Amy and I drove to the New York area Thursday, and I am currently sitting at a Borders cafe in Danbury Connecticut waiting for Amy. New York area has an interesting vibe, which attracts and repels me at the same time. Where else can you visit three states within a half hour? We were visiting friends in Fort Lee New Jersey, crossed the George Washington Bridge into New York, then headed north to Connecticut where her brother and mother live.
There are definitely possibilities here. We have a lot of friends and relatives all over the place, from Manhatten to Westhampton to New Jersey to Connecticut. Amy has work potential if she wants. There is an active music scene (of course!). Action action action! So this attracts.
This area seems to really run on money. Either you have a lot and want more, or don't have enough and want more. People run and run and run (I thought Toronto was frenetic! It's sleepy in comparison). In the circles I have been moving, material concerns seem to dominate. Of course, I know there is everything here, but this is what seems to predominate.
Upon reflection, I realize that I am moving in the other direction. I think my favourite moments have been at brother-in-law Michael and Lisa's place outside of Stamford. Though I wouldn't say it is totally out in the woods, for the first time in a while I experienced the healing energy of quiet, trees and birds, and a beautiful peaceful natural environment. This is what I most crave, this is what puts me in touch with the divine energy, and this is where I most feel my soul. Nature is the easiest way to connect to the soul. We have been in Toronto for a while without leaving for "nature", and these few hours in "the woods" remind me of where my heart is.
So for me the trick is finding the balance between working for material and other gains, being busy trying to "accomplish", and having the time and space to be truly in the moment. They can happen together, but I tend to get caught up in the treadmill, and after a while my mind begins the loop of "I'm not doing enough, I'm not successful enough, I don't have enough, I'm not good enough" and so on.
Do you find that too?
I know I can find the stillness in Toronto, or Manhatten or Delhi or anywhere. I know that spirit is everywhere, always available, always present, and that I cover it up with mental energy and forget to access it wherever I am. So this is the work I am doing on myself, to always remember to tune into that healing natural divine energy wherever I am.
Looking forward to returning to Toronto later this evening. Also looking forward to my upcoming concert, video recording event June 5. Also looking forward to B.C. days coming soon! Lots of good stuff going on, and I need to remember!
Monday, May 24, 2010
Wednesday, May 12, 2010
Catching up
Hello fellow bloggers and blog readers!
I have been remiss - haven't posted in weeks, and lots has been happening, so let's get up to date:
Musical activities have included coaching my students, which is fun and rewarding for me, and I hope for them too! I am learning as I teach, and each student has their own goals, desires, strengths and areas of weakness or lacking experience really. So I am trying to help them to strengthen those areas and enjoy themselves as much as possible. I would love to see this little practice grow, so any of you out there who play or sing and want to grow your music, individually or in little groups, please contact me and let's talk...
I led a little musical service at our synagogue - Darchei Noam - last Shabbat, featuring lots of Shlomo melodies, and stories about our experiences in India related to spirituality, teachers and the oneness of all beings. We also talked (it was really interactive) about how it is more difficult here in Toronto to openly talk or display our spiritual energies, outside of religious places, yoga, meditation classes and so on. And how even saying hello to people can connect our spirits together (thanks Amy!). I asked everyone to think about one teacher who has inspired them in their lives, and to talk a little about thatn and I spoke about many teachers who have helped me. We sang together, we took some time to breathe and be silent. It was a really nice experience for me (and hopefully for others). I hope to do it again.
I also was the "Wedding Pianist" for the daughter of a friend, whose main request was for the cocktail hour after the ceremony: "Bob Marley, Bob Marley, and Bob Marley". Well okay - it could be a lot worse! Of course, playing an hour of Marley tunes on solo piano, no microphone, 400 people, no vocals, is a little challenging, but I did get to work up 11 or 12 Marley tunes, which were fun to play. Hope everyone enjoyed them! Nice wedding too, sweet couple, lots of happiness! I wish them well! So I am opening up to more types of performance opportunities as I continue to focus on music as a means of living (is that an oxymoron?). Well, slowly slowly, and it's fun!
