culture and healing music did not seem a "foreign concept" to them. They understood the connection between our two shared ancient civilizations.

To celebrate my success I went to Sabon.

My God their stuff is so great! It reminds me of the spa and my music... all natural, highest quality ingredients, made in Israel, love of nature...think green e.g. eco bags, use recycled glass...Sabon has stores all over Israel, if you live here or happen to visit, New York, Rome, Amsterdam, Toronto, Bucharest, London, I think LA too...Check them out.

I have bought their products over the years for my own use and for gifts to send to my savvy friends and family overseas. My recent purchases have me tickled pink. I took a photo of the products with some of the drums in the studio.

The amber body oil sends me into heaven. Never expected to like such a sweet scent, but I was mesmerized the moment I smelled it. If you can't imagine it, listen to this short relaxing music video and you'll have a very good idea, what I am talking about. Imagine ancient caravanseries with the most elegant, succulent spices and scents wafting in the air.

I rubbed some on this morning and am still enjoying the fragrance. It's just divine. The carrot face cream I purchased is also a marvel.

What scent goes with what music? What music goes to what scent? Can't wait to hear.

Chinese New Year

2011-02-03T12:57:00.000-08:00

The year of the rabbit has begun in China, and I am still feeling warm and fuzzy from my trip to Beijing less than two weeks ago. Though the weather was below freezing, the warmth I felt was deep.

What truly amazed me was how lack of language (I speak no more than two sentences of Mandarin, and they speak no English or Hebrew) made for almost two weeks of communication of a different kind. When you don't have a language in common, it allows an opportunity to communicate in more creative ways.

Take eating for example. If my hosts didn't take me to eat somewhere, I would eat in my hotel. How can you order a meal, when the menu is written in Chinese? I couldn't even ask what was on the menu. No one understood a word. So, I started flapping my arms like I was flying and vocalized "bawk bawk bawk" to the waitress to ask for chicken. This brought loads of laughter to us all. It brought some interesting dishes, and once it brought me an egg dish :-)... I had a good laugh over that one.

The other amazing thing to me is that there was no tea in the restaurant. Tea came as boiling water in a pot. If you want tea in Beijing, it's an expensive affair.

The owner of the music spa who brought me to tour in China presented me with an amazingly beautiful gift box on my last day in Beijing. It looked like gold was inside. Well actually it was filled with gold.... tea, that is.

She made it a point to tell the interpreter that this is gold tea, the most expensive kind, that she and her husband hand chose it. I guard this box with my life. It feels like such a stash. The flavor of the tea is soft, sweet and nothing like the type of tea served in North American Chinese restaurants. In Beijing I saw a tea store - it looked like a diamond store, filled with expensive jewels.

Anyway, the tea reminds me of the warmth I experienced in cold Beijing. I will write more about my experiences with the music on another post.

Reduce the Fear of Public Speaking - Practical TIp

2011-01-27T06:32:00.000-08:00

Next time you feel knots or butterflies in your stomach before making an important presentation or telephone call, try this tip to calm your nerves and rev up your energy:

Bring your focus to your tail bone - sitting straight upon your "butt bones". This will consciously connect you with the force of gravity which has a calm grounding effect.

If you are standing, bring your focus to the tips of your toes. Imagine there are magnets on the souls of your feet connecting you magnetically to the center of the earth. This will ground you, increase the level of energy and calm your nerves as well.

Don't believe what I write. Try it and test it out for yourself.

What happens when you try it?

Music for Stroke Victims

2010-12-30T05:29:00.000-08:00

For the past week, I have spent every evening in the neurological unit of Rambam Hospital in Haifa, Israel to provide healing music and therapeutic singing sessions to a patient recovery from a major stroke less than two weeks ago. The sister of the fifty year old stroke victim was enthusiastic about having me come in during the first days after the stroke - even as her brother lay in the Intensive Care Unit.

My first visit to the Neuro Surgical Intensive Care Unit occured just two hours after he returned from surgery. He was still highly sedated, though when I began to sing, his eyes looked up towards his brain as if he were looking at the electronic pulses connecting the two hemispheres. It was so striking to me that I stopped singing. Perhaps it was too much?

I asked him: Silence? Or more music? He looked at me, not so able to speak, yet focusing upon something inside, when suddenly he responded in a clear voice: "More music. Play more music."

It was astounding.

Researchers from Finland found that if stroke patients listened to music for a couple of hours a day, their verbal memory and focused attention recovered better and they had a more positive mood than patients who did not listen to anything or who listened to audio books. This is the first time such an effect has been shown in humans and the researchers believe it has important implications for clinical practice.

"As a result of our findings, we suggest that everyday music listening during early stroke recovery offers a valuable addition to the patients' care- especially if other active forms of rehabilitation are not yet feasible at this stage-by providing an individually targeted, easy-to-conduct and inexpensive means to facilitate cognitive and emotional recovery," says Teppo Särkämö, the first author of the study.

Less than ten days later, the patient was moved out of the intensive care unit to a regular hospital room. When I sing, I ask him to conduct imagery exercises - imagining he is moving his legs, getting up, yet without trying to physically do it. His recovery is amazing the doctors and his family alike.

Yesterday, he actually sang with me. It was so exciting.

Since it is too early a stage to know exactly what the long term ramifications are - and he also can speak, I implement wordless singing. Since wordless singing is pre-cognitive, I believe that it exercises both hemispheres simultaneously.

It would be wonderful to have this medically tested.

What are your experiences with music and stroke? Or music and brain functioning, and specifically wordless singing?

Setting Limits with Heart

2010-12-20T09:06:00.000-08:00

Do you have difficulty drawing limits with yourself? I for example, love the work I do with healing music. I can spend hours and hours researching the subject on the internet. When it comes time to break away, I don't. My body is softly whispering: "Honey, it's time to rest. Take a break". My mind is engaged. My curiosity compels me to check out - "just one more thing" which leads to "one more thing", which leads to "one more thing".

Before I know it, hours have passed. When I finally DO break away, my eyes are fried, my back is creaked and my inner voice is silenced with disappointment. Disappointed at my self ignorance - ignorance as in - ignoring.

I believe that ignoring is one of the most crippling means of self abnegation and violence. We avoid being kind to ourselves in the name of being kind to others. We are the last in line to receive our own compassion.

Now that holiday season is in full blast, you may be experiencing this phenomenon in full blast as well.

How do we turn this habit around? I'd like to share with you what I am doing that is really helping...

Setting limits with your heart.

The operative word here is "with your heart", not your head. There's a small but huge difference.

When you make a decision with your mind, when it comes time to reinforce the boundary, it's easy for your mind or your ego to argue with you. It's so easy for an inner battle of wills to begin. In order to avoid the battle, many times the mind just ignores your body's signals.

The heart speaks a softer language. It won't pound or pounce on you. It will acquiese to the powerful will. Though you won't feel so great about your ignoring yourself. The worst part about it is that only you know the difference.

When you make a decision with your heart, there is leeway. There's a soft and tender pliable movement, bending, not breaking your will.

Here's a healing music meditation for your self compassion:

So when it's time to leave my computer - when I have set a limit with my heart, and my mind says: "Just one more thing...", instead of responding in a contest of wills, I ask my heart if it is ok or not. I check in with how it feels in my heart.

If I get an open pliable response, I may just check that "one more thing", which quiets my mind. Then I leave. It makes me feel good about myself. If my heart reinforces the limit - at that point I am already conscious of having a conscious choice to make - contest of wills, or being kind to myself.

I choose being kind to myself.

Each day is a chance to learn a little bit more.
How do you set limits with yourself? Or not? What is the difference to you between setting limits with your heart? What do you notice?

Holiday Stress - Guided Meditation from Ancient Israel

2010-12-02T06:01:00.000-08:00

Frantic? Rushed? In a hurry? Take two minutes to relax with this guided meditation and you'll be as good as new.

If you like it, there is more at:
http://bit.ly/f5rJtD

Two Hidden Keys to Care for Yourself in Conflict

2010-11-18T04:37:00.000-08:00

Conflict is painful… In a fight for example, our natural tendency is to want to control the situation or person with whom we are fighting. The truth is, what really makes conflict so painful is that you're at war with reality. You want "them" to stop yelling, to behave differently, to acknowledge you, or maybe not even to agree with you, but just hear you.

But try as you might - it's out of your control.

It seems like you're caring of yourself because you're doing your best to get your needs met, but many times your way ends up frustrating you, depleting your energy and emotional well-being, wondering why it feels easier speaking to the wall.
The great news - it's never too late to make peace in your relationship with yourself.

It's about reconnecting to the source of your very own calm. Right now, in this present moment, you have 100% ability to arrive at that still, quiet place that patiently awaits you on the gentle shores beyond the stormy seas of your inner conflict. The first key to caring for yourself during conflict is this simple but forgotten truth:

We are the instruments of peace.

To live our lives in true harmony requires resolving our dissonant inner wars inside.
I had an incredible opportunity to resolve mine. It came in 2006 while bombs dropped on my quiet northern Galilee village. I learned amazing lessons as I stayed in the face of fire, even as war broke out.

It prompted me to write and record a book Quiet in the Eye of the Storm which helped me to connect in a much deeper way with people. It also taught me that no matter what is happening around us, we can find inner peace. The key to doing this is founded in the second forgotten truth:

Be Honest with Yourself

Many people deny to themselves how ill at ease they really feel when they meet with their inner conflict and vulnerability. It's almost like they're going against themselves, "It's not really so bad, They don't really mean it, I can handle it meditating and releasing."

Now while it may be true that it could be worse, take a moment to be honest with yourself here...

