Circle of Love

Some of you have asked me where I have been playing lately. Well dear friends, I have been working as a kindergarten teacher in a Waldorf school. As an artist, I couldn't ask for a better job!

The Waldorf curriculum is presented through song, movement and story. The children are beautiful little gems, and I enjoy being with them every single day! Our school is backed up to a wooded park with a magical pond nearby. We sing through the day, enjoy the outdoors, eat whole foods, and joyfully express creativity through imaginary play, painting, coloring, baking, modeling, and crafting.

International Women's Day, 3/07/09

The Second Annual International Women's Day Celebration, sponsored by Creative Women Unite, took place this year at Bohemeos Cultural Center in downtown Houston. Some of the most amazing artists came out to present: Danza Azteca, Seltas Dance Troup, Freak-in the Frame, Maria Palacios, Agua Fuego, and Queen Sheba just to name a few. It was a wonderful tapestry of women of color, singing and dancing together; sharing stories and visions for the future. Powerful artwork decorated the walls, and the thread of unity embraced us all.

I implored spoken word artist/author Maria Palacios to collaborate with me on her powerful piece, Pescadoras de Esperanza: We are Seekers of Hope. Weaving different chants throughout the poem, we felt the Great Mother with us all. I sang to the Madre Divina, and asked us all to raise our consciousness to help heal the earth. We ended with the Universal Chant, which brought a calm vibration to the most warm and receptive crowd.

I thank you mujeres for hosting this annual chance to come together and "be as one".

Shining The Light after Ike: A Healing Circle, 11/15/08

Co-hosted by The Texas Southern University Museum Volunteer Circle

The Texas Southern University of Houston presented an afternoon of healing and hope to rejuvenate the spirit in the wake of Hurricane Ike - a program featuring poets, dancers and singers. There were spoken word artists, young and old; and an ethereal Praise Dance troupe, subtle and warm.

As I explained the meaning of the Universal Mantra to the audience, Sister PK handed out instruments for others to play along, and Sister Mama held up the plaque my son Jagannath had made, for everyone to read:

Baba Nam Kevalam

Love is All There Is

We had great fun, and everyone in the house enjoyed singing along. At the end of the event, the docent of the museum was so inspired, she asked to keep the plaque so she could remember the mantra! Another docent's father who had picked up the acharina, revealed to her for the first time that he had formally been a flute player. She was grateful for the opportunity given to him to rekindle his passion.

RAWA 50th Anniversary, 7/06/08

The 50th Anniversary of Renaissance Artists and Writers Association (RAWA), took place at the Ananda Kanan Retreat Center in MO, June 29th-July 5th.

We opened with a dynamic Prabhat Samgiita, speaking of the mystical qualities of Krisna. Krsnatma helped out with Spanish guitar, while Dada Pranesh and Mahesh kept the rhythm strong. Anadi and Dada Vishvarupanandaji gave a cool presentation on poetry and movement.

I was in charge of the RAWA Cultural Evening Program and put together a balanced mix of musical acts. We had some beautiful violin and fiddle music by Caetanya and Danapati. Krsnatma grooved us all with a bi-lingual, political song, asking us to get up and start a revolution; and Bhagvanti Devi sang a sweet Prabhat Samgiita.

Tuesday morning, I was on a panel of RAWA artists, giving our collective thoughts on how to be responsible artists in the world. Devashish reminded us the art of surrender - that the Supreme Source is the one moving the art through us, we are just the vehicle. He also emphasised the need to craft our art in order to present it well. Jiivadhara Devi gave a more female perspective of serving through art. She shares her poetry with those who are in need, and gives anonymously. Film maker Anadi is able to bring service projects to the media through his work at a news station. He is working on a full feature spiritual based film.

Wednesday morning, Didi Ananda Vibha and I gave a workshop on Prabhat Samgiita. We talked about our personal experiences, and our guru's teachings regarding Prabhat Samgiita, and invited Dada Priyakrsnanandaji to tell stories. This, we interspersed with collective singing of songs. We heard much positive feedback and look forward to the upcoming Prabhat Samgiita Retreat in Vermont.

