Dance With the Harmonies Within
Insights Of A Deeper Song
Ashe
(“Ah-Shay”)
The Creative in me honors the Creative in you!
In stillness you will hear it. In nature, you will be aware of it. Your intuition is one of its voices. We each have harmonies within us, and we are each to play our own tune to those harmonies.
But first we listen.
Wha is the rhythm of your day? If you have control over the rhythm, what do you want it to be – how fast, how slow, how stimulating, how restful? We get to choose our rhythm and we use our inner voice to hear the harmonies within us and respond to them.
There is structure in the harmonies we hear within. There is a beginning, a middle and an end. There is a crescendo and a decrescendo. There is phasing with alternating soft notes and bright notes, fast notes and slow notes. We have but to listen and we will be able to dance to our inner harmony.
We are to find our own balance. We cannot dance jigs all day, and we need to cultivate moments of stillness, of awareness, of inner peace. We need balance in our inner rhythms.
We are to write our own composition each day. We are to compose our own score and we are to perform our unique composition.
How do you choose the tone for tour day? Do you wake up with time to luxuriate in preparing your body for its day, time to meditate, or move your body in gratitude for its strength? Perhaps you put those experiences later in your day. Where you put them is not as important as that you do indeed find time for these rhythms of self-care – the inner and the outer.
Breath sets the tone, the rhythm, the mood. It is a way to find stillness and centeredness in a given moment. Get in the habit of taking several conscious, centering breaths after completing a task and before tuning to a new one. Perhaps identify specific times during your day when you tun and look out the window at be with nature, even if all you can see is a little sky and a wandering cloud. Take a moment to be that cloud, floating carefree in space. Perhaps pause for a mindful stretching of your body to remind it of its strength and power and flexibility. We get to sprinkle these moments of centering throughout your day. Where are you putting your moments of serenity, your moments of awareness, a pause to honor your body? Each moment spent on self-centering creates more balance in all other areas of your day. Begin with breathing. Use mindful breathing to find stillness. Then see what is suggested from that quiet place.
Pay attention to what you are to leave out, what you need to add, and notice how replenishing the steps you do take are. Adjust as desired.
It takes only a moment of stillness to open the door to the new awareness. Choose those moments often and see how differently your day unfolds.
We begin with our senses in mindful stillness. What do you want your day to feel like, to look like? What are those experiences for you? I want today to be a series of flowing and southing energies that leave in their wake great productivity of enormously unique quality. You know, start with the simple stuff.
Move into stillness. After I capture that first draft I can move into stillness. After reading my email I can pause to breathe and center myself for my day. I can pause and tune into my inner self and see what calls to me to do next. When I leave my desk for a break I thank my inner self for its creativity and guidance and for encouraging me to be ready for the next cycle of movement and choice.
Listen to what you are given, what thoughts, what ideas what new circumstances. Contemplate them, observe them, adjust them, and see where and how and if you want to add any of them to your day.
I am going to add more still points in m day, each time I sit at my desk I will pause to ask my inner voice what I am to do next. Each time I stop what I am doing, I offer gratitude for what has unfolded so far. I just sit and listen and receive and then I act. That’s how I listen to my inner voice. That’s how I listen to the Harmonies within. That’s how I dance my inner calling. I move to my still point and listen.
In a shamanic journey, my guide said, “ Listen within. Listen to the harmonies within, the structure within, the balance within. And write your own musical score. Rehearse it, strengthen it Perform it.”
DEEPER SONG AFFIRMATION
I consciously take moments to move within during my day and make choices from the wisdom and insights it offers.
DEEPER SONG PROCESS
- Notice the moments of stillness you have created in our day.
- Notice how you feel when you move into that stillness with a deeper awareness.
- Add moments of purposeful contemplation to find our point of stillness. Let everything else be laid aside. Simply be. Go where your inner voice takes you.
- Pause for moments of thoughtful awareness throughout your day.
***
MY DEEPER SONG THIS WEEK
How to Direct Energy Outside of Time and Space
An Exploration of the Unseen World
If you have ever felt powerless, you need to understand how to send energy outside of time and space – to the past – to the future – to the present – to pave the way or heal the wounds or simply gain clarity in the moment.
