Making peace with the holiday scrooges in your life

You're looking forward to sharing meaningful connections with your family and friends during the holidays. After all, this is the season of celebrating joy and peace. It's the perfect opportunity to gather, relax and appreciate the holiness of the unique goings on of each others' lives.

But how do you remain centered in your holiness when you meet up with the scrooge in your family who always seems to kill your sense of holiday spirit rather than increase it?

It's not as if the family scrooge is the only thing challenging your sense of sacred space. Shopping, writing holiday cards, getting to the post office to mail out the cards and packages on time, waiting in line, tackling the crowds, rushing to it all done with very little time, can easily kill the joy of an otherwise restful time.
As an exercise in creating peace, you invest lots of time and energy thinking about preparing that special recipe they took three helpings of last year. Then you run around town looking to find them that special gift that will also fit within your budget. Fear of their displeasure causes you to buy a gift more expensive than spend more money than originally planned leaving you with a sick sense of shame and embarrassment.

It's anything but sacred.

In wanting to keep the peace, you second guess yourself and them. You act nice and speak pleasantly, but you aren’t authentic with yourself or with them. It feels really empty.

So how come with all of the energy you're spending to go out of your way to please them, you're feeling even more stressed than you dare admit?

Perhaps it has nothing to do with what you are or aren't doing.

What will help you most to bring the sacred into the holiday season, even in the face of the family scrooge is to accept the sacred in yourself, exactly as you are.
The key to creating peace with yourself and the family scrooge is accepting yourself and the scrooge, right where you are, in the midst of holiday overwhelm. It's not enough to want it. You've got to place your heart as first priority to connect to the real holy and remain open to your critical family member.

Scrooges don't necessary have to be people.

They often show up as unseen voices of inner criticism. Whether heard or silent, your voice makes an impression upon the entire atmosphere. How you attune your voice makes the difference between your experience of harmony or disharmony with yourself and others.

Consciously attune your voice as an instrument of harmony and peace during the holidays.

Here are three ways that you can attune your voice to create peace and harmony within yourself and with those around you:

1)Reconnect to the Source of your voice. Silence is the source of all sound. It is the source of true harmony. In the morning, even before getting out of bed, take a few moments to listen to that silence. You may notice the scrooge voices begin to clamor for your attention. That's ok. Just noticing the difference between them and the silence will help you to choose where to place your focus.

2)Attune yourself to the Source of your voice. For example, when you need to speak with the scrooge on the telephone, take a moment to tune into the vibration of calm and peace you would like to experience within yourself, before you dial the number.

3)Feel the harmony in the Source of sound. When you are listening to your favorite holiday music, notice what it is about it that you love so much. Allow that to deepen. When someone says something that has a positive impact upon you, notice where in your body you feel the harmony of the sound behind their words. Then, when scrooge comes –a- calling, you can easily tune yourself into the source of harmony and meet them with love.

Remaining centered in your holiness when you meet up with the holiday scrooges can actually increase your sense of holiday spirit and true joy when you are willing to meet yourself and your loved ones, right where you are, right now.

This is what creating joy, peace and goodwill during the holidays is all about.

PS. If you are wanting to enjoy some peace right now, click here for a free download of holiday musicfrom the Holy land that will help you bring the holy back into your holidays. It was recorded in an ancient Galilee cave with peace doves who flew in for the occasion from Jerusalem. The album makes a great gift item, and it's instantly downloadable.

Holy music meditation for the Holidays

I am absolutely majorly jazzed to have made my first music meditation movie to promote the Holy Music from the Holy land project, brining the holy back to the holidays.

This is a two minute music meditation with pics of the ancient Galilee cave where I recorded it, replete with the doves who flew in from Jerusalem to help.

Holiday Stress - Dealing with Holiday Stress - Bringing the Holy back to the Holidays

Too stressed and tired to enjoy the sacredness of the holiday season?

By the time you read this page, you may just be itching to enjoy the holiday spirit. Maybe you've got a headache from contemplating what special gifts to buy that are meaningful, unique and they fit within your tightly stretched budget and there's too little time to complete all the items on what seems like your "to do list from hell".

Even if you don't feel on overdrive, if you're sensitive, whatever is simmering in your subconscious will be magnified, and you'll feel it more intensely.

What to do?

Click here to find out.

Accapella Peace Anthem Performed by Jewish Arab Ensemble

Rapeh et Libi - Ghalbi Fi Salaam - Heal My Heart

Please Heal My Heart
Please Heal My Soul
Let Peace Grow Inside Us
We will Know Another World

Please Take me to the True Place
The path of all I Dream
Of Love
Of Life
Of Clarity

We'll Know a Better World

The song was collectively written by Eliana Gilad, Arnon Friedman and Rania Haddad. The three of us: American, Israeli and Syrian lived in Paris around the time of the Oslo Accords.

Performing the song is the Jewish Arab accapella ensemble from Safed Ethnic Music college, where I headed the singing department. Performing with me are Zohar Lev, Shira Yaari, Sharon Levy and Hasan Kablan. The piece was performed at a year end concert in the City of Safed, center of Kabbalah - Jewish Mysticism.

Healing through Music

http://smallhandsbigideas.blogspot.com/2008/11/music-of-inspiration.html?showComment=1227057060000#c537362970716945146

Click to watch a really inspiring and uplifting music video, recorded around the world, showing regular people collaborating together. Grace Boyle has put together a lovely blog that is uplifting as well. Click on the link above.

New Pledge of Allegiance

This morning, I remembered the pledge that we used to repeat every morning during my grade school years, growing up in the United States of America... and the following updated version spilled from my pen...


The New Pledge of Allegiance

I pledge allegiance to the heart
Of the United States of my Being
And to the Republic for which it stands
One nation, Divinely created
With liberty and justice for all

What do you think?
How would your life change for the better, if you were to remember this in your heart?



Do you feel like the Lone Ranger of Peace?
Ever feel like you are the only one in your environment living peacefully.

This week, I discovered a great new movement: http://ipeace.ning.com/.
If you are interested in finding other people who are committed to living peacefully, you'll be very pleasantly suprised to find thousands of people.

Alternative Rosh HaShana in Israel

Rosh HaShana, the Hebrew New Year is being celebrated throughout the Jewish World today. In the Diaspora, for example in the US, where I was born and raised, Rosh HaShana means going to synagogue. Even those Jews who are not religious, will identify with their religion on this holiday, by going to the synagogue.

But here in Israel, where the majority of Jews are secular, it is only the religious who go to synagogue. The rest of the Jewish population celebrates the beginning of the new year (according to the lunar calendar), by taking the day off and celebrating with family and friends.

Last night with family and friends, we enjoyed a vegetarian gourmet feast, prepared pot-luck by each one of us. Today, I have been spending the day resting and recuperating from the last few weeks of intense construction work at the new Voices of Eden center.

