Only when we cross a bridge, we make new encounters in our lives. Barbara Bullock
Tina – The Tina Turner Musical – A review by Barbara Bullock, M.F.A., spiritual writer
I cried. And that’s a good thing. Barbara Bullock
A love of musicals
I have always loved musicals as a medium of storytelling. To me, musicals provide the perfect combination of stories coming alive through music, songs, and dance, acting, and dialogue, complemented with props and visual effects. The story of little Anna Mae from Nutbush, Tennessee becoming the world icon Tina Turner deserved the best and got the best forum. A play, very well fitting for other stories, would not do justice here as music has played too much of a part in her life. The story itself, raw, rough, and real, perfectly told in a musical with real actors playing all life-defining moments out right in front of the audience setting the stage for a real understanding of the legacy and life of Anna Mae Bullock, better known as Tina Turner. I had looked forward to this musical for many months. I had the privilege to attend the premiere of the previews on March 21, 2018. Playing in beautiful Aldwych theater in London, one of my favorite cities always a pleasure traveling to, the chosen location could not have been more perfect.
I had seen quite a few musicals before, Broadway shows and smaller productions. Some of them are still running which means that they are quite successful. Many I liked, some I disliked. But none touched me like Tina – The Tina Turner musical. Tina – the Tina Turner musical has set yet another standard. A very high one. It is, as everything that Anna Mae does, simply the best. She gives her all in all she does and one can feel that her heart and soul goes into every production. I also never cried so much at a show before.
Memories
Adrienne Warren on stage brought back memories from seeing Tina on tour. During the latter part of the musical, the theater indeed turned a bit into a concert venue as the entire audience sings and dances with Adrienne. This certainly brought back memories of some of the happiest times in my life watching Tina on stage from the front row. Watching Adrienne made me miss Tina and those wonderful times traveling the world not just to see her but support her. I have to admit that I shed a few tears, which might sound silly to you but it comes from my heart. When I attend such shows, I am not merely there to be entertained. I do everything I can to support the artist. I cannot even imagine how much hard work went into the preparation and how cruel the life of a traveling artist actually is. I believe that most people are probably not aware of this. Many people in show business are very good at keeping it private unless the pressure of the business becomes so much that it shows and interferes with an artist’s career as well. So here I am to show my respect and support to an artist, who gives her all every single time.
I also cried because I became so thankful that Anna Mae was born in the first place and that she was equipped with the strength she needed. I am in eternal gratitude for her guardian angels for protecting her during her escape. I started to miss her as a person and wished she would have come.
The most personal project ever
Tina – The Tina Turner Musical is not just a tribute to one of the most successful artists of all time. To me it is the very personal story of little Anna Mae with a heart of gold filled with dreams, her childhood and adolescence, her adversities, obstacles, and pain and how she, through her God-given talents, audacity, faith, hope, and love not just survives but literally thrives. Last but not least, it is also a praise of all people in her life who saw the real Anna Mae and her immense potential when others looked away.
An invisible thread of faith and love becomes evident when we see and hear Adrienne Warren, playing and portraying Tina Turner in her famous stage clothes and wig, sitting on the floor chanting. The star becomes human, a personality becomes a person, and the story of little Anna Mae from Nutbush, Tennessee, USA begins. This thread of faith, love and the connection to the past and to little Anna Mae, no matter how successful she may become, is seen throughout the musical as the celebrity standing in front of her grandmother GG and her own inner child, little Anna Mae standing on a tree. Certainly, one of my favorite scenes in the musical as I love such references to the past which give me a glimpse of Anna Mae’s life before she became famous. No matter how far we make it in life, I believe that we are all the result of everything that happened in the past and every single person we have met and every action they and we have done. The reflection back to the past makes it visual that all that happened, the misery and the success is all part of our greatest stories of courage and endurance as well as an unconditional love of our loved ones who help us get through it all. Besides, living with her loving grandmother reminds me a bit of my own childhood and how much a grandmother’s love means to a lonely child.