In this episode we explore
How to Direct Energy Outside of Time and Space
(20 minutes)
(TRANSCRIPT)
Listen to
Reflections of a Deeper Song Podcast on
Apple / Spotify /Google
***
Inner Work
DEEPEN YOUR RELATIONSHIP WITH FOOD
I’ve been a vegetarian for 40 years and a vegan for 8. I know to give thanks for the people who grow the food and the people who brought it to me, but I’m going to add another ritual to my meal preparation – a ritual of asking permission.
The Indian cultures know to bless the spirit of the animal that gives its life for their food and shelter. I don’t know for certain, but I imagine they blessed a tree before they cut it down for a fire or a structure. They are very attuned to the voices of nature. I have often thought about the spirit of a plant. I know they heal us. I know they are willing to be made into other things like a tree becomes a house and a branch becomes a native flute. But I have never created a ritual around consuming a living plant in order to simply nourish myself.
I’m not even certain what it wold look like, but I like the idea.
It is about transforming energy so I might thank my carrot or my tomato for its willingness to transform its energy into my energy and perhaps share with it what we will do together. Food wants to be useful too.
I’m going to make some potato soup today. I will thank the potato and the onions and whatever else I put into it and perhaps even tell them the plans I have for the energy we create together.
How will you honor the food you eat?
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Outer Work
CHOOSE TO CHANGE
We have an outstanding opportunity in this changing environment to reposition ourselves. Who do you want to serve? What do they need that you can offer? How effective is this choice?
Who do you want to serve?
Do you want beginner or advanced? That’s a huge first choice. I want to move pro-active, curious, evolved people forward so we both travel together. Do you want to work with people who are struggling, or people at a timing point to success, or help successful people fly higher? What do you want to help people do?
What do they need that you can offer?
I personally want to keep exploring the Unseen World so that’s what I want to share. I have written a lot of posts and podcasts on personal growth concepts so I have begun a curation segment in this newsletter to support that part of our journey. And I have to keep an eye on the changing world and see what I need to address there.
How can you help? What do they need what do you want to provide?
How effective is this choice?
We also want to earn money in all this. So part of our decision for the kind of change we will make, is how it provides the basics we need. How has your idea of “basics” changed right now?
Go exploring
As we deal with this evolving change, new businesses are goiter to appear. Some businesses are going to no longer exist. As New York Governor Andrew Como said, “Think outside the box. There is no box.”
What would your like your world to look like? How do you see your role?
But most of all, who do you want to serve? Begin there.
***
TRAVELER
By Antonio Machado
TRAVELER – Video
Traveler, your footsteps are the road
There is nothing more.
Traveler there is no road
The road is made by walking.
Walking makes the road.
And if you turn around you only see the path you can never walk again.
Traveler, there is no road, only a trace of foam upon the sea.
Shared by Deeper Song Community Member Mary Elaine Kiener, RN, PhD
As a person with a lot of footsteps behind her, this poem made me cry. We have only this moment and this one. This is where we live, not back there, or in what’s ahead. The past is dissolving behind us and we have only to choose our next step.
Step with awarenss. Step with purity of choice. That next step is what matters most. It becomes your path.
***
WHEN THE TIMING IS RIGHT
When the student is ready, the teacher appears. Trust that. Look around at what is showing up and see if it is for you. If it is the right time for you to explore that particular direction.
Exploring is a key step to moving forwards and it has to go hand in hand with discernment. Does this really call to you? Does this call deeply enough to you? DO I already have enough knowledge on that particular subject?
I mentioned that last year I thought sound healing was going to be an emphasis for me. It’s not, it is only a part of what I do now. Trust the evolution of your interest. Study what calls to you and periodically pause to see where that path has led you and see if it is still going the dire ion you want to go.
And look for your next teacher. She/he is ready when you are ready.
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CONSIDER THIS
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FIND THE SOURCE OF THE PROBLEM
The copy for the class said, “Tight hamstrings and weak hip flexors are the cause of many people’s lower back problems and body stiffness, but it’s also the area that many people overlook when stretching.”
