What is the cost of true independence?

What is independence and what is it's cost?


Today is Independence Day in Israel. Last night, folks, young and old, joined in circles and danced in the streets.  I've been contemplating the meaning of independence.   A quick search in the dictionary brought up: "Freedom from the control, influence, support, aid, or the like, of others".

If this is true, does this mean that it's opposite is dependency? Is  there a difference between dependence and dependency?

Lester Levensen, a truly wise and free being, one of the huge gifts of my life, had this to say:

"A dependency relationship does not allow you to think for yourself, admits you are dependent on another human being, and prevents you from seeing your infinity. Conformity is dependency, is having to do what others do, wanting their approval. And independent person is always an oddball, not understood by society".

His continual prodding would stir me up, My own experience has found this to be true. Societies are set up for the individuals within them, to get along. Conformity is a necessary. You can express yourself as long as you don't stir the waters too much.

When your own truth differs from the consensus, it stirs up contention. The system is not set up to support the freedom of authentic independent voice of each individual.

When you are truly dedicated to your independence you risk being ousted from the group. I believe that this is the reason why, the biggest fear we humans possess, after the fear of death, is the fear of public speaking.

I also believe that this is the root cause of our Dr. Jekyl and Mr. Hyde existence... yearning to express the voice of our hearts... then in the actual moment, speaking what seems to be the most politically or socially correct thing to "get along" and keep us safe.

Yet is it really safe when the cost of this "safety" is the price of your own inner truth.
Are truly independent people doomed to be always be the oddball, not understood by society?

What do you think?

One Long Single Note Remembers Six Million

Today in the Holy land marks Holocaust Day. It is a day of remembering the six million people who died during World War 2 in Nazi Germany.

At 10 am in the morning, a single note siren was sounded through out the country, at the same time, for the duration of two minutes.  Whatever people are doing at that moment they stop. And I mean S-T-O-P.

Imagine, on the sidewalks and in the streets and on the freeway, everything goes comes to a grinding halt.

Have you ever seen traffic stop in the middle of a busy intersection - people get out of their cars and silently

- wherever they are - whether it's in the middle of the boulevard, in an office building, on the freeway, wherever, and stand in reverance, without saying a word, without any movement.


It's an amazingly powerful experience. An amazing sight to behold.


In Ancient Healing and Transformational music a long single note is used to create a sense of safety. During the three years of the first scientific research conducted upon Voices of Eden live music, the long single note was a fundamental element I showed mothers in the neonatal ward to practice in order to quiet their babies as well as their own inner stress.


What does this have to do with a long single note of a siren during Holocaust Day?  How we use sound, can either soothe us or send us reeling. Sound is a powerful element which touches a deep chord in our soul. When it is used wordlessly, it bypasses the intellect and has a profound affect.


When you consciously hum a long single note to yourself, it can bring you focus and clarity as well as provide you a sense of deeper connection to the Source of all life.


Though the impetus of sounding a long single note in remembrance of six million is particularly poignant and  painful for those who lost family members, the deeper potency of the sound lies in it's ability to move an entire country to stop and unite for two motionless minutes - in turn connecting it to the higher power of eternity.

Is your voice healing or hurting your finances?

Is your voice healing or hurting your finances? 
This might seem like a pretty weird question.

What does voice have to do with money?
Actually, quite alot. Maybe not to what meets the eye... but in the case of finances, what meets your ear can have a direct impact upon what shows up (or not) in your bank account.

When you push and task master, it means there is some voice silently pushing you to "do, do, do"... there is no room to stop.  This will certainly cause stress and anxiety. You're so focused on "doing", that you forget the power of just being. Seeds sprout and gardens bloom, without their "doing" anything. They don't have to work so hard. Neither do we.

I learned something about how "not doing" can generate abundance today. Today is the second holiday of Passover. Passover celebrates freedom. It has been a glorious week - having the freedom to focus exclusively on Miriam's Secret, preparing the Kickstarter campaign to raise funds for producing the multi-media took kit. It is exciting and empowering... and extremely intense and scary.  Instead of my usual pushing and forcing myself passed my fear, I decided to work in spurts of ninety minutes, then take a half hour break in the sacred grove which borders on the edge of my neighborhood.

Last week, I shot this photo when a group of my clients and I were leaving the grove, after a glorious session of ancient healing and transformational music.  I was mesmerized by the stark red color of the natural poppy flowers. I remember being very focused on work as I took the photo. It was a lovely respite for the eyes.

Today I have been particularly focused upon enjoying the experience of "being" without "doing" anything. This is while I am in the midst of writing the   book cover for Miriam's Secret as well as preparing the project page for Kickstarter. I am working on deadline. The experience is relaxing and uplifting. 

I shot this second photo in the same spot as the first. What astounded me was how many other flowers had sprouted within less than a week since I had shot the first photo.  No one "did" anything to sprout those flower. Nature took care of itself.

Nature takes care of itself.

You'll know this is at work, because you become energized instead of exhausted. When your inner voice is busy criticizing your, you may feel like you are being pulled in a bazillion gazillion directions and it's exhausting.

So how can you use your voice naturally that heals your finances?

Wordlessly.
You can dive into the source of all creation, by creating your own well song.

What's a well song? 

No words, no rules, just connecting to what soothes you.

When you sing wordlessly, you bypass your busy intellect. This allows your brain to rest.  The reverberation of the sound acts like a small pebble thrown into a pond. The ripple effect gently penetrates and allows the mind to relax. In this space, your higher consciousness becomes clearer and from this space, creative solutions appear.

Here's a well song I created a while ago to support the opening of abundance and prosperity. It's a pleasure to share it with you here... I was so suprised by what transpired in that recording... whimsy... bluesy... hadn't heard those tones in my voice for Y-E-A-R-S!

Slowing down, listening to yourself, soothing your inner critical voices through wordless singing, will quiet them down like a whining child. No more need to act out to get attention. Instead you give yourself much deserved acknowledgement... just for being alive. 

It's natural.  What did the music evoke in you? Leave a message. Your voice is important.  

We Love You - Iran and Israel - Love is Stronger Than Hate!

Love is stronger than fear or hate.
Your voice makes a difference.
What do YOU think?

 Post it below. Let your voice be heard!

Depletion to Replenishment

This coming Saturday night, I will be composing live music  for an Ancient Healing and Transformational music event - just down the road from Mary's well at the Fauzi Azar Inn, a beautiful old mansion in the old city of Nazareth.

The Fauzi Azar Inn is a multi-faith initiative - Jewish and Arab and it brings travellers from all around the world to experience good in the Holy Land.

This will be the first time that I am going to be composing a full program of live music on the spot for the people who will be attending.

The group will be a mixture of Jews, Arabs, foreigners visiting Israel and whomever else will show up that day. It is a live exercise in showing up in the moment, opening my heart and allowing it to sing. I am not planning beforehand. My heart says, "go for it".


Drinking or sinking by the Well?


A big part of me is excited to just show up. It's like getting back on the train. Another part is afraid of flubbing up. My ego warns "you're gonna die of embarrassment". What if they don't get it? What if they aren't open? What if I don't know what to say?

What I really want to do is show up and allow the moment to guide me, without planning. It takes alot of guts to do that. It requires dealing with the fear of failure, and it's powerful sibling, fear of being mocked and made fun of.  I choose to do this because I believe that when I show up authentically in the moment, it supports other people in showing up in the moment as well. While scary and uncontrollable, it's also extremely exhilarating.  I love living life this way.

Our biggest fears can also be our greatest source of inspiration and power. 

In Hebrew, if you turn around the root letters of the word for "fear", you get "inspiration" or "movement forward".  That is exactly how I am meeting my sense of vulnerability.  I

The whole point of healing and transformational music is to allow the listener the experience of  meeting themselves authentically in the moment. If we will just stop for a moment and listen to ourselves, we can ask ourselves any question, and receive the answer. I am praying to have the ability to clearly address this with the audience - particularly having no idea who they are nor what language they speak.

Singing from the heart can replenish your well of energy.


Last week, I went to visit the Fauzi Azar Inn in preparation from the program and sat by the well and composed a short, impromptu piece of music. I didn't know anyone else was listening or watching. No one else was around, except for the man who kindly agreed to hold the camera.

When I finished, I heard applaud resounding from above. Evidently a group of German visitors stood on the balcony above listening to my heartfelt, impromptu song. You can watch it here.

Where do you find your well of courage, or well of inspiration when you are afraid to show up for yourself? What helps you most in those moments? I'd love to hear from you.

The storm is the key to calming your inner and outer worlds

Last week in the first session of my ancient healing and transformational music course, I asked the students to wave a  proverbial magic wand, and share what would they most want to be able to say at the end of the eight sessions, such that they could say to themselves... it was worth participating in the course.

One woman shared that if she could just bridge the gap between the peace she feels when she sits alone and meditates to the heavy drive with which she operates in the world, she would be in heaven. She said that the schism causes her much frustration. She feels that she leaves her authenticity behind as soon as she leaves the privacy of her inner world, opening the door to the everyday workaday world.

Actually, I have found that meeting that schism straight on is the secret to bridging the gap between the experience we feel inside of peace, and the comfort we can feel inside while we operate in the outside world.

The storm is actually the key... 

When we stay connected to the storm we feel inside of ourselves, we stay connected to our authenticity.

The problem arises when we disconnect from our discomfort. When we are unwilling to meet discomfort, we run to cover it over with some band-aid solution... be it food, drink, busy-ness, isolation, television, internet... you can name your favorite here...

Rocky, bumpy roads are part of the path to discovering our inner power.

Discomfort can actually be a friend. When we meet discomfort of lifes bumps and bruises with kindness and gentleness, it ceases to bother us. The pain alchemically transforms into inner power. Fear dissolves and we are left with a deep sense of lasting peace which cannot be taken away.

Here's some music to smooth the rocky parts:



Two weeks ago Byron Katie came to Israel to lead a workshop in forgiveness. What a blessing it was to be able to practice self inquiry with so many open hearts. It was definately open heart surgery :-)...

What is your experience?

Heart Note from Ancient Israel

What is YOUR NOTE of wisdom to share?

Where is YOUR AUTHENTIC voice today?

Let's hear!!! We need to hear your voice!

The Continuing Saga of Miriam's Drum

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

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

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

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



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

Song of the Sea - Authenticity of Ancient Israel in 2012

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

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

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

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

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

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

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


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

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

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

  Why Am I Doing This?

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

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

 How about stopping and taking some time for yourself!

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

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

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

Nine hours later....

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

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

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

How Falling Apart Can Actually Help You Get It Together

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

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

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

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

Spiritual Awakening or Break-Down?

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Requests? Ideas? Needs?

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

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

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

I am looking forward to hearing from you.

High Dive into the Deep Waters of Change in 2012

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

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

It's 2012. The time of change.

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

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


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

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

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

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

It's a double edged sword.

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

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



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

We all deserve that. What do you think?

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

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

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

Honest answer?

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

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

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



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

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

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

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

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

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

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

How to Boost Your Energy During the Holidays

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

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

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

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

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

Original Jingle Bells from Ancient Israel

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



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

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

Harp Makes Mystical Sound

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



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

No one is playing it but the wind.

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

Gratitude Well of Appreciation

Happy Thanksgiving to friends around the entire world.

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

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

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

So simple…So easy to forget.

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

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

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

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

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

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

This one is BIG.

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

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

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

Your Voice Reflects Your Spiritual Identity

What does your voice reveal about you?

Alot.

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

Your voice reflects your spiritual identity.

Is your voice hurting you or helping you?

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

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

Does your identity help or hinder you?

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

What is your "Identity"?

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

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

Are you really who you think you are?

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

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

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

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

Is your identity helping or hindering your progress?

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

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

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

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

Being more, doing less creates nice connections...

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

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




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

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

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

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

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

Tashlich - Wipe Your Slate Clean the Israelite way

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

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

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

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

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

Marianne Williamson in Israel

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

WOW.

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

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

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

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

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