• How many eruptions have you had within the last month - where you were so set on being right that no resolution came from whatever the situation at hand was?
• How many times in the last week have you started out a conversation or correspondence with the best intentions and then watched it blow up as either you or the other person got defensive, hurt, or angry from a misunderstanding?
• How many people have you been meaning to connect with , but because you've feel frightened by your vulnerability and how that might affect they way they see or think about you, you're avoiding them altogether.
• How many people are you holding grudges against leaving you feeling hurt or angry?

It might seem like going in a negative direction to take a closer look at those things that are in conflict in your life, yet that's also the first part of rebalancing yourself and to living your life with more peace.

Now that you know where your vulnerable conflicts are, you can bring some awareness to those particular areas and watch your experiences transform from there.

Musical cure for insomniacs

2010-11-11T07:06:00.000-08:00

How do you go to sleep at night? Are you the type who drops into deep sleep as soon as your head hits the pillow? Do you quietly review the day before going off to sleep? Or perhaps you are the type who counts sheep, which seem to multiply instead of escorting you into a peaceful slumber.

Perhaps you wake up in the middle of the night from some worrisome thought which make your mind run to meet up with those sheep yet again. The thoughts (and the sheep) don't seem to stop.

The way we go to sleep has an impact upon the quality of our sleep.
When you take time to consciously go to sleep, this can help you to enter a deeper state of relaxation.

I have had the pleasure this last month of working on a wonderful project to produce an album for those suffering from fibromyalgia and sleep deprivation. The recording in studio has been pretty challenging, since we keep falling asleep at the wheel! I hope that this is a good sign.

Here is a three minute music retreat, a short snippet from the album to help you go off into restful slumber.

Before you are too exhausted, rest comfortably in your favorite chair or in bed, with the music playing in the background. Review your day's activities. What did you enjoy most? Least? Acknowledge yourself for what you did Right. For whatever did not go as you had wished, consider how this might actually be for your highest good.

What did you experience when you listened?

Spiritual Significance of Sound and Music

2010-10-28T11:23:00.000-07:00

How does the spirit of your voice connect you with your essence, the very core of who you are? The essence of your voice is actually the source of all matter.

When you attune your Instrument, meaning the instrument of your body, mind and spirit, this results in a harmonious sonata of life.

When you have difficulty speaking or singing it's a sign that you have become out of tune or disconnected from your Source.

Some examples of this are:

•Nervousness
•Numbing

It happens alot to people when they go to speak before others in public. In fact, did you know that fear of public speaking is the number one fear after the fear of death!?!?!

You become out of tune with your voice when you're:

•Trying to Hard
•Approaching the notes outside of you. You approach the sound as if it is outside of you and you need to achieve it, when it is the essence of your entire being.
•Questioning Yourself
•Listening to the Habitual Voices instead of the Nurturing Ones

How can you get back in tune, when your off key?
Not Running from what is out of tune. Meet it, and shift the key.

I believe that when people attune to the essence of their voice, the result is peace and tranquility.

I'd like to share with you a very special comprehensive book called the Spiritual Significance of Music, edited by Justin St Vincent. I have written a chapter which you can download the chapter for free online, it's called The Spirit of Sound. There are many other brilliant entries on the website as well. Justin is so dedicated to bringing the healing power of music to the public. Check out his website: www.xtrememusic.org.

What is the biggest challenge you have with your voice?
How does it affect you?
What would being connected with your natural voice give you?
How would your life be more in harmony?
Look forward to creating a dialogue here. Look forward to hearing from you.

Universal Love Through Ancient Music & Journey Winner

2010-10-25T06:44:00.000-07:00

What is healing music of Ancient Israel?
How can it be effectively used today for our modern needs?
How can it help us connect with Universal Love?

Join Luciana Stiglich of Inner Healing Radio who will be interviewing me during an enlightening journey thru Israel Ancient Music knowledge on Healing and Universal Love!

I will be announcing the winner of a free private journey of transformation with me in Israel during the call.

Why Am I Doing This?

I want to thank you for your support of me in the Next Top Spiritual Author contest. Thanks to you, Miriam's Secret was one of 250 titles from over 3000 to make it to round two. Miriam's Secret is the result of a committment I made twenty years ago in France, while singing daily on the intercity trains. It is where I received my training (pun intended) for Voices of Eden Healing Music.

Providing this transformative journey to someone allows me to share the healing power of this holy land, with it's ancient music, which must be experienced directly.

It's truly beyond words.
The gift includes a two day journey with me in the holy land, including a private transformative music ceremony in the ancient healing music site, a trip to Miriam's Well, overnight stay in a pampering Galilee guest house overlooking the Sea of Galilee, and an empowering reading from one of the most powerful wisdom healers of Galilee.

We will have lots of fun on the radio program. I hope you will join us:
Sunday, October 31st 2PM EST, 11 AM PST, 1PM Peru and 20:00 Israel
Inner Healing Radio Show details. Call in number (USA): (347) 826-9216

Private transformative journey details. Guest house details.

7 Major Benefits of Therapeutic Singing

2010-10-21T06:27:00.000-07:00

The use of voice and rhythm as therapeutic healing tools is an ancient art form.

Ancient rattles from the third millennium BCE to the first century BCE have been excavated in archaeological sites all around Israel. Clay rattles that contain small stones or other materials for making noise

are believed to have been used for healing and ritualistic purposes. The photo on the left is of a clay rattle found in Tel Hazor.

Why do I write about ancient rattles and singers? I am dedicated to reviving this ancient art form which can help us to heal many a modern woe.

How was Therapeutic Singing used in Ancient Times?

In birthing chambers of ancient Egypt
In healing rituals of Ancient Israel
For spiritual and shamanic healing
In ancient hospitals for the mentally ill

How is it different from regular singing?

Inner Focused rather than Outer focused
Being "in service" to the music
Wordless. The wordless part evolved during a three year medical research project performed on this healing music modality, which I will write about in a future post.

What are the benefits of Therapeutic Singing?

Safe with no side effects
Lowers blood pressure and heart rate
Improves concentration
Increased self confidence
Healthy bonding between parents and children
Community builder
Low Cost – needs no special equipment

Here's a major practical benefit of therapeutic singing that every person can use to...

Relieve Stress and Anxiety.
Have you ever found yourself nervously humming mmmm-mm-mmm-mmm to calm yourself down when you are feeling anxious about something and don't know what to do? We vocalize spontaneously. It is a natural human means of expression, that physiologically helps to calm our nerves. When we vocalize consciously, we can bring ourselves to a deeper sense of inner calm.

Here's a simple exercise you can try the next time you find yourself feeling anxious, make a conscious decision to hum to yourself. You don't even have to hum out loud. To reap the maximum effect:

Focus your attention upon the center of gravity at the center of the earth. This will provide you with a grounding effect
Feel the vibration of your voice warming your insides from the tip of your toes, up into your belly, then into your chest, up towards your shoulders, through your throat and up into your head.
With each subsequent breath, bring your focus back down towards the center of the earth.

Try it. You might like it. You may just find yourself calming down.

What applications would you like help with with regards to therapeutic singing? Add it to the comments section below and I will address it in an upcoming post. Look forward to hearing from you.

Your Healing Voice and Trust

2010-10-07T07:14:00.001-07:00

The New Year (the Hebrew year goes by the lunar calendar) has officially begun, and I have just returned from a restful vacation with my family in Los Angeles to celebrate the Jewish Holidays.

Having the time to rest and visit with my family, evidently provided the universe with opportunity to shower me with ample blessings. Amongst them was visiting the Agape International Spiritual Center where 20 years ago I'd receive weekly doses of inspiration from Michael Beckwith (on right) which provided me with the eventual courage to leave my native Los Angeles behind for France (then to Israel). One of the healing spirituals I sang accapella to keep me inspired on my journey, to where, I was not sure, was "I Release and I Let Go", written by Rickie Byars Beckwith.

At the onset, this trip too, felt like a journey to the entire unknown.

Have you had that experience of anticipating an event, yet not even knowing what to anticipate? How do you respond? Do you go with the flow? Or do you try to control the river's current to stay safe?

Here's what I learned through writing on the flight from Tel Aviv - Rome - Los Angeles....

"I am God's pencil... write me... please write my story...",

I wrote, "After suceeding to sleep for three hours on the way from Tel Aviv to Rome, I awoke pretty refreshed. The weather is calm and cool and after having passed through the in-transit route last month on my way to present at the Music and Medicine Conference in NY, I already knew the ropes for easily getting through the airport security transit stations.

Upon arrival a voice spoke to me from within that eased the angst and exhaustion I have been grappling with over the last few months. The voice whispered: 'Isn't it true that you just slept on an airplane for three hours and without 'knowing how' to fly, you arrived safely to Rome? Who was flying? Who was guiding the plane? Did you trust the pilot to bring you here?'

'Yes', was my reply.

'So don't you think you could trust that power which benevolently brought you here to guide other aspects of you life?'

Interesting concept!

As I write these words, I am sitting onthe airplane, placing this trust into practice - surrending to the Divine to allow the two seats next to me to remain empty so that I can sleep on the way to LA. It's another thirteen hour flight.

TRUST.... I reminded myself.

When I had entered the duty free area passing through the transit stations, I saw the paper store where I remembered the altered state I experienced there on my way to New York last month. I had been spelled bound by the beauty of the traditionally hand crafted paper. There was a guest book where people could sign their names and check out the amazing quill pens that they sell as well.