In the afternoon I went for a walk to keep myself in shape after last night's eating frenzy (think Thanksgiving or Christmas family meal, then multiply it by 10!). In the park, I was tickled to find adults playing on the children's swing sets. You can watch them here:



Now, as I am writing this, it occurs to me that these people were very well finding their own creative ways for working off last nights festive meal!

One young man speaks with his friend (in Hebrew) as he swings to and fro, while behind him, two middle aged Russian women, gab, as they swing back and forth on another kind of swing.

As I type this entry, in the background, I can hear the Muezzin, calling the faithful to prayer from the mosque tower in the local Moslem village across the way. Today also marks the end of the Ramadan monthly fast, and several days of celebration begin.

I think I am pretty lucky to live in such a diverse place, where the new year and the Divine are being called in at the same time in so many different languages and faiths. This is harmony to my eyes and ears.

The Temple is Entering It's Final Phase

This is a photo of the mosaic that will adorn the entryway to my home and the permanent center of Voices of Eden. I am making good on my promise to revive the music of Miriam from the Ancient temple, which by the way, you can read an excellent review of at: http://bethanymagdalene.blogspot.com/2007_02_01_archive.html

Once the center is complete, I will have an open house so that people can come and hear the music. Here is a whole slew of updated photos from the sacred construction process. There are some photos of my son and me there too, as well as a Druze feast, and a visit to Magdalenes well with colleague Rosalyn Clare during her visit from England.




Ok, so now I have moved out of my home in the Galilee hills and am living temporarily as The Official Wandering Jew. But, as you might be able to see from these photos, the sacred temple is on it's way to being completed, and with a bit of luck, I will move in before mid-October.






I am just learning to take one day at a time, and to allow the process to take it's time. There is a natural rhythm, and the building, which is sacred, must be allowed to dance it's own dance. I am moving to it's music and learning in the process to stop trying to push the river. It's exhausting enough building a building, trying to control nature is... well, let's just say, over the top.

Moving Can Be Fun

I have an entire house to pack today. Moving tomorrow. By time I hear back from you, it will be from an internet cafe.

I cannot imagine how exciting this is. Have turned over my excitement brakes, realizing that this is just about one of the most exciting things I have EVER done in my life.

Music From Antiquity - Builds Confidence, Reduces Stress

Rain poured down in biblic proportions upon the mystic city of Safed, home of Jewish mysticism. Yet no amount thunder, lightning, sleet or hail could dampen the spirits of the multifaith ethnic music orchestra members who were about to make their debut performance in the college auditorium.
As waves of people entered, the auditorium alchemically transformed from a sea of empty white seats into a crowded swell of children and adults, knotted white prayer fringes hanging from beneath the coats of the traditional Jewish men, while multicolored kerchiefs bobbed to and fro on the heads of the observant Muslim women, punctuated with bare midrifts protruding from the teenagers' hip hugger jeans.

The concert began with the traditional eastern classical orchestral modes, revered by Jewish, Christian and Muslim cultures in the orient. Following a short interlude that allowed the religious Jewish men to politely exit (it is against their tradition to be in the presence of a woman singing in public), the singers entered onto stage.

When Harmony Clashes with Dissonance

After solo pieces were beautifully performed in Hebrew and Arabic, the flavor turned Spanish. Zohar, a beautiful student of mine from the north, left her usual pop tunes and prepared a song inspired by the flamenco tradition.

The guitar strings and percussion wove in colorful tapestry accompanying Zohar's voice as it edged it's way from softness to power to BAMM!!! - when she collapsed and suddenly fell flat on the floor.

Gasps from the shocked audience replaced the silence which just a moment before had absorbed the haunting melody from her voice. Her husband ran onstage and carried her outside to the fresh air.
The MC went outside to find out what was happening.

Survival - the Booby Prize

When unexpected disaster collapses your world and your survival seems at stake, the automatic response is to fight, flee or disappear. The problem is, most times you get stuck there - in survival mode.

Have you ever noticed that some of the most difficult and painful disasters in your life seem to occur when you are flying forward towards your positive growth and then WHOOSH, you are suddenly swept up in a hurricane of emotion and crash to the ground and the entire world seems to crumble beneath your feet?

How do you lift yourself up after you've tumbled to the ground?

Diving off the cliff so the wind can lift your wings

I jumped in to fill the gap. "Here is an opportunity for all of us to make harmony", I said. "Yeh, hell seems to have broken loose. We don't know what to do. We're not in control. Yet we are in control of how we react right now. We have a choice in how we respond to this situation.

I'd like to suggest that we contemplate Zohar's health and well-being, rather than worrying about her sickness, as we move to the next musical piece".

Music is food for the soul

The orchestra began as I went outside to see what happened. Though she was still lying on the ground, she chuckled at her improbable state. "She will not go back up on stage!" the authorities declared.

Nuts are more than just a healthy snack

This song represented a huge breakthrough for her in expressing her authentic voice and I suspected perhaps her fainting was in reaction to the excitement and breaking through a tough layer of fear.

"How are you feeling?" I asked. She looked like she really wanted to continue. "Do you feel up to continuing?" I asked, leaving it up to her to decide what was most appropriate. To my suprise, she answered, "Yes!"

The MC and college authorities looked at us in disbelief as I escorted her back onto the stage.

At this point, you may be thinking, "How crazy! How irresponsible! How dangerous!" From an intellectual perspective, this could be true. It was a risk to support her in her decision, but sometimes doing the nutty thing, when your inner guidance clearly directs you to do something, is the most healthy, responsible way to respond, even if it looks bizarre. I trusted the Higher Power to determine the outcome.

It's never to late to begin again

The guitarist and percussionist provided the musical introduction as Zohar rebalanced herself with focusing exercises we had worked with over the past few months. Her singing was stronger than ever. The rain outside turned into a thunder of applause and standing ovation from the audience, visibly moved by her act of faith and courage.

Is there a place in your life where the ground has seemed to cave in beneath your feet? What small step could you take now towards turning your failure into a round of standing ovation?

Life continues after the show is over

While singing after collapsing left Zohar with a new sense of confidence, it also left it's traces of stage fright. "Perhaps it will happen again?" she worried. Following a few more months of coaching, she asked if I would accompany her on stage in another concert and help her choose the song. I answered, yes.

My lord who is eternal and everlasting

From the sand to the sea, to the sound of the crashing of the waves

For it is in the heavens, and in the crashing thunder, where the prayer of man is heard
Those are the words of the Hebrew spiritual we sang; Eli Eli. The live performance that you see see here, was composed in the moment, on the spot. It is the result of surrendering to vulnerability, allowing our bodies to be instruments, in service to the music.

I hope the Heavens heard our prayer.

I hope that you will post a comment so I can hear yours. Or visit the website.

Allow Yourself to Be Heard

Interested in deeply relaxing? Allowing yourself to be heard?

If so, I invite you to listen to a sample of special music meditation, conceived and recorded through a pure and honest practice of deep inner listening to the well of inspirational wisdom as practiced by the ancients.

