Tag Archives: Meditation

Songwriting is hard!

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Not true! But it got your attention, didn’t it?

Songwriting is as easy as eating ice cream. And no brain freeze! It doesn’t get much better than that! 😀

It’s learning someone else’s song that’s hard for me. And I don’t mean intellectually, or technically, or mentally. I mean, dare I say it, psychically and spiritually. To me, it’s like being in a box.

Why do I feel this way? Because if I write a song, it comes from within me. I don’t look outside myself for anything.

That doesn’t mean God doesn’t provide inspiration through other things. Be it nature, scripture, musical notes I heard somewhere, something someone said in passing, a timeless quote, or a feeling–yes, these inspiring things are part of many songs.

However, the song is its own. Really, it’s God’s, and it has its own purpose for being. I truly believe that, and I am blessed to be the vehicle, the vessel, that carries the song to others.

Intellectually, it’s my song. If anyone holds its copyright, I do. But I don’t think of it that way. It’s God’s song, and I get to share it. Thank You God!

But what about learning others’ songs? I love the music others share! In their own way, with their own kind of song, they’re doing the same thing I’m doing. But in order to learn their songs, I have to look way outside myself. I have to learn and emulate someone else.

Looking with-out is what metaphysicians go beyond. So for me, learning others’ songs is a form of ego gratification. And the ego always, always boxes us in!

I like others’ songs. But the reasons I want to learn them are much different from the reasons I write. If I learned songs, it would be:

* To display technical playing or vocal abilities

* To learn a technique to use in my own music

* To give people something familiar to listen to, thus making a connection with them that’s based on past experience

* Because I “couldn’t write one, so I just picked one”

These are not “bad” or “wrong” reasons! But they do come from the personal mind or ego. My human mind, which is finite and limited in its scope, came up with these reasons.

God-Mind’s reasons for me to share music, are something like these:

* To fulfill my soul’s purpose

* To impart universal truth

* To make a spiritual connection first

* To express uniqueness and individuality–because You are One with Me (God-Mind) and I wish to express through You

* To manifest and realize (bring into form and make part of my life/reality) more of God in the world

Can this be done using other people’s songs? Absolutely! Many musicians do it all the time. That’s why there are so many successful cover and tribute artists.

Can this be done by me using other people’s songs? No way! And it has nothing to do with the songs or songwriters! It’s because my purpose is to manifest God uniquely through me, not through anyone else or their creations.

You manifest God through you. John Lennon manifested God through him. And I manifest God through… You guessed it–me!

If any one of us did not exist, God would be a little less manifest. A little less visible. A little less expansive. Because unmanifest Spirit, is not “the Word made flesh.” It’s just “the Word.” It can do more! And the “more” it wants to do, the “more” God wants to do, is to be visible through each of us.

I choose to live and compose by these God-inspired reasons. I still listen to and appreciate others’ music! The world would be much less brilliant without all kinds of people making all kinds of music! However, I choose to play and share what God brings through me.

Other people’s music can enlighten in many ways. One way is to have more people learn and play it. And another is to serve as a light to another composer. If someone’s music does that for me, I’m grateful for that music, the composer, and above all to God, for orchestrating the whole thing! Because “I of myself do nothing. It is the Father within me that doeth these good works.” –Jesus Christ

We all, as songwriters and writers of our lives on Earth, are here to spread a Word. And may that Word be true, God-centered, and full of the Love that created it!

Spice of Life

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Instrument: Concert Flea ukulele

Refrain:
1. We so often take them for granted,
The seasonings we like.
And even more forget the Source,
The reason for the spice.
Refrain:

2. The herbs bring a depth to our dishes,
Preserve, and help them shine.
And life is bland outside Your plan;
So I serve You with mine.
Refrain:

3. The spices You give are so many,
Some sweet, some hot, some sour.
And every one is Yours alone,
Existing in Your Power.
Refrain: (Twice)

You are the flavor in me.

Refrain:
You are the flavor in life,
More than salt, pepper, an herb, or spice.
For You’re the Creator of each of these things,
And You are the flavor in me.

