Here is a link to a video I saw today that is very powerful and very poignant. I am somewhat pleasantly surprised at what I’m finding out about who he was in his deepest truth. I cried all the way through this.... It’s pretty intense but persevering to the end of it is definitely worthwhile. Michael Jackson Earth Song: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qYHguBEXkac
And here are some wonderful quotes:
“CONSCIOUSNESS EXPRESSES ITSELF THROUGH CREATION. THIS WORLD WE LIVE IN IS THE DANCE OF THE CREATOR. DANCERS COME AND GO IN THE TWINKLING OF AN EYE, BUT THE DANCE LIVES ON. ON MANY AN OCCASION WHEN I AM DANCING, I HAVE FELT TOUCHED BY SOMETHING SACRED. IN THOSE MOMENTS, I FELT MY SPIRIT SOAR AND BECAME ONE WITH EVERYTHING THAT EXISTS.” ~Michael Jackson
“I BECOME THE STARS AND THE MOON. I BECOME THE LOVER AND THE BELOVED. I BECOME THE VICTOR AND THE VANQUISHED. I BECOME THE MASTER AND THE SLAVE. I BECOME THE SINGER AND THE SONG. I BECOME THE KNOWER AND THE KNOWN. I KEEP ON DANCING THEN IT IS THE ETERNAL DANCE OF CREATION. THE CREATOR AND CREATION MERGE INTO ONE WHOLENESS OF JOY. I KEEP ON DANCING… AND DANCING… AND DANCING, UNTIL THERE IS ONLY… THE DANCE.” ~Michael Jackson
This video is more poignant for me now than it was when it was made in the 80's. I had forgotten that Michael Jackson was involved in this project. It deserves a new look now -- it's a refreshing re-membering of this wakeup call from these musicians.
I was never much of a fan of Michael Jackson, but it’s not that I disliked him either. Although I have always recognized him as a very talented person, his music never really thrilled me – it was just not “my style.” I looked at his life with sort of a mental shrug – he was an enigma. He always seemed so troubled, so damaged, so vulnerable. I read the reports of his “wrongdoings” with another mental shrug. I never got the impression that he was an “evil” person (for want of a better word) but I never saw him as a WHOLE person, either. I just never could decide what to believe about him, so I left him as a mental question mark in my awareness of public people.
Deepak Chopra, on the other hand, has been one of my favorite public people, and I have long admired and respected him and his work in the world. So it was with interest that I received and read this statement from Deepak about his friendship with Michael Jackson.
I DO respect Deepak’s opinion of Michael Jackson. Read on, if you wish…… _____________
A TRIBUTE TO MY FRIEND, MICHAEL JACKSON By Deepak Chopra Huffington Post June 26, 2009
Michael Jackson will be remembered, most likely, as a shattered icon, a pop genius who wound up a mutant of fame. That's not who I will remember, however. His mixture of mystery, isolation, indulgence, overwhelming global fame, and personal loneliness was intimately known to me. For twenty years I observed every aspect, and as easy as it was to love Michael -- and to want to protect him -- his sudden death yesterday seemed almost fated.
Two days previously he had called me in an upbeat, excited mood. The voice message said, "I've got some really good news to share with you." He was writing a song about the environment, and he wanted me to help informally with the lyrics, as we had done several times before. When I tried to return his call, however, the number was disconnected. (Terminally spooked by his treatment in the press, he changed his phone number often.) So I never got to talk to him, and the music demo he sent me lies on my bedside table as a poignant symbol of an unfinished life.
When we first met, around 1988, I was struck by the combination of charisma and woundedness that surrounded Michael. He would be swarmed by crowds at an airport, perform an exhausting show for three hours, and then sit backstage afterward, as we did one night in Bucharest, drinking bottled water, glancing over some Sufi poetry as I walked into the room, and wanting to meditate.
That person, whom I considered (at the risk of ridicule) very pure, still survived -- he was reading the poems of Rabindranath Tagore when we talked the last time, two weeks ago. Michael exemplified the paradox of many famous performers, being essentially shy, an introvert who would come to my house and spend most of the evening sitting by himself in a corner with his small children. I never saw less than a loving father when they were together (and wonder now, as anyone close to him would, what will happen to them in the aftermath).