I wrote my name and a note in Hebrew - a prayer that my voice would be heard loud and clear at the medical conference in NY and that my meeting with my brother would be joy filled. This morning, as I flipped through the pages of the guest book, I wondered if my note was still there. 'No, it was a month ago. Surely they have filled and replaced the guestbook many times over', the voice of doubt suggested. As I flipped through the pages looking for my Hebrew prayer, I came upon another note on the upper right hand corner of one of the middle pages:

'The Divine is Protecting You', it read.

Wow, my heart melted. I kept flipping through the pages and lo and behold, towards the back was the note I had written a month before on my way to NYC.

'I'm receiving support from my own guidance," I was amazed. I wanted to tape my thoughts and was sorry I had left my recorded at home in Israel. On the other hand, it prompted me to purchase the journal upon write I write and the pencil which glides across the page like silk. I'm remembering my love of writing, my love of journaling which kept me company as a child.

The seats got filled with two girls from Spain :-(....

'TRUST', I reminded myself once again. 'All is for the best.' Even though the special food I requested was not prepared for my meal, the steward was kind enough to organize an alternative through First Class. Nice!

TRUST. I want to practice allowing... Remember, the pilot is flying this ship. As I trust, the pilot to safely bring me to Los Angeles, I can surely trust the Big Pilot in the Sky to bring me to my inner home of calm.

TRUST in the unknown. I call this experience "the Black Swan"... not knowing what I don't even know that I don't know, and trusting that it will all be ok.

No Matter What.

We have the freedom to choose to live our lives as we dream. I was just reading an article (in Hebrew) that I brought from home about the coach Lisa Nichols and how she listens to her small still voice to guide her through the unknown.

As I was reading, my Spanish neighbor asked me what language I was reading. I replied: Hebrew. 'Funny', I continued, as I'm reading about someone from my native Los Angeles in the tongue of my home today'.

She asked me about life in Israel. 'Isn't it scary and dangerous?'

'Actually my life is safe - quite different from what you see in the media. I moved to Israel to be part of a solution through the example of my life.'

If through the example of my life, then I'd better get clearer about this trusting issue: No Matter What!. Either I forgot that I truly have the right to love my life as I dream or I never fully "got" it. My experience today comes as a revelation from the heavens, where, right now... I literally sit - up in the sky on this plane. "

How do you trust... No Matter What? I'd like to know!

Official or authentic power - which is stronger?

2010-09-03T04:34:00.001-07:00

Official or authentic power – which matters more? When you speak up, where is your voice coming from? Do you tow the line of status quo, speaking in politically correct ways to avoid the criticism of what others might think of you if your way seems too way out?

This question came up recently during a high profile conference I was invited to attend in New York.

I was amongst thirty five neonatal music therapy experts invited to present at an invitational Music and Medicine symposium at a leading Medical Center in New York City. Professionals from ten countries around the globe, from China, to Australia, US and Canada, to Ireland, England, Germany, Russia, Korea and Israel gathered for three days to share their expertise and form an international consortium.

I was invited to present on the role of live singing as a healing music modality in the neonatal intensive care unit.

One of the things which moved me most was to be the representing our medical research, rather than the medical physician who oversaw the project. Though I am the founder of the entire healing music project at the hospital,

I do not hold an advanced academic degree.

Many years ago, I made a strategic decision to not continue academic studies. I am the one who is bringing this ancient technology back to this world. It is not taught in any academic institution. I consulted with a professor colleague whom I deeply esteemed who told me to trust my voice and go my own way. He said that the knowledge I share will naturally find its audience.

So after a period of deep soul searching, I decided to trust that. Founding a music project in the neonatal ward was a big step towards physically proving the healing properties of this forgotten ancient music form. Spiritually, it was already clear. So, to be professionally acknowledged for my founding this project had a profound impact upon me.

Since my work is experiential in nature and the idea of the symposium was for us to share our knowledge with one another, I decided to present through singing, rather than the officially accepted didactic powerpoint presentation. I began as I usually do, singing wordlessly into the frame drum.

You could have heard a pin drop.

The silence was palpable, so deep that all those in attendance were at ease. Silence so golden… that is until I broke into tears and sobbed out my first words… thank you, thank you…
I found myself amongst medical professionals from Harvard Medical School, Children's Hospital of Australia, and directors of an International Music Therapy Association that represents music therapy protocols across the spectrum of many
nations. My heart felt tears evolved into a healing singing session. "Is my authenticity helping or hindering this official presentation?" I wondered. I kept going with the flow of tears and the harmonious blend of beautiful voices that joined me.

Going all the way...

On the last day of our symposium, we had an session to brain storm how to develop a worldwide consortium for certification of neonatal music therapy. Our professional experience as pioneers in the field was the reason for us having been officially selected to attend this symposium.

I liked learning how different people from different countries have widely different expectations about how to bring about change. It was exciting to learn how different countries operate systematically. It shattered my assumptions of "how things should officially work" into little pieces of glass. I found that refreshing to the authentic side of me, that loves to see things in a new light.
Several people ruminated over the minimum level of professional proficiency required to provide music therapy in a neonatal care setting. Some said a masters degree would be minimum. Others said study towards a doctorate degree would be preferred.

Do I fit in?

I suddenly began to squirm. "Am I in the right place?" I wondered. I have no advanced academic degree, even though the more than 45,000 hours I have invested over the last sixteen years – from live field research to studying the relevant medical and archaeological research finds could provide me with more than a few post doctorate degrees. "Should I authentically speak up?" I mused. "Should I keep quiet? I already broke into tears during my official presentation. This might be too much"

I found myself raising my hand, and when my turn was called I stood and claimed:
"I really appreciate this session and I really appreciate having been invited as one of the experts to this symposium to contribute towards the evolvement of neonatal music therapy. Though I am the founder of the neonatal music project at our hospital, and have had my writing published in international medical journals, I have no advanced degree. I made a strategic decision many years ago to NOT go for further academic study because my message is to help people trust their own voice, and know that who they are is already enough. If the criteria for training will be academic degrees, I am not sure where this leaves me?"

Authentic, or official suicide?

I sat down feeling so good about having authentically spoken my truth.
I felt very good about myself. On the other hand, I had no idea what would be the response of my colleagues from around the world. Perhaps I had just committed professional suicide? My loving inner voice replied: "If you committed professional suicide, then this is not the right place for you anyway. You are committed to authentically show up and in the right place, you will be supported for that".

Upon this closing session, we said our goodbyes. When I went to thank the symposium director, and say goodbye, I felt a bit nervous. After all, my closing words had been anything but "politically correct". To my great surprise she thanked me for my contribution adding that who I am and how I present myself provided inspiration for many people.
Showing up unofficially, but authentically provided great rewards. The biggest one is my increased self confidence and self esteem.

Is your authenticity official?

Where have you had the courage to authentically speak up for yourself, when the stakes seemed very high? What happened? What were the results? Where could apply this to other areas in your life?

I'm waiting to hear from you.

If you could use some support to show up and express yourself more authentically I invite you to join us in the Authentic Voice telecourse which will begin on the 26th of this month.

Shana Tova with Ancient Voices and Rhythms for Living Peace

2010-08-25T15:49:00.000-07:00

Yeh, well, I got pretty excited this evening remembering the recording from last year's New Year healing music concert in Tivon. Cool that I can repost it here.

Pomegranites, Galilee, freshness, a new start.

I love hearing all those voices in singing in the background. It really exemplifies Voices of Eden.

So, what are you considering for yourself for this new year? By the way, if you're not Jewish, no one said, you can't have two New Years'. Jewish New Years goes by the lunar calendar... Go ahead... allow yourself to dream... What do you see?

When authenticity trumps efficiency

2010-08-19T07:09:00.000-07:00

Today is hot in Galilee, in more ways than one... and it has taught me a great lesson that I'd like to share with you.

"Sometimes", they say, "the road to hell can be paved with good intentions..."
Such was the case this morning when a colleague of mine called to fill me in on the details of the evening event I am scheduled to attend to celebrate a local networking group. Many people are slated to attend, and my offer to provide a live music piece at some point during the ceremony was accepted, even though, I am not a part of this particular networking group.

My colleague asked if I plan to bring cds to sell. "Of course", I answered. She said that this evening is a celebration, not a networking and sales event, so it will not be appropriate. I was suprised, and of course, I accepted. Yet when I hung up the phone, I felt an uncomfortable tug in my gut. I was counting on this large event to account for a major part of my income this week. I am going through a buisness building process and have made commitments which I need to be responsible for following through on.

I sat quietly and reflected what to do? If I go to this event, I won't make the cd sales. Perhaps I should go to another group, which is focused upon marketing? I silently debated with the various voices, and decided to follow the voice of "responsiblity and efficiency". I am committed to my goal, and have made commitments to others... I called back the colleague and told her the truth: I have a financial commitment to complete, I did not know there would be no cd sales, therefore, I will go to another group this evening, and come to them next week, after the celebration party, when business returns to normal. She agreed.

Then I wrote an email to the head of the group, apologizing that I will not be able to make it, and explaining my situation. I then made arrangements to attend an alternative event this evening, dedicated to networking, presentations, and sales of gifts for the holidays (here in Israel, we are at the brink of the Jewish New Year, which is equivalent to Christmas and New Years in Europe and N. America). It's big gift giving time.

A few minutes after I arranged to travel to the center of the country to the other meeting, the head of the networking group called and said: "I know you have made your decision and that is fine. I just want to let you know that it leaves a bitter taste in my mouth and changes the way I look at you."

GULP...

I listened to him speak, at first, bracing myself for standing up for my decision. After all, I knew I was letting them down. On the other hand, if I did not follow through on my commitment to myself, then I would be letting ME down, not able to be there for anyone else, anyway... I just listened and listened.

