Category Archives: Meditations

Music, Elemental #Music #Poem

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Download “Music, Elemental” Mp3

I wrote this
poem
7 years ago to the day, on May 17, 2014. I didn’t realize that until just now!

This reading is with Koshi chimes. These are beautiful handmade chimes from France that correspond to the elements of Earth, Water, Fire, and Air. They can be used as windchimes, but they are not made with tubes of various lengths suspended from their own cords.

Instead, there is one resonance cylinder, slightly larger than a soda can. There is a cord welded into the top to hold or hang the chime. Then, inside are small, round metal bars of different lengths that create the 8 notes of each tuning.

There is a clapper–I don’t know what else to call it–that hangs freely in the middle of the tube. This is what plays the notes as you move the chime. It’s a really interesting design!

These chimes are lovely to simply listen to, but also great for meditation or, in this case, reading poetry.

I play the chimes in the following order, according to the lines/mood of the poem:
Terra (Earth)
Aqua (Water)
Ignis (Fire)
Aria (Air)
Ignis (Fire)
Aria (Air)
Aqua (Water)
Ignis (Fire)

I really enjoy the Koshi Chimes and hope you enjoy this reading!

“Little Boat” #Meditation #Music

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Download “Little Boat” Double Strung Harp Meditation Mp3

Length: About 5 minutes

Today we revisit “Little Boat,” a song I wrote last year and tested with lyre and zither together. You can find that mp3 and a link to the lyrics
here.

This version is a longer, more meditative instrumental on double strung harp. But with a twist. You also hear both chambers of the Coda EDC Flute, a cowrie shell shaker, and the Koshi Aqua (water) chime.

In replaying the pieces from my lyre-and-zither Double Strung Experiment series, I wanted to showcase the true double strung harp without boring you. So, I added a few other instruments.

I hope you enjoy this arrangement! I think it turned out pretty well, myself! Please share any comments, questions, or other feedback you may have, even simply whether you liked or disliked the piece! Thanks for listening!

“Heartsong” #Music

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Download “Heartsong” Double Strung Harp Mp3

Happy Mother’s Day to those who are mothers and those who have one! ❤

I wrote “Heartsong” in 2016. You can find the ukulele version with lyrics
here.

Today I play it as a comforting, relaxing piece on double strung harp. I hope you enjoy it, and have a blessed Mother’s Day!

Grounded #Decima #Poem

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Play or download this poem with musical accompaniment.

Download “Grounded” Mp3

A time for rest it’s time to take,
To ground in oneness with the ground.
Connections reconnected, found.
Awaken now, and be awake!

Meet all your needs for meeting’s sake,
And listen with a listening ear
To heart-felt breath and heartbeat clear.
Be mindful of your Mind inside,
The thinking thoughts that make your life;
With inner wisdom, wisely hear.

—
A musical Decima written for
Ronovan Writes Décima Poetry Challenge Prompt No. 55: (GROUND) in the B rhyme line.

The instruments are double strung harp, Rhythm Rock shaker, and alto recorder.

“The Secret in the Stone” #Writephoto #Meditation

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Download “The Secret in the Stone” Meditation with Double Strung Harp Mp3

Approximate length: 5 minutes

Come! Enter the realm of mystery,
Where Truth is revealed to those who seek,
Perhaps not with eyes, but through sensing and feel;
It’s the wisdom to know your important and real.

Where you’ll surely be given that for which you ask
Toward fulfilling your purpose and passing life’s tasks.
Take a look at the stone, in this place, in your mind,
And uncover the message your Spirit can find.

Do not worry or fret; it is written for you!
There’s no wrong way to hear it, whatever you do.
You might read it or sense it or feel in your heart
Gentle words of the Spirit in music or art.

It may come in the quiet, in dreams, or in sound.
But however, whenever, your message is found!
You will feel when you’ve got it, your life’s cornerstone.
It will help guide your path, knowing you’re not alone.

For the stone that you see here is only a sign
Of the worlds you can enter and brilliance you find
In your own heart and spirit, your mind, and your soul.
For within you are perfect! You’re wise, and you’re whole!

