Message from Peace

To know me is to love me
To feel me is to cherish your truest self
I am always here
Awaiting your remembrance
of the gifts I offer you

Tranquility
Magic
Mystical awakening
To the depths of your inner being

You and I are the same
Only you sometimes forget me

I welcome you to my abode anytime
Day
or night
My heart longs to feel your breath
slowed
Empassioned
Awakened fully to the love I hold for you

I am eternal
I am the dawn
I am the mid-day heat radiating my warmth
I am the soft surreal colors streaming from sunset's kiss

I am yours
Come to me
Again and again
And I will always hold you

I am your eternal lover
I will never forsake you
Though you will forsake me
Time and time again
Until...

You learn that I am here for you
Absorb me
Learn my ways
Rise into the heights of the glory of grace

Choose me
And I will return to you
Every day
In every moment that you let me
I will be the lover that you can never find in another

I alone can gift you eternal joy
I alone can be your ally in the darkest night

I alone

Breathe
And you will feel me breathing
Move
And you will feel me moving
For I am the blossom
I am the birdsong
I am the lone coyote
wandering the desert
with the rabbit and the fox
the elk and the deer

I am the magic
I am the mystery
I am the muse
I am
that I am

Yours Eternally

From a Musician: On Bars & Music

This is a commentary from Neville Harson in response to some feedback I was requesting for a subject in my book: Neville is a wonderful musician living in Boulder. Here's his input:


"I had a strong (positive!) reaction to one of the questions you sent. Here are my thoughts:

Your question was: "Do you feel there is a need for alternatives to bars/nightclubs for community music participation? Why specifically? For example: what don’t you like about bars, what doesn’t it provide, etc…"

You even said it last night: it's an honor for musicians to play to an audience who actually listens!

Rhetorical question: How did we as a society get to the place where that is the exception rather than the rule?

It is indicative of the general lack of listening skills in our culture, not only with the arts, but with conversation etc. It's rare for many people to find a friend who really listens.

Bars are not for listening. You don't go to a bar to hear a band. You go to see friends, consume intoxicants, and SEE a band. Not that there's anything inherently wrong with that. But most musicians don't want to be seen. They want to be
heard. And it's hard to compete with conversational noise in a bar (not to mention all the other noises).

Another factor: alcohol is the wrong drug for listening. Alcohol and cocaine are "talking drugs."

But why do we need the drugs anyway?

My ideal place to play: a Listening Room, which would be billed as such. No alcohol served. Maybe tea, but out in the lobby. I like the idea of beanbag chairs,or pillows and mattresses, to encourage inactivity on the part of the audience (unless it's music for dancing). Everyone's on this journey together. No one admitted after the performance has started (though maybe between songs would be okay, like at the
symphony). Two 30-45 minute sets with a break in the middle for socializing, etc. (Like Gypsy Nation, socializing should be discouraged during the music).

Let the audience know how long you'll be playing for when they come in, so they can plan accordingly.

In order for live music to evolve, the audience has to change. And in order for the audience to change, the context and rules (written and unwritten) of the
space has to change..