Inspirational Healing

Open Hearts

When the heart is open, it speaks a language all its own. This video speaks for itself. Enjoy! :)

Christmas Wishes

I really do like Christmas songs and have my favorites among the hundreds that are played every holiday season. There is one that I particularly like because it conveys all the thoughts that many of us carry in our hearts and wish for others. It's sung by Reba McEntire and is entitled, This Is My Prayer For You.

I can't play the music here, but imagine a melody that is light, twinkling and upbeat. The lyrics are true and easy.

"Peaceful valleys, mountain tops, no dark alleys or sudden stops, this is my prayer, this is my prayer for you.

Lovers calling, starry skies, always falling, but not for lies, this is my prayer, this is my prayer for you.

May all your sweet dreams go unbroken, may every wish you've ever spoken come true; this is my prayer...

Celebrations, true blue friends, revelations and a heart that mends, this is...

Arms that welcome, doors that open wide, all your loved ones gathered by your side, this is....

May all your days be filled with laughter, may all your prayers be quickly answered.

This is my prayer, this is my prayer for you."

I share these same sentiments and wish them from my heart to yours. Have a wonder-filled, fun, blessed and merry holiday season with all those you love.

Turn on the Music

70's music was playing overhead in the grocery store the other day, fun, upbeat music, catching the attention of shoppers. One man was softly singing along as he was making his produce choices, oblivious to other shoppers, and appearing to be enjoying the song that was currently playing. But then, obviously getting into the song, he sang louder. He caught himself, looked around and grinned sheepishly to those watching, saying, "It's a cool song." He then went along, still singing and enjoying himself.

There's no denying the power of music. It has the capacity to evoke an emotional response easily and fully. Retailers use it to influence their customers. (I bet the singing shopper bought more than he intended because he was feeling so good.) Pick a genre of movies and look at how the musical score made you feel about what was happening. Did it frighten you? Make you laugh? Cry? Did you feel the character's pain, anger or joy? Did it disgust you or make you want to sing and dance along? A range of emotion felt simply through the notes played.

Medical facilities are learning to incorporate music to enhance recuperative health and overall wellness. It aids the inherent power of our physical and emotional systems to come to life and allows us to participate in our own healing. Meditative and spiritual practices utilize it to reach a deeper level of connection to God. Sleepy mothers employ its soft and soothing tones to lull their babies into, hopefully, a deep and restful slumber. Even those letting go of the last days of their life can move into a peaceful and restful state of mind through the use of appropriate musical selections. Music has the power to play with us at a heart level and we can use it as a gift of the universe to help us in our everyday lives.

I know when I'm feeling down or need an energy burst, I turn on something fast and fun and it shifts my energy into a different gear. My young granddaughters, Brooke and Morgan, loved music as babies and now thoroughly enjoy putting in a CD, singing and dancing along with it (the louder, the better!) You'll hear Brooke (7 1/2 years old) softly humming and singing no matter what she's doing - drawing a picture, combing her hair, riding in the car or playing with her dolls; it seems that it's a part of her. I told her I loved listening to her. "I like it, Gamma, and it makes me happy", was her reply. To know what makes her happy and to give herself this gift so freely is such a blessing for one so young.

But there are also indications that we don't serve our best interests at times. I read in a magazine today people who had heart attacks were more than three times as likely to have been sitting in traffic an hour before their symptoms began. This unhealthy statistic certainly suggests that something needs to change. There isn't much we should be doing while sitting in the driver's seat other than driving, but it seems likely to me that we can help ourselves by turning off the jibber- jabber of the many voices of radio and listen to music that brings us pleasure and makes us feel good. It can lead to an overall sense of well-being and lessen the negative effects of stress on our bodies. Certainly a gift we can give ourselves.

As basic as the need to learn to survive and thrive in the world, it appears mankind also had another need - to make music. Looking back in history we see a variety of instruments that each culture and generation of people used to bring notes and tunes to life. A reed with holes in it, a hollowed out log, beans wrapped in a soft pouch, leaves or willows tied together, even a set of spoons - all have been used to make melody. Music comes from our very core and people throughout the ages have sought to bring it to life in any way possible. Stemming from nature itself and sparking the creativity of man, we've found ways to bring its magic forward to touch our hearts, minds and spirits - a truly natural, simple and beautiful gift of Spirit.

So I wonder...how many of us recognize the gift of music and its inherent ability to evoke feeling and use it as an aid in helping us with whatever we're experiencing? There are times when we need to wallow and grieve in order to get past our pain and move forward - there is music for this. There are times when we need to celebrate and experience the lightness and joy of life - there is music for this.There are times when we need a pick-me-up just because we feel down for no apparent reason - there is music for this. There are times we need a quiet space just to be - there is music for this. No matter the occasion, the circumstance, the feelings or the timing, there is music for all of it.

It's important to take note of the simple and pure things of the natural world that surround us and utilize them to bring us to a place of purity of soul and spirit. Music, through its nature of touching emotion, is one of these things. If we're aware, it shows the state of our soul and spirit and we can literally move anywhere we want through its magic. We certainly short-change ourselves if we limit its place in our lives.

I believe music beats a rhythm in every heart, letting us know that we are alive and one with life.There's a tune, a melody, a song inside and, like Brooke, it's an easy gift to give ourselves. Who knows?  It may even make our next trip to the grocery store better.

(If you want an immediate "burst" of the power of music, scroll  down to the Do Re Mi entry, click on the video and enjoy!)

Do Re Mi

Be like the dolphins (see Dolphin Play post), take a break from your day and have a little fun! (Be sure to watch the complete video.)

Take It Easy

The Eagles have been playing in my head a lot this past week or so. I've been trying to work through my feelings regarding a particularly difficult relationship that I have in my life. I love this person, but at the same time, it's a challenge for me to be around her for any length of time. There are times that I can just get in the flow and let things slide and then there are those other times when it's not quite so easy for me.

After a stressful afternoon with her, I was thinking and going over the events that occurred, the words said and the feelings felt. I continued this internal rumination over and over in my head into the next day. It bothered me and I wasn't feeling any better about us so I turned on the radio as music does help me feel better. That's when the Eagles began singing and it was as if they had dedicated their song to me.

"Take it easy, take it easy. Don't let the sound of your own wheels drive you crazy. Lighten up while you still can, don't even try to understand. Just find a place to make your stand and take it easy."

My wheels were spinning. I was driving myself crazy. Lightening up was definitely needed. I've taken on that song to help me when I get in those places of my head that don't serve me well. That's not to say that I don't give the issue thought in order to find my place of self in it and a way to hopefully be with her in a better way. But it does serve to remind me not to go to those thoughts that do indeed drive me crazy.

I believe these song lyrics can help all of us with the issues we face in our lives. The economy, jobs, stock and real estate markets, illness, politics, personal issues and more, have the potential to create fear, worry and stress if we let them. Absolutely, these are important and viable issues and productive answers to the questions they produce are necessary in order for us to move forward in a positive manner. But do we have to let them drive us crazy in the process?

We each have to answer that question for ourselves. We each have to make our own decision to lighten up through the process or let our own wheels torture us. Some days are better than others. Some days we can do it and then some...well, we just do the best we can. The important thing is that we continue to try to take each moment as it comes, find the best part of ourselves to put into it, take our stand when necessary and then...take it easy.