The Voice you will hear comes from a process of surrendering myself, in service to the Sound. This allows me to connect to the Source of the sound allowing it to sound through me as it will.

My wish is that it will help you to connect to your Source.

The wordless vocal music is composed in the rhythm of seven. Seven allows your brainwaves and your nerves to balance themselves. The space in between the pulse, provides you with deep relaxation.

Longing for Peace - Healing War Zones of Daily Life

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: eliana at voicesofeden.com

Longing for Peace - Healing War Zones of Daily Life

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 at musicpeace at voicesofeden.com.

Gentle Pulse - Safed Jewish Arab Music Academy

Last week, was our year end concert with the Ethnic Music Academy at
Safed College. Safed is the mystical center of Kabbalah.

I had the lovely honor of conducting the orchestra for Dulab Hejaz -
where you will see the frame drum, along with my fellow conductors
and teachers - Yair Dalal, Eyal Shiloach and Emad Dellal.

You can see gorgeous photos here photographed by Yossi Gottlieb.

To Know You Better & Transform Together

I got a haircut yesterday so my outside will reflect the inner update and transformation I am going through.

I post this photo, taken just moments after leaving the hair salon.
Yeh, it's an imperfect phone pic, but it's authentic, and THAT's what I want to share.

How about you? What are you about to update? What kind of transformation would you be willing to go through?

I'd love it if you would answer the following so I can get to know you better....


All I want is _________________, but ___________________ gets in the way.
I love ______________ but _______________________________________________.
I wouldn't ___________________________ if only ______________________________.
I'd _________________________________ if only _______________________________.
What I really need is _______________________________________________________.
I know I could __________________________ if ________________________________.

Leave a post here or email me: musicpeace at (@)voicesofeden.com

Voices of Transformation and Healing - Hear it Here

Shira Yaari, Israel Dvir and Leeanne Shalev, three graduates of the Voices of Eden ancient healing and transformational music program have been involved in a post trauma healing music program with Project Wings - Knafayim in Western Galilee to serve a very special group of physically disabled multi-faith group of young adults who healing from post trauma and with it, learning to use their own voices as instruments of healing and transformation.

The home of this project is in Bustan HaGalil which is nestled on the mediterranean coastline, very close to an archeological site where ancient percussion instruments were found from the Bronze age.

As part of our healing music project, Shira spent time with the students making percussion instruments fashioned after the ancient ones. We will use them to evolve a healing music program, which God willing, will be presented at the Hecht Museum in the University of Haifa, where the ancient percussion instruments lie on display.



If you think your limitation, whatever you believe that to be, cannot be overcome, Tamir, born blind in Ethiopia who now lives with the other students in the North of Israel and Shira Yaari will prove to you that NOTHING is impossible.




Here they use the five elements of Voices of Eden ancient healing and transformational music to release stress, focus attention and provide you with inspiration and upliftment.

Foundation, Renovation and Transformation

These days my entire world from the inside out is a reflection of:
1) Foundation
2) Renovation
3) Transformation

I am happy to share with you the process of my new home and the future world headquarters of Voices of Eden as it is being renovated and expanded.

You can see the pics here.

Shavuot - Hebrew Harvest

As I write, I listen from my office window to the strains of Hebrew folks songs in the background, sung by a choir preparing for holiday festivities which will begin within another few hours. "Ima Adama"... "Mother Earth", they sing in harmonious refrain....

As described in the Ettinger report. with added notes of my own ...The Hebrew holiday of SHAVOU’OT is celebrated on the 6th day of the Hebrew month of Sivan, 50 days following Passover. It commemorates a critical event, which has shaped the nature of the world in general and Western democracies in particular: the receipt of the Torah 26 generations since Adam (Adam-Noah-Abraham-Amram, Moses’ father). The Hebrew words for Jehovah equal 26 in numerology, as is the number of Hebrew letters of the Patriarchs and Matriarchs: Abraham, Yitzhak, Yaakov, Sarah, Rivka, Rachel and Leah.

SEVEN. The word SHAVOU’OT is derived from the Hebrew word SHVOUA' (vow), referring to the exchange of vows between G-D and the Jewish People. The root of Shvoua’ – and Shavou’ot - is the Hebrew word Seven-SHEVA. Shavou’ot is celebrated 7 weeks following Passover, reflecting the qualities of 7 key Jewish leaders: Abaraham, Isaac, Jacob, Moses, Aharon, Joseph and David. Number 7 represents wholesomeness in Hebrew tradition– 7 days of Creation. The Sabbath is the 7th day, there are 7 directions (No., So., West, East, Up, Down, one’s own position), Moses’ birth/death was on the 7th day of Adar, Jethro had 7 names and 7 daughters, Passover and Sukkot last for 7 days each, the first Hebrew verse in Genesis consists of 7 words, The Menorah has 7 branches, Jubilee follows seven 7-year cycles, each Plague lasted for 7 days, 7 Continents, 7 notes in a musical scale, 7 days of mourning, 7 Jewish Prophetesses, etc. Pentecost is celebrated – by Christians – on the 7th Sunday after Easter.

SEVEN is an important number. It's rhythm brings us to balance, as it combines even and odd numbers, both yin and yang. I am inspired today, and have recorded a short vocal piece, which I am so happy to share with you.
HOLIDAY OF UNITY – KING DAVID & MOST IMPORTANTLY - THE PROPHETESS MIRIAM. Shavou’ot is the day of birth/death of KING DAVID (as well as the day that Moses was saved by Pharaoh's daughter), who united the Hebrew People, elevating them to a most powerful position. LIttle is mentioned in the Old Testament about the Prophetess Miriam, though it is she who watched over Moses who allowed the Pharoah's daughter to find him. Miriam was a powerful prophetess in her own right. On this holiday of Shavuot, I would like to pay special hommage to her, particularly to her silent power of a mother, watching over her child so that he/she can grow up to fully express that which is his/her unique gift to humanity. That is the gift that Miriam provides us.

David – along with Moses and Abraham – was a role model of humility, hence the Hebrew acronym for ADAM (human-being in Hebrew): Abraham, David and Moses. 150 candles are lit at King David's tomb on Mt. Zion in Jerusalem, consistent with the 150 chapters of Psalms mostly attributed to David. 150 is the numerical value of NEST (KEN in Hebrew), the warm environment of the Torah. David’s personal history (from shepherd to king) provides a lesson for individuals and nations: There’s an opportunity for everyone, the road to success is paved with difficulties and ups & downs, human beings are fallible but they must repent for their errors.