There were three, wonderful weddings this summer, and I was honored to bring the music to them all. At the last minute, I was asked to sing a Spanish song at Giita and Paresh's wedding (Paresh is from Mexico). I invited my good friend KrnaPriya (from Colombia) to sing along with me. The kiirtans at the end were enhanced with good friends and my little Prashanta on tabla.

I was asked to present something on the Bhajan Revival Evening, and chose to sing two Spanish songs with my sister Ishvari. We rehearsed last minute, trying on our best Mariachi voices, laughing with our compadres over mistakes in the lyrics. In spite of it all, we were able to pull it off with tact.

This retreat had the most participants from Latin America than ever before - most of them from Mexico - so I encouraged them to present something special. They did a wonderful Mayan play with multi-media, movement, and colorful, native costumes. For the finale, I led a Mayan chant with strong drummers and hand percussionists. Some told me that this was their favorite presentation of the whole retreat!

This was a sweet retreat with art presentations in all medias. There were beautiful paintings displayed throughout the campus, films on service projects and spiritual cinema, wonderfully rich workshops helping us all see the artists within. The most beautiful were the kiirans and meditations, even sweeter and more subtle than before!

Creative Women Unite: Celebrating International Women’s Day, 3/08/08

This lively, multimedia event was held at the Willow Street Pump Station and sponsored by UHD Cultural Enrichment Center. Women of all colors, hues, and walks of life were there, from newborns to great grandmothers; African American and Mexican women wearing their brightest and most colorful native costumes. It was like a garden of humanity. Many brothers were also there, to support the women in their lives. Around 300 people attended.

Danza Azteca opened the event on the greenery outside. It was moving to experience perhaps the only all women Aztec dance troupe. They lead us in ceremony, burning sage and brushing all who stood around the circle. And then they danced with great intention, feathers reaching towards the sky, adorned feet pounding into the ground. One could feel the presence of Spirit as these sisters sang, drummed and danced to the native songs of Azteca.

The main hall showcased art from the women’s community and performances. Mexican painter, Frida Kahlo was a prominent theme, as several Latin American artists presented. The Real School provided puppets, art supplies, and extra hands for children, who joyfully rolled down grassy hills leading to the bayou. A sacred space was provided for a panel discussion on sisterhood, and films on women. Noteworthy were the art cars displaying goddesses from around the world and ‘Women Who Rock!’ art.

The women’s poetry and song was intimately touching. We were inspired by all who stood for unity. “We don’t want to fight - white, black, Asian and Chicano. We want to bring something positive, joyful. We want to create peace”.

I attended as a representative of WWD-F and sang songs from Women We Are. Dada Hitendranandaji accompanied me on tablas. I made several wonderful new contacts, with the hopes to hold a future fund raiser for the Managua clinic project and to explore ways to collaborate with my newfound creative sisters.

This event was not to be missed, as it is a rare occasion indeed for women to come together to honor one another, and feel free to be who they truly are.

For more information on upcoming events, go to: http://myspace.com/creativewomenunite

KPFT 90.1, Pacifica Radio Highlights

The Peace Hour Show, 3/07/08. In honor of International Women’s Day, The Peace Hour Radio Show, KPFT featured music from Women We Are. There was also a short segment of Didi Ananda Usa talking about Ananda Marga women's projects: KPFT Archives Click on March 7.

The Peace Hour Show, 1/25/08. A short segment regarding the teachings of Lord Shiva in honor of Rev. Martin Luther King's birthday. Please take the time to listen to some of the contributions of Sadhashiva to our human society. The segment comes at the last 15 minutes:
KPFT Archives Click on January 25th. To purchase the complete book on the life and spiritual teachings of Lord Shiva, written by Shrii Shrii Anandamurtiji, go to this link: Nama Shivaya Shantaya.