Many people were and still are very significant and influential in Anna Mae Bullock’s and Tina Turner’s life. Many are portrayed in the musical by actors and actresses, who with talent, charm, and a bit of humor, fulfill these roles perfectly. We see Aisha Jawando as Tina’s sister Alline Bullock, the big sister always by her side. Madeline Appiah totally convinces as Zelma Bullock. All actresses are amazing because, in my opinion, they portray Anna Mae’s true spirit. Anna Mae was there in spirit, the little girl that grew into one of the most successful artists of all times.
The difficult times
The difficult times are shown quite graphically. Prepare tissues if you have not yet done so. When Kobna Holdbrook-Smith comes on stage, my heart starts pumping. He could not be a better and more realistic Ike. I had to look away during some of the cruelest scenes trying and succeeding at beating Adrienne Warren as Anna Mae to the floor. At times, I even wished he would stop as I could no longer watch. That’s how real it gets and how amazingly gifted actors and actresses we see. But this is not just an act.
Yes, we have seen those scenes before in the movie or read about them. However, scenes being played out by actors live takes them to another level of reality. Yes, this really happened. Beautiful Anna Mae being tossed to the floor, beaten and hurt, seeing no escape other than ending her own life, and begging for help. Yes, beautiful Anna Mae indeed had to endure this. By now I am in tears wishing I could get up from my seat and hug two individuals, Adrienne Warren who so convincingly plays her part that Anna Mae becomes real within her, and the real Anna Mae seemingly far away from the London stage to give some comfort and to let her know that everything was going to be okay. The scene evolves and the story continues. Thank God the past is the past.
The story builds up and we still remember the little girl from Nutbush filled with a beautiful heart of big dreams but asking herself whether she should indeed leave and go out into the big world. It’s as if she asks herself whether she is indeed cut out to lead such a life. Yes, Anna Mae always was. We see her humble beginnings picking cotton. Then, everything changes. Starting out singing with Ike Turner changed her clothes, changed her shoes into high heels, even changed her name. Singing had become rather a burden than a pleasure, relationships seemed even more complicated, everything even more difficult than back home. Anna Mae had become Tina whether she wanted or not. Was this what little Anna Mae had in mind?
Hope
Once all trials seem over, Ryan O’Donnell as the manager Roger Davies provides much-needed hope refusing to give up on his newly found talent, and Gerard McCarthy enlightens as the record company marketing manager Erwin Bach. We know the love story that follows. Particularly enchanting I found the scene when we hear him say that he likes to meet artists in person, falls for Anna Mae and literally runs to Brazil to let her know that he loves her for herself. This means her past and all wounds included. This is the true love Anna Mae so deserves.
Motherly love
Some of my favorite scenes in the musical showed the deep bond and motherly love between her and her sons Craig and Ronnie. A beautiful, unconditional love between mother and child seems especially strong here, it is beautiful to watch. The child actors do a fantastic job, so I can only imagine the real sons. I love seeing them together with their mom. No more words could describe this motherly love.
Tina was there
The first time I could really feel the essence of Anna Mae’s presence was during Adrienne Warren’s performance of River Deep Mountain High, probably one of Anna Mae’s first attempt to break out of Ike’s chains of confinement through her own talent and willpower. Adrienne’s voice and dance performance could not have been closer to Tina’s. I literally got chills as if a spirit had entered Adrienne’s body and taken over. So, there I was crying again. Tina was there that night. I believe that Tina and the entire production team has found the perfect match to showcase the true spirit of Tina. Adrienne became Tina that night. I believe that Tina found her and that Adrienne found her inner Tina Turner. Adrienne is beautiful, charming and extremely talented. That night, she channeled Tina. I could not believe what I was hearing. Adrienne’s voice started to sound like Tina’s. She channeled her in a way not simply trying to sing and dance like one of our greatest performers of all time but she channeled the fact that Tina is not just a stage persona but a little girl from Tennessee who had overcome the unimaginable. In this sense, Adrienne channeled not only the essence of Tina in terms of performance but also the essence of Anna Mae, the person. Although two separate entities, the on-stage Tina and the private Anna Mae, I believe that it takes both personas to create the essence of what the world knows as Tina Turner. Like a set of twins, separate entities and yet one, it takes Anna Mae’s belief system and Tina’s professionalism to create what the world knows as Tina Turner, one of the most successful artists of all times.