SCROLL OF RUTH – KING DAVID – HONOR THY MOTHER IN-LAW. Shavou’ot is highlighted by the studying of the Scroll of RUTH, the FIRST of Old Testament’s five scrolls: Ruth (read on Shavou’ot), Song of Songs (Passover), Ecclesiastes (Sukkot), Book of Lamentations (Ninth of Av), Esther (Purim). Ruth was the great grandmother of King David. She stuck by her mother-in-law, NAOMI, for more than 10 years during Naomi's most difficult times, financially and socially. Ruth, the daughter of Eglon and the granddaughter of Balak, kings of the Moabites, had the option to be reunited with her own People, and be assured of affluence. RUTH chose PRINCIPLES (LOYALTY, CONCERN, MODESTY and LOVE) OVER CONVENIENCE. Boaz - the chief of the Sanhedrin (Jewish Legislature) - attributes his initial affection for Ruth, whom he married, to "I am informed of your support of your Mother-In-Law." The total sum of the Hebrew letters of Ruth - in Numerology - produce the number of laws granted at Mt. Sinai (606), in addition to the 7 laws of Noah.

This is a great story of another powerful feminine archetype. Both men and women can be empowered by the story of Ruth.

HOLIDAY OF LIBERTY/HARVEST/OPTIMISM. The Torah was granted in the desert, a platform of Liberty, away from physical and spiritual constraints. Celebrated fifty day following the Exodus (physical deliverance) from Egypt, Shavou’ot signifies spiritual liberation. Shavou’ot celebrates the culmination of the agricultural, physical and spiritual HARVEST season of optimism, which starts on the second day of Passover.

Please enjoy these three free healing musical tunes, which I recorded freely. There are NO mixes, no alterations, no fixing up to make my voice sound "pretty" or "perfect". This is me NETTO, clean, virgin, white (with lots of blemishes and imperfections)!!!!! I hope it will support you in expressing your own imperfect perfection!!! Get the music here:

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Think Less, Be More

Spending too much time in your head?

Thinking too much and being too little for what in your heart, you know you are?

Join the millions who will participate in the Great American Think Out to learn about the power of being versus thinking.

And it's not just for Americans.

Here's a bit about the program:

"Featuring some of the most impressive and popular contemporary spiritual authors, and renowned new thought instructors and trainers, this extraordinary campaign reveals incredible ways to quiet unproductive and anxious mind chatter and respond to your circumstances with love and intentionality."

A free and very practical 30-day email course is available here:

http://stopthinkingnow.com/

You'll find my contribution to the conversation on Day 13.

On October 2nd, 6 million people will turn this power on simultaneously to create a change in the world. Please join us!

Competition and Voices

Who's most popular? Who makes the most money? Who's the best parent ? Who is the biggest star?

Who has the most clients? Who is more spiritual?
Who's most honest? Who's right?

Too many questions can make you nauseous!

Gulp, it's scary to write this, not sure whether it's an act of courage or stupidity. In the interest of being real, I'll go ahead and take my chances.

Competition. The Western world is founded upon it. Our value system is based upon it and the entire way we learn to express ourselves, from the time we are young children is based upon it. More is better. Really?

To learn how to go beyond competition and the stress it places upon your heart, soul, and vocal chords, read the article "Voices and Competition".

Do you consider yourself a peace maker, healer, teacher, coach, therapist, artist, educator, or musician, genuinely wanting to free hearts and minds for the highest good. But how can you when your voice inside can't get out? Learn to free your authentic voice for use as a transformational tool, healing old wounds to freely and fully express your beautiful natural voice that is your Divine tool for making a difference in this world.

Learn more here.

Perhaps you were a free spirited child who loved to sing and dance wildly down the streets, but you grew up in a "proper" family where etiquette and manners were the most important order of the day. Instead of whistling dixie, you were told "children are to be seen and not heard". Your beautifully frivolous songs were met with " You're making too much noise!"

So you learn to adapt your communication to "get along" and succeed in your surroundings.

What happens when your heart lives on a different page in a different reality?

Read on.

Transform Your Stress, Transform The World!

Does It Frustrate You To Know - Inside, You Have 90% More to Sing, Yet Only 10% Seems to Come Out?

Have you invested lots of money, time, and energy on self improvement, sound healing courses, perhaps even vocal training, or meditation seminars only to stand in front of a group only to discover that what you so consciously intended to sing or say and what comes out of your mouth are like night and day?

Inside you know you're a catalyst for change and transformation. Yet your inner stress and fear of sounding silly, ridiculous or way "too out there" keep you from expressing the powerful voice that is uniquely you.

Transform Your Stress, Transform The World!

Learn How...

Mary Magdalene and the Well

I had the good fortune this last week to guide Jan Cercone, Music Practitioner, who offers inspirational programs for using music in patient/staff settings, on a sacred peace tour to Mary Magdalene's well and other power points in Jerusalem and in the North of Israel, little known to tourists, nor locals alike.



Together, we sang and vocalized at Rujm el Hiri - a neolithic crop circle and sacred energy vortex, similar to Stonehenge in the Golan Heights. Jan came to Israel, having no idea what awaited her here. She just trusted the inner voice calling her to come.




How many times has a small still voice whispered some direction in your heart, only you did not have the faith in yourself to listen to it? We spoke about this alot. We contemplated this alot and sang about it alot. At Mary Magdalene's well, we meditated upon it, such that it would support all of us in opening our hearts to allow them to sing more. You can hear the singing of the babbling brook here at Magdalenes' well, with me humming in the background, and Jan contemplating good by the water's edge:

Healing Music Peace Project with the Physically Handicapped

It's important to you to make a difference in the world. You are a person of peace. But sometimes you feel like a lonely Pollyanna? The news, the violence, the sinking dollar, the stress, make you wonder if you're hoping for some childish dream?

When you don't have others to share good with or to reflect it back to you, it's easy to feel hopeless. Yeh, I know this story all too well.

Here's a story and a video to uplift your spirits and your energy. To know that all IS good.

Healing Music Project for Physically Handicapped & Disabled Terror Victims

Last year we began a new research with Knafayim, an organization for young disabled people born with physical handicaps, injured through acts of terror, and victims of the second Lebanon War. The program last year provided an immediate means of stress relief for the handicapped youth following the war. Their participation in the scientific research project conducted during the project provided them with a sense of importance.




There have historically been very few programs available for young people with special needs after high school and NO options that encourage or facilitate their leaving home and becoming independent adults capable of running their own lives. The few programs that do exist, and which Knafayim often works with cooperatively, typically address only one aspect of the person’s needs and do not focus on self-determination and real adult freedom as a central goal. Self care, social skills development are critical needs for this group. Following the war, this is even more critical.

While the program last year was successful, it also taught us the importance of meeting within small groups to overcome the embarrassment, self consciousness, and other negative effects caused by group pressure.





This video includes people such as yourself - who have come together to increase healing good. Israel Dvir, Liane Shalev, and Shira Yaarh, three graduates of the Voices of Eden ancient healing and transformational music program and I meet with the fantastically creative and inspiring youth at the Knafayim "Wings" Program.

Tamir, a blind Ethiopian boy leads the ensemble playing darbuka. Atef, a Bedouin Arab boy has just finished playing a beautiful tune on a flute that he made himself from an old unused pipe, Dana, Nofar, and Anna play a mean rhythm section with shakers modelled after the ancient ones found in the Galillee, close to the facilities at Bustan HaGalil. James, whose brilliant mind only makes his voice sound that much brighter, when he sings, holds the energy for the entire group while we sing and play.

