Musical Reflections

I live in the Twin Cities, about 10 miles from where the George Floyd murder happened in May 2020. The ensuing violence and looting was frightening and sad.

In mid-July 2020, a friend asked me if I was interested in joining a group called “In Solidarity” to study and learn more about race relations. I jumped at the chance! It has been quite a learning experience and so far, this list has been our discussion materials:

• How to Be an Antiracist by Ibram X. Kendi
• White Fragility: Why It’s So Hard for White People to Talk About Racism by Robin DiAngelo and Michael Eric Dyson
• Between the World and Me by Ta-Nehisi Coates
• Caste: The Origins of Our Discontents by Isabel Wilkerson
• 13th movie – documentary about the 13th Amendment
• All In: The Fight for Democracy – documentary about Stacey Abrams
• Seeing White podcast
• Braiding Sweetgrass: Indigenous Wisdom, Scientific Knowledge and the Teachings of Plants by Robin Wall Kimmerer
• My Grandmother’s Hands: Racialized Trauma and the Pathway to Mending Our Hearts and Bodies by Resmaa Menakem

While I have often said, “Peace and joy,” now I’m say, “Peace and justice!” As a culture and world, we have a long way to go, but I am hopeful as I’m watching nine white women transform, recognizing there are men and women all across the country doing this important work, as we heal this deeply embedded issue.

When CoVid-19 first hit, one of my fellow harp therapists in Italy (Marianne Gubri) started a Facebook group called #MusicHealsTheWorld. What a great idea! And the posts have been so inspirational … truly, amazing to see how the global music community is helping the world heal at this very important time. This community currently has 1.3 million members and it continues to grow!

If you are interested in getting inspired and joining the conversation, look up #MusicHealsTheWorld on Facebook. Welcome to musicians doing their part to contribute to hope and healing.

In the last blog post, I talked about I’m a musician who also loves sports!

And interestingly, I had an intense dream as the economy was collapsing connected to the coronavirus. Here’s the dream…

I was in a parking lot and I was talking with several professional sports players. They were lamenting they couldn’t play and consequently, make their huge salaries. I said, “Maybe it’s time for our culture/world to ‘get’ that we need harp therapy and music, and not sports to help us heal.”

I awoke with hope! Perhaps music and musical groups can finally become valued, well paid(!), as well as model teamwork and cooperation. With sports, it is always about competition as someone wins and the other loses. A music concert/event leaves everyone feeling a winner! I believe this dream/vision also includes artists and the entire healing community.

Was my dream a part of the new paradigm that is being created? We’ll see … we can hope, right?!

Music connects us to our emotions, and can be a way to process and release feelings to help with our healing journey. This is an example.

Before I entered the next patient’s room, two nurses came up and said, “This patient wants to die … he feels hopeless.” I started by playing “Somewhere Over the Rainbow,” which is a song of hope. And then, as I played for him, I was very aware of using entrainment (playing slower and s-l-o-w-e-r) so he could rest, sleep (similar to how the CD “Calm as the Night” is created).

As I finished and was moving my harp out of the room, he gently rolled over and quietly said, “I now know I’m going to be just fine.”

Thanksgiving is one of our favorite holidays. A time of being in gratitude, we are aware that we have much to be so thankful for:

• Our many presentations with the opportunity to share harp music and our message of hope and healing.
• Our wonderful customers who purchase CDs and books to support their journey.
• Our “other” business called the BioMat. We have met so many great customers to help with their healing journeys. (And we also love the product personally!!)
• Our flexible schedule to care for aging parents.

May you have a wonderful Thanksgiving overflowing with blessings of grace, peace and love.

As many of you know, “darkness” kinda goes along with my harp work – many times, I am experiencing people at their most vulnerable, painful and “dark” time.

It is vital to be present to these times and frequently, when we “sink” deep into the darkness, hope and healing happens. Yes, it’s a mystery, but I see it time after time.

This George Chakiris quote says it beautifully, “No matter how dark the moment, love and hope are always possible.” Important to remember – on many levels – these days, right?!

Do you have a feeling it’s going to be an awesome year?! We do!! There’s always an anticipation and a sense of renewed hope at New Year’s time … enjoy this special time of blessings and renewal.

November is always a busy month with holiday preparations and I am excited to be “out and about” sharing the message of hope, healing and stress reduction.

• November 8 – “Music’s Role in the Parkinson’s Journey,” Iowa Parkinson’s Caregiver conference, Hilton Garden Inn, 1132 Larsen Park Road, Sioux City, IA, 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.

• November 9 – Hermitage Farm Healing Arts Craft Fair (exhibiting the BioMat and CDs), 6415 W. River Rd. NW, Rochester, MN, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

• November 10 – “Musical Harp Reflections of Peace and Gratitude,” Health and Wellness Concert, City Hall Ballroom, 205 West Center Street, 2^nd floor in Lake City, MN, 2-4 p.m.

• November 14 – “Reflections for Your Grieving Heart,” The Compassionate Friends at Beaver Lake Lutheran Church, 2280 Stillwater Ave E. Maplewood, MN, 7 p.m.

Join us if you are available…

On a recent trip to the hospital, I was preparing to take my harp into an elderly woman’s room when her nurse came up and said, “Margie* feels no hope and is ready to die.”

After introducing myself and setting up my harp, I began to play. She started “falling” heavier into the bed, almost immediately. I had the sense that she was connecting to her deepest self, her core. (In my presentations, I sometimes mention soul healings and Margie is an example of what I’m talking about.) We stayed in this beautiful, deep space for 15-20 minutes. When I finished playing, she gently opened her eyes and said, “I feel hope again … and I know now I’m going to live awhile longer.”

While a medical diagnosis may take away hope, music and the harp, in particular, can help us to connect with our core/soul where hope resides.

* name changed for confidentiality