Michael's reluctance to grow up was another part of the paradox. My children adored him, and in return he responded in a childlike way. He declared often, as former child stars do, that he was robbed of his childhood. Considering the monstrously exaggerated value our society places on celebrity, which was showered on Michael without stint, the public was callous to his very real personal pain. It became another tawdry piece of the tabloid Jacko, pictured as a weird changeling and as something far more sinister.
It's not my place to comment on the troubles Michael fell heir to from the past and then amplified by his misguided choices in life. He was surrounded by enablers, including a shameful plethora of M.D.s in Los Angeles and elsewhere who supplied him with prescription drugs. As many times as he would candidly confess that he had a problem, the conversation always ended with a deflection and denial. As I write this paragraph, the reports of drug abuse are spreading across the cable news channels. The instant I heard of his death this afternoon, I had a sinking feeling that prescription drugs would play a key part.
The closest we ever became, perhaps, was when Michael needed a book to sell primarily as a concert souvenir. It would contain pictures for his fans but there would also be a text consisting of short fables. I sat with him for hours while he dreamily wove Aesop-like tales about animals, mixed with words about music and his love of all things musical. This project became "Dancing the Dream" after I pulled the text together for him, acting strictly as a friend. It was this time together that convinced me of the modus vivendi Michael had devised for himself: to counter the tidal wave of stress that accompanies mega-stardom, he built a private retreat in a fantasy world where pink clouds veiled inner anguish and Peter Pan was a hero, not a pathology.
This compromise with reality gradually became unsustainable. He went to strange lengths to preserve it. Unbounded privilege became another toxic force in his undoing. What began as idiosyncrasy, shyness, and vulnerability was ravaged by obsessions over health, paranoia over security, and an isolation that grew more and more unhealthy. When Michael passed me the music for that last song, the one sitting by my bedside waiting for the right words, the procedure for getting the CD to me rivaled a CIA covert operation in its secrecy.
My memory of Michael Jackson will be as complex and confused as anyone's. His closest friends will close ranks and try to do everything in their power to insure that the good lives after him. Will we be successful in rescuing him after so many years of media distortion? No one can say. I only wanted to put some details on the record in his behalf. My son Gotham traveled with Michael as a roadie on his "Dangerous" tour when he was thirteen. Will it matter that Michael behaved with discipline and impeccable manners around my son? (It sends a shiver to recall something he told Gotham: "I don't want to go out like Marlon Brando. I want to go out like Elvis." Both icons were obsessions of this icon.)
His children's nanny and surrogate mother, Grace Rwamba, is like another daughter to me. I introduced her to Michael when she was eighteen, a beautiful, heartwarming girl from Rwanda who is now grown up. She kept an eye on him for me and would call me whenever he was down or running too close to the edge. How heartbreaking for Grace that no one's protective instincts and genuine love could avert this tragic day. An hour ago she was sobbing on the telephone from London. As a result, I couldn't help but write this brief remembrance in sadness. But when the shock subsides and a thousand public voices recount Michael's brilliant, joyous, embattled, enigmatic, bizarre trajectory, I hope the word "joyous" is the one that will rise from the ashes and shine as he once did.
________________________________________
I do respect and honor the Divine Being that Michael Jackson is, in Essence, as we all are. Rest in Peace, Michael.
Blessings, Cathryn www.moonsinger.com www.dancingpeace.blogspot.com http://sites.google.com/site/dupnaz/ "We are travelers in a cosmic journey - star dust, swirling and dancing in the eddies and whirlpools of infinity. Life is eternal. But the expressions of life are ephemeral, momentary, transient. Buddha once said "This existence of ours is as transient as autumn clouds. To watch the birth and death of beings is like looking at the movements of a dance. A lifetime is like a flash of lightning in the sky." We have stopped for a moment to encounter each other, to meet, to love, to share. This is a precious moment, but it is transient. It is a little parenthesis in eternity. If we share with caring, light heartedness and love, we will create abundance and joy for each other. And then this moment will have been worthwhile." ~Deepak Chopra
I just finished one of my all-time favorite books!
