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Posts tagged ‘music’

Monday’s discovery

Early mornings find me quietly enjoying the creativity and thoughts of my fellow bloggers. anticipating my first cuppa ice-cold coffee, when Marga Demmers’ blog opens up..   The Photographer Smiled   It was a fun read, and got me thinking about where I put my singing lids.  You have all heard of singing bowls, yes?

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Singing bowls (also known as Tibetan Singing Bowls, rin gongs, Himalayan bowls or suzu gongs) are a type of bell, specifically classified as a standing bell. Rather than hanging inverted or attached to a handle, singing bowls sit with the bottom surface resting, and the rim vibrates to produce sound characterized by a fundamental frequency (first harmonic) and usually two audible harmonic overtones (second and third harmonic).[citation needed]

Singing bowls are used worldwide for meditation, music, relaxation, and personal well-being. Singing bowls were historically made throughout Asia, especially Nepal, China and Japan. They are closely related to decorative bells made along the Silk Road from the Near East to Western Asia. Today they are made in Nepal, India, Japan, China and Korea.   – source Wikipedia

You can read more about the bowls on Wikipedia, I have a small collection, I love the sound produced in the older, (antique) bowls, they produce a harmonic overtone that resonates with me.  The complex harmonic frequencies simply “speak” volumes to me.  Each voice is unique. The hand-made bowls are my preference.

Modern bowls today, are manufactured.  However, if you search you can still find newer ones that have been made in the traditional way.  I admit to being a bit of a snob when it came to the bowls.. I went out of my way to search out and find just the “right” ones (for me and my uses)

I used them in my personal meditation and prayers, and with students and “clients”  To this day, the sound of a bowl will ring out in the day or night-time atmosphere, as I allow myself to drift with the vibration and sound.  The longer the bowl sings, the deeper the journey.

The bowls will sing if you run your wooden instrument along its sides, caressing it with a gently rhythm, or you can gently tap it with the leather or covered end of your mallet.. (personal preferences are many)

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Rin gong at Kiyomizu-dera Kyoto

work by Michael Maggs click for more info

Those of us who enjoy and use the singing bowls, are passionate about them, and many will often give performances or demonstrations of just how melodic and  mind satisfying the voices are.  I play only for my own enjoyment and purposes.. however, many practice and use the bowl to play for large audiences.

Having a fondness for the bowls, you know that as I travelled and made my way around “treasure” shops, I looked for bowls that had been cast off, or simply given away, the previous owner thinking them merely decorative. while on such a hunt I happened to be in the aisle where they had on display pots, pans, lids and other household items.  We had a pot that needed a cover.. so I was idly picking up different lids when I was jarred to attention, when this one lid sang to me.  What… it was ugly, heavy and battered looking.. to be sure, I found myself a wooden stirring stick, and tentatively gave it a tap… WOW….  zing went the strings of my heart.

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Love can happen when you least expect it to.  It is just something that happens, we can go out and search all we like, but it is when we are ready, and open to the experience that we become naturally receptive to the  calling, “voice” of another.

LOL all this to say…   thanks to Marga, I dug out my lids ( I later found the one on the right, at home, waiting for me to see it just wasn’t a lid)

Love beckons from strange places, and when you least expect it.  Isn’t Love Grand!!!!

HAPPY MONDAY EVERYONE

Namaste     –      Oyashikiri

Texas, the Narrows

Austing,Texas the Narrows

There is something about this picture that draws my eye I want to be there

True I’m not a swimmer I don’t usually seek out water, but there is something here

that makes me want to be sitting there in the sunlight, basking in the sun

minus the people there, I think I would like to be there one my  own

I imagine that there would be a quiet, and a serenity, with perhaps the sounds of wild life

coming in from above.  Maybe people off in the distance, but not right there.

It is not always easy these days to find places that exude quiet, tranquility.

You’ve hard or read that David Bowie passed away, after a somewhat lengthy battle with cancer.

One of his songs that made the biggest impression on me was Space Oddity, it came out in the late 60’s but I didn’t really know it till much later.  When I did hear it, it stuck with me.

David’s Space Oddity  I hope you are able to click on this link and hear the song.   the other song  he did was China Girl, which he wrote in France.  David sings China Girl  I was young enough to day dream about what the song meant to him in his life.

I’ve never been to Texas.  After seeing this picture of the Narrows,  near or in Austin area, I think I’d like to explore more. That is what life is all about isn’t it.  Travelling through life, enjoying the different adventures and challenges that come our way.

At a function this evening I met up with a friend who told me she was going to call it quits, “really!” I exclaimed, “you just partnered!!” ” after a silence, she replied “yes but I have only seen him for about half an hour in so many days.” “but, isn’t it about the quality of your time?” “No, if I’m going to be on my own, I can do that by myself”

Sound familiar?   I don’t see life that way, I feel that when we have friends, we enjoy them to the fullest whether they are with us or not.  It is not for their physical presence that we care about them, it is for the person they are.  Each and every person in your life is a gift. I myself am responsible for my happiness.  If I am not happy it is my choice, it is not someone else’s fault, it is my own.

