Giving Credit

Give credit where credit is due.  This was something I stressed to the students in business class year after year.  Not infrequently a student would want to use someone else's logo or byline or idea as their own or change just a small part of it to use as their own.  I would suggest that rather than plagiarize or "steal" what someone else had worked hard on or perhaps even paid someone to come up with, there were ways they could let it inspire them to come up with their own original creation.  And if nothing else, at least ask permission to use the part that they liked.  That would be the honorable thing to do. Oh yes it is true - there is nothing new under the sun.  And then there are legal ramifications to consider. In this day of internet, facebook, and all social media it is easy to take words, ideas and content from anywhere and present it as our own.  There is a fine line between what we have been taught, have learned, have experienced in life and want to share and pass it on in our own way with our own perspective, and taking credit for someone else's work, someone else's designs or words, or their intellectual property.  Just think about it. Before you do it. And if you find yourself on the receiving end of having your work being claimed by someone else, you need to politely and firmly address the transgression.  That may be enough.  I have been in this position a few times,and only once did I need to work with an attorney.  The other times the perpetrators apologized and did give credit where credit was due.  Two of them were innocent mistakes in that they misunderstood thinking my words belonged to someone else I did not credit.  They thought they were just passing on words that they liked.  I was indeed happy that my writing inspired them enough to share it but as a writer and a teacher I have spent many years and long hours, not to mention money, into my craft and earning a living.  It is just not right for anyone to claim any part of that as their own....unless they are listing me as at least part of the resource.  It isn't ego. It's integrity, accountability, responsibility, ethics.   I have seen someone take Gandhi's quote, "Be the change you wish to see in the world," and post it on facebook as their own by rewriting it as "If you want the world to change, you must be that change."  with their name listed after it.   We all make mistakes. And not every one is living consciously.  Those of us who know or who have learned such lessons earlier in life do a good service by leading the way, shining the light, speaking up. And so I have.  And believe me, this has been a life lesson for me.  I have often "given away my power," and just allowed it to happen because I did not want to upset anyone or cause a problem.  Or let it go just to be happy that some helpfulness or knowledge was being passed on to help make the world a better place, even if it was a bit deceitful.  But then I realized that wisdom infused with deceit is less than helpful and only spreads the negative energy of it. So, better later to have learned and practiced this than never, eh?

Just Because You Can...

"Just because you can doesn't mean you should."  I do not know who first said this to me many years ago but it has served as one of those little helpful guiding voices at times when I am making a decision.

I think that guideline is a good thing to keep in mind when posting on the internet, facebook, twitter, and all the social media opportunities we have to share.  There is a common attitude that if it is out there on the internet or posted somewhere that it is fair game to respond to it any way you want, to share it with whomever you want and in some cases misquote entirely or to not give credit or acknowledge the correct source.  Of course if you don't really know the source - and this post is a perfect example - then you cannot give credit.  Or you can wait and be corrected by someone who does. But even then, there is a way to publicly, or not publicly, correct someone.  I guess that old "need to be right" takes over for some of us at some times.

What has happened to courtesy, giving the benefit of the doubt and gracious words?  Everything is not black-and-white.  If we know someone does not have their facts quite right, we ought to make sure we have our's correct before chastising them or needing to point out their mistake.  I do believe in the political arena this is almost impossible.  The right versus the left, and all the propaganda from both makes it impossible to discover what is fact if all we ever do is watch mainstream media. Yet, we see or read something and assume we are being told the truth by the people who do not want us to know the truth.  We take sides based on lies or half-truths or someone else's opinion. It is a lot of work to track down and find the truth and the facts.  Most of us just don't have the time or want to take the time to do that.  Yet in our more personal interactions with one another, it is even more important to do a fact check. We don't need to disrespect boundaries or toss all discretion aside to make things right.

Let's Go or Let Go?

There is a lot being written and said in the media about letting go, in a plethora of self-help books, and of course on Facebook.  Like many of the popular memes and quotes, everyone seems to feel the need to parrot them, share them, mention them, repeat them.  They are popular because they resonate with the majority of us.  I get that.  The "share" feature on facebook serves many purposes.  I won't bother to list what you already know.  I think sometimes this modern phenomena of sharing on facebook is something many of us grew up with.  We called it being a copycat.  I am "guilty" of that. When it resonates with us, with our path, with our beliefs, with how we would like the world to be, we repeat it. What we learn we often want to share with the world.  If we are teachers, we cannot help but share with our students. But back to this "Let Go" mantra.  If we are going to truly let go of something or someone that just is not positive or healthy or inspiring for us, then to do so in anger or unforgiveness would just mean we haven't let go at all.  Merely ignoring someone or something is not letting go. Any negative emotion attached to the letting go actually binds it to us further.  It's a paradox.  Letting go is a good thing.  Or maybe sometimes not.  You decide how you are going to let go.  May it be from a place of love, forgiveness, with the best intentions, knowing that the letting go is the best for all concerned because you realize we are all connected in some way.  Otherwise, you are not really letting go and moving on. That brings me to the "Let's Go."

