january 16, 2006

 

Martin Luther King Jr. Day

I need to find my own voice. Time to unlearn now, time to be free. It's like a hot air balloon:  To be able to fly you have to throw off the sandbags. I want to be as light as I can-light as a feather. – Chiara Civello

 

We learn early to distinguish, judge, and sort.  I realize that a lot of this is survival intelligence – Mom teaching which berries are good for you, and why you shouldn’t drink out of the bottles under the kitchen sink…one perhaps learns behavior by learning fear of consequence. Motivation becomes based on the preservation of one’s own safety and position in the hierarchy you build over time…not necessarily unwise, but these concepts inevitably carry over into parts of our lives unconsciously, but quite powerfully.

 

A concept that constantly challenges me is the eastern greeting, “Namaste”…to recognize and honor the divine in others, and in our own self. Is it worth it? To let go of the rules and divisions?  To accept other people’s faults, and sometimes harmful actions - even if it may hurt you or weaken your position in your earthly hierarchy?  To transcend a negative first impression, or even an initial action that slights you? Behaving in this way, could you survive long enough, emotionally and/or physically, to reach any kind of enlightenment? What about my newly acquired survival skills for this dense urban metropolis, where personal space and individuality are spoils won only with much assertion and sometimes outright aggression?

 

I am, admittedly terrified by the risk inherent in "Namaste".

 

Today is about accepting diversity and challenging the things that separate us from one another. And, honoring the things we share. I believe that it isn’t necessarily about ethnicity, faith, politics, or skin color. You can be alienated from even people you love, or blood kin, because of rules of acceptance that were set up inside your head or heart for long-forgotten reasons. 

 

Dr. King did share with us a beautiful, powerful dream. A lot of us have this day off from our jobs and school, presumably so we have some extra time to reflect on his vision.  I hope that if you do, you may consider tearing out some of the pages that make your rulebook so heavy to carry around. 

I hope I can too.

 

Music news:

SINGING WITH BRIANNA SAGE

She is young, beautiful, and was co-writing with Carole King when she was a teenager! Already an illustrious career. I am very pleased to be included in Brianna Sage's live band, and on her debut CD, In My Hands, which is coming out in February. It was produced by the busy, busy Marc Copely and sounds GREAT. Great songs, great singing...Click to check out her site or MySpace page. I'll be onstage with her and the rest of the band on February 5th at Joe's Pub in NYC.

 

Otherwise, January is quiet, perfect for reflection, writing, practice, saving/making funds for recording the CD that WILL be made this year...the calm before the storm!

Hope you weather yours with grace.

Love,

Celia