Something inside of me shifted. Through his sharing, I realized how much he cared about me. He took the time to express his dissappointment. He took the time to say what he honestly feels. Through listening to him, I realized that I had made a mistake.

So instead of defending myself, and my decision, I shared with him my decision making process and let him in on my quandry.

As a result, I changed my mind. I ended up cancelling the other meeting, which was also embarrassing, yet I learned a big lesson... That following through on a commitment, means following through on caring. The results don't neccessarily come from how the mind expects that it should. Networking, in the truest sense, is made of building relationships.

They were kind enough to include me in the ceremony. This is a great opportunity for many to hear the special music I have to give. By my showing up to celebrate, I may just find that the abundance of good, and the results might be even better than I expect.

The heat of the conversation, actually melted my heart...

How to turn heated conversations into melted hearts:
1) Listen
2) Don't run when you want to... keep listening with an open heart
3) Be willing to be wrong... this can make things right...

What have you learned in this area for yourself?

Music Therapy in the NICU

2010-08-08T04:00:00.000-07:00

I'm just recovering from jetlag after a world wind tour to NYC to present at the International Summit for Music Therapy in the NICU. First Sounds: Rhythm, Breath and Lullaby was a major cool international summit sponsored by the Louis Armstrong Center for Music and Medicine who sponsored the program, with a donation by the Heather on Earth foundation.

This invitational Summit included 35 doctors, nurses, music therapists, healing music specialists (moi :-) and psychologists working in the NICU. The intent was to develop an international alliance and plan for training international practitioners in NICU music therapy.

My presentation on wordless singing and the five elements of Voices of Eden healing music, which was experiential in nature, was punctuated by a flood of tears which unexpectedly burst open as I acknowledged the blessing of us all being in that one room together.

Thanks to Joanne Loewy who had the foresight to bring these experts together, from literally, all corners of the globe. The countries represented were (in alphabetical order):

* Argentina
* Australia
* China
* England
* Germany
* Ireland
* Israel
* Spain
* Sweden
* United States

I had the pleasure of rooming with Kat Fulton of www.rhythmforgood.com, a music therapist residing in San Diego, CA who works with rhythm in the NICU. Her site is definately worth checking out. Kat summarized our very full and intense conference with the following topics that were covered:

* Program design and implementation in Europe (Germany)
* Noise, Music, and the Environment in the NICU (USA)
* Music Therapy as a Semiotic System of Communication (Spain)
* Interplay with the Medically Fragile Infant (Australia)
* Development of a Trauma-Informed NICU Music Therapy Treatment Model (USA)
* Wordless Melodies: Voices of Eden (Israel)
* The Pacifier Activated Lullaby: From Theory to Practice (USA)
* NICU Palliative Care: Anticipatory Grief & Bereavement (USA)
* Guided Imagery and Music with a Bereaved Parent: Case Study (USA)
* Live Infant-Directed Singing and Instrumental Music for Expression and Interaction (USA)
* Heather on Earth Multi-Site Research Study (USA)
* Music and Maternal Sounds in the NICU (USA)
* Neurological Development to Inform Music Selections in the NICU (USA)
* Analysis of Music Therapy Contributions (Spain)
* Relational Psychophysiology: Lessons from Mother-Infant Interaction (USA)
* Pain, Songs of Kin and Sedation (USA)

It was a stroke of Divine providence that my brother and niece Julia happened to be in New York the same day I arrived, so we got to meet for dinner at TGIF (where a cocktail party was given for us the first evening of the summit). What a blessing.

My favorite moments of the summit were during the cocktail party when we spontaneously broke into a rhythmic improvisation - it was a heavenly blend of glasses, spoons, cups and the plastic barrel played stupendously by one of the "very musically inclined" waiters who came to join us. I was in ecstasy.

Special thanks to Joanne Loewy, Sherry Williams and the staff at Beth Israel Medical Center in New York for making this International Summit possible! Support for the summit came from the Heather on Earth Music Foundation, Remo, and the Louis Armstrong Educational Foundation.

How can ancient hands support you today?

2010-07-29T04:27:00.000-07:00

I am getting ready to leave for my brief tour to the US next week to present at the Music and Medicine Symposium at Beth Israel Medical Center in NYC and thinking about sticky New York summer weather makes me grateful for the current heat, and the popsicles which are cooling down the inner heat.

There is alot of heat bubbling these days. Not just from the summer heat, but from so much change going on ... we are all experiencing it... Sometimes the confusion created may seem so great that we reach up our hands in frustration.

While in the midst of change and confusion, ancient hands can provide us with a great deal of support and clarity.

How do ancient hands provide protection?

Many cultures have regarded not only as a source of human power, but also as representative of a higher power. Ellen Frankel and Betsy Platkin Teusch write in The Encyclopedia of Jewish Symbols, that the notion of the Divine hand protecting, formed the symbol of "hamsa" from the Semitic root meaning "five". The hamsa is a hand shaped amulet to protect and ward off the "evil eye".

The hamsa is used throughout the middle east and mediterranean, and is common to Jewish, Christian and Moslem cultures. It is used as a decorative motif, a popular house warming or gift for good health. The traditional color used in the mediterranean to adorn the hamsa, is turquoise, blue, green - which is also aymbol of health, and of nourishing water.

The photos of hamsot (plural of hamsa) are those I created as a healing gift item from Galilee. The shards you see, are 1000+ year old pottery shards which I have hand picked (pun intended), from the healing music sites of Galilee.

I love the feel of my hands on the dry earth as I pick up each shard. I feel that each one is a gem, crying out to be rediscovered... "Pick me up please! Help me put the broken pieces of my forgotten self back together." Each one I treat like a jewel. My hand caresses them. It is one of my favorite past times to find these ancient shards. I have collections of them in beautiful bowls next to the hamsas adorning the living room walls.

When the ancient symbol of the protective hand is placed with the shards, it can provide you with deep focus and concentration.

I have a hamsa hanging in my bedroom, just opposite my bed. Upon the hamsa are three pomegranates (another ancient symbol of fertility and abundance) and the word "success" printed upon it. Every morning when I awake, before getting out of bed, I meditate upon that symbol. I find that it grounds me, and fills me with quiet power for what I am about to meet that day.

Where could ancient hands provide you with support?

Perhaps you could draw a hamsa to relax. You could even outline your hand with a crayon (remember doing that as a kid)?

You could also use your own hands to pat yourself on the back for all the great things you are doing!

Or, if you are so willing to express your authentic creativity and natural voice, you could use your hands to play rhythms, using your body as an instrument. You can use this video clip of a healing music program I gave to a group of physically handicapped youth. It is so amazing to see how their playing relaxes them and provides stress release and nourishment to their minds and bodies.

What will you do today to provide protective hands to yourself?

Self Compassion Softens Jagged Edges

2010-07-15T05:19:00.000-07:00

Are you interested in changing some of the things that you find yourself saying to yourself over and over again that don't exactly serve your highest good?

Perhaps you've already made a commitment to make peace with yourself by choosing to change one of those self defeating phrases that keeps you a silent prisoner of your inner war. When it is most important for you to express what is in your heart you need to come forth as a knight in shining armor for yourself.

So you write out what you plan to say. You call a friend to discuss your fears so they won't get in the way when you need to speak what is in your heart in real time. You practice your speech in front of the mirror to experience the level of confidence you need to shine in the moment when it counts most to you.

In the moment of truth, all hell breaks loose

The moment arrives. You're ready. It feels so good to have prepared beforehand. Yet when you open your mouth, instead of expressing what is in your heart, you find yourself saying other things you never meant to say.

The listener had this funny look on their face. "What will they think of me?", you wonder to yourself. They seem stressed and uptight. You didn't want to stir them up anymore than they already are so you speak about what you think will please them instead of what you had originally planned.

You can speak your heart another time, anyway. You're a kind person and care. Hmm… Really?

How kind towards yourself? Afterwards your inner voice silently criticizes you, "Why didn't you speak from your heart? Why can't you follow through like (whoever you compare yourself to most), "You'd have done better if only..., Now it's a fact, you are not as good as (whoever you compare yourself to most), It's too late, you failed again." Not the most harmonious tune.

As Wayne Dyer writes in his book, Real Magic, our personality is made up of the hundreds of habitual ways that we conduct the daily physical affairs of our life.

Your habits reveal you.

Your habits say something about how you have chosen to live your life and to how you use your powerful mind. They pattern the way you speak to yourself and how you behave.

The problem is that even when you make a decision to change a habit, you may find that your inner warriors come to do battle with your intentions to make positive change within yourself.

How can you stay focused when your resistance sends arrows to your gut instead of lovingly defending your heart's desire?

Deconstruct to Reconstruct

When the foundation upon which you built your way of expressing yourself no longer works, it many times means that it's time for a renovation.

Renovation requires deconstruction. Deconstruction is dirty work. It's not comfortable and it can bring up a lot of stress.

One of my clients, a singer with several years of classic vocal training behind her came to me longing to release and express her natural voice. She only felt safe singing and speaking formally, in the way she had been trained.

When she dared speak or sing her heart, she would tear herself apart afterwards with harsh inner criticism that it wasn't pretty or good enough. "I will fail. I will fall. I will embarrass myself, or worse, I will embarrass others, and this will embarrass me even more. Better to just hold back."

Though others thought of her as extremely talented, her negative self talk was eating her alive. Through the gentle process of questioning the daggers of her inner criticism, she began to challenge even the stickiest thorns of her life. Through employing the healing music element of silence and focus, instead of reacting to the attacks, she found renewed energy by simply listening to them, and gently chose to respond to herself with loving kindness and acceptance.

With self compassion, you can truly perform magic in your life.

