Music is and always has been an important part of my life. As a teenager I used to listen to the countdown on American Top 40 to hear all of my favorite songs. This was long before ipods and personal computers with access to music at our fingertips.
I was a teenager in the 80s and the music that I listened to had a large effect in shaping me into the man that I would one day become. 80s music will always hold a special place in my heart. Some of my favorites were Duran Duran, Culture Club, Cyndi Lauper, Madonna, Michael Jackson, Prince, Eurythmics, U2, Tears For Fears and Wham!
During my later 20s through my mid 30s I listened primarily to Contemporary Christian music and there were a lot of talented artists in that genre. The first time I ever sang in public was at the church we were attending in Pikeville, Ky. I sang "More To This Life" by Steven Curtis Chapman and was very nervous. I got a good response and people told me I did a good job, so I continued on singing and eventually moved from the church scene into Karaoke.
My musical interests have changed quite a bit in the last few years. I still enjoy many of my old favorites from time to time, but have discovered an entire new genre of alternative music. I no longer follow what's "Popular" and most of the music that I listen to now is more obscure and not something normally heard on the radio stations. Much of the music that I listen to now is of a spiritual nature.
I wanted to list some of my favorite artists and display some of their music videos.
The first is Snatam Kaur. She peforms Sikh devotional music all around the world and is a peace activist. Snatam Kaur transcends all religious barriers with her music and inspires love and worship for the Divine. Rarely have I heard an artist with such a pure voice and such a presence of innocence and love. Snatam Kaur sings Kundalini Mantras that instill peace in the listener. Her song "By Thy Grace" chants the Sacred Names of the Creator "Allah, Jehovah, Rama, Sa Ta Na Ma". If you are seeking relaxing music that will touch your spirit, give Snatam Kaur a try.
I am a huge fan of Celtic Music and my favorite performer of this style of music is Loreena McKennitt. Canadian born, Loreena is well known for her world music with Celtic and Middle Eastern themes. I can only describe Loreena's music as haunting. Songs like "The Old Ways", "Stolen Child" and "Mystic's Dream" are breathtaking in their beauty and lead me far away from this world into a time long, long ago. When I hear Loreena sing I am in touch with my Celtic roots and yearn for a simpler, less stressful life. Loreena also transcends religious barriers with her music, taking themes from Christianity, Islam, Judaism and Paganism.
Blackmore's Night is a Renaissance style folk band who originated in America but became more popular in Europe. They are known for performing at Renaissance Fairs as well as in historical settings in Europe before audiences dressed in period costumes. Candice Night is the enchanting lead vocalist of the group. Their music often features mystical themes with songs such as "Locked Within the Crystal Ball", "The Circle", "The Old Hanging Tree" and "The Faerie Queen".
Just recently I discovered the music of Wardruna. This Norwegian band focuses on ancient Norse wisdom and spirituality. They use traditional instruments in their music, including deer hide drums, hoof rattles from deer and goats, bone flutes, and cow and goat horns. Mixed with sounds from nature, this music speaks to the primal part of my soul and invokes images of the ancient past.
Not all of the music that I listen to is uplifting and inspiring. As I have mentioned in previous blogs, I am very much in touch with my dark side. There is a part of me that embraces darkness, and I often feel the need to listen to music that gets me in touch with my own dark emotions and feelings. My favorite Darkwave band is the German group Sopor Aeternus & the Ensemble of Shadows. The lead vocalist, Anna-Varney Cantodea, is a peculiar person to say the least. Mistreated by parents as a child and bullied by other children, Anna-Varney is truly a tortured soul, and it is very apparent in her music. Often dwelling on themes of death and morbidity, this music is unlike anything I have ever listened to. The music from "In der Palastra" is some of the saddest and most beautiful that I have ever heard. In the song Anna-Varney is confronted with everything that she is not in a man who has it all: Money, looks, wine and women. The lyrics "He marvels at all things new to him and I only wait for all things in this sick world to end." pull at the heart strings of one who is different and has known pain and rejection at the hands of others. To her followers she is the Beloved Goddess. Bizarre in appearance and musical tastes, Anna-Varney is truly a unique artist.
I hope that you will enjoy at least some of these artists and be inspired to seek out music outside the "Norm".