What do you think?

 

PL Precept # 6   Efface your self-conceptions

Pl Precept # 7 Everything exists in Relativity

When you meet someone who truly touches your heart,there is never any question or doubt that the love is forever. Your paths can part, you can be miles apart, but that person will always be in your heart. True love is unconditional and it is forever.

Namaste       –       Oyashikiri

white lotus

When we love

when we are happy

there is nothing

that is impossible

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shared music

Native music & song

Welcome to a bright new day.

Namaste –    Oyashikiri

 

invisible

new 50's club_005    new 50's club_002

Seems we missed a great time in history., I meet many interesting people in my day to day, many seniors, white hair, gray some stooped, some very active who have kept the same colour for years..so are still brunettes, blondeds, etc… there eyes light up and sparkle when they speak of “the days when”  Some of you, may or may not venture into the many virtual worlds that are now popping up all over, you can access them through FaceBook, either read about them or see pictures friends have posted.

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Last night I had the opportunity of visiting a virtual club where a very good friend entertains on Wednesday evening with recorded music.  She grew up with the big band sounds, and she was playing them last night, what a turn out the club had. DJ Yume as she is called in the virtual world,  in the physical world is a modern-day diva, she works, lives and is active in her community, but volunteers some nights to entertain the virtual community.  For two hours she plays non stop tunes of the various eras she has programmed for the evening’s    entertainment. The guests all come dressed in costume to enjoy the party.

Who are these guests, having now spent many many years on virtual platforms, I know many are shut ins, or care givers, people who for one reason or another cannot get out to “kick up their heels”.. they are stay at home moms/dads, young men and woman who due to circumstances find themselves tied to the house, their contact and way of meeting others who share their need for social interaction.  People like DJ Yume, Tango and Peggy the owners of the club, they work very hard to provide the space, and the talent, so that others can enjoy.

Where in the physical world, they can feel invisible… on the virtual platform, they can be anyone they want to be.  Keep in mind that the number 1 rule in virtual worlds… is that kindness is key.. behind every avatar, there is a human being sitting at a computer.  We gather, we play, we chat and have fun… yes.. genuine heart-felt laughter.. there are no distractions, we talk across the miles… we are not invisible.

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slow down

Lady in red, is Kyra Wyldfire and the builder of the new 50’s club you see in the first pictures.  She also owns and operates her own  blues club on the InworldZ platform (Rocking the Blues).  It sits on a beautiful sim, of bayou country   Kyra built the 50’s club on the Canadian grid, The Great Canadian Grid.    A very talented woman, a survivor, she manages her day-to-day life, her family and still makes time to come in to share with friends who love and care for her on the virtual platforms.

We are no invisible, we are real.

Spread your wings today… smile… show someone you care…

Namaste     –     Oyashikiri

wwwgreatcanadiangrid.ca

http://www.secondlife.com

http://www.inworldz.com

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the Potoo bird and….

WE can learn a lot from Nature.

We  don’t have a camera on us recording all we do during the day/night

What if we did?

May the relaxing sounds of nature, bring a joyful peace into your day, now and always.

Namaste      –      Oyashikiri

PL Precept # 11   –   Always be with God

Film clip by Christian Mulhauser (Switzerland)

Music by Robert Cacciapaglia

Sometimes I like to share with you moments that are special, and work done by other creative artists. This is such a time. We may not get to some of the wonderful vistas I share with you, but the amazing artists who took the pictures, created the music or made the videos are people who  I am eternally grateful to … They bring me  parts of the world I would  never likely see on my own.

And YOU dear reader are part of my life, my dreams, and my adventure.

Namaste     –     Oyashikiri

The X season

Good Day to you all... I hope that wherever you are the season is cheery and warm, happy and breezy.  It is the X season!   Xmas is everywhere.  Xmas trees are being sold in parking lots, malls and business are decked out in garlands of bright shining lights and the music from present and past seasons that are played at this time of the year, are filling the air in most public areas.  You can’t miss that this is the month of December, last month of the year, and where the shops are geared up to sell, sell, sell.

Certain agencies take advantage of the season, and spend dollars putting ads on that ask for your money for strangers in way off countries.  And  not to leave the animals out, some  post e and share awful and terrible pictures of cruelty to domestic animals, looking for money for their needs.