Tina and Anna Mae
In my opinion, Adrienne could not have done better at portraying both, the stage persona Tina and the private Anna Mae, or at least as much of a glimpse into this world Anna Mae herself would allow. Adrienne’s performance brought tears to my eyes because, to me, Adrienne could not have channeled both, Tina and Anna Mae more authentically. What also is shown in the musical is how extremely lovable Anna Mae, the person, really is. Here once again, the perfect acting makes this quality visible to the audience. After experiencing so much misery in one’s life, many hurt people become tough, angry and bitter. Once again, we see that Anna Mae is bigger than that. She turned to her faith and kept on living and loving through it all.
I believe that many things in our lives happen for a reason even if we don’t understand it initially. I also believe that God equipped Anna Mae with incredible faith probably because he knew what she would have to go through. She got an immensely tough life lesson. But we also know the result. Anna Mae is not one to break. Anna Mae is one to rise above all. At the official opening of the musical in April 2018, we heard her say that she turned poison into medicine. She indeed did.
Adrienne Warren
Adrienne Warren is the next generation of performance. Many young artists were inspired exactly by such success stories as Tina Turner’s. May Adrienne’s success continue to catapult her into the heights she imagines for her career just as little Anna Mae in the cotton fields of Tennessee once dreamed her dreams of being a star. I see a bright inner light on Adrienne’s face just as Anna Mae has an inner light that shines brightly on the outside. Adrienne is beautiful and incredibly talented herself and, with this performance, has made another step up high in her career. May your dreams come true, Adrienne Warren.
A story of audacity
Throughout the musical, we hear many of the world’s favorite Tina Turner songs delivered and woven into dialogue. One of my favorite songs of the musical is Don’t turn around not because it is a fantastic song, but the meaning of its lyrics and how suitable they are in this story. “I’m gonna be strong, I’m gonna do fine, don’t worry about this heart of mine, I will survive, I’ll make it through” (Hammond, Warren), sounds like little Anna Mae crying out letting us know that no matter what happens Anna Mae will always make it. As if she is saying to the audience “don’t worry about me”. And yet we do worry. At least those members of the audience who came to pay tribute to the human being in the first place. The standing ovation in the theater was certainly to the entire cast for their remarkable performance but also to the essence of Anna Mae. Through storytelling the star became human.
Visuals
As mentioned earlier, musicals are the perfect combination of sights and sounds on a stage. The already graphic story is accompanied by beautiful stage design and scenery from the cotton fields, scenes on the road, and home life to rainy days in London (of course presented with the hit I can’t stand the rain). I also have a particular interest in history and how people used to live, dress etc. I love the costumes and props in the musical that literally take one back into the 40s, 50s, 60s, 70s, and 80s! A delight and must see!
Faith in a better tomorrow
Most people around the world will never have the opportunity to get to know Anna Mae personally, but perhaps this musical is a glimpse into the life of little Anna Mae who, through her own audacity, hope, and love, turned into Tina Turner, one of the most beautiful and successful artists of all times. Thank you, little Anna Mae, for dreaming your dreams. Thank you, grown Anna Mae, for carrying on when you felt like giving up. Thank you for giving the world Tina. Thank you to everyone involved in the production of this wonderful project. Finally, thank you, Adrienne, for carrying the torch to future generations. I hope that Anna Mae will be encouraging you in many years to come just as her grandmother once took care of her and set little Anna Mae free to follow her dreams.
I believe in you, Anna Mae
This musical is not a simple tribute to a great artist. Performing and watching this musical is a tribute to an amazing human being and the opportunity to give a little bit back of what she has been given all her life. Everything she does is done with perfection. I started to miss Anna Mae, the person, terribly.
Dear Anna Mae,
I am sure it was yet another sacrifice you had to make in your life, and you have had to make plenty. You don’t do anything quickly and carelessly just so it is done. You are a true artist giving your all to your audience. You don’t stop when you are tired, have had enough, are unwell or hurt. It takes every inch of your body and soul to please others because this is who you are (at least as far as I know). You are a true mother. Giving your all never asking for anything in return. Francesca Jackson as Rhonda Graam singing Open Arms describes promises to always be there as a friend. All these and more people believed in Anna Mae. And so, as I leave the show, this is my promise to you, Anna Mae. I promise that I’ll always be your friend. No matter what may still happen in your life, know that you’ll be supported, know that you’ll be loved through it all. It is my promise to you that I will always turn around and never walk away. I will always have open arms for you. Telling your story with this musical means so much to so many and I truly hope that future generations worldwide can at least catch a glimpse of the amazing Anna Mae from Nutbush, Tennessee, USA and what can emerge out of a little girl and her heart filled with dreams, audacity, and love.