My Cat Saved My Life is a lovely short book about a man who, at a time in his life of great depths of depression and despair, takes in a stray kitten, whom he names Alice, and the remarkable relationship that develops between them. Every once in awhile you find an author who has such an exquisite way with words that the story is ALIVE on the page. Phillip Schriebman is one of those authors.
One of the reviews of the book at www.amazon.com says: “The author, while ostensibly telling a story about his cat, very eloquently delves into the ultimate question of the mystery of being. This is a very spiritual book, written almost like a poem. A gem. A rare treat.” TR – Colorado
This is a meditation on life and death, and the exquisite mystery of being in Creation. I loved it. It is arranged in short chapters of one to 4 or 5 pages, so there are lots of good stopping places if you only have a few minutes to read. They are like fascinating little short films in the lives of Alice and Phillip. Below are a couple of excerpts I particularly enjoyed….
This picture is of an actual kitten named Alicia who is available for adoption at the Best Friends Animal Society in Kanab, UT, which is just an amazing place and a fabulous story in itself. (Thank you, Pati, for introducing me to Best Friends.) I visited Best Friends last summer on the way home from the Dance camp I went to, and I was awestruck. If you ever get a chance to go there – DO! It’s huge and beautiful and they do amazing work there.
From Chapter 16, Cat Talking:
And purring was a language that Alice spoke to me. When she sat on my lap and let me know that life was good and we were pals, the engine in her throat and chest would sing like a pump house. I didn’t have to guess if she were having a good time; Alice broadcast her enjoyment of the situation. But her purring was not confined to communicating with me.
She purred sometimes just sitting in the sun; I would come upon her like that. This is how I realized that cats appreciate the world when they are in it. Their actions were not only those of defense and survival. Part of Alice’s time was spent simply enjoying being alive. Her purring was a kind of prayer being sent out into the universe, a joyful song praising the wonder of living.
From watching Alice, I began to understand a little of what the Kabbalah meant by Creation. It was not only a place and the concept of that place; it was also the experience in that place. It was a way of being, the way. “Creation” was the experience of being, of living totally in the immediacy of the moment (time) and the spot (space) where you were. That was what Alice did for those moments in her spots of contemplation. She was experiencing Creation with all her energies.
Chapter 28, The Cat’s Hymn:
And the cat sings: “Let everything that hath breath praise the Lord. Praise ye the Lord.” ~The Legends of the Jews, Louis Ginzberg, The Jewish Publication Society, 1909.
Some of you may remember the Dance of Universal Peace that Daniel in Prescott likes to lead… Kol HaN’shama, tihalel Ya, Allelujah, which Daniel translates as “All Beings that breathe sing God’s name.”
A couple of things to inspire some laughter - Thank you Jane and Gena!
The Best Smart Ass Answers of 2009!!
SMART ASS ANSWER #6
It was mealtime during an airline flight. “Would you like dinner?” the flight attendant asked John, seated in front. “What are my choices?” John asked. “Yes or no,” she replied.
SMART ASS ANSWER #5
A flight attendant was stationed at the departure gate to check tickets. As a man approached, she extended her hand for the ticket and he opened his trench coat and flashed her. Without missing a beat, she said, “Sir, I need to see your ticket, not your stub.”
SMART ASS ANSWER #4
A lady was picking through the frozen turkeys at the grocery store but she couldn't find one big enough for her family. She asked a stock boy, “Do these turkeys get any bigger?” The stock boy replied, “No ma'am, they're dead.”
SMART ASS ANSWER #3
The police officer got out of his car as the kid who was stopped for speeding rolled down his window. “I've been waiting for you all day,” the officer said. The kid replied, “Yeah, well I got here as fast as I could.” When the cop finally stopped laughing, he sent the kid on his way without a ticket.
