Category Archives: Spiritual practices

On the Horizon #SixSentenceStories

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Original Song on Ukulele

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Well, the New Year is finally coming!

That means a new horizon for everyone–or at least, for those of us who choose to see it that way.

Right now I’m asking myself what is on my horizon?

Increased well-being, more hope, and the ability to see and embrace new opportunities!

I would also say less stress, but I’m a realist.

So, I’ll say choosing better ways to handle stress and more positive, productive responses in emotional situations are on my horizon!

—
Written for
#SixSentenceStories: Horizon.

What’s on your horizon? Leave a comment if you want to share!

Be the Spark #Decima #Poem

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There is a Light, a tiny spark,
A miracle we can behold!
So simple, yet it’s brave and bold
And dims not, even in the dark.

How we can miss its micro mark!
But still it burns quite near, not far–
So close we cannot see the Star…
It’s placed within us to provide
The Light we need to see, to guide.
We must re-learn: It’s who we are!

—
Written for
Ronovan Writes Décima Poetry Challenge Prompt No. 37: (STAR) in the C rhyme line.

“See, Amid the Winter’s Snow” #Christmas #Music

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This is an English carol, also known as “The Hymn for Christmas.” I learned it from
Derwent Harps
just a few weeks ago.

The lyrics are a poem written by Edward Caswall and first published in 1858. Sir John Goss composed “Humility,” a hymn tune for this carol, in 1871. This is a lovely carol, not commonly heard in the United States.

My arrangement contains lyre, viola, and alto recorder. I hope you enjoy it!

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“Light” #Yule #Christmas #Music

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This is an instrumental version of a
Metaphysical Christmas song
I wrote in 2010 and posted here in 2012. It affirms the birth of Light, or Christ Consciousness that can occur within, and for, each one of us, at any time. Christ Consciousness is simply the awareness of oneness, connectedness, positivity, peace, healing, and love that is innately ours. Living in a stressful world, we tend to lose awareness of the Christ Mind, but It is still there, within us and available to us at all times.

I hope you enjoy both versions of “Light,” the one with lyrics linked above, and this one with ukulele, Oriole soprano recorder, and viola! And no matter what you choose to call it, I hope you recognize the Light within yourself, now and always!

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“What Child Is This?” Bonus DSE #Christmas #Music

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William Chatterton Dix wrote the lyrics to this well-known Christmas carol in 1865, after undergoing both a severe illness and a spiritual renewal. His lyrics were later set to the traditional English folk song, “Greensleeves,” the melody we still sing today–but typically with some accidentals added. “What Child Is This?” is more popular in the United States than in Great Britain today.

Here is the traditional tune, without the accidentals, played on lyre and zither simultaneously. This is another
Double Strung Experiment
that is especially beautiful at this time of year.

I hope you enjoy this arrangement!

There’s still time to participate in my
Holiday Blogging Party!
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“The Friendly Beasts” #Christmas #Music

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“The Friendly Beasts” is a traditional Christmas song. Though some sources say it’s an english carol, the melody is actually French. It’s the 12th-century melody of the Latin song, “”Orientis Partibus”. Robert Davis wrote the current English lyrics in the 1920’s.

In my arrangement, the donkey is represented by zither. Viola represents the cow. The doves are represented by melody and harmony on alto recorder, and the sheep is represented by lyre. In addition, verses 3 and 4 (cow and doves) are accompanied by ukulele.

I hope you enjoy this touching Christmas song!

There’s still time to participate in my
Holiday Blogging Party!
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“The Holly and the Ivy” Bonus DSE #Christmas #Music

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“The Holly and the Ivy” is a traditional British folk Christmas carol. However, it is more popular in the United States than in England. Though the song can only be traced as far as the early 19th century, the association of holly with Christmas dates back as far as Medieval times, if not earlier. The carol varied throughout traditional communities, and the standardized version we know today was first published in 1909, in a folk song collection by Cecil Sharp.

This is another double strung experiment, where I play lyre and zither at the same time. I.e. the instruments are not mixed, but are played together in real-time. In my last
double strung experiment post,
I said the next time you heard something with 2 rows of strings, it would be a real double strung harp. However, the harp won’t arrive until sometime next year (hopefully), and I really wanted to play something for Christmas. Ever since the first time I heard a double strung harp, with its ringing sound, I thought it would be especially beautiful at Christmastime.

I hope you enjoy “The Holly and the Ivy” on lyre and zither! I know I’ve enjoyed playing it!

There’s still time to participate in my
Holiday Blogging Party!
Click the link to learn how!

Thriving on Hope #Poem

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Nature thrives on hope!
Evergreens keep their branches and color,
even when other leaves have fallen away.

Ferns blanket forest floors,
offering a soft bed, warm covering,
to all who need it.

Mountain peaks rise high above
dark valleys of this world,
reminding us… We, too, shall rise!

Hope can be a lost balloon,
perhaps stolen by a gargoyle
in the darkness, when we’re not looking.

And, when we’re not looking,
we find it in a bento box,
wrapped neatly for our opening!

Only limited by
the Boundary Waters of our awareness,
Nature thrives on hope!

—
Written for Linda Kruschke’s
Paint Chip Poetry Prompt #50.