Tuesday, March 30, 2010
Tuesday, March 23, 2010
Ostara
Spring has finally arrived! Saturday was officially the first day of Spring in the Northern Hemisphere. For those of you who didn't know, our neighbors in the Southern Hemisphere saw the first day of Autumn on Saturday.
We have had some beautiful sunny days here on the North Coast and signs of the season are all around us. Patti and I got some new flowers and planted them in flower pots in the back yard Saturday to celebrate the arrival of Spring.
Most of us are familiar with the symbols of spring: bunnies, eggs, baby chicks and ducks, and the story of the Crucifixion of Christ and his Resurrection three days later.
Many people don't realize that there are much older stories and the symbolism of new life and rebirth have been with us for as far back as history has been recorded.
I have always been a huge fan of mythology and as a child could be found reading stories of the Labors of Hercules and the stories of the Gods and Goddesses of ancient times. It wasn't until many years later that I would begin to see the common themes with these myths and our own modern religious stories.
One of the earliest Goddesses in human history was Ishtar of Babylon. The story goes that she met and fell in love with a young shepherd named Tammuz. He ended up being held captive in the Underworld by Ishtar's sister, Erishkigal. Ishtar, intent on freeing her lover, willingly entered the darkness of the Underworld. At each of the seven gates she was commanded to remove an article of clothing until she stood naked in front of her sister. Ishtar agreed to take the place of Tammuz so that he could go free. She suffered in the darkness for a time and was finally set free. When Ishtar and Tammuz were reunited, plants began to grow again and there was great cause for celebration. This story is even briefly mentioned in the Bible when the women were lamenting for Tammuz, which was against the Jewish law, this being a Pagan tradition. They also baked cakes for the Queen of Heaven, which is where we get our hot cross buns.
Another Spring myth is that of Hades and Persephone. Hades has kidnapped the Goddess Persephone and taken her to his own dark realm to be his bride. Demeter, Persephone's mother, mourns for her missing daughter. Being the Goddess of grain, Demeter stops caring for the crops and everything begins to wither and die. Finally in the springtime, Persephone is allowed to go back to be with her mother. Demeter rejoices to see her daughter and life is renewed upon the land. But because Persephone ate the seeds of a pomegranite in the Underworld, she has to return there to her husband for six months of the year. These mysteries were reenacted every year by the ancient Greeks.
So where does the Easter Bunny come in? Eostre was an Anglo Saxon Goddess of Spring. From her name came the words estrogen and... you guessed it... Easter! She was said to be very beautiful and all of the animals wanted to leave gifts to honor their beloved Goddess. The hare found a nest full of eggs and decided to color them, a special gift for his Goddess. She was so pleased with the hare that she honored him and to this day the rabbit (hare) is a symbol of Spring and new life. This little hare who honored a Pagan Goddess with colored eggs eventually morphed into our modern Easter Bunny and became associated with the Christian celebration of Easter.
The days are getting longer and signs of new life are everywhere. The Spring Equinox saw the equal balance of light and dark. In just a few days Jews will be commemorating Passover and Christians will gather together at sunrise on Easter morning to honor the risen savior. Children will open their Easter baskets and gorge themselves on chocolate bunnies and eggs. Most will not have a clue as to the symbolism behind their delicious treats.
No matter what your particular religious beliefs, we can all agree that Spring is a time for rebirth and renewal. It's time to do some cleaning inside and get rid of all of those things that hinder us and move forward into the promise of a new day.
We have had some beautiful sunny days here on the North Coast and signs of the season are all around us. Patti and I got some new flowers and planted them in flower pots in the back yard Saturday to celebrate the arrival of Spring.
Most of us are familiar with the symbols of spring: bunnies, eggs, baby chicks and ducks, and the story of the Crucifixion of Christ and his Resurrection three days later.
Many people don't realize that there are much older stories and the symbolism of new life and rebirth have been with us for as far back as history has been recorded.
I have always been a huge fan of mythology and as a child could be found reading stories of the Labors of Hercules and the stories of the Gods and Goddesses of ancient times. It wasn't until many years later that I would begin to see the common themes with these myths and our own modern religious stories.
