All Hallows' Eve AKA Hallowe'en 2014

Photo I took from Solus, Vancouver BC

"Halloween is one of the oldest celebrations in the world, dating back over 2000 years to the time of the Celts who lived in Britain?" according to the weather network (www.theweathernetwork.com).

Here is some info on Halloween - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Halloween - I need to keep this post relatively short as I'm busy preparing my costume for tomorrow ... ;)

And the following is the way in witch - I mean which ;) - Halloween is celebrated in various countries around the world: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Geography_of_Halloween. Note that there are secular and religious-themed ways of celebrating.

I associate Halloween with (1) the colours black and orange (2) pumpkins and candy (3) an early dark night, usually cold and/or wet (4) dressing up in costume and (5) music like Enigma and more so Michael Jackson's 'Thriller', his album which I am listening to, right now in fact.

About two years ago, I had the opportunity to actually learn the dance moves from the Thriller track, only to end up sick on the day of the performance unfortunately. Below is a shortened version of the song on video, though it really demonstrates the moves well, don't you think? ;)



I have had inspirations for costumes from various sources. Here is one of my favourite Halloween costumes I came up with...read on what inspired it:
http://xpressyouressence.blogspot.ca/2011/10/safe-and-happy-halloween.html

It is interesting to note that the National Retail Federation cites the following as the most popular Halloween costumes for adults, in order as witch, pirate, vampire, cat, and clown.

My Halloween costume this year could have been two of those mentioned. I will have to show you later – tomorrow perhaps? – inspired by an outfit I purchased at a local 'Sally Ann' (Salvation Army) earlier this month. One costume I have never donned yet and was always curious about in terms of wearing it. Not sure why I never did. I’ll give you a hint: hahahahaha (evil laugh) ;) If you still can't guess, how about this one: which witch is which? ;)

For those of you who live in places where Halloween is celebrated, do take care, beware - be aware that is, and enjoy a safe and fun Halloween! That includes your pets too please as the loud explosion from fireworks really frightens and makes them nervous. You'll be doing your pets and you a favour!

I'm linking this post to writetribe and ultrablog and ultimateblogchallenge.

Lunar Effects

Photo courtesy of Roberto Kaplan Designs

Yesterday, I said that the moon affects our emotions. The Spiritual Research Foundation has a lot to say about this:

One of the various points they mention on the affect of the moon on humans: "The frequencies emanating from the Moon affect the frequencies of the mental body, i.e. mind of human beings. By ‘mind’ we mean our feelings, emotions and desires. The mind consists of the conscious mind and the sub-conscious mind. Within the sub-conscious mind we have a number of impressions that are embedded that decide our basic nature and personality. We are however not aware of the thoughts or impressions in our sub-conscious mind. These impressions get collected over a number of lifetimes." (I pause here as you may not believe in past lives. If that's the case, ask yourself how the above can relate to you in this lifetime.)

They go on to say: "These impressions in our mind are the catalysts for all our thoughts and subsequent actions. Both the impressions and our thoughts have their own subtle-frequencies.’." (http://www.spiritualresearchfoundation.org/spiritualresearch/spiritualscience/spiritualeffectofmoon_on_man)

Both Rumi and Michael Jackson - I compared them in a few recent posts - were lovers of the moon, both waxing poetically about it One rendition of Rumi's:

At night, I open the window
and ask the moon to come
and press its face against mine.
Breathe into me.
Close the language-door
and open the love-window.
The moon won't use the door,
only the window.

Michael Jackson wrote "Dance of Life," a poem that describes how the moon affects him: "I cannot escape the moon. Its soft beams push aside the curtains at night. I don't even have to see it — a cool blue energy falls across my bed and I am up. I race down the dark hall and swing open the door, not to leave home but to go back into it. "Moon, I'm here!" I shout..." Check out the rest of his prose poem below this video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=L95EkNS4TBk

To be continued...

Sounding like a Dervish? (like Michael Jackson?)

Yesterday, I made reference to a particular dancing style of Michael Jackson's in relation to that of whirling dervishes. Today, I am doing so in terms of a particular sound in his music.

A number of Michael Jackson's songs feature him singing "hoo" "which sounds somewhat similar to "hu") at or near the beginning or end as well as in the middle; "Man in the Mirror" is one of them. When you watch the video, notice at the 3:35 mark for about eight such repetitions as well as at the 4:10 mark and beyond.

(The link is https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hTTgxq1JTqw&feature=player_detailpage.)

According to Raamayan Ananda, a Vancouver, BC author of Michael Jackson: Man Behind the Mirror, "The third step (in his [sic?] dynamic meditation) is a particular sound: HOOO. Not the word 'who,' just the sound hoo - meaningless." The sounds has definite implications that can, if turned inwards be a rebirth or spiritual transformation (http://manbehindthemirror.com/).