The secret in stone is a secret no more!
Your Truth is revealed; it is clear and so pure!
Now return to your journey of purpose and path;
You can seek any moment for answers–just ask!

—
Written for KL Caley’s wonderful #Writephoto Prompt, The Secret in the Stone:

#WRITEPHOTO – The Secret in the Stone

“The Red Bridge” #Music

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Download “The Red Bridge” Mp3

This is a piece I wrote for one of Sue Vincent’s #Writephoto prompts
last May. I didn’t sing it at the time, but posted a meditation
version on lyre. You can listen to or download that
here.

This version has vocals, accompanied by ukulele. There’s also a viola
part, melody on alto recorder, and an alto recorder duet.

I hope you enjoy this arrangement!

This Is Not a Lyre #Music #Poem

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Original Lyre Music

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This is not a lyre.
It looks like one, if you know what a lyre looks like.

It has a rounded soundbox from which two arms reach to the sky.
One arm is shorter than the other,
but it has no disadvantage.

The top of the lyre comes to a point
that, on this one that is not,
faces away from the player.

From the point, the long arm slopes sharply toward the player,
almost like a sliding board.

Along this arm are tuning pins.
You guessed it–
the strings are attached to these
and tied to a bridge on the lower part of the soundbox.
Yes, it looks like a lyre.

Yet this is not a lyre.
It is a music box to say the least,
a magic box,
a mystical box,
the bottle containing
the alchemist’s elixir of immortality.

It won’t make you immortal.
But think about it.
Would you really want to be
immortal, ever remaining in your current form?
I didn’t think so!

But the music
of the mystical,
magical,
musical box
can lead you
to your immortal soul.

This is not a lyre,
but you might misconstrue its unassuming form,
if you didn’t know better.

But you, dear reader,
know better!

This
is not
a lyre…

—
An object poem for
dVerse.

“Hope for Hard Times” #Music #SixSentenceStories

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There are times when we could all use a filter, especially when we feel tired and run down or in pain.

Maybe it’s a coffee filter; these days it’s probably a mask, or even a mask with a filtering element.

Whatever you use and whatever you need, I pray that yours is a filter of hope!

Not to prevent hope–oh no–but to prevent some negativity from entering your heart, mind, soul, and outlook!

Here is a medley of two pieces I composed years ago, “Hard Times” and “Hope.”

May this meditation with zither, alto recorder, and Oriole soprano recorder be a hopeful filter for you during these difficult times!

—
Written for
#SixSentenceStories: Filter
and
Tale Weaver #310: Tired and Run Down.

“Angel” #Music

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Tomorrow we celebrate Thanksgiving in the United States. Wherever you live, this can be a time to reflect on and express gratitude and thankfulness. Gratitude is the inner feeling that you have received kindness. Thankfulness is the expression of that feeling. Both are positive and, though seemingly small, add so much to our lives. After all, if we don’t acknowledge the good things we already have, how can we receive more? The feeling of gratitude opens us to more positive feelings, including kindness and compassion toward ourselves and others.

“Angel” is a piece I wrote in 2003, on keyboard and harmonica. I hope you enjoy hearing it on lyre, Oriole soprano recorder, Oriole Dolce Duo (a double flute), and viola. Putting this together was a labor of love!

I wish each one of you a blessed, happy, hopeful, peaceful, and safe Thanksgiving, and many moments of gratitude and thankfulness now and every day!

Trentham/Breathe on Me, Breath of God #Music

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“Trentham” was composed by the British organist, Robert Jackson, in 1878. It is one of several musical settings for the hymn, “Breathe on Me, Breath of God.”

The lyrics were written by Edwin Hatch, also in 1878. They are based on John 20:21-22, which read, “Then said Jesus to them again, Peace be unto you: as my Father hath sent me, even so send I you. And when he had said this, he breathed on them, and saith unto them, Receive ye the Holy Ghost.” [King James Version (KJV)]

This is a hymn for Pentocost, but this being the coming of the Holy Spirit, it is a beautiful hymn at any time of year.

I hope you enjoy this arrangement played on alto (UK treble) recorder and zither!