Thank you, Anna Mae, for being you. I love you.
To the entire production team, I bow and say thank you for not just an amazing night out but most surely the best musical I will ever see.
Love,
Barbara
Barbara Bullock
Copyright © 2018 by Barbara Bullock, M.F.A., spiritual writer
Photo taken by Barbara Bullock in London, March 2018.
Have you been inspired today? Barbarabullock.wordpress.com
Work cited:
Tina – The Tina Turner Musical
Director: Phyllida Lloyd, Venue: Aldwych Theatre, Choreographer: Anthony Van Laast, Music director: Thomas Kelly, Producers: Tina Turner, Joop van den Ende, Stage Entertainment, Tali Pelman
May 2018
Don’t turn around, song, Capitol, 1986, Albert Hammond, Diane Warren, writers.
I can’t stand the rain, song, Capitol, 1984, Ann Peebles, Don Bryant & Bernard “Bernie” Miller, writers.
Open Arms, song, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Universal Music Publishing Group, 2004, Martin Brammer, Colette Van Sertima, Benjamin Barson, writers.
Awakening Beyond – A review
Awakening Beyond
A project by Regula Curti, TinaTurner, Ani Choying, Dima Orsho, Sawani Shende Sathaye, Mor Karbasi
A review by Barbara Bullock, M.F.A., spiritual writer
Time to awaken to your soul
When I listen to music, I see the music. Images appear in my mind. A message from the divine is delivered through music. Come with me on the journey of Awakening Beyond.
A new way of seeing
A soft sound of a single flute seemingly out of nowhere is soon joined by an ever empowering crescendo. As our world sees yet another day, the first few rays of sunlight merge with the most powerful star of our galaxy to shine its life-giving light and warmth each day. Angelic tunes of the founder of the Beyond projects, Regula Curti, are accompanied by new, unknown yet the spirit of inquiry evoking vocal sounds that bring forth new thought forms. This time, it’s aim is to take the listener to places not yet explored by the Beyond projects while providing a thread to previous projects with spiritual messages and familiar voices. Followers have heard and learned to love various songs and prayers from a variety of religious traditions such as Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism, Judaism, Islam, and Sikhism. Awakening Beyond further examines the deep roots of Heart Sutras, Sufi poems, Sephardic music, Syrian lullabies, Arabic traditions and additions from India and Spain and brings ancient sounds into our modern world. Like a river of time, Awakening Beyond tries to bridge the past with the present and creates awareness that will allow for hearts to open and choices made for a better tomorrow.
No coincidence
I think it is no coincidence that Tibet and Syria, two beautiful countries with history and traditions well worth passing on to future generations were chosen to be represented by the Beyond projects. The conflicts and endless destruction of cultural heritage, eradicating entire communities and assassinating countless human beings, many of them innocent children, have been occurring for so long. Images of such agony and despair on television and in the press, have almost become a part of our days. So much so that many people have literally stopped paying attention and even question their authenticity.
Are these battles so insurmountable that there is no end in sight and the only solution the complete elimination of entire cultures? As one of the answers to the problems, many countries around the world have opened their gates to provide refuge for the innocent bystanders. However, after leaving everything behind and voyaging deadly passages many face new challenges. Those who don’t seem to adapt to unknown cultures and traditions quick enough encounter everything but newfound freedom. Citing fellow human beings as too dangerous, which certainly some are, closed borders for them also means closed borders for the old shop owner whose livelihood was ruined by an unexpected aerial attack, a grandmother who is unable to visit her grandchild studying abroad to further her education unobtainable in her home country in order to serve humanity, and a child standing in agony, hungry, alone, and with nothing left except heart-breaking memories of having his home destroyed and entire family killed, waiting to be rescued by a stranger taken away into an uncertain future. There are many more.
