Marc’s Story
I was listening to an old record the other night. I still play records. I love my recorded music.
But I’ve been thinking recently that if we are to have a sustainable human future, all of us are going to have to give up a lot of things. So many things, I don’t think we can even imagine right now. And maybe one of those things will be … all discretionary (i.e. non-essential) uses of electricity. Including all the machines that play music.
In which case we would only have the music we’ve inscribed into our hearts, and the music we make with our instruments and voices, and the music that will be born through us.
When I put on music these days, I listen with extra appreciation for the blessing and gift of my amazing CDs and records, technology that wasn’t even in existence a mere 100 years ago. (Or maybe they had records, but they didn’t sound nearly as good as they do on my stereo system!) And I try to let the music weave and settle into my heart where it will stay for the rest of my life should I need to call it up.
And I have been thinking about all the people I know who seem to effortlessly channel music. My godkids do it; they spontaneously “compose” songs of beguiling loveliness.
My friend Lulu is a brilliant self-love coach who also does reiki healing sessions, during which amazing songs come through her, effortlessly. I asked her once if she recorded them all. She responded blithely that, most of the time, they just come and then she forgets them! I was a little stunned. There was one especially pretty tune she channeled during a reiki circle while I was “on the table” and the refrain went “A little more free, a little more free, all I need to be is a little more free” and it felt so fitting, so perfect for me in the moment, I wanted to hold onto it forever.
Fortunately, Lulu actually has recorded a few of her medicine songs and you can sample them here.
I will venture a prediction. In times to come – perhaps not even very long from now – it will become increasingly necessary for people to find their own songs and share them. We will depend on each other for the raw joy of music. We’ll nourish each other with our songs.
We currently swim in an ocean of pre-packaged entertainment, including music videos and “files.” Our sources of joy are completely outsourced. Most of them are corporately manufactured.
I think that will have to change.
We’ll make up our own skits and stories too. They’ll be better than the movies.
Susan’s Story
A number of years ago, when my boyfriend and I lived in a small Mexican village, we lived like many people there, with no electricity or indoor running water. Which meant no radio, TV, phone, or Internet. No lightbulbs. No flush toilet. No sink, shower, or hot water. Needless to say, no recorded music.
It may sound horrid, and could absolutely be inconvenient. Yet we spent many peaceful dark evenings sitting on the beach watching the waves break and talking, or indoors playing cards by kerosene lamplight, or strumming guitar and singing songs with the carpenters down at the wood shop where Roberto worked. It was fun engaging with people in these no-agenda, low-key ways, where our only purpose was to enjoy our time together.
You might believe that given a choice, you wouldn’t sacrifice any of the modern conveniences we’ve come to depend upon. At this moment, I don’t choose to either. Yet I also know that if I had to, I could. And life wouldn’t be bad at all.
Back to the Game
You can play Higher Thought with your friends even if the electricity goes out. It’s a good way to create conversational music.
In fact, now might be a good time to buy a game if you don’t have one yet. We’re still selling the games for the corona crisis price of $17.37 (plus shipping) but at some point we’ll have to bump it back up.
ALSO … it’s not too late to get in on tonight’s virtual game, which starts at 8 p.m. PT. Just email us at and ask for the Zoom link and we’ll send it to you.
It’s big fun to play Higher Thought over Zoom!
Try it with us or with your friends!
Hope to see you tonight!
–Marc and Susan
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