Reflection for today…Memento Mori Reflections on Death & Life -Angelina Jolie & Tricky

“If I think more about death than some other people,

it is probably because I love life more than they do.”  
-Angelina Jolie

I feel the magnetic pull towards art and artists that explore themes of death, melancholy, depression/mental illness, etc. 

Angelina Jolie and Tricky/Adrian Thaws have always been artists that I deeply respect. {They have been featured on this blog many times and will continue to be}. Both have explored spiritual darkness {e.g. melancholy, depression/mental illness, suffering, addiction} and death in their art. I feel more enriched as a result. I feel that I have walked away with a more balanced picture of humanity and our struggles/triumphs here on earth. Their art has fed my soul and for this, I am deeply grateful.

I completely agree with Angelina & Tricky that death and life are inextricably linked. One cannot divorce one from the other. This epiphany brings us the wisdom to know that reflecting on death is, in essence, reflecting on life. This is the memento mori {remembering death} tradition.

“But past civilisations – from the ancient Greeks to the Victorians – were acutely aware of their own mortality. Memento mori was the philosophy of reflecting on your own death as a form of spiritual improvement, and rejecting earthly vanities.”

http://theconversation.com/memento-mori-remember-that-you-have-to-die-42823

Tricky is right that to reject death is to reject life. His view is very Buddhist in nature. Tricky’s surrealist art may possibly be born out of his realist approach to life. He was forced to reflect on life and death at the young age of four when his mother, Maxine Quaye, tragically committed suicide. This timeless loss created such a void in his life and a fascination and curiosity with death. This dark sensibility and haunting melancholia would be the nucleus for Tricky’s art later on.

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Please enjoy When We Die by Tricky & Martina Topley-Bird…

“Following the announcement of his 13th album ununiform, Tricky presents the video for single ‘When We Die’, featuring Martina Topley-Bird. It offers an intimate look at the diverse range of people going about their individual, and individually complex, city lives – a filmic treatment of the ‘Humans of New York’ story-telling approach. Eerie, haunting yet enveloped by a sense of peace and acceptance,

‘When We Die’ sees Tricky take hold of a new zest for life he has come to possess:

“If you don’t accept death, you don’t really accept life”, says Tricky.”

 

If you would like to listen to his whole BBC interview, please click here: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/p05gyl1q

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Lyrics

So, where do I go, where do I go?
I don’t die young, not like Michael
My friend’s psycho, so, I might go lie low
So, where do I go, where do I go?
Fun trips, she’s wearing lycro
Where do we go, where do we go
When we die, then we lie low?

How can you somewhat say?
Twins apart, faded grey
Is it like that dream I had?
And you are here like a dream

Where did you go, where did you go?
Why did you leave?
What do you need, what do you need?
Now you go, I hardly breathe
What do you see, what do you see?
I think of you and waste my day
So, where do we go, where do we go
When we die, then we lay low?

How can you somewhat say?
Twins apart, faded grey
Is it like that dream I had?
And you are here like a dream

How can you somewhat say?
Twins apart, faded grey
Is it like that dream I had?
And you are here like a dream

How can you somewhat say?
Twins apart, faded grey
Is it like that dream I had?
And you are here like a dream.”

Songwriters: Adrian Nicholas Matthew Thaws / Martina Gillian Topley-Bird

When We Die lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.

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What are your thoughts on this post?

What do you think about the memento mori tradition?

What are your memento mori reflections?

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I sincerely hope you’ve enjoyed the first post in my new blog category: memento mori.

I have written about it before:

https://mysoulsonice.wordpress.com/2014/01/01/reflection-for-today-the-beauty-of-living-dying-brandon-lee/.