Whole Mother Show, 01/09/08. A short talk on the positive results of Waldorf Education from the eyes of a mother. This segment is in the second half hour of the show.

The Peace Hour Show, 2/09/07. Co-hosted for pledge drive, featured the Ananda Marga Education project: The Fairy’s Flowers, and spoke about Neohumanist Education. The Fairy’s Flowers CDs were used as premiums, and we raised double the amount of money needed for the show.

Fire in Our Eyes, Flowers in Our Hearts: Spiritual Women’s Stories, 2/06/08

This book has taken several years to complete, and has finally been published!

Fire in Our Eyes, Flowers in Our Hearts is a collection of essays by Tantric women. The stories told here capture the diversity of women's spiritual experience exploring the struggles and triumphs of spiritual life. The emphasis of the book is upon feminine spirituality and the ways in which women experience and express their spirituality.

The Waldorf Channel, 1/27/08

Kristie Karima Burns hosts this wonderful website. She is featuring the Neohumanist children's story: The Fairy's Flowers on her radio show. Snuggle up with your little ones, and take a listen.

Ananda Kanan Winter Retreat, MO, 01/03/08

My family and I just spent a wonderful vacation up north, first stop, a few days in the charming, European mountain town of Eureka Springs, AR then onto Willow Springs, MO where we celebrated the New Year in true yogic style.

The Winter Bliss Retreat was one of the most peaceful ones yet, with angelic kiirtans and deeper meditations day and night. We had the honorable presence of a wonderful Prabhat Samgiita singer, Arunji Jacobson from NY. He is the proprietor of the award winning Long Island Progressive School. Not only did he share blissful Prabhat Samgiitas, bhajans (with his sweet daughter by his side) and rhythmic kiirtans, he humored us with stories of how kiirtan can affect the lives of others in the most unexpected ways...

Our cultural programs, as always, reflected songs, dramas and dances from around the world. A note-worthy Mexican folk dance was lead by my dear sister Amrita with several compadres. Sister Lagima and Dada Pranesh sang a revolutionary Haitian song; and yours truly participated with Prabhat Samgiita; a Brazilian duo with Dada Pranesh; and a social song in Spanish that had my Latino brothers and sisters cheering for more! My little Prashanta, now 6, nicely accompanied me on the tabla, charming all with his 'Zakir Housain-like' expressions.

I left the retreat gaining a deeper sense of sadhana and what it means to honor our spiritual practices. While there, I challenged myself to sit longer and go deeper into the realm of meditation. I am always grateful for the time spent at this magical place.

James Hansen - Climate Change:
The Latest Science, 10/24/07

The Progressive Forum was held at The Wortham Center, home to the opera and ballet. The speaker for this event was James Hansen, one of the leading scientists on global warming who works hand in hand with the former vice president of the United States, Al Gore. The mayor of Houston, Bill White, gave the opening speech, and I was able to meet with them both.

It is a great honor to be invited to sing for this forum, and this was my second event. I chose a Spanish song that calls us to take care of the earth. I also sang the Neohumanist Prabhat Samgiita, Sumukher Pane and kiirtan. The songs were well received, and the organizer commented on the “soulfulness” of the selection. Over 1,200 people attended.

Yoga for Peace Conference, 2007, 10/20/07

The Yoga for Peace Conference was held in the pristine Houston Garden Center Auditorium. Around 400 people attended throughout the day. There were two very good speakers giving talks on ahimsa – non-harming to all living beings; and astaunga yoga – the eight branches of yoga. I sang related Prabhat Samgiitas, bhajans and kiirtans in between speakers, and spoke about the relationship between bhakti and seva. Several people sang along with the bhajans and kiirtans; and purchased CDs.

I shared a table with Janis Blue of “Go Vegan Texas” (KPFT Pacifica Radio), and talked with her about our many projects. She is interested in learning meditation, and doing radio interviews. We had a warm time together, as she is also very passionate about ahimsa.