Let's go implies a collaborative and cooperative effort, an agreement. C'mon, Let's Go! Let us move forward together.  Let us acknowledge that the relationship or situation is not the best for all concerned, not out of judgmental attitudes or bitter resentment or the inability to bless what was and what will be.  Let us resolve to  mutually let go from a place of peace and kindness and compassion and healing! Let's go to the next level, which may mean separately and apart, yet acknowledging that all things, all people are connected no matter how much we Let Go.  To publicly proclaim that you embrace the concept of letting go while still holding on to the negativity is not letting go at all.  So, when it's time to let go, how about offering your hand and saying Let's Go! And be truly done with it. Moving together is freeing. And if your hand is refused, you can then truly still Let Go. The situation or relationship or person will eventually catch up. Or not. But then it isn't about you anymore.  It's about them and their choice to stay attached and not let go.  Let's go!  Like someone once said, "No one ever choked to death on swallowing their pride!"

Land of Not Knowing

Last month was challenging in many ways for me.  How was your merry month of May?  It is within my favorite time of year, for one thing. So many good May memories and beautiful life-changing events have occurred throughout my life in this gloriously blooming month.  To name a few, the birth of my daughter, the birth of my first grandchild and the birth of the first true love of my life who became the father of my children. Often Memorial Day marked our first trip to the beach to stay at my mother's little summer home there in the Cape May, NJ area. There's that May word again!

I knew a big decision had to be made since several unexpected events knocked me off my feet in May.  I happened to be on beautiful Hilton Head Island when I realized I could not delay or try to finagle things to work out in the direction I already had planned.  It meant letting go of what I had been holding onto for the past several years, vacillating from total commitment on the familiar path to retiring from everything I loved doing.  It all coincided with the energy shifts many of us were experiencing during 2012-2013.  I was not used to not knowing where I was going.  I was standing atop one of the mountains in Alaska, looking out over the Magnificence just being silent and thankful, breathing it all in when the phrase came to me, "The Land of Not Knowing." Surrounded by the majesty of creation, I was humbled and peaceful as most of us are in such awareness.  It's okay to not know, and to let go of the need to know.

So last month there I was again not knowing. I put one foot over the boundary and realized I did know what I had to do.  I knew quite clearly and without any doubt.  I cried.  I smiled.  I prayed.  I meditated.  There was very clearly a way to take the next step.  So on the very last day of  May I knew I had to write a letter of resignation to a number of people and events.  As I pondered what to say and prayed for divine guidance about it, I began by writing this as a facebook post:

"Heavy rain painting us some very wet and shiny vistas just outside the house this last day of May. Goodbye May. You were a roller coaster of emotions ranging from the joy of long awaited answered prayer and happy, memorable times with family and friends to shock, sorrow, letting go and heartbreak. We received unsettling news, good news and encouraging news. We came face to face with life changing decisions and which fork in the road to take. But really, I ask myself, was this May so vastly different than any recent months? Yes. Yes, it was. And I am letting the driven rain cleanse the path of May's debris so I can keep moving forward. I think of one of my favorite Beatles' songs, "I'm fixing a hole where the rain gets in and stops my mind from wandering where it will go... And it really doesn't matter if I'm wrong I'm right where I belong... I'm taking the time for a number of things that weren't important yesterday..." Yes. It's a beautiful, rainy Saturday morning, filled with some laughter, a silly dog and easy breakfast conversation. May you, too, be surrounded by such things that mean the most to you this day."

So I wrote that email letter. I hesitated twice before hitting the send button. All but three people responded.  And every one of those responses were understanding, gracious, kind and encouraging, moving me to tears of gratitude for their wisdom and love.  It affirmed what I had been teaching and preaching for years: When you listen to that still small voice within, when you heed the call of the Divine, when you truly desire the very best outcome for everyone involved in a situation, self included, it really does all work out.  If you are in that Land of Not Knowing it can seem like forever.  It can be very unsettling.  It can be scary. But so can Knowing. Wherever you're dwelling these days, I wish you peace. 