Making peace with your inner conflicts

2010-07-11T12:51:00.000-07:00

Are you interested in changing some of the things that you find yourself saying to yourself over and over again that don't exactly serve your highest good? I just found an article which I wrote a few years ago, and find that it still applies today...

Perhaps you've already made a commitment to make peace with yourself by choosing to change one of those self defeating phrases that keeps you a silent prisoner of your inner war. When it is most important for you to express what is in your heart you need to come forth as a knight in shining armor for yourself.

So you write out what you plan to say. You call a friend to discuss your fears so they won't get in the way when you need to speak what is in your heart in real time. You practice your speech in front of the mirror to experience the level of confidence you need to shine in the moment when it counts most to you.

In the moment of truth, all hell breaks loose

The moment arrives. You're ready. It feels so good to have prepared beforehand. Yet when you open your mouth, instead of expressing what is in your heart, you find yourself saying other things you never meant to say.

The listener had this funny look on their face. "What will they think of me?", you wonder to yourself. They seem stressed and uptight. You didn't want to stir them up anymore than they already are so you speak about what you think will please them instead of what you had originally planned.

You can speak your heart another time, anyway. You're a kind person and care. Hmm… Really?

How kind towards yourself? Afterwards your inner voice silently criticizes you, "Why didn't you speak from your heart? Why can't you follow through like (whoever you compare yourself to most), "You'd have done better if only..., Now it's a fact, you are not as good as (whoever you compare yourself to most), It's too late, you failed again."
Not the most harmonious tune.

As Wayne Dyer writes in his book, Real Magic, our personality is made up of the hundreds of habitual ways that we conduct the daily physical affairs of our life.

Your habits reveal you.

Your habits say something about how you have chosen to live your life and to how you use your powerful mind. They pattern the way you speak to yourself and how you behave.

The problem is that even when you make a decision to change a habit, you may find that your inner warriors come to do battle with your intentions to make positive change within yourself.

How can you stay focused when your resistance sends arrows to your gut instead of lovingly defending your heart's desire?

Deconstruct to Reconstruct

When the foundation upon which you built your way of expressing yourself no longer works, it many times means that it's time for a renovation. Renovation requires deconstruction. Deconstruction is dirty work. It's not comfortable and it can bring up a lot of stress.

One of my clients, a singer with several years of classic vocal training behind her came to me longing to release and express her natural voice. She only felt safe singing and speaking formally, in the way she had been trained.

When she dared speak or sing her heart, she would tear herself apart afterwards with harsh inner criticism that it wasn't pretty or good enough.
When we began the course to ease

Test the limits. I could fail. I will fall. I will embarrass myself, or worse, I will embarrass others, and this will embarrass me even more.

Better to just hold back. Only there is no more time. I committed to write this newsletter. It's been more than a week and a half since I wrote. It's a really tender time for me.
With the magical powers of your persuasion, you can choose to challenge even the stickiest thorns of your life.

One of my clients, a busy medical doctor, when I first met him, was so stressed that even without saying a word, the tension from his persona, shouted like an announcer over the loud speakers, "ee gads, I am going nuts". The fact that his wife had just given birth to a premature baby in intensive care was not helping matters any more.

I'm a medical doctor, so vocal meditation isn't exactly what you would call my "cup of tea". But, I gotta admit it, this CD relaxes me and my family, including my newborn premature son in a way that other CDs haven't done before. Lord knows we've tried.

So how do you respond when the &*%^ hits the fan?

This week I have met with lots of challenge. I gave my best. I was hoping for a better deal. Hoping that what I had to contribute would be recognized.I was hoping for more connection with the other teachers. I was looking forward to team work. All I got was a lot of competition. I am feeling hurt that my givingness was not recognized.I am feeling unseen and unheard and this is the most painful thing for me.Misunderstood or ignored. That is what has hurt the most in my life. The invisible force of nature and energy

Is it easier to go along with the war than to stand up alone, like a lone soldier who can be knocked down with a single shot?

Not all war happens with bombs and guns.

There are war zones in everyday life. In order to make the healing and transformational power of music practical tools for daily life, I'm looking for a few readers to interview (by phone or Skype).

I'll be asking about where they most long for peace. What's in the way? What makes it hard to practice peace-making exercises?

If you're interested, please email me.

In the meantime, please enjoy this short 30 second peace making music meditation I recorded this afternoon, focusing upon making peace with inner war, allowing for the authentic colors of my voice to be heard.

I hope that you will allow yours to be heard as well. Look forward to hearing from you shortly.

Balkan Dance in Israel

2010-06-27T03:28:00.000-07:00

Edna Rimon took fabulous photos of the twenty fifth year anniversary of the Balkan folk dance club in Haifa Israel. To celebrate with us, the Balkan music performers - Chubritza, came to Israel to play their wonderful music, while we danced (and I also sang and drummed in a few pieces).

Aviella Angel (really an angel) wearing the Balkanitsa t-shirt, is one of the organizers.

You can enjoy more photos here: http://picasaweb.google.com/ednarimon/BLKANITSA#

This gave me a very good break from writing my book proposal for Miriam's Secret and using the healing music to release the stress connected with the Next Top Spiritual Author contest, whose voting deadline is today. You can tell by this photo, I am pretty dreamy faced (smiling yet with little sleep).,

What does Miriam's Secret and Balkan dance movement in Israel share in commo?n

Goodwill

Love of rhythm, movement and music as healthy means of living

Community builder

Thanks to both Balkanitsa, Dunav (the Jerusalem balkan dance group), Chubritza who graced us with their lovely live music, and every single person who helped make this event such a success by helping to organize, and showing up to enjoy in the festivities.

Music Meditation for Support

2010-06-22T05:24:00.000-07:00

I just love this photo that photographer Nitza Levine shot at a recent networking meeting and art auction in Haifa.

What does business networking, an art auction and music meditation have in common?

1) Mutual support
2) Supporting art

Supports everyone. Man does not live by bread alone. Aesthetics are a spiritual value.
When we become so focused on "achieving" we lose sight of the forest through the trees.

In my case, a beautiful tree donated it's life to alchemically transform itself into a frame drum.

Life is support. When we support one another, we support ourselves. Life supports us.

What role do aesthetics play in your life? How do you allow music and art to support you?

Mozart and Voices of Eden on CBS News

2010-06-13T12:58:00.000-07:00

Do you believe everything you see on the news? Did you know that I sing and play Mozart? According to CBS television, evidently so.

If you watch this video (type in Music and Weight Gain in the search box watch), you'll see Sunita Staneslow - my healing harpist colleague with whom I work at Meir Hospital in our healing music project and I are both shown making music in the neonatal ward. You'll see me singing to babies, and working with mothers.

Only they're reporting about Mozart music. Evidently Voices of Eden music and Mozart are now being compared!

Music And Weight Gain
http://wcbstv.com/video/

Wondering how to use this blooper and misrespresentation on CBS's part to get the word out about Voices of Eden music and Miriam's Secret?

What ideas do you have for me? I am all ears...

Remaining Relaxed in the Midst of Change

2010-06-09T06:59:00.000-07:00

How do you remain relaxed and focused in the midst of change? Perhaps it seems impossible? You know that experience of... take two steps forward, one back. Sometimes it might even feel like... two steps forward, three backwards...

It seems that the moment we commit to making a deep inner change, the deeper silt may come floating to the surface. Though we know we're moving ahead towards something good, instead of soaring, with wings outstretched, it may feel instead like falling into a deep bottomless pit.

Last week, I took my students to Tel Megiddo, the site of Armaggedon. Tel Megiddo is one of the more prominent archeological sites in the world, as it serves as the pinnacle of biblical archeology. In addition, it is one of the few places in the world where you can see thirty strata of different civilizations spanning some 10,000years. This alone is enough to put your worries in proportion :-)! This is the site where the prophetess Deborah sat court under the palm trees.

The round temple mound alone, shows 17 layers of civilization. It was a joy to play the bells there, to clear the energy prior to our descending deep in the belly of the earth, to reach the pure water of the well resting some 300 meters below the earth.

The sounds of the women singing on the way down were mysterious and awesome. It was dark.... until we got to the bottom. Water nymphs singing in the belly of the earth? Scary or inspiring? What do you think?

Healing Music for Premature Baby

2010-05-27T05:01:00.001-07:00

Wordless singing has been medically proven to lower blood pressure, heart rate, increase focus and quality of sleep amongst neonates in the NICU unit. In this video clip, I am guiding a new mother to sing with her baby in the neonatal ward of Meir Hospital. This lovely mother, appropriately named Shira, which in Hebrew means "singing - song" has taken to singing along with the monitor beeping in order to lower her own level of stress. You can hear the music composed for the healing music research project.

I have also opened a new blog specifically for lullaby music: www.lullabymusicblog.com.

How do you calm yourself in the midst of the "beeping monitors" of daily life?

Desktop Altar, Anita Diamant & Miriam

2010-05-16T04:58:00.000-07:00

On Anita Diamants blog: The Red Tent... and more... she posted a photo of the items on her desktop altar. This was in response to a query from a curious reader. At the end of her post, Anita asked: What is on your desktop altar?

So, I flipped open my trusty cell phone camera and clicked the photo above.
On my desktop altar (from right to left - as befits a Hebrew speaker :-)...

1) Clay statuette of Miriam that I made some seven years ago on a glorious vacation in the Sinai desert. This statuette, fashioned from simple clay mud found in Sinai, which I sealed with simple glue (now peeling), has chaperoned me through countless ancient healing music tours overseas. It's my number one touchstone.