Mindsong

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Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus.
–Philippians 2:5 (KJV)

And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.
–Romans 12:2 (KJV)

The mind, the only instrument
Of truth and love and peace;
And thought, the only action played
To either start or cease.

So care well for the instrument
And music that it makes!
Though Spirit is eternal Life,
It’s thought that gives and takes.

In harmony the mind is tuned
To Heaven’s love and grace;
In discord are the thoughts that bind
And put a Hell in place.

So tune ye well the instrument
Of truth and love and peace!
And play the song of Heaven’s throng,
That makes the mind go free!

The Balloon – A Parable

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Once, a little girl found a balloon. She wanted to keep it, but it was full of air and wanted to float here and there, leaving her behind. After chasing it for a while, she realized that if she wanted to hold onto it, she would have to attach it to herself somehow. So, she tied one end of a string around the end of the balloon, and the other end to her wrist.

From then on, she did everything with that balloon. She ate with it. She went to school with it. She played with it. She slept with it. And once she even came very close to popping it.

But it was her balloon. She’d claimed it, and so it stayed with her through all her activities.

But soon the balloon began to deflate. It had been in the house, in the car, in the cold, in the heat, in restaurants, at sporting events, piano lessons, gymnastics… She’d carried it around all this time. It had become such a part of the little girl, that she hardly knew it was there anymore.

She noticed when it started to deflate, not because the balloon was smaller, but because it got in the way. It used to carry itself through doorways, just by floating like such balloons do. But now she had to pull it through doors and make sure it didn’t get stuck. Sometimes it did get stuck, and she had to stop, go back, and untangle it from the door, and sometimes from other people.

The balloon was getting to be really annoying. But how could she let it go? It was her friend, her companion, her playmate, her partner in all things. What would she do when it was gone?

One day the balloon got caught in a revolving door. That had never happened before, and it would never happen again. The string became hopelessly tangled in the doorway, and finally someone had to cut the string from her wrist.

The little girl wasn’t hurt. But the balloon she had loved for so long, that had become such a part of her life and who she thought she was, could not be saved. There was no air left in the balloon by this time anyway, but the loss was still a painful one.

Immediately, the little girl wanted another balloon. But then she realized she felt free without a string and the weight of a balloon following her around wherever she went!

Freedom was hers, at last! And yet it always had been; she just had a different idea of what freedom meant.

Freedom was not in the balloon that floated without purpose or aim. Freedom was within her, and she could choose to share it, make new friends, and still keep the Spirit that made her embrace the balloon in the first place. She was free with the balloon, until she expanded and discovered new freedom. Then, it was time for the balloon to go. It was no less loved. But it had served its time with her and done her good.

That little girl, like so many, will always remember the balloon she lost. But she will think of its gifts and smile, because it showed her what she already had: a free Spirit that, if she let it, could carry her life to heights beyond her imagination.

Music, Elemental

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Steady, planted bass of Earth
Rippling, crashing tones of Sea
Strings of fire blaze with myrth
Through the Air and rocks and trees!

Sing the song that doesn’t cease
Feel it grow in its own right
Let the music set you free
Spirit-sound is giving-Life!

Stop the music if you dare!
Better let the music soar,
For vacuums only bring despair!
While music flows, creating more!

—
Shared for Open Link Night #183 at
dVerse.

Bless’d Trinity – Mother’s Day Tribute

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We seek to know the Father
And live as Christ the Son.
But what about the Mother;
Is She not in the One?

The quiet Holy Spirit,
The comforter of men,
The counselor and teacher,
In Mother it descends.

Through mothers of all races,
The Holy Spirit flows.
Where there is Love in action,
The Mother-Presence knows.

So anyone who nurtures,
Who loves and holds a space
For Life to grow and blossom
Is in a mother’s place.

The Ghost of unseen mystery,
The clay becoming form,
It waits in all creations
As Peace within a storm.

The woman who has children,
The man who’s good and kind,
And all who offer caring
Are of the Mother-Mind.