I realized that for all the fussing I’ve been doing about my posture, I had not focused on the core weakness. It changed my approach to correcting my posture.
What is out of balance in your life or your body? What is the cause of your imbalance? It is not going to be the obvious, it’s going to call for deeper exploration.
I actually know where the hip flexors and hamstrings are. They play a strong roll in the mobility of your hips. I’m not going to take this class because it calls for a mat and I can barely do bed yoga, but I will go exploring and find moves I can do.
Give change time to manifest. This course also called for 15 minutes a day fo exercise. That undoubtedly means warm-up and challenge and cool down. It’s the ask-more-of-your body part that I need to do better at doing.
Strengthen your foundation. Strengthen your core. Whether it is your body or a skill set you need for your work, get better at it. Keep learning, keep practicing, keep challenging yourself.
***
THOROUGHLY PLEASING
In Chris Brogan’s newsletter, he wrote, “Imagine thoroughly pleasing several hundred people. Or a thousand. And that being enough.”
I really like the idea of “thoroughly pleasing” a few hundred people. I feel I am doing that and that allows me to take you on an ever-deepening journey. I get to listen and respond to you and let newcomers come in as they are called to a particular aspect.
“Thoroughly pleasing.” That means shining light on your path that helps you see all the possibilities. It means offering you tools that make the journey easier. It means exploring various side roads and reporting back in case you too are interested. It means that whatever I offer enriches your life experience and offers you insights that raise your sights and their expectations.
“And let that be enough.”
That shifts my focus. Rather than focusing on the task of drawing more people in, I get to focus on where I am guiding the people who have found me. It makes me feel content and joyous that I am touching the lives I am meant to in a meaningful way.
How are you “thoroughly pleasing” the people you serve?
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DO THE NEXT RIGHT THING
When you come up against a stuck place, stop, take a deep breath, and do the next right things.
What are your choices? What are you to do? Not what looks like will happen, but what is present, in front of you rings now. Do you leave? Do you stay? Do you let go? Do you draw it closer? Do you simply go within and wait until an answer appears?
What is the next right thing for you to do?
***
YOUR PANDEMIC HOBBY
What are you doing with all this time you now have? Or this rearranged time you now have? Do you have a new hobby? Are you following a longed-for passion?
My passion is not cooking but I am working on upgrading how I feed myself.
I am improving my mind by continuing to get better at editing in GarageBand.
I am nurturing my inner self in many ways – my flutes in particular.
I could read some of those books that await me. I could learn to use my phone better and my tablet. I could sketch my journeys more often.
What do you want to learn? It doesn’t make any difference what the outcome is, learning is the fun part.
Is there some hobby you want to share with those you live with? Build a bird house and paint it. Learn to knit. Or crochet. Or bake. Or can. It doesn’t have to be practical, it just has to be about learning something new.
I’m glad I can entertain myself with my mind. We have stellar times together.
What new skills do you want to develop? I remember watching about 20 hours of tutorial on creating a podcast by Pat Flynn. (He still offers it) I recently watched videos on editing in GarageBand and chair exercises for hip flexors. I could learn to listen to an audiobook. I’m very much a visual learner but maybe I could actually listen to a fictional story for a change. That would be novel.
I have over 150 crystals that would all love to talk to me individually. I want to create some new patterns around cleaning and exercising. And reaching my point of stillness, and connecting with nature and…
How are you entertaining yourself with this new pattern of time?
***
DEEPER SONGS I HEARD THIS WEEK
How to Master the Ancient Art of Walking Meditation in Modern Life
Plant Medicine for Modern Epidemics Summit– at no charge: Augusts 24-28.
Talk about change: Stylish Tiny Homes Are Now Being 3D-Printed In 24 Hours And Shipped to Your Site
***
IS YOUR WORK MEANINGFUL?
Or is it just a paycheck? Whatever your work, it needs to nurture you and nourish you and motivate you and inspire you and give you a sense of accomplishment when it is complete.
Don’t settle. I moved to New York with what I thought was an intention to pursue theater. That meant I did temp work so in case I got acting work, I could leave. Boy was that about settling. I could type 80 words a minute (that’s fast) but all I was doing was copying someone else’s work. No, it was not satisfying. It was not until I begin to learn energy work like Reiki that my life took on great meaning, regardless of how I brought in the income.