This year's program consists of three phases to reach the following milestones:

1. Self Care Development. Through a weekly small group meeting, students address issues related to acute post trauma.


2. Social Skills Development. Within the small group meetings, the Voices of Eden five healing music elements will be taught to the students for practice within small groups:

a. Listening Skills
b. Receptivity to others
c. Response to the other

When the students express themselves, it builds self confidence.

Here you have it folks, the birthing of a true healing music ensemble born from the ashes of war, and flying like a phoenix up towards the heavens in a chorus from the voices of Eden.

The project is sponsored by the World Trust Foundation, whose mission is to support youth by various programs, training them to be youth ambassadors of peace. Special thanks to the Herson Stirman family foundation who has supported this project from the start. Also to Susan Jeffers, best seller author of "Feel the Fear and Do It Anyway", whose support in the project and my work has made a world of difference. If you would like to make a donation to this project, please go to this site, and ear mark your donation, which is tax deductible in the US for the Voices of Eden music project.

Israel 60s independence day - a Peaceful Note

There are actually Israelis and Palestinians making peace. For six years, a grass roots movement has been quietly taking place, with individuals ready to create a healthy future, by BEING an LIVING EXAMPLE of peace.

In the words of Mohatma Gandhi... "Be the Change You Wish to See". The hundred plus, Jews, Christians, Moslems spent two days to listening to and acknowledging the "other" - pain, sorrow and celebration for the good that is, with resolve to create a better tomorrow, by living a more loving today.

While for Israel Jews, Independence Day is a celebration of freedom, for Palestinians it is a day of mourning.

This video was taken today, at the end of a two day meeting to acknowledge the pain, the wounds sustained from a multi-faceted complicated situation for both sides, with a willingness to listen and learn from the "other".

See and hear for yourself...

Israel's 60th Birthday - Celebration and Healing Old Wounds

For the last six years I have spent Israeli Independence Day in a very unique way. We, a group of 150-200 conscious Israelis and Palestinians have met to respect and commemorate the pain and loss on both sides and to create a shared independence.

Each year we meet in a different place. This year, our group will convene in Givat Haviva a peace college in the center of the country. The invitation calls for all those ready to move forward, to participate.

Two years ago, the meeting was held at Kibbutz Nes Amim in the upper Galilee, where German volunteers come to make their own peace between Jewish and Christian communities. That particular year was particularly powerful for me, as the German side of the Holocaust plays a very real part in both the creation of this state and also the victim-persecutor dynamic which gets played out between Israelis and Palestinians. It is the human drama, acted out sometimes in high drama in these parts. We focused upon the circle of victimy and how to go beyond it. We each chose a situation where we feel victim in life, learning about the different stages and where, we as victims, by our thinking, unwittingly become aggressors to ourselves and others.

Can you see a place in your life where you may unwittingly be aggressing yourself or others unneccessarily by victim thinking? If you don't think that you can overcome this, please listen here.

As you enjoy listening to the beauty of this music, I invite you to contemplate how you might become more independent yourself by becoming easier upon yourself and your victim thinking.

Ancient Ringtones

Ancient Ringtones. Sounds like a non-sequeter, eh?!!

Yet, here I sit in the Holyland, amidst the ancient healing sites, and am inspired daily by the sights and sounds of this beautiful land.

A few years ago I played around with recording vocal healing sounds as a ringtone. This was my way of bringing the ancient to the present. When my telephone rings, instead of the usual electronic sounds, a single voice sings it's song. People sometimes smile and ask who is singing. I respond "it's me and my telephone".

Today, I played around with my bare hands, on my bare thighs and my bare voice.

Here's my newest ringtone - lively yet relaxed. If you would like a copy, just post here with your email, and I will happily forward it to you.

Miriam's Cup

Ok, so it's been a while since I have posted. I admit it! Let's just say that I am in the midst of a transition, not unlike the Hebrews freedom from slavery, which took them into the desert for forty years before they reached the Promised Land.

This evening begings the second holiday of Passover - and I have chosen to celebrate it by holding a Miriam's Seder. Over the last several years, a new tradition has begun of adding Miriam's Cup to the traditional Passover Seder Tradition.

You can find a nice description here.

Tonight's Miriam Seder at the Voices of Eden center, begins an annual tradition to honor the quiet yet indominable power of the prophetess Miriam, without whom Moses would not have survived. My life's work is dedicated to revive her ancient tradition and conscious use of voice and rhythm as a natural healer.

It is for this reason that I moved to Israel some fifteen years ago from France (even though I was born and raised in Los Angeles).

Here is what we will be doing. You can virtually join us if you'd like. We will each have a glass of water - our own personal well of experience and wisdom.

The question posed is:

How can I use the power of Miriam to soften my rough edges?

What type of slavery am I willing to free myself of with the soft power of compassion.

We take turns going around the circle. Each one takes his/her turn, to share, and then pours some of their water into Miriam's Cup.

When we have finished the rounds, we return again, this time, passing Miriams' cup and drinking from our combined wisdom.

You can join us. Please post what type of personal slavery you are freeing yourself from today. We will think of you and add your virtual well water into the cup.

Peace Through Music

What do you imagine would happen if you put thirty five religious and secular Jews, Christians, Muslims and Druze in an ancient building in an ancient center of Jewish Mysticism in Northern Israel?

They create harmony, that's what.

Sometimes difficult situations birth the mothers of invention.
And many mothers there are. Dr. Essica Marks, who you will see at the end of this video, along with Vered Yaakovich, two forward thinking, open minded women, one a kibbutz dweller, the other a religious Jew, co-direct the new three year academy which combines a unique blend of ethnic music: from Klezmer and Hasidic music to classical Arabic and Turkish Maqam with other mediterranean, Irish, Gospel, and Accappella music thrown in to round out the multi-cultural repertoire.

I am fortunate to lead the singing department of the college. This video begins with one of my students Lubna Salame, joined by other students as they warm up for the concert given on Thursday evening at Bet Hadassah in the ancient city of Safed.



Leading other departments are Yair Dallal, who leads the Jewish Arab music section who you can see in the following video, leading the orchestra in the opening piece:



Eyal Sela, who heads the Mediteranean Music and Wind Department, and Eyal Shiloach who heads the Hasidic Music and Violin Department followed with a wonderful blend of Hasidic and Klezmer music. Following was a traditional Arabic composition conducted by Emad Dallal, who heads the classical Arabic Music Department:



Unfortunately the battery of my phone cum video ran out, preventing me from recording the beautiful performances of the singers. Fortunately I was able to get a short clip of Shira Yaari singing a beautiful classic Israeli folk tune:


Every person involved in this school, from the administrators, to the teachers to the students to the audience who came to listen to our first concert are to be commended for contributing to a very constructive program.