By remembering that we will die,

we are free to reflect on our lives, celebrate & live them right now…

Peace & Conscious Love…

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For more information…

Angelina Jolie…https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0001401/?ref_=nv_sr_1

Tricky…

http://www.trickysite.com/

https://www.instagram.com/trickyofficial/

https://www.facebook.com/TrickyOfficial?utm_source=youtube.com&utm_medium=referral

https://twitter.com/knowlewestboy

https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0872635/?ref_=nv_sr_1

Martina Topley-Bird…https://www.martinatopleybird.com/

https://www.facebook.com/martinatopleybird/

https://www.instagram.com/martinatopleybird/?hl=en

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Further Reading…

• http://theconversation.com/memento-mori-remember-that-you-have-to-die-42823
• https://mysoulsonice.wordpress.com/2014/01/01/reflection-for-today-the-beauty-of-living-dying-brandon-lee/
• https://mysoulsonice.wordpress.com/2013/04/14/reflection-for-today-the-dangers-of-a-sad-soul-henry-david-thoreau/
• https://mysoulsonice.wordpress.com/2014/01/27/tricky-reflects-on-the-seductive-powers-of-ego/
• https://mysoulsonice.wordpress.com/2012/03/15/tricky-contradictive/
• https://mysoulsonice.wordpress.com/2014/08/01/reflection-for-today-love-amnesia-charles-bukowski/
• https://www.theguardian.com/music/2010/sep/19/tricky-mixed-race-interview
• https://mysoulsonice.wordpress.com/2012/03/27/tricky-spoken-word-piece-interview-allsaints-basement-sessions-special-presentation/
• https://mysoulsonice.wordpress.com/2013/04/06/reflection-for-today-revolutionary-spirit-ernesto-che-guevara/
• Angelina Jolie Covers ‘Time’ Magazine After Mastectomy (justjared.com)

Reflection for today…Love Amnesia -Charles Bukowski

“I remember awakening one morning and finding everything smeared with the color of forgotten love.”  
–Charles Bukowski

What Matters Most is How Well You Walk Through the Fire

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This quote speaks about forgotten love but…what if you haven’t forgotten?

What if you remember everything {no matter how much time has gone by}?

What if you don’t suffer from”love amnesia”?

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Please enjoy Past Mistake by Tricky…

{This song is what you wish the person that hurt you felt about you}…

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0U1-AHyYxhU

The Extended Version {for hardcore Tricky fans like myself}…

I just adore this song and I cannot stop listening to it.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lYfrRoxc-kw

“I realize, there’s no compromise
Through lion eyes, my lover
Just wasn’t there, even though I care
Did I hurt you bad? did I make you sad?

I know I paid, that’s why I’m alone today
Just me and myself, no mental health
My mistakes overtakes
Your love’s overgrown, my love walks alone

My love, my love, my love for you
My love, my love, my love for you

Now I wonder why, until we die
And then, upon your praise
Hope Jesus come to kill the mourn
I feel again, I love you then

Oceans of time, across divine
I found you, I will find you
That is not my time, my time to take
For me to sing our lover’s song 

My love, my love, my love for you
My love, my love, my love for you

‘Til it burns my soul
Burns my soul
Burns a hole

My love, my love, my love for you
My love, my love, my love for you.“

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Doesn’t the line “oceans of time, across divine

I found you” remind you of the scene in Dracula…

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tg_GW3HmKVY

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For more information…

Charles Bukowski…http://bukowski.net/

Tricky…http://www.trickysite.com/ 

Dracula Film…http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0103874/?ref_=nv_sr_3

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Peace & Namaste

Related articles

• The Magic of Memories (shaheenmiroinsights.com)
• Writing is something that you don’t know how to do – Charles Bukowski (fireflydance.net)
• Charles Bukowski on Writing (zoequiney.wordpress.com)
• Charles Bukowski (soliloqueue.wordpress.com)
• Head to Head with Charles Bukowski (disinfo.com)

Reflection for today…No Truth Can Cure Grief -Haruki Murakami

“No truth can cure the sorrow we feel from losing a loved one.

No truth, no sincerity, no strength, no kindness can cure that sorrow.

All we can do is see it through to the end and learn something from it, but what we learn will be no help in facing the next sorrow that comes to us without warning.” 
―Haruki Murakami,   

Norwegian Wood

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In this short video clip, Eric Clapton discusses Jim Hendrix’s death.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j082opb4AZo

http://youtu.be/j082opb4AZo

Eric Clapton about Jimi Hendrix death

It is painfully obvious that Eric is deeply mourning Jimi. Their friendship had a sacred place in his life. It was a friendship based on mutual respect and admiration. It was a friendship of equals.