Sound Works

I met several people over the past week and had a couple phone calls from people asking pretty much the same question about sound therapy.  They wanted to know how sound works for health or healing and why does it make us feel better.  One woman asked if she could use it separately or along with her current healing practice. I have been asked many questions from so many beautiful seekers over the years when sharing how sound might work for them as part of overall health regimen or to add to their existing healing practice.  At an event this past weekend, I was reminded that there are still many who have not heard of sound therapy, and have no understanding of the fact that everything is energy. If everything is energy(and it is), then everything has its own frequency or vibration.  If it has its own frequency, it has sound.  Everything is sound. Sound can be a powerful healing energy in the hands of a trained, experienced practitioner. In this lifetime, I was blessed with experiencing beautiful music as sound therapy being carried into this life in my musician mother's womb.

When I first started teaching others about using sound, voice and music for health, there was not a lot of formal research and documentation about it. I am thankful for those "pioneers" of modern sound healing for their work, what I learned from them, and certainly my own clients who were willing to let me use sound along with their massage and energy sessions(Reiki, Healing Touch, Chakra Balancing, Craniosacral Therapy, Polarity, Foot reflexology and numerous hands-on massage modalities).  I am still learning! The more I learn the more I see there is so much more to learn.  I frequently say that sound is a vast subject, and there are so many subjects and aspects of it!  Fortunately, in recent years due to the advances in technology and the increased interest in sound healing and sound therapy, hundreds of studies have documented not only that sound and specific frequencies may bring about healing and help us maintain health, but it also contains necessary nutrient frequencies.  Our bodies absorb sound.  We don't have to be able to literally hear something for there to be sound or for us to be effected by it.  We basically only hear between 20-20,000 Hz.  There are a few people who have increased hearing ranges, and there are many of us who hear less, especially as we age. We know that many animals have much greater hearing capacity than humans.

By entrainment and resonant frequencies or sympathetic vibrations, might even the cells of our bodies be restored to balance or harmony, i.e. their healthy frequency?  While shamans and tribal healers throughout the ages have used quite a variety of means in healing with sound, so have ancient cultures, churches and societies used it for such purposes as controlling populations, healing and warfare.  Sound is still used in this way through frequencies, types of music, specific vibrations. If you have a room full of grandfather clocks and start the pendulums at different times, within hours they will all be swinging in sync.  There is a popular YouTube video showing this happening with a movable/floating tray filled with 32 metronomes.  They start out all swinging at different degrees of the same rhythm.  Within minutes they all are swinging back and forth at the exact same time in the exact same beats per minute.  Synchronized oscillation.  While this is a mechanical example, our bodies are in constant rhythmic patterns always working for homeostasis or balance.

And yes there are frequencies that are harmful to our well being.  Think EMF's.  Electromagnetic fields, ultraviolet rays, radiation, power lines, cell phones, microwaves, televisions, computers, other appliances. We are walking around in a sea of invisible frequencies.

Sound therapy is a collaborative effort between the practitioner and the client/patient as is any type of health relationship.  When the sound therapist uses an instrument or their own voice, your being is affected by those frequencies.  Every cell, every organ, every system, every layer of your energy field have their own individual healthy frequencies.  If any of these areas are literally out of tune, the sound therapist's use of sound may help entrain the out-of-tune area back to harmony, at least temporarily. Sound is the energy of creation. "And God said, let there be..."  The spoken word is powerful! Our sound on our breath, whether speaking, singing, chanting, praying manifests!  May we be conscious of and choose thoughts and words that heal and unite rather than those which wound and divide.  Love is the purest and highest frequency.  God Is Love.  Ah, but I've digressed....back to the practical explanation... :)

As for using sound therapy along with any other practice, I personally wish all healthcare practitioners would be trained to do so. I am not saying that any other therapy, modality or treatment is not enough on its own, but I am saying that using sound may reinforce, enhance and strengthen what other healing efforts accomplish.  I have seen this repeatedly over the years in my own practice using multiple modalities. Licensed Music Therapists(4-5 years college plus internship and proficiency in musical instrument) have seen how effective music is as an adjunct treatment with patients in a variety of allopathic medical facilities. Unfortunately anyone with little or no training can call themselves a sound therapist at this point in time. There are people working to set standards and requirements for sound therapy practitioners.  "Let the buyer beware," is good to keep in mind if you are considering a session with someone who offers sound therapy.

Perhaps, next time I will discuss how to choose a qualified sound therapist.  For now, just know there is so much more than just whacking a bowl or beating the heck out of a gong or merely mimicking something you saw someone else do. One of my "revered highly knowledgeable and experienced" teachers explained that you can actually do more harm than good when you don't really know what you're doing, as harmless as it may seem.  There is a balance to be struck. (pun intended)

All of Life Is Music....