Please pass it on. If you would like to learn more about the many faceted directions of Israeli music, check out wikipedia:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Music_of_Israel#Music_education

To hear more music peace: www.cdbaby.com/all/musicpeace

Female Singers and the Prophetess Miriam

It's a trend with me. Female singers. Druze, Christian, Jewish. They come wanting to connect with a deeper voice inside. They are already beautiful singers in their own right. Many of them earn their living from the art.

Yesterday, I received yet another new client. She is Druze from the village of Magd Al Shams on the Syrian Border. Five minutes from her village is Berekhat Ram,



the lake where the Archeulian Goddess (shown above) was recently found. This stone figurine,is dated between 50-80,000 years old.

The soft power of the feminine, is rock solid.



The prophetess Miriam, led the Hebrews in celebration upon their successful crossing of the Red Sea to freedom from slavery in Egypt. She was a powerful leader in her own right. I suspect that she was most likely a highly regarded priestess in the Eypgtian temple of Hathor. Since her baby brother Moses, whom she guarded in the bulrushes, convincing the pharoahs daughter to adopt him, ended up a prince, Miriam too was inside the court.

We have Miriam to thank for quietly leading behind the scenes and for saving the ancient powerful techniques of voice and rhythm for sound health and happiness. I have made a commitment to serve as a modern midwife bridging the ancient technologies for modern use.

The Druze, are a sect whose ties are also in Egypt. They fled persecution as well, and settled in the high places of Northern Israel, Syria and Lebanon. I don't think it is by happenstance that all of the wonderful women singers are coming to me to connect more deeply with their voice. Their culture has a strong base founded in the reverence of the feminine divine.

Miriam's power is most definately coming back.

Hebrew Goddess - Tree Ceremony

This is a lovely Hebrew Tree Ceremonial Dance choreographed by
Bosmat Carmeli who worked with the girls of my Galilee community, according to the ancient nature tradition.

Note the natural instruments, frame drum and violin, all played by women, supporting the ancient Hebrew tradition.

Galilee Dressed in White

It is so unusual for it to snow in Israel. This morning I woke up to a beautiful suprise.

Baby Music Research & Dr. Emoto Water Crystal Video

Healing Music Research, Eliana Gilad & Dr. Masaru Emoto

Add to My Profile | More Videos It is an interview with Rivka Michaeli, (the Israeli Barbara Walters), myself and Dr. Arnon, who conducted the first research upon Voices of Eden music in a neonatal ward at Meir Hospital which serves a 50/50% Jewish and Arab population. There is a cool clip of healing harpist Sunita Staneslow and I performing in the intensive care unit for an Arab couple and their baby. The research, which continued for three years, shows that live Voices of Eden music lowers blood pressure, heart rate , increases focus and quality of sleep. The results were published in the June 2006 American medical journal BIRTH - Issues in Perinatal Care. In November of 2006 another research project based upon ours, was begun in eight neonatal wards across the United States. Joanne Loewy of Beth Israel Hospital in New York City is involved in the project.

Christmas is Different in the Holyland

Isn't this sunset beautiful! I shot it last week from the window of our Jewish-Arab msic program at Safed College. The weather was cold, yet the beauty warmed our hearts.

Birds are singing in the background as I post this blog. Winter rays filter through the blinds of myh living room window warming my fingers as they type these words.
IT is Christmas eve in Galilee. I can sense the Christ spirit through the quiet, through the soft quality of silent reflection which accompanies my morning meditation.

I am not a Christian. My spiritual proclivities are committed to a relationship with what I call the "Source of all". This includes all. How could there be anything separate from the Divine Source? There is a soft and supple quality to this Source, a roundness that continually beckons me to dull my own rough, sharp edges.

I experience the Christ spirit with the soft energy expressed through the Shechina - connected to the mystic Jewish tradition of Kabbalah founded in Safed, twenty minutes up the road from my home. You can see it in the picture.

Because Israel is a Jewish state, there are no huge Christmas sales, or commercial hype which bombards the Western world. In the Christian villages of Galilee, there will be family meals and services in the churches. But there is little hype, allowing for the true Christ spirit to get through. There is something special in the air here in Galilee. If you want to experience it first hand, the Sacred Peace tour set for March is just for this reason.

Someone suggested I rent the DVD Goya's Ghosts about the historic period of the Inquisition. It too me only five to ten minutes to decide that this was NOT the movie for me. I have been on the stretcher long enough. I have persecuted myself and others enough with my insecurities, even in the name of good.

On this Christmas eve morning I receive the gift of forgiveness and compassion towards all those jagged edges of my soul and wish all of you a sense of deep calm that you truly deserve.

I

Babies and Music Research and Dr. Emoto

I was just browsing through my files and came across an interview filmed a few years back when we were in the midst of healing music research project in an Israeli neonatal ward. Rivka Michaeli, the Israeli Barbara Walters, interviews Dr. Arnon of Meir Hospital (50/50% Jewish-Arab) and myself about the Voices of Eden live music project in the intensive care unit of the hospital. In this video, you can see us at work. This interview was also to introduce Dr. Emoto's visit to Israel to present his Messages from Water. We presented together at a Thank The Water Conference at the shores of Galilee. During that time, I gave him a copy of the healing music I composed for the research (which you can listen to here)and invited him to research it as well through his special photographic process. The water crystal photo of the music looks like a snow flake. In two weeks I have the good fortune of meeting with Dr. Emoto again, when we will both present at the International Sound Healing Conference in Santa Fe, New Mexico.

Reflections and Honesty

It is the day before Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement in the Jewish religion. Here in Israel, everything stops. There are no cars in the streets, and in the cities, one can watch a parade of bicycle riders using the day to reflect on wheels.

For me, the day comes as a culmination of about six months of deep internal inventory, which came to a climax on August 31st, my 50th birthday with more time out to look at the last 50 years of my life and make decisions about how I want to live the following ones.

This summer I took time out to regroup and it has been awesome. I am very grateful to all of you who have supported my vision by reading this blog or my newsletter, purchased my music come to one of my courses or on a sacred peace tour. Your contribution has helped me to grow and learn so much.

Fifty years is an awesome period of life. At the pinnacle of health, no longer a youth, no longer searching for purpose, only to fulfill the purpose of life to it's max. I am learning more and more each day, that the point is to enjoy.

And enjoy I have, this summer (as you can see by my delight with my birthday cake)!

Hope to hear from you soon, and to hopefully see you soon.

Hummus in Pek'in - Ancient Galilee Peace Village

Now that summer is over, I can begin to post some of the wonderful visits during my vacation. This one was taken in Pek'in the ancient peace village in Galilee, where Jews, Christians, Druze and Muslims have lived for many centuries. I took the video in El Efendi restaurant - run by a Druze family. You'll get to meet them all here, including baby who sits perched upon the table while eveyone else eats Hummus. Now, for those of you in the US who think you know what hummus is... guess again... it is not the store purchased paste that you spread inside of a sandwich. This is liquid gold, that you wipe with a pita and it is made fresh every few hours. Watch and lick your chops as you do so. And if you want to taste it... well then you can join us on a Journey of Living Peace and taste it for yourself. There is an upcoming group in October and it is not too late to sign up, and another one in March 2008.