Similarly, according to the following beautiful video and music, "hu" - slightly different - was the sound of the out breath (i.e., exhale) which denotes "that which is, that which was, and that which will be" (at the 5:33 time mark):


HU - An Introduction to Sufi Zikr Meditation... by Gurumaa-Ashram

Again, Michael might have had his twist on the word "hu." Even though, if you recall from my post yesterday, Michael did read Sufi poetry, did he really have knowledge about the word? The following is what appears on the front of a business card on HU:

HU
A Love Song to God

Singing HU can:
Expand your awareness
Help you experience divine love
Heal a broken heart
Offer solace during times of grief
Bring peace and calm

After all, Michael Jackson didn't necessarily experience peace and calmness in his life, did he?

On the website regarding hu (www.hearhu.org), there is a short video clip (and featured below) where it declares at the 1:01 time indicator, "This word has been sung for thousands of years for spiritual upliftment" and further on, "It is an ancient name for God."

http://www.eckankar.org/Video/play.php?name=Miracles+in+Your+Life

Take a few moments to sing/chant the word 'hu'. What do you notice? How does it make you feel? If you prefer not to do this, then how do certain vowel sounds make you feel when you say them outstretched as in "aye" (for 'a'), "eeeeeh" for ('e), "eye" (for "i"), "oh" for 'o', and 'oooh' for 'u?'

NB: Please be advised that I am not endorsing any particular philosophy or religion in any of my blog postings. I am only informing or sharing that which I find of interest in my research as part of my writing. It is up to you to decipher what is best for you - what calls or draws you - and take responsibility for your own decisions. Namaste.

Whirling like a Dervish? (like Michael Jackson?!)

Photo of MJ by Zoran Veselinovic



The above video highlights some of the "King of Pop", Michael Jackson's spins over the years. And following below is an enlightening poem, dancing the dream written by Michael Jackson - yes, he wrote poetry - about his dancing.

http://bluemoon.fem.jp/dancing/main_e/dancing_1e.html

Do you notice how this poem seems to describe Sufi dancing (if you are a bit familiar with the depth of it), not to mention that his style of poetry is very much like that of Rumi? It is perhaps no wonder then that Michael used to read Sufi poetry and performed his own version of twirls and whirls, though he had his own style, his own spin on it! ;) Couldn't resist that pun! (Info from Michael Jackson: Man Behind the Mirror written by Raamayan Ananda, a man I know from Vancouver, British Columbia. Check out his book at (http://manbehindthemirror.com/).

Next we will look at another interesting aspect...to be continued, tomorrow?

What kind of things do you notice in our world that whirl? What does the spinning symbolically represent to you?

Parodies in Music

I love videos such as the one above created by Raamayan Ananda, a man I know from the spiritual community in Vancouver. It addresses GMO's (genetically modified organisms), rather, it is an anti-GMO music video that was created to support Prop 522 for GMO labelling.

This first video entitled "Don't Eat It", a parody to Michael Jackson's (MJ's) "Beat It" with partial imagery of MJ's "Thriller" dance routine, has the following storyline: "GMO executives Have Taken Over the Food Chain, a group of dedicated citizens march to face them off in an epic battle, but something nefarious and unexpected happens..."

The lyrics are as follows:

They Told Them Don't You Ever Grow Around Here
Don't Wanna Eat your food, You Better Disappear
The Fire's In Our Eyes And Our Words Are Really Clear
Don't EAT It

You Better Run, You Better Do What You Can
Don't Want no GMO's, You better ditch your plan
We'll fight you to the end, We're making a stand

Don't EAT, If you wanna stay allivee

(CHORUS)
Don't Eatt it (eat it), don't eat it (eat it)
g-mos will to be defeated!

Show em, its funky, show'em its not right
It DOES matter, who's wrong or right

Don't EAt it..(eat it... eat it... eat it....)
------
(Monsanto Execs Speaking)

We've got the politicians dealing our hand
You've got no right to know what's in your fruit and bread
Be like a good sheep, and just do what 'sam' says
JUST EAT IT

(GMO Activist Speaking)

Were Out To Get You, Better Leave While You Can
Our kids won't be no lab rats in your business plan
You wanna stay alive, Get GMO's Banned

Don't Eat It.... Better Do What You Can!

(Chorus)-

The short video below, "Plastic State of Mind" is a parody of JAY Z and Alicia Keys' "Empire State of Mind." It is about the ramifications of plastic waste in the form of bags. (Both videos are brilliant in my opinion and I hope you enjoy them as much as I do! Please feel free to share and circulate them as they are important messages.)



These two videos are an example of only one idea (of many) that I have for my non-traditional, co-creative children's/youth choir. Co-creative in that we get to play with ideas - theirs and mine - in creating our own music, rhythms and yes, even rap.

Rap can be especially effective on matters that are close to one's heart and/or the heartbeat of Mother Earth. The results need not be as sophisticated as these videos and that's totally ok. It's the intent and the words and the message that is important.

What are causes close to your heart? Do you take action on them? If so, how often? Do you or can you do so in a creative or artistic manner?