It’s time to wake up
Listening to Awakening Beyond feels to me like a wakeup call for our society as it is today. As an empath, I am very receptive to invisible, mystical and metaphysical existences in our world. I can feel the energy of another person, a room, a place, nature, and sounds. At first, Awakening Beyond omits a new, darker energy to me. It is not a kind of music for the light-hearted or someone who just wants to be entertained for a while. Awakening Beyond truly awakens you to a new world of seeing, a new world of listening, a new world of thinking, and most importantly, a new world of feeling. Waking up is a term most familiar to those who learn about the law of attraction, spirituality, abundance, and the fact that we are indeed spiritual beings in human bodies having a human experience. We know we are eternal. We know that we don’t have souls, but that we are souls. We know that, in order to improve our world as it is, we need to educate as many people as possible about the fact that tolerance, love, and compassion for others and their lives, is the solution to the world’s problems, not violence, discrimination, and war. Understanding really does not take much science and learning. Rather, it takes an open heart and mind to comprehend that we are not that different from the person next to us or living on the other side of the planet. There are many ways to get to such a place in our hearts. Awakening Beyond is one of them. It does not deny the fact that traditions, religions, and customs differ, but, like a mantra, keeps chanting the teaching that the foundation and goal of all traditions are the same. Human feelings and the eternal quest for the meaning of life is identical across all cultures and histories. As in previous Beyond projects, the message is clear once again. We are all one. We are all spiritual beings coming to planet Earth in different shapes, forms, colors, nationalities, likes, and dislikes. Yet we are all made of and a part of the divine and our vast universe. Ancient cultures have known this for eons. Our modern societies focusing so much on separation, exclusion, and selection, need to reawaken to this fact. I believe that it is one of the goals of the Awakening Beyond project to contribute its share to do just that. Have an open mind. Let the music sink into your consciousness. You might be surprised.
Earth Mother
As if these conflicts and contradictions were not enough, we cannot ignore other pressing issues such as climate change. While water gives life, drought diminishes it. It threatens our very own habitat – Mother Earth – more than many of its inhabitants are aware of. Animals and humans alike can no longer survive. The journey of Awakening Beyond begins Earth Mother Anna Mae Bullock. Tina Turner is the better-known name but is more familiar to most in company with song and dance on the world’s stages. Presented here is the spiritual message of what I believe to be a highly evolved soul. We have heard the stage persona to be retired; we have heard her sing her heart and soul out with the most touching interpretation of Buddhist chants and the Lord’s prayers. As spirituality has played a tremendous part in the person’s life, probably even her soul’s growth in this lifetime, I see our Earth mother as a teacher of her eternal wisdom. Listen closely to her soft yet strong voice. A lonesome soul cries out into the vast universe. Yet it is echoed by unconditional love returning to her multiplied. Many love her but are we really listening to our Earth Mother and her teachings?
As I do, I see land, a desert. Crops bountiful and flourishing last year, are now dying due to drought. Cultures of the desert all eradicated by segregation, war, and violence. Innocent people like you and me have nothing. Not even a drop of water.
Our Earth mother prays for rain so that crops can grow again. We need our Mother Earth. Don’t you see? We cannot keep destroying her, exploiting her. Otherwise, we’ll destroy ourselves. Our Earth Mother Anna Mae knows that. Are we listening to her truthful, divinely guided words? We need the land to revive. Otherwise, we all will be dying of thirst on the way to freedom.
Crescendo
What really stands out for me on this album is the orchestra. I hear more classical crescendos which remind me of important points in a movie script. Filmmakers frequently use music to intensify a scene and make it appear more dramatic. Like a choir, an orchestra needs every single instrument to function as a whole to create the sound it is supposed to. Awakening Beyond seems to seek to achieve a similar effect. Throughout the project, we hear one voice then another, first single and together as a choir. Complementing each other, blending together and creating a new voice together which can only exist with all participants present. Two or more singers singing from different places on our planet. Like two birds singing the morning song, first one, then another one, then another one joins the conversation. Regardless of culture, religion, and background, singing together with one heart, the source of unconditional love, where all voices and all cultures come from.