2) An ancient pottery handle which I found in Tel Hazor - an sacred healing music site in northern Galillee. This provides me with something to hold onto... when I don't know where to go next. It provides me with lots of faith.

3) A small Egyptian tambourine. Provides me with the sound of music.

4 & 5) Another ancient pottery handle picked up on a recent visit to Tel Megiddo (Armageddon) and Tel Dor (Phoenician site next to Atlit). These were also important sites for ancient sacred healing music of the biblical prophetesses.

6) Finger cymbals. Hand made in Egypt, I use these to dissipate energy. When I need a break, I ring them. It reminds me of the music I recorded with them in the ancient water well of Zippori.

7) A small peace dove bookmarker gift handmade by a colleague of mine. It reminds me of the beauty of simple aesthetic found in Israel. It calms me.

8) Behind the Miriam statuette - my logo - that includes a statuette of Miriam found in Achziv in the Western Galilee, dating from the Helenistic period. The Hebrew says: Kolot Eden - Havaya Musikaleet Tehorah... which in English means...

Voices of Eden
Pure and Authentic Music Experience

What's on your desktop altar?

Next Top Spiritual Author Contest - Winning Round One

2010-05-08T05:45:00.000-07:00

It is Saturday, or in Hebrew, Shabbat.

Shabbat comes from the Hebrew root letters: Shin-Bet-Taf. These letters share the same root of the verb "to sit". Shabbat is a time to contemplate the week passed.

Today I am sitting to contemplate the last several weeks completed of Round One of the Next Top Spiritual Authors Contest.

Approximately 3000 authors entered the contest... 250 would be chosen to go on to Round Two. The ultimate winner of this contest, sponsored by Hampton Roads Publishing, will receive a publishing contract. The voting deadline closed on May 3, with the announcement of the 250 winners to be made by Thursday, May 6.

A few days can seem like an eternity.

My task was to stay on purpose, inside and to keep a steady pace moving forward. Regardless of the results, I made a commitment to complete Miriam's Secret by the end of this year. If I didn't win this round, would I be courageous enough to follow through? If I did win, would I be willing to meet my fears and move forward?

The contests' creators' sent an email promotion of their own projects the day following the voting deadline. Some of the authors were outraged and complained bitterly. The contest creator sent an email in response.

The path to one's goal is filled with detours.

I enjoyed many inner detours on the path of my own response:

1) Reserving my own judgment on both sides of the issue in favor of deepening my sense of equinimity.

2) My willingness to notice my judgements as they arose. I filled out Judge Your Neighbor worksheets of The Work by Byron Katie, to set my thinking free.

I appreciated the angered emails, reflecting that competitive voice inside – "no" – "won't move ahead"... it's a small fine line... in this place one gets to be righteous and indignant.

3) Appreciation of how the contest creator addressed criticism head on AND stood up for himself transparently, e.g. "you'll find in the… (xyz places) written that we will send announcements... etc..."

I knew this when I signed on. I chose to sign on to use this platform as a support to get my OWN VOICE out there. What I appreciate seeing modeled is how people DO PLAY BIG.

Stretching beyond the comfort zone.

If you spend all your energy trying to dart the bullets, how will you ever move forward?

YUP, people will criticize you when you move ahead. People may even want to attack. Yet if you spend all your energy trying to appease "them", where will you have the energy to appease yourself?

Courage is having the discipline to stand by yourself in times of doubt.

Holistic winning requires several things:

1) Compassion. Criticism may sting. It's not a comfortable place to be.

2) Self Respect. Leaders are those who are willing to tread the unbeaten path.

3) Remaining Open... Especially in the face of a big OUCH; such as when others criticize us for moving ahead. Seeing how the contest creator responded gave me courage to keep my heart open.

I wrote a response thanking them for showing up, and opening the door for me to show up in a much bigger way as well. We all benefit! Taking the time to acknowledge them and me, publicly is a BIG CHANGE, for me. The shift is in the focus, not upon the physical action. I have decided to WIN.

WINNING starts and ends WITHIN.

Here's what I wrote the morning following the cutoff for Round One voting:

My experience inside of me is shifting. It is a big payoff.

I guess we are all so used to sitting in our comfortable habits - with the mediocre payoff of getting to be "right" about our beliefs. Staying as much as I can in the NOW moment. In the end, we don't have final control (although it's so nice to believe that we do :-)!

I am in LOVE. And I appreciate YOU.

WE WON ROUND ONE!

I credit the win to all of us. I acknowledge my response above as a major contributor.
Thank you to EVERY ONE OF YOU WHO VOTED!!!!

The next two weeks are for finishing the book proposal and uploading it to the contest site.
Voting for Round Two will begin May 24th.

Every one who votes receives a membership in the online healing and transformational music site, and also goes into a raffle to win a free Transformational Journey Intensive with me in Israel, where I will personally take you to Miriam's Well and Magdalene's Well.

Come visit on my facebook pages:

Miriam's Secret: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Miriams-Secret-Midwiving-the-Birth-of-Your-Inner-Transformation/110869085621403

My personal page: www.facebook.com/elianagilad

Voices of Eden page

Next Top Spiritual Author Contest Update - Miriam's Secret

2010-04-26T14:41:00.000-07:00

Here's an update from Tel Dor - at a major cool ancient Phonecian temple on the mediterranean coast. Please remember to watch this video with an authentic healing music meditation - with directions for a free eight step relaxation program. Learn more about Miriam's Secret...

Please vote and ">help reveal Miriam's Secret...

MIRIAM'S SECRET - MIDWIVING THE BIRTH OF YOUR INNER TRANSFORMATION

2010-04-20T13:28:00.000-07:00

I am truly jazzed to have entered the Next Top Spiritual Author Contest sponsored by Hampton Roads Publishing. 2500 authors have entered this contest, which includes four rounds. The finalist wins a publishing contract for their book.

250 of the authors with the highest number of votes will go on to round two. I intend to be amonst them. Voting ends May 3. Please for for me here: http://www.NextTopAuthor.com/?aid=2961

Enjoy this clip to learn about my book - Miriam's Secret - Midwiving the Birth of Your Inner Transformation...

Thank you for voting for me, and sending this link to ten of your friends, and asking them to do the same.

The Next Top Spiritual Author

2010-04-06T23:22:00.000-07:00

I am writing this post to announce that I have entered The Next Top Spiritual Author Contest - it's a great step for me, as I have been preparing my book - Miriam's Secret - Empowering Your Voice Within You, or, Healthy Bonding with Your Inner Mother and Child. Those are a few of the tentative subtitles.

I will be blogging about this process - first hand.

Gotta run now. Will write more later.

How do you stay on purpose when going through change?

2010-04-02T05:14:00.000-07:00

With spring in the air, it's a time of rebirth. I love that spacious feeling of having the space and time to consider change and choose new direction.

Yet rebirth, like transformation, doesn't come without it's pain and pressure. Saying "yes" to one direction, means saying "no" to another. Others may not like it. Perhaps it will upset the apple cart.

How do you stay on purpose when going through change?

How do you respond to family, friends or colleagues who get stirred up by your transformation in process?

In his book "Real Magic", author Wayne Dyer shares how he has personally learned to avoid slings and arrows that come his way in his public pursuits. He has trained himself to ignore others' opinions and stay on purpose. His focus is upon his inner mission to help improve other people's lives and sticking with it, regardless of the outcome. Ironically, he shares as he is more on purpose, his speaking and communication flow.

I got very inspired by reading his words again after many years. My heart has been directing me to serve in a bigger way and share my talents through creative means. My intent is to help people more authentically express themselves. As I make inner changes, I meet up with more of my own inner slings and arrows and learn to make peace with them.

When you’re in turmoil, how do you connect to and express your inner voice of peace? Like when you’re in the turmoil part?

Scott Johnson, Director of the Positive Music Association, who I interviewed for the Educational Home Study System:
FINDING INNER PEACE IN TROUBLED TIMES - Transformational Interviews with 7 Living Peace Makers had this to say:

"I try to think my way around stuff and it doesn’t seem to work. I think you just have to be present with it. I’ll give you an example of how music has helped me. I had my own graphic design business for 12 years out of my home. Last year I took a day job in a new industry. I was miserable for the first eight or nine months of it. While it didn't feed my soul, it fed the family and that’s important.

During that time I wrote a song from that experience called "Get Me Out of Here". It’s a great blues song... To be able to express myself constructively without damaging others or things, or polluting the world - sitting down at the piano and writing about it and singing it, helped me deal with and move through it. The song has a lot of emotion behind it and makes me feel good when I sing it now."

I love how Scott alchemically transformed his misery through music, providing himself and others with a powerful source for self nurturing.

The other interviews in the home study course share other inspiring stories from the trenches: meeting life and death issues, million dollar debt, relationship conflict, challenges with children, coping with depression, managing conflict with equanimity, patience, kindness and compassion.

I am following my heart's guidance to offer this very special interview series at a "Name Your Own Price" through April 30, 2010. There are absolutely no strings attached. I am including the bonuses and a money back guarantee as well.

Like Wayne Dyer, I am simply doing what I know to be the right thing - showing up in a bigger way for me while truly hoping to contribute to improve the lives of others and doing divine work.

So grateful!

Birth Music - for abundant good

2010-03-25T04:24:00.000-07:00

Spring is quickly approaching... with it... an abundance of flowers, colors and the rebirth of life and goodness. To this end, I have decided to begin giving away all of my music.

I believe that doing this will bring more good into my life, and in an exponential way, into the life of others.

For those of you interested in birthing good into your own life, whether this be related to birth of a baby in your family, or whether the birth be of another kind, please allow me to invite you to a gift of healing music and allow the sounds and rhythm to midwive the birth of your own good.

