Musical Reflections

When I present, one of my most frequent questions is “Will recorded music be as good as/helpful as live music?”

Live music offers a personal touch and there’s no substitute for that! Further, live music will almost always be more potent because of the vibrations, the resonance of the instrument and the healing presence of the therapeutic musician.

That said, recorded music that is created with the intention to help in the healing process is much more therapeutic than the TV! Recorded music is also more practical – it has the possibility of reaching many more people for longer durations of time than live musicians.

If you are a hospital administrator, you probably want both live and recorded music in your healthcare setting. Certified harp practitioners playing live at the individual bedside and recorded CDs or licensed music on the closed-circuit TV system is well documented in research annuals as being helpful. Please feel free to contact us if you wish to discuss further.

As soon as I posted the last blog about music and violence, I realized I had more to say about this important topic/issue.

Whenever violence “hits” us, we are left wondering why this continues to happen in our beloved country. Is it violent TV, movies and video games? Is it gun laws (or lack thereof)? Is it deep unrest in the depths of our souls? Is it a mental health issue? Is it geo-political? Is it stress-related? Or something else???

And as a harpist, I can’t help but ask, “How can my music help? How can I be a part of the solution? How can I assist and/or facilitate the healing process through music?” When the harp is played with a peaceful intention, it is music to soothe the soul, comfort our contemplative core, calm our jaggled nerves, and move us into deep rest.

After each violent episode, I reflect, “What is my intention with my music?” My answer – to bring peace. To nurture your heart. To relax you. To relieve stress. To facilitate healing. I am honored to help you with your journey. To receive the gifts I offer, click to watch videos, order CDs and/or music devices, and purchase downloads. Many continued blessings to you …

When do you listen to music? When do you prefer silence? Aldous Huxley said, “After silence, which is the most incomprehensible, comes music.” It seems we are not very comfortable with silence so we often play music to “fill the void” of silence.

It’s important to remember that music is vibration. So as you have music on to “break the silence,” is it a high vibration sound? (This helps raise your vibe and that’s important in these “wonky” challenging times.) And a reminder:  play music with intention and sometimes, silence is a gift!

For the past several years, I’ve made a list at this time of year of what I’m most grateful for. This year, my list includes being in gratitude for:

• My “gigs” – they are still my heart, my passion and I so appreciate these opportunities to share.
• Having clients say “Yes!” to my newest information on intention (and of course, playing live harp music during reflection exercises).
• My dear connections to the Mayo Cancer Care Center, SD Parkinson’s group, Association of Professional Chaplains organization, Holistic Health and Healing Summer Institute conference, both regional and local The Compassionate Friends group, Gillette Children’s Hospital, etc.
• The expos, health fairs and conferences where I met so many wonderful people.
• All my travels – new experiences, new people – make me smile with wonderful memories.
• Customers who said “Yes!” to my newest product, Angelic Vibrations. It is always a risk to introduce a new product ad when you say “Yes!” and order, it makes my heart sing!
• Those who purchase CDs and books – both retail and wholesale customers. I so appreciate your continued support!
• My two other businesses: 1) the BioMat, and 2) Alphay. Love both of these health and wellness products.

So, as you can see, there’s SO much to be grateful for … and isn’t gratitude the most lovely feeling in the world!

Previously on this blog, I mentioned doing a self-care session for my Harp Therapy peers. Self-care is a topic I’m very passionate about!

Before the holidays, my dear friend, Barb Schommer (Healing Touch Instructor and retired public health nurse) and I were having lunch. She is one of the 31 women in the “Women as Healers” book and we co-created a CD called “Reflections: A Guided Meditation.” Barb and I also love to present together…there’s a synergy with the two of us together that is unmatched!!  

At our pre-holiday lunch, we started talking about “What’s Next?!” We had been thinking about doing something for self-care for a long time … we decided it was time to take action!  Hence, the “Self-Care Salon” was born.

Description:  In this session, we explore self-care as a daily practice and how to give ourselves loving self-care. As we focus on our own self-care, it sets a beautiful tone for our daily lives and helps us have greater compassion for others. We can also model this self-love to those we serve.

Participants exchange ideas about self-care using a creative and fun approach called World Café. Those attending experience an oasis of relaxation, reflection and rejuvenation! This unique session nurtures their spirits, moving from busy-ness to calm and deep relaxation. They leave the session in a mellow state. . . guaranteed!

Objectives:  Participants will–

• Experience calming harp music and guided meditation allowing you to unwind.
• Create a self-care collage in community.
• Commit to one new self-care practice.

Testimonials:

We conducted our first session at Woodwinds Health campus in late January. This doodle is from one of the participants — yes! the pot of gold really is at the end of the rainbow!!

• “Just what I needed!”
• “For some time, I have been on a path of daily prayer/meditation, yoga/exercise, healthy eating and basic connection with myself. This reminded me to stick with my program.”

It was a joy for Barb and I to be present … if you are interested in manifesting your self-care intentions using the “Self-Care Salon” format, contact Tami.