Let your chakras and heart dance in peace
Everyone knows how good dancing feels. It connects us to our Mother Earth yet lifts spirits up high. Salutations is a trip to India with enchanting Sawani Shende Sathaye with a modern twist. A classic crescendo accompanies earthly drums, strings represent the connection to our divine. Let’s get up and dance! It is good for the chakras, the energy centers in our human bodies. Everyone feels good after a dance, feels more connected to others so unconditional love can flow more freely. Show your inner happiness with a smile to your neighbor.
Partos Trocados by Mor Karbasi is introduced with soft sounds like the raindrops we heard earlier in the project. Seemingly an innocent lullaby it soon turns into a melancholic melody reminding me a bit of French chansons trying to express a certain sadness of the heart. The English translation of the lyrics gives me chills. Diaspora and slavery are the topics here. A mother sitting in a rocking chair rocking her baby asleep. A beautiful image of motherly love. Not so in cultures experiencing uproar. Always in the awareness that her baby might be taken or their family torn apart as the real world out there is not a peaceful one but filled with sadness and the fading hope of a better tomorrow for our children.
Avalokiteshvara begins with suspension. In search of a way out of an uncomfortable, perhaps even scary situation such as being lost in a dark forest, Om Mani Peme Hung, a traditional Tibetan Buddhist mantra, is soon the savior. The regularity of chanting a regular rhythm is very soothing and comforting. Mantras offer a return to regularity, a comfort zone, a peaceful and relaxing yet uplifting environment in the mind and in the heart. Like a peaceful warrior inviting me to join a wave of peace through chanting. Peaceful resistance is likely the appropriate terminology here and, yes, I suddenly do think of the nonviolent actions of countless evolved beings during the civil rights movement standing up for what is right without violence and rage. The consistent chants and the comfort they bring to my ears invite me to join the movement. Something inside of the music and voice by Ani Choying is calling my attention. Like the nectar inside of a beautiful blossom attracts the bee, a flower field is surrounded by butterflies, so I am too attracted by this expression of divine, unconditional, universal love. An invitation by voice and sound – the audible expression of the divine – to join this movement. A movement of love. The longer I listen, the more I feel like chanting myself. I find myself in a different place. Higher somehow. Vibrating higher into the realms of divine unconditional love I start to feel more peaceful in my heart. I encourage the listener to listen to this powerful mantra in a place where one cannot be disturbed. Too powerful to be silenced, I feel like joining the choir and chanting out loud. Getting close to my heart and my soul I join the Beyond. Listening with headphones on my commute, I look around and don’t see just fellow passengers. I feel compassion for the beings next to me. This is the power of a mantra.
Wiegenlied, Regula Curti’s German lullaby is very soothing and comforting. An angel’s soft touch and embrace taking humanity into his wings and leaving a feather as a reminder that angelic help is always available. Regula reminds us that no matter what happens, we are safe and protected. I see an innocent baby in his crib looking back representing our world’s future.
Our children of today, especially those in war-torn countries, those innocent angel-like beings, are caught in the middle of fighting. Children don’t understand why adults see differences in each other and fight. The angels remind us that children only learn differences when adults teach them those. Children are also naturally curious and just want to try to understand their world around them and why things are the way they seem. Children don’t see differences because they don’t really exist. Children know unconditional love.
Nini Nini sung by Dima Orsho accompanied by a soft flute sounds like a gentle good morning kiss. As the world slowly awakens on a new morning, a new chance, a new day, is given. The sun rises slowly over the rooftops of an ancient city connecting its inhabitants with what has long gone, the past, with what is yet to be, the future. No one really knows what the day will bring. Human beings are once more awakened by the great Beyond to rise again. The opportunity of a new day should not be taken for granted, nor should free will. Free will is another chance for humanity to choose peace, to choose love on this brand-new day. It is up to all of us what we make of this new day. It’s time for Awakening Beyond. It’s time to go Beyond on this new day.
Sojaa Sojaa another sweet lullaby with Indian origin allows us to rise for a new day. Very uplifting and bright like the sun coming up fully now over the horizon providing light and love. The power of the sun gives life and is eternal. Eternal power, eternal love, wishing us all a powerful new day filled with light and love. Let’s all keep dancing as our Mother Earth has greeted a new day in our time and space. This is the opportunity to choose love and light. Seize the day and make it light and loving!