Music of Israel and Galilee

This is a video of Jewish and Galilee music from this summer at the open air amphitheater in my village of Amirim. Please enjoy.

Later I will upload some more really cool videos I took this summer. Amongst them...

I got to go by myself to the museum of the ancient Canaanite Temple of Hatzor in the Galilee. Unfortunately, not enough people seem to be interested in the archeological remains. There is alot of cool stuff in the museum. Watch and enjoy my musical tour. I sing while I explain what it is that I am seeing in this thirteen minute video tour of the museum in Kibbutz Ayelet HaShahar.

If you didn't think there was a direct connection between ancient Egypt and Israel, Cyprus, Galilee, Mesopotamia, well, this will show it.

It was pretty cool!!!!

Byron Katie & Jewish & Arab Women in Israel

Byron Katie came to Israel in July 2007. More than 1800 Jews, Christians and Muslims gathered to ask themselves four simple questions as a means to relieve their suffering and contribute to living peace.

Eliana Gilad, founder of Voices of Eden, who also organizes living peace tours in the Holy land, interviewed Tsila Hartman who along with her Arab colleague, Raouda Masalcha, who took it upon themselves to mobilize the Arab community to meet with Katie during her visit.

During the hour long teleconference, Gilad and Hartman, along with participants from all around the globe joined to explore how we can go beyond our inner barriers and beyond to connect with our inner peace.    Click to listen here.

Tsila Hartman shared the process of organizing this event along with Arik Peled, who along with his wife Vered, brought Byron Katie to Israel for the landmark event, which you can watch here.

The response to the teleconference was so inspiring that a follow up web conference will be planned to allow for the good to grow. Listen how one woman was moved to tears to participate in a constructive activity generated from the Middle East. 

Byron Katie & The Work in Israel 2

I am excited to announce that after speaking with Arik Peled, who with his wife Vered are responsible for bringing The Work of Byron Katie to Israel, we will be having a free teleconference to give voice to the Good which exists in the Middle East, but which is too often not portrayed by the media. For this reason, through Voices of Eden, I produce these teleconfererences, it the impetus behind this entire blog, and the hope that you will come experience the good here for yourself by participating in a sacred peace tour.

Last Saturday - more than 1500 people gathered in Tel Aviv to consciously participate in a process of self inquiry. The following day, another 300-400 Arabs gathered with Byron Katie to do the same.

With a bit of luck, Tsila, who is responsible for the Arab sector, will also participate in the teleconference, along with both Jews and Arabs who were at these historic living peace events.

Please keep posted. We will be sending out details over the next few days. Mark July 23rd on your calendars.

Byron Katie in Israel

Yesterday I had the good fortune to spend the day with 1500 other Israelis who gathered to meet with Byron Katie and let go of their limiting and negative beliefs, source of all suffering.

Today, she is meeting with another large group of Arabs to do the same.

If you want to see conscious peace making in action.... watch the above!!!!

If you want to REALLY contribute to peace - come join us. Alex Peled did a fantastic job of putting the event together. As we say in these parts... KOL HA KAVOD!

Jerusalem - On the Road Again

It is nine am on Sunday morning. A new week unfolds... in Israel, the workweek begins on Sunday and ends on Thursday... In another few hours my partner Boaz comes to pick me up and we are on our way to Jerusalem for some meetings.

In the afternoon we will meet with peacemaker Eliyahu Maclean of Jerusalem Peacemakers At 6 pm today, we meet again in the old city for the next installment of the Hug Around Jerusalem. The Hug had such an effect that the people at Damascus Gate asked that we continue. Eliyahu reported that there were crowds of people at the Damascus Gate - and that it excited him to witness such a spontaneous outburst of positive energy. The hug was so moving. Take look at this clip where we chanted Peace - Shalom - Salaam into the walls. James Twyman was moved to bring a group of peacemakers from the US to join us... there were others from around the world as well.



Here is a gorgeous compilation of the entire event, you can get a feel of the different angles and angels who were there:



Please join us today with your heart... and if you feel so moved, consider joining us in person. I ask you to please consider coming to the Holy land yourself to witness the good that is growing here. Yes, you may need to overcome your fear of the Middle East. The good news is, that by freeing yourself of that fear, you free yourself from all your fears. Please remember that your idea of the Middle East comes from images portrayed through the popular media, whose job it is to sensationalize.

What if you were to choose to experience life from a WIDER LENS?!!!!?!!!!!!
I GUARANTEE you that when you come here, your mind will be expanded 1000%, your transformation so bold and bright, that you will never see life the same again.
You will meet real people living peacefully - in a place you believe is filled with only hatred and war. What we focus upon increases.

Good is calling you... Are you ready to answer?

Please do something kind for yourself today... YOU DESERVE IT!!!

Circle of Love

Is this picture sweet or what! I just received it from a friend by email. I am impressed by the power of it's simplicity. I am also moved by the power of many to create stunning beauty, just by BEING TOGETHER.

I write simply to share this simplicity with you. In my own small way, this I reach out to you.

Please remember to connect with your goodness today. I promise to practice this myself.

Video Clips from Jerusalem Hug

It was a heavenly experience to be together in Jerusalem. Our collective energy was harmonious, which you will hear in this video. After singing, Jimmy led us in a prayer for Jerusalem in English, and following that, I led us in a Hebrew prayer for Holy City. Notice that when we begin to pray, how there is a stupendous light which appears over James' head. All that is seen is the suns' orb, everything else paels around it. From there, a halo grows as the group comes back into physical focus. I remember holding the camera very still. It did not move. Astounding, eh!!! Miracles are commonplace when we focus together upon the highest good. Listen and see one here:



Here is a beautiful man from the group hugging the walls around Jerusalem, as James Twyman and I embrace and join him and others around the walls. It was a beautiful day.



Earlier, we met in the park surrounding the old city. Spontaneous gatherings, meditation, music, dance and other activities were led by those so moved to contribute. I was witness to a beautiful meditation led by LaSara Firefox and a few other people who together, gave reverence to mother earth. You can see the beauty in their faces and hear it in their voices.

Hug Around Jerusalem

What I love about living in the Middle East is how dynamic life is. All you have to do is finish one thing, and the next event begings. Never a dull moment! The good thing about this is that it creates a sense of aliveness. I am so grateful for this quality. It makes life really fun.

So, the Pilgrims of Peace (see posts below) just left a few days ago, and now Jimmy Twyman is here with a great group of people who he brought. We had a great time together presenting on the Gandhi King Peace Train - Living Legends of Non-Violence conference. Tomorrow promises to be spectacular as well. Check out the Jerusalem Hug website here. Even if you cannot be there with us physically, you can join us virtually through the website.

