Thursday, October 07, 2010

Your Healing Voice and Trust

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!

Friday, September 03, 2010

Official or authentic power - which is stronger?

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.

Wednesday, August 25, 2010

Shana Tova with Ancient Voices and Rhythms for Living Peace



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?

Thursday, August 19, 2010

When authenticity trumps efficiency

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?

Sunday, August 08, 2010

Music Therapy in the NICU

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.

Thursday, July 29, 2010

How can ancient hands support you today?



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?

Thursday, July 15, 2010

Self Compassion Softens Jagged Edges

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.

Sunday, July 11, 2010

Making peace with your inner conflicts

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.

Sunday, June 27, 2010

Balkan Dance in Israel



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.

Tuesday, June 22, 2010

Music Meditation for Support



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?

Sunday, June 13, 2010

Mozart and Voices of Eden on CBS News


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...

Wednesday, June 09, 2010

Remaining Relaxed in the Midst of Change

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?


Thursday, May 27, 2010

Healing Music for Premature Baby


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?

Sunday, May 16, 2010

Desktop Altar, Anita Diamant & Miriam



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?

Saturday, May 08, 2010

Next Top Spiritual Author Contest - Winning Round One


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

Monday, April 26, 2010

Next Top Spiritual Author Contest Update - Miriam's Secret

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...

Tuesday, April 20, 2010

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

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.

Tuesday, April 06, 2010

The Next Top Spiritual Author

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.

Friday, April 02, 2010

How do you stay on purpose when going through change?




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!

Thursday, March 25, 2010

Birth Music - for abundant good

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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Wednesday, March 17, 2010

Healing Nature and Music



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.

Sunday, February 21, 2010

It has nothing to do with you

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

Saturday, February 06, 2010

Ancient Egypt and Ancient Israel reunite

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.

Friday, February 05, 2010

Girl Power

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:

Monday, January 04, 2010

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

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?

Friday, December 18, 2009

Sacred Holiday Music Concert in Nazareth - Christmas Eve



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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Wednesday, December 16, 2009

New Lullaby Music Blog


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.

Friday, December 04, 2009

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

Sunday, November 29, 2009

Calm Music Lullaby from Ancient Times

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?

Sunday, October 25, 2009

Sound Creates Matter

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. ...
Share

Wednesday, September 09, 2009

09-09-09 Transformational Music Meditation



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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Saturday, September 05, 2009

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



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?

Tuesday, August 25, 2009

Coming out of the cave

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.

Sunday, August 02, 2009

Bobby McFerrin Dances the Pentatonic Scale

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?

Thursday, July 30, 2009

Can World Music Heal the World?



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?

Wednesday, July 08, 2009

Inner peace or Running Away

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?

Sunday, June 28, 2009

Echoes of Music Peace

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

Thursday, June 25, 2009

Music Peace in Jerusalem Hug

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.

Wednesday, June 24, 2009

Flutes Offer Clues to Stone-Age Music


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.

Thursday, June 11, 2009

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

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.

Sunday, June 07, 2009

Jewish Cat Makes Music



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........

Thursday, June 04, 2009

Jonathan Goldman & Len Horowitz - Live H2o - June 10


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.

Wednesday, June 03, 2009

Prophetess Miriam

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.

Monday, June 01, 2009

Creative Problem Solving with Your Voice

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

Tuesday, May 19, 2009

Yearning for Authenticity


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.

Monday, May 18, 2009

I love you

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.

Tuesday, May 05, 2009

Secret Ancient Keys to Authentic & Transformational Communication

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: