The Da Vinci Code Itinerary - Israel Travel Tips

Next week my editor will arrive from New York, for a two week vacation. She will be coming to visit in the Galilee, and I will take her to visit the Well, where Mary Magdalene met up with Jesus, to the Hula Valley, to great, little know eateries and other ancient, biblical treasure sites.

I'll keep you guys abreast, by writing and audio logging in.

This Saturday I visited a natural olive oil soap factory in the Druze village of Bet Jan. Bet Jan is one of the highest villages in Israel, with gorgeous views overlooking the entire northern part of the country.

To learn more about this soap, visit www.ayanatural.com

Israel Museum - Jerusalem Tour

I was in Jerusalem for the filming of "Jerusalem of Ancient Days", a prime time extravaganza which will be aired this evening on the most popular tv channel.

It was an honor to participate in this production. My role is to play ancient percussion - frame drums and "mitziltayim" (biblical finger cymbals).

I had a free morning on Monday before stage call. I went to the Israel museum in search of archaeological finds of frame drums and finger cymbals. I was sooooooooooooo excited to discover five or six different statues of clay and bronze - of women playing frame drums (Layne - you'd love it!) and one of a man playing frame drum. I was particularly excited to discover a statuette of Sekhmet (to whom I am forever indebted) found in the northern Negev desert, dated 1000 BC.

In addition, there were many goddess figurines, some of which I had the priveledge of learning about during an in service training last month in the Galilee.

Cymbals and Silence

It's quite amazing to see silence at work in the midst of prime time television production.

There we are, the "special" ancient instruments, on one side, and on the other, the big boys house band (ala David Letterman)... with the egos to match. Doesn't leave much quiet for the ancient stuff to be heard.

One day I was playing the sagat (finger cymbals) and one of the keyboardists says to me: "You should play the tambourine. It'll be much better than the finger cymbals", he wanted it his way. He went to the music director and told him his idea. I pretended I didn't hear. The music director replied, "They're great, they're visual... the cymbals are the right thing". Score a point for the Goddess of wisdom and peace :-)....

Then there was the band "Shuti Hanevua" (Fools of Wisdom) who came with their song of Jerusalem with a very strong intent of minimalism and meditation. I play the finger cymbals as small cymbals or bells.... one ding every eight bars. It is the classic case of small being grand. As we were rehearsing and then recording, I fell into trance. At one point, I noticed the television camera recording the dance of my hands playing the "ding". I hope it gets broadcast so that I can record it and put it up on the site... providing a visual experience of the audial meditation.

I am really enjoying this project.

Gratitude

I am writing from my friend and colleague Sunita's house. It is almost midnight, after a very long day of rehearsals.

I was in Tel Aviv and didn't feel like leaving yet. None of my friends were available to meet, so I decided to take myself to the movies. The only one available at the hour I arrived was a documentary called "The Funeral Group", surrounding the lives of a group of senior citizens who meet every week at Theodore Herzls grave in the national cememtary in Jerusalem. The film follows their lives, and their concerns and their loves - coming to terms with their gains and their losses... many of them holocaust survivors. It was quite a beautiful story... made me think alot about the value of life.

Leaving the center out onto King George Street, I stopped for a quick bite to eat at the noodles place. Eating my vegetable pad thai outside, I watched humanity pass me by on the street. There was a guy close by lying on two pieces of cardboard... hand stretched out, asking for alms. At one point, a man tapped him on the shoulder. The guy got up and they spoke. It was amazing to watch the shift in his demeanor. He had a real presence about him. I was moved to write him a note.. On the paper cover of my chopsticks I wrote... "My gift to you today is to invite you to dare discover what your unique gifts are and begin to give them away. This will bring you happiness health and wealth." I finished my food, got up, placed it in his hand and moved on. I felt myself being used as an instrument. I crossed the street looked back. The man had sat up and was reading the note. It looked like he was contemplating.

It brought me to contemplation on relationship. I was feeling very moved by the film. Wondering about my own life. Feeling disconnected from my brother whom I love very much but with whom I hear very seldom. It saddens me. I would like to know him more... always have. My earlier life was spent running after him, until I discovered that this only pushed him away even more.

"Why don't I call him?" I thought to myself... instead of staying away. Immediately a pang of pain arose... I don't like being the one to always initiate our communication. Isn't he interested in me? Does he not care? I stopped myself in mid thought... changing the peptides in my brain.

Suddenly a wave of calm washed through my innards... I accept life on life's terms, I heard myself say in silence, without expressing it in words. I began to think about all the things I am grateful for. I thought about how grateful I am to have a brother who is happy with what he does. Accepting what IS instead of what I expect, makes things so much more comfortable.

I thought about this entire week. How grateful I am to have so many friends upon who I can count, and stay with upon a moment's notice. "Express your gratitude immediately", the inner voice said. "I'll start with Sunita". The cell phone rang. It was Sunita calling to see if I am staying with them this evening.

"I have just turned onto your street. I was just thinking about you..." I thanked her for her hospitality and expressed my appreciation for having her in my life.

What a blessing to have this computer at my disposal so that I can write this message before signing, taking a shower a going off to a grateful, slumbered sleep.

Amen.

Israel Travel Tip - Jerusalem

Yesterday I had the great fortune of spending the afternoon and early evening in Jerusalem for the recording of ancient music and describing it's use in biblical times. The recording occured in the City of David, site of excavations of part of King David's palace.