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Healing Nature and Music

2010-03-17T09:24:00.000-07:00

Last week, two students of mine, Eshel Rozio and Birgit Reshef and I made a pilgrimage to Tel Kadesh in the upper Galilee, home to an ancient temple as well as an amazing pistachio tree which was uprooted by a bomb which blasted it open during the war in 2006.

The incredible thing is, the blast, seemed to free the shape of a female body. Could it be the spirit of the Asherah - female divinity of ancient Hebrew tradition?

We let nature do the singing. This video is uncut, unedited... imperfectly human. Our vulnerable voices, allowing nature to sing through us.

What do you receive from listening to this? Can you see the feminine figure of the tree? Can't wait to hear from you.

It has nothing to do with you

2010-02-21T02:20:00.000-08:00

Tony Parsons - well, if you call that one by a name - really will blow your mind...

Ancient Egypt and Ancient Israel reunite

2010-02-06T09:42:00.000-08:00

I am feeling so satisfied to discover that the Egyptian press has published the article I wrote about the Voices of Eden healing music research project.

Kudos to Bikya Masr and to the Daily News Egypt both for publishing the article about Israeli and Palestinian women making peace through Healing Lullaby Music.

The whole point of my initiating this research project was to reconnect the two ancient civilizations of Israel and Egypt. There were times during which the healers of both places used voice, sound and rhythm as a natural healer. A big use of it was in childbirth and lullaby music.

I am humbled to learn that a new connection has been remade through this small but powerful gesture of good will.

Girl Power

2010-02-05T00:38:00.001-08:00

There is power in vulnerability, sensitivity and emotion. This video came to my email box as I wrote in my journal about a dream, reconciling deep conviction with deep insecurity. Stop denying yourself from being who you are:

Validation - This will put a smile on your face :-)

2010-01-04T04:21:00.000-08:00

This is an absolutely imaginative and beautiful expression of authentic voice. It brought a huge smile to me this morning and I hope it will to you too:

I wonder what went on in your mind as you watched?

Sacred Holiday Music Concert in Nazareth - Christmas Eve

2009-12-18T08:11:00.000-08:00

RARE HOLIDAY MUSIC CONCERT

Christmas Eve – 20:00 – 24.12.09
Fauzi Azar Inn - Old City Nazareth

Join us for magical musical journey of heavenly song, sacred holiday music chants, ethereal harp and biblical percussion. This special holiday program illuminates the power of the voice, rhythm and harp as a natural healer such was used in ancient times.

Biblical frame drums are used to ground the body, sacred texts to soothe and relax the listener. In the ancient approach to music, the artist and audience are both actively involved in the musical experience.

This unique concert provides a genuine experience of holy music from the holy land.
Voices of Eden music has medically researched three times and found to lower blood pressure, heart rate, increase focus and quality of sleep.

Students of the Ancient Healing & Transformational Music course, based upon the research performed on this music, will participate in the concert as well.

Fauzi Azar Inn – Charming Guest House in the Ancient Quarter of Nazareth, which Mapa – the leading press has called, "the Dream Guest House", "One of the Best Finds", and "Simply Wonderful"…

Healing harpist, Sunita Staneslow and I have developed this healing music concert geared towards busy, overly stressed people wanting to reconnect to their inner calm and the sacred in life, while connecting intimately with their family as well. Watch this clip to get a feel for the program:

Price: 35 NIS. Limited Seating available. Reservations a must.
Directions: How to get to Fauzi Azar here. Tel: 054-4322352

Reserve Your Space Now:

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New Lullaby Music Blog

2009-12-16T05:15:00.000-08:00

A new year is on the horizon, along with a new life. Babies are coming out of my ears, my eyes and coming deeply into my heart.

It's a joy to be returning to the land of lullaby music. Last week, I returned to the Meir Hospital neonatal ward to sing for the babies, worked with a group of new mothers to help them sing to their babies, and this morning, presented to a group of 22 health care professionals to teach them about the therapeutic uses of Voices of Eden music.

The interest grows. So, I opened a new lullaby music blog which will be dedicated to lullaby music, mother music, and everything connected to help new mothers and health professionals use music for healing purposes.

The point is to build a generation of healthy babies. This can add a clear soothing drop of water to the creation of a healthy world.

2009-12-04T00:13:00.001-08:00

Trying out new behaviour may feel weird, yet it allows you to expand and move forward.

Calm Music Lullaby from Ancient Times

2009-11-29T11:06:00.001-08:00

I just love this lullaby video which shows native culture from the Far Eastern Chuckchi tribe. It shows humour, humanity, and features wordless singing and frame drum :-)!!!

What do you think; can drums actually calm baby?

Sound Creates Matter

2009-10-25T06:32:00.000-07:00

This is a fantastic video which shows how sound applied to particles, creates matter. Imagine how your intention, which is your voice expressing itself silently, affects your entire body!

Vibration Creates Form

This video is PUBLIC DOMAIN. Share it freely. Tiny particles of sand are strewn on a smooth disk and subjected to vibrations being passed into the surface, they immediately begin to take form and arrange into a multitude of geometrically perfect designs. ...
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Rosh HaShana Music from Israel

2009-09-17T07:49:00.000-07:00

09-09-09 Transformational Music Meditation

2009-09-09T09:18:00.000-07:00

This is a special music meditation - recorded today: 09-09-09 at 09:09.

It's 100% natural, authentic, unplanned, unrehearsed and recorded on the spot, while focusing upon the pomegranate tree outside my window, lilting beautifully in the radiant sunshine in the backyard.

Wordless vocals and an ancient frame drum in a Galilee garden... for you to connect to your own inner garden of Eden.

Please enjoy a gift of healing music. I wonder what kind of effect it will have upon you? Please post a comment and let me know... Download it for free here:

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Healing Musician in the Tradition of Miriam - Over 100 years old

2009-09-05T16:01:00.000-07:00

Thanks to Rowan Storm who posted another video on the Women Frame Drummers list on facebook, I did a search on youtube and was mesmerized to find this video of the healing musician and living legend - Bi Kidude. Her voice is smooth, clear, fresh, and without taint of egotism.

Bi Kidude is over 100 years old. She is a singer and drummer from Zanzibar, and it is amazing to listen to the clarity of her voice, and the heart beat of her drum.

How do you feel when you listen to the quality of her voice? What is it that you experience?

Coming out of the cave

2009-08-25T04:55:00.000-07:00

This blog is about authenticity. How do you stay authentic when whenyou are going through a major inner shift?

Do you retreat and stay away from others, hoping to gain clarity through your own inquiry? Or perhaps you find yourself speaking to friends and associates more than ever, hoping that the conversation will shed some light on the dark path of inner gestation.

I find it difficult to speak to others. It seems like everything I say is up for question. A word may come out of my mouth, and then a voice inside asks, "Is that what you really mean?" I notice that while the words may ring fine, there is a deeper meaning, beyond the words, floating in a pond, deep inside. I am diving, deeper and deeper, trying to get to the bottom of the pool.

My tendency is to want to stay in my cave, until I see the light of day, then come out of hiding. I also realize that seeing the light of day can only come when I walk outside.

What am I trying to say? I am reaching out to you. Just sending a hug. Whatever it is that you are going through, so am I. I am with you.

Where in your life are you in your cave right now? What is the shift you find yourself going through? What is the one little step you could take right now in expressing yourself, which would be an act of self kindness, and also an expression of your perfectly imperfect humaness?

Please post, so we can connect together and see what transpires.

Bobby McFerrin Dances the Pentatonic Scale

2009-08-02T13:58:00.000-07:00

Bobby McFerrin is one of the people I admire most - he is in the highest service to the Music. I had the great fortune to sing with him live on stage during his tour to Israel a few years before Voices of Eden music underwent the surgical knife of medical research. He was the first person I dared share my intent to sing without words, and to create a healing music choir which would create health and harmony with others for the highest good. His support and encouragement has provided me with confidence to move forward.

Now comes this delightful video of him teaching the power of the pentatonic scale at the World Science Festival. The Pentatonic scale has deep healing impact and has been consciously used all around the world, from ancient times until today.

I have watched it several times already and plan to watch it again. Watch and enjoy the dance:

World Science Festival 2009: Bobby McFerrin Demonstrates the Power of the Pentatonic Scale from World Science Festival on Vimeo.

Did you sing along? How does this scale impact you?

Can World Music Heal the World?

2009-07-30T00:55:00.000-07:00

Cultural journalist Aiyushman Dutta of the Assam Times brilliantly writes:

"More than just a healing force, music is a tool which can be used for greater understanding between different cultures around the world. As modernisation and technology makes inroads into each and every aspect of our lives and the entire world becomes one small little village, music is the very medium which can help bind people and their hearts together with each other. For it is the only form of communication, a language transcending borders, that speaks to us all as equals in the most profound way."

How does music from different cultures around the world affect you? Is it healing for you? Does some of it grate on your nerves? Does it take you travelling to an alternate space?

What is your experience?

Inner peace or Running Away

2009-07-08T03:50:00.000-07:00

One reader answered a question I asked to prepare for an interview series I am preparing with living masters of everyday peace... What is your number one question about living peacefully in troubled times?

Her response: How do you know if you are living peacefully or running away from something deeper inside - that you're not facing?

Great question!!!! This will be included. What's your top three questions?

Echoes of Music Peace

2009-06-28T11:55:00.000-07:00

A Big Question: "When will they ever make peace in the Middle East?"

An Honest Answer: They are - NOW!