Mountain blessings is a further invitation sent from the distant corners of our galaxy to every human being on this planet. An intense crescendo is the wake-up call our world needs now. Regula Curti’s call from the mountaintop to humankind of all sorts all around the world cannot be overheard. This is the master’s invitation to get up and join the choir. No longer can we depend on others to save us. Instead, through music, let your heart open up and join the lightworkers to change the world for the better today. We were given a new day, but we also have to mobilize every person to contribute something to everlasting world peace.
The current challenges are too great for a few to bear. We need every voice, every opinion, every tradition, every trace, every culture, every language, every mind and every heart to join for a better tomorrow.
Lama Chenno feels, once again, very soothing, a Tibetan mantra that provides safety, regularity, and peace. Like a mother figure letting me know that everything is going to be all right even if it might not seem so at the moment. We, the human race, progress and evolve, but we certainly face uncertainty on the path to peace. Yet, as learned previously, mantras provide comfort along the way.
One soul is the reminder we need now. Opening drums invite the listener to join the dance of life. The blending voices of different cultures and religions remind us that we are all here in all our different shapes, shades, customs and beliefs yet we are all one from one soul. All of us contribute to the diversity in our world we live in. No one is inferior or superior. We are all one. The comparison to a chain like a necklace or a bracelet comes easy here. Each part connects with one before and one after. Each part is not just important for the whole peace. Each part is required so much so that the whole piece would not hold together without every single tiny part.
Two Loves and Caritas Abundat are the last but not least reminders that we need to open our hearts to others. Yes, another being might be less familiar even unknown. Yes, it is possible to learn compassion for others no matter what the history, the background, the origin. Serving as reminders that we all one heart, one soul, one universe. Unconditional love is all there is and so I feel it in me, in you, around me, around you, for you, and for me, to the stars and back to Mother Earth and all there is. Love is all there is, ever was and ever will be. I feel compassion and love as I look into your eyes, fellow human being. I know I am guided on my path to peace by the angels of the universe. Heaven is not a place far away that we might see one day. Heaven is here right now. And so, it is. Amen.
Gone Beyond
As the journey of Awakening Beyond comes to an end, we step through the door and discover that this journey has just begun. Our Mother Earth teacher Anna Mae Bullock (Tina Turner) once again invites us to follow her voice. I listen closely to her heartwarming voice; Anna Mae teaches us that we have gone beyond. The music has changed us as we are not the same as before. The music we have listened to has made us feel comfortable. A beautiful journey through diverse religions and cultures has opened my heart even more. I feel calmer now, softer now, like the sound of the ringing of soft bells, I feel more compassion filling my heart even to the unfamiliar and new. As I realize that we are indeed all one. I thank God for our Earth Mother. I can listen to her voice forever. Strong yet soft, empowering yet comforting. A true gift from the great Beyond. I indeed have gone Beyond. Let Earth Mother Anna Mae keep guiding you with her eternal wisdom and spiritual messages. Try chanting with her. It changed her life and can also do wonders for yours. It can change our world for the better. This is our time to do exactly that. We can have a better world. A more peaceful world. A more loving, compassionate, forgiving world. But it is also up to us!
One more time Regula Curti closes the circle back to previous Beyond projects with Kyrei Eleison Christe Eleison. Indeed, Lord have mercy, Christ have mercy. The last invitation follows. As was said before, we are completely gone, in the beyond now. The focus here for me is the now. We are in the Beyond right now! The journey of Awakening Beyond has brought us closer to compassion, forgiveness and unconditional love for others. We are gone. Gone in the Beyond. What that means for me is that there is no way back. Once in the Beyond, I must stay here. This is heaven; this is Nirvana; this is enlightenment. It is not a realm distant from us. It is right here. But it also takes our contribution. The world we live in can be a very beautiful place of peace and freedom for all religions and cultures in which we enrich each other’s lives by teaching each other instead of fighting against each other and exclude each other.
