Keeping the Dream

I love this site. Gratefulness.org is a beautiful and inspirational site that is not only wonderful to browse, but to experience.

This is their stated purpose:

“To create a global network of people
whose spiritual practice – grateful living –
fosters personal fulfillment, ecological concern,
and action on behalf of peace and justice.”

My favorite part of their website is Lighting a Candle. It is incredibly peaceful, a sacred space in cyberspace.

I went to my first house concert last Saturday evening, and what a treat. Jody Kessler has been someone I’ve admired for quite a while, and I was thrilled to be able to not only hear her weave her magic through song, but to meet her in such an intimate setting.

Jody is like the four elements. She is definite earth energy. When you look at her there’s a sense of strong foundation. Her spirituality and love for humanity reaches out in her smooth and powerful voice, and you feel the presence of solid ground under your feet.

She is fire. Her passion for life, for truth and justice burns brightly. Her lyrics bring to our awareness through irony, a tad bit of sarcasm and no small amount of tenderness what we may not always want to see or consider.

Emotions flow like water as her fingers skip over strings of guitar, plucking and strumming away at your own heart.

And then there’s the wide expanse of sky, the places she can take you and your spirit soars with her or hovers gently with new perspectives each song offers you.

The next day, I went to a church service, and had the pleasure of hearing Rev. Jody Kessler, sing and talk and pray the wonderful teaching of interconnectedness of Thich Nhat Hanh.

People who follow their dreams, who live their dreams are an inspiration.

Jody is an inspiration to me.

Demian,
~DreamSinger

This past Wednesday, I took my little girl to the American Music Theatre in Lancaster, PA and was thrilled to watch the performance of an original musical production, The Revue. I’m not sure which was more fun…watching the performance or watching my daughter’s face as it registered delight and awe.

One of the things that really was impressed upon me, other than the obvious fine talent throughout the show, was the power of a live performance. It really made me appreciate just how powerful the artist really is, what she or he can do, how deeply they can reach through barriers and go straight for the heart.

There’s just something magical about live performance that can’t be replicated in a video or recording. I appreciate both those mediums, but I think that we, as a culture, really miss out on something when we limit ourselves to television or dvd’s.

I don’t know if people get out to experience live theatre or live music as much anymore, but it’s really an incredible experience that you shouldn’t miss. What we see on T.V. is just such a small tip of the vast talent and incredible source of creativity and gifted artistry that exists in our country. I listened to the singers, the musicians and watched the dancers give their all, and thought that what separated these people from those in the limelight is marketing and big bucks…certainly not talent.

But I’m grateful they sing, they dance and play, because people like me get the opportunity to enter into a world we would not have otherwise on our own. I’m so used to being the artist, the creator and performer, that it was such a blessing to receive as I did Wednesday, and get another perspective of just how incredibly powerful and healing the arts can be.

Demian,
~DreamSinger

This is an article written by Andrew Vachss, an attorney who only respresents children, published in Parade Magazine, August 28, 1994. He is probably one of the strongest voices for children. His writings are impeccable, straight to the point, and powerful.

There isn’t much to add, but to say read “You Carry the Cure in Your Own Heart“.

Demian,
~DreamSinger