~ Peace Through Music ~

Saturday Sermon

I have been reading and hearing a fair amount of talk about illusion lately.  More specifically, how all that is and all that we are and all that we think this world is, is really an illusion.  This is not a new concept to me.  As soon as we start delving into trying to understand the mystery of life we are going to come across the teachings of the Masters who speak of the grand illusion, and all the lesser ones as well.  

I participated in a group meditation recently where we were guided to let go of third dimensional thinking, behaviors, perceptions, patterns, habits.   It was not the first such group journey for me.  I give them myself with the use of sound frequencies through a variety of instruments including my voice.  I enjoy and appreciate being able to simply partake and grow without being the leader of one. We were encouraged to move into being more love, more of who we as individuals are, to not "give away our power," and help bring the fifth dimension into reality in our own lives.  This would also serve to bring that reality more fully into the world.  To bring more love, grace, forgiveness, peace and health into this world surely is the highest calling we have. God Is Love. We must bring it to ourselves consistently or we can't bring it to anyone else.  I think this is exactly what Christ meant when he said to Love Others as You Love Yourself.  We cannot love others until we understand healthy self love.  The New Heaven and the New Earth are being birthed.  It is an exciting time to be here on Earth. (Illusion or not :) )

Many years ago I went to churches that preached Jesus first, Others second, and You(self) last.  That is actually kind of backwards when you understand the full meaning of the words of Christ.  When invited, The Christ Consciousness (or Buddha or Krishna or Jehovah or Allah or G-d or....) permeates our soul with sacred (healthy) self-love.  It is not a self-serving, fearful, insecure, insensitive, self-impressed love with a doctrine of me-itis and hatred. Two blatant symptoms of me-itis are the over-riding need to be right about your particular viewpoint or interpretation, and making mini-gods of certain theologians and gurus throughout history who have convinced you their interpretation is the "correct" one.  Never the less, could we not all at least respect one another's views? Especially views that encourage us to love one another, to forgive, to heal ourselves and one another, to make the world a better place.  I learn from them all.  I love that quote, "promote what you love instead of bashing what you don't(love or like or agree with...)." Besides, if we were motivated to win people over, kindness, love, mercy, compassion would attract me. Fear, cruelty, sarcasm, self-righteousness and anger would drive me away.  In fact, it did.

As I have studied a few other "religions" and dogma, I cannot subscribe to any of them 100% either as they continue to insist their way is the Only Way or the Best Way. I recently read an article relating that as long as you think you are better than someone else because of your "enlightenment" in any one area(spirituality, environmental, dietary, etc.), you are guilty of spiritual egoism.  As soon as we say we are "more evolved" or "more enlightened," than any other one belief or state of being, we are guilty of the ego dominating the soul, are we not?  Please know that I realize there is a difference between healthy functioning ego and narcisstic, selfish ego.  And I know there is a fine line between observation and judgment.  And the longer I live, the more I realize I don't know very much at all.  I knew so much more when I was younger. (please laugh at that tongue in cheek illusion!!) When you have found what works for you, it is beautiful that it works for you...or you work for it.  We each find our own way (or not). We each have free will and choice. We learn from the darkness and the suffering as much as we learn from the light and bliss (or not).  But what do I know? I know that I Am. 

For most of us there is the ongoing battle of varying degrees within that we must balance to become the peace we want for the world, to become the love and joy and healing we wish for others. If we don't have it internally, it cannot manifest externally.  Most of us presently still live and are very much entrenched in this third dimension.  However, the earth and her inhabitants are moving into the fifth dimension. Some of us now accept this only because science and modern technology have been able to "prove" this.  Blessed are those who have believed and yet not seen. :)   When we choose to let go of the old ways of thinking and behaving, and choose to practice and live with more love, forgiveness and respect, we are doing the most powerful thing we can, not only for ourselves but for everyone.  We have heard so many times, "you cannot fix anyone but yourself."  Yet many of us still try.  To fix others. I like what Christ said when he reminded his disciples to take the log out of their own eye first. I remember thinking that perhaps the log is so huge it has blinded some of us. Or maybe the log is an illusion, too. :) Isaiah wrote that God will make a way when there seems to be no way.  He is making a way, folks, right before our eyes! Separating the wheat from the chaff. 