Israeli and Palestinian composers Eliana Gilad and Wisam Gibran are doing just that. This clip was recorded during a concert held in the inspiring 200 year old Arab Mansion, renovated into a lovely Inn and peace center in Nazareth - the Fauzi Azar Inn

Music Peace in Jerusalem Hug

2009-06-25T03:05:00.000-07:00

Sunday, saw Jerusalem in a harmonious light, as White Eagle and the Grandmother drum, joined by a growing multitude of Israelis, Palestinians and trailblazers from Europe and the US who joined us in Jerusalem for the third annual Hug Around Jerusalem.

This year was special in that we were part of the Live H2o concert, inspired by Dr. Masaru Emoto and Dr. Leonard Horowitz. White Eagle began with twenty minutes of a slow and repetitive heart beat. Following, I provided a wordless heart voice, tuned to the frequency of 528 hertz, measured as the mathematical equivalent of equanimity.

A multitude then joined in with the drum beat, garnering the swell of a wave of voices, which would be joined by multitudes of people in thirty other venues around the world. The event was broadcast live over the internet.

I will post the link, as soon as it is up on the internet. Subscribe to this blog on the upper right hand corner, and you will receive an automatic notice when the blog gets updated.

The conscious use of sound can penetrate matter. This is how the walls of Jericho came tumbling down, in ancient times. Today, in Jerusalem, sound was used in a conscious way to heal the rubble - rebuilding a home for all, beginning in our own hearts. I invite you to a refreshing drink of musical peace from Jerusalem. Sit down, relax, and enjoy listening here.

Flutes Offer Clues to Stone-Age Music

2009-06-24T14:33:00.000-07:00

At least 35,000 years ago, in the depths of the last ice age, the sound of music filled a cave in what is now southwestern Germany, the same place and time early Homo sapiens were also carving the oldest known examples of figurative art in the world.

Music and sculpture — expressions of artistic creativity, it seems — were emerging in tandem among some of the first modern humans when they began spreading through Europe or soon thereafter.

Read more here.

Love to Water - Live H2o - Jerusalem Hug - June 21

2009-06-11T01:11:00.000-07:00

This Cosmic Melody was originally composed in 1999 when Barbara Marx Hubbard sent me a prototype of the Attuner (tuned to the vibratory rate of the earths rotation), that we were to use during a turn of the millenium sound healing event in Israel (prior to YK2 & the Intifada).

Everything in it's own time... now there's the wonderful Live H2o worldwide concert and Hug Around Jerusalem where I have the good fortune to be performing with Grandmother Drum, White Eagle and thousands of other wonderful hearts whom together will start the nine minutes of "AH" heart sound... from Jerusalem, all around the world. For those of you who read Hebrew, the Israel site is here.

Jewish Cat Makes Music

2009-06-07T03:05:00.000-07:00

I had the good fortune yesterday of a visit from my next door neighbor - Or. She wanted to play the piano. My cat Punkie was mesmerized by the sounds - he started to play with her. As you can see in the photo, she was startled.

He kept watching as she played - and touched the keys.

Feline music! PURRRRRR........

Jonathan Goldman & Len Horowitz - Live H2o - June 10

2009-06-04T04:07:00.000-07:00

Please tune in June 10th, Wednesday, at 12 noon US Eastern Time, to www.healthylife.net when Jonathan Goldman interviews
Dr. Leonard G. Horowitz - an internationally known authority in the overlapping fields of public health, behavioral science, emerging diseases, and natural healing.

Dr. Horowitz received his doctorate from Tufts University School of Dental Medicine and has taught at Harvard School of Dental Medicine. His published works several American best-sellers: Emerging Viruses: AIDS & Ebola-Nature, Accident or Intentional?, Healing Celebrations: Miraculous Recoveries Through Ancient Scripture, Natural Medicine and Modern Science, and DNA: Pirates of the Sacred Spiral. In the field of sound, Len's contribution to Healing Codes for the Biological Apocalypse introduced the concept of an ancient series of solfeggio frequencies.

In addition to his other work, Len has been engaged in the creation of a worldwide sound event, H2O: Concert for the Living Water. This will be a week-end long event taking place over the Summer Solstice Week-end, This 72 hour educational, musical, and multi-cultural event also features an unprecedented interactive Internet broadcast that will engage a chorus of 144,000 voices united to advanced the cause of lasting peace on earth, world health, and universal prosperity.

This Global Sound Healing event will culminate on June 21st at 5 PM Pacific Time with a Global Tone of Healing and Love directed into the oceans, lakes, rivers and streams fo the world. This powerful prayer and chant begins with a 9 minute global chorus, then make sits way westward around the word, joined by representatives from all major religions and Native cultures. For more information on this "Love Water Experiment", please click on Live H20.

Len is a fascinating speaker. Among the topics we'll talk about are sacred sound, the solfeggio frequencies, the effects of sound on water, the power of intentionalized sound to shift global consciousness and much more.

I know this June 10th show with Dr. Len Horowitz will be an extraordinary experience that you won't want to miss.

Please tune in June 10th for this extraordinary show. And please join us on for the H2O Concert for the Living Water- especially from Jerusalem where we will be singing by the HOly of Holies. I have the honor of being the mistress of ceremonies - for the live broadcast.

Prophetess Miriam

2009-06-03T01:23:00.000-07:00

If eye's could truly see.... Here are a few photos of water paintings inspired by the biblical prophetess Miriam which I painted last year:

The prophetess Miriam helped the Israelites when they lost courage. Her music would soothe them, and calm their nerves. Her drum would ground them. She was known to help people to remain steady, and trust in their voice, when things looked troublesome.

Creative Problem Solving with Your Voice

2009-06-01T12:00:00.000-07:00

Sound is everywhere. Music is sound. Your voice is sound and you can use it to creatively solve many problems in everyday life.

As we vibrate, we are releasing pure energy and
intention through us from inner voice to outer voice. This week, I offer you the gift of a vibrational cleansing bath.

Tomorrow (Tuesday), I'll be discussing five benefits of the conscious use of voice and music for creative problem solving, encouraging people to center themselves in these profound peaceful principles of Ancient Healing and Transformational Music.

Here are the details to be with us on the F.R.E.E. W.E.B.I.N.A.R.

Date: Tuesday, June 2, 2009
Time: 1 pm Eastern/ 11 am Mountain/ 10 am Pacific/18:00 GMT
Cost: None, as this is our loving gift to you
Duration: One-hour (aka 60 minutes)

Click here to register for Tuesday's F.R.E.E. Webinar

Yes, the event will be recorded so you can have access to it later. The only requirement is registration so we may communicate with you (e.g., you'll receive a courtesy reminder two hours beforehand).

I'll be offering some more special goodies for the telecourse beginning on June 2nd

Yearning for Authenticity

2009-05-19T07:38:00.001-07:00

There is something immensely important related to experiencing the yearning to give voice to what is inside your heart. Connect to your yearning and you've connected to the seed of your authenticity.

The purpose of the Authentic Voice course is to help people connect to their inner yearning and to provide a space for them to express their authenticity in a safe and connected way. The course starts on June 7. Find out about it here.

I love you

2009-05-18T00:03:00.000-07:00

Just received this in my email box, and it struck a chord:

Admit something:

Everyone you see, you say to them, "Love me."

Of course you do not do this out loud, otherwise someone would call the cops.

Still, though, think about this, this great pull in us to connect.

Why not become the one who lives with a full moon in each eye

that is always saying,

with that sweet moon language,

what every other eye in this world is dying to hear?

- Hafiz

I love you. There. I said it. I mean it.

Secret Ancient Keys to Authentic & Transformational Communication

2009-05-05T06:48:00.000-07:00

Does Your Voice Get Stuck When You Need to Share Your Heart the Most?

I have been busy getting ready for my upcoming Secret Keys to Authentic and Transformational Communication telecourse which will begin June 7. You can learn more about it here.

There is a really cool early bird special until May 10. I am giving away free coaching sessions to help you gain clarity and confidence in communicating your heart when you need to most, without caving in.

In the meantime, please enjoy this minute music meditation:

Israel Independence Day - Al Naqba - Making Peace

2009-04-30T13:36:00.000-07:00

Jewish & Palestinian Citizens of Israel Commemorate Yom HaAtzmaut - Al Naqba together to heal wounds of separation. The event, organized together by Jewish and Palestinian citizens of Israel began in 2002 and has continued to grow every year. This year, over 250 people participated.

Vocal Music Known and Unknown

2009-04-20T11:39:00.000-07:00

This is one of the best vocal videos I have seen in a while. You'll know the music, but probably not the voices...

Miriam and Passover

2009-04-04T14:30:00.000-07:00

I opened a new blog dedicated to Miriam and Passover: http://miriamscup.blogspot.com/
Please come and visit.

So in my own path to freeing myself from the inner slavery of taking myself too seriously, I took a walk in the beautiful Park City Utah snow and made a snow (well) woman. Well, should we say, in the spirit of Passover, snow Miriam :-)...

How did I get from Galilee to Utah? On a plane :-)... My brother is getting married this evening outside (!) with the snow capped mountains as a backdrop. Will be here through Sunday and then it's off to Los Angeles through the 12th.

Today was fun. The snow was all powdery and dry. Pristine. No one had yet walked upon the freshly fallen carpet of one of natures true beauties. I threw snowballs.

Lest you wonder if it ever snows in Israel? Yes. Here is a snow man... eh... snow Moses :-)??? from my Galilee village, taken last year.

What would you be willing to do today to free yourself of your own inner slavery? Chloe, the daughter of my new sister in law Jackie, is such a beautiful teacher of openness, sincerity and just plain whimsical fun at play. So grateful to learn from her and my other nieces and nephews. What teachers!