The site overlooks the most dramatic and picturesque valley... stone buildings of the East Jerusalem village. Goats meandering, children playing, caves hidden behind open crevices in the old stone walls.

The City of David lies just outside of the Old City walls, and adjacent to the Western Wall.

There is a cool water duct where you can go... it's great in the summer... you actually walk in 2-4 inches of water - along with flashlights. I remember going when I was a teenager. The memory stays with me until today.

If you want a special adventure in Jerusalem with an incredible view, this is it.

Keeping at it

I keep trying to find a way to blog through the telephone so that I can post from the music rehearsals this week.

No go. I haven't been successful and it's frustrating. How am I posting frustration on an inspirational blog? The answer is that I am posting to say that I am going to take it one step at a time, keeping at it until I get my answer and solve this problem.

Keeping at it, one step at a time, eventually brings results.

I'll let you know what happens.

Wandering Jew

I just came upon Wandering Scribes blog and was really inspired by it. It occured to me that I am about to be the Wandering Jew for the next week and a half to two weeks. I will be participating in a television production about Jerusalem... they have an orchestra with ancient instruments... I am one of the musicians. Also thrilled that they invited me to participate... especially after so many years of trekking this untravelled path of healing music, voice and rhythm, starting with singing on the inner city trains of Paris (a daily meditation of mine which lasted one year).

I thought it would be cool to phone in from the rehearsals and from Jerusalem so that you can hear all these cool instruments. Now I am going to go learn how to use the mobile blogger.

On the other side of the fence

Today is one of those sweet days when the world has come knocking at my door.

It follows a few weeks of exhaustion and dancing with the dragons of my past. Work has been slow and income along with it.

ButI decided to change my steps. Instead of entering into a tight tango with my fear and discomfort, I chose to waltz right by them instead. Not that I didn't feel the pain mind you... I did. It's just that in the face of it, I chose to love myself and to find a soft response - trusting the universe to act in its own time, instead of according to my stopwatch.

So, today people are calling to offer me really fun and nice paying projects. People who really want me and appreciate the unique value I have to offer. My "difference" is beginning to pay off and I am so grateful.

Sacred Dance Meditation

Here is the unedited version (with a slightly higher pitch than was orginally recorded due to technical challenges)...

At any rate, it's really cool to hear people in the background at times, and also hearing the instructions, and towards the end, just women singing, and then the men, and then we end together. It was quite a beautiful experience.

Click to listen

If the link does not work, paste this into your browser to listen:

http://www.voicesofeden.com/music/Sacred_Dance_Meditation.m3u

Mourning and Spiritual Healing

The last two days - Memorial Day (Yom HaZikaron) and Yom HaAtzmaut I spent with 100+ Jews and Arabs and Germans at a healing conference giving voice to the happiness and the pain of what brought about the state of Israel, plus disaster for the Palestinian community... providing a container and a compassionate ear for all.

This is the fourth year that I have participated. Yesterday morning, we had a multi-faith prayer service: Jewish, Moslem (Sufi), Christian lead by religious leaders, a Sufi Zikr with me playing the drum in the center of the circle followed by me leading a closing prayer - highlighting the Divine feminine - allowing the fundamental sound to flow through our own body instruments... chanting AUM-N - AMEN - five times in honor of the Divine Mother. We focused upon the essence of the sound rather than the "sounding of it"

The change in energy was palpable.... lighter, less angst, more softness, more silence. This year, the two day conference was held at Nes Amim, a Kibbutz in the north populated by German and Dutch Christians who come to work and volunteer towards the healing of Jewish-Christian relations... it is part of their own healing from the wounds of the Holocaust.

And of course, the wounds of the Holocaust gave way to the formation of this state... which caused the Palestinians their own displacement. Victims, on the way to healing, often become unwitting vicitimizers.

What an opportunity having the three populations together - meeting pain and forging a new road to a better future. I left so inspired and uplifted. In past years perhaps 20-30 people participated. There were three times the number of pariticpants and three times the number of Arabs who participated.

To learn more, visit: http://www.middleway.org and hamakom.org.il the two organizing groups who do such a fabulous job of organizing and leading. It is special that the organizing spirit behind the event are three women: Michal TalYa, Ibtisam Mahamid and Shiri Tal.

I recorded our evening prayer dance and song and will send it as soon as I get it into the computer.

Israel Palestine Meet for Spiritual Healing

In about two hours, I will leave to participate in a powerful two day event:
Independence - Naqba... a Jewish - Arab meeting giving voice to both Jewish Israeli and Palestinian (within and without Israeli borders)sentiments regarding loss, conflict and eventual healing.

More than 100 people are due to attend. There are workshops, meditations, prayer ceremonies reflecting all of the faiths involved.

I will be giving a music meditation tomorrow morning as part of the prayer ceremony.

My experience over the past three years has been - heat... that when given a place to openly express - contained by authentic and empathetic listening.. transforms alchemically into warmth and healing bonds of friendship.

If I can get the telephone number right for mobile blogging, I'll call from there to post.

Healing Music Goes Prime Time

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Biblical Instruments on Jerusalem Day TV Special May 24

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

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

Ancient Use of Music Releases Stress

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

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

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

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

Sound of Silence

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

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

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

Archaeology and The Goddess

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

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

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

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

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

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

Goddess in the Golan

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

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

Inspiration from what you write

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

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

It makes me feel important to myself.

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

Ancient Past and a Brighter Future

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

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

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

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

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

The Seder was Delicious

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

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

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

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

mobile blogging

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