Toward the end of the day, there were several demonstrations of yoga asanas. Sister Daivi gave a very good demonstration on yoga for children, including imagery and chants in English and Sanskrit. The Hare Krsna Youth performed the grand finale with much sweetness and devotion. Many good contacts were made for future endeavors.

Texas Bioneers Conference, 10/19/07

I performed in the beautiful gardens of the Emerson Unitarian Community Center at the Texas Bioneers Conference in Houston. Around 300 people attended. Before my set, I befriended a group of autistic teenagers from a private school who were curious about the sound equipment. I spent time talking with them, and giving them much affection. As I began to sing, they stood in front of me mesmerized. I felt the positive vibrations of the kiirtans and Prabhat Samgiita affecting them deeply. At the break, a few children put dollar bills in my jar. I was very touched by their gesture. Their sweetness and innocence enhanced the beauty of the colorful garden.

As I sang, I heard in the distance the sweet sound of a clarinet, playing a Middle Eastern tune. I sought out the musician, and invited him to play with me. He blended in most beautifully with the Prabhat Samgiita. I attended his workshop in Middle Eastern drumming, and could see the relation between Indian music. I explained to him the history of music; how it was organized by Lord Shiva and how originally music was created for spiritual development.

Many people commented on the good vibrations created by the music. I was invited to perform for the evening program, but declined due to previous commitments.

Gloria Steinem:
The Progression of Feminism, 9/17/07

By sweet grace, representing WWD-F, I opened for Gloria Steinem at The Wortham Theatre in Houston. The event was hosted by The Progressive Forum. Over 2,000 people were present. I was then able to sit and listen to her speak, and witness the participation of audiences questions and comments. There were as many brothers as sisters in the audience, which was encouraging. Many women and men spoke on the good projects they are doing in the Houston area including: actively changing negative advertisement against women; organizations for women's mental health; National Organization for Women which is active in changing many things for the rights of women including a fair wage, child care, and social security benefits for married women.

Gloria Steinem has been active in changing the rights of women around the world for over 30 years. What I enjoyed about her speech was her sense of globalism, Neohumanism, and her keen knowledge of world history. She went on at length about the Native American societies (as we are on the ancestral grounds) and how they operated in a democratic fashion. The men respected the women's wisdom, and they worked in "coordinated cooperation". Many things she said were what visionary Shrii Anandamurtiji has said regarding women: their tender nature, and their lack of rights in society.

Gloria Steinem said that Indian [from India] women were the greatest organizers in the world. I was pleasingly surprised to hear her advocating for women around the world; understanding deeply and giving much reverence to their way of being.

I later learned, after speaking to her, that she had spent much time in different communities around the world, especially in India. She is a transformed soul, able to bridge the gap, and help others see the universality in us all. Ms. Steinem is 73 years old, still writing and giving lectures. I can see in her later writings that she has learned meditation and encourages us all to do our inner work – to meditate, build networks and stay active.

I presented her with a CD of songs produced for WWD-F, and was able to talk with her about our dynamic women and projects. I also had the opportunity to do outreach with others at the event.

EarthDance 2007, 9/15/07

I was honored to participate in EarthDance 2007, an event that happens simultaneously around the world at numerous locations. It was held at the Hare Krsna Garaunga Hall. This year, the theme was “Healing the Waters”. We opened with a global collective chanting of the mantra “Om”, which brought us all to a higher state of consciousness. Around 500 people attended this event.

The spiral dance was most fun – hundreds of people linked together hand to hand, creating a human spiral to live drumming. The spiral goes in, and then it comes out again. It was challenging and exciting to see how to keep yourself linked up without bumping into others.

I closed the evening with Prabhat Samgiita and kiirtan. Fellow musicians from the Hare Krishna Youth group accompanied me, as well as my two children on tablas. The crowd went wild, crying out for Krishna after I sang. The organizer was most pleased with my performance and has agreed for me to direct the music for the next event.