Jimi Hendrix & Eric Clapton in 1967

Eric is overcome with a tidal wave of melancholy while speaking about Jimi. A sense of anger is also present in his voice. Perhaps it is the sense of hopelessness over what happened. The sad truth is that no matter how much we love someone, we cannot save them from anything- especially from death.

Death tries to steal our greatest loves from us.

Death is the greatest thief.

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Eric speaks about the feelings of abandonment he felt when Jimi died, “a lonely feeling to be left alone.” This comment reminds me of how death affects the loved ones left behind. Somehow they have to be resilient in order to continue on with their lives despite their pain and grief. The hole in one’s heart is left there forever. Time is irrelevant in grief. I really admire people for their strength in being able to live their lives despite their grief, suffering and losses. They truly have my utmost respect.

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Eric’s story about the birthday gift he bought for Jimi was so heartfelt. He bought him a left-handed Fender stratocaster guitar but due to circumstances, he was unable to give it to him that night. Unfortunately, he was never able to give it Jimi because he died. Eric notes, “The next day, wack, he was gone and I was left with that left-handed stratocaster.” When he looks at the interviewer it looks like he is holding back tears. You can see the pain in his eyes- in his soul.

It is so tragic when loved ones are taken from us. I recently lost someone and no matter how many times it has happened, you are never ready for it. You are always left broken, bloody, bruised, raw and spiritually naked. Grieving takes a lot out of you- especially if you are a sensitive soul like myself. This is the reason why I have been away so long from this blog. I needed some time to reflect and grieve on my own. Hopefully I can reflect with you all now. If you are still here, thank you for still being here. Thank you for reading.

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For more information…

Jimi Hendrix…http://www.jimihendrix.com/us/home

Eric Clapton…http://www.ericclapton.com/

Fender Guitars…http://www.fender.com/en-CA/

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In true friendship, we give the best of ourselves to our friend. We give our respect, loyalty and compassion.

Peace & Namaste…

Reflection for today…The Ocean of Consciousness -Rumi…

I remember reading some Buddhist teachings many moons ago that spoke about the ocean of consciousness.

It spoke about each of us being a wave in the ocean.

We think that we are completely independent; that we are a single wave because of the illusion of our ego.

Our ego clouds and distorts our perception creating a false sense of self.

It is complicated as in Western society there is so much focus on the self: self-improvement, self-esteem, self-confidence, self-doubt, etc.

The truth is that while it may seem that we are individual waves,

we are actually part of the ocean; the ocean of humanity.

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I really cannot understand how some people can have no compassion for each other.

At the root of this poverty of the spirit is a lack of compassion for the self, selfishness and an overindulgence of the ego.

{One cannot offer compassion if you have no compassion for yourself}.

As I said to my friend, if we don’t help each other then we will all sink.

I know that we all have our individual problems but if we just focus on them, then we cannot get out of our heads and the prison of selfishness.

There is a delicate balance between having compassion and helping others with helping yourself and protecting yourself from harm. Boundaries are necessary.

I always struggle with how to have compassion while not losing myself.

The sad truth is that many people mistake kindness for weakness.

The truth is that it takes great strength to be compassionate in this world.

It takes great spiritual strength to open your heart and mind to offer your compassion. 

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 When the triple disasters were taking place in Japan in 2011, I was horrified. I was watching the news on the internet. I constantly watched BBC, CBC and Al Jazeera with tears in my eyes.

I could not help crying as I watched the news.

It hurt my heart and soul to witness such suffering.

I could not believe that on top of the tsunami and the earthquake there was a nuclear situation as well. As I thought of Fukushima, I was reminded of the Chernobyl nuclear disaster. I was very concerned and afraid for Japan. I still am.

While I had no family, friends or loved ones in Japan, I felt deep compassion for the Japanese.

It didn’t matter in the least if I didn’t know a single soul in Japan.