Follow your heart. This is an incredible, and very challenging time to find the work of your heart.
What will you do to make your work more meaningful?
***
OUR EVOLVING FUTURE
Use what you have. Because this is senior housing we have access to a food bank delivery once a month. We never know what will be delivered. I get big bags of apples and potatoes and onions. I have to get creative on how I use them.
I am going to make soups and freeze them. I am going to make chop up vegetable combinations for stir-fries and freeze those. That means that I have to spend some time chopping and freezing but I will be able to use it all.
So here’s what I am learning. Applesauce can be made with three ingredients in 25 minutes and it can be frozen!!!! All I have to do is spend an hour chopping up this with bag of apples and I’m set.
The point is that when you take time to get creative and put in little time you will save a LOT of money.
Explore your seasonings and cook with what appeals to you. Chop and freeze so you have a good selection.
***
KEEP PRACTICING
One thing about practicing, you get better at what you are doing. In one day, this week, I recored two podcasts and edited one. I would have edited two but I hit some button I should not have in Garage Band and had to go study some tutorials. It thankfully self-corrected when I opened up garage Band a second time. However, I have no clue what to do if it happens again beause I have no idea what I did to cause it. I’ll just be more careful when I set it up and push only the buttons I know.
The sense of accomplishment was huge. I am ahead of my scheduled. That takes some pressure off. So I will keep planing on doubling up on recording and editing.
I recored better so the editing is easier. As the speaker I have learned to make a clear pause around a mistake because as an editor, space gives me room to edit.
Be patient with yourself but keep on practicing. It does get easier – and easier.
***
DEEPEN YOUR SPIRITUAL PRACTICE
The Yoga practice of alternate nostril breathing (Nadi Shodhana) offers instant centering and calmness.
- Sit up straight, eyes closed, and close your right nostril with your right thumb.
- Slowly inhale through your left nostril.
- Close your left nostril with your ring finger and briefly pause.
- Open your right nostril, and release your breath slowly through the right side.
- Pause at the bottom of the exhale and then repeat on the right side.
- Alternate this breathing pattern, 5-10 cycles.
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THE REFLECTING POOL
The Master allows things to happen.
She shapes events as they come.
She steps out of the way and
lets the Tao speak for itself.
-Tao Te Ching, Stephen Mitchell @quotes
“Shapes events as they come” is an interesting way to live. It’s about allowing life to unfold, opportunities to present themselves for options, and a deep trust that whatever shows up is exactly right. Can you step aside and let life unfold?
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CARA’S CORNER
Nurture Stillness in Your life
“Nurture” means “to care for, to encourage growth.” How do nurture stillness in our life?
How do you experience stillness?
You stop what you are doing. You quiet your mind, perhaps with long long slow breaths and you turn and look out at nature. And emerge yourself in that ebb and flow that is at the core of everything.
Stillness is about being still but it can also be a moment to change your rhythm. For instance, I often stop to play my flutes. Their vibration centers me. I look out the window and play to the branches of my birch treen dancing in the wind.
I may take a shamanic journey to listen more closely to my voice within.
Lately, I have learned to go deeper. It has come with practice and a willingness to let go of what I am doing and what I am thinking. In particular, for me, it means to quiet my mind.
I use a series of quieting conscious beaches. Focusing on my breath quiets my mind and my body.
The secret is to do a centering process often during your day. Sometimes that means a change in activities, sometimes it means the prompt is the hands on the clock. The catch is to remember to do it – to pause, to notice where you are, and to connect with our place in nature.
I plan to get better at this. I keep looking for reminders. I keep experimenting with how to achieve that inner stillness.
Stop now and breathe in to the court of 5, hold for a count of 5 and exhale for a count of five. Repeat 3-5 times until you have stilled your awareness of the world and are firmly centered in stillness.
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A DEEPER SONG
I’m a candle. Light comes out as I burn.” – Rumi
Keep singing a deeper song.
Namaste,
Cara
Come Sing a Deeper Song
I help those seeking to sing a deeper song to expand their relationship with the Unseen world.
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