SMART ASS ANSWER #2
A truck driver was driving along on the freeway and noticed a sign that read: Low Bridge Ahead. Before he knows it, the bridge is right in front of him and his truck gets wedged under it. Cars are backed up for miles. Finally a police car comes up. The cop gets out of his car and walks to the truck driver, puts his hands on his hips and says, “Got stuck, huh?” The truck driver says, “No, I was delivering this bridge and I ran out of gas.”
SMART ASS ANSWER OF THE YEAR 2009!!
A college teacher reminds her class of tomorrow's final exam. “Now class, I won't tolerate any excuses for you not being here tomorrow. I might consider a nuclear attack or a serious personal injury, illness, or a death in your immediate family, but that's it, no other excuses whatsoever!” A smart-ass student in the back of the room raised his hand and asked, “What would you say if tomorrow I said I was suffering from complete and utter sexual exhaustion?” The entire class is reduced to laughter and snickering. When silence was restored, the teacher smiled knowingly at the student, shook her head and sweetly said, “Well, I guess you'd have to write the exam with your other hand.”
A BONUS EXTRA
A woman is standing nude looking in the bedroom mirror. She is not happy with what she sees and says to her husband, “I feel horrible; I look old, fat and ugly. I really need you to pay me a compliment.” The husband replies, “Your eyesight's damn near perfect.”
__________________________
And here is a great video: The Bodhisattva of the Metro
It takes a couple of minutes to get to the best part…. but the beginning is a good frame of reference for what happens!
Enjoy!
Blessings, Shakura Cathryn www.moonsinger.com www.dancingpeace.blogspot.com http://sites.google.com/site/dupnaz/ "Our strongest wanting for you is that you lighten up. In other words, spend more time looking for things to laugh about and play with. Play your way through this. It really is the key. When you follow your bliss it is always an easy journey." ~Abraham
Last Tuesday my friend Sophia and I went grocery shopping, and there in the floral department of Safeway, they had these incredibly beautiful peonies! I couldn't walk past them. I had to buy them and take them home.
This is a flower I don't have much experience with. They were not around in my childhood as they require a colder winter rest period than Houston provides. So, while I had seen pictures of them, I never really realized how BIG these flowers are! These blossoms are about 7 to 8 inches across when fully opened.
I have enjoyed them so much! And I was also not aware that they change color as they age, going from a deep and rich rosey pink to almost white..... and every shade so lovely!
Mmmmm. I'm awestruck!
Blessings, Shakura Cathryn www.moonsinger.com www.dancingpeace.blogspot.com “Every person: God. Every animal, every plant: God. Everything: God, God! The slightest contact is worship.” ~Ivan M. Granger
Another T-Mobile event.... look how much fun these people are having, singing together! I love it! I wish all people would sing regularly -- it just FEELS SO GOOD! I think we'd be a happier planet with more singing.
Blessings, Shakura Cathryn www.moonsinger.com www.dancingpeace.blogspot.com “In my heart I see a singing planet, many people gathering in different places on the globe to sing, dance and pray together. In so doing sacred space is created, moments where we are reminded of the love and harmony which is our essence and birthright.” ~Barbara Swetina, Findhorn Community
This is a beautiful recording of this healing mantra. Karunamayi (www.karunamayi.org) recommends that we say or sing this mantra out loud for healing, as the sound of these ancient Sanskrit words vibrate the cells in our bodies. It is also recommended to use this mantra while cooking your food, to bring healing energy into the food.
Home: Earth From Above Creator's Documentary To Air Friday 6/5
Source: Huffington Post
"Home," a documentary by Yann Arthus-Bertrand, renowned photographer of "Earth From Above" fame, will air this Friday on the National Geographic Channel at 9 p.m. It is also being shown at discounted rates in some theaters, for free in open-air screenings, on YouTube and 80 TV channels, and sold, sometimes at a discount, on DVDs around the world.
This Friday is World Environment Day and the big event will be the global premiere of the environmental film Home. Narrated by Glenn Close and directed by Yann Arthus-Bertrand, the photographer and author of Earth From Above, the film can be seen in movie theaters, on DVD, and for free on television and the Internet.