We are all interconnected and if Japan was suffering and grieving then we all were.

I still think of Japan and how the triple disasters affected and affect people today- especially the effects of nuclear contamination/radiation.

The reason that I share this is because I had an epiphany then.

My good friend and I were having coffee one day {during the disasters in 2011}.

I was telling him about what was happening in Japan.

He stopped me in the middle of my sentence and said very coldly, “you know what…I just don’t care.”

That is when I realized that something inside of him died.

To be honest, I was very disturbed by his comment and his attitude.

Upon deep reflection, I felt sadness and compassion for him.

He had just gone through a very painful and dark time with the illness of his mother. I know that this experience had a very damaging effect on him.

I think he was most likely spiritually disconnected and emotionally numb at that point.

He probably had nothing left to give as he was in desperate need of healing.

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Compassion is the greatest gift you can offer someone.

Compassion is what makes us truly human.

Our humanity is rooted in compassion.

*Remember that we are all in this life together.

We all depend on each other.

We are all interdependent as waves in the ocean of humanity.

*

Please enjoy Ocean by Azam Ali and Loga Ramin Torkian as I felt it complimented this post.

It is from Azam Ali’s album: “Lamentation of Swans: A Journey Towards Silence.”

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3558lJuA8Y8

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To learn more about Azam Ali, Loga Ramin Torkian and Niyaz…

http://www.niyazmusic.com/

Here is a brief description that I copied and pasted from their biography.

From this link: http://www.niyazmusic.com/#!/biography/

“Niyaz, which means ‘yearning’ in Persian and Urdu, was formed in 2005 by Azam Ali, multi-instrumentalist Loga Ramin Torkian and two-time Grammy nominated producer and electronic musician Carmen Rizzo.

The band borrows from an historic lineage of Middle Eastern poets setting verse to music, perhaps most famously known today through the work of the 13th century Persian poet Rumi and the endless barrage of quotes attributed to him on Twitter and Facebook.

While the immediate goal of Niyaz was to explore the music and identity of Iranians living in exile and struggling to maintain their cultural identity in the modern world on their first two acclaimed records, Niyaz and Nine Heavens, the band has expanded that theme with Sumud.”

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Azam Ali is the singer with the heavenly voice in Niyaz.

Her voice is truly “otherworldly” and hauntingly beautiful.

She has also been a part of another band named VAS. Their albums include: Sunyata (1997), Offerings (1998), In the Garden of Souls (2000) and Feast of Silence (2004).

Azam has released seven albums between Niyaz and VAS.

Niyaz’s albums include: Niyaz (2005), Nine Heavens (2008) and Sumud (2012).

She has also released four solo albums: Portals of Grace (2002), Elysium for the Brave (2006), From Night to the Edge of Day (2011) and Lamentation of Swans- A Journey Towards Silence (2013).

Azam has also been involved in movie soundtracks (the movie 300) and video game soundtracks.

For more information, please visit her official website…

http://www.azamalimusic.com/main.php

*Much Love to Japan and the rest of the world.

My prayers are with Japan as they are facing another natural disaster in the form of a typhoon.

*

Peace & Namaste Friends…

Related articles

• Compassion (essenceofbuddhism.wordpress.com)
• World Music For The 21st Century (nab09.wordpress.com)
• Azam Ali’s ‘Eman (Faith)’- thank you. (fertilitydoll.wordpress.com)
• Japan’s Triple Disaster – A Lecture (andrewshears.com)
• 晴天の霹靂 : Thunderclap from a clear sky (emilyintheglass.wordpress.com)
• Compassion – The Weapon of Mass Construction (morethangold.me)
• 12. Fukushima now in state of emergency, leaking 300 tons of radioactive water into the ocean daily (12160.info)
• FUKUSHIMA: A Nuclear Catastrophe of Epic Proportions (fromthetrenchesworldreport.com)
• Japan: Typhoon Wipha causes more nuclear contamination at Fukushima (euronews.com)
• One Wrong Move at Fukushima Could Unleash a Nuclear Disaster Equivalent to 85 Chernobyls (endtimeheadlines.wordpress.com)

Reflection for today…Unconditional Love -Johnny Cash

“There’s unconditional love there.

