Musical Reflections

Yes, it is already time to begin prepping for the holidays! (They come around faster every year, don’t they?!) Do you need shopping assistance or gift ideas? Musical Reflections is available to help with several unique products – harp CDs, downloads, books, and musical devices (Amazing Mini Music Machine, Angelic Vibrations MP3 player). We’re all about bringing you (and those on your holiday gift list) relaxation, calm, stress reduction and peace. Let us know if we can be of service to you.

Do you need a few more holiday gifts? If so, we have a suggestion!  Musical Reflections offers 15 CDs for relaxation, comfort, stress reduction and sleep. These CDs + the Amazing Mini Music Machine and the PlayAway:  Healing Harp Music for Relaxation and Sleep are perfect gifts for almost anyone on your holiday list!

Order by tomorrow, December 19^th, to assure delivery by Christmas Eve!

From all of us at Musical Reflections, we wish you a lovely holiday season filled with beautiful music, peace, joy and love … and of course, all goodness in 2014!

At Musical Reflections, we keep thinking about how we can help reduce your holiday stress. Here’s a few ideas:

• Be mindful of your breathing several times a day.
• Pause a few times daily paying attention to how you feel. Journal about or express all emotions to release them.
• Listen to calming music, moving you to your peaceful core. (May we suggest either The Christmas Story or Christmas Music for Tranquility.) Play these and your other favorite holiday CDs at 25% less volume than you would normally listen.
• Many radio shows feature beautiful holiday music. Find your favorite station and listen while you are driving or doing any holiday preparations.
• Set realistic expectations. Sometimes family gatherings increase our stress levels, so think about self-care strategies that work for you … and follow through!
• Prioritize! If possible, decrease the number of obligations during the month of December and put one or two things on your calendar that bring you joy, nurture your spirit.

Finally, model holiday peace to those we serve. When you are centered and calm, everyone you touch will pick up these peaceful “vibes” during this spiritual time of year.

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…

The holidays are fast approaching … does this make you excited, nervous, joyful, stressed?  Again and again, I hear women talking about the stress of finding the perfect gifts for those on their lists.

At Musical Reflections, we are excited to offer 15 CDs for relaxation, comfort, stress reduction and sleep. These CDs + the Amazing Mini Music Machine and the PlayAway: Healing Harp Music for Relaxation and Sleep are perfect gifts for almost anyone on your holiday list!

Click here to order today!

Home stretch for holiday prep!! If you need a stocking stuffer gift or last-minute item, Musical Reflections can help … we have 14 CDs for relaxation, comfort, stress reduction and sleep.

To assure holiday delivery by Christmas Eve, order by December 18^th. Click here for easy ordering!

From all of us at Musical Reflections, we wish you a lovely holiday season filled with beautiful music, peace, joy and love … and of course, all goodness in 2013!

We offer several suggestions to help reduce your stress and bring peace to your holiday season include: 

• Be mindful of your breathing several times a day.
• Pause a few times daily paying attention to how you feel. Journal about or express all emotions to release them.
• Listen to calming music, moving you to your peaceful core.
• Play your favorite holiday CDs at 25% less volume than you would normally listen to it.
• Many radio shows feature beautiful holiday music. Find your favorite station and listen while you are driving or doing any holiday preparations.
• Set realistic expectations. Sometimes family gatherings increase our stress levels, so think about self-care strategies that work for you … and follow through!
• Prioritize! If possible, decrease the number of obligations during the month of December and put one or two things on your calendar that bring you joy, nurture your spirit.

Finally, model holiday peace to those we serve. When you are centered and calm, everyone you touch will pick up these peaceful “vibes” during this spiritual time of year.

For several years, I’ve had on my “bucket list” to see the Sandhill cranes … and it finally became a reality this year!

These amazing, beautiful birds migrate from Mexico and stop along the Platte River near Kearney, Nebraska to re-fuel (eat corn and get water) and rest for approximately six weeks before beginning to fly to Canada and Alaska for their final northern destination.

Luckily, I have a dear Aunt who lives in the area where they land and rejuvenate. I picked up another Aunt in Omaha and we made the trek together. It was so much fun! And it reminded me that women who are doing healing work need to take time out to explore nature, get rejuvenated and connect with family members who are near and dear to us. All of this is very important self-care. Are you taking time to rejuvenate?

I am frequently asked if I have played for children with autism or if I have any experience with them. As of last week, I can now say, “Yes!”

I had the privilege of playing in an inner city school for seven kindergartners who have autism. And their response … in the beginning, they were fascinated by the instrument. “What’s that?” “Can I touch it?”

After I played for 10 minutes, one of the teachers commented how the two noisy boys were quieter and more subdued than usual. (The teachers seemed very appreciative of this response.) Then one by one, each of them had an opportunity to run their fingers up and down the strings. It was magical to watch their faces connect with the music they were making!  

After each child had their “go” at the harp, I played another 10 minutes – one of the boys put his head down on the desk; a little girl shut her eyes … the harp brought peace to these autistic kindergartners and their teachers.

When I first started doing this work, I had hoped I would be able to connect with many different people.  I have worked with thousands of healthcare professionals over the past 11+ years … and within the past two weeks, I worked with two very different groups: the Lunch Ladies at a large local high school and four groups of legal assistants at a large law firm headquartered in downtown Minneapolis.

Both of these experiences came from invitations by my dear friend and fellow presenter, Kari Berit. The Lunch Ladies were learning about communicating with difficult people. As this can be stressful, Kari saw the value of including a section on relaxation for this group.  And at the law firm, Kari was leading sessions about brain health – a hot topic!  And she had the foresight to include a segment on stress reduction and how it relates to brain health.

 I am grateful for these unique opportunities to connect with very different groups … in my gratitude, I realize my dream is a reality!  Stay focused on your dreams and watch them become realities…