And I have this special concert coming up June 5 at Marigold Studios, with Andy Frank and his team coming in to record with 3 HD video cameras. So hopefully I will finally have some professional quality video of my tunes that I can post to the web and get out there a little further. Andy is with Roots Music Canada, a great organization with Andy and Dave Newland as main inspirational leaders. Check out rootsmusic.ca to see some of the great work they are doing to champion Canadian original music artists. I am getting more involved with this group, seeing if I can assist with sales and marketing initiatives. I think they really have something!
I also wanted to share that since my return from India, I have managed to keep a piece of that light alive - though it sometimes is hard to feel. I have deepened my Yoga practice, doing more daily, sitting to meditate daily, and remembering to breathe and be in that state during the day wherever I am as often as I can. This is making a real difference in my outlook on life and its ups and downs. When I tune into that space, everything is good, problems are not of the moment, only in the past and future, and now is perfect. So this is my practice. I am not a yogi! I break lots of yogi rules (whatever they are), but I do practice Yoga in many forms and it is an important part of my life. I highly recommend it!
So that's what I wanted to share today. Above: Pic of Amy, me and our grandson Oscar at the ROM in April. Speak soon!
I have been remiss - haven't posted in weeks, and lots has been happening, so let's get up to date:
Musical activities have included coaching my students, which is fun and rewarding for me, and I hope for them too! I am learning as I teach, and each student has their own goals, desires, strengths and areas of weakness or lacking experience really. So I am trying to help them to strengthen those areas and enjoy themselves as much as possible. I would love to see this little practice grow, so any of you out there who play or sing and want to grow your music, individually or in little groups, please contact me and let's talk...
I led a little musical service at our synagogue - Darchei Noam - last Shabbat, featuring lots of Shlomo melodies, and stories about our experiences in India related to spirituality, teachers and the oneness of all beings. We also talked (it was really interactive) about how it is more difficult here in Toronto to openly talk or display our spiritual energies, outside of religious places, yoga, meditation classes and so on. And how even saying hello to people can connect our spirits together (thanks Amy!). I asked everyone to think about one teacher who has inspired them in their lives, and to talk a little about thatn and I spoke about many teachers who have helped me. We sang together, we took some time to breathe and be silent. It was a really nice experience for me (and hopefully for others). I hope to do it again.
I also was the "Wedding Pianist" for the daughter of a friend, whose main request was for the cocktail hour after the ceremony: "Bob Marley, Bob Marley, and Bob Marley". Well okay - it could be a lot worse! Of course, playing an hour of Marley tunes on solo piano, no microphone, 400 people, no vocals, is a little challenging, but I did get to work up 11 or 12 Marley tunes, which were fun to play. Hope everyone enjoyed them! Nice wedding too, sweet couple, lots of happiness! I wish them well! So I am opening up to more types of performance opportunities as I continue to focus on music as a means of living (is that an oxymoron?). Well, slowly slowly, and it's fun!
And I have this special concert coming up June 5 at Marigold Studios, with Andy Frank and his team coming in to record with 3 HD video cameras. So hopefully I will finally have some professional quality video of my tunes that I can post to the web and get out there a little further. Andy is with Roots Music Canada, a great organization with Andy and Dave Newland as main inspirational leaders. Check out rootsmusic.ca to see some of the great work they are doing to champion Canadian original music artists. I am getting more involved with this group, seeing if I can assist with sales and marketing initiatives. I think they really have something!
I also wanted to share that since my return from India, I have managed to keep a piece of that light alive - though it sometimes is hard to feel. I have deepened my Yoga practice, doing more daily, sitting to meditate daily, and remembering to breathe and be in that state during the day wherever I am as often as I can. This is making a real difference in my outlook on life and its ups and downs. When I tune into that space, everything is good, problems are not of the moment, only in the past and future, and now is perfect. So this is my practice. I am not a yogi! I break lots of yogi rules (whatever they are), but I do practice Yoga in many forms and it is an important part of my life. I highly recommend it!
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