Now I have come back to the illusion.  I like what Thich Nhat Hanh said, too, when he reminded us that we are here to realize the illusion that we are not separate, we are One.  Like Jesus prayed in the Garden at Gethsemane....that we would all be One.  Like Ram Dass said so beautifully, "We are all just walking each other home."  Being one doesn't mean being all the same. We are all wonderfully diverse.  We are created in God's image...all the richness, love, wisdom, peace and diversity. All the unique and specific frequencies of energy that make us individuals.  All on as many paths as there are souls. And that many illusions, if you will.  Most importantly, All on our journey home.  

Parrot

I often hear the words of a colleague a few years ago strongly admonishing me to be more of who I am and less of what I see and hear and read from others. "Stop parroting what you have heard someone else say. Just because they put themselves out there like some authority doesn't mean they're right or have the whole answer!  Be You! You've done this work a long time and have so much more to offer than only someone else's words."

At the time it really struck a note with me.  I mean literally it struck a note because we were all talking and teaching about Sound Healing.  I felt a twinge of Ouch when he said it, but the greater revelation was in my knowing he was right, and that I needed to hear that.  I can't thank him enough because that phrase, "Stop Parroting..." has come to mind most times when I want to just share or post a status on facebook, or update my sound therapy manuals for the students, or revise a workshop talk, or even just in casual conversation when I am tempted to quote someone else so as to give my own experience validity...or so I think.

I have found that I now pass that on and try to encourage others.  Now this has resulted at times in great frustration. Many people still aren't plugging into more of their authentic selves based on some of the posts I see on facebook....there is still waaay too much sharing of someone else's words in order to express or validate their own views, feelings or situations.  A little of that goes a long way.  Especially when ten or twenty of my facebook friends share the exact same post of which I have already received myself from the original poster. Oh I know about changing the settings, but then I would miss the original posts or comments in my regular newsfeed.  And I can't spend as much time on facebook as I used to.... Too many wonderful new opportunities have come into my life and there is not one minute to waste. (as if there ever was, silly me)

Why are we afraid to be more of ourselves?  Why are you hesitant?  Is it being vulnerable that is so scary? Is it lack of self confidence, low self-esteem?  Is it just laziness or lack of motivation to write your own words, to be original, creative, put yourself out there?  Do you fear rejection?  Disagreement? Judgment?  If we let others define us, we are held captive in that box called What Will People Think? Believe me, some of those reasons were/are my own. Some people are going to judge us, criticize us, find the faults anyway. Follow your heart, and let the judges and critics suck their perfect little thumbs.  Really. Yes, I did say that.

Okay, so yes it is being vulnerable.  And maybe you won't use all the right grammar or syntax, and it won't flow or be on pretty framed pictures(facebook postcards), or maybe we'll overdose on too many exclamation points!!!!!!!!! but when you do say something that causes people to respond to the real you, to your heart, to your authenticity, it is so much more rewarding.  And it is inspiring. Those who occasionally write their own inspirational thoughts are giving the rest of us a huge gift, the gift of You! And then again, you might get a few challenges to address.  Not everyone will agree. Diversity is a wonderful thing, and often ruffles our feathers(parrot feathers?) to perhaps make us consider thinking a little differently. It can be uncomfortable. And it doesn't necessarily mean someone doesn't like us if they see things differently. We all have our own filters and perspectives.  And, we are all mirrors for each other if we are looking. Of course this is not just limited to facebook postings.  You know that, right?  Sure, we often learn by imitating and copying our mentors and those who have set the standards.  But real leadership and great teachers are those who have acknowledged their mentors, then found their own way, used their own natural gifts, lived life from their hearts and inspired others to do the same. Please note that I am not saying to not share and relate those things that resonate with us, and align with who we are.  That goes hand in hand with our being who we are, choosing to encourage others with either our own words or someone who already nailed it for us.  My point here is to just encourage you to be more of you more of the time. It has been said that what we give or perhaps what we choose to post on facebook or other social media is what we ourselves most need to hear first of all!  Hmmm ....

The Dalai Lama reminded us that we need to be more of our authentic selves in order to be healed and at peace within ourselves, in order to bring that peace and harmony to the world. ( I guess I just did that parrot thing again....) I encourage you to be more you and less of someone else and *their* words.  The world needs YOU to be you.  Like Dr. Seuss said,
Be the best you that you can be and not somebody else.  Everybody else is already taken.  (or something like that :) )  Be Who You Are.  Yes, we learn from others. Yes, we quote the words of the sages and the gifted and the teachers. But if that is ALL that we do, we give nothing of the uniquely beautiful gift of ourselves.  Do you see what I am saying?

Or like my friend said, "Stop being a parrot...."