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Any and all material/cosmetic/organic etc. you could dream of, or want are being presented on a platter for you to drool or dream over.  The pressure is applied from all quarters, credit cards are getting a work out everyone gets caught up.  Its hard not to enjoy the gaiety and colourful temptations in some way or another.

d6341cce2b81d9abb3c0176e10f2fcb1Commercials tug at the heart-strings, the movies shown are often tear jerkers, almost all with happy endings.  There was a time when  all the princesses  lived happily ever after, and fathers and mothers knew best. (well OK, on the telly)  Xmas shows were musical and variety specials featuring talent that was there to entertain.  We went to bed with dreams of candy canes and lingering sounds of laughter from the evening of shared fun watching the one television in the house.

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When we had news to share with walked over to our friends place, no matter the weather, to share our news.  Or took up pen/pencil and wrote a letter with all our news.  If we took pictures we had to wait for the all the film to be used up and then taken in for developing.  It could take weeks..  Think about it, could we do that today?

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Would this be sufficient today?  

Love is a precious gift,  it one that we can give personally, from the heart, true love is unconditional,  When we say I love you, we are saying we care, and will always care, no matter if that person is with us or not.  We care for the other  person’s happiness.  Love with all your heart (sincerity)

And for you who love a traditional song…..  =^_^=

I appreciate each and every one of you

young/old, you are the treasures in my world

God Bless you each and all

For you are what makes this world a better place

We are all ONE

Namaste      –      Oyashikiri

 

dealing with a challenge

Good morning everyone..l.

This is an artist I had not know before.  I thank  Upworthy ‘s curator Megan Kelley  for bringing her to my attention.  Stuttering is something that although I’ve known about it, I have had no personal experience with.  Megan Washington has done a stellar “job” of educating listeners on the challenges in her life.  she is an award winning Australian musician that until today I had not heard of.  I have now added her to my “singers of note” and will search out more of her artistic expressions

It is through having an enthusiasm for life that we grow.  Our appreciation of resourcefulness in ourselves and others, broadens our own horizons increasing our ability to experience spiritual freedom and inner joy in our lives.

Namaste – Oyashikiri

the ticking of a clock

Loss and grief, at some time in our lives, we all come face to face with the pain of loss….   we feel engulfed in a sadness that reverberates in every miniscule part of our BEing.  No words seem to penetrate into the core of the void.  Vince Gill wrote the above song when his brother passed away, from his grief came a beautiful song that will be enjoyed for years to come..

Music is a universal language it has a voice/meaning for anyone who is open to the message.  Interestingly the message/what is heard, may not have anything at all to do with the lyrics.  I’ve seen myself how music will affect someone, and yet when asked how they liked the song, they heard only the music.  In other instances I’ve heard people diss a song because of the words, they picked up on, their thought process never got past the words,  At one time I wanted to share, so I tried to explain or have the person see or hear what I was hearing. didn’t work.   We are all unique, just as no two people will interpret a dance the same way, each of us will respond in our own way to the ticking of a clock…

Just got a new clock (to me) I bought it because it looks like a retro old plastic radio clock of the 50’s/60’s, it ticks… all the other clocks in the house are quiet, i.e. on the computer. or are electric.  There is something to be said about the rhythm of a ticking clock….  life is like a clock, it moves along a tick at a time, tick,toc, the seconds pass by.  It is amazing how quickly life is given and/or taken away.

We grow by overcoming obstacles, one by one, tick, toc….   tick..toc.. Sometimes we feel that we are like a rock, we are going nowhere, we don’t see the sunshine, nor do we feel the rain, we exist.  In PL we believe that we are alive, rain or shine, life is for living, we know sadness because we have been happy, the joy and passion of life is all around us, we need only move on to the next second on the clock.  Trust in God, Believe, let go of what you think happiness is,  enjoy the life that is yours and in you.  Problems/challenges are opportunities.

 

Namaste    – Oyashikiri

 

Aging

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Good Morning!  another day begins.  Aging, as humans this is a journey we will all take.  Unlike mechanical or man-made objects, we aren’t parked and left to rust.  The process of aging takes place in a very different way, for each and every one of us.  Even the manner we are laid to rest has changed over the years.

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Dancing when we partnered and spoke in rhythm to the music that was in our lives.  Activity for many was hours of dancing to the sounds of the time.  Roller skating, or ice skating, had us outside, for others there was hockey,skiing,ice climbing or racing, and ladies remember the two-step on skates. snowshoeing, biking!  As the years roll by, do we do as  much as we used to do?   Maybe the type of activity changes, but it is important to keep moving, doing, and stretching not only our bodies but our minds.

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We need to put our hearts and mind into everything we do.  Activity keeps the momentum of life moving forward.,  Seize the day, get out and enjoy!  Fresh air, fresh outlook, all contribute to a new perception.  Life is Art….. 

 

Namaste      –     Oyashikiri

 

 

 

*iphoneart.com

**print on etsy.com (Soul,tango dancers in Buenos Aires)

video,music – Gordon Mote (singer songwriter,pianist,recording artist. http://www.gordonmote.com

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