JULY Light GAP Newsletter

July, 2018 NEWSLETTER

What’s HAPPENING  at the Light GAP?

Summer is giving both of us a time to work on some needed study as we continue to grow in our understanding of life with all of it’s complexities. It is pretty fascinating to see what happens in our minds when life slows down. We have had more time for meditation, reading, allowing nature to penetrate our souls,  and even in-depth study through amazing people in a wide variety spiritual topics. When we slow our minds… we make room for growth. More time for reflection expands our ability to understand and process growth that is happening. Our hearts seem to burst in joy as new decisions come from pure love instead of our attempts making hurried plans. As we talk and share with each other, we often realize we are reading some of the same things and had no idea! Always and forever growing to new heights. We sure hope your summer is taking you to new heights of spiritual growth as well!

 

NEWS from Terry Larkin and Marj Steiner

This month finds Terry camping in a variety of places! We just returned from an amazing time at Interlochen State Park, near Traverse City, Michigan. Interlochen Center for The Arts  has been growing and expanding since 1928. Interlochen is one of the world’s most vibrant and inspiriting cultural communities. They have huge banners hanging along the road now: Art Lives Here. Some of you may not realize that Interlochen has  summer camp programs in music, theater, visual arts, film, creative writing and dance. It is a fine arts boarding high school year round as well. Music and the Arts has touched the world since the beginning of man’s existence and touches ALL of our souls in incredible ways! This summer alone there are 2,516 students. It was thrilling to hear that they have 202 International Students representing 50 different countries! If you are ever wanting to see what is going RIGHT in our country with our youth, come spend some time at this camp!

Daily in the camp you can listen to practicing bands, orchestras and chorus’ all over their campus. We heard the World Youth Symphony Orchestra and I could close my eyes and swear I was hearing the New York Symphony. We also went to a great concert by the world famous Glenn Miller Orchestra. Such amazing talent. Oh my…the songs touched my heart as I remembered hearing so many of these tunes played by my three boys in their Jazz Band in High School! My emotions got the better of me several times! For each of us, we enjoy different styles and kinds of music. But this is an incredible example of how our brain and heart work together in our lives connecting memories and experiences and touching into the core of our soul in amazing ways.  I have learned how to use music, sound and vibration as tools for healing! As we let ourselves be swept up in beautiful music, we are automatically activating our heart to synchronize with our brain releasing beneficial chemicals to our body! Perhaps an outdoor concert or music event will be in your future this summer! It’s awesome.

And I have to tell you a funny story. On July 4, early AM I walked from our trailer to the lake to watch the sunrise. I was sitting in  a special quiet place and it was gorgeous! All of a sudden I hear TAPS being played…now that was a total surprise! Then I heard voices singing. I realized that from the campground I was hearing the sounds of Interlocken students waking up for the day!

This month finds Marj settled into the cottage on Bass Lake near Eagle River, Wisconsin.  The joy of meditating on the pier in the early morning sun and observing the zillions of   stars on a clear night, is so renewing.  The early summer jobs are completed,  including planting my flower garden on our deck.  I swore that I was not going to attempt to grow tomatoes again, but I gave in this year.  With the spectacular weather we are having, and the with warm nights, we to will pick some soon.  If I can just keep the squirrels from eating them, we will experience the joy of home grown tomatoes.

Mid June, my husband Jim and I celebrated our 50th wedding anniversary!  How can that be?  We invited some neighbors and friends from this territory and our two son’s and one grandson came to be part of the celebration.  They did more than join us – they took over hosting which allowed Jim and I to be guests at our own party.  As a gift, my siblings provided very tasty appetizers!  It was a wonderful evening with sunshine to start the evening on the deck, and then rain to bring nourishment to our continuing life together.  Now we are in the middle of planning a trip to Germany next month to continue our celebration!

 

GREAT Read

This month Terry would like to share her excitement about The Secret Language of the Heart: How to Use Music, Sound, and Vibration as Tools for Healing and Personal Transformation.

 

Interlochen rejuvenated my soul with beautiful music. I read this book over a year ago after meeting this amazing musician, Barry Goldstein. I spoke with him personally and we had a great conversation. He was presenting at a workshop I attended in Arizona. He had written music to accompany one of Neale Donald Walsh’s CD’s as well as Anita Moorjani’s new meditation CD. But I went searching for this personally signed book to re-read upon my return from our camping trip! It’s an easy summer read with lots of practical suggestions. I found it fascinating that he was using our chakra energy systems to explain how music can help balance your body’s energy, bringing healing.  It all resonated with everything I’ve learned and understood from medical science.

“In this book, Grammy Award-winning composer Barry Goldstein shares how every one of us the musical and non-musical alike can create our own unique musical practice to help dissolve creative blocks, reverse negative moods and attitudes, and improve overall health. Backed up by scientific research into the benefits of sound, music and vibration, The book gives a full prescription for healing.” His website is full of information on the healing effects of music. barrygoldsteinmusic.com

 

 

Spiritual Online World

 

 

This month Marj would like to share her excitement about a wonderful interview and conversation with Yo-Yo-Ma July 5th with Krista Tippett on her program, ON BEING. He is a fascinating musician and human being. You can listen to this wonderful interview! Just click here to locate it from the ON BEING website.

He is a fabulous musician with a sense of creativity and playfulness that allows him to bring forth music in many genres.  What you may not  know about Yo-Yo-Ma is that he has a degree in anthropology!  All of his life, a driving passion for him has been to wonder about how this world works.  His thoughts helped me to think about my various entry points leading to my passions. Within the conversation with Krista Tippett, he talks about what makes music exciting and exceptional and then applies the same principles to life in general.  There are so many kernels of truth and wisdom within this offering.  An example – one of my favorites: He states that you have to be vulnerable, willing to risk.  He comments that strength is only one dimension.  You need both failure and strength, you need to live a multidimensional life.  Then with an adapted voice and humor, “…if something bad happens on stage, I often think of Julia Child, ‘Oh, the chicken’s fallen on the floor! Yes. Oh well pick it up and put it right back.'”

Yo-Yo-Ma talked about his experience at the time of the 9/11 event.  “And in the wake of this horrific thing, every orchestra had to decide, do we cancel or do we play? …We may change the program a little.  We’re going to actually be together and have a moment, literally, of being together.”  You don’t give up.  Democracy is participation.  Ask yourself, what can I do right now?  “…Once you ask [the question], you already put yourself in a position of slight vulnerability because you don’t know the answer.  And I think that by doing that, you can actually begin to see where the solutions may lie.”  “….music actually very easily crosses spaces.”

 

Did you know…

 

 

 

 

The three most important times of your day to incorporate music for healing are:

1. The beginning of your day after you wake up: Choose a “morning song” that matches your intention for the day. Think of 3 words that match your intentions. Begin with deep breathing as you start your music.  Place your hands on your heart, connect with the Divine and “listen” with your whole body repeating the three positive affirmations.  ” Starting your day this way generates a beautiful vibratory field that surrounds you all day.
2. The middle of your day: Play some music that  is playful, whimsical or severe to distract you from any stressful side effects of your morning. “A great analogy for using music, sound, and vibration in your middy is comparing your midday music to lunch.” Take that lunch break to replenish and nourish yourself.
3. The end of your day before you go to sleep: We can utilize music to regulate our sleeping patterns, it becomes a call or signal to the core of our spirit that it is time to wind down. “Listen to music with long tones, select music with limited melodies, and avoid music that triggers emotions.

Rephrased and adapted from The Secret Language of the Heart by Barry Goldstein.  Chapter 11, pg. 119-126.