You hear that phrase a lot but it’s real with me and her [June Carter].

She loves me in spite of everything, in spite of myself.

She has saved my life more than once.

She’s always been there with her love, and it has certainly made me forget the pain for a long time, many times.

When it gets dark and everybody’s gone home and the lights are turned off, it’s just me and her.”
―Johnny Cash

June & Johnny…Love in Action…

Johnny Cash & June Carter…
Soul Mates Never Die…

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I love what Johnny said about June loving him in spite of everything- in spite of himself.

I believe he was referring to his self-destructiveness at the time.

Johnny was suffering from heavy drug and alcohol addiction.

His spiritual strength and June’s love empowered him to transcend his suffering, eradicate his demons and heal from the prison of addiction.

Johnny in his autobiography:
“She’s The Greatest Woman I Have Ever Known.
Nobody Else, Except My Mother, Comes Close.”

Johnny didn’t just love June…he ADORED her….

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When he speaks about June’s love, I think Johnny is speaking about her spiritual presence.

It is through your spiritual presence that you can really be there for someone because you are present and mindful in that moment.

You are able to open your heart and soul to offer your compassion and love.

June’s undying love and fierce loyalty was always present.

I still believe that love is loyalty and loyalty is love.

Loyalty is how we prove our love and express it.

It is our gift to our beloved.

Love isn’t simply a feeling but it is action.

*

Real love heals and gives spiritual strength.

It is that powerful.

One of John’s Soulful Love Letters to June…

I Adore Love Letters Because They Truly Reveal The Soul…

{Lets resurrect the lost art of letter writing…}

Johnny & June…A Marriage of Equals

Johnny wrote the song Flesh and Blood about his love for June…

“…So when this day was ended I was still not satisfied

For I knew everything I touched would wither and would die

And love is all that will remain and grow from all these seeds…”

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I should also mention that Johnny Cash died on September 12th, 2003, less than four months after June died.

{It has been said that he was holding her hand when she died}.

Many say that his health complications worsened after June died.

Some even speculate that he died from a broken heart.

Johnny & June Lived In Love For 35 Years…

They are buried next to each other in Hendersonville Memory Gardens in Hendersonville, Tennessee.

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The movie Walk The Line starring Joaquin Phoenix and Reese Witherspoon is about Johnny’s life and his and June’s love story.

{He really should have won an Oscar for his performance in my humble opinion}.

For more info, please visit the internet movie database page…Walk The Line Film.

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In celebration of their love and love overall, please enjoy Ring of Fire sung by Johnny Cash…

{It was co-written by June about her and Johnny’s passionate ascension in to love}.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rq4a2te0yhE

“Love is a burning thing
And it makes a fiery ring
Bound by wild desire
I fell into a ring of fire

I fell into a burning ring of fire
I went down, down, down and the flames went higher
And it burns, burns, burns, the ring of fire
The ring of fire

I fell into a burning ring of fire
I went down, down, down and the flames went higher
And it burns, burns, burns, the ring of fire
The ring of fire

The taste of love is sweet
When hearts like ours meet
I fell for you like a child
Oh, but the fire went wild

I fell into a burning ring of fire
I went down, down, down and the flames went higher
And it burns, burns, burns, the ring of fire
The ring of fire

I fell into a burning ring of fire
I went down, down, down and the flames went higher
And it burns, burns, burns, the ring of fire
The ring of fire

And it burns, burns, burns, the ring of fire
The ring of fire
The ring of fire
The ring of fire.”

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While passion may calm down with time, it lives when there is true love…

One of John’s Passionate Love Letters To June…
Photo property of: http://www.johnnycashonline.com/

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For more information on Johnny Cash,

please visit his official website…http://www.johnnycash.com/

*

Peace & Namaste…

A Loving Glance Reveals Your Heart…

Related articles

• June Carter Falls in Love (objetsdevertu.wordpress.com)
• Reflection for today…Tears Speak For Themselves -Paulo Coelho (mysoulsonice.wordpress.com)

Reflection for today…The Dangers of a Sad Soul -Henry David Thoreau

“A sad soul can kill you quicker, much quicker, than any germ” 
―Henry David Thoreau 

Norma Jeane Mortenson otherwise known as Marilyn Monroe was not a “sad soul.”