The documentary about environmental issues, which was filmed in 50 countries and shot entirely from the sky in high definition, is a commentary on the major environmental and social issues challenging our world and calls for a new awareness that protecting the earth is indispensable. The premise: In 200,000 years on Earth, humanity has upset the balance of the planet, established by nearly four billion years of evolution. The price to pay is high as humankind has barely 10 years to reverse the trend, become aware of the full extent of the Earth’s riches and change its patterns of consumption.
Arthus-Bertrand’s collaborators on the project were producer/director Luc Besson and Francois-Henri Pinault, the chief executive of the French luxury group PPR, which is the majority shareholder of PUMA and the world exclusive partner for the film.
“Creating awareness of our environment’s emergency state is crucial and the first step for an improved handling of our natural resources,” Jochen Zeitz, chairman and CEO of PUMA, said in a statement. “In line with our PUMAVision concept, PUMA has implemented numerous environmental initiatives through various programs that aim at reducing our ‘paw print’ — the effects that PUMA’s operations and actions have on the environment. The Home film inspires us to work towards making a positive contribution to our planet.”
Blessings, Cathryn www.moonsinger.com www.dancingpeace.blogspot.com "Have you ever considered how much the blooming flowers, the singing birds, the laughter of children, the contentment of our neighbors and the silent joy of the earth and sky impact and contribute to our happiness and peace of mind? Focus on that and when you quiet your worries, you will hear the song of the new world." ~Author unknown to me.
I am shocked to find that three of my inboxes – and their address books – have disappeared into cyberspace. The computer goes to the hospital tomorrow, to see if those lost files can be retrieved. So, I might not be responding to e-mails for a day or two.
If you are used to using the following addresses to correspond with me I can still read any e-mails you send me now through the webmail program, but I may have lost your e-mail address. singingmoon(at)commspeed.net dancing-moon(at)commspeed.net lunabelsona(at)commspeed.net
Aaaaaiiiiiiiiieeeeeee!
Change Happens, Cathryn www.moonsinger.com www.dancingpeace.blogspot.com "I read somewhere there's actually a software product called 'Microsoft Works.' Isn't that kind of an oxymoron?" ~James Ballot
Please don't any of you smug mac users send me any "I told you so" e-mails. I hear you loud and clear already!
This is the place for all the things that I'm grateful for.... Things I love, things that make me laugh, things that fill me with awe and appreciation -- or things that are so surprising they make the weird sh*t-o-meter dance all around!
Gotta love it!MUSIC NOTES~If you would enjoy some music with your reading, there are THREE MUSIC PLAYERS at the bottom of this page. CHOOSE the one you want to listen to.... or not ;-).The music on each player will play in random order, but you can scroll through the list and choose specific songs by clicking on the song name. The music in the RED PLAYER is a selection of my favorite songs from the 50's (OMG, my age is showing) to recent -- the Soundtrack of My Life! The GREEN PLAYER is a work in progress, containing more relatively new music I've discovered in the last few years -- or didn't have room for in the red player.And the BLUE PLAYER contains some really old rock and R&B from the 50's and 60's, for a blast from the past!
If you want to watch a video and there is music playing, just PAUSE the music player so you won't be hearing two different sound sources.
I love to sing, I love to dance, I love to create beauty, I love essential oils, and creating fabulous essential oil blends. I love creating beautiful beaded jewelry. I love prayer and healing and laughter. And CATS!
Please visit me in multiple sectors of cyberspace:
www.moonsinger.net
www.moonsinger.com
www.dup-naz.org
www.moonsingeressentials.blogspot.com
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/moonsinger/
www.youngliving.org/dancingmoon
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/DUP-NAZ
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/azcc/
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/LunaToons/
I am the creator and moderator of the Arizona Conscious Connections Yahoogroup [AZCC]. It's a announcement-only group for listings of events or other things which are of positive intention. Please visit the group at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/AZCC/. If you are a member and would like to help support the group, please use the donation below to make a contribution of any size. All donations are SO very appreciated!