We seek to know the Father
And live as Christ the Son.
And through the Love of Mother,
We see the All-in-One!

Poetic Peace

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Today ends National Poetry Month. Clearly, I haven’t written a poem every day as many have. But I’ve really enjoyed my favorite poets’ contributions throughout the month! Here and the following are why I use poetry as a spiritual tool.

Poetic Peace

We can say things in poetry
that we can’t say in “normal” speech.

Things we can’t say in prose,
we can say in poetry.

The image of the poet
being a little unhinged, eccentric, strange,
crazy, weird,
out there, warped,
jaded, off your rocker, a few fries short,
mystical,
transcendental,
beyond the rest of us,
out of touch with “reality,”
better than,
and yet dysfunctional…

I see this image as a blessing!

I’ve said things in speaking
I later regretted-
not because of what I said,
I make no apologies for speaking the Truth-
But for how people chose to feel about them
and how they chose to respond.

I’ve written things in articles
I didn’t feel were complete.
Yet the more I wrote,
the bigger the gap,
the deeper the chasm,
the greater the confusion,
and this, too, I regretted.

And so I return to poetry
to say what needs saying,
to pray what needs praying.

Because I know that somehow
it’s okay,
even welcomed with open arms!

And no matter the reason,
for this
I am truly grateful
to the essence of poetry
that is the essence of God!

Master

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“No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other; or else he will be devoted to one and despise the other. You can’t serve both God and Mammon.
–Matthew 6:24 World English Bible (WEB)

A reminder to seek God’s Kingdom (Heaven within) first, and everything we need will be added (Matt. 6:33). And while we’re thankful for degrees, jobs, projects, our families, friends, and accomplishments in the world, we cannot serve the world and gain lasting security.

He said to all, “If anyone desires to come after me, let him deny himself, take up his cross, and follow me. For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever will lose his life for my sake, the same will save it. For what does it profit a man if he gains the whole world, and loses or forfeits his own self?
–Luke 9″23-25 (WEB)

With this knowing in my heart, I gratefully acknowledge my Master of Metaphysical Science degree (4/4/14). But the credit is not mine; without God working through me, I would not have this and indeed would not have Life at all.

Master

Not master of others
Or master of things,
I’m master of nothing,
For God is my King.

So deep in my Heart,
My Soul and my Mind,
I turn to the Master
Beyond space and time.

Not tied to a program
Conferring degrees,
The Lord of Creation
Is Master of me.

And all that “I do”
Is done by The One.
For Love is a river,
And through me it runs.

And when I can’t see Him,
I reach for the Truth,
For to master myself
He carries me through.

Not master of others
Or master of things,
I’m master of nothing,
For God is my King.

Breath

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In the silence
I feel my Breath.

In a crowd
I’m aware of my Life.

Breath,
So much more than in and out,
A reminder of the power
To expand and contract;
To flow and to ebb.

Unseen,
Often unnoticed,
Breath is Source, Energy, Life:
Bringing Spirit into us, releasing It to others.

Inhale, exhale;
Accept, give;
Energize, relax;
Renew, release.

In the night
Breath remains wakeful.
In daytime
Breath supports.

Past,
Present,
Future–

All that was,
Is,
And is to come
Breathes with Life!

Thank You, Mother Earth

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Instrument: Lanikai LU21C concert ukulele

1. Thank you, Mother Earth.
I can feel your support.
Thank you, Mother Earth.
I am safe and secure.
Thank you, Mother Earth.
I have all that I need.
Thank you, Mother Earth.
I live fully and free.

2. Thank you, Mother Earth.
In the calmness I rest.
Thank you, Mother Earth.
In my body I’m blessed.
Thank you, Mother Earth.
I am strong. I survive.
Thank you, Mother Earth.
I am gentle and I thrive.

3. Thank you, Mother Earth,
As I give you my care.
Thank you, Mother Earth.
I’m awake and aware.
Thank you, Mother Earth,
Though upon you I trod.
Thank you, Mother Earth,
Bless’d creation of God.

Repeat 1.