She was a beautiful soul. 

I don’t particularly think that anyone is a “sad soul.”

Everyone has some melancholy in their soul.

In the continuum of melancholy, some people experience more sadness than others.

I think Thoreau means a chronic sadness/depression is what will kill you.

What is your interpretation?

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Please enjoy Wash My Soul by Tricky.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OpDJ8KRzV_s

*

How can you “wash your soul?”

Meditation? Healing? Love?

*

For more information…

Henry David Thoreau…http://www.walden.org/thoreau

Marilyn Monroe…http://marilynmonroe.com/

Tricky…http://www.trickysite.com/

*

Peace & Namaste…

Related articles

• Marilyn Monroe (slayermusings.wordpress.com)

Reflection for today…Heartless People -Charles Bukowski

“People are not good to each other.

Perhaps if they were our deaths would not be so sad.” 

―Charles Bukowski

Love is a Dog from Hell

Something happened this past Friday that inspired this post.

That day I lost my faith in people.

{I hope to get it back}.

For now, I am left thinking that most people mistake kindness for weakness.

People can be so heartless, cold and cruel.

Bukowski said it is such a sadness that we are not that good to each other while we are alive.

I totally agree with him that we should treat each other better while we are still alive- while we still have time.

There won’t be any wasted regrets this way.

Well, you can only try your best.

At least your conscience will be crystal clear.

What matters most is if you can look in the mirror and look yourself in the eyes and be proud of who are.

If you can be true to yourself and your ethics, then you have been authentic.

You have been real.

You have been truly honest.

You have integrity, dignity/honour and character.

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Please enjoy “A House” by Doves.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7IaMARfHUik

*

For more information…

Charles Bukowski…http://bukowski.net/ 

Doves…http://www.dovesmusicblog.com/

*

Peace & Namaste…

Reflection for today…Tears Speak For Themselves -Paulo Coelho

Tears speak for themselves

by Paulo Coelho on February 2, 2013

“Our great goal in life is to love.

The rest is silence.

We need to love. Even when it leads us to the land where the lakes are made of tears, to that secret, mysterious place, the land of tears!

Tears speak for themselves. And when we feel that we have cried all we needed to cry, they still continue to flow. But when we believe that our life is destined to be a long walk through the Vale of Sorrows, the tears suddenly vanish.

Because we managed to keep our heart open, despite the pain.

Because we realised that the person who left us did not take the sun with them or leave darkness in their place. They simply left, and with every farewell comes a hidden hope.

It is better to have loved and lost than never to have loved at all.”

taken from MANUSCRIPT FOUND IN ACCRA

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Johnny Cash & June Carter: Eternal Lovers

To me Johnny Cash and June Carter illustrate what love is.

Someone that is home to your soul.

{More posts about their love in the future…}

*

Paulo Coelho manages to capture the essence of love.

“Our great goal in life is to love.

The rest is silence.”

Tears are cathartic.

They help us to cleanse and heal.

Paulo Coelho reminds us of the need to cry in order to heal and open our hearts again.

*

Here is a song that makes me cry…

Please enjoy Tragedy by Hayden.

Hayden is a soulful Canadian artist.

This achingly beautiful song is from his album Everything I Long For.

I highly recommend it.

I am so grateful that it was given to me as a gift.

What a gift it is to listen to it.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2gZZMpmIzGA

“Broken bottle won’t hurt me
Nothing worse that I have dreamed
Gun shot in my chest you’ll leave
I can take that you will see
Late at night is when I dream
Horrible things are what I see
Hard for me to believe
I wake up and I won’t freeze
Car crash highway tragedy
Nothing worse than I have dreamed
Loss of my best friend I grieve
I can take that you will see.”