In honor of the Jerusalem Hug, I am offering a free gift throughout May. For every Voices of Eden cd purchased this month, I will add in a free guide to "Your Inner Jerusalem". This is a beautiful guide to help you reconnect to those divided parts inside of yourself. You can offer it as a gift to your friends as well. Order cds here.

Images of Transformation

So many different experiences, so many varying viewpoints, plans that get changed on a dime, as is the norm in the Middle East, and these pilgrims of peace were so flexible with it all.

Following are a collage of photos from the week. There are also a few cool video clips. The first is of peacemakers Ibrahim and Eliyahu of Jerusalem Peacemakers. Ibrahim speaks to the group here. Another cool clip is that of the Bedouin musician singing in the tent on an ethnic eastern harp.

This is Sheikh Bukhari and Vanessa Karam in Jerusalem:

This photo is from the Bedouin Women's Weaving Cooperative:









Steve Puzarne and Rebecca Jupiter in Akko:


Wilfredo Benitez has a keen eye for photography. Can't wait to see HIS photos!










Jerry Stinson & Joan Waller at rest:














A bride and groom were taking wedding photos at the Port of Akko when we were there:












And a Bedouin girl who watches us from behind the chicken coop wall of their make shift home.

Whirling Emotions to Whirling Dervishes

Vision without action is a daydream. Action without vision is a nightmare.

These are the words of Father Elias Chacour, author of the best-selling book "Blood Brothers," founder of the Mar Elias Educational Institute in Israel and three times nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize.




We met with Elias Abu Janina, Vice Principal of this interfaith institute, with classes from kindergarten through college, that enrolls more than 5,000 children, including Christians, Muslims, Druze and Jews, all of whom study together.

"Meeting with Chacours' place, was the most inspirational message of the day.", said Wilfredo Benitez. We were on the bus and I was taking notes for this blog so you share a more visceral experience from the participants themselves. "It was inspirational because it tells us that vision without accompanied by action leads to no where. It's stifles. It has no life, unless you put your belief into action. "Vice versa...", he added, "an action that is not inspired by a vision in the end, is an empty shell. It doesn't build anything. That is why it inspired me."

Jetlag, too little sleep, foreign smells, and group dynamics all contribute to what Day Three of a group tour is endearingly referred to as "crash day". This, in addition to the powerful sentiments expressed by people they have been meeting with would make the impact of this well known phenomenon even more likely.

The heated discussion with the Israeli-Palestinian Alternative Voice in the Galilee group stirred emotions and brought to light the various and sometimes conflicting views of how to best handle the inequality between Israel and it's indigenous Palestinian citizens.

Knowing this, we planned a meeting in the evening with the Jewish - Arab - Palestinian Akko theater company to allow for the pilgrims of peace to express their experience so far. The program opened with the dance of the whirling dervishes, and was followed by an introduction by founders Moni Yosef - Managing Director & Actor and Khaled Abu Ali - Actor & Director, and other members of the interfaith staff.

Moni asked the pilgrims to please introduce themselves and to share their impressions thus far, of their visit to Israel. With my trusty laptop in hand, I transcribed their replies (thank God for my fast typing skills - to whom I owe my eight grade typing teacher a HUGE thanks... who knew then, how practical that skill would actually become in the age of the computer revolution):

Alima Sherman: "Having a heart that is heavy and hopeful."

Rebecca Jupiter: "I am an actress and singer so it is very exciting for me to be here right now. Thank you."

Yona Weisman (tour guide): "Seeing another perspective even after being here for so many years. Every day brings another emotion, another calm."

Jerry Stinson: "Yesterday I heard the hope and the struggle. When we were at at kibbutz struggling to find hope, and then we went into the west bank and it was painful.

Paul Waller: "I have visited Israel once before doing the tourist thing. This time it is talking with real people seeing the problems and it is enriching."

Joan Waller: "I was born in Canada. I can hear his emotion and for me it is a colidescope of feelings and emotions, I appreciate that it is a crazy country and can be frustrating. At home we work with a dialogue group with Israeli's and Muslims. This has been an intense experience for us of hearing peoples pain, so I don't know where I am. But I know it is exactly what I need to be experiencing."

Steve Puzarne (group leader and tour co-founder): "I am a cantor but I have been doing peace work for a while. I had an opportunity to be involved with Rabbis for Human Rights, and it became clear that unless you come here and experience directly, you never get to see Jews and Arabs actually trying to get along. Unless I could show them first hand, they would never believe me. These are brave people. They had no track record and they came with me anyway. We are hoping that with this foundation, that we can bring hundreds and hundreds of people to share in friendship and love to change the negative impressison of what is going on."

Wilfredo Benitez: "I am American Puerto Rican and Cuban . I am Pastor of a congregation that worships in four languages, Spanish, English, Vietnamese and Korean. We have a truly multifaith congregation – everything that you can imagine. If we truly practice our religions we will have an easier time together."

Boaz Gershon: (My partner). "I moved to the Galillee 25 years ago. My wife is a lawyer. She has worked for 25 years in Akko in a Muslim law firm. We have created a start up – we are starting to do something that hasn't been done before. There are some aspects that are very simple, buses… hotel, hardware, but where we speak of the software, the people, we are writing it right now, all of this will go into the melting pot which is very advanced in what is called, the travel business. "

Pilgrimage of Peace Continues

The above photo was taken in my village of Amirim, a vegetarian health village situated in the hills of Galilee, on the road to Safed (Tsfat) in the Meron Mountains. The group had just arrived from a long day of touring and visiting with peace projects of Kibbutz Metzer and the humanitarian health project of Middleway in the village of Barta'a. The morning found them on a walking tour of Nazareth, to the White Mosque and to the Church of the Annunciation where Rev. Wilfredo Benitez lead the group in a moving meditation.

I don't know if the photo relays the energy with which they arrived to Amirim after a deeply moving day - even with jetlag from the many hours of travel the day before.
It was deeply gratifying for me to receive them at my home and the Voices of Eden Peace Center for dinner and a healing music program. After a silent meditation under the ancient carob tree to acknowledge the powerful meetings and dynamics experienced over the last twenty four hours, we sat down to a lovely vegetarian meal so lovingly prepared by Nati.

After dinner, it was not at all difficult to invite people into the healing music center to lie on the mattresses for a healing music meditation. This ancient healing and transformational music is intentionally wordless, bypassing the intellect, allowing the listener to connect within him or herself. The musicians of the project are Jewish and Arab... I was not playing for more than a few minutes before the lovely sound of rhythmic snores began to accompany my singing and drumming... In other situations, one would take this as an offence. For me, the sounds of deep sleep are a profound compliment.

After the music meditation, I took dictation from the Pilgrims wanting to add to this blog, before moving on to their hotel... and more... welcomed sleep. Unfortunately, the computer "bleeped" before the comments were uploaded... drats...

You'll just have to read the next blog to see what people had to say... I began to record the notes FIRST on a Word Decument.