There was good coverage of the event with newspaper articles and interviews on KPFT Radio. Sydney, the organizer, gave an important talk on water, the importance of conservation, and the effects of our actions on the waters of the world.

Vermont Festival of the Arts, 8/15/07

The 24^th Annual Prabhat Samgiita Retreat was held August 6-12, at the pristine and verdant Mad River Valley as a part of the Vermont Festival of the Arts. I was called to teach at retreat, which extended to a full week, in honor of the Silver Anniversary of Prabhat Samgiita. What a wonderful gift to be able to teach the very thing that you love. I co-taught with Avtk. Ananda Vibha Ac., who is well versed in Prabhat Samgiita, as she was there when our beloved guru was first giving the songs. Around 40 people attended.

Several jewels came out of the experience of teaching. Many participants expressed that they were able to go deeper into the songs, as tal, melody and isolating difficult phrases was emphasized. A few expressed that they previously had resistance to learning Prabhat Samgiita and its intricacies, but felt more relaxed with this style of teaching. Others expressed the desire to further learn, and we encouraged everyone to create more retreats in their units.

Savory, healthy food was tirelessly prepared by Ac. Cirasmita Devi. She kept us all fed with wonderfully diverse, vegetarian meals, including delicious cakes for three different birthdays!

Amidst the intensive teaching schedule, an evening performance was planned. Collectively, we decided how the evening would go. We wanted audience participation, so we chose a few songs that were simple enough for all to sing-along. I wanted the participants to be able to sing the songs they had been learning all week, so we featured those. It balanced out with performances by the Kundalini Express; and two beautiful dances.

The night was completely magical! The hosts set up a screen projecting the words to the songs. The audience was completely mesmerized and sang along with sweetness and devotion. There is immense charm and beauty in Prabhat Samgiita, which I am certain, was felt by all.

Much gratitude goes out to Giridharaji, Didi Cirasmita Devi, Tapasji, Dhyaneshvari Devi, Ciranjiva, and all the Vermont Margiis who made the retreat and performance an extraordinary experience for all.

For more information, please go to Prabhat Samgiita where you can listen to enchanting, timeless songs and learn them online!

Palo Alto Daily News, 07/12/07

I want to thank my California friend for referring my MySpace Music page to this Palo Alto newspaper: Palo Alto Daily News

New Thought Songwriters Workshop & Peace and Justice Department Fundraiser, 4/30/07

What a lovely weekend! I spent Friday and Saturday at the New Thought Songwriters Workshop in San Marcos, Texas, where around 25 artists participated. We spent much time presenting our music in the round, supporting one another, and getting aquainted. In the evening, we held a concert for the local community.

The musicians of the New Thought (or True Thought we decided to call ourselves) movement are artists creating positive music to make a better world. There was so much love, support and acceptance from this group, not to mention all of the positive vibrations created from the music. Most of the musicians were quite accomplished in their field. It was a treat for me to sing with such celestial music makers. I made several new friends and hope to perform with them over time.


Saturday afternoon, I drove back to Houston, where I performed at the Peace and Justice Department Fundraiser. There I met a fellow Portuguese American woman who is helping war struck children from Iraq. She was instrumental in helping to get new limbs for a child whose arms had been destroyed by bombs. Marie is also raising her grand daughter at age 67. What an amazing and inspiring woman!

There, I also met and spoke at length to a Russian immigrant who fled the country during the communist regime. Her husband was protesting against the government, when they had to leave to avoid being jailed. She lost both her husband and son over the last few years to cancer. In honor of her family, she sells artifacts from a Tibetan temple to support the Tibetan monks. (Her husband and son were Buddhists).

These are the things that leave deep impressions on my mind. The human heart is such a mysterious thing. My new Russian friend lives a life of service in honor of her family. This way, she doesn't think so much about her loss. The human heart....