*

For more information…

 Paulo Coelho… http://paulocoelho.com/

Hayden…http://wasteyourdaysaway.com/

Johnny Cash…http://www.johnnycash.com/

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Do you agree with Paulo Coelho?

I would love to hear your thoughts.

Peace & Namaste…

Related articles

• Reflection for today…Strength in Solitude -Paulo Coelho (mysoulsonice.wordpress.com)
• Reflection for today…Unconditional Love -Johnny Cash (mysoulsonice.wordpress.com)

Gabriel Byrne Discusses The Abyss of Depression & Alcoholism…

Gabriel Byrne discusses depression and alcoholism in an interview on Irish television channel RTÉ. 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g51AcR8Et-g

It really is an excellent interview from a show is called The Meaning of Life.

To watch the full interview, please click here: http://archive.org/embed/GabrielByrne-TheMeaningOfLifeWithGayByrne

You can also click on this link Gabriel Byrne Meaning of Life Interview. Then click on the January 17, 2010 The Meaning of Life with Gay Byrne interview.

http://www.rte.ie/tv/meaningoflife/s2p1.html Gabriel Byrne The Meaning of Life

GabrielByrne-TheMeaningOfLifeWithGayByrne

{I apologize but I was unable to embed or send this video as those options were not available. If you could help me to embed this video from the internet archive, then I would be ever so grateful}.

I copied and pasted the description of the interview from the show’s web site:

“…The basis for a searching interview, in which Gabriel talks engagingly and openly about his life: his decision to enter a UK seminary at the age of eleven; his experiences of clerical sexual abuse; his reasons for giving up on any idea of priesthood and his search for another vocation, which found fulfilment in acting; his relationships with the two key women in his life, Aine O’Connor and Ellen Barkin; his on-going struggle with twin demons – alcoholism and depression – in which he knows he is far from alone in this country; and the reason he thinks so much about death.”

 *

Gabriel says that alcoholism and depression are seen as moral failings– as if something is wrong with the person for being “weak” or “not good enough.” These feelings of inadequacy have probably existed before. They only become exacerbated with drinking and by the judgment of others.

***Alcohol only adds fuel to the fire.***

He also notes that alcoholism and depression are often intertwined; hence the “twin demons” reference. They are so inextricably linked that I wonder how one can be divorced from the other. I don’t believe that they can- especially since alcoholism is a depressant. People drink to get out of depression. The more they drink, the more depressed they become; hence, the vicious and self-destructive cycle continues.

Gabriel says that, “Part of the disease of alcoholism is removing yourself from reality as quickly as possible.” Essentially he is describing an emotional disconnection, spiritual disconnection- numbness.  He describes binge drinking as a plague because people emotionally disconnect from themselves, from others and from life. 

I think it is vital for people to be honest about depression and addiction {in any form}. Awareness and honesty is what will give them insight. Courage will allow them to look in the mirror and take the first step on the path to healing.

Then people can start to fight their demons.

I pray that they win.

*People suffering from any addiction or illness need our compassion.

{You never know if your compassion can give them strength to battle their demons and to heal}.

*

For more information on Gabriel Byrne,

please visit…Byrneholics.

*

Peace & Namaste…

Related articles

• Reflection for today…Depression- Gabriel Byrne (mysoulsonice.wordpress.com)
• Story For Home by Gabriel Byrne… (mysoulsonice.wordpress.com)
• Actor Gabriel Byrne seeks change to end-of-life care (irishtimes.com)
• Actor Gabriel Byrne slams the end-of-life facilities for the dying in Ireland (irishcentral.com)
• Gabriel Byrne Recites Poetry by William Butler Yeats… (mysoulsonice.wordpress.com)
• Benicio Del Toro Praises Gabriel Byrne… (mysoulsonice.wordpress.com)

Reflection for today…Loneliness- Emily Carr

“Life’s an awfully lonesome affair.

You can live close against other
people yet your lives never touch.

You come into the world alone and 
you go out of the world alone

yet

it seems to me you are more alone 
while living than even going and 
coming.”