One of the earliest Goddesses in human history was Ishtar of Babylon. The story goes that she met and fell in love with a young shepherd named Tammuz. He ended up being held captive in the Underworld by Ishtar's sister, Erishkigal. Ishtar, intent on freeing her lover, willingly entered the darkness of the Underworld. At each of the seven gates she was commanded to remove an article of clothing until she stood naked in front of her sister. Ishtar agreed to take the place of Tammuz so that he could go free. She suffered in the darkness for a time and was finally set free. When Ishtar and Tammuz were reunited, plants began to grow again and there was great cause for celebration. This story is even briefly mentioned in the Bible when the women were lamenting for Tammuz, which was against the Jewish law, this being a Pagan tradition. They also baked cakes for the Queen of Heaven, which is where we get our hot cross buns.
Another Spring myth is that of Hades and Persephone. Hades has kidnapped the Goddess Persephone and taken her to his own dark realm to be his bride. Demeter, Persephone's mother, mourns for her missing daughter. Being the Goddess of grain, Demeter stops caring for the crops and everything begins to wither and die. Finally in the springtime, Persephone is allowed to go back to be with her mother. Demeter rejoices to see her daughter and life is renewed upon the land. But because Persephone ate the seeds of a pomegranite in the Underworld, she has to return there to her husband for six months of the year. These mysteries were reenacted every year by the ancient Greeks.
So where does the Easter Bunny come in? Eostre was an Anglo Saxon Goddess of Spring. From her name came the words estrogen and... you guessed it... Easter! She was said to be very beautiful and all of the animals wanted to leave gifts to honor their beloved Goddess. The hare found a nest full of eggs and decided to color them, a special gift for his Goddess. She was so pleased with the hare that she honored him and to this day the rabbit (hare) is a symbol of Spring and new life. This little hare who honored a Pagan Goddess with colored eggs eventually morphed into our modern Easter Bunny and became associated with the Christian celebration of Easter.
The days are getting longer and signs of new life are everywhere. The Spring Equinox saw the equal balance of light and dark. In just a few days Jews will be commemorating Passover and Christians will gather together at sunrise on Easter morning to honor the risen savior. Children will open their Easter baskets and gorge themselves on chocolate bunnies and eggs. Most will not have a clue as to the symbolism behind their delicious treats.
No matter what your particular religious beliefs, we can all agree that Spring is a time for rebirth and renewal. It's time to do some cleaning inside and get rid of all of those things that hinder us and move forward into the promise of a new day.
Monday, March 15, 2010
Ex Nihilo
Ex Nihilo - it's Latin for "Out of Nothing". The early Christians used this term to describe their belief that God created everything in existence out of nothing. He spoke creation into existence,
It was seven years ago on this very night that I followed through with a decision that would forever change the course of my life, indeed my worldview and even matters of faith.
I was living in Eastern Kentucky at the time and my family had attended a Baptist church there for several years. At the time I was teaching high school students in Sunday School and was an active member of the youth group team of leaders. I really loved the kids and the sentiment was returned.
Being a Christian in the South, we were all expected to look and dress a certain way. Anything outside of that norm was met with judgement and suspicion. I had a heart for the young people of the community and believed that God does not judge us by our appearance, but by our heart.
I came up with an idea to hold a concert on a Saturday night. We would have modern Christian Rock Music instead of the old hymns. We would present ourselves as a Goth/Punk style band and perform songs and skits, doing our best to make the unchurched young people of the community feel that they were welcome. After all, if Christians could dress this way and listen to this kind of music, then maybe the unchurched would be encouraged to trust in God.
We printed up flyers and delivered them all over town. I invited everybody, not just other Christians. I invited Gays & Lesbians, Wiccans, and Agnostics. After weeks of practice, the night of the concert finally came. We were all really excited by the turnout and the kids did an awesome job. I had never been so proud of them.
But there was a problem. It seemed that not everybody agreed with my theology that God doesn't judge us by what we wear, but by what's on the inside. Nearly immediately after the concert, a smear campaign was started by a small handful of people, including one of the Deacons of the church. Lies were spread that I was a Satanist and was teaching the children witchcraft. Rumors and gossip were spreading all over town about me and my family.
I was devastated. I couldn't believe that something like this could actually be happening in the churh in modern America. But things continued to get worse. I am an amateur actor and have my own website. Pictures were taken from my site of me dressed as my vampire character Legault and also a female character that I created for comedy and practical jokes named Darla, among other characters I had portrayed.