Keep singing
I certainly don’t have the solution to all the problems in our world. However, I do believe that each of us can contribute something for a more peaceful, loving, and forgiving world. As the beautiful Beyond sisters have taught us over and over: Keep singing and go Beyond. Listen to the Beyond projects and try to emulate the same compassion, tolerance, unconditional love and forgiveness they have articulated through song and voice. Our world is very blessed for their continuous efforts and contributions. Please support their projects and their foundations. Our world is already a little better. With gratitude, I close my review. With gratitude, I bow once again and thank the great Beyond for all founders, artists, producers, designers, and so many more. Through music and prayer, the Beyond projects enchant and uplift our homes, commutes, communities, and world. My life is not the same as it was before the Beyond projects.
I have gone beyond. I hope you have too or will soon.
With gratitude and the hope for a better tomorrow.
Love,
Barbara
Barbara Bullock
Copyright © 2018 by Barbara Bullock, M.F.A., spiritual writer
Have you been inspired today? Barbarabullock.wordpress.com
Work cited:
Awakening Beyond
Edition Beyond Singing, Switzerland, administrated by BMG
℗ and © Edition Beyond Singing, 2017
Photo credit: Edition Beyond Singing, eyeworks, Zurich (graphic design), Nathan Beck, Knoepfel Indlekofer
#RegulaCurti #TinaTurner #AniChoying #DimaOrsho #SawaniShendeSathaye #MorKarbasi
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What about the next morning?
Millions of people celebrated at least several holidays in recent months. From Halloween to Thanksgiving, from Christmas to Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, New Year’s Eve, and Valentine’s Day, these past months were filled with months of celebrations and the sharing of light and love. Many people around the world visited beloved families and friends, spent time off for relaxation and travel, followed holiday traditions, and prepared the most delicious dishes of the entire year. During the holiday season, many of us give thanks for the blessings received throughout the year and pray for more good fortune in the coming year.
During these cheerful moments, we make toasts looking into our loved ones’ eyes showing them our appreciation of their presence, drink, eat, and celebrate the good times of our lives. During these months of celebration and homecomings, many of us become very charitable as well, perhaps even more so than at other times during the year. Larger tips are given to people who serve us every day, money is donated to charities, food and clothes are shared with the homeless making sure they too have a cozy stay. There seems to be more kindness and unconditional love in the air during these times. We pick up a book that the person in front of us dropped; we give a smile to a child; we ask the store clerk how his or her family is doing. I could write a long list here. I am certain that you would have a long one too.
What about the next morning?
What about when the holiday season is over? What about the day after the holiday? Being cheerful, loving, and charitable during the holidays is not difficult. Who does not love celebrating and sharing a little bit of that bliss with others? The challenge begins the next morning. I believe that we are here on this planet Earth to love and be loved. I believe that we are here to make the best of our lives and enjoy the good times. I believe that many of us are blessed beyond our own needs in order to share our wealth with those less fortunate. Yes, holidays are meant to be celebrated. Houses are wonderful when decorated. Holiday meals and special foods not cooked every day are certainly among my favorites. I love holidays and celebrating. I think most people do. However, what about the next morning?
What about the day after the holiday when the party guests have gone home, leftovers stored in the fridge, candles are blown out, the music turned off, gifts put away, wrapping paper thrown out, and lights taken down? It is easy to share with others and celebrate with people we care about. Human beings have celebrated and followed holiday traditions for probably thousands of years. Humanity is sharing with and caring for others. Real humanity is doing so when the party is over. The real message here is to keep celebrating after the holiday.
The next morning, continue sharing your smile with the person next to you. The next morning, keep donating your food, clothes, or money. The next morning, keep donating your time by volunteering for a good cause important to you. Keep caring about others. Take someone in who needs shelter, a warm meal and someone who listens. Be the friend anyone can count on in times of need and in times of cheer. Pick up what the person in front of you dropped with a smile. Ask the janitor how his or her weekend was. Give what you can to others. Share your holiday joy after the holiday. Keep celebrating life not because it’s a holiday but because it’s the next morning so that we never have to ask ourselves again what the world will look like after the holidays. If we all do our part of sharing and caring, just as during the traditional holidays, love is in the air everywhere and – every day of the year. Keep shining with your hearts once the holiday lights are turned off for the season.
Love,
Barbara
Copyright © 2018 by Barbara Bullock, M.F.A., spiritual writer
barbarabullock.wordpress.com
Photo credit © 2017 by Barbara Bullock. Photo taken in Kuesnacht, Switzerland December 2017.
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