Spring Travels, 4/10/07

Ah, Spring... time to breath in deeply the prana of outdoors and the sweet fragrance of flowers. Everything just feels different, no? Dolyatra has come and gone, and now we look forward to Ananda Purnima, the birthday of Shrii Shrii Ananda Murtiji. His auspicious birthday falls on May 2nd, one day before my precious jewel, Prashanta - turning six on May 3rd. Each year at Ananda Purnima, my overgrown gardenias bloom out in full! It is a blissful phenomenum.

We took a wonderful trip to northern Missourri, back down again through Tennessee all the way to Asheville, NC. I sang songs that I had learned as a youth along the way. We stopped in Joplin MO overnight, and I just couldn't believe it! I'd been singing Route 66 for years before, "Well you go through St. Louis, Joplin Missourri..." And while in Kansas City, like a mantra the song just would not stop, "Going to Kansas City, Kansas City here I come...". Well, we did go through St. Louis - what a beautiful town. And down we headed to the Blue Ridge Mountains, "Almost heaven, West Virginia, Blue Ridge Mountains...". It just made perfect sense to me why they wrote these songs. Asheville was heaven on earth, surrounded by mountains and rivers, and progressives, oh my!

I am overwhelmingly graced by people downloading my songs from MySpace and putting them on their pages. I thank you all humbly for allowing the sweet vibration of kiirtan to flow from your pages, or the images of strong and spiritual women in the world; and the feeling and knowing that "Love is All There Is." I am so happy to be able to serve in this way. Please go to http://www.anandamarga.org/ to find out more about the spirit behind the music; the practices that create a subtle body and mind, compassion in our hearts and infinite love for all....

African Kiirtans, 11/02/06

A few weeks back, I had a most wonderful house guest from Congo, Africa: Dada Gunamaya, an acharya (spiritual teacher) of Ananda Marga. Dadaji spent one week with our family. We gave a presentation of African kiirtans at The Harvest School, and performed at the Te' House in downtown Houston.

During our week together, I heard the most intriguing stories of his life in Africa. It seems he was born with the desire to meditate, thus he told his father as a small boy. He also had some intuitive knowledge of India, to his father's great surprise, and wanted to visit there. As a teenager, he was led to a Hatha Yoga teacher, and practiced for several hours a day, until it began to interfere with his studies. His teacher had told him to be on the lookout for a meditation guru, thus he was quite alert when introduced to the path of Ananda Marga as a young man. Dadaji soon became an acharya and was most successful working with the people on his continent.

Dadaji told me of the Baba Nam Kevalam kiirtans in Africa. While working in Africa, he asked the devotees of different countries to develop their own kiirtans (spiritual chant). He then created annual competitions to see whose were more lively and melodic. The African kiirtans are sung without any other instrument than drums. They are call and response, with beautiful harmonies. I recorded Dada's kiirtans in my home studio and was transported back to the days of singing for Brazilian Carnaval. I could feel the roots of Brazilian music in these African kiirtans - the pulse coming from Mother Africa. What joy to sing and dance kiirtans from a different continent!

Dada Gunamaya is a most sincere practitioner of yoga and meditation. He arises bright and early, singing devotional songs and kiirtan before beginning meditation. He practices meditation 4 times a day, and takes only two meals a day. Dadaji has a sweet smiling disposition and seems to be immersed in a deeper state of consciousness. This subtle vibration emerging from a human being can only bring joy to others around him.

Y'all Stock Art & Music Festival

Cypress Creek Center

09/16/2006

Y'all Stock Festival was created by visionary Bob Messer as a celebration of poets and music, vendors and activitists working together for peace.

The concert hall at the Cypress Creek Center is a magnificent cathedral with great acoustics, a fabulous sound system and colorful stained glass windows - a place that I had often visited, and had longed to perform in. Be careful what you wish for....

I did a well received, mixed set of devotional songs, Prabhat Samgiita, and kiirtans, with percussionist Miguel Clark. Other noted performances were by master story teller PK McCary, and music by Chapman Stick[ist], Jim Kam.