-Emily Carr

*

Do you agree with Emily Carr?

*

For more information…

Emily Carr…http://www.museevirtuel-virtualmuseum.ca/sgc-cms/expositions-exhibitions/emily_carr/en/index.php

Related articles

• Japan’s Suicide Forest Teaches About Compassion & The Human Need For Real Connection… (mysoulsonice.wordpress.com)
• Reflection for today…Human Loneliness -Haruki Murakami (mysoulsonice.wordpress.com)

Passin’ Me By- The Pharcyde

Who is Passing You By???
Or Who Are You Passing By???

I Love The Pharcyde…
 

 Passin’ Me By is a True Hip Hop Classic…





Bizarre Ride II the Pharcyde is a Classic Hip Hop Album…so original, creative and fresh.

 Its still all love after all these years…
 

 The Pharcyde – Passin’ Me by Lyrics

“Now in my younger days I used to sport a shag
When I went to school I carried lunch in a bag
With an apple for my teacher cause I knew I’d get a kiss
Always got mad when the class was dismissed
But when it was in session, I always had a question
I would raise my hand to make her stand, come to my desk and
Help me with my problem, it was never much
Just a trick, to smell her scent and try to sneak a touch
Oh, how I wish I could hold her hand and give her a hug
She was married to the man, he was a thug
His name was Lee, he drove a Z
He’d pick her up from school promptly at three o’clock
I was on her jock, yes indeedy I wrote graffiti on the bus
First I’d write her name then carve a plus
With my name last, on the looking glass
I seen her yesterday but still I had to let her pass
She keeps on passin’ me by…

When I dream of fairytales I think of me and Shelly
See she’s my type of hype and I can’t stand when brothers tell me
 That I should quit chasin’ and look for somethin’ better
But the smile that she shows makes me a go-getter
I haven’t gone as far as asking if I could get with her
I just play it by ear and hope she gets the picture
I’m shootin’ for her heart, got my finger on the trigger
 She could be my broad, and I could be her nigg*
But, all I can do is stare
Back as kids we used to kiss when we played truth or dare
Now she’s more sophisticated, highly edu-ma-cated
Not at all over-rated, I think I need a prayer
To get in her boots and it looks rather dry
I guess a twinkle in her eye is just a twinkle in her eye
Although she’s crazy steppin’, I’ll try to stop her stride
Cause I won’t have no more of this passin’ me by…

Time for me to voice my opinion of not even pretendin she didn’t have me
Strung like a chicken, chase my tail like a doggie
She was kind of like a star, thinking I was like a fan
Dude, she looked good, down side: she had a man
 He was a rooty-toot, a nincompoop
She told me soon your little birdie’s gonna fly the coop
She was a flake like corn, and I was born not to understand
By lettin’ her pass I had proved to be a better man

She keeps on passin’ me by…

Now there she goes again, the dopest Ethiopian
And now the world around me be gets movin in slow motion
When-ever she happens to walk by – why does the apple of my eye
Overlook and disregard my feelings no matter how much I try?
 Wait, no, I did not really pursue my little princess with persistance;
And I was so low-key that she was unaware of my existence
From a distance I desired, secretly admired her;
Wired her a letter to get her, and it went:
My dear, my dear, my dear, you do not know me but I know you very well
Now let me tell you about the feelings I have for you
When I try, or make some sort of attempt, I symp
Damn I wish I wasn’t such a wimp
Cause then I would let you know that I love you so
And if I was your man then I would be true
The only lyin’ I would do is in the bed with you
Then I signed sincerely, the one who loves you dearly, PS Love Me Tender
The letter came back three days later: Return to Sender, damn
She keeps on passin’ me by…”

*

For more information on The Pharcyde,

please visit their official website…

http://thepharcyde.com/

*

Peace & Namaste…

Reflection for today…Slow Down -Pablo Neruda

“…If we were not so single-minded
about keeping our lives moving
and for once could do nothing,
perhaps a huge silence
might interrupt this sadness
of never understanding ourselves
and of threatening ourselves with death…”

-Pablo Neruda from Prayers For The Earth