I was compared to Jim Jones by one of the deacons and I was accused of starting a cult. Rumors even came back to me that I was said to be involved in the porn industry. Threats were made to my family, and I realized that it was no longer safe to continue to attend the church.
I left broken, my faith shattered, and feeling betrayed by the religion that I had been raised in. How could they continue to sing "Oh how I love Jesus" when my family was sitting home on the outside of their congregation, suffering in silence?
As time passed, we moved back to California and started over. I severed my ties with the church and slowly began to make some sense out of my life.
It has taken a long time to heal, and there will always be scars. Nothing in my life has caused me so much suffering as my own personal Dark Night of the Soul.
I am a better person now. I have changed a lot, including my views on faith and religion. I am no longer as narrow minded as I once was, believing that those of my own faith were the only ones who held the truth. I have found healing in Nature and that is where I choose to meet the Divine. I no longer see God as an angry and judgemental creator who is ready to punish us for our sins. I prefer to see God as a Great Mother who loves and accepts all of Her children.
I must admit that I learned a lesson from the concert and from the persecution that followed afterwards. It was foolish of me to attempt something like this in a very conservative and traditional religious setting. My heart was in the right place, but I didn't use my head in this instance.
I still have faith, only it's different now. I am very quiet and private about my beliefs. I would never allow something like this to happen to my family again. At the time I followed Christ's example and turned the other cheek. But if anyone ever again attacked me or my family because of matters of faith, you had better believe that I would fight back!
But for now, I am perfectly content to stay away from organized religion. I answer to no man when it comes to matters of faith and belief. Nobody tells me what to wear when I worship or what music is acceptable. I am not a sheep, but a wolf, free and proud. After all, I was created with the freedom to make these decisions for myself, and I will continue to do as my heart leads me.
It was seven years ago on this very night that I followed through with a decision that would forever change the course of my life, indeed my worldview and even matters of faith.
I was living in Eastern Kentucky at the time and my family had attended a Baptist church there for several years. At the time I was teaching high school students in Sunday School and was an active member of the youth group team of leaders. I really loved the kids and the sentiment was returned.
Being a Christian in the South, we were all expected to look and dress a certain way. Anything outside of that norm was met with judgement and suspicion. I had a heart for the young people of the community and believed that God does not judge us by our appearance, but by our heart.
I came up with an idea to hold a concert on a Saturday night. We would have modern Christian Rock Music instead of the old hymns. We would present ourselves as a Goth/Punk style band and perform songs and skits, doing our best to make the unchurched young people of the community feel that they were welcome. After all, if Christians could dress this way and listen to this kind of music, then maybe the unchurched would be encouraged to trust in God.
We printed up flyers and delivered them all over town. I invited everybody, not just other Christians. I invited Gays & Lesbians, Wiccans, and Agnostics. After weeks of practice, the night of the concert finally came. We were all really excited by the turnout and the kids did an awesome job. I had never been so proud of them.
But there was a problem. It seemed that not everybody agreed with my theology that God doesn't judge us by what we wear, but by what's on the inside. Nearly immediately after the concert, a smear campaign was started by a small handful of people, including one of the Deacons of the church. Lies were spread that I was a Satanist and was teaching the children witchcraft. Rumors and gossip were spreading all over town about me and my family.
I was devastated. I couldn't believe that something like this could actually be happening in the churh in modern America. But things continued to get worse. I am an amateur actor and have my own website. Pictures were taken from my site of me dressed as my vampire character Legault and also a female character that I created for comedy and practical jokes named Darla, among other characters I had portrayed.
I was compared to Jim Jones by one of the deacons and I was accused of starting a cult. Rumors even came back to me that I was said to be involved in the porn industry. Threats were made to my family, and I realized that it was no longer safe to continue to attend the church.
I left broken, my faith shattered, and feeling betrayed by the religion that I had been raised in. How could they continue to sing "Oh how I love Jesus" when my family was sitting home on the outside of their congregation, suffering in silence?
As time passed, we moved back to California and started over. I severed my ties with the church and slowly began to make some sense out of my life.
It has taken a long time to heal, and there will always be scars. Nothing in my life has caused me so much suffering as my own personal Dark Night of the Soul.
I am a better person now. I have changed a lot, including my views on faith and religion. I am no longer as narrow minded as I once was, believing that those of my own faith were the only ones who held the truth. I have found healing in Nature and that is where I choose to meet the Divine. I no longer see God as an angry and judgemental creator who is ready to punish us for our sins. I prefer to see God as a Great Mother who loves and accepts all of Her children.
I must admit that I learned a lesson from the concert and from the persecution that followed afterwards. It was foolish of me to attempt something like this in a very conservative and traditional religious setting. My heart was in the right place, but I didn't use my head in this instance.
I still have faith, only it's different now. I am very quiet and private about my beliefs. I would never allow something like this to happen to my family again. At the time I followed Christ's example and turned the other cheek. But if anyone ever again attacked me or my family because of matters of faith, you had better believe that I would fight back!
But for now, I am perfectly content to stay away from organized religion. I answer to no man when it comes to matters of faith and belief. Nobody tells me what to wear when I worship or what music is acceptable. I am not a sheep, but a wolf, free and proud. After all, I was created with the freedom to make these decisions for myself, and I will continue to do as my heart leads me.
Monday, March 8, 2010
In Sickness and in Health
I am on the recovering end of a nasty case of the flu that has lasted for about a week now. I generally am in fairly good health but do seem to catch the flu at least once a year. When I get sick I am in pretty sad shape for several days, sometimes a couple of weeks. The last time I was this sick was back in November in Kentucky when my Mom passed away.
I think that part of the reason it is so hard for me to recover is that I don't take the time to rest like I should. I usually work until I can't function anymore, and then continue to work instead of taking a sick day. With my position as a manager in a very busy department, it is very difficult to leave the office. Last Friday for example, I tried to leave early, but instead ended up working through my lunch and finally left 45 minutes early.
The last time I was sick I discovered a product that really does help with a speedy recovery. It's called Supercritical Herbal Defense from a company called NewChapter. I can tell a big difference after a single day of taking the tablets. They do leave a taste of garlic in my mouth though. Another good product is EmergenC which is a high concentration of Vitamin C.
I also brew my own teas. This time I tried a decoction of Echinacea, Licorice, Peppermint and fresh Ginger. I grow my own Peppermint in my herb garden.
Unfortunately this past weekend there was no hiking, visiting ineteresting places, or enjoying anything other than vegetating in front of the TV and computer.
If a cold or flu is good for anything, it is for reminding me that I need to rest and take care of my body. I should take more time off from work to just relaxe. I should slow down the hectic pace just a little and take time to smell the roses.
Recovering from illness can be likened to a sort of rebirth. When the healing begins I become more aware of the little things in life that we all take for granted. The sun seems to shine brighter and the air smells sweeter. It feels good to be able to get up and walk again without feeling like I'm going to pass out.
So I am experiencing my own regeneration and rebirth as we near the Spring season once again. I'm not completely well yet, but I'm on my way to recovery.
I think that part of the reason it is so hard for me to recover is that I don't take the time to rest like I should. I usually work until I can't function anymore, and then continue to work instead of taking a sick day. With my position as a manager in a very busy department, it is very difficult to leave the office. Last Friday for example, I tried to leave early, but instead ended up working through my lunch and finally left 45 minutes early.
The last time I was sick I discovered a product that really does help with a speedy recovery. It's called Supercritical Herbal Defense from a company called NewChapter. I can tell a big difference after a single day of taking the tablets. They do leave a taste of garlic in my mouth though. Another good product is EmergenC which is a high concentration of Vitamin C.
I also brew my own teas. This time I tried a decoction of Echinacea, Licorice, Peppermint and fresh Ginger. I grow my own Peppermint in my herb garden.
Unfortunately this past weekend there was no hiking, visiting ineteresting places, or enjoying anything other than vegetating in front of the TV and computer.
If a cold or flu is good for anything, it is for reminding me that I need to rest and take care of my body. I should take more time off from work to just relaxe. I should slow down the hectic pace just a little and take time to smell the roses.
Recovering from illness can be likened to a sort of rebirth. When the healing begins I become more aware of the little things in life that we all take for granted. The sun seems to shine brighter and the air smells sweeter. It feels good to be able to get up and walk again without feeling like I'm going to pass out.
So I am experiencing my own regeneration and rebirth as we near the Spring season once again. I'm